Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas!


Did you know Canada..  we wish all our readers a very Merry Christmas, and a fabulous 2013!

Like I'm sure most of you, we will be taking much of this week to be with our family.

We may pop in with a post if a few free minutes come up, otherwise I imagine we will be knee deep in wrapping paper, cardboard, zip ties and batteries. ;-)

All the best friends and will be posting again soon in the New Year!!


Stacey
Did you know Canada?

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Christmas Love Cards

Did you know Canada..  Have you heard about Christmas Love Cards??  Canadian made, these are really fun Christmas cards that would be perfect for the Holidays.



On my husbands side of the family for years and years we had annual card games at Christmas, hubby's Mom would provide prizes and it was a lot of fun :-)


The Christmas card deck that gets your family eating, laughing and dancing to your favourite festive Christmas card game.  Get caroling, boogeying and laughing while making the whole family a winner at the Christmas card game. Christmas Love is the deck of playing cards that adds a Christmas twist to your family's favourite card game.

How to Play?
Simply play your favourite Christmas card game as you normally would!

The twist: 
Each card adds a Christmas activity to be performed before playing your hand or card.  The deck contains 4 Christmas Themed Activity Categories of Jolly, Naughty/Nice, Caroling, and Sweets that are sure to get even Scrooge in the Christmas spirit. Make memories and enjoy delicious Christmas recipes all while engaging in some warm, fun Christmas competition.

We tried this out the past couple nights with the kids, and it was actually a lot of fun :)  I thought it might be a little too goofy for adults, but it ended up being a good time, perfect for the Holidays, even New Years Eve!  I bet the kids would love to use these all year long too.

Visit their website to learn more, and order a pack today at a specially marked down price of only $15!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days

Did you know Canada..  we JUST finished watching the brand new movie Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days on Blu-ray (it just came out on DVD/Blu-ray yesterday!).  It is SUCH a fun movie, and what a great gift idea for under the tree this  year (still a few shopping days left!).

Everybody’s favorite wimp, Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon), is back for three times the fun in the latest film based on the super-popular book series! When Greg’s dad (Steve Zahn) threatens to send him to military school if he doesn’t stay out of trouble, Greg finds all-new ways to land himself in the doghouse! For starters, Greg’s in over his head when he pretends to work at the swanky country club where Rowley’s family has a membership. Things don’t go much better on a father-son camping trip with the Wilderness Explorers, and then there’s the Heffley’s new dog, Sweetie, who fetches even more trouble for Greg in this hilarious family film!

My boys are a little young for the book, but we are just getting there and now that they have seen this fun movie, they are going to be even more excited to get into the books which I absolutely love!

A great movie to watch as a family, the whole thing is a hoot and the boys especially loved Sweetie the dog.  I think a wide range of ages would enjoy this one, and we will be picking up the older movies for the boys to enjoy too.  Perfect to watch on the second week of Christmas break from school.

We love the bonus extras too..


Blu-ray Exclusive Special Features:
- Commentary by Director David Bowers
- Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Director David Bowers
- Class Clown Animated Short
- Gag Reel
- FX Movie Channel presents Wimpy Empire
- Theatrical Trailer
- Sneak Peak


I remember a lot of movies like this from my youth, and find there are not a lot of these out today, so thankfully to Diary of a Wimpy Kid to create these kinds of movies for my boys to enjoy! :-)

Here's a fun deleted scene to enjoy..


Enter below for your chance to win a Blu-ray copy of Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days!!  Good luck!!

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#PGMom Event

Did you know Canada..  we have some great info from our Toronto Rep Faniya, who attended the #PGMom event on our behalf..



Last month I had a chance to attend #PGMom Event. I know this is may be late to say about that but it just in time to talk about holidays. I find it was quite smart to invite Mom- influencers just before the holiday rush, since mostly Moms who clean, cook and bake, decorate, and take kids to holiday events. Holidays are truly special time as we all anticipate them the whole year, prepare for them, and create the magic with our own hands.  Who is that big helper for Moms and families to create holiday magical moments in their lives? I think you know the answer (and it is not Santa).




The event started with introduction to P&G history, lots of products created during long company life, innovated and the main point they did not stop on that, the company continues working on products improvements, design and non-stop research. I never realized that one Pampers diaper is such sophisticated system.



It was a real pleasure to meet Olympic champions Priscilla Lopes-Schliep and Christine Sinclair during the event, even take pictures with them.  I always feel inspiring when I meet sports people, they look awesome, exercise every day plus healthy diet, discipline and strong mind to win competitions.



Meeting P&G beauty experts was also a big adventure: Greg Wencel  Covergirl Make Up Pro, Luis Pacheco Consulting Colourist  and Justin German Pantene Pro-V Consulting Stylist. Pantene Mask and Demi-Permanent hair color were my favourites. We received mini-makeover, mini-manicure, introduction to new season colors and styles.



