Basement Playroom Makeover Reveal + Amazing Decor GIVEAWAY! (Special Discount Included)

Last year as we awaited the arrival of Penny, our 3rd baby, we realized that we desperately needed more usable space in our Toronto home. We made the big decision to finish our basement, and set out to create a comfortable space for our family that wouldn't break the bank. Originally it was a dark and dingy 70's inspired space with cement floors covered in ripped linoleum and walls cladded in old-school wood panelling. My inspiration for the makeover was light and bright. 

The main part of the renovations were completed just days before Penny's arrival. Every contractor who entered our house looked terrified when they saw me waddling around talking about my home water birth, that was to be held in said basement ;) With 3 kids in tow it has taken me a year to pull together accessories and fun stuff for this kid friendly space. I'm so excited to finally share the kids' favourite new space and give away shop credits for two of our favourite finds! *Please note: the playroom was only this tidy for photos. Typically every basket and bin get emptied out onto the floor daily ;) 

1. Lorena Canals Machine Washable & Dryer Friendly Rugs

Kid's are messy little creatures, so when I set out to find a rug to make a cozy reading space for the kids I knew I wanted a Lorena Canals. These rugs are incredible. They are machine washable, made from all natural materials and dyes, and free from any dangerous chemicals. We have already washed and dried our rug a few times and I can tell you I am so happy with the choice. There are tons of amazing designs and colours to choose from at Amelie & Max. I loved so many of them, but was limited to choosing one without fringe, because we have a cat who loves to destroy all fringe. I love this ABC one the kids helped me choose. Enter for a chance to WIN a $100 credit toward a Lorena Canals Rug from Amelie & Max! (entry details below)

2. Newmies Eco-Friendly Baby & Toddler Developmental Toys

I love supporting small local businesses, so when I met Amanda, the owner of Newmies, at The Bump to Baby Show I knew it was a perfect fit. I absolutely love her handmade stuffed toys, rattles, teethers, painted wooden blocks, and most of all her wall hangings. They have  such great positive messages for our kids. We picked the "Love is Love" and "Wild & Free" hangings, but there are tons of adorable ones in her etsy shop, so check it out. Such a unique gift for baby showers or birthday parties. I'm also obsessed with the Farmer's Market set and the Campfire Set that comes complete with S'mores! Enter for a Chance to WIN a $40 shop credit with Newmies. (entry details below)

Enter for a chance to WIN a $100 Credit for a Lorena Canals Rug with Amelie & Max* + a $40 Shop Credit with Newmies! (*Rug design choices subject to availability at www.amelieandmax.ca at time of ordering)

To Enter simply comment below with your name and email address, or alternatively you may comment below and submit your email address to care@with-care.ca for entry. Plus make sure to check out our Facebook page & Instagram feed for 2 more ways to enter!  Contest is open worldwide for anyone 25+ and closes Thursday June 22nd at 11pm EST. A winner will be chosen at random and contacted within 24 hours. Good Luck!

*As a special treat use code "WITHCARE" for $10 off your 1st purchase over $50 with Amelie & Max and $10 off your 1st purchase over $40 with Newmies. 

Don't wait, Enter NOW! Plus don't forget to enter on Facebook & Instagram. Good luck! 

Care

In this post:

Amelie & Max: rug, sheepskin, house shelf, toy hamper, lightbox  |  Newmies: hand painted blocks, rattle, teether, wall hangings, stuffed unicorn  |  Ikea: book rails, couch, shelving unit, baskets, play kitchen   |   With Care: DIY Simple Floor Cushions  |  Tiny Trendsetters: Penny's dress & bloomers

*This is a sponsored post which means I was provided compensation and/or product for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Garage Makeover Inspiration + GIVEAWAY! Enter to WIN a "Smart Garage Door System" with Garaga

When we were looking to buy a home in Toronto we never thought we would get lucky enough to have a garage, let alone the big 2 car garage we managed to snag. The only issue was that it was a bit of an eyesore with peeling paint, old sharp metal siding and an ugly broken garage door that faces directly into our yard. Fixing up the garage has been on our wish list for the last 4 years, and finally this year we decided to do it. We love our gardens so much, and want to enjoy our beautiful backyard with a fresh backdrop. 

