A big CONGRATULATIONS to local children's entertainers Bobs & Lolo for winning a coveted 2009 Parents' Choice Gold Award!
The award goes to their latest album Action Packed, featuring songs like Muscles, I Love Bugs!,
Snappy Snacks and more. The Parents' Choice Awards program honours the very best products for children of different ages and backgrounds, and of varied skill and interest levels. It's considered a 'prestigious' award among children's products and has been described as the industry equivalent of an Academy Award.
Here's what long-time Parents' Choice music critic and staff writer at the Los Angeles Times, Lynne Heffley, has to say, "Bobs & Lolo, a.k.a. Robyn Hardy and Lorraine Pond, meet a challenge that sinks many would-be children’s artists: presenting frankly good-for-you messages without sounding preachy or patronizing. The duo’s smooth harmonies and frolicsome approach impart refreshing life to original songs…instead of sinking under their own worthy weight, these tuneful tracks float and shimmer like soap bubbles in the sun.”
We first saw the dynamic duo about three years ago at the Harmony Arts Festival here in Vancouver. Our daughter (now six) still absolutely adores them and both of us freely admit theirs is the only kids' music we actually like and find ourselves humming to... on a continual basis! The gentle Cindy Seahorse on their Sea Notes album, is a particular favourite. This latest win doesn't surprise us in the least.
Well done, ladies!
Listen to the award-winning Action Packed album and the entire Bobs & Lolo collection here at Lavish & Lime.
Happy Earth Day! Today we're celebrating Earth Day and the relaunch of the new eco-friendly Lavish & Lime.
You told us - in no uncertain terms - you wanted more of our eco-friendly items and more products made in Canada. So we listened. We've spent the last few months working behind the scenes on launching a new and improved Lavish & Lime and today's the big day.
So, what makes us all shiny and new you ask? Let us count the ways...
- All our new products are eco-friendly. Whereas previously we had one category specifically for green items, now all items stocked will be good for the planet. Each product has successfully passed through one or more of our three filters: eco-friendly, natural/non-toxic and made in Canada.
- Each product page features a 'three tick' identification tag (eco-friendly, natural/non-toxic, made in Canda) so you can see at a glance how the item fits into our product mix.
- We've put together a panel of people we consider experts - from journalists, to teachers to Moms of one, two and three kids - to check out our products. You don't just have to take our word for it anymore, you can shop with confidence knowing others agree these are great products.
- We're now offering a 'name your price' option at purchase. PriceWhispers is new bidding technology that let's you specify the price you'd like to pay for an item and an expiration date for your commitment to this price. We'll notify you if your bid is successful. It's about interactivity and price-sensitivity. You'll see it on our product pages under the 'add to cart' button - go on, try it!
- We're trying to make as much product information as possible available directly on the product pages so you don't have to search it out, including any relevant testimonials, media comments and opinions from our panel.
- We've revised our system so that we can now process orders from the USA online. A big welcome to all our neighbours to the south!
What's our favourite change? It has to be the new product mix. Every product has a feel good factor - that warm fuzzy feeling that you're doing something good for you and the planet too.
Now for the giveaways! (Wouldn't want you to leave empty handed.)
Our Earth Day special: gift with purchase. You'll receive an18-piece bamboo puzzle free with any purchase at Lavish & Lime. While supplies last. No minimum order size.
We've also teamed up with our friends Spud! and Naturebag so you can win big in our Great Eco-Giveaway. Plus, we're working with some of our favourite bloggers to offer you the chance to
win some great eco-friendly goodies. Click on the links below and follow the instructions to enter.
- Win more than $200 worth of green goodies, including a $50 gift certificate from online grocer Spud!, a Naturebag activity kit, a reusable water bottle, shopping bag, sandwich wrap and more. Just answer three quick questions and you're in with a chance of winning. Enter now at Lavish & Lime. Contest closes May 1, 2009.
- Win a reusable sandwich wrap at True Cuddles. Contest closes April 30, 2009.
- Win a bundle of eco-friendly stationery products, including a sugarcane notebook, newspaper pencils and plantable seeded note cards at a peek inside the fishbowl. Contest closes April 25, 2009.
- Win a reusable sandwich wrap at Glimpse. Contest closes April 27, 2009.
- Win a benny the tiger munchler insulated lunch bag at North West Mom Finds. Contest closes May 3, 2009.
- Win a $25 Lavish & Lime gift certificate at My Moms View. Contest closes May 4, 2009.
Check back for additions to this list - we have more giveaways in the pipeline. Good luck!
It's a just a week until Easter and most of us are thinking about a little chocolate and perhaps a gift that lasts beyond Easter morning.
For kids, how about a green rabbit insulated lunch bag, little yellow chick purse or an adorable keepsake bunny sculpture that's individually signed by its Canadian artist?
We also spotted this fantastic recipe on Vitamin Daily to keep the little ones busy - and happy - and had to share it. A friend has a book filled with loads of recipes where you can squeeze in different veggies to make sure the kids are getting all the nutrients they should. This is a cupcake recipe like that - and it sounds yummy! It's definitely made it onto our next-rainy-day-must-try list.
Beet Bunny CupcakesIngredients1 cup margarine or butter (softened)
1 ½ cup packed dark brown sugar
3 eggs 3 oz dark chocolate
2 cups pureed beets (5 medium beets)
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda¼ tsp salt
Method
Boil beets until soft and then place in blender and pulse until smooth puree forms. In a mixing bowl, cream ¾ cup butter and brown sugar. Add eggs, mix well. Melt chocolate with remaining butter, stir until smooth. Cool slightly. Blend chocolate mixture, beets and vanilla into the creamed mixture (it will appear separated). Combine flour, baking soda and salt, add to the creamed mixture. Line muffin tins with cupcake papers and fill ¾ full. Bake at 375 F for 30 minutes.
Finishing TouchesUse
a simple butter cream icing but cream cheese icing would also be delicious. To make a bunny face simply sprinkle coconut over the icing, cut large marshmallows in half and decorate with pink sprinkles for ears, and use little candies to create the eyes, nose and cheeks.
For more great Easter gift ideas, visit our online boutique Lavish & Lime.
Snappy Snacks and more. The Parents' Choice Awards program honours the very best products for children of different ages and backgrounds, and of varied skill and interest levels. It's considered a 'prestigious' award among children's products and has been described as the industry equivalent of an Academy Award.
