When you give a kid a cookie........

Do you love cookies?  I'm not sure I know anyone who doesn't!!

I have combined my love of baking with my artistic flair, and The Cookie Neesh has arrived!  We bake custom homemade hand-decorated sugar cookies for any occasion!  Perfect for loot bags, party platters or party favours at any event!!  Packaged on a platter or individually wrapped with coordinating ribbon to match!!  These cookies are not only decorative and delicious, but they are 100% nut-free, just the way we like it!!  So we may be nutty, but our cookies aren't!!

We are happy to have been part of Zack's Dream Room Fundraiser at Moraine Hills Public School this evening, and our cookies sold out!  It's our pleasure to help support such a wonderful cause!

So when you give a kid a cookie from The Cookie Neesh, you should probably get one for yourself too, they are too good to share!!  Call 647-408-9949 or email us at thecookieneesh@yahoo.ca !!

How old is old enough.....to leave them "HOME ALONE!!!"

Do you miss making last minute plans with your spouse? Do you wish you could go shopping......alone? Do you miss going for dinner without having to take each child to the bathroom, twice? 

As most parents know, when you have children, your vocabulary quickly changes to include words like: diapers, bottles, pacifiers, snotty noses and dirty bottoms, and undoubtedly, BABYSITTER!! For the next decade, at least, the opportunities to enjoy a night out, unplanned and totally spontaneous, are out the window like late nights at a club and sleeping in till 9am!!

After years of paying babysitters and bribing family members to "watch the kids, pleeeeeease!" we long for the days when we can trust our kids to stay home alone, so we can finally go grocery shopping alone, without kids asking for fruit gushers or fruit roll-ups, or the tempting chocolate at the check-out (oh wait, the chocolate part is me!!!)

So at what age is it legal to leave your child home alone?  Or does that responsibility depend on how much you trust your child not to discover and demolish your chocolate stash?  Apparently, age 10 seems to be the answer from most of my friends with children close in age to mine, and considering my son will be 12 in December, that answer was like music to my ears! (Justin Bieber of course!!!)

So if your child is at least 10 years old, you might want to try leaving them home alone for a short period of time, and if your chocolate stash goes undiscovered, it's a go!! You have officially entered Chapter 2 of parenthood, and your life just got a little easier! Enjoy grocery shopping alone and not having to hear "I'm staying in the car" every time you reach your next destination!  Amen!

The puppy blues - based on a true story!!

Do you remember bringing your baby home from the hospital?  Were you overwhelmed with sadness and fear of the unknown?  Did you ask yourself "When is the next time I will get a full nights sleep?!?!" I think many of us can remember that day vividly, and although my kids are now 5, 8 and 11, my memories are from 3 weeks ago.   Confused??  Well here we go........

We picked up our new puppy from the breeder on Friday December 17th, excited and nervous at the same time!!  I woke up the next morning, and much of the day, and the whole week that followed, is unbelievable and comical at the same time!!  I was in the shower and the tears started. I was crying, well.... bawling more like.  I couldn't stop.  The shoulders were going up and down, I couldn't see straight, and my mind was racing with thoughts of regret, sadness and wishing I had the ability to kick myself in the ass!!  WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING?!?!?!  A PUPPY??????  YOU'RE CRAZY!!!

I'm not sure anyone reading this will say "OMG, I thought it was only me!!!" but for some reason I think there may be a few of you out there who have had the Puppy Blues!!  The only difference betweeen bringing a puppy home vs. a baby, is there's no excuse for the extra 10lbs on your hips, and your boobs aren't leaking. 

After a week of puppy kisses, puppy breath, and puppy cuddles, my Lola was a keeper!!  I wouldn't trade her for the world, and my 3 kids are pretty cool too!!!  Heck, I'm keeping all 4 of them!!!  So yes I admit it, I cried, a lot, like a child whose double decker chocolate ice cream dropped off the cone, onto the dirty ground, throwing the 3-second rule out the window.  Yes, it was bad.  So the moral of the story is, think long and hard about getting a puppy, and don't be afraid to shed some tears, if you think you made the wrong choice.  Once you have picked up its poop, let it pee on you, and watched it as it sleeps, before you know it, you will wonder why you cried like a loser in the shower, while your unsympathetic husband tells you to "pull yourself together!!"   