I've been gathering inspiration for our makeover on Pinterest, but it's been tough. I love a combination of old and new, and was originally thinking of going with a sleek contemporary look. After playing around with the options on Garaga's Design Centre I realized that I wanted to go with more of a country rustic vibe. I absoloutely love that you can add your own photo to their online designer to get a realistic sense of what it will look like. For someone like me who isn't as visual, this was a huge help.

Here's the super rough mockup of what we're thinking (I'm definitely not a photoshop expert, but it gives a good idea of the fresh look I'm going for). I'm still debating if we should add windows in the top panels of the door. Any thoughts? I'm also still deciding on what siding to use. I have some beautiful wood siding samples on the way from from Maibec to check out. 

I will be adding a new light fixture and some type of planter for the wall where the window used to be. I'm also debating painting the regular door black or keeping it white. Comment with your vote! Here's some of my inspiration. You can see more on Pinterest. 

If you have a garage that could use a little pick me up, check out this AMAZING Giveaway Garaga is hosting. You could Win the Garage Door of your dreams plus a Smart Garage System. AKA a garage door you can control from your smart phone! Genius for people like me who always question whether you actually closed the garage. The contest ends June 28th, so don't wait! See Garaga for full contest details. Enter by simply clicking here and following through to design your dream garage door and fill out your information. 

Huge thanks to Diana and the rest of the team at The Garage Door Depot (Local Toronto company who will be installing our new door) for all of your help narrowing down the choices and figuring out what we need.

Stay tuned for our Garage Makeover Reveal this summer and don't forget to Enter Garaga's Smart Garage Giveaway!

Care

*This is a sponsored post which means I was provided compensation and/or product for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Making Memories & Capturing Moments - GIVEAWAY! Win 1 of 10 Family Lifestyle Photo Sessions!

"The days are long, but the years are short". When I look at my kids I feel this sentiment to my core, as I'm sure most parents do. In parenting, some days can feel so long and so trying, so isolating and so overwhelming. Then you look at your kids in a quiet moment and realize it's all flying by in the blink of an eye. You try to soak up every squeeze hug, every sloppy kiss, every sweet cuddle, because you know one day this phase will all be done. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.

My mom was amazing at recording memories of our childhood. She was always taking photos, creating slideshows and photo books, and writing down memories and special moments. When I lost my mom I realized just how important this stuff is. It's our way of capturing our life for our kids. A way for them (and us) to look back and see how far we have come. I feel so fortunate to have the wealth of family photos, stories and memories that my mom compiled throughout our lives. I want to make sure I do the same for my kids. That's why I love having family photos taken, to capture our current moment in time. I find it especially important since I'm typically behind the camera. I want my kids to be able to look back and know I was here, and that I loved being their mom.

I love capturing memories so much that I thought it was only fair to share. I've partnered with Sara Elisabeth Photography to offer an Incredible Lifestyle Family Photo Shoot GIVEAWAY! Enter for a chance to Win 1 of 10!! Yes 10!! Lifestyle Family Portrait Sessions with Sara Elisabeth Photography. Each Prize includes: 1 Hour Session + Three 8x10 prints + telephone consultation + in-person proof session. Package Valued at $350!

Sara has taken our family photos twice and we have loved it both times (See Our Last Session Here). It’s evident that Sara loves kids and isn’t afraid to joke around and play with them to get a great shot. If you have busy kids like ours, this moving lifestyle session is perfect. No long periods sitting still and lots of chances to get their energy out. I can’t believe how little Ben & Lucy were in this last session, and I absoloutely love the addition of an extra little baby foot in this year's photo. 

