Friday, November 8, 2013

Crest 3D White Annoucement #PGMom

Did you know Canada.. today at  1 p.m. EST, Crest 3D White invites you to be among the first to hear an exciting global announcement from their global ambassador, multi-platinum artist and two time GRAMMY award-winning star, Shakira!

Tune into a special livestream interview to hear, live from Barcelona and from Shakira herself a special announcement you won’t want to miss!



This special event is a pinnacle moment in the 3D White and Shakira partnership. 3D White believes that behind every beautiful, multidimensional smile, there is story. A brilliantly radiant smile is a powerful expression of who we are.  A beautiful and true statement.

Click here to watch the announcement at 1pm EST today (Friday, November 8 2013).


Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom/mamanP&G. As part of my affiliation with this group I receive products and special access to P&G events and opportunities. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Playskool Elefun

Did you know Canada..  baby Lucas LOVES toys!  He, just like his big bros, especially loves toys that include balls.  I find those toys so versatile as he loves to rub the ball in his mouth, chase after it while crawling, and play with the big toy too.  We have been loving the Playskool Poppin' Park Elefun Busy Ball Popper!



The balls pop out of the trunk and roll around, we love that it comes with 5 balls in case a sneaky one hides under the table, plus Lucas always likes to hold at least one while he plays.  We also love that it plays 10 fun tunes, which Mom and Dad especially love as sooooometimes hearing the same song over and over can get a little irritating, but this breaks it up nice and it lots of fun.  The base is stable which is perfect for little ones that pull up on everything.  Store the balls in the elephant's tummy, which makes it perfect to bring to Gramma's house or on a play date.  We've had a lot of fun with this and it would be a great present for a little one's first Christmas, even if they are not crawling yet it's a great gift idea they will grow into and enjoy playing with the balls for now.



Another great Elefun toy Lucas has been having fun with is the Playskool Learnimals ABC Adventure Elefun Toy.  This toy packs an educational punch with 100 words introduced and 75 sound effects, and the screen is amazing!  This is not a screen toy of old, it's like watching a tv!  When you pull down the elephant's trunk the toy will say the word that goes with the light up image shown. Then when you rolls the drum, it will say another word! Pulling down the mouse shows shapes and colors, it's really impressive!   Playskool Learnimals ABC Adventure Elefun Toy is a Parent Tested, Parent Approved award winning toy and you can see why!  It's also Lucas approved, he's been very interested in the screen and he even tries out some of the letter sounds which is a so fun to hear.  Another great gift idea from Hasbro Canada!


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Skights

Did you know Canada..  Mommy owned and Canadian Made Skights are Lil' tights made for our lil' dudes!  These cute and comfortable tights have a stay-put design to help keep them in place and trust me, if they stay up on this busy bee they will stay up on any little man.

We have been loving these for the cold days and nights we've been having (which are only going to get worse before they get better!).  I love having these tights on Lucas when holding him at school pick up for his big bros and holding him at the bros hockey games.  I bet if you have a little man you also spend more time trying to pull down their pant legs that keep riding up than anything else.  With Lil' tights by Skights you don't have to worry about pant legs riding up because you little ones feet, ankles and legs are still cozy warm and protected!



They also have padded knees for our busy crawlers, we often put them and a body suit on Lucas after a bath for him to play around his room in before jammie time.



Great idea for little ones stocking this Holiday Season, at only $14.99 a pair (and save 10% when ordering 3 or more) these are a perfect little surprise for the holidays!  Coming in 6 sweet colours you can match to any outfit or add a pop of colour.

Visit Skights to get your Holiday order in now and stay up to date with them on Twitter and Facebook!

Monday, November 4, 2013

Apricot Collection

Did you know Canada..  Ontario based Apricot Collection is a unique online women's clothing store that specialized in fashionable and stylish clothes for moms.  I've really enjoyed chatting with founder Michelle Herscu, who, just after having her second child is 2012 realized that no matter what, she won’t be able to get her pre-pregnancies body back, and she actually liked her additional curves. Problem was – finding styles that actually looked good on her (and not just on the model from the ad), complimented, and were stylish and fashionable.  Michelle decided to create an online women’s clothing store (targeted towards moms in particular).

