SmartBuyGlasses

Did you know Canada..  I recently found out about a fantastic .ca website where you can not only purchase perscription eyeglasses online in designer frames, but also name brand sunglasses!

I am a HUGE sunglass wearer, they are always on my face when I leave the house, no matter what the season is, and usually sitting on top of my head if I'm inside.  Hubby also wears sunglasses everyday while driving too and from work and we were so excited about the opportunity to receive a new pair through SmartBuyGlasses.

They have everything from Ray Ban's to goggles for sports, Nike's and more and at amazing prices!  What a great place to shop for Christmas presents too, as you can sort through so many brands, styles, and see exact details like sizing, gender, year and style, and they come with a free $25 lens kit as well!

We got hubby a pair of Nike Veer's, they were the perfect size for his face, came with an extra set of lenses made for cloudy days, a cloth case and the very useful cleaning spray.  Hubby is SO HAPPY with this pair and I loved the great experience of being able to pick out a pair with exactly the details he wanted in a pair of sunglasses without just scanning through a rack in store and not really knowing what I'm looking at.

We are SO EXCITED to share a pair of glasses with our reader as well.  Enter below for your chance to win a pair of sunglasses from SmartBuyGlasses!!  You can choose from a pair of Nike Veer's or these very stylish Ray Ban's!

Giveaway

black15in1

Did you know Canada..  with busy work schedules, conferences and events, I've been hearing from more and more Mom's that they are travelling All The Time.

An awesome gift idea for that busy Mom is black15in1's Signature Travel Kit.  Including..

• * Miracle Hair Treatment 1 oz./30ml 
• * TWICE A WEEK Miracle Hair Shampoo 2 oz./60ml  
• * TWICE A WEEK Miracle Hair Conditioner 2 oz./60ml  
• * Signature Travel Bag  

This is exactly what a busy Mom, or any woman in your life, needs on the go.  Travelling can be hard on you and your hair, don't let your hair suffer because you can't bring your big bottles of product with you.  

TWICE A WEEK Miracle Hair Shampoo and Conditioner are scientifically advanced formulas that are sulfate and paraben free. Key ingredients include Panthenol B5 to protect and add shine to chemically processed hair. Prodew 500 Amino Acid Blend helps repair surface damage of the hair shaft and strengthen hair while preventing moisture loss. Sunflower Seed Extract provides UV protection from the sun, heat protection from styling tools and protects hair color from fading. Argan Oil nourishes hair strands and helps reduce frizz and flyaways.

Most importantly, this travel bag is TSA approved.  Meaning if you are just travelling over night, these are the perfect sizes to bring on board with you, how perfect is that!

A very thoughtful gift this Holiday Season!  Stay in touch with black15in1 on Twitter and Facebook to learn about all their products!

Pirate Films for the Whole Family

Did you know Canada..  don't forget about our Ice Age: Continental Drift giveaway!  We are giving away a really fun prize pack - great for the whole family to watch this Holiday Season!

See what other great tales are available from Pirate Films..


Muppet Treasure Island (loooove the Muppets!)
The Muppets came back in a big way in this action packed movie based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s infamous novel, Treasure Island. Kermit the Frog and his motley crew set sail on the high seas to find a treasure only to engage in war with some pretty ruthless pirates.

The Pirates! Band of Misfits
Even pirates want recognition! Despite several failed attempts, The Pirate Captain takes his crew out on a mission to claim the most booty and win the coveted Pirate of the year Award. The film features the voices of some serious British acting royalty like David Tennant, Martin Freeman and Hugh Grant.

Peter Pan (a must for every kiddo, right?)
Practically everyone knows the tale of Wendy, Michael and John Darling who are whisked away to mystical Neverland by the boy who will never grow up, Peter Pan. With the help of their new friends, the Lost Boys, Tinkerbell and, of course, Peter, they are able to bring down the evil Captain Hook and return home.

The Goonies (this is hubby's fav!)
This epic adventure featured some of the 80’s best loved actors like Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman and Sean Astin, hot on the trail of legendary pirate One-Eyed Willy. If they can avoid capture by the notorious Fratellis and find the treasure in time, they might be able to save their hometown from a wealthy country club’s hostile takeover.