For our session we went for a walk to the Junction to get ice cream and Sara captured fun moments along the way. It was possibly the windiest day ever, but we made it work. You can choose to go to the park, play in your backyard, bake some cookies or any other family activity that you would love to capture with your littles. That's the best part, it's customized to suit your family. 

Enter NOW by simply commenting below with your name and email address (or alternatively you may comment below and submit your email address to care@with-care.ca for entry). Plus make sure to check out our Facebook page & Instagram feed for 2 more ways to enter! **For an additional 5 entries sign up for Sara Elisabeth's Newsletter! 

*Contest is open to all Canadian residents 25+, but session must take place within the city of Toronto (no travel costs will be provided). Session is to be scheduled with Sara Elisabeth Photography at a time convenient for both the winner and photographer and must take place before August 31st, 2017. Each session is one hour and includes a telephone consultation, an in-person proof session, and 3 8x10 prints. Contest closes Thursday June 15th at 11pm EST. The winners will be chosen at random and messaged within 24 hours.

 Good Luck!

*As a special gift mention With Care at booking and receive $20 off your session with Sara.

Care

Outfit Details

• Lucy's Dress: Tiny Trendsetter 
• Ben's Hoodie: MarQ
• Penny's Bow & Booties: Bonjour Baby Baskets

*This is a sponsored post which means I was provided compensation and/or product for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Simple DIY Raised Garden Beds

With planting season upon us it seems like the perfect time to share a post that I've been meaning to write for 3 years! I've had tons of requests by readers and friends for a DIY of our raised garden beds, so here it is. Better late than never...right? Some of these photos are really old, so don't get confused. That's little Lucy!  These pics are making me so excited for our Garage Makeover on a Budget, coming this summer! 

These raised beds are so simple to make and such a great addition to any garden. You can make them in whatever size and shape works best for your individual space. Keep in mind that it's ideal to be able to crouch, kneel or sit by each side of your garden bed, and be able to reach at least half way across, so you don't have to hurt your back while caring for and harvesting your plants. 

Why use raised beds?

• You can grow a lot of high quality produce in a small area

• They prevent soil compaction a.k.a. keep your kids from falling onto your plants and on the soil ...most of the time ;)

• They provide a space to top up with high quality soil which helps your plants grow (Especially important in big cities like Toronto where our soil has been depleted of many minerals and nutrients and filled with many heavy metals and toxins)

• The soil warms up faster than than in the ground, so most plants can be added earlier

• They keep weeds out of your growing area, and are a barrier for slugs and snails

• They provide good drainage. Most vegetables need lots of sun, lots of water, and good drainage with loosely packed soil to grow optimally. *Keep in mind that raised beds will dry out quicker than the ground, but this is good for vegetable crops. Consider a rain barrel to help with your water needs. See my post from a few years ago for 3 Must Haves for Veggie Gardening Success.

Supplies:

• Cedar Lumber to make up the 4 sides of your beds

  • You needs 2 boards per side for a stacked box like ours. We used 1"x6" boards and made 10' long beds, so we used 12' long boards for the sides and cut them down to size. Our beds are 3' wide so we used a 6' board for each end and cut it in half to make 2 perfect size boards. You will have to choose the appropriate length and width for your space and plan accordingly. Please note that lumber isn't actually the width it says, which is so weird. A 1"x6" board is typically more like 5.25" - 5.5" wide, so keep this in mind with any projects. You could also do 1"x8" boards, or a single board instead of stacking 2 boards. That's the best part about these, you can totally customize them.

• 2"x2"x8' Framing Lumber

  • To be cut down to lengths for corner and side supports. We used a support in each corner and then 2 more evenly spaced along each long side. We cut our supports down to about 11.5" in length and constructed our beds upside down so we could offset the stakes (not level with top and bottom of the main boards). This means that when you turn your beds the right way the stakes go down into the ground creating stability and keeping your beds in place. We were able to get all 8 stakes for each bed out of one 8' long piece of framing. You lose a little length when you make your cuts, so we just cut 8 equal pieces and ended up with pieces approximately 11.5" long.

