$30 Tim Horton's Tim Card

Did you know Canada.. I have a fun surprise today, just before I'm gone for a few days with the baby!  We've teamed up with fabulous Canadian Bloggers Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy to give away a $30 Tim Horton's Tim Card!!

With the crazy weather Canada has been experiencing  we could all use a little pick me up right?  Enter below for your chance to win $30 to spend at Timmies!  Treat the kids after school, or sneak a coffee or hot chocolate in the mornings for a couple weeks, we just want to put a smile on the face of one of our Canadian readers.  Good luck friends!

Giveaway
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Planning for the days ahead

Did you know Canada..  I am having a baby in TWO days!  That is, of course, if he doesn't decide to come before, and at this point, I would love it if he just goes with the plan.

Suddenly today I am having a few "Oh my goodness, I'm having a baby, I don't feel prepared" moments.  It's not the baby I'm not prepared for, it's the two children I already have!  When I had the boys I had all the time in the world.  No other responsibilities to anyone, it didn't matter how long I was staying in the hospital, or what day the baby came.  But now with 5 year olds there is school, hockey, cooking classes, we have 2 dogs at home that need to be cared for, bags to be packed, toys to be packed and more.

So today I find myself online shopping kids toy stores for Valentine's Day ideas, because that's coming up quick!  I also wanted to get the boys a small present for when the baby comes home, to celebrate them becoming big brothers.  I am also making a big shopping list for hubby to get in extra school lunches and snacks tomorrow, making lists and more lists about what's happening when, who has what car and thinking about what if's and, well, everything!

This is a day I am very grateful for the world we live in now, shopping on the internet, smart phones to keep in touch with family and friends, delivery men and video games to keep the boys busy while Mom freaks out.

How did you prepare your older children for a new baby's arrival?  Especially if you had a longer stay in the hospital.

5 Ways to Make Your Home Business More Sustainable

Did you know Canada..  Working from home automatically can make a business more environmentally-friendly. You save the carbon emissions and fuel that would have been used up during the daily commute to and from the office. According to a recent study conducted by Carnegie Mellon University, online retail operations use 30% less energy on average than traditional brick and mortar operations. Yet there are still ways to further reduce your environmental impact when working from home. Running a green friendly business not only is good for the environment, but for your company bank account. Conserving resources can be a great way to save money.

1. Arrange for an Energy Audit

Many utility companies will be happy to stop by your home office for a consultation or energy audit. These are provided at little to no cost, and can help you improve your energy usage. Simply turning off computers at the end of the workday can drastically reduce energy use, as can properly insulating the building.

2. Eliminate Paper Waste

With so many forms of electronic communication these days, there's really no need to go through paper during the workday. Encourage email communications with your clients and suppliers, and back up important files digitally or using cloud storage rather than printing out emails. If you must send a fax, avoid the cover sheet and use a fax-modem to save paper.

3. Detox the Office

Do you use harsh chemicals to clean your office? Consider replacing these with gentler solutions. Common office suppliers like copier toner and used batteries can also be filled with toxins. You can find safe, eco-friendly alternatives to these that will be friendlier to the environment. Be sure to dispose of any existing toxins properly.

4. Use Green Suppliers

Just as you would carefully shop around to find the best website builderand products to create your home business, you should take some time to find out more about your suppliers. If you already have a working relationship with suppliers, tell them that you're interested in using sustainable products. It's helpful to set specific goals when sourcing office supplies, committing to only purchasing recycled or used products. When you create a websitefor your business, you can proudly announce this dedication to help define your company's stance on using sustainable products. This will keep you mindful when purchasing supplies.

5. Connect with Local Businesses

In addition to doing business with green-friendly suppliers, it's also a good idea to buy local. You can reduce the time and energy it takes for your supplies to reach you by using local businesses. This also helps foster stronger community connections, and can help you inspire others to go green.

Small steps like these can make a world of difference in energy use and sustainability. Every little step helps make an impact in the world around you. 

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.. ?

Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link up! 01/26

Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up!  This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview.  Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!

This Week's Candid Canuck is Jeanette from This Dusty House, check out our interview with her..

What project in your renovations are you most proud of? 
Definitely the kitchen. When we were doing our renovations, we had some pretty tight square footage limitations, so we had to get a little creative. Instead of traditional uppers, we went with a full wall of pantry cupboards. They look great and provide plenty of cupboard space in my small kitchen. Then, a few months later, we stumbled across the perfect back splash tile that took the whole room to the next level. I love being in my kitchen and it's the room that shows off our abilities as DIYers and hobby designers best.