After we had a chance to walk through the P&G product displays split by categories:  products for everyone in a family including pets.  So I made a list of words reflecting P&Gproducts: soft, fresh, caring, beautiful, clean, shiny, protected and charged.  If you have some, please add them too.

Faniya
Teddy Out-Ready

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Hasbro - Stocking Stuffers

Did you know Canada..  I have my big shopping done, but now using this week to gather all the stocking stuffers, how about you?

This year we are going very low on snacks and candy and instead going with fun little toys, games and other items that can be used all year long.  Not only does this cut back on sugar, it cuts back on the candy we have sitting around the house and gives the kids even more to play with post Christmas.

Hasbro Canada has some fantastic products that are stocking size and provide hours of fun, here's a couple of our favourite..



Play-doh is number one on my list.  Hasbro has a fun set shaped like a candy cane, with a great range of colours that my guys love.  Playdoh is hours and hours of fun, leads to imagnative play and ideas, and a pretty easy clean up too.



Beyblades are something popular at the boys school but not something we've gotten into yet.  So they were so excited to receive a Basic Battle Top, and it's been spinning around my kitchen for hours. ;-)  We got some for the boys stockings so they have a few to play with, these are actually pretty fun!



Barrel of Monkeys is a fun one from our own childhood, great not only for play, but it takes skill and patience to get past the first couple monkeys!  Fun for the whole family to challenge each other.



For our new little one on the way I love the Sesame Street Mini Plush, they are a great size (not tooooo small), cozy and sweet.

Some more great ideas are KRE-O TRA KREON mirco-changers, card games like Battleship Hidden Threat and Monopoly Millionaire - Hasbro Canada has tons of great options!

What's in your stockings this year??


Monday, December 17, 2012

Disney On Ice: 100 Years of Magic

Did you know Canada..  Disney On Ice: 100 Years of Magic is coming to Budweiser Gardens in London ON January 24th to 27th.  What a great idea to surprise the family with tickets to the show this Christmas!

Join the celebration as more than 60 of Disney's unforgettable characters from 18 beloved stories come to life in Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic!  You'll be captivated by the one and only Mickey Mouse, the irresistible Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio and many Disney Princesses.  Be thrilled by exciting moments from The Lion King; Mulan; and Disney/Pixar's Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Toy Story films; in a skating spectacular filled with magical Disney moments you'll remember forever as Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic!

Use promo code MUM4 to purchase 4 tickets for $44 on Weekdays and $4 off per ticket on Weekends.  Excludes Front Row, Rinkside, and VIP tickets. No double discounts. Additional Fees May Apply. Weekday is defined as Monday thru Thursday and Friday Matinee. Weekend is defined as Friday evening and Saturday and Sunday.

Stay tuned, we will have a giveaway for tickets coming up right after Christmas!


Wednesday, December 12, 2012

MUKS & MOCS

Did you know Canada..  have you heard about MUKS & MOCS?  They are an amazing online store that who's products are a combination of comfort, style and tradition. As an Aboriginal-owned company, they are proud of the history connected to our product. Inspired by the beautiful designers and expert craftsmanship of our ancestors. There are literally hundreds of years of history in each of the products they sell.  And absolutely beautiful products at that.

If you haven't checked them out yet, here are a few of my favourites..


Short Wrap Mukluk



The Short Wrap Mukluk from Muks and Mocs is 9.5” of cozy cowhide suede, comfy rabbit fur and soft sheepskin shearling. Featuring unique beadwork and traditional wrap-styling, the Short Wrap mukluk is the perfect combination of fashion and function. The low profile, rugged sole was developed by Vibram™, the leader in sole technology. Vibram™’s durable sole stands up to rain, sleet and snow which means these resilient boots can be worn year round. A sheepskin lined footbed will keep feet warm in even the coldest Canadian winter. Many colours available.

These are my absolute favourite, they would be perfect for wearing to the hockey rink or picking the kids up from school, I love the look and really love that they can be worn year round.

Tall Classic Mukluk



The Tall Classic Mukluk from Muks and Mocs is the quintessential mukluk. Standing at 15” tall, this boot provides unwavering warmth on even the coldest days. Fully lined with sheepskin shearling, rabbit fur and cowhide suede, the Classic mukluk is the new standard in comfort. The Tall Classic isn’t all looks - a durable Vibram™ sole made from rugged TC1 compound will stand up to the elements. Available in a wide range of styles, the only difficult part about this decision is deciding on a colour.

This would be perfect for those spending a lot of time outside, they are not only beautiful but have a Vibram sole that can take you anywhere!

Deerskin Moccasin



When it comes to moccassins, the Deerskin Moccasin from Muks and Mocs is the ultimate in cozy comfort. These moccasins are fleece-lined with rabbit fur trim, and handcrafted from Canadian Deerskin leather. Outstanding quality, fit and style - what more is there to say? Traditional designs and unique stitching pay homage to North American Indian tribes that invented moccasins thousands of years ago. Now you can cozy up in a little piece of history.