• 8x2" Deck Screws

• Soil & Plants to fill beds

Tools:

• Saw (or get the hardware store to cut it for you)

• Drill and bits

• Square

• Rubber Mallet

Instructions: *It's best to have 2 people for assembly

• Plan your raised bed(s) and size of all lumber needed (Measurements for our 10'x3' beds are included in the supplies section)

• Cut all lumber to size (or have them do it for you at the lumber area of the hardware store)

• Lay bed out and ensure all pieces are ready

• Begin assembly by having one person hold the top long board upright in place (this board will be siting on the ground as we're working upside down).

• Have the 2nd person screw one of the measured support stakes into the end of the board, flush with the end of the support stake. *Remember to offset the stake a few inches so they will be sunken down when you turn your beds over to install them. This means your stakes should be about 1.5" off the ground. *See photos

• Next, attach the short board to the same stake to create your first corner. Use your square to get an even corner each time.

• Continue to work your way around your bed screwing in each corner support to your 4 top boards

• Then add your 4 bottom boards (which are on top right now). *Your support stakes should be sticking up above the top of this 2nd row of boards

• Screw in additional support stakes spaced evenly along the long sides of beds. We did 2 extra supports on each long side at just over 3' apart each. Depending on the size of your beds you may use more or less.

• To reinforce the corners and keep the boards flush together go around the planters and screw through the end of each long board directly into the short end board from the outside in.

• When all of your support stakes and boards are screwed into place you'll need to till up the earth where they are to be placed. This is the most time consuming and tiring parts of the project.

• Once area is all prepped, flip beds over and set in place. Tap down each corner and edge gently with a rubber mallet to stabilize.

• Fill with fresh soil, add plants & water.

We love using our raised beds with our favourite Garden Covers from Lee Valley. 

Hope this gives you a little garden inspiration. Remember you can make these to fit any space, big or small. Don't hesitate to send along questions or projects you would like to see featured. 

Care 

Cake Smash Fun + Photo Session GIVEAWAY with Anchor Studio

As a 3rd baby there are lots of things that I haven't gotten around to doing for Penny (eg. a baby book or a real first birthday party), so when Silvia from Anchor Studio suggested a Cake Smash session, I decided to go for it. I knew it would be a special way to mark Penny's 1st year, and get some sweet shots of our growing babe. I didn't realize just how adorable it would all turn out. Take a look.

For a great cake smash you obviously need a cute baby and a pretty cake. While I usually love to bake, I've been so busy and knew I wouldn't be able to get it done. I decided to push the mom guilt aside and opt for the next best thing, a locally made cake with all real fresh ingredients. I picked up this sweet Strawberry cake at Bake Sale in Bloor West. They have 3 locations across the West End and even offer delivery. 

Turns out that babies rarely actually smash the cake and so there are usually leftovers. As a cake addict this was good news to me. As you can see Penny did manage to put her foot in the cake at the very end, but she had a bath right before, so I figure it was a pretty clean foot and therefore the cake was still good to eat ;)

I have to be honest and admit that I very very rarely enjoy store bought cakes. My biggest issue is bad icing. I'm a huge buttercream snob, so the fact that I was blow away by Bake Sale's delicious strawberry buttercream says something. 

In celebration of Penny's 1st Birthday I have partnered with Anchor Studio to offer an Amazing GIVEAWAY! Enter for a chance to WIN a Mini In-Studio Photo Session (30 mins) that includes 10 high resolution digital images. This can be used for a Cake Smash session (can take up to 1 hour) or any other family or individual session except newborn sessions. Cute props will be provided for any holiday sessions.

Enter NOW by simply commenting below with your name and email address, or alternatively you may comment below and submit your email address to care@with-care.ca for entry. Plus make sure to check out our Facebook page & Instagram feed for 2 more ways to enter! 