Look on the bright side, your puppy can never tell you they hate you, say that you're the worst mother ever, or demand that you cook something different for dinner!!  Puppy love, there's nothing like it!!!!

ALLERMATES - PARENT TESTED PARENT APPROVED AWARD WINNER (PTPA MEDIA)

How would you know, by looking at a child, that they have an allergy?

How would you know, by asking a toddler, if they have an allergy?

Exactly..... you can't.

That's where the undeniable necessity of Allermates comes in. I was lucky enough to have my son test this product, specifically the orange "Peanut" wristband, and it was love at first sight.  Allermates are fun and colourful allergy awareness accessories, namely wristbands and dog tags featuring original cartoon characters. These products help safeguard kids with allergies while offering some peace of mind to their parents and caregivers.  They are easy to see and lets teachers, caregivers, parents and friends aware of your child's allergy. 

We all know that our allergic children can't be under our guarded supervision 24/7.  They go to school, to friends' houses, to birthday parties, and many other places where we can never guarantee their safety.  Sad but true.

Don't limit your child to wearing only one Allermates accessory. My son has the "peanut" wristband, and also wants the green "Tree Nut" wristband, as well as the necklace with the "Peanut" and "Tree Nut" dog tags!!  The more Allermates accessories my son wears, the more comfortable he feels. (his exact words!!!!)   I guess its a security thing, like a blankie!! Whatever makes them feel more secure, has no price tag.    Its simply a must-have.  Not only are these products hypo-allergenic, but they are bright, comfortable and easy to see, which is the most important. All bracelets are latex-free and necklaces and tags are nickel-free. 

I encourage you to visit www.allermates.com and you will be amazed by the research, thought and commitment that has gone into the development of this product.  They make a great gift, stocking stuffer  and are a must-have for every allergic child!!   

Safe Snacks: Packing lunches just got easier.

Packing lunches for your child can often seem like a chore. Especially when you are always questioning what is safe to send to school. Are you tired of sending the same snacks day after day?  Are you afraid of buying something new, unsure if its acceptable to send to school?

Here is a list of snacks that are nut-free. Please note that some of these items are not specifically labeled as nut-free, however, there are no nuts mentioned in the ingredient listings, and there are no allergy alerts on the packaging. As long as those 2 criteria are met, you can be sure they are safe for your allergic child to eat, and safe to send to school. Send something new in your child's lunch this week!!

Teddy Grahams
Chips Ahoy
Dunkaroos
Kellogg's Nutrigrain Bars
Rice Krispy Squares
Fruit-to-go fruit snacks
Fruit Roll-Ups
Pop Tarts
Smart Food Popcorn
Kernels Popcorn
Goldfish Crackers
Mr Christie's Bits & Bites
Dare Wagon Wheels & Cookies 
"Shasha" Cookies
Bear Paws
Mr Christie's Crispers
Quaker Granola Bars (not all flavours)
Rold Gold Pretzels
Sunkist Fruit Snacks
Mott's Apple Sauce Cups
Jello Pudding Cups
Yoplait Yogurt Tubes (yummy when frozen!!)
Black Diamond Cheese Strings

I hope this helps makes things a little easier when packing your child's lunch!!  Please use this list as a guideline, and remember to read the label every time as packaging can change without notice.

The "too good to be true" nut-free cookies!!!

Are you frustrated with telling your allergic child that they can't eat what everyone else is eating?  Have you been looking for a nut-free treat that is wholesome & delicious?  Are you looking for nut-free treats for gift-giving this holiday season? 

