For some added fun for your Family Day Celebration you could Win a Dog Chow Family Day Prize Pack!

 

 Everyone deserves to have fun this Family Day – including the family dog!  Get your four-legged family member in on the action on February 20 with the Dog Chow Family Day Prize Pack.  Valued at $125, this giveaway is filled with family-friendly items that will be sure to provide a tail-wagging good time!
 
The Dog Chow Family Day Prize Pack includes:

Click here for UrbanMoms’ Contest Rules and Regulations.The contest closes on February 24, 2012. 

Vitamin D is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle and most of us are deficient and aren't even aware of it.

The deficiency of this powerhouse vitamin has been linked to many ailments such as chronic illnesses, cardiovascular disease, common cancers, infectious and autoimmune diseases. The importance and the function of Vitamin D has many benefits and it aids the body to repair and maintain itself.

Simply put.

When there is a deficiency it lowers your immune system, leaving your body vulnerble to sicknesses and diseases.

It is often associated with bone development and maintenance. It helps your body absorb calcium better thus improving your bone density. Studies show that Vitamin D helps prevent osteoporosis and muscle strength is improved when there is a sufficient level present in your body. When the level increases it has been shown that it can help against Rheumatoid arthritis, heart attacks, Parkinson's Disease, MS and even depression to name a few. For a full list of Vitamin D's benefits, go here.

As a mother of two who is always on the go, the health of my children is abosultely priority #1. As soon as I had my youngest daughter Michaela, I immediately went out and purchased Vitamin D. Simply because there isn't enough Vitamin D naturally present in breastmilk and supplementing with Vitamin D is essential, in my opinion, especially when baby doesn't get enough sun in the first few months.

Let me tell you (I'm sure most of you moms already know), it was extremely difficult to get a newborn to take down a full dropper of this stuff without her spitting it up. Lo and behold, I went back to the store and discovered BabyDdrops and they were an absolute godsend. Just one drop, yes, ONE drop has 400 IU and just one drop does the trick. I could either mix it into her food or place a drop on the tip of my nipple and she's had her recommended intake of Vitamin D. She is still breastfeeding but is in the process of weaning, she hasn't taken to cow's milk so I am still supplementing with the Baby Ddrops. Vitamin D supplementation during infancy will help in the prevention of juvenile diabetes and MS, that's why I'm adamant in choosing to supplement.

I cannot express enough how convenient and amazing it is.

When Ddrops so graciously asked me to review all of their products I was more than happy to try them and share with you guys! I recieved the Kids Ddrops and the adult Ddrops. I also went out and purchased more BabyDdrops courtesy of Ddrops to test out. They came in this trendy little tote bag along with an informational and super cute Dora and Diego growth chart. (If you go to Baby Ddrops FB Page and leave a comment or question about Vitamin D or Ddrops products you can get one for FREE too!)

My eldest daughter Gabriella is a picky eater. She takes after her mom it seems! So, I find myself trying out so many different ways to sneak in the essential vitamins to supplement her nutrition. I initiate Project V (ways to sneak in veggies) and I give her an Omega-3 supplement and she is a big fan of milk products. Which is a bonus for calcium and Vitamin D but, getting the recommended daily value to aid in calcium absorption is where the necessity lies.

But, did you know that growing girls need to get as much calcium as they can before the age of 9? According to my pediatrician, the most important bone building years for girls are from age 9-18 but, girls that age tend to intake less calcium and Vitamin D. Recent studies show that over 70% of kids and adolescents are deficient in Vitamin D, ultimately leaving them vulnerable to disease.

So, after discovering this and under the advice of my pediatrician, I choose to supplement Gabriella's diet with Vitamin D. I always recommend you speak to your physician before making any changes to your or your chiildren's diet or health practices.

Well, as soon as Gabriella saw the package she immediately said, "Aww, Mom can I try it??"

I didn't argue!

Little does she know that I've been sneaking it in her meals this whole time! One little drop inside one of the raspberries (pictured above) and she's good to go for the day. So, I'm fully content that she is getting her Vitamin D intake and it's so easy, I just drop it on her food and it's done!