Contest is open to all Canadian residents 18+, but session must take place at Anchor Studio at Dupont & Dovercourt in Toronto (no travel costs will be provided). Session is to be scheduled with Anchor Studio at a time convenient for both the winner and photographer. Contest closes Friday May 26th at 11pm EST. A winner will be chosen at random and messaged within 24 hours. Good Luck!

As a special gift mention With Care at booking and receive 10% off Anchor Studio.

Care

*This is a sponsored post which means I was provided compensation and/or product for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Starting Solids Favourite Products GIVEAWAY!

Every month when I teach Starting Solids I get asked about my favourite products for feeding baby. So I thought it would be fun to host a little GIVEAWAY for a few of my favourite feeding products. These are products that I use every day in my home with Penny, and some that have been favourites since I started solids with Ben over 5 years ago! 

This amazing prize pack includes:

An ezpz Mini Mat - I love all of the amazing ezpz mats, so I knew I had to include them in my favourites giveaway. We have pretty much every size they make, and use them daily now that Penny is a solids champ. I love that they suction to the table so she doesn't throw them, plus they can be tossed in the dishwasher, and stand up to daily use with no fading or signs of aging. When you're first starting solids (especially if you're doing baby led feeding) I usually suggest placing the piece of food directly on the table, as it can be hard for your baby to reach into the mat when they are first starting out. Once they have their grasp down, and are confident picking up food and eating well, then you can add your ezpz mat. 

2 Bumkins Sleeved Bibs - I've been using sleeved bibs since I started solids with Ben and honestly don't know why you would use any other bib. These long sleeve bibs save your babes precious clothes and your time doing stain removal. We still use sleeved bibs on our big kids if they're dressed for an event and need a snack. I especially love that these Bumkins ones have a tie back versus a piece of velcro, as my kiddos love to rip velcro open and smear food all over their clothes ;) 

A Kizingo Spoon - Penny has been loving this curved handle spoon that's easy for little ones to grip. The Kizingo has a shallow tipped bowl and a shorter handle making it perfect for little hands. I have definitely added this to my list of favs for little feeders

A set of NumNum Gootensils - These were one of my favourites at the very start with Penny. She loved to dip the blue spoon into food and then gnaw on the bumpy surface of the spoon. Ideal for little teethers! The orange spoon with the openings was the first spoon that she successfully fed herself greek yogurt with. The thick yogurt gets trapped in the holes making it easy for a small baby who doesn't always keep the spoon upright. 

Set of Bumkins Reusable Snack Bags - I love ensuring that our meals are as eco friendly as possible so these snack bags are a great addition to this giveaway. I haven't personally tried the bumpkins ones, but they look amazing! I love that their Nixi line is made from recycled fabrics and have these awesome prints. 

Enter NOW by simply commenting below with your name and email address, or alternatively you may comment below and submit your email address to care@with-care.ca for entry. Plus make sure to check out our Facebook page & Instagram feed for 2 more ways to enter! 

Contest is open to all Canadian and Continental US residents 18+ and closes Thursday May 18th at 11pm EST. A winner will be chosen at random and messaged within 24 hours. Good Luck!

As a special gift use code withcare for 10% off these amazing feeding products locally and online at Diaper-eez. 

Don't hesitate to get in touch if you have questions about my Starting Solids Workshops and feel free to check out my YouTube for a few Starting Solids Videos. More to come!

Care

*Please note that Num Num spoons will be shipped directly from the manufacturer to winner, while other products will be shipped from With Care. 

*This is a sponsored post which means I was provided compensation and/or product for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

From Caterpillar to Butterfly - Habitat Inspiration & A Super Simple Ikea Hack

As promised, I wanted to share some butterfly habitat inspiration as a follow up to my post about The Junction Wings Project. So here it is! Don't hesitate to post questions in the comments. 

Now that you've welcomed (or will soon be welcoming) some fuzzy little caterpillars into your home, you need to start thinking about a habitat. Lucky for busy parents, your caterpillars will remain in their little cup with their food for the first week, so you don't need to rush out to prepare this right away. 

