Back to School with Crayola

Did you know Canada..  now that we are a few weeks in to school, we know what the kids REALLY need at school and Crayola has you covered with their Back to School must haves.

A must have in this house was whiteboard tools.  When I went to school it was all dusty chalk boards, but now it's all about whiteboards!  Heading into Grade 1 my guys had to have their own dry erase markers as part of their supplies.  Crayola has a big selection of dry erase products..

Dry Erase Washable Broad Line Markers - Bright, bold, Crayola coloured dry-erase markers wash right out of clothes and easily wipe off of dry-erase surfaces leaving parents with little clean-up.

Dry Erase Broad Line Markers - Low odour dry erase markers from Crayola are perfect for students, teachers, and all members of the classroom. Suitable for everyday use on all standard whiteboard surfaces.

Dry Erase Fine Line Markers - For smooth, fine line writing, Crayola Dry Erase markers deliver bold colours and low odour. Squeak-free and easy to erase, the extended ventilated cap is safety designed for use by children.

Dry Erase Crayons, Original or Brights - Ideal for use on white or dark dry-erase surfaces, these large-size washable crayons provide a punch of non-messy colour. Includes a crayon sharpener and an E-Z erase cloth.

Dry Erase Coloured Pencils - These pencils’ unique formula give kids the chance to write and erase on dry-erase surfaces, just like paper. Trace designs, practice lettering, create images and perfect fine details and shading. Sharpener included.

We tried out the dry erase crayons - every day after school the boys and I work on their word list for the week by practicing the words on their white board.  We love it because we can easily practice lots of words without wasting paper, we can do it in the middle of the floor without needing a table or book under the paper, and easy clean up!  I was really happy to learn about dry erase crayons, I didn't even know they existed, but they are perfect for Grade 1'ers hands to write easily with and the boys love the colours.

Do your kids use dry erase products at school too?

Mastermind Toys Celebrates their second location in London ON! #ldnont

Did you know Canada..  Mastermind Toys has just opened a second location in London ON - South London at 3120 Wonderland Road S (same area as Michael's, Canadian Tire, Adventures on Wonderland, etc).

Today my little man and I visited the new store and it is awesome!  They've added on to the building to make it 5,000 sq ft and it is full to the brim with toys, books, crafts and more!

Lisa the Toy Whiz introduced us to some of the hottest toys of the season, including the new HEXBUG aquabots (I even picked up some of these for my boys for Christmas), Rainbow Loom (this is a MUST HAVE!), SkyTrix Stunt Glider (you might remember our review from the summer), really fun Bixbee backpacks (designed to sit high on little ones backs, genius!), GoldieBlox and B. Toys - B. Turns (I got this one for my little man!) and B. Meowsic Keyboard - alllll amazing!  We also got a few sneak peeks on new products - like a couple new Sophie the Giraffe wooden toys!!!  Baby Lucas decided to check out a few of the toys on display too. ;-)

If you are in the area you must hit up the new store for their Grand Opening this week!  Running from this Thursday September 19th - Sunday September 22nd, pop in to check out the 25-ft Lego Man, Bountiful Balloon Decor, Free fun-filled favours, Cupcakes on Saturday and check your emails for a special Mastermind Toys coupon with a 25% savings on any one item!  All this (except the Lego Man) is also happening at the North London at 685 Fanshawe Park Rd.

Some of my favourite features about Mastermind stores are their friendly, very knowledgeable staff, the amazing decor with huge stuffed animals, fun toys along the tops of the shelves and hanging from the ceiling, funky signage and colourful displays.  It is our go to store for birthdays, parties, holidays and just because days.  Talking about birthdays, if you find yourself on the way to a birthday party without a gift, this is your GO TO place - they will help you find the perfect gift, get you through the check out and wrap it for you for FREE so you can make it to the party on time!  I LOVE their funky giftwrap and use it often; can't make it to the store? They gift wrap online orders for you as well.