Hook 
Years after his adventures with the Lost Boys, Peter Pan is a hardened litigator with absolutely no memory of his time spent in Neverland. So it’s not going to be easy for him to find his footing when Hook kidnaps his children and demands a rematch.

The Princess Bride (one of my favourites, so many memories!)
Was any movie ever as romantic as this tale of true love so great, it could not even be derailed by death?  Kings, castles, swamps, giants, con artists, wizards and, of course, pirates, make up this amazing, beloved film, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Lug Life

Did you know Canada..  I mentioned last week how much I love my new diaper bag, the Tuk Tuk Carry All from Lug Life.  I'm also the proud owner of 2 more Lug Life purses, they are just the best!

I have to tell you, these would just be PERFECT for under the tree this year, they have something for everyone.  Don't just think purses and Mommy bags either, they have laptop bags, travel bags, cosmetic cases, lunch bags, and really cute Under Cover Bears.  There is a gift for every person and in every price range.

Lug hit the scene in 2005, when founders Jason and Ami launched the brand with offices in Dallas and Toronto and they have always had Canadians proud to use their products, I know I am!

In gorgeous colours, with so many useful extras..

- The millions of much needed pockets in their Mommy bags and purses
- Built in mouse pad on back of the Flatbed Slim Laptop Bed
- Lunch bag with a hidden exterior bottle holder (I have one of these on one of my purses too, LOVE IT!)
- Fitness bag with a unique front patch for storing your yoga mat

The extras and innovations are endless, and all at great prices!

You have got to visit luglife.ca for shopping this season (online ordering is super easy, trust me, I know!), check them out on Twitter and Facebook too!

Williams Fresh Cafe

Did you know Canada..  I love Williams Fresh Cafe, do you?  My favourite thing to get is a hot chocolate and croissant.  I find Williams to have a very welcoming setting, where they want you to sit down and enjoy your drink, instead of rushing you out the door as other cafes do.

Williams Fresh Cafe is ready for the Holidays with an awesome array of products.  We received a few of these products last week, packaged beautifully, which I really appreciated!

Most products and gift sets under $25, these are great gifts for teachers, neighbours, co-workers and friends, they are also perfect for the coffee, tea and hot chocolate drinkers in your life.  I LOVE the green Bamboo travel mug, it's stylish, really cool texture and 100% biodegradable!  I love the silicone lid too.

The mugs would like great on a desk year round, they are white with a touch of fun colours with great words like Fresh and Happy written on them.  Perfect for a co-worker or teacher!  I really like the solid feel of them and they are a great shape.  These would go great with their coffee connoisseur gift set!

The fun thermos would be perfect for the commuters in your life, or those working outdoors.  The polk-a-dots will look great year round, it's a great size, really big with an easy to use lid - love it!

Remember, Williams Fresh Cafe is Canadian!  With their first casual restaurant opening in 1993 in Stratford, ON.  It's headquarted out of Brantford, ON (my original home for my first 18 years!).  Be sure to visit them this Holiday Season, not only for these fantastic Holiday products, but you have got to try one of their famous seasion drinks like the S'mores Lattee, Candy Cane Hot Chocolate and Caramel Apple Cider!

Follow Williams Fresh Cafe on Twitter and Facebook to stay up to date with their latest promotions, and stop in to pick up some great gifts!!

Architec is in Canada!

Did you know Canada..  Architec is here!

Haven't heard about Architec housewares products yet?  Well you are missing out, because these fun and functional products will be on everyone's list this year.  I recently checked out a few of their famous products, my absolutely favourite - The Recipe Rock!!

You probably already know from the Canadian Moms Cook site, that I love to cook!  We can all admit that cookbooks, while fantastic resources, are coming a bit of a thing of the past, as many of us find our recipes online and in magazines.  The Recipe Rock is a stylish rock and magnet that holds up to eight pages of any printed recipe, angled upright - how cool is that!  I absolutely LOVE it!  I don't have a lot of counter space and have tried many solutions for keeping a piece of paper up and out of the way without it constantly falling over.

Their Original Gripper Cutting Board is known as Architec's must recognized product and is a must have.  It's designed to grip the kitchen table to prevent slipping while you work and it works so well!  Coming in really fun colours like green, orange, red and turquoise, this would make a stylish and very useful gift for any cook in your life.

