When Mike Canapini became a new stay-at-home-Dad, he saw firsthand the challenges of raising 2 preschoolers full time. He soon became determined to take the ease off of parenting woes for everyone by inventing safe and innovative products for children. Thus, the Learn ‘N’ Turn Utensil was born. This smart product is fully adjustable utensil that can be interchanged with either the fork or spoon attachment. You can adjust the angle of the utensil {from the handle}, which makes it easier for your toddler to learn how to feed themselves.

• The only adjustable, interchangeable spoon and fork utensil that helps teach your child eating skills
• Accommodates left or right-handed learners, as it rotates to all angles
• Unique grips on fork help hold food on tines

For toddlers, eating with utensils is quite the challenge. Not only are they not used to it, the bones and muscles in their hands and wrists are still developing, thus making rotation and correct positioning difficult. Yet, they are determined little ones indeed, they persist on trying by themselves. I recall when the Twins were first using utensils, one caught on quickly which my other daughter simply could not turn it far enough. Still to this day, she still has a harder time. I know the technique will come in time, yet I see her frustrated that every second mouthful falls from her spoon.

My Twins were able to try the Learn ‘N’ Turn Utensils, and they have had nothing but success. See, the nice thing about this product is that it grows with baby - I bend the utensil only slightly for my Twin that has almost mastered self-feeding. Yet, for my other Twin, her angle is much smaller. So, once they are comfortable with self-feeding and they have more control and dexterity, simply adjust the angle for more of a challenge and keep doing that until you have a straight utensil - and success! I know some 4 & 5 year olds that still don’t have complete control with self-feeding, still having troubles with dexterity. I can’t help but wonder if the Learn ‘N’ Turn Utensil was introduced to the as babies - would they have done better with self-feeding now?

And, I really like the design of the spoon and fork attachment, both compatible with one handle. It really saves on purchasing multiple utensils, and switching them is so easy. One more benefit is that the Learn ‘N’ Turn Utensil is BPA & Lead-free, and completely dishwasher safe. As well, the handles come in a nice selection of colors. Each part can be bought separately if you need it, which is a nice option for customers. The Learn ‘N’ Turn Utensil is a PTPA Award winning product, and a well deserved award winner in my opinion.

** My Organized Chaos is hosting a
giveaway for the Learn & Turn Utensil, make sure to enter!

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I love to see a fabulous Canadian company hold their own in the online world of organic clothing. Too often us Canadians have very little local choices when it comes to eco-friendly clothing for toddlers. I’m very happy to introduce you to Squishy Fish an Ontario, Canada owned and operated company that is a PTPA Media Award Winner! Squishy fish even uses local Canadian manufacturing to support Canadian economy and to oversee the operation.

For review, my Twins were each sent an adorable organic tee from Squishy Fish, for a product review on my personal blog, My Organized Chaos. One is the pretty and girly ‘love’ design with the flower, and the other a stunning and striking ’shine’ design with the bee.

The first thing I noticed when I seen the tees was the color. Squishy Fish uses non-toxic, Azo-free dyes and the colors are simply beautiful. When I first touched the organic tees from Squishy Fish, I gasped at the softness of the fabric. Made from 100% Control Union certified organic cotton which is chemical free and unbleached, the texture is as soft as a child’s skin. Yet, it’s not flimsy or too delicate - after all, toddlers need sturdy clothing to stand up to their wear and tear. That’s why I like that the organic cotton used are interlocked fibers and it holds it’s shape against pulling and tugging. I also noted that after washes, and intentional pulling and twisting of the tee - the design doesn’t flake, peel nor change shape. Amazing how quality organic cotton can be so very tender and loving on the skin, yet packs more muscle than you would think. For the Twins sensitive skin, and just for the sheer comfort of having such a silky fabric surrounding them - Squishy Fish has it covered. And, the fun and playful designs - they suit toddlers so perfectly as well!