Talk about cozy.  Growing up my parents both had moccassins in the house, they loved them and I love them, they not only look great but are so much more durable that fluffy slippers, perfect for the man of the house as well.

Not just for adults, they have children's styles too, even pink for the little ladies in your life!  All of these would make fantastic gifts this Holiday Season, I know I would LOVE a pair of the Mukluk's under my tree this year.  Which one is your favourite?


Holiday Survival Kit #PGmom

Did you know Canada..  We all know the holidays are hectic and the best way to reduce stress is to be prepared! Keeping essential items on-hand can save time and put your mind at ease while entertaining this holiday season.

I love tips and mentioned before I'm in great need of tips this year with the baby on the way, here's some ways to survive the Holidays from P&G (and a great giveaway too!)..

Be Beautiful
Playing hostess is always a bit demanding, especially during the holidays. Between planning a festive feast and decking your halls, remember to take some time to pamper yourself. Try taking a few minutes the night before your big event to decompress in the tub while hydrating your dry winter locks with something quick and easy, such as Pantene Moisture Mask. While your treatment sits you can use your Venus & Olay razor and Satin Care with a Touch of Olay Shave Gel (I have tried both of these, and LOVE them, I wouldn't have guessed adding the Olay to the razor would make much of a difference, but it makes a HUGE difference on how smooth your legs are after) to get touchable and smooth legs. Be sure to protect your luscious locks from simple blow drying to holiday styling with a quick mist of shine, such as Herbal Essences Set Me Up Heat Protection Spray (another fav of mine, been using it everyday, I have that not so good curly hair that I have to blow dry every day). Try picking out your outfit the night before. The less you have to think about, the better.

For the day of the celebration, keep your makeup easy, breezy and beautiful.  Mascara alone can really bring your look from average to amazing (I'm getting to be a mascara only girl in these last few weeks of pregnancy!).  For a long-lasting impact to last from morning to night, try CoverGirl LashBlast 24 Hour Mascara.  Finish off your look with your favourite shade of CoverGirl Blast Flipstick, ready to pucker up under the mistletoe.

Be Fresh and Tide-y
Keep your cool during the holidays and avoid embarrassing moments by being prepared with Secret Outlast deodorant, which gives you 48 hours of odour protection to outlast your day.

Slips and spills are inevitable, especially with holiday dinners, baking and parties, but you can be prepared. Keep Tide to Go in your purse (I have one in mine!) to clean up a stain on your new blouse without starting a load –your guests will never be the wiser.

Be Prepared
With all of the toys under the tree, many electronic, batteries are often an afterthought. By stocking up on longlasting batteries, like Duracell (see our post about Duracell here), you can avoid tears of frustration and keep the kids playing with their new toys for hours, while the adults get some much-needed grown-up time.



P&G wants to make sure you are ready for the Holidays with their Holiday Survival Kit, enter below for your chance to win this awesome set of products!!

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Power the Holidays with Duracell #PGmom

Did you know Canada..  if you have kids you know Christmas really means opening difficult boxes, fighting with zip ties and loading everything up with batteries!  You can't even imagine the tears (or maybe you can!) to have a toy not working because you don't have enough batteries in the house, or worse, you have them but they are dead!



Thankfully Duracell has you covered for the Holidays, and I really recommend preparing with lots of batteries RIGHT NOW, so there are no sad faces later - I just got 2 big packs from Costco last week. Duracell is the # 1 trusted battery among parents in Canada and they have engineered all of their batteries with DuraLock, a new technology which preserves power for up to 10 years in storage,  I was super happy to see the AA's and AAA's I bought at Costco last week had the new DuraLock technology!  Check out ways Duracell can keep you powered this season (these make AWESOME gifts too!!!)..




Heading on a holiday trip with the family or needing a quick recharge? Compact enough to fit in your carry-on luggage, the Duracell Quick Charger provides a fast way to recharge your batteries, taking only one hour to charge them. Whether you are rocking out with your travel speakers, powering kids toys or snapping pictures on your camera, the Duracell Quick Charger ensures that none of your holiday vacation moments are powerless. The Duracell Quick Charger has a suggested retail price of $24.99. Click here for more details.  Hubby already has his out and ready for the Christmas rush, and we purchased one for my parents as well!



Need to make a quick call to double check a wish-list? There is nothing worse than getting halfway through the day and seeing your cell phone or Ipod is running on empty. Luckily, the Duracell Instant Charger is a handy portable power solution that allows you and your loved ones to charge their new USB-powered devices on the go. Small and light, it can charge many gadgets and is great to keep in your purse or pocket. Suggested retail price is $44.99. Click here for more information.