Apricot Collection features the brand Allistyle in their Plus Size section, Allistyle was the created by Alli Shapiro and her mother Pam Shainhouse. Alli unfortunately passed away in July 2006 from Hodgkin's Lymphoma which she had been suffering from since 1999 which had left her experiencing bouts of weight gain and loss which often left her in tears when she shopped for clothing.

Pam continued their vision to create a collection, Allistyle is completely made in Canada, even the fabric.  The fabric is sustainable, with the use of viscose from bamboo and organic cotton. The characteristics of the line are simplicity, comfort, sophistication, travel friendly and classic. Allistyle does not advocate large shapeless dressing, but clothing that hugs your curves providing the woman with a gorgeous silhouette.

Allistyle is a social enterprise where a percentage of net proceeds will support Alli’s Journey, a registered charity which supports young adults with cancer. Two of the initiatives orchestrated by Alli’s Journey are the Comfort Rooms in hospitals and the Comfort Bags. The bags are distributed free of charge to all young adults with cancer, ages 18 to 35. The comfort room, a first of its kind in Canada opened at Wellspring, on the Sunnybrook campus in 2011. These are a sanctuary for young adults where they can find some respite during their struggle. Special programs run in this room that help them get through this challenging battle.



I received Allistyle's Sweater Dress - a long, straight cardigan with great pockets and ruffles, it looks cute buttoned and unbuttoned.  I've really been enjoying this as it can help dress me up no matter what I am wearing or what the kids have done to me that day.  As I work from home but often run into the office for meetings this is a perfect accessory to have!  You'll never find a wrinkle is this cardigan either, it keeps its shape well, is very comfortable and I love the deep pockets - Mom's can never have enough pockets can we!

This soft, comfortable and best of all, usable piece, would make a beautiful Christmas present for any special Mom in your life!

Visit Apricot Collection to view this and even more beautiful pieces - enjoy free shipping across Canada and secure payment by PayPal!  We have a fun treat for our readers as well, to help a special someone with their holiday shopping, we have a $25 Apricot Collection gift card to giveaway, enter below for your chance to win!


Canadian Giveaway Linky! 11/04

Did you know Canada.. We are so happy to once again bring you this weekly feature with our co-host Tales of a Ranting Ginger - Every Monday we are opening a weekly linky for giveaways open to Canadians. We appreciate everyone's interest and contributions!

Do you have a blog that is running a giveaway and it's open to Canadians?? Link up below!!

Visit here through out the week to find giveaways open to Canadians and get winning!! Good Luck!!



Sunday, November 3, 2013

Our Kids Toronto Private School Expo

Did you know Canada.. Toronto Private School Expo is one of the largest in Canada, bringing the most advantageous private schools under one roof, so parents and kids can meet with school representatives and get questions answered.

Toronto Private School Expo

Last week we had an opportunity to attend Toronto Private School Expo at Roy Thomson Hall. From year to year, this Expo has proven to be a huge success, becoming bigger and better. When it comes to education it is great to have some preparation and research. And it is never too early to learn, get the information you need about application, how to fill it and how many school you should consider for applying.

Fieldstone

At Toronto Private School Expo I spoke with directors, representatives and even students. Every school is special and unique same as every child and has its own philosophy. The parents’ mission is to find the one that fits their kid in environment, programs it offers and academic expectations. Day or boarding, single-sex, co-ed, Montessori, Waldorf schools were there to present their fabulous and successful programs as well the achievements and students they are so proud of.

Northmount

Take a look at Northmount School for boys, which helps each student to reach his greatest academic potential while building strong partnership between students, parents and teachers. The Giles School offers French Immersion from age 2 to Grade 8 or Fieldstone day school where academics, arts, music lessons, athletics and social development are introduced to lead students to their own academic and social achievements. Another significant benefit of private schools is small size classes and ability to focus and tailor education programs for every particular student.

The Giles School

The more you learn about schools the better you understand what you need for your kid, more questions you have to ask better understand the schools environment from curriculum, homework guidelines to school safety and teachers qualifications.

School

The Expo also introduced informative educational seminars on the topics how to choose the best school, admissions and financial advice. From such a variety of private schools at the Expo I was able to narrow my choices to three-four ones. Next step is to book a tour at the chosen schools and find what you and your child like the most.