Squishy Fish has onesies & tees, pants & blankets and gift sets too. There are styles to suit any toddler, boy or girl - and sizes range from 3-6m to 18-24m. For online shoppers, shipping is always a question when it comes to purchasing. I added many combinations of Squishy Fish products to ‘my cart’, from a $25 order all the way into the $100’s, and shipping stayed at a constant $4.95 for Canadians and $6.95 for US residents. And, make sure to check out the retailers section for a list of online stores that carry Squishy Fish, as well as some storefront shops.

** Squishy Fish is having a contest on their Facebook Fan page. Simply “like” Squishy Fish on Facebook and then comment to this post saying that you are a Fan, and you will be automatically entered to win a tee or onesie {winners choice}. Easy peasy, right?

Make sure to enter, and good luck!

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This spring my family enjoyed 2 glorious weeks in the Mayan Riviera in Mexico. It was the first time we had traveled with the kids, and the first time that the Twin Toddlers were away from home for the night. Many preparations and plans were done in the months before departure. I am an organized Mom by nature, so you can imagine that this adventure was a huge undertaking for myself - and a huge success at that, I must add! Yippee!

The girls loved everything about the trip, especially being able to play outdoors in the sun. Our cold Canadian Winters last far too long, and the warm outdoor days are very limited where we live. So, this was a huge change for the kids, and the hot weather is something we are all not used to. To protect the kids form sunburns and UV rays, I took quite a variety of sunscreens and hats with us for the trip. But nothing proved to be more effective that the clothing, provided to them from UV SKinz.

I featured the PTPA award winning company, UV Skinz, in Spring 2009 on my personal blog, My Organized Chaos, and if you are not familiar with the heartfelt story behind the origins of the company - you must update yourself on how UV Skinz came to be. It’s is a family owned and operated business that is driven on providing sun safety and protection of health to families everywhere. They provide Sun-safe clothing {that block 98% of harmful UV rays} for members of the entire family.

Now, here is my story: After just a couple of days in Mexico, I became very disappointed in the sunscreen products I brought with us. I wore 50 SPF sunscreen and burnt my skin so bad it blistered, which surprised me as I have never burned in the sun before. I became almost OCD about applying sunscreen and slathered the girls with it almost hourly. In fact, I went through an entire bottle of sunscreen for my family in just 3 days! To my disappointment, the girls got red and blotchy as well. And this was from the 50 SPF sunscreen for kids!! Now, what caused our burns I’m not sure, yet something needed to be done to protect my family for 2 weeks in the hot Mexican sun. I was wasting my time and money by using the sunscreens I had, not to mention putting my family’s health at risk.

Fact: One bad burn in childhood doubles the risk factor
for melanoma later in life.

My friends at UV SKinz came to my rescue and sent the girls some UV protectant clothing, priority mailed right to our resort in Mexico. Yes, they are that passionate about skin protection!!

The UV protectant clothes my kids received were all Skargyle tops with matching hot pink board shorts. The tops are a black and pink skull and cross bones pattern, very trendy and appealing to both the adults and my pink-loving girls. This particular top is long sleeved, yet there are many with short sleeves as well. The board shorts are the perfect length, especially for the Twins who like to crawl occasionally. It kept the Twins knees covered from the sun and also the abrasive sidewalks and pool floors. The board shorts are also a thicker material, making them extra durable. Since my girls bodies were almost entirely covered, I only had to sunscreen their hands and lower calves and feet. From the day that they started wearing their UV Skinz {until the end of our trip}, their skins didn’t get red nor irritated anymore. Their UV Skinz were comfortable for them in and out of the pool, and the clothing dried surprisingly fast too, making it easy for them to sit comfortable at the pool Bar for a lunch break in between swims. The UV Skinz apparel they wore were great hits ot the resort - we received many compliments on their attire from people from all over the world. Yes, my 3 girls looked pretty cute, but their safety for their health was always on my mind too. As they played safely in the sun, I was able to put down my bottles of sunscreen and relax knowing that UV Skinz was doing it’s job!!