The Bamboo Gripper Board is a fantastic environmentally sound choice and has rubber grip feet to again keep everything on the counter and no slips - which I absolutely love!  The bamboo it very durable, I haven't chopping it up with the knife yet :-) and of course the bamboo board is food grade to ensure food safety.  Coming in a range of sizes there is one for everyone and every need, I really like the small one ( 5" x 7" ) for quick chop ups for dinner and not taking up too much counter space.

With these fun colours, quality products and innovative designs, these will make really fun gifts under the tree!  I know a couple people that will be getting one of The Recipe Rock's from me!!!

Find Architec products across the country at Sears, Home Outfitters, London Drugs, and gourmet shops.  Or online at some great retailers like London Drugs, and Cookworks.

Falling in love over the Holidays?

Did you know Canada..  I, as I'm sure you know, am happily married, we just celebrated our 6th anniversary in fact and of course have our newest little one on the way.  But I was discussing with a friend the other day about how hard constant holiday parties and events can be when you are single.

Work parties and dinners are usually meant for couples, gifted tickets usually come in sets of 2, family events are often about big family dinners and lots of happy kids - it's a hard time to be single!

Frustrated with the Holiday party scene being for couples, I actually have a friend that ended up finding the love of his life on an online dating site at this time of year.  Using a Canadian network he trusted, it turned out to be a sweet love story and their first dates were at some holiday parties which he thought helped break the ice a lot better.

Do you think the Holidays are meant for couples and families while singles get pushed to the waste side?

Though of course, we all know, anything goes on New Years Eve ;-)

Ice Age: Continental Drift

Did you know Canada..  we told you last week we would have an Ice Age treat for you!  We have a Blu-ray copy to giveaway of the brand new Ice Age: Continental Drift!

Everyone is back and then some! When Scrat's nutty pursuit of the cursed acorn gives way to earth-shattering consequences, a continental cataclysm that triggers the greatest adventure of all for Manny, Diego and Sid begins. In the chaos, the herd is separated from their friends and family and the only way home seems to be through a ragtag menagerie of seafaring pirates determined to stop them.

Enter below for your chance to win a fun Ice Age Prize Pack, a copy of Ice Age: Continental Drift on Blu-ray and a really cute Ice Age Ice Cube Tray!  What a great gift and something fun to watch during Christmas break!  As we mentioned last week, we absolutely love this movie, funny and sweet for the whole family, even Mom & Dad. :-)

Giveaway

Burnish & Brush Art Studio - 123 Block

Did you know Canada.. we've mentioned before how much we love Canadian company Burnish & Brush Art Studio.  We have two beautiful pieces in the boys room in a sports theme.

Burnish & Brush Art Studio has introduced us to a new piece of theirs, the 123 Block - how great will this be in our coming baby's room!  Each gel medium print is made by hand, and does not require glass or framing.  Simply unwrap and you’re ready to place it in your child’s room.

There is also another one in the series, the ABC Block, which is just as sweet, and they would look fantastic together:

Not just for little ones, she has beautiful pieces for older children, I know a certain pre-teen that would LOVE this Purple Evening Gown piece in her room..

Burnish & Brush designs original art and decor to add a bold and whimsical focal point to your little ones nursery, or an older child’s room.  Not only do they have beautiful series of work to choose from, but you can work with the owner, Alison, on creating a unique and personalized piece for a special little one in your life!  What a great gift idea!

Follow Burnish & Brush on Twitter and Facebook to stay up to date on their latest work!

Annabelle Eyeshadow Palette and SmudgePaint

Did you know Canada..  we've mentioned before how much we love Annabelle Cosmetics, did you know that since 1999, Annabelle Cosmetics has been part of the Groupe Marcelle.  Group Marcelle is the Canadian leader in drugstore brand cosmetics!

Annabelle has you covered for the Holidays to treat your eyes to something special.

Visit your nearby drugstore to pick up their Eyeshadow Palette, available in Fabulous4.  Only $14.95 for all these shades, you will be able to match all your Holiday outfits!

You also have to check out their fun Smudgepaint, available in Glitzy Black for the Holidays for only $10.95.