If you did not have a chance to attend the Expo, helpful tools and resources can be found on OurKids web site, plus get your copy of Our Kids Canada’s Private School Guide here.

La Citadelle 

Faniya 
Teddy Out-Ready

Friday, November 1, 2013

Start thinking Holidays!

Did you know Canada..  our 2013 Holiday Gift Guide is now live!



It's time to get out there and shop, stay tuned as we add even more items to our guide and post product reviews - there are some amazing ideas for this Holiday Season!

Have you started your shopping yet??

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Happy Halloween!

Did you know Canada..  The practice of Guising (children disguised in costume going from door to door for food or coins) at Halloween in North America is first recorded in 1911, where a newspaper in Kingston, Ontario reported children going "guising" around the neighbourhood.



Hope everyone has fun tonight!  (it's raining here, boo!)

Stay tuned as we switch gears tomorrow and start thinking Holidays!!!

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Get in the know about Auto Insurance #AutoXplained

Did you know Canada..  when chatting with friends about insurance I hear a lot about how those who have never made a claim deserve a very low rate, or how the kids with the "race cars" should be paying triple the rest of us.  Some might be surprised to know insurance companies really aren't picking on you, there are set systems in place that are used to calculate your premium.

Factors that are used include..
  • Where you live - collisions and auto theft are more likely in urban areas
  • What car you drive - make, model, year, value and potential repair cost are all taken into account
  • What you use your car for - the more you drive, the higher your collision risk
  • Your driving record and driver profile




What are some things you can control to reduce the cost of auto insurance? Drop collision coverage on an older car, get package deals by insuring both your car and home with the same company, install an approved theft deterrent system and buy a car with a lower-cost insurance rating.

If there is a claim do you wonder where the money will come from?  Well it works like this - the premiums of the many pay for the losses of a few.  So everyone's premiums (payments) go into a large pool and when someone makes a claim the money comes out of that pool.

Know the facts about auto insurance and why we pay what we do.


Although this post has been generously sponsored by IBC, the opinions and language are all my own, and in no way do they reflect The Insurance Bureau of Canada.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Mortgages in Canada

Did you know Canada..  we all know that deciding to get a mortgage is probably the biggest
financial decision you will ever make yet it's still a gray area for a lot of first time home owners.  Before you get a mortgage or change or renew one, it is important to do some research and be informed in order to get the mortgage that best suits your needs.

One of the first steps is to look into Canadian mortgage rates and compare different lenders, don't just walk into one bank and be done with it.  You also need to know if you want an open or closed mortgage - the difference between the two boils down to the amount of flexibility you have in making extra payments on the principal or in paying off the mortgage completely. These types of extra payments are called prepayments.

Open mortgages allow you to make prepayments whenever you want. Closed mortgages often include prepayment privileges, which give you the option to make prepayments up to a certain amount.  By making prepayments, you can save thousands of dollars in interest charges by paying down your mortgage faster but the interest rate on a closed mortgage is usually lower than on an open mortgage with a comparable term length.

Looking into mortgage rates and using online calculators to review possible monthly payments is a good way to see what purchase price on a house you can afford.  Remember, you also need to have a down payment ready - the minimum down payment is at least 5% of the purchase price and in some cases even more.

Speaking of rates, you need to know if you want a fixed, variable or hybrid interest rate.  With fixed you will know in advance the amount of interest you will have to pay; with variable the interest the rate can increase or decrease during the term and some lenders offer "hybrid" or combination mortgages—part of the mortgage is financed at a fixed rate and part is financed at a variable rate.

You may not know that mortgages don't have to be paid once a month, there's also semi-monthly, biweekly, weekly and accelerated options.  Accelerated weekly and accelerated biweekly payments can save you thousands, or even tens of thousands in interest charges, because you'll pay off your mortgage much faster using those options.  The reason is that with the "accelerated" options, you make the equivalent of one extra monthly payment per year. Regular weekly and biweekly options do not provide the same benefits.

A lot to consider and research to discover the value of the mortgage you can afford should be your first thoughts before you go house shopping!


Halloween with Hasbro Canada!

Did you know Canada..  Halloween doesn't just have to be about candy!  There are easy ways to offer a fun treat to the kids without the sugar and Hasbro Canada has you covered.