I LOVE this, here's me using it in the car last week waiting to pick up the kids for school, it is SO HANDY!  Especially while away at friends and family when you don't have your phone charger with you, I'm going to be using this is the hospital when I have the baby too.


Free Shipping Day!

Did you know Canada..  it's Free Shipping Day!  That's right, over 250 retailers are offering FREE shipping today, not only big brands but small businesses are getting in on it as well.

Visit FreeShippingDay.ca to see a list of retailers, check out your favourite stores, and get your last shop in before the Holidays!

I've already placed 1 order!  How about you???


Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Downy Unstopables #PGmom

Did you know Canada.. have you heard about Downy Unstopables yet?  I had a small trial pack that I had but hadn't used.  Then I purchased a baby item from a swap site to save some money and wanted to get it REALLY clean, so when I went to wash the material I looked around for something extra and used my Unstopables pack.  Well, I have been hooked ever since!



Unstopables are in wash scent booster that goes beyond everyday freshness to keep active wear, towels, and other fabrics smelling “wow” right up until the next wash, and wow was right, I couldn't believe the results, I was SO HAPPY!



Since then I've received to full size bottles in my pack from P&G and have purchased more, I LOVE them, I use them for the boys stinky sports clothes, for towels, I toss a bit in the wash the few times I've forgotten to switch the loads and had to re-run them (we'll blame my pregnancy brain on that).  They are awesome, and I just wanted to share my joy with you.  I'm not big about adding extras to the wash as I can get rash-y just thinking about some things, but adding these to the wash do not affect my skin and makes everything smell amazing!

Yet another reason why I am proud to be a P&G Mom :-)


Christkindl Market

Did you know Canada, our Toronto Representative Pam attended the Christkindl Market this past weekend and has all the details for us, sounds great!




A Christmas market, also known as Christkindlmarkt, Christkindlesmarkt, Christkindlmarket, and Weihnachtsmarkt, is a street market associated with the celebration of Christmas.  My husband and is German and we enjoy attending these markets as part of our annual Christmas celebrations.  In fact, these events have been part of Christmas celebrations for centuries. The oldest recorded market dates to 1310 in Munich, Germany.



Kitchener, Ontario, is the location of Canada's original Christkindl Market. Kitchener was founded by German-speaking Mennonites who emigrated from Pennsylvania to to farm what is now Waterloo Region.



We enjoyed Gluhwein (warmed red wine spiced with cinnamon, cloves, sugar and the zing of an orange) while we listened to Bavarian music and watched traditional dancing. We shopped for lovely Christmas decorations and enjoyed exploring the offerings of several artisans.  Bakeshops offered special treats – Linzer Torte, Plum Cake and Stollen (fruit cake with marzipan).



In 1996, Christkindl Market was brought to City Hall by founder Tony Bergmeier and today, over 35,000 visitors from across North America come to experience this award-winning event.  The crowds were light when we arrived but the number increasing by lunchtime.



Although there was plenty to buy, the Market provided many free options as well.  There was a skating rink available, two adorable donkeys, an organ grinder and a very entertaining G-scale model railway.



Lunch was Schnitzel on a Bun, Sausages and warm pretzels!  Delicious!



If there’s a Christmas market in your town, I highly recommend attending. If you’re thinking of attending next year’s Christkindl Market in Kitchener, check out their website for more information.

Pam

Preparing your home for the Holiday Social Season #PGmom

Did you know Canada..  Colin Cowie, lifestyle expert and celebrity party planner, has 5 simple tips for us to prepare our homes for the Holiday Social Season!  I don't know about you, but I'm feeling overwhelmed already, especially with the baby on the way, and trying to prep for everything at once!

A big one on my list is the house smelling fresh and clean, here's Colin's tips on how we should get ready..

Start with a colour theme - Red and gold or white and silver are both perfect for a holiday party. Incorporate these colours into everything from your invitations to your decorations.



Good lighting is a must - Use lights on dimmers or consider adjusting the lighting of any room by adding candles.  (I love to add candles, they not only bring in fresh holiday scents but add to the feeling of a special day - our current favourite is febreze vanilla and moonlight)  These also make great parting gifts for your guests!

Let guests help themselves - Sit down dinner can be intimidating so set up a variety of food stations instead.  Easy to set up before guests arrive so that everything is prepared when dinner is ready to be served.



Always be ready for guests - Store a Swiffer WetJet with Swiffer WetJet extra power pad with the scrubbing power of Mr. Clean Magic Eraser in the hall closet; when friends or relatives let you know they're just around the corner, you can quickly clean up before they pull into the driveway.  (this is a must for me, especially with muddy dog and kid boot prints that I can't keep on top of!)

Hide the mess - pre-load the dishwasher with Cascade All-in-1 ActionPacs and load dishes as you use them.  If you need to hand wash your dishes use a fact-acting dish soap like Dawn Original, it gives you an overnight soak in five minutes, so you can plan to spend the night with your guests instead of being stuck scrubbing dirty dishes.

