The Honest Company

You haven't seen my face light up until you've seen a courier truck pull up to my house with a big blue box (and I know it's the Honest Company.) Okay, maybe you have if you've ever watched the Leafs win with me, or offered me a mug of chai.

It must have been over two years ago, maybe two and a half, that I got wind of a new venture Jessica Alba (yes, the celebrity) was beginning. She was already quite active in our little "eco-friendly moms" community, and with her talent and prominent position she was able to start her own line of diapers and wipes free of nasty chemicals and toxins. Along with the co-founder, Chris, the ensured that every product was kid-friendly and planet-friendly, but also affordable and super cute in design. As the company has grown (to training pants, cleaning products, beauty products and natural supplements) they have stayed committed to Earth-saving initiatives like recycling and ethical sourcing as well as philanthropic venues like donation to charity.

Oh and did I mention you can get their products for free?

Go to THIS LINK right now and you can have your first box sent to you at no charge (just shipping - it's like $6...) After that you'll be hooked. You can either choose a few things that you need or get bundles so that fresh new packs of diapers and wipes, and/or cleaning products, will arrive at your door monthly. (You can share in my joy of the big blue box.)

Here's a sampling of what we enjoyed this week. From left to right:

We use the Stain Remover spray both for clothes (hello, four month old baby...) and around the house (yes, our hockey games in the basement often lead to bleeding...) and it removes the stain and the odour. Love it. It's nice to have something safe for furniture and fabric that's effective and non-toxic. How gross is it to spray chemicals on your couch and then never wash them off? That stays here and you inhale it for weeks after. No fun.

The 4-in-1 laundry pods just go straight into the main "drum" of the washer and smell so good. We don't use any bleach or softener in addition to them. And we have pitch-white sheets on our bed so...

A little sampler pack there - some body wash, hand soap, moisturizer, all purpose spray and healing balm. These are amazing to throw in a purse.

We also got a pack of travel wipes.

Lastly, some cute size 2 diapers for Dakota and Oliver's first pack of training pants. He uses the toilet now like a champ but I still get nervous when he's in the car seat, in church, etc. He are easy up, easy down like underwear. He loves them.

Here's my big boy's booty all decked out in robots and fire trucks.

Here's my dolly's flower print diapers. My favourite are the cherries - I can't even bear to let her wear them!

For more info click the icon below.

THE GREAT WIPES GIVEAWAY

It’s giveaway time.

Today I have something to offer that will be great for parents. You guys are mostly parents right? See, some fancy-pants blogs have this analysis ability to find out cool information about who reads their posts – me, I just get a number of page views and a rough listing of what countries you guys might be from. I am using my intuition in assuming you would be interested in something that all parents of young ones need…

Wipes - for kids!

Only the classiest here at My Idea of Happiness. It’s true, I will be giving away 2 packs of 30-count Boogie Wipes (choose from fresh, grape, menthol, or unscented; or go for a combo) as well as a separate prize of 1 pack of 42-count Kandoo-brand flushable wipes with a Kandoo Hand Sanitizer or Hand Soap.

Wanna know more?



Boogie Wipes are awesome for cold and flu season. Older kids love to have their own pack so they can feel grown up when, well, the need for a boogie wipe arises. No one likes that scratchy feeling of an over-tissued nose so using something gentle and moisturizing can make all the difference for this season of sickness.

Oliver loves his pack so much that we have a new going conversation in the house:
Oliver: Mama, Ollie boogie. Wipe?
Me: Truth?
Oliver: Yes mama, truth! Boogie!
Me: Okay, take a wipe.
Or, he says: no truth mommy. Sorry. (Honest kid.)

Click to enter the Boogie Wipes giveaway here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Open to readers in the US, Canada and Australia.

Check out their Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest or their website: www.boogiewipes.com. 

And Kandoo's bum wipes are equally great for a child's independence. Because they are safe for septic-systems and therefore flushable they are a perfect option for potty trainers. Not quite ready to be trusted to do a thorough job with toilet paper, and also the same concept of using something moisturizing for these oh-so-sensitive areas of the body.

Oliver loved his pack of them one day that came with customizable stickers to write his name and add some animals to the container. He still uses it for collecting wood clothes pins (he has inherited my sense is awesome.) 

You can enter this one by clicking here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway 
Open to readers in the US and Canada.

Check out Kandoo on Facebook.

London Bump, Baby & Toddler Expo!

London Ontario mamas, papas, and mamas/papas-to-be: I am going to tell you where you need to be the first weekend in November!