I've been trying both these products and absolutely love the Tic-Tac-Trio Eyeshadow Palette, it's so much fun to have access to so many colours, instead of using my couple of regulars.  Goes on smooth with great coverage, this would make a fun stocking stuffer too!

The Smudgepaint I was a little scared to try..haha.. it is easier than I thought though!  Goes on smooth and thankfully dries almost right away, it has been fun to experiment with and would be perfect for Holiday parties and New Years Eve!

Both fantastic gifts, or pick up early for a fresh Holiday look, Annabelle has you covered!  Stay up to date with their latest looks on Twitter and Facebook.

Alphabet Photography

Did you know Canada..  Canadian company Alphabet Photography was started by Jennifer Blakeley and her husband Sam.  The entire collection of letter photographs was taken by Jennifer as she travelled North America in 2006/2007.  All of the photographs are found in their natural surroundings that are un-staged and absolutely beautiful.

I have seen their gorgeous Inspirational pieces given as Wedding Gifts many times, and know a few friends that have used the very fun Create-a-Word tool to create unique words for their home.

They have so many products and price ranges to choose from, you can find something to please everyone this Holiday Season.  What a thoughtful and unique gift, especially if you were to create your own word, like a family name, or special phrase for your family.  You can also purchase individual letter pictures, I know a couple scrapbookers that would just freak out at receiving those as a gift.

We recently received the Inspirational piece with the word Love and the quote 'There is only one happiness in life - to love and to be loved' - George Sand.  We will be hanging this in our bedroom to remind us that a family is truly just Love, and that is all you need to be happy and enjoy your days.  Especially with a new baby on the way, family time, love and togetherness is big on my mind.

Great gift ideas for absolutely everyone, visit Alphabet Photography today, support this awesome Canadian business out of Niagara Falls, and give a gift that will last and be enjoyed for years to come!   Follow them on Twitter and Facebook for all of Alphabet Photography's latest news!

Gotta Getta Gund

Did you know Canada..  I bet you remember the phrase Gotta Getta Gund from your youth.  Well Gund is still making unique teddys and stuffies for your little ones to enjoy.

We recently received a Buzzi Bumble Bee and Lolly Giraffe to have some comforting friends here when our new baby comes home.  They have already brightened up the baby's room and we all love the Hush Little Baby lullaby that Lolly plays with a turn of the key.

I am really happy with how easy the key is to turn, I remember some keyed and wind-up toys of my youth and they were always impossible to use.  With Lolly the Giraffe my 5 year old boys can easily turn the key to hear the sweet song.

The Buzzi Bumble Bee is really cool, it's part blanket and part friend. I love the yellow satin underside, all the best security blanket's have that cool satin piece on them don't they?  I know my baby blanket did.

Speaking of satin, check out their Comfy Cozy friends as well.  It's a cozy blanket with a full satin underside, and a cute bumble bee or lady bug head as well.

Their entire babyGund section is so, so sweet, you are sure to find a new friend for a new little one in your family.  These friends would be great gifts for under the tree this year, as cozy stuffies from your baby years are memories that last a life time aren't they?

Be sure to stay up to stay with the latest products from Gund on Twitter and Facebook!

Roots Canada

Did you know Canada..  nothing says the Holidays like getting a cozy Roots sweater or hoodie under the tree, right?

Roots Canada has some gorgeous products that would be perfect for the Holidays, including jackets, caps, gloves, scarves, beautiful bags, watches and fun accesories as well.  I know my hubby would LOVE this Adam Bonded Full Zip Hoodie..

I recently received the coolest product, a Cabin Hooded Scarf. We have been having some oddly warm weather, but I just got to try it out last weekend at our local Santa Claus parade and it is sooo cool!  It is a thickly knitted and cozy scarf, WITH a hood AND pockets!!!

The pocket was perfect for my cell phone and for keeping my hands warm, it would also be just the place to put an mp3 player.  I got many compliments on it that night, and with snow in the forecast for next week I know it will be getting daily use.  Especially being pregnant I can't zip up my winter coat, so wearing this over top will keep me so much warmer for school runs and playing with the kids outside, I just love it!

Nothing says Canadian quite like Roots, and we will definitely have a few Roots items wrapped under the tree this year.

Keep up to date on Roots latest products on Twitter and Facebook.  Do you have any Christmas memories of getting Roots products?