There are tons of ways to make a great butterfly enclosure, but keep in mind how old your children are and what might be needed to keep said children from killing said butterfly ;) The enclosure doesn't need to be fancy, but it needs to allow fresh flow of air, have a place for your cocoons to hang down while waiting for them to emerge, and keep your little butterflies safely inside once they hatch. You can make some simple DIY versions with mesh netting and various household items (see pics below). You can also use a mesh laundry hamper (like the one below from Ikea). Personally, having something that can't be easily crushed, and that doesn't sit on the ground, is top priority in our house. Our littlest is currently in the "destroy all things" phase, so keeping them out of her reach and safe is key.

This is our 3rd season welcoming butterflies and we're still loving out Ikea mini greenhouse. We usually add a few plants and a mesh top. Last year we used simple bulldog clips to hold the mesh top in place (I used a recycled lime bag), but I found it frustrating with curious kids. This year I decided I wanted to improve the mesh top, so I removed one of the glass panels from the greenhouse lid and traced it out on a piece of cardboard (the box it comes in works great).

I cut out the square of cardboard and then cut out the centre of the square leaving only a 1cm wide outer edge frame. I then wrapped some organza (any type of soft mesh or screen will work. If you don't have a scrap laying around, your local hardware, fabric or dollar store will probably have something appropriate) over the cardboard frame and stapled it into place. The screen frame then slid nicely back into place in the top of the greenhouse. You could do both sides, but we're going to leave 1 glass and 1 mesh. Once the cocoons are ready and attached to the lids of their cups I will cut an X in the mesh and carefully lower the cocoons through. The plastic lids of the containers sit in the holes of the mesh so the cocoons can hang down into the greenhouse awaiting their arrival. 

Once your butterflies hatch they will need to remain in your habitat for up to a week to dry out their wings and gain strength. Don't worry, the instructions that come with your caterpillar will give you all the details on the food options eg. sugar water & sliced fruit. Once your butterfly is flying around it's ready to be freed into the wild. We love letting our butterflies go in our garden every year. 

Here is some more butterfly habitat inspiration:

Hope you have fun making a habitat for your little critters. Don't forget to share your adventures with #junctionwings. 

Care 

Mommy & Me Salt Water Sandal GIVEAWAY! + Twinning Promo Code!

I'm proud to admit that I plan to twin with my kids until they no longer let me. I've heard at some point us moms become total losers, and then they want nothing to do with us. So until then, you'll see me over here planning our matching outfits ;) 

With Mother's Day around the corner I thought it would be fun to partner with Tiny Trendsetter to share one of my absolute favourite ways of twinning with my littles. Salt Water Sandals! I often get asked why I love Salt Waters so much and it's simple. They are cute, comfortable, and WATERPROOF! You can even toss them in the machine for a washing. As a busy mom of 3 I couldn't ask for a better summer sandal for me and my minis.

If you would love some twinning Salt Waters, Enter NOW for a chance to WIN my Mommy & Me Salt Water Sandal GIVEAWAY with Tiny Trendsetter. The Winner will get to choose one pair of adult Salt Waters, and one pair of infant/kids Salt Waters in the sizes and colours of their choice (from styles listed here at Tiny Trendsetter) and will be shipped directly. 

To Enter simply comment below with your name and email address, or alternatively you may comment below and submit your email address to care@with-care.ca for entry. Plus make sure to check out our Facebook page & Instagram feed for 2 more ways to enter! 

Contest is open worldwide for anyone 18+ and closes Thursday May 11th at 11pm EST. A winner will be chosen at random and announced within 24 hours. Good Luck!

Don't wait, Enter NOW! Plus don't forget to enter on Facebook & Instagram 

*As a special treat use code TWINNING for 25% off an adult pair of Salt Waters when you buy a baby/kids pair at Tiny Trendsetter.

Happy Twinning & Happy Mother's Day!

Care

*This is a sponsored post which means I was provided compensation and/or product for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.