My last quick thing to do before guests arrive is give the rooms a quick spray with Febreze Air effects, my current favourite scent is the Cranberries and frost, I LOVE it!  I have got to get out to the store and stock up on this scent before it disappears for the year.



We are so excited to offer a giveaway to our readers; a prize pack to get their homes ready for the Holiday Social Season as well! Enter below to win this awesome set of products, to use in conjunction with these easy tips from Colin, and your home will be party ready in no time!


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Monday, December 10, 2012

Holiday Party Planning: 10 Tips for Festive Fun!

Did you know Canada..  From decking the halls to trimming the tree and preparing your feast, holiday party planning can be exhausting! Metro has some stress-free tips to make your party the talk of the town! They've done the research and put together a list of need-to-know tips and techniques for an effortlessly unforgettable get-together.



Creative serving – Instead of communal bowls of nuts, try a more eye catching and hygienic presentation by putting snacks in clear-glass, narrow-necked decanters. Guests can pour nut and trail mixes themselves, and it looks great, too!
I love this idea!!!

Stagger serving times – If all food is served at the start of the night, guests are likely to gorge and go home early. Keep your party hopping by serving your tasty hors d’oeuvres all night long.
Impress with a signature cocktail - Channel your inner mixologist and offer guests a unique signature cocktail for your holiday party. Be sure to have other non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages to offer alongside this cocktail.
I know I get sleepy if I eat too much at once, especially if kids are joining in too, they stay happy if they keep eating :-)

Prep in advance – The ‘day of’ for the party planner is always hectic! Between set up, last minute errands, and wrangling the kids – stress is high. Try prepping what you can a few days before. Things like fruit trays, cheese and cracker platters and Swedish meatballs can all be put together a day or two in advance.
The problem with this one for me is I always run out of fridge space!

Presentation is everything – When preparing food trays and hors d’oeuvres platters, have fun! Use the Canadian winter landscape as inspiration by placing pinecones and frosted pine needles in your tray display.
LOVE this idea!




Fast and fancy – Limited time? Solicit the help of the frozen food aisle! Metro’s private label line, Irresistibles, offers delicious appetizers perfect for party planners, with selection and creativity covered.
So many great options for apps, chocolates and more!  We LOVE their Irresistibles European Biscuits, and Irresistibles Vegetable Spring Rolls, great to set out on any Holiday table!

Tidy as you go – No one likes waking up to a mess, by tidying bit by bit during your party, the house will be kept clean for your guests, too!
This one I always try to do!

Set the ambiance – A beautiful candle display can never go wrong at a holiday party
Provide plenty of options – Be sure to provide an assortment of appetizer options at your holiday bash to keep all types of appetites full and happy!
Love having a homey holiday setting :-)

Enjoy yourself – This is your party, too! You’ve worked hard and it’s important to enjoy the environment, interact with your guests and taste your delicious treats!
The hardest part, isn't it :-)

With two little ones and being eight months pregnant, I need all the Holiday tips I can get to make it an enjoyable, easy-going time!  Thanks so much to Metro for this great tips, what are your best Holiday Party tips?



Saturday, December 8, 2012

Disney's Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever!

Did you know Canada..  we already mentioned Disney's Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever is coming to Budweiser Gardens in London ON on January 6th, don't forget to use promo code MUM4 to receive $4 off each ticket!!!

Even more exciting, enter for your chance to win 4 tickets to the 6pm performance of Disney's Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever at Budweiser Gardens in London ON on January 6th 2013.  Can you even imagine surprising the kids with these tickets on Christmas morning, and they get to see the show before they head back to school?



We can not WAIT to attend this show, the boys are HUGE Phineas and Ferb (and Perry!) fans, Mom & Dad actually love this show too. :-)

Enter below for your chance to win tickets to this awesome show, good luck friends!  Remember, only enter if you can attend the show at Budweiser Gardens in London ON on January 6th 2013 at 6pm.

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Friday, December 7, 2012

Contest Alert - Boston Pizza!

Did you know Canada..  Boston Pizza has an AWESOME promotion going on right now, enter here for your chance to win a $200 gift card!

Be quick as it ends December 14th.  Perfect to use this Holiday Season with busy days and nights, you can take the whole family out for a surprise dinner or order in a big meal for family & friends.

Make sure you share with your network via twitter and email for more chances to win!  Each time a person enters using your link, you get another ballot in the draw!

Good luck Canada, I know my hubby would be dreaming about a philly cheese from Boston Pizza right now, what's your favourite dish??



UNICEF CANADA - Survival Gifts

Did you know Canada..  UNICEF Survival Gifts are a collection of 54 gifts essential for child survival and development grouped into six main categories: Water, Food, Health, Education, Play and Emergency.