We LOVE blind bags like the Kre-O Transformers Micro-Changers Mystery Pack.  You get to build your own Transformers adventures with the 2-in-1 Micro-Changers, that means in one little package the pieces can turn into either a "guy" or a vehicle, very fun and the kids love to build and rebuild over and over again.  The surprise factor is also so much fun, wondering which guy will be inside, the boys love them!



The Play-doh Halloween bag offers another way to treat the kiddos, these colourful little cans offer fun for hours and hours.  I love these small cans best because the kids like to use lots of different colours anyways, so big cans don't get wasted.

Best yet comes a big surprise, either for a costume, themed party or a big surprise if Halloween night gets rained out (it looks like that is happening here, yikes!) - the Star Wars Darth Vader Voice Changer Helmet is so fun, not only does it change your voice when you are wearing it, there's also
another button that plays different Darth Vader sayings.  This is extra fun for us since we have baby Lucas, hubby has been having fun saying "Luke, I am your Father" to him..lol!  By the way, a little piece of trivia for you, did you know that line is never uttered in the movie?  The actual line is "No, I am your father" - huh!

To go with it is the Star Wars Anakin to Darth Vader Colour Change Lightsaber Toy - this is a must have for any Star Wars fans.  I bet your kiddos are like my boys who love to act out scenes and their own stories where you can start out an Anakin and with a press of a button you've turned into Darth, it makes a really cool sounds when you switch them too - great for play and homemade YouTube videos. ;-)

Just a few of the fun things Hasbro Canada has to offer to treat the kids this Halloween!

Monday, October 28, 2013

My Visit to P&G's North American Headquarters #PampersBloggerDay #BabyBoard #PGMom

Did you know Canada..  a couple weeks ago you'll remember I headed to Cincinnati to visit not only P&G's North American Headquarters but also get the inside scoop on all things Pampers.



After getting up at 2am (yikes!) for a 4am pick up to the airport I traveled with the one other Canadian blogger in attendance, Tammy from InRdream and one of the amazing PR members representing P&G.  After a smooth flight and a sweet greeting at the airport from more members of the team we were taken to a REALLY cool hotel in Cincinnati - 21c Museum Hotel.



I received a sweet package from the Pampers team waiting for me in our room and it was soon off to one of our special treats - a blow out!  Keeping on theme with the extended dryness of pampers diapers, we got our hair done, quick makeup touch ups and photos taken - so fun!

That night we were treated to an amazing dinner and got to meet some of the people behind Pampers and P&G which I really enjoyed.  We also got to get to know many of the bloggers that
make up the American #BabyBoard - love to meet other mama's that know their diapers!


Day two was packed with a visit to the P&G Archives - I could have spent all day here!  It's amazing the history of P&G they have collected and the history behind the brand itself.  P&G's first branded product was Ivory Soap and the trail of products that extends from that first bar of soap is outstanding.  By the way - a little fun fact for you - when Ivory soap was first introduced you used to cut the bar in half and not only use it in the bathroom but also use it for laundry, in the kitchen, etc!

Then it was on to the Baby Care headquarters where we were introduced to some of the most amazing people, I really just want to take a moment to say you would not believe the strong, intelligent, knowledgeable and family oriented people behind the Pampers brand.  If I could bring them to everyone's home and let you meet them you would be in awe.  I've heard the saying many times to surround yourself with good people and the Pampers brand has truly has surrounded itself with good people.  Some of the amazing people I met that day included Pama Francisco, VP Pampers North America; Felix Olmo, Brand Manager Pampers North America; Jennifer Counts, Global Product Stewardship; Sofie Snauwaert, Associate Director Product Development; Dianna Kenneally, Scientific Communications Manager P&G Baby Care North America.  This is just a hand full of the people that were introduced to us, and (love this!) we were also introduced to their families!  We saw pictures of who they loved, we heard about maternity leaves and powerful woman that prove a career and a family can go hand in hand, it was amazing!

We also learned that research behind Pampers starts in the home, they literally visit Moms and babies in their home and hear what Mom has to say and what they BOTH need.  In just 1 year 9000 moms are interviewed, they have 250 hours of recorded interviews and 25+ studies completed.  Pampers follows the highest regulatory standards, they know the EXACT composition of every single ingredient used from ALL suppliers, and every single concern they receive is followed up on.