I have been taking adult Ddrops and adding it to my protein shakes. I feel more energized and I'm happy I can get my Vitamin D in so easily. As much as I like the sun, I don't think I'm under it long enough to get the daily recommended value of 1000 IU's and my diet isn't overly loaded with calcium products.

So, do you need any more reasons for getting in your Vitamin D?

It's the sunshine vitamin in just one drop!

Well, Ddrops has generously provided me with Ddrops, Baby Ddrops and Kids Ddrops for 3 lucky readers!

Buy It!

You can purchase Ddrops products in most health stores and pharmacies. Big retailers like Shoppers, Rexall, Wal-Mart and Zellers carry them. You can also buy it online through Well.ca to name an example. Here is an full list of merchants. The price varies and can be $17.99 or lower and believe me, it is totally worth it for it's convenience.

Win It!

Contest is open to Canada only. Starts May 4th to May 11th until midnight, so enter NOW!

Mandatory Entry:

• Like Baby Ddrops on Facebook.
• Bonus: If you leave a question or comment on Baby Ddrops' wall about Vitamin D or Ddrops products you will win a Dora/Diego growth chart.

Extra Entries:

• Visit Ddrops site and tell me which product you want to try.
• Follow Baby Ddrops on Twitter.
• Like Whispered Inspirations on Facebook.
• Follow Whispered Inspirations on GFC.

Happy Entering and til the next time,

Cheers m'deres!

-NPC

Disclaimer: I received a sample of Ddrops and Kids Ddrops to review from the Ddrops Company and as well as a $25 GC  for Shoppers Drug Mart to go towards a sample of Baby Ddrops. I have not been compensated in any way and only provided an honest and unbiased position. The opinions I expressed are solely my own.

 

Being a mother is the best job I have ever had and ever will have.

 

That being said, I believe that you don't stop being a mother until the day you leave this earth. The job is 24 hours a day and you don't get holidays off. It's working through illness and stumbling through the graveyard shift. Don't forget, the early bird gets the worm too, right?

It's a tough job but is something that is irreplaceable.

So throughout the journey, against trials and tribulations, through hit and miss, we learn valuable lessons on parenting and arrive at a conclusion on what we view is the most optimal choices for our families and children.

No matter what language, race, creed or color a woman is, there is one thing that is universal. We have a universal yearning to be nurturers, to be protectors and we all authentically and genuinely want only the BEST for our kids.

Before I became a mother, I learned that knowledge is power. That didn't change when I made the conscious decision to be a mom. I sought out any material on what I thought would be best for my baby. Down to breastfeeding, Vitamin D supplementation, organic foods, making my own baby food and greener options towards living a greener life.

Magazine articles, books, classes. There are many choices.

But, who better to trust then another mom who is taking the same path or who has traveled on it not once, but many times?

As much as we love our brands and trust them, we trust mothers with their opinions a little more because we know they don't just want to sell, they generally want to inform people of the benefits or dangers of products.

We moms stick together.

There have been plenty of times that I have changed my mind about a product because of the passionate and informative opinions of other moms. The marketing and corporate sector have taken heed of the immense effect the word of mouth (that of mommy bloggers) have on mothers and caregivers.

With good reason.

Their opinions matter.

Google is a great tool for veterans, beginners and the curious. From how to take care of a teething baby, a fever-- right down to diapering options, beauty tips or support for any health related issue.

Information is power.

From being a constant gatherer of knowledge, I have the passion to contribute and share with other moms who are looking to be informed ongreen options, breastfeeding and basically any parenting experience that I have learned along my journey. (Always reminding to seek professional advice if they are unsure.)

Mom bloggers have taken a responsibility to be honest, maintain integrity and provide precise information for other mothers to reap benefit for their families.

This is how and why mommy bloggers have made and will continue to make a positive and reinforcing impact on the opinions of what products other Canadians will choose for the emotional and physical health of their families.

-NPC

Note: This article was inspired and published as an entry for the Ddrops Company Blissdom Contest. You can find me on Twitter at@WhispersInspire and on Facebook at Whispered Inspirations. You can also find me over at the Canadian Moms Online Community where I am a moderator for this wonderful community.

Family is one of the most important things to me. So, when AboutOne.com offered me a one-year subscription to their super detailed site that is entirely geared towards family...