Our city is hosting an awesome event for all parents called the London Bump, Baby & Toddler Expo.

WHEN Saturday November 2nd and Sunday November 3rd, 2013. From 10am to 4pm. (P.S. If you attend on Saturday you can get in FREE on Sunday!)

WHERE The Western Fair on Dundas St., inside the Progress building. There’s tons of free parking available. (Hint: while you’re in the area stop in to THE ROOTCELLAR, one of my very favourite spots for juice, smoothies, espresso-drinks and healthy food.)

WHAT
An amazing show featuring over 70 mom-to-mom tables, tons of local businesses, and access to all the latest awesome baby/toddler products. Exhibitors include Bellies2Babies, La Leche League London and the Children’s Museum. There are also prizes to be won! Did I mention you may be able to sample new stuff or buy things at special rates? Literally, from barely conceived to heading to Kindergarden, if you've got kids this weekend is for you.

HOW MUCH
It costs $7 to get in, but if you pay on Saturday you can get in FREE on Sunday. You only have to pay for those ages 12 and up, so bring your littles free of charge. The building is great for strollers. Proceeds will benefit the Children's Hospital. To get a $2 coupon for the Expo, ask one of the exhibitors – list on the website – or join the newsletter. (If you join the newsletter you can get entered for contests, get up to date information about exhibitors and get coupons that work at the Expo.)

But wait...

I am proud to be giving away TWO FREE TICKETS to the Expo. You can enter the giveaway below just by commenting and liking the My Idea of Happiness page on Facebook!

Giveaway ends October 30th. London-residents, or available to pick up prize in London- only. 

OTHER AWESOME FEATURES

• Bullfrog-powered. How cool is this: the entire show is run by 100% green electricity. Check out bullfrogpower.com to see how they use generators to inject clean, renewable electricity onto the grid to match the amount that the event will use. It’s amazing for the environment and contributes to a healthier environment for your family.
• SWAG bags. If you’re one of the first 150 people to show up, Saturday OR Sunday, you’ll receive a swag bag full of awesome free stuff. Worth showing up early for!
• Diaper change stations. For me, this is the mark of a good event. There will be a station full of wipes, change pads, sanitizer, and even pails to discard dirty diapers. This is provided by the Canadian Scholarship Trust-Plan. AND a Breastfeeding Area that’s nice and quiet (and private if you need it) to sit down – thank you – and nurse your little, or big, one. It’s also stocked with things you need including nursing pillows. Thank you, Middlesex Health Unit! AND a Stroller Testing Zone. If you’re looking to buy but have only seen online reviews and would like to take one for a spin, it’s the best way to know if it’s the right one for you. (London Honda is also showcasing some of their new vehicles if you want to peek at those too. I know some moms and dads are in need of a new car to fit their growing family. Worth a look.)

If you want more information, or to stay up to date, you can check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LondonBabyExpo

Enter the giveaway here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Unjunk Your Kid's Lunch Box: FREE eBook!

Hey friends! It's almost halfway through October: does that scare anyone else? (Scare... Halloween... no pun intended.)

For the parents of school-aged kids out there you're probably already on the edge of lunch packing boredom/psychosis. My little ones are only 2 yrs old & 6 month in-utero, and I already feel the lunch packing blues just from myself and the occasional lending of help to my husband.

The fact is: healthy school lunches are really important. Just ask Jamie Oliver. No really: I don't even want to give you more information about his passion - you should look it up yourself. He's an inspiration.

If you have the time (and desire to save money) to pack your children's lunches instead of having them buy them - you rock! And their nutrition will be better for it! Packed lunches are a better choice... most of the time.

We all know if school lunches are filled with packaged foods, loaded with garbage chemicals, they aren't much healthier than meat-surprise and slop in a caf. So here's an amazing resource to make your lunch packing skills healthy & top notch.

The amazing people (Andrea Donsky and Lisa Tsakos) at Naturally Savvy who brought you Unjunk your Junk Food (read my review here) now have a FREE eBook all about packing healthy school lunches. It's called Label Lessons: How to Unjunk your Kid's Lunch Box. From what ingredients to avoid on labels to which bread you should buy for sandwiches - it has it all!

Best of all: everytime someone reads it, $1 will be donated to the Holistic Moms Network which generates awareness, education and support for holistic/green parenting! Sweet!

Not to mention the book is full of printable coupons for the very foods you're learning about in it. Love that - just need new ink in my printer.

I totally suggest going to this link today and reading the book/ getting the coupons/ supporting an amazing cause.