Green & Black's Organic Chocolate

Did you know Canada..  I admit, I had not heard of Green & Black's Organic Chocolate until I was recently introduced to them, and wow, have I been missing out!

Green & Black’s Organic offers an amazing range of organic, Fair Trade Certified 100g chocolate bars at only $3.89 a bar.  A great price for quality chocolate, and the flavours, the flavours!

The Milk Chocolate was delicious, just what your always expect milk chocolate to be, even though you hardly ever end up with it.  My absolute favourite though, Butterscotch, is SO GOOD!  Hubby loved the Almond and Gramma gives a thumbs up on the White Chocolate.

What great stocking stuffers for the Holiday Season, get a few really good bars of chocolate that people will actually enjoy, is really yummy flavours, instead of all that cheap novelty chocolate (that's really not that cheap is it?!).

Green & Black's Organic uses fine organic ingredients that are ethically sourced for a perfect balance between taste and principles.  This is what they stand for and why they pay a premium for all their organic ingredients and why I feel great about sharing their products with my family and friends.

Follow them on Facebook for their latest news and pick up this yummy treat for the Holiday Season!

Nature Clean - Treehouse

Did you know Canada..  Nature Clean is in a partnership with Treehouse to create some awesome products for the kiddos.  Check out these fun stocking stuffers for the kids, my guys LOVE these products.

Berry Blast Bar Soap - with Little Bear on the front, it smells great and a great size for kids hands.  My guys had fun using this in the tub, they both liked the smell and thought it was cool to have their own very special bar of soap.  Will be buying this one again for sure!  Great to sneak into the stocking too.

Melon Burst Toothpaste - it's got Franklin on it, we love Franklin!  It a great taste the boys give two thumbs up for, it's Fluoride Free so a great training toothpaste for the boys while still getting teeth clean and shiny.  Another great one that's the perfect size for a stocking.

Why are these so great?  Well, not only are they fun by using characters the kids recognize and love, but even better, they have been formulated to be very mild and are gentle enough for babies. They are also pH balanced, Vegan, Wheat Free, Nut Free, and Gluten Free!                        

The entire line has been created without ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), sodium lauryl ether sulphate/sodium laureth sulphate (SLES), propylene glycol (PEG), parabens, petroleum ingredients, synthetic perfumes and dyes.

You can feel comfortable giving your little ones these products, while they have fun getting clean!  A great idea for the Holidays, and products you NEED anyways.  Make sure you follow Nature Clean on Twitter and Facebook to stay up to date on all their products!

Burt's Bees

Did you know Canada..  we know Burt's Bees makes amazing products, I have quite a few of them in my purse and on my bathroom counter already.  I love the beautiful sets they have out for the Holidays, there's so many perfect gifts for any budget!

Two of the ones I really love are the Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm Duo and Burt’s Bees Naturally Nourishing Kit.

The Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm Duo comes in a cute package with two tinted lip balms, I love these because the lip balm is a MUST for our harsh Canadian winters, and it packs a little colour that makes you feel fresh and put together.  Great for keeping in my purse, since I NEVER remember to add any colour before heading out.

The Burt’s Bees Naturally Nourishing Kit comes with 3 awesome products, Milk & Shea Butter Body Wash, Milk & Honey Body Lotion and Ultra-Conditioning Lip Balm (contains Kokum Butter that provides long-lasting hydration).  I've been using the Milk & Honey Body Lotion daily on my itchy pregnancy skin and it's been such a relief, same with the Body Wash in the shower.

Both awesome gifts for under the tree, I know I would love it, my Mom, my sister-in-law, everyone!  Burt's Bees is a top quality product and one we already trust.  Remember, Burt's Bees products are free of petrochemicals and other synthetic ingredients like phthalates, parabens and sodium laurl sulfate.  Follow Burt's Bees on Twitter and Facebook for news on their latest products!

Groupbook - Photo Calendar

Did you know Canada..  Canadian website, Groupbook.ca, offers beautiful photo products that are easy to make and gives you gorgeous results.

We recently used Groupbook.ca to make a photo calendar for next year.  It was a fun process of picking all the pictures, laying them out exactly how I wanted, finding snowy pictures for the winter months, fun outdoor pictures for the summer, Holiday pictures for December and more.  Very easy to use yet robust enough to change every aspect of the calendar from background images, layout, photo size and more - I loved it!