Check out some of the purchases I made today, got a head start on my Christmas shopping!  I also grabbed the Star Wars 2013 Advent Calendar that my boys are going to go nuts for come December.  Even my hubby can't wait to bust open the new aquabots but we are waiting until Christmas on those!  I did let Lucas have the B. Turns and the Lamaze T-Rex for his car seat, we are saving the GO! Go! Smart Wheels for his stocking though!  Mastermind is amazing at having stocking stuffer and loot bag stuffer ideas, their products are functional, reuseable, FUN, not "junky" and not covered in sugar!

I'm going to surprise the boys with a trip to Mastermind Toys after school on Friday to check out the Grand Opening, I hope you can make it there too!

Jamberry Nails are coming to Canada!!

Did you know Canada.. this is BIG BIG news!  Jamberry Nails officially launched in the U.S. in 2011 and became a multimillion dollar direct selling company.  They are now arriving in Canada as of September 1st!

You apply Jamberry nail wraps yourself at home in just minutes. They are a solid film covering so they don't chip or scratch like nail polish.  They are even surviving the summer with 3 kids, with polish I can't even get 24 hours without a chip, so that's telling you something.  Lasting up to two weeks on your fingernails and eight weeks on your toes.  And they are BEAUTIFUL!  The style options are absolutely endless!

I am on my second set now and I can't even begin to tell you how many compliments I am receiveing, absolutely everywhere!  When grabbing my coffee at Timmies, from other Mom's during playdates, at the grocery store, everyone comments on how beautiful, cool and natural they look!  These are not fake nails of old, Jamberry Nail wraps are a chemical, latex free, salon quality nail wrap that bonds to your nail with heat and pressure to give you a water tight seal. You get a salon quality look for a fraction of the cost!

Here's how it works:

• Clean unpolished nails with alcohol wipes (I actually skipped this step and it still lasted 2 weeks!) and push back your cuticles
• Match a nail with the nail wrap that will fit best
• Peel off the nail wrap and warm the back of it with a hair dryer, just 10-15 seconds until soft
• While still warm press onto your nail, no worries if you got it crocked, just lift it up and reapply, then press around the edges
• Trim the top and file downwards
• Apply heat again for a few seconds to make sure it sticks and you are done!

The first time definitely takes a little getting used to the routine, but on my second application I was a pro and done in less than 10 minutes!

Since my nails are so short I actually cut the wraps in half so I didn't waste them and extended the use!  You'll have a few leftovers and I was thinking if you had a matching polish at home you could even just put a wrap on your ring finger for a cool look! (remember the polish will chip and wear long before the wrap though)

Not just for adults either, there's Jamberry Juniors for girls, how awesome would it be to have a Jamberry themed birthday party where all the girls came to the at home "spa" and got their nails done??

If you have ever thought about a career in direct sales you will definitely want to get in on the ground floor with Jamberry Nails!  I hope there is a consultant near me, I already have a slew of Mom's, friends and co-workers that are dying to attend a party! Contact Alisha Pierce at alisha.pierce@yahoo.com to get started TODAY!

Who would love to be a Jamberry consultant or love to host a party??

Wow - enter to win a $500 Gift Card for The Children’s Place #Canada

Did you know Canada..  I know, it's only the middle of July, but it IS time to start thinking about back to school!  You have summer covered and now it's time to prep for fall and getting the kids looking spiffy!

Well, one lucky winner will have no problem with that, because we joining in a $500 gift card giveaway for The Children's Place!!!

The Children's Place has you covered for every school uniform style, preppy, casual or fun, they have fantastic sets for everyone (right down to coordinating shoes!) and as always, at great prices!  Check out a few of my favourite looks for the season..

Open to: Canada and US, void in Quebec and Hawaii.  Contest starts on July 15th at 9am EST and closes on July 30th at 10pm EST.

Giveaway

Ray Ban's for Summer

Did you know Canada..  we have great news about a Canada Day contest!

Head over to the SmartBuyGlasses' Facebook page, and all you have to do is people send in a link to your favourite model of Ray Ban sunglasses (all available here) and subscribe to their newsletter for your chance to win a pair of your fav Ray Ban's!!