I have some other fun Pampers facts - Pampers is the most global brand IN THE WORLD!  Sold in 130 countries there are 50 million babies served each day by Pampers.  There are 550 Baby Research and Development employees and 700 Baby Technical Employees.



During our Discovery Center Tour we were treated to a very special behind the scenes look at exactly how a diaper is made, specifically a cruiser during our tour, and met such an amazing employee that gave us all the info - time and again I was blown away by how excited, proud and motivated Pampers employees were, it was awesome.  We were also shown MRI technology being used to see exactly how diapers fill up, shown some fun experiments against other brands (hint: Pampers wins!), and shown where they interview real Moms and babies, have little ones come in and actually test the diapers, have Moms test diapers at home and bring them back (yes, filled!), I really couldn't believe how much was behind the little (well okay it's big) box of diapers sitting in Lucas' room!  Through listening to Mom's this is why they've just released Swaddlers in sizes 3-5, because they know we Mom's loved them and wanted to continue to use them on our little ones.

We also got to help choose designs for future Pampers wipes - you'll find out the winners in August 2014!!



That night we were treated to a fun dinner The Art of Entertaining which is a restaurant the likes of which I have never been before - there is no planned seating, you just sit where you want, food is served buffet style, head to the bar when you need a drink and we had a competition to make our own dessert - it was amazing!

As hard as it was to leave the kiddos for a few days I would do this trip again and again, the people, science and knowledge behind the Pampers brand is outstanding!  Thank you Pampers, P&G, the Citizen Optimum team, it was an eye opening experience!

Stay tuned for even more info on Pampers latest innovations!


Canadian Giveaway Linky! 10/28

Did you know Canada.. We are so happy to once again bring you this weekly feature with our co-host Tales of a Ranting Ginger - Every Monday we are opening a weekly linky for giveaways open to Canadians. We appreciate everyone's interest and contributions!

Do you have a blog that is running a giveaway and it's open to Canadians?? Link up below!!

Visit here through out the week to find giveaways open to Canadians and get winning!! Good Luck!!



Sunday, October 27, 2013

#GLADgruesome update!

Did you know Canada..  you'll remember last week we carved our pumpkin early and tested out throwing the pumpkin insides in a GLAD® compostable bag.  After sitting for a good 4 days we had a peek and wow!  The pumpkins guts itself were pretty gross looking but look at the container!  No condensation on the lid, no leaks and there was NO SMELL.  Hubby even asked me where I had been keeping the container because he couldn't believe we hadn't been smelling it for 4 days.



I'm really impressed with the results and now more likely to be better about my compost from food scraps knowing it's not going to stink up the whole house or get anything icky.

Do you compost food scraps?  Will you now that you know it really is do able without the ick factor?!


Thursday, October 24, 2013

Toronto Private School Expo 2013

Did you know Canada.. Just a reminder that Toronto Private School Expo is taking place this Saturday, October 26th.
Toronto Private School Expo

The Our Kids Private School Expos hosted annually in Toronto and other big Canadian cities to bring top schools together in one place so families can ask questions and explore all of their options. If you are interested in finding a private school for your child or learning more about private education, the Our Kids Private School Expos are the place for families to start.

Speaking face-to-face with school representatives and current students is an incredible opportunity to learn about each school’s unique programs and philosophy, as well as the benefits a private school education has to offer. When you find the right school for your kids, you’ll see a big difference in their love of learning.

Get your exclusive FREE VIP admission passes to Toronto Private School Expo, compliments of Did You Know Canada? using the promocode “DYK” by registering here. Hope to see you there.

When and Where: 
Saturday, October 26th, 2013
11:00am to 3:00pm

Location: 
Roy Thomson Hall,
60 Simcoe Street
Toronto, ON M5J 2J5

Faniya
Teddy Out-Ready

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Carving our pumpkin with #GLADgruesome

Did you know Canada..  Halloween is next week!  They boys are so excited, we have candy coming out our ears, costumes are ready and tried on (and tried on again and again), we can't wait!

One of the best things about Halloween around here is picking, displaying and craving pumpkins!

This year we set out to carve our big pumpkin a little early, the boys insisted it needed a bat on it, so hubby searched around the web and free handed this cool design!