After a quick shipping time we received our calendar, it looked exactly as I made it and was great quality, we are really happy!  I was glad they put all the pictures on the back, it's little details like that that will make it a nice gift when opened as well.

With so many choices to choose from, 12 months, 18 months, and poster calendars, you can make something special for everyone on your Holiday list!

They don't just offer calendars either, create Photobooks, Greeting Cards, Photo Cards, Teambooks and more!

Located in Winnipeg Manitoba, this is a fantastic Canadian company to support this Holiday Season!  Follow them on Twitter and Facebook to stay up to date on all their products, and get making a beautiful calendar for you, Gramma, and the rest of the family today!

Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever!

Did you know Canada..  Phineas and Ferb are coming to London ON!!

We LOVE Phineas and Ferb, in fact, we watch them nearly every day!  We just picked up their Christmas DVD and have been enjoying it in the van.  Why not surprise your family with tickets to The Best LIVE Tour Ever!  Tickets to this show would make such a great gift as it's not a long wait, they visit London ON on January 6th!

"Mom! Phineas and Ferb are going on a LIVE tour!!!" School's out for summer and anything is possible as Phineas and Ferb create their biggest invention yet- Disney's Phineas and Ferb:The Best LIVE Tour Ever! Phineas, Ferb, and the whole Tri-State Area gang embark on a bold escape jumping out from behind your TV and onto the stage in a live action adventure-right in your hometown! And, before you can wonder, "Hey, where's Perry?" the beloved pet platypus shifts to his secret double life as Agent P to foil another one of Dr. Doofenshmirtz's evil plans. Musical madness abounds in an escapade so awesome that even Candace can't help but join the hilarious hijinks. It's the ultimate end to summer vacation, so seize the day 'cause Phineas and Ferb are gonna do it all!

Use Promo code MUM4 to receive $4 off each ticket!!!

Stay tuned, as we will have a 4 pack of tickets to giveaway for the London show!!

Gravol and the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada

Did you know Canada..  For the month of December the makers of Gravol® will be donating $1 for every purchase of Gravol® to the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada!

Church & Dwight Canada, the makers of the Gravol® line of products, have proudly supported the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada since 2008 and for the month of December are donating $1 from every purchase of Gravol® to help grant a wish (up to a maximum of $15,000).

There are over 1,700 wishes that remain pending or are in process, requests have gone up 24 percent since 2009 and in recent months they have received more wish referrals than ever before.

As part of an awareness campaign for the Children’s Wish Foundation, the makers of Gravol have worked with award winning design house, Crush Inc., using a mixture of paper cut-out animation and state of the art digital technology, to create a touching and compelling video illustrating the story of a very special wish child named Emily and the “fairy godmothers” in the wish department who made her wish possible.

To watch and share the video as well as to donate to the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada please go to http://gravol.ca/en/highlights/the-children%E2%80%99s-wish-foundation-of-canada/.

Gravol® products are proudly Canadian, being researched, developed and manufactured in Church & Dwight’s facility in Montreal, Quebec and have their head office and national distribution centre in Mississauga, Ontario.

For more information, visit www.gravol.ca.

PLAYSKOOL Rocktivity Sit to Stand Music Skool

Did you know Canada..  the new baby won't be here until after Christmas (hopefully) but that doesn't mean there won't be presents under the tree!

My older guys helped me set up our new PLAYSKOOL Rocktivity Sit to Stand Music Skool from Hasbro Canada, putting it together was a snap, litterally, just had to snap the legs in, and that' only if you want it raised.  The PLAYSKOOL Rocktivity Sit to Stand Music Skool is usable on the ground with the legs detached as well.  Perfect for our littlest ones that are just sitting.

That means this toy will be great for lots of stages, it has a couple fun modes even my 5 year olds enjoyed for awhile, Music and Learning (and French!).

There are buttons to press, balls to spin, a fun microphone to sing along to the music with!

We know our new little one is going to love this, as Mom I am very happy with how sturdy everything feels, it's not *too* loud, the music is up beat, fun, it's easy to understand, great colours, and we are really pleased.