How is that for some summer shades???

Head over quick, contest only runs until July 7th!

Good luck Canada!

Supporting Canadian Businesses this Summer

Did you know Canada..  Our dollar moved down 0.27 of a cent to close on Monday at 95.37 cents US after going as low as 94.75 cents!

The last time the dollar was at par was early February and most economists agree this decline is only the beginning. There are no signs that it will reach parity in the near future with the US dollar either.

This means it's not a good time for cross border shopping, what it is a good time for is keeping your dollars in Canada and supporting your local businesses.

I've watched all the same shows you have about coupons and savings in the states, I've even done my own shopping there.  I won't deny there is many a deal to be found at Khols and other retailers but there are coupons and deals available here in Canada too if you look for them.  You can get Discounts on Vistaprint Products, clearance buys and free shipping on children's clothes, sign up for daily group buying deals and more.

We recently planned a whole mini vacation using group buys and discounts and we're excited to stay in country and enjoy some of the attractions Canada has to offer!

Check your weekly ads, price match, visit local attractions, and support your fellow neighbours before it's too late!

Are you staying local this summer?

Phasing out the Penny

Did you know Canada..  the time is near, the penny is almost outta here.

February 4, 2013 is the transition date that has been set, after which the Royal Canadian Mint will no longer distribute pennies.

Remember, for cash transactions we now round to the nearest nickel up or down. ONLY cash transactions require rounding.  Cheques, debit, credit and payments cards do not need to be rounded, because they can be settled electronically to the exact amount.

So if you spend $11.58 on lunch and are paying cash, you pay $11.60, if you are paying debt, etc.. you pay exactly $11.58.

Do you think there will be much confusion in retail stores, restaurants, etc.. ?

Thirty-one Gifts in Canada!

Did you know Canada..  Thirty-one Gifts is now available in Canada.  We have all the details from one of their first consultants - Devin..

Thirty-one Gifts is now in full swing!.....in CANADA!

We are a brand new Direct Sales Company to Canada selling some amazing products. From totes or purses you can wear while you’re out and about, thermals to help you transport food and drinks to a party, or organizational items to help you keep your house neat and tidy, Thirty-One has a solution!

Thirty-one Gifts is all over the USA with over 80,000 consultants. Thirty-one Gifts Canada, launched its pilot project in Ontario, September of 2012 with a team of 16 women in Ontario. I was lucky enough to be part of this first team and I have not looked back since opening my kit in Aug 2012. This is such a wonderful company! As of January 15, we are proud to say that we are no longer in the pilot project stage! We are now free to recruit some more amazing women to join our team! Just think of the possibilities of joining a company from the ground floor!

By becoming a Thirty-One Consultant, you'll discover the freedom of owning your own business and the opportunity for unlimited earning potential. You'll also find that Thirty-One offers so much more than just a career and extra income. We're here to Celebrate, Encourage and Reward your efforts. You'll have the pleasure of working with supportive and encouraging women just like you! You'll set your own schedule, and those flexible hours allow you to devote much-needed time to your family – and yourself.

Whether you're looking for the blessing of meeting new friends, finding new paths to personal growth or financial rewards like paying monthly bills, Thirty-One is perfect for you! Open your world to Thirty-One, and here are just a few of the opportunities you'll find:

• * A faith-based company devoted to supporting and encouraging women
• * Trend-setting products that appeal to all ages, plus affordable personalization
• * Self-paced online training
• * Parties where friends gather to have fun without high-pressure sales pitches
• * Online parties and online ordering capabilities
• * Online customer and Consultant referral
• * Special rewards and discounts

Partnering with our enthusiastic Home Office staff and other Thirty-One Consultants

This business can change your life! I'll be there to guide you on your personal journey to success as YOU define it.

Please contact me at devin@mythirtyone.ca for more information. I can’t wait to get you on your way to fulfilling your dreams!