We had a lot of fun craving pumpkins with Lucas, his first Halloween!  Yay!



To store the pumpkin "guts" we are doing a fun challenge with GLAD - we have stored the pumpkin insides in a GLAD® compostable bag, in a small trash can and the lid in closed.  We will check back in a few days to see what's happened - is it stinky? did the trash can get all gross? I'm excited to find out.  One thing I can tell you, is that after we closed it up I forgot to get a picture, so I opened the lid and wheeew! The still fresh pumpkin smell was in my face, I couldn't believe how well the bag was containing the smell, you couldn't smell a thing before opening the lid.

Stay tuned for the results of our experiment!

When do you carve your pumpkins??


Monday, October 21, 2013

Halloween Safety Tips for Pets from @Iams

Did you know Canada..  As if your dog or cat isn’t already cute enough, Halloween is one of the best times of year to dress up your furry friends and include them in the family fun.  Check out our little Bailey in her Butterfly Costume..hehe!



Although dressing up your pets in costumes can be a treat, Halloween can be one of the most dangerous times for animals because they often get excited or spooked from all the noise and visitors. Here are four points to consider for your pet’s safety this October.

Of all candy, chocolate is one of the most toxic for pets – which also happens to be very popular around Halloween. Keep your petsaway from the candy bowl and trick-or-treat bags off the floor to avoid choking hazards. It’s also important to inform your children of how dangerous tasty Jolly Ranchers and Kit-Kat bars can be to their furry friends. If you have this chat in advance, kids might be more cautious and won’t be tempted to share their treats.

If you choose to dress your dog or cat up this year, make sure costumes aren’t too tight. A sailor hat may look cute on your cat’s head but the string attached may be irritating its neck. Just like people, pets need to be able to breathe comfortably and move safely without tripping or being unable to see and hear.

With the door opening and closing all night, animals might take this as an opportunity to run away. Make sure to keep pets in a safe and enclosed area – even turn on a radio or TV to help suppress knocks at the door and outside sounds. If you plan to let your dog or cat in on the excitement, don’t forget they might be frightened by people in costumes. To keep them calm, say things such as “it’s OK” or “don’t be scared” in a soft and sympathetic voice.

Candles and jack-o-lanterns should be kept at a safe distance or up on table tops. The flames or hot wax can cause burns on your pets and even a fire if knocked over. As an alternative, use flashlights and LEDs to safely spook-up your house. If your jack-o-lantern or other decorations has a power cord, make sure your pet can’t chew them.

These simple precautions can make for an enjoyable Halloween for the entire family. For more pet safety tips for your cat and dog all year round, visit the SPCA, OSPCA, Iams or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/iams.

Do you dress up your furry friend for the Holidays?  Tweet a pic to @Iams or share your photo on Iams Facebook page!


Halloween with Hallmark Canada

Did you know Canada..  we are just getting out Halloween decorations out, how about you?  The weather has finally turned chilly and we are in the mood for fall, pumpkins, hay bales, ghosts, spiders, witches and more!

Hallmark Canada has you cover for super fun decorations in every ghost, goblin, witch, spider and spooky way possible.  Here's a few of our favourites we have around the house..



"Whoo's Watching Me?" Singing Owl - everyone loves this cute owl, including the baby!  When you press the button he sings, the tree stump lights up and his eyes move back and forth, really cute!



Alive & Talking Pumpkin - makes a ton of different faces and has really funny saying like "ever since the carving I've just had this empty feeling inside" hehe.. that's our favourite one.  His face moves as he talks, you can set it for motion sensor so he talks when you walk by or just have it static and you can push a button to cycle through his different faces - this is a really fun one to get.



Fortune-Telling Magic Mirror - another motion sensor, we have this hanging by our front door to surprise visitors, works as a mirror until someone walks by then the fortune teller offers fun Halloween predictions!

Visit your local Hallmark store for all this and more!  We love these products not only for the fun and looks, but also quality!  We have Hallmark decorations from previous years that look and work every bit as good as the day we got them.

How are you decorating for Halloween?

Canadian Giveaway Linky! 10/21

Did you know Canada.. We are so happy to once again bring you this weekly feature with our co-host Tales of a Ranting Ginger - Every Monday we are opening a weekly linky for giveaways open to Canadians. We appreciate everyone's interest and contributions!