My family and I send a HUGE Thank You to UV Skinz for ensuring that we had a comfortable, fun and safe time in the Mexican sun.

In October 2008, I posted a post on how my then 4 year old daughter was practicing CPR on her bear, just from observing it done on TV. It’s true that even kids are never too young to learn CPR, trust me - my own mother had a heart attack right before my very eyes when I was very young. And, though I didn’t know CPR then - I always wished I did. Yet these days, awareness is key and knowledge is crucial. Trainikins, Inc. makes one product that I think everyone needs to know about - just because it could help save someones life one day. They make CPR Teddy {and CPR Teddy Jr, which I was able to review}, a lovable and cute plush bear that that reinforces the rules for emergency First Aid when squeezed. This emergency care training product is made to protect the health and
safety for all, in a very smart package!

It is a fact that very few people remember how to do CPR shortly after taking a class. CPR Teddy is inexpensive, non-threatening, user friendly, made to take on the go, and unlike a big instruction manual - this cute plush can be left out in the open making it accessible and convenient. Best of all it appeals to all
age groups from child to grandparent.

My family received the CPR Teddy Jr. {the smaller of the two sizes available} that teaches Chocking rescue and CPR. It also comes with a full-length training DVD which teaches these skills along with First Aid and injury prevention. The CPR Teddy Jr. is great for taking on the go, because of it’s size and the attached Velcro strap {enabling it to be attached to almost anything including strollers, car seats, diaper bags etc}.

We all have stuffed animals in our houses that play music or talk when squeezed. Well, only makes sense to have some meaning behind that talk - some learning. When the heart and paws of CPR Teddy Jr. are pressed, audio instruction of Infant and/or Child Chocking rescue and CPR is heard. The review takes less than 5 minutes to complete, yet is enough to keep vital information fresh in mind. Myself, it’s been at least 2 years since I took a formal life-saving class. This was a great refresher for me, especially having Twin babies that can possibly choke. As well, my oldest daughter has loved this bear and practices daily. These First Aid reviews could very well save a life one day.

CPR Teddy is great for the home, office, and schools. It can be a great gift to the new parents, babysitters, students, and grandparents. I think it would even make a cute gift for that new grad from medical school! Check out the website for more life-saving products and kits available. And Save 10% on your order when you use the promotional discount code ‘021001′

Given all the scares of BPA and other toxic chemicals residing in some baby bottles, it’s no wonder that a new parent can get a little confused. With so many products, testings and press releases out there, it takes a lot to raise our kids with health and safety in mind! organicKidz is a family owned and operated Canadian business where you can find stainless steel baby bottles. And by today’s standards, stainless steel is not only environmentally friendly, but a safe and practical alternative when compared to plastic. At organicKidz, their bottles do not contain BPA, Phthalates, PVC’s or lead. I am a parent that just couldn’t bring myself to use glass, I was so afraid of it shattering. Stainless steel bottles are lightweight, dishwasher safe and don’t break when dropped. Also true is that they are the only naturally bacteria resistant bottle currently on the market. It’s no wonder that organic Kidz has been recognized and presented with awards from
PTPA Media and many many more.

organicKidz provides so much more than the cold, silver stainless bottles that you are probably imagining. Instead, these come in such fabulous and trendy designs possible. Choose from 3 sizes - 4 oz and 7 oz single hulled sizes, and a 9 oz vacuum insulated size. These bottles are compatible with most narrow necked nipples. I received a 9oz. Narrow Necked Baby Bottle in a lovely blue color. Certainly not your average bottle as it outshines in quality and style, when comapred to others that I have used in the past.

UV Skinz is a company that I will forever remember. Rhonda created the products and the company, after losing her 32-year old husband to skin cancer. Read more about Darren’s Story, Here. Rhonda made it her life’s mission to raise awareness in anyway she could. And, the best way is prevention. UV Skinz is entirely devoted to providing protective swimshirts and pants for everyone, babies to grown men.