To BOOK A PARTY or to ORDER ONLINE

Go to www.mythirtyone.ca/devin

BLACK FRIDAY DEALS ARRIVE A WEEK EARLY AT TOYS“R”US CANADA’S MOONLIGHT MADNESS SALE

Did you know Canada..  some great news from Toys R' Us Canada..

As more and more Canadians join in the Black Friday shopping excitement north of the border, the crowds grow thicker and the shelves empty sooner.  To provide gift-givers with an alternative to shopping with the masses while still ensuring some of the hottest deals of the season, Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us, Canada are hosting a holiday Moonlight Madness sale on Friday, November 16, exactly one week prior to Black Friday.

Moonlight Madness will take place at every Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us, Canada retail location (excluding Express stores and where prohibited by local by-laws – check local stores for hours) and online at Toysrus.ca.  The sales begin in-store at 6 p.m. local time and online at 6 p.m. EST. In order to provide Canadians with the best prices on the most products and ensure an easy shopping experience, Toys“R”Us has divided Moonlight Madness into four separate event times (outlined below).  This way, regardless of what is on a customer’s gift giving list, they will find great prices on a broad assortment of toys and baby products. 

On top of the savings, customer’s will earn 100 Bonus AIR MILES® reward miles when they spend $100 or more during the event, in-store or online.
Following are examples of select deals available during the Moonlight Madness Sale on Friday, November 16, while supplies last (no rain checks):

In-store: 6 p.m. to midnight (or until supplies last)
Online:  6 p.m. EST to midnight EST (or until supplies last)

• 50% OFF Step 2 Lifestyle Dream Kitchen – Reg $199.99, Now $99.97
• 50% OFF Westin Convertible Crib – Reg $399.99, Now $199.97
• 50% OFF Fisher-Price Amazing Animals Sing Along Choo Choo Train – Reg $54.99, Now $27.47
• 50% OFF Step 2 Wagon for Two Plus Tag Along Trailer – Reg $139.99, Now $69.97
• 40% OFF Barbie Three Storey Dream House – Reg $199.99, Now $119.97

In-store: 7 p.m. to midnight (or until supplies last)
Online:  7 p.m. EST to midnight EST (or until supplies last)

• 50% OFF ALL $19.99 Play-Doh – Now $9.97
• 50% OFF Nerf Raider – Reg $39.99, Now $19.97
• 50% OFF Air Hogs Hyperactive – Reg $59.99, Now $29.97
• SAVE $50 on the Graco Playard with Newborn Napper Station (Montego) – Reg $229.99, Now $179.97

In-store: 8 p.m. to midnight (or until supplies last)
Online:  8 p.m. EST to midnight EST (or until supplies last)

• 50% OFF Baby Einstein Musical Motion Activity Jumper – Reg $149.99, Now $74.97
• 40% OFF 22” Retro Board – Reg $59.99, Now $34.97

In-store: 10 p.m. to midnight (or until supplies last)
Online:  10 p.m. EST to midnight EST (or until supplies last)

• FREE $20 Toys“R”Us Gift Card with purchase of Halo 4 Videogame
• 30% OFF Skylanders Giants Legendary Core 3 pack (Jet-Vac, Ignitor, Slam Bam) – Reg $24.99, Now $17.47
• Save $20 on ALL Nintendo DSi Systems (excludes DSi XL) – Reg $99.99, Now $79.97

FlipSize

Did you know Canada..  have you heard about FlipSize.ca yet?  It is this awesome site where you can Buy & Swap kids clothes!

I LOVE this, from having twins we had SO MANY clothes, I didn't know what to do with them, but at the same time, these kids won't stop growing, and I am in constant need of clothes for them!

Here's how it works..

- sign up for FREE
- request a bag, fill it with gently used clothing (at least 40 items)
- place the prepaid label and your member ID # on the outside of the bag
and drop off at any Canada Post.
- every item you send in will earn a certain amount of Flip Points, you can also earn additional BONUS points for items on their wanted list
- use your points to shop at FlipSize OR redeem them for gift cards to other retail stores like Amazon.ca!
** You don't need to have points to shop at FlipSize, you can just pay cash (Paypal, Credit) as well

Every item they receive is reviewed - they have a "NO DUDS" policy, so when shopping you know each of these pieces are top quality, no more taking chances on Kijiji!