Do you have a blog that is running a giveaway and it's open to Canadians?? Link up below!!

Visit here through out the week to find giveaways open to Canadians and get winning!! Good Luck!!



Monday, October 14, 2013

Thanksgiving 2013!

Did you know Canada..  I wanted to wish you all a happy Thanksgiving!  A day to spend with family, maybe draw some secret Santa names for Christmas, get a last romp in the backyard, and eat massive amounts of food - what could be better!

Canadian Thanksgiving happens on the second Monday in October, and officially is the Canadian holiday to give thanks at the close of the harvest season.

It was on Thursday, January 31, 1957, that the Canadian Parliament proclaimed:
“A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed – to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October.”

In it's history our First Nations always celebrated the close of the harvest, thanks to Wikipedia I also learned..

Starting in 1879 Thanksgiving Day was observed every year, but the date was initially a Thursday in November. The date of celebration changed several times until, in 1957, it was officially declared to be the second Monday in October. The theme of the Thanksgiving holiday also changed each year to reflect an important event to be thankful for. In its early years it was for an abundant harvest and occasionally for a special anniversary.

After World War I, an amendment to the Armistice Day Act established that Armistice Day and Thanksgiving would both be celebrated on the Monday of the week in which November 11 occurred, starting in 1921. Ten years later, in 1931, the two days became separate holidays, and Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day. From 1931 to 1957, the date was set by proclamation, generally falling on the second Monday in October, except for 1935, when it was moved due to a general election. In 1957, Thanksgiving was permanently set to be the second Monday in October.

I hope you enjoyed the day!  What are you thankful for??


Great things happening with @Almond_Fresh!

Did you know Canada..  Canadian beverage company, Almond Fresh, has some big fun happening
on their Facebook page!

You can send a refreshing drink to a friend, like a Good Morning Almond Berry smoothie, and Honey Banana Blast smoothie or a Apple-Tini cocktail, along with a fun message AND be entered into an amazing contest!  With 46 daily Almond Fresh prize packs and a KitchenAid Countertop Appliance prize pack and one year of Almond Fresh to be won - you need to head over there now!

I HAD to checkout what this Apple-Tini Cocktail was all about, and it's so easy!

2 oz apple juice
1 oz Almond Fresh Unsweetened
splash caramel syrup
dash fresh lemon juice

1.  Combine ingredients over ice in a martini shaker.
2.  Shake vigorously and serve in martini glass.
3.  Garnish with a cherry or apple slice.

Simple ingredients with a tasty result, what a fun recipe to use for fall!

Canadian beverage company Almond Fresh produces almond milk that is vegan and non GMO.  Almonds have a whole host of benefits include helping to lower cholesterol as part of a diet low in saturated fat, and excellent source of calcium and vitamin D, a source of vitamin E and that vitamin E is the most easily absorbed antioxidant known!  It protects cells from oxidation by removing free radicals, which contribute to aging.

Rep the benefits of almonds with Almond Fresh, check out their fun contest on Facebook and enter below for your chance to win $20 in Almond Fresh vouchers so you can try it for yourself!  Good luck Canada!

Giveaway

Canadian Giveaway Linky! 10/14

Did you know Canada.. We are so happy to once again bring you this weekly feature with our co-host Tales of a Ranting Ginger - Every Monday we are opening a weekly linky for giveaways open to Canadians. We appreciate everyone's interest and contributions!

Do you have a blog that is running a giveaway and it's open to Canadians?? Link up below!!

Visit here through out the week to find giveaways open to Canadians and get winning!! Good Luck!!



Saturday, October 12, 2013

DK Canada - Craft Boutique

Did you know Canada..  fall is a great time to pick up a new hobby, activities often slow down (unless you are a hockey family!), weekends are a bit more free and let's face it, we are spending A LOT more time indoors.



If you are thinking about starting a new hobby or brushing up on an old one, DK Canada has you covered with a huge range of books on so many topics.  Handmade Gifts, Beaded Jewelry, Stitching, Woodworking, Knitting, the list goes on!

Around here, since the birth of our little man Lucas, we have really been into photography.  We purchased a DSLR and are always very interested in learning about setting up a shot, the best techniques, settings to use in different situations, and really how to photography absolutely everything!