Canadians can place orders online anytime at www.survivalgifts.ca or by phone at 1 888 777 0380.  What a great thing to do as a family, or make a collection with a church group, classroom or team to help give gifts of life.

Last year, UNICEF gifts helped children in 72 countries survive and thrive.  Over the course of 2011, UNICEF responded to 292 humanitarian situations in 80 countries.  Easy to purchase, gifts range in price from $10, enough for 55 polio vaccines (wow!), to $38,159 for an all-terrain vehicle needed to reach children safely in conflict zones and in remote regions.

I love this, some of the Survival Gifts that generous Canadians sent to the field last year:
* 9,713,261 (nearly 10 million) vital water items
* 362,737 education items so children can learn
* 773,022 vaccines to keep children safe from polio, measles, and tetanus
* 1,633,919 water purification tablets providing 8,169,595 litres of vital clean water
* 308,008 oral rehydration salts
* 284,714 packages of Plumpy’Nut therapeutic food – enough to feed 13,557 children 3 times a day for a week
* 361,120 pencils and notebooks so children could write and learn

What an amazing opportunity to help those in need.  Please let your friends and family know about this, take a quick collection at dinner this weekend and talk about how only a few dollars can change the lives of so many!


Iams Home for the Holidays

Did you know Canada..  now in it's 14th year, Iams Home for the Holidays pet adoption drive is  focused on raising awareness of pet adoption while also ensuring proper nutrition for more homeless pets this year.

Running until January 2, 2013, Iams is again working in conjunction with founding partner Helen Woodward Animal Center, the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and more than 4,000 animal organizations worldwide to encourage pet adoption.

Last year alone, 1.2 million pets were adopted during the holiday campaign and an estimated 5 million meals were donated to pets in need. In Canada alone, over 75,000 animals found forever homes during the campaign.  This warms my heart SO MUCH, as owner of two dogs, I can tell you how much a pet can bring love and joy into a household.

Canadians can participate in the program in more ways than one. Lend a hand by:

Donating through Bags 4 Bowls – For those who are already pet parents, Iams will donate one bowl of food to a participating Iams Home 4 the Holidays animal organization for every specially marked package of Iams pet food purchased during the campaign

Adopting from a local shelter – Every day more and more animals end up in shelters or in rescue care, and more than 25 per cent are pure breeds. This is important to keep in mind when deciding to bring a pet into your life, the animal you’re looking for is probably in your neighbourhood shelter. To find a participating animal shelter or rescue organization near you, visit iams.ca or facebook.com/iams

Volunteering – Shelters need volunteers to do everything from feeding, caring for and keeping rescue animals company, to assisting at events and fundraisers. If you can’t adopt but would still love to help do so as a volunteer

Visiting Facebook.com/iams – Visit the Iams Facebook page and click to “Like” the page or various messages, photos, videos, etc. For each “Like” comment Iams will donate meals to participating animal shelters  



To help bring awareness to this amazing campaign, we are giving away an Iams gift basket valued at $300!!!  The prize pack includes: a Cozy pet bed, Warm fleece throw blanket, Pet food container and scoop, Iams collar and pet brush, Iams pet bandannas, Cat litter pooper scooper and poop bag holders, Water holder fanny pack, clear reusable water bottle and collapsible water dish, Iams pet food coupons ($80 value), Pet holiday stocking, Febreeze for pet odour, and a Swiffer Duster starter kit.  Enter today and please be sure to share Iam's Home for the Holidays Campaign with your network.

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Comfort on the Go Sallazzo Slippers - Infant

Did you know Canada..  we already mentioned how much we love Sallazzo Slippers for Mom & Dad, well they have the sweetest collection for Infants as well.



We received two sweet pairs for our coming little one, I LOVE these white ones with the blue train, how precious are those, and how beautiful would they be in a Holiday Gift for a new baby.

Great sizing for growing babies, with fantastic quality, soft stretch nylon material and cozy terry cloth insides, these make Mama happy and I know they will be perfect for a baby as well.



I love the non-slip bottom as well, will be great for crawlers to get some leverage to push off.

All of Sallazzo's Slippers will make beautiful and thoughtful gifts for the Holiday Season and the infant ones are perfect for baby shower gifts, new baby, special occassion, they are so sweet :-)

Follow Sallazzo Slippers on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date on their latest styles!


Thursday, December 6, 2012

Experience the Freshness of Fresh Step Scoopable Cat Litter!

Did you know Canada..  Cats who love their litter boxes are less likely to seek out inappropriate elimination spots in the house. Fresh Step can help with that!  With the secret world of ACTIVATED CARBON, the power to STOP AMMONIA, the beauty of ABSORBENT CLAY and the benefit of PAW-ACTIVATED FRAGRANCE Fresh Step has you covered!