What a great gift for under the tree this year for a little one (or coming little one!) in your life!

Hasbro Canada has some amazing products for all ages for the Holiday Season this year, visit them on the web to see all their products!

ShesConnected Conference 2012

Did you know Canada..  last year I SO enjoyed the ShesConnected Conference in Toronto, but with the baby on the way it was not possible to plan travelling and conference tickets when I did not know where we were going to be come conference time.  Thankfully the awesome folks at Canadian Beef offered us a conference pass and our fantastic Toronto Representative Faniya was able to attend the ShesConnected Conference for Did you know Canada?.  See how it went..

This year I was really lucky to attend Shes Connected Conference 2012 in Toronto to represent Did you know Canada? I prepared in advance for this event including my grey outfit and learning in details the Conference schedule, but everything did not go as smooth as I expected. I became sick before the Conference so party evenings were closed for me but anyway I think I did a good job by attending the sessions and meeting brands. So my advice is do not get sick before the Conference.

I liked the Kate White session a lot; I think it was the first one that took my serious attention, two points still sit in my mind: first one - Go Big or Go Home and second one - Ask if you want to get it (may be these are not exact words, just how I got it). It was great to learn from Author, Career Expert, Speaker & Former Editor-In-Chief, Cosmopolitan Magazine.

Another interesting session I found was Claiming Blog Income: Blogger Compensation session, you can also get their free tax Guide at www.shoeboxbegone.com/sccto, great resources to find out about blogger’s business expenses.

I had a really good experience talking to the brands; I found it was one of the most exciting parts of the Conference.  Canadian Beef our sponsor to the Conference with nice booth and friendly people.  Almond Fresh with tasty drinks, Maple Leaf with lots of product we love to talk about.  We tried IOGO yogurt, played games with Elephoto and CAA, escaped with Ford after posing with Ford cars.  And everyone was so excited to get our Mabel's Labels “I LOVE CANADA” teeny tag.

One of my favorites was the Molson workshop about beer, cheese and luxury. So here’s what I learned and love to share: Molson M paired with Oka Classique, Rickards’s White paired with Brie, Molson Canadian 67 Sublime paired with Spicy Monterey Jack. Our beer was served in special beer glasses which everyone received (two of them) to take home after the session.

McCafe Lounge was so welcoming and cosy, I did not want to leave this place with pampering stations and live music.

So these were fantastic days to spend: to learn, network and communicate, plus every attendee received a generous swag bag in addition to brands gifts. I absolutely love my Ford T-shirt, a bag of organic wild Canadian rice and Molson’s beer glasses.

Now I am still looking through the material I received at the Conference, trying to apply what I learned for example legal aspects of blogging or visual elements.  And of course, looking forward to the next year ShesConnected in Vancouver, hope to take the most of it.

Faniya
Teddy Out-Ready

Win Pampers Diapers for a YEAR! #PGmom

Did you know Canada..  we have great news about a new contest from Pampers.  Click here to enter for your chance to win Pampers diapers for an entire year!

The first draw is Dec 6th and there will be a draw for a year’s worth of diapers each month until the end of June 2013.

I'm entering right now, *fingers crossed* and good luck Canada!!

RateSupermarket.ca - Holiday Food and Travel

Did you know Canada..  RateSupermarket.ca has a fantastic promotion going on for the Holidays.

Apply and be approved for one of their two featured credit cards (both MBNA Mastercards which are well respected cards, I actually have one myself) to receive a free $100 gift card and be entered into RateSupermarket.ca's sweepstakes to win $1,110 for holiday expenses. Gift card choices are from ToysRUs, Amazon.ca, Future Shop and Boston Pizza!!!

You pick the gift card you want as you apply for the credit card, so don't feel like you'll be jumping through hoops to get the gift card, follow the directions and RateSupermarket.ca will send you the gift card within 5-10 business days, easy peasy!

Wow, just for being approved for the card you automatically get the $100 gift card!  Wouldn't that be perfect to use in your Holiday Shopping.  And then entered for the Grand Prize, the Holidays would be completed covered!!!

Apply today and get your free $100 gift card so you can head out shopping!  No matter what, you're a winner with the free gift card!!  Apply soon as this promotion ends December 15th Canada!