And guess what - there is a book for EXACTLY that!  How to Photograph Absolutely Everything by Tom Ang is a stunning book filled with tips, know how and easy to follow instructions for everything from city lights at night, animals in action, thunderstorms to those kiddos that never stop moving.  Both my husband and I are really enjoying this easy to read yet incredibly knowledgeable book (what a great gift idea too!).



We've also been checking out another of Tom Ang's books, The Complete Photographer.  The Complete Photographer is based around tutorials on ten different genres — Portraits, Landscape and Nature, Fashion, Wildlife, Sport, Documentary, Events, Travel, Architecture, and Fine Art-and shows in step-by-step detail how an idea progresses from concept stage to final image.  Another gorgeous book that leaves you feeling knowledgeable about each topic, I really loved the Travel section.

DK Canada's Craft Boutique offers 30% off on all these amazing books, but only until October 15th, so shop this weekend, remember to think about the upcoming holidays when placing an order as well - I know a few that would enjoy the "Home Brew Beer" book for Christmas!


Friday, October 11, 2013

New Pampers Innovations! #PampersBloggerDay #PGmom

Did you know Canada..  next week I am one of only 2 Canadian #PGmom bloggers that will be joining the Pampers Baby Board at P&G North American headquarters to learn all about Pampers LARGEST innovation in the history of their brand!



We know that dryness is a MUST right Moms and Dads?  If you happened to watch the video I made with pampers, I discuss this very thing - overnight dryness is a must (Did you know - by the age of 24 months, an average child will have spent more time asleep than all other waking activities combined!).

Well now, across the entire Pampers line, Pampers diapers are now three times drier than ordinary diapers, which of course result in the best possible experience for baby (and Mom and Dad).

Another big news item - Pampers has listened to us - they know how much we LOVE Swaddlers - and Swaddlers diapers are now available in larger sizes, all the way up to Size 5!

I'll be sharing my experience next week on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, watch for the #PampersBloggerDay hashtag to follow the story.

Looking forward to my big adventure next week and learning everything I can about Pampers and their latest and greatest innovations!


The Croods - now on Blu-ray and DVD!

Did you know Canada..  my Mom took my big boys to see The Croods in theater and they have been talking about it EVER SINCE!  They are always asking, remember that movie with the cave men, it's coming out on DVD this fall!

Well fall is finally here and The Croods are indeed out on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital HD!



The second this movie arrived we popped it straight into the PS3 and have watched it nearly every day.  We have the DVD copy all ready in the van to watch during a big trip to see family this Thanksgiving weekend as well!

Join the Croods on the journey of a lifetime in the epic comedy-adventure that "has the magical wonder of How To Train Your Dragon" - Jake Hamilton (Fox-TV). When their cave is destroyed, the Croods set out to explore a spectacular landscape filled with fantastic creatures, strange surprises…and a whole new world of adventure!

You don't want to miss these fun bonus features either..

Blu-ray Exclusive Bonus Features:

  • The Croodaceous Creatures of Croods! – Find out more about your favorite Croods creatures!
  • Be An Artist! – Now you can draw Belt, Macawnivore and Mousephant
  • The Croods Coloring & Storybook Builder App


Additional Bonus Features:

  • Belt’s Cave Journal – Take a journey with Belt and Guy as they rescue a Jackrobat
  • World of DreamWorks Animation – Music videos from your favorite DreamWorks Animation feature films
Perfect for the whole family, why not pick it up this weekend to watch together during Thanksgiving!


The London Bump, Baby & Toddler Expo #ldnont

Did you know Canada.. The London Bump, Baby & Toddler Expo is coming this November 2-3, 2013, at the Western Fair District!



Highlighting the finest local businesses and services, the Expo has something for parents for everything from planning a baby to sending them off to preschool.  This fall’s show features an over 70 table mom-to-mom sale as well!



Check out the great list of exhibitors that will be in attendance.  I'm looking forward to attending with baby Lucas!  Remember parking is FREE at the Western Fair District, then head into the Progress Building for the Expo.

Admission at the door is $7 for ages 12 and up - but wait, Did you know Canada? readers get a special discount, print out this coupon to save $2 off the admission price!



Even more good news, enter below for you chance to win 2 free tickets!!!  Good luck!

Giveaway
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