I've tried selling children's clothing before, but it's a pain because you have to list so many at once, and each person wants 1 or 2, then you have all these people showing up at your door for only a few dollars.  Sending in 40 or more items at once will clean out a proper space in the closet, and earn you some great points for you to spend!

How great is this?  With the new baby on the way I am going to be using this service, how about you??

Made By Hand Show is almost here!

Did you know Canada..  mark your calendars, the Made By Hand Show is almost here!  On October 27 the Fall Made By Hand Show is being held once again at the International Centre, Hall 6 in Mississauga.

With Over 190 Handmade Exhibitors, FREE Face-Painting, Surprise Princess Visit, FREE Swag Bags to the 1st 100 families, and FREE Parking, this is one event no to be missed.  Only $2 for admission, and remember, door proceeds are benefiting Crafting for a Cure and children are free.

Get all your Christmas presents and be ready to wrap in no time!  Handmade gifts chosen with care make gorgeous gifts and they don't have to break the bank.  Plus, of course, they are all Made IN Canada!

I am loving the Made By Hand Show's Gold Sponsor - Curbside Cupcake Bliss! Curbside Bliss Cupcakes is where they bring you delectable, mouth watering, baked-from-scratch goodness...curbside from their mobile cupcake kitchen - how awesome is that??

So, visit the Made By Hand Show website so you can check out all 190 exhibitors and be ready to shop Canada!

Back-to-School with Visa Canada #BackToSchoolSpend

Did you know Canada..  we've been on a Back-to-School shopping spree!  Have you headed out there yet?  I love seeing the kids excited about getting ready to get back to school, or at least they are excited about new shoes. :-)

According to a July 2012 survey of Canadian online shoppers commissioned by Visa Canada for back-to-school, Canadian consumers are expected to spend just under $700 ($677) on a variety of back-to-school items, but what’s really cool is that 72 per cent of Canadian shoppers plan to take their shopping online!

60% of Canadians say they are finding better prices online and better sales and promotions.

We hit the stores as at the boys young age they really like to be involved in the experience and TOUCH everything.  Plus we needed to try on shoes, we weren't 100% on their size this year.  Here's some of the items we've picked up using a prepaid Visa:

First we started with backpacks, stainless steel water bottles, ice packs and lunch bags, everything last year was pretty icky and just wasn't going to make it another year.  We find we need big lunch bags as the boys have a balanced day schedule and we end up using more containers to split up their food.

Next was new indoor shoes, the boys each need a pair of indoor only shoes and an extra set of clothes that stay at school the entire year.  Make sure they practice getting the shoes on and off before they get shipping off to school though!!

Then, since the boys are in SK and the school supplies things like crayons, glue and paper, we hit up the school snack section.

Where are you shopping this year?  Finding any good deals?  If you're shopping online make sure you're shopping securely, Visa Canada can help make the online shopping experience a little easier for Visa cardholders.  By visiting Visaperks.ca, shoppers can find coupons and special offers at merchants like Adidas, Lenovo and Scholar’s Choice. Plus, shoppers can breathe easy knowing that they’re protected through Visa’s layered approach to security and fraud prevention, including Verified by Visa (VbV), Zero Liability and E-Promise.

We also picked up some new clothes, it's hard to imagine the boys will be back in pants, socks and jackets soon.  Visa's survey found clothing is considered the most important item when getting ready for the new school year (43 per cent), with books trailing behind (26 per cent) and computers and computer-related items at 17 per cent.  I find, especially at this age, that with the season change clothing is the most important item you have to keep up on.  Not only did we get new shoes but we also got new rubber boots and will soon be shopping for new winter boots as well, these kids just won't stop growing! ;-)

We are so excited to help you get ready for back to school too with a $50 prepaid Visa!  Enter below for your chance to win and Good Luck Canada!

Giveaway

Made By Hand Show - This Weekend!