Well look no further, we have found (and sampled, yumm!!!) exactly what you have been looking for!!!   For several years, The Dutchess of Dough has been known as one of the finest homemade sugar cookie bakers in Toronto.  They offer birthday cakes, cupcakes, homemade sugar cookies, custom packaged cookies and gift baskets, all made in a nut-free environment, and made with the purest of ingredients to ensure a quality product.  Available at many retailers including What-a-Bagel, Pusateris, Nortown, Summerhill Market & more, you can satisfy your sweet tooth no matter where you are in the city!!!  We were able to sample these delicious cookies, and here is what our product evaluators had to say:

“Loved the combination of cookie & icing together. The perfect amount of sweetness!!”

 “Very impressed with the natural ingredients listing.”

 “I would definitely recommend these cookies to everyone I know!!”

 “At $1.99 each, these cookies are fairly priced for an occasional treat.”

 “My son loved the icing and the beautiful colourful design!!”

 “These cookies look gorgeous, and taste even better!!”

Our evaluators rated this product 4 out of 5 stars:

Visit The Dutchess of Dough website from 

"MY FAVOURITE NUT-FREE PRODUCTS & BAKERIES" link. These cookies are the best, but don't take our word for it!!!  You just HAVE to try them!!

Malik's re-test results.....no improvement, here's the proof.

I have been dealing with allergies and all its inconveniences, for 7 years.   Malik is followed by his allergist, Dr. Hummel, on a regular basis.  I took him for a re-test in September, and as you can see, there has been no improvement.   Dr.Hummel confirmed that Malik's results were among the worst he has seen in his practice.   So the journey continues.   When Malik's seasonal allergy symptoms started in April, and the runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion and lack of appetite continued well into the fall, I knew it was out of the range of normal.  I was right.  The re-test included seasonal allergens and we have now added ragweed, dust, pollen and grass to his list of severe allergies.

As you can see in these pictures, the 4 hives that begin on his lower back, as you would see 4 dots on a dice,  and increase in size, are the reactions to ragweed, dust, pollen and grass.  His reaction to nuts and peanuts are down the right side of his back, once again, proving to be extremely severe.

So for those of you who don't have allergic child, thank your lucky stars.  And maybe the reality of these pictures will help you understand the source of our anxiety, and why we all have to work together to keep our schools safe, it could easily be your child.    

                 30 seconds after exposure...

                1 minute after exposure....

3 minutes after exposure.... 

5 minutes after exposure..... with benadryl cream

All Oreo cookies are NOT created equal.

What goes better with a glass of cold milk, than a delicious Oreo cookie?  Well that all depends.  From Double Stuff to Wafer Stix, and Cakesters to Ice Cream Sandwiches, for those with nut allergies, it’s complicated.  Don't look for the well-known Oreo label, and assume that like the Original Oreo Cookie, that all their products are nut-free.   Yes it's true, all Oreo cookies are NOT created equal!!

I was browsing through my local grocery store, picking up a few items that I never seem to have enough of, milk, bread, cheese, and of course, cookies!!   I thought I would choose something different, instead of the boring old Arrowroot cookie!!!

I was amazed at the extensive line of Oreo products, but disappointed by the lack of consistently in it’s labeling.   You might also be surprised by my findings!!!

NUT FREE PRODUCTS:

Regular Oreos

Double Stuff Oreos

Golden Oreos

Mini Oreos

Oreo baking crumbs

Mini Cakesters – 100 calorie packs

Oreo ice cream cones

Oreo pie crust

NOT NUT-FREE:  (label reads “May contain”)

Full size Cakesters  

Oreo Sippers

Oreo Wafer Stix

Oreo Ice Cream sandwiches

Frozen Treats – 100 calorie size

Ice Cream

Considering that over 491 billion Oreo cookies have been sold since they were first introduced in 1912, Nabisco is definitely doing something right, but the confusion is clear. So pour yourself a glass of cold milk and choose your Oreo’s very carefully.   Happy Dunking!!

American Schools are NOT nut-free.....what????

I was recently invited to a friends house to share some laughs over a glass of wine (a glass quickly turned into a bottle!!)   We all sat around the kitchen table, there was myself, my friend, and 2 of her friends who were visiting from Michigan.  Needless to say, children and food quickly became the topic of conversation.