We want you to help your cat learn to love its litter. Here are our tip;

Size:

Cats prefer bigger bathrooms, so purchase the largest litter box you can find or consider using a large plastic storage container instead. Find a box that’s at least twice the length of your cat.
If you started with a small litter box for your small kitten, make sure you upgrade to a larger litter box as your cat grows.

Covered vs. uncovered:

To figure out what box style your cat prefers, offer a covered and uncovered box next to each other. Note which style they use more frequently and retain the box style that your cat prefers.

Location:

Boxes should be easily accessible but not in heavily trafficked zones
Special considerations should be taken into account for young, geriatric and infirm cats—these cats may need boxes in very accessible locations.
Avoid placing litter boxes next to noisy appliances and/or turn off the buzzer functions on those appliances (e.g. washing machines, dryers).
If there are multiple cats in the home, there should be multiple litter boxes in different locations throughout the house.

Litter:

Use litter with a good odour-controlling ingredient such as carbon. Fresh Step® litter products contain a patented carbon odour controlling technology that helps keep the litter box smelling fresh and clean.

We are so excited to share a giveaway with our kitty loving readers!  Enter below for your chance to win a 20LB box of Fresh Step Extreme Odour Control Cat Litter!

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Holiday Entertaining Made Easy with GLAD

Did you know Canada..  a not so fun part of the Holidays is ALL the garbage.  Between food scraps, wrapping, opening new boxes and more, it's going to be crazy.

Thankfully Glad has you covered so you can be the perfect hostess - Glad Trash Bags with Odour Guard technology!



Anyone ever had leftovers of scallops, salmon or other apps who's smell loves to hang around?  We do every year and it's always a fight to get the smell out of the kitchen.

With Glad you are covered..
* Your home will never smell like garbage
* You won't have to store it somewhere crazy until garbage day (and garbage days get so mixed up this time of year don't they)
* No double bagging required
* Outside your bags won't smell like garbage either, making sure you don't get any extra visitors!

Clean up made easy!


Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Impressive Holiday Gifts are a Snap with Kellogg’s Rice Krispies

Did you know Canada..  we had some fun this weekend decorating some Kellogg’s Rice Krispies for the Holidays.  This Holiday season Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal teams up with Lisa Sanguedolce, a top Canadian cake decorator to create a dazzling gift idea on a tiny budget! Lisa’s signature Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal Holiday Ornament is new for Holiday 2012 and puts a fancy twist on everyone’s favourite – the classic Rice Krispies square!




This project requires just a few ingredients, a little bit of time, and a dash of love!  Don't get nervous from the picture (I was!) it actually went really smoothly and we had a ton of fun!




Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Holiday Ornament Instructions

For an impressive holiday gift idea this season, try making the Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Holiday Ornament. It’s a great way to spend quality time with kids, and because it’s no-bake, it’s a snap to make. A thoughtful gift for friends, teachers, baby sitters or anyone on your list!

What You’ll Need
·         6 cups (1.5 litre) Kellogg’s* Rice Krispies *  cereal
·         250g (1 pkg) Marshmallows
·         1/4cup (50ml) Butter or Margarine
·         2ml (1/2 tsp) Vanilla extract
·         Red licorice string
·         Red and white fondant and silver dragees, available at cake decorating supply shops, crafting or grocery stores
·         Ruler, bamboo skewer, pizza cutter, rolling pin and paint brush
·         Wrapping: cello bags, ribbon, and mini decorative bulbs – available at local crafting stores

Make the Rice Krispies Base
1.    In a large microwave safe bowl, heat margarine and marshmallows at HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes or do it on the stove

2.    Stir in vanilla. Stir in Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal until well coated. Allow mixture to cool slightly; form into shape


Shape the Ornament
1.    Form Kellogg’s  Rice Krispies cereal mixture into half balls, leaving space in the centre
2.    Poke a small hole in a piece of fondant with bamboo skewer and thread with your red licorice to make the loop for hanging
3.    Place the loop inside the ball and add more Kellogg’s Rice Krispies mixture to close the ball around the licorice so the loop sticks out; add more mixture as needed and mold with hands into ball shape

Decorate!

1.    Roll fondant into a sheet using a rolling pin
2.    With a ruler and pizza cutter, cut fondant into long strips; place onto ornament working your way around, cutting  any excess
3.    Use a very small cookie cutter decorating tool to cut out fun shapes from the fondant
4.    Dip the paint brush in some water and brush onto the fondant; sprinkle on silver dragees  
5.    Once complete; package the Kellogg’s Rice Krispies ornament in a cellophane bag, add the ribbon and the mini decorative bulbs for the perfect holiday gift!


We made one for Santa for our Elf on the Shelf to take back to the North Pole with him. :-)  We will be making these for friends and neighbours as well, what a beautiful gift!  The kids really enjoyed this project and it honestly was not hard to do at all, now I have great ideas for future Kellogg’s Rice Krispies projects!