Did you know Canada.. its's finally here!! The Made By Hand Show is THIS Weekend - Saturday April 21st, at the International Centre in Mississauga.

We'll be there too! If you are one of the first 100 people to enter you will get an amazing swag bag filled with treats, including one from Did you know Canada! Our Toronto Representative, Amanda, will be there as well visiting with vendors and shoppers, if you chat with her be sure to grab one of our awesome Mabel's Labels I Love Canada teeny tags!

Here's some fast facts about the show..

* Shop with over 150 Handmade Exhibitors - click here to see the list of vendors
* Free Swag Bags for 1st 100 Shoppers
* Free face-painting, crafts and balloon animals
* Visit with Cinderella (2:00pm - 5:00pm)
* Door Prizes & raffles
* Thousands of one-of-a-kind gift ideas

Head here for maps and directions and be sure to head there right for 11am if you can so you get a swag bag!

All Door Proceeds benefit Crafting for a Cure - a not-for-profit registered charity that looks for opportunities to insure children are having a positive experience when a hospital visit is necessary.

We have been so proud to support the Made By Hand Show, am so impressed with the show manager Jacqueline who I see tirelessly supporting and promoting vendors all year long and just can't wait for this amazing show - we hope to see you there!

Videotron Smart find directory

Did you know Canada.. I've been thinking *travel* today and learned about a really useful business directory if you're planning a visit to Quebec - Videotron Smart find directory.

I love that they have star reviews, and this was really cool, I searched for "pizza" in "Montreal" and I see Coronel Restaurant & Pizzeria not only got 5 stars but also has a deal I can print out! They even tell you what's most popular near you, perfect for the traveller.

You can see all the locations on a handy map, find the location you want, click on the name for even more details. Hours, address, directions, phone number (with an option to call for free!), photos, videos and written reviews. What handy information - not only for travellers but also for locals! You can also share your find with your Social Media, which I love of course.

Want to see what's around your hotel or home? Enter your location and see all the businesses surrounding you, along with all those great features like reviews, phone numbers, images and more.

This is a fantastic service for business owners, be able to showcase, upload images, share deals. I live in a small town and you'd be surprised by how often I hear about a location that I had no clue was there!! Or doesn't look it's best on the outside but has the most amazing food. By having folks share reviews everyone will be able to learn about the local gems, what a great service.

So if you live in Quebec, or are heading there this year, I highly recommend book marking Videotron Smart find directory. Make sure you share your finds as well!

Are you a Coupon Code Hunter?

Did you know Canada.. the first known coupon was conceived in 1886!!

John Pemberton was the first to come up with the coupon, you may know him as the pharmacist from Atlanta who created the recipe for the syrup used to make Coca-Cola. He distributed free drink cards to people on the street encouraging them to try the new drink at a specific pharmacy and the coupon was born.

These days you probably won't be finding too many coupons being handed out on the street, everything is on the Internet now! In fact, Internet distribution of coupons was up 92 per cent and consumer redemption of these coupons up over 360 per cent in 2009 in the U.S. - and Canadian Coupons are showing similar trends.

Perfect for busy families, CouponCodes and shopping on the web are the trend these days. Finding codes on the web through companies websites, advertisements, emails, forums and blogs and then making your purchase online and entering the code at check out. Most often these codes are for free shipping, something we all find to be a bit of a downer on the Internet!  Especially for us Canadians.

Sites like U.S. site CouponCodes4u have over 213,000 codes for online deals - unbelievable!

Are you a coupon code hunter on the Internet??

Worried about extra shipping charges online??

Did you know Canada...that you can shop online for Christmas presents and pay no Customs Duty?

Many people Canadians complain about the getting hit with Customs Charges when they have something they bought shipped to Canada. Well the truth is that those fees are either avoidable or are not even a Customs charge. Here are some examples:

Shipping Charges - Be sure to read how much your online shopping site is charging you for shipping. *Note many Ebay sellers will list a lower sale price but state an artificially high amount for shipping. i.e. item is listed at $20 but shipping is $20 too, while in fact the shipping is actually $5; so the seller makes $15 off the extra shipping charge.