Did you know that 80% of your lifetimes sun exposure will occur before the age of 18? Seeing my daughter play outdoors all the time, I am not surprised by this fact. Though it does illustrate how crucial is it, that kids are protected from harmful UV rays. The UV Skinz products carry a UPF rating of 50+, which blocks out over 98% of the sun’s harmful rays. We can only lotion so much, and it’s very easy to miss parts of the skin. As well, if clothing shifts and exposes delicate skin, damaging burns can result. I also think of the light and thin fabric of some of Isabelle’s sun dresses. How much harmful exposure does she actually get, without me even knowing.

When I had the choice of a product from UV Skinz, I wasn’t sure on one for Hubby, me or for the kids. They have so many great styles and colors for everyone, and any size you can imagine too! I soon decided that Isabelle was the one outdoors the most, so UV Skinz would be the ideal product for her. Plus, getting just one bad blistering burn in childhood - doubles the risk factor for melanoma later in life!!
The options for kids’ UV Skinz are outstanding, long sleeved or short and so many colors! We decided on the Cassidy - Brown/Teal Aloha, with the matching Brown ‘Boy Cut’ Shorts. The top is a stylish brown and blue design. Both fit exceptionally well for her, she can run and play with ease in it. Whether the UV Skins is wet or dry, Isabelle is very comfortable in it. Also important to note is that she doesn’t complain about being hot wearing it.

Not only for decent protection, I see UV Skinz beneficial to those with extreme sensitivities to sunlight (from medical conditions or medications) and those with allergies to sunscreens.
UV Skinz is an important and simple step you can take to prevent sunburns, premature aging of the skin and skin cancer.

Designs by Mimi & Lola is a Canadian family based business that features handmade children’s personalized blankets, pillows and bibs which are made from two layers of soft, 100% polyester polar fleece. This 2008 PTPA Award Winning company offers so many color choices and many options for turning a baby necessity
into a cherished keepsake.

When shopping for bibs at Designs by Mimi and Lola, there’s is a whopping 79 fabric choices on their ETSY store. Shipping is $3 within Canada and $4 to the US. And, if you live in the Greater Toronto area, you’ll love their free delivery!

Everyone that needs some help in organizing their own personal chaos needs a good day planner. Really though, we Mom’s need more than that - we juggle a lot in just one day. We need a life-planner. And that is exactly what I think of the Desktop Day Planner by momAgenda. The company was founded by Nina Restieri, a busy mom of 4 and a former ad executive. At that time, she noticed that there were more planners out there geared towards brides-to-be than Moms. And, unlike brides, the planning and tackling doesn’t stop after midnight. Nina researched and developed her own line of planners based around the life of Moms in 2005. Today, momAgenda has a diverse selection of products that help us Moms organize our daily lives - from family to career
to home and social life too.

I got the 2010 {17 Month} myAgenda Desktop planner, which has also won an award from PTPA Media. I chose the tickled pink color because I knew I would also be incorporating blog-stuff into the schedule {and hey, I have 3 girls is our way of life!} Yet there are many other great stain-resistant colors as well. Yet immediately I notice how classy it looks, a satin pink hard bound book with silver lettering - oh yes, it made me smile at the thought of organizing! But, the beautiful outer shell must pack some hard-core material to take on the role of motherhood, right? That’s why I immediately dove right in and studied what it had to offer on the inside.

For me, I use the full monthly calendars at the beginning of the book, to schedule blog-related schedules. The next section is the weekly calendar section, which I use for appointments, parties and everything-kid related. Since this is where I need the most space to write, it works perfectly for me. And, I can see the week at a glance so that I can be prepared in advance. YET, The thing I like about this planner is that you can organize your own life into the pages how you see fit. There isn’t a ton of ‘write this here’ which can sometimes be a waste of space if it doesn’t apply to you. This planner can be customized and personalized
to suit your scheduling needs!

**You can enter to  Win your own myAgenda Desktop planner

from momAgenda at My Organized Chaos {ends 2/26/10}