My Butteryfly - A Capella Lullabies

Did you know Canada..  we are really counting down the weeks until the new baby gets here now, and I'm so excited to have learned about Vocal Paint.

Vocal Paint was founded by Jason Simmons and the first CD in the Vocal Paint series "My Butterfly/A Capella Lullabies" was released in 2011.



In 2012, "My Butterfly/A Capella Lullabies" received a Juno nomination for "Children's Album of the Year"!!!

We have been listening to it this past week and I really enjoy it, it's very soft and soothing, exactly what our babies need to fall asleep, especially for those middle of the night feedings.  Personally I love that it's not "cutesy", don't get me wrong, I love cutesy, silly singing for kids too, but at bed time this will be beautiful to listen to, not only for babe, but for a sleepy Mom to enjoy too.

One of my favourite songs on the CD is Edelweiss, it makes me think of the Sound of Music and childhood and fun days.  It's also such a relaxing song.  There are also many childhood songs on the CD like Hush Little Baby, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Row, Row, Row Your Boat - all family favourites and easy to sing and hum along to.

All the songs are done in a capella, of course, the human voice is the oldest musical instrument and for centuries parents have been singing their children to sleep.  We have found this CD a real comfort to listen to and enjoy and I can't wait to share it with our new little one!

Visit the Vocal Paint website to listen to samples of the CD and purchase from iTunes or CD Baby.

We have great news for our readers as well, enter below for your chance to win a copy of "My Butterfly/A Capella Lullabies"!

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Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Made in Canada home renovation

Did you know Canada..  a friend and her husband's Christmas gift to each other this year is to redo their kitchen.  Home renovation does not sound like the best thing during the Holidays, but it works for them as they are both off work for two weeks, they have been saving up the money and are doing much of the work themselves.  Plus, practically everything in on sale one way or another this time of year right.

Now is also the time to get in any last minute renovations that can be used towards the Home Renovation Tax Credit!

It got me to thinking about the best way to home renovate the Made in Canada way.  The first step would be to ask your local lumber yard where the wood comes from, and find a place that deals with local producers.  Visit locally owned shops like Home Hardware to purchase products and tools.  You won't be able to find everything you need Canadian made, but at least you are supporting local businesses.

If you are looking for garage doors in Burlington as part of a renovation, we found a company that sells and services Made in Canada products!

There's also Canadian made kitchen cabinets, flooring, furniture and more available from companies throughout Canada.  If you are using a contractor ask about ordering in Canadian made pieces.

Have you done a home reno this year?  Do you know where your new updates were made?


Monday, December 3, 2012

Shopping online with Sears #SearsBabysRoom

Did you know Canada..  being 8 months pregnant means braving the malls is no easy task!  Thankfully, Sears has you covered for shopping online and they make shopping for the kids SO EASY!



First stop of any Sears holiday shop in this house is the Wish Book (now in its 60th year!) and Toy Book.  The boys, as you can see, absolutely LOVED the toy book, and Mom got some great ideas on items they went gaga over that I hadn't even considered for them!  Don't have a copy at home? There's an app for that!  YES!  Both the Sears Toy Chest and Wish Book are available as an app - the app is fully transactional, allowing customers to purchase products quickly and easily through Sears.ca!!

Another great way to find ideas for your kids to get them out of their favourite toy zone (for us it's transformers and hot wheels, but I would love to find them a few other things so we don't have repeats and can find other toys to enjoy) is to use the Sears Toy Finder online.



All you have to do is enter the gender, age and budget and you can get some fantastic ideas!  This worked well for me looking at baby toys as well for our new little one, at that age some toys look pretty similar  but are meant for different age ranges.  I found the Toy Finder to be very helpful it showing me exactly what toys are best for the age I wanted to shop for.  Perfect for Grandparents, and aunts and uncles too!!!



The results are easy to shop from!



If you know exactly what you are looking for, there are easy to view categories, and I appreciated the numbers letting you know how many items were available for each.  The boys are very interested in Batman lately, so I headed over there and easily found this really cool belt full of Batman tools and it was on sale to boot!


A quick and easy shop from the comfort of my own home, I could take my time and I wasn't dying on my feet, fighting the crowds or driving through a snow storm - what more could a Mom want!  Even more reasons to shop online, Sears is offering $10 off a purchase of $100 or more on regular priced toys until December 24th, use Coupon code: 941 612 203 and get FREE shipping with a purchase of more than $75 until December 20th!  Your online orders MUST be placed by December 20th in order to receive them in time for Christmas, so don't delay!!



We have a great surprise for our readers as well, enter below for your chance to win one of two awesome toys, we are giving away Hasbro Game of Life zAPPed to one lucky reader and a Play-Doh Candy Cyclone to another lucky reader!  Enter below for your chance to win - what great Christmas gifts!

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Disclosure: I am part of the Sears Canada The Baby’s RoomAmbassador program with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.
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