As we munched home made cookies, I mentioned my son’s allergy and how he would be so hesitant to eat cookies that weren’t homemade by his own Mommy!

What one of the ladies mentioned next, shocked me more than anything I have heard in recent months.  In Michigan, her child is allowed to take peanut butter sandwiches to school. Allergic children are seated together at their own table away from everyone else.  There are no restrictions on what children can bring for lunch. Are you serious???

Would you want to live in Michigan?  Would you want your child to play on monkey bars possibly smothered with peanut butter from another child’s hands?   Would you approve of your allergic child being seated at “their own table” to eat lunch, away from their friends and classmates?  

You would think the American statistics spoke for themselves.  Peanut allergies have doubled in children from 1997-2002.  There are 160 deaths reported annually in the United States directly related to peanut allergies.

After a lengthy debate, and a few bottles of wine, my opinion was clear.  And all I can say is I’m glad to be Canadian.   There are times I would love to be American if not for an endless supply of Red Velvet Cake Mix or weekly visits to The Cheesecake Factory. But to send my son to a nut-free school and to know that he is safe, I’d settle for white cake and Sara Lee cheesecake any day!!!

A nut by any other name..... is still a nut.

I should only be worried about food products when avoiding nut products, right?  WRONG!!!

As if it wasn't challenging enough.  Inspecting ingredient listings with a magnifying glass isn't enough if you don't what you're looking for.  It's easy to assume that the words "nuts" and "peanuts" are the only words that we should be afraid of.  If only it was that easy. 

Did  you know that "shea" is a nut, and is often found in cosmetics or hair products as a moisturizer or lotion?  My son had a reaction to hair cream that contained shea butter.  Thank goodness it didn't cause more than hives and minor swelling, but a reaction is still a reaction.

It is important to be aware of what nuts and peanuts can be disguised as in an ingredient listing. I hope this list helps you become more familiar with what to look for, whether you are looking for some chocolate to put a smile on a sad little face, or kleenex with lotion for a sore little nose...... knowledge is power.  Knowing these names can help catch any hidden sources of nuts or peanuts.

*arachis oil
*shea butter
*cacahouette
*goober nuts/goober peas
*ground nuts
*mandelonas
*Nu-nuts (peanuts that have been altered to look and taste like tree nuts)
*valencias
*anacardium nuts
*marzipan (almond paste)
*pinon

Read the label everytime.

No nuts for you..... next!!!!!!

Welcome to my blog!

I'm Nikki McDaniel, a very busy Mom with 3 wonderful children, Jayden (10), Malik (8) and Maia (5).  In October 2003, my decision to give my 18 month old son a peanut, changed my life forever.  He was too young to understand what this meant, but I certainly wasn't.   First came the cough, struggling to catch a breath, hives, and vomiting.  A Thanksgiving celebration turned to a life and death situation in the emergency room.  Thank goodness, after hours of observation, and dose upon dose of benadryl, he was okay.  This time.  Who knows what could happen next time.  Instantly, I went from being carefree, impulsive and easy-going, to cautious, nervous and deathly afraid.

Allergy tests revealed that Malik had an anaphylactic allergy to peanuts and all tree nuts.  A 4+ on the 1-4 scale that other nut-free moms are familiar with.  It doesn't get worse than that.

Over the past 7 years, I have become the nut-free expert at home and at work.  Ironically, I started working at a nut-free Nursery School only 5 months before Malik's diagnosis.  Creating emergency anaphylaxis plans for our allergic students, became an introduction to something I never thought I would have to deal with.

The purpose for my blog is to share my experiences and personal struggles with you.  I have come across many products, both food and non-food, that have become life-saving replacements for what we once knew.  I will share with you my reviews of those, hoping to make your life with a nut-free child, as easy as possible.

Even if you don't have a child with allergies, I hope my blog will help you appreciate our struggle and realize that creating a nut-free environment for our children is a life-saving task.  Our children live with the fear of death every single day and it's our job to protect them.

And yes there is more to life than nutella and chocolate covered almonds!!!