I jumped at it.

Having a six-year old, an infant, husband and keeping a house and home keeps me busy enough and organization is often placed on the back burner.

AboutOne.com allows you to easily input your entire family's information including: Relationships, Health, Family, Education and Homes and even Tax Returns in just a few clicks.

Entering immunization records is ideal for me and having an online health record, a back-up, just in case I ever lose the hard copies is extremely beneficial. (Lord knows that I've lost them before.) I also like the option to keep track of all my contacts like doctors or pretty much anybody I'd like really!

It will remind me of important dates such as birthdays, Anniversaries or when the girls are due for a doctor's appointment. Even better, when my car is due for maintenance, something that with busy family life has fallen behind at times.

Now, how safe is it to add all this information on the internet?

That was one of my BIGGEST concerns to be honest. But, they have bank-level security people. So rest at ease. Nothing is obligatory and YOUcontrol what information you want to post.

Not to mention that you can update anything and I mean anything on any device. Whether you're at home or at a soccer game on your smart phone. This is actually one of the biggest things for me because my phone is my lifeline, I am never without it and if ever there is an emergency, I now have medical records and immunizations literally at my fingertips.

Needless to say, one of the most intriguing aspects of this site so far is the fact that you have monthly newsletters that include every milestone your children has or anything that you have decided to add to your newsletter and you can share it with your family.

There are printables that you can easily print out for your babysitters, caregivers or family that gives them detailed information about your children's health or care instructions that needs to be provided when you're not there.

Not to mention these printables also are very useful when applying for school and can aid as a more organized tool when applying for college.

One of the best parts of course, are the photo books. When you add milestones, you add text and have the option of adding a picture. You can easily browse through the milestones in scrapbook mode and it looks pretty neat with tacks and tape holding it up on a board. All your milestones and memories are transferred to your monthly newsletter if you so please.

Here is my November newsletter so far.

One of the most useful aspects of the site is the readily support that AboutOne.com offers, they have live chat help, email support and telephone inquiry if you need it. What makes it great is that this kind of support is very hard to find nowadays (especially social sites) and it's one of the delightful things that I've discovered using their service.

According to its creators, "AboutOne is an online family management system that helps busy families manage what matters most: precious memories and household information. It was designed by moms for moms (and dads too!) to make managing this information fast, fun, and easy."

Check out a brief description:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uALUCWToIg]

Now the question you're all anxious about. How much is this going to cost? Well, it's only a mere $30/year for full access. That's peanuts, I think, for having piece of mind and lifetime memories backed up.

Still not convinced? Try it free for 15 days (no credit card required) and give it a try, you can easily transfer data if you choose to upgrade to a full account. Either way, it's worth a try!

So, if you're thinking about getting organized and you want to do it in a fast and easy way, visit AboutOne.com and see what I'm talking about or add them on Twitter or Facebook for updates and information. It isn't just for moms, it's for dads and everyone really who wants to have an organized unit and information readily available to use or share with family. You don't have to be computer savvy either!

I'm loving it so far, I like the fact that I can control what I share with my friends and family, the fact that I have all my important documents or information backed up for whenever I need them. Most importantly, I am happy that I can track milestones that my girls go through and the memories that my husband and I share as a small little family. It is sure going to help in the hectic months to come and pretty gosh darn cute when it comes to sharing our Christmas newsletter!

Now, AboutOne.com has offered to give out 5 FREE, 1-year subscriptions (no credit card needed) to my readers! All you have to do is leave me a comment telling me why you'd want to try out AboutOne.com and how it would help you!

You can also subscribe to my blog via email for an extra entry or add me on Twitter here, but it's not necessary!

See, very simple! :P

Extra entries:

Follow AboutOne on Twitter for another entry!

Like AboutOne on Facebook for another entry!

Tweet this: "Ready to get organized? Enter to win & let @AboutOne help you out! Giving away five 1-year subscriptions! http://bit.ly/dAN7Hm #giveaway"

Just leave a comment below and let me know you have! Winners will be chosen using Random.org!

Well, til then, cheers m'deres!

-NPC

*Disclosure: I was provided a complimentary subscription in return for my honest opinion and review. I received no other compensation for this post.