“Customs Handling fee” - if you order something that comes through Canada Post be aware of the “Customs Handling Fee”. These fees do not come to customs or the Government in anyway. These are fees that Canada Post charges for handling the collection of duty and taxes for the CBSA. As of June 4th 2011, the fee is now $8.50 on top of any duty or taxes owing. In comparison to what a broker or courier company would charge you for customs clearance, this is still quite a bargain.

Customs Brokerage fee - Depending on the level of service selected with various courier companies, the customs brokerage charge is included or extra. Usually if its low value (under $1600), the charge is in the range of $20 per commodity. So check with your vendor and ask them if the customs clearance fees are included in the shipping. If they are extra you always have the choice to self-clear through customs, then the courier company must reverse the charges.

Gifts - Many people receive gifts from friends or family abroad and end up being charged Customs Duty and taxes. Things to keep in mind are that the Gift exemption is $60 CAD per item and the package should clearly appear to be a gift. To better understand customs tariff 9816 read my post here on the gift exemption here in Canada.

So here the top 3 popular categories of items you can buy online and have shipped to Canada and pay no Custom Duty.

1. Toys - yes, that's right, you can buy your kids all their Xmas gifts online and pay no duty.
2. Electronics - For the most part most of the popular electronics like e-readers, tablets, laptops, mp3 players, digital cameras, camcorders and cell phones are all duty free.
3. Books - hardcover, soft cover, magazines....all have no duty.

Just be aware everyone that GST/HST and PST will apply depending on the province of residence/destination. So in Ontario you will not pay duty on the above items but you will pay 13% HST. Alberta on the other hand will pay only GST as they have no provincial sales tax.

Happy Shopping Canada!

CI

ABOUT ME:

C.I. is a Customs Officer or Border Services Officer with the Canada Border Services Agency. He has been running a blog/website www.canadacustomsinfo.com as an unofficial online resource for information on all things pertaining to Customs legislation, policy and procedure in order to help people navigate the complex world of Customs. Topics covered span a wide range from Canada Customs Limits to understanding how Canada Customs Duty. Recently, C.I. added a forum to facilitate more discussion and the information more searchable. The motivation behind C.I.’s website is the belief that we are all on this planet to serve one another… Thanks for reading. Connect with C.I on
Twitter @customsinfo
Facebook Chime.in
Customs Info Email: customsinfo@canadacustomsinfo.com

Mastermind Toys Grand Opening

Did you know Canada.. we mentioned a couple weekends ago we visited the new Mastermind location in London Ontario. Today we headed back for their Grand Opening Celebration!!

After being greeted with a 25% off coupon for any one item, with which we bought another Christmas present - perfect!! Don't forget there is always free gift wrapping with Mastermind's exclusive paper as well!

The boys headed off to the loot bag area, each child gets a bag and can select 2 toys from a pile of goodies.

Then we got to the lego station where you can build a toy to take home and fill your loot bag with a few more lego goodies.  We also hit up the lego play area - so fun!!

A visit with Sir Topham Hat, a hero of sorts around this house.

And a special visit with the big guy, Thomas himself!! A 7-foot long balloon Thomas, unfortunately on this very windy and rainy day was not able to head outside, but made for a special treat for those that got a peek in the back room.

We got an extra special visit with the man behind the balloon Thomas, check out this video:





The decorations are amazing, with lego statues featured through out.

Frozen Yogurt treats for everyone!

It was an amazing time!  The boys picked up a couple treats and I got a big Christmas present with my 25% coupon and a ton of fun stocking stuffers.  A great Grand Opening Celebration from Canada's Premier Toy Stores Since 1984.  I highly recommend visiting Mastermind Toys in London Ontario on Sunday, October 16th for day two of the celebrations!!!

Mastermind Toys

Did you know Canada.. we travelled to London Ontario on Saturday to visit the new Mastermind Toys store. Mastermind has been Canada's Premier Toy Stores Since 1984 and been online for the last 13 years, it's a true Canadian icon.

I had reservations about visiting the new store, it had previously been the Toy Shoppe, a favourite of ours for Birthdays, Christmas and just a fun place to go and we weren't too sure we were going to like the change. But the new Mastermind is simply unbelievable, I can not tell you how impressed I was. Thankfully the owner of the Toy Shoppe, Cylde, is the manager of the new Mastermind Toys and it was fantastic to visit with him. I was really pleased to see how accessible Cylde was, he gave a tour of the new store, listed all the fantastic new features, introduced me to the staff, including the new assistant manager Mike (Hi Mike! - he said he would check out my blog).

Really, I have to break into point form to explain everything I'm loving about the new store..
* the building is one wide open square (an improvement on the previous design that had multiple rooms and high shelving)
* all the shelves are very low and spaced so that no matter where you are in the store you can see almost everything - perfect for keeping track of the kiddos and helping you find exactly what you are looking for
* the atmosphere is amazing - colourful, bright, there are awesomely huge animals everywhere, it looks like something out of a storybook, it really does, I have never been in a store that projects that look
* multiple play stations for children to check out the toys, including a Thomas table, a Chuggington table, a big garage toy and more
* the book display is fantastic, the way it's set up makes it easy to see everything, the boys had a great time checking out the rows of books

During our trip we got 2 Thomas trains the boys have been dying for, Molly and the Thomas Christmas engine. We also got 2 books - Thomas and a Toopy and Binoo, 2 Halloween candy kabobs and I can't tell you about the last one, it's a Christmas present (yes, I'm Christmas shopping already!!). I was so excited to hear they provide free gift wrapping in very cool paper that's exclusive to Mastermind. The boys took off with their stuff so fast all I could get a picture of was the Christmas present and one cute Halloween kabob..haha..

I highly recommend Mastermind for presents, a treat for the kids or just a fun visit.  From the moment you walk in and are greeted right away, to checking out the really cool animals and displays, finding toys - many of which I have honestly never seen at any other store, to seeing the wonder on your child's face, it's a fantastic experience and a new gem in London Ontario.

I know I'll be heading back for their Grand Opening Party October 15th and 16th - who else is going to be there??

Plastic Bills and Money Laundering

Did you know Canada.. you might have read yesterday about the Federal Government and Bank of Canada discussing new plastic bills that will be introduced in the coming years, replacing our current currency. The $100 and $50 bills are slated to begin circulating in November 2011 and March 2012. Then the $20, $10 and $5 bills are expected to be unveiled and released by the end of 2013. While their colours will not change, the smaller-denomination notes will have some interesting new themes:

* The $5 note is dedicated to Canada's space program
* The $10 note will depict Canada's railway lines
* The $20 note will feature sacrifices made in Canadian conflicts

It's part of a plan to modernize and protect Canadian currency against counterfeiting.

The new plastic bills, made from a polymer material, are harder to fake, recyclable, and two to three times more resistant to tearing, the Bank of Canada said.

Stats Canada has an interesting article about Money laundering in Canada which these new bills are suppose to help prevent. It was surprising to read that following a period of relative stability in the early part of the decade, the rate of money laundering grew five-fold from 2004 to 2006. 83% of those accused of money laundering are males, and research has shown that money laundering is often associated with the illegal drug trade.

Travel out of Canada

Did you know Canada.. it was interesting to read from Statistics Canada that Canadian residents took 4.8 million trips abroad in February, up 0.8% compared with January. Canadian travel to overseas countries increased 0.3% to 734,000 trips in February. Probably to get away from our crazy winter. ;-)

Canadians took 4.0 million trips to the United States in February and overnight travel rose 2.2% to 1.7 million. Canadians also took 2.3 million same-day car trips to the United States in February, almost the same amount as in January.

I'm surprised that same-day car trips to the States did not increase considering our dollar is so strong. But we also had some pretty awful weather in January and February. We're planning on a day trip to the states for lunch and some shopping in the next month or so - are you planning a trip across the border any time soon?