Tell us about your pets.
We have three pets: two dogs and a cat. The cat, Pekoe, came first, many years ago, before I met my husband. He was with me through some of my most difficult times during university, always there to cuddle when I was having a bad day. He's a free-spirited kitty these days, but he still loves his mama.

Mocha, our cockapoo, joined the family just a couple months after we got married and moved to Toronto. She was such an adorable little puppy, but she taught us a lot about raising dogs and being pet owners! She also managed to cut my shoe collection in half. There may have been tears... She's two and a half now and loves nothing else more than snuggling up as close to your face as she can get.

Kingsley came around just a few months ago, back at the beginning of September. We got him as a puppy from the Toronto Humane Society. He's growing up into the sweetest, most loving dog I have ever met. As long as he gets all his walks, that is...

What makes you proud to be a Canadian? 
So many things! I love that we say sorry to someone who bumps into us. I love that we're polite to a fault. I love how much we talk about weather. I love how stereotypical we can be.

My view of what it means to be Canadian has been challenged and stretched over the past number of years. I grew up on a dairy farm in rural Ontario. Believe or not, being Canadian is a very different thing there than it is here. Small town values with a distinctly Canadian edge are wonderful things to raise a child on. But here, in the city, there's a greater level of openness, of acceptance, even of love for the people around us. My sense of what it means to be Canadian felt different yet when I visited Edmonton, where my sister lives, last summer. I am incredibly proud of that diversity, that being Canadian doesn't mean just one thing.

Tell us about your most popular blog post. 
My most popular blog post... It's one of two:
The reveal of our renovated bathroom and The tutorial for my chair booties.  I made these when we had our dining room set on our brand new bamboo floors. I had never planned to make a tutorial, was surprised, even, when a few people asked for it. My grandmother had them on all her chairs!

Do you have a big project planned for this new year?
We're not really sure. At the moment, we're stuck trying to figure out our best course of action. We know our house is not large enough to be sustainable. So, do we sell and buy a new one, or do we renovate to add more square footage? It's a tough question to answer and we haven't figured it out yet.


Thanks so much to This Dusty House for sharing such great info with us!  Want to be one of our featured Canucks?  Sign up here.

Right now, link up your Canadian blog and social media accounts, find some new reads and new friends!

Click here to grab this linky for your site!

Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic - London ON

Did you know Canada..  last night my family attended Disney On Ice: 100 Years of magic at the Budweiser Gardens in London ON.

We attended the Disney on Ice show last year, and it was fantastic, but this year, THIS YEAR, it was just AMAZING!  The quality of the show, costumes and skaters was amazing, my guys eyes were GLUED to the stage the entire show.

I loved seeing familiars like Toy Story, the Lion King, of course our favourites Minnie, Mickey, Goofy and Donald - the music and songs were perfect, I heard many in the audience singing along.

Boys also had fun at intermission picking up a fun Toy Story spiny toy and glowing slushies.  Our family had an amazing night, and the show is still running until Sunday!

We have some fantastic news about a new way to save on tickets!  Use code 100YEARS to get a Family Four pack of tickets for $100 (Valid on $35 price level only, Valid on all performances).

I highly recommend this show if you are in the area, best Disney on Ice show we have ever seen!!

C is for..

Did you know Canada..  I'm taking part in ABC Friday, thanks to Maple Leaf Mommy and Mom vs. the Boys for this fun link up!

Here's how it works..  Each week is a new letter theme, starting with A of course, we will work our way through the alphabet.  All you have to do is post a picture with the letter theme for that week…. A is for Auto, B is for Beach, C is for Cake….I think you get

So C is for..  Cooking Class!  My boys just started a cooking class that runs 8 weeks through our local parks & rec.  The first week was pizza and they had so much fun!!!  Really glad we signed up for this.  :-)

Make sure you head over to Mom vs. the Boys and link up your C image!

We tried a new dish with #CavendishFromTheFarm

Did you know Canada..  with our new baby on the way NEXT WEEK, I've been sending hubby and the kids to the grocery store, which means instead of wandering around and deciding my menu on the fly I've had to pre-plan everything.  Hubby is a great shopper, but he ONLY gets what's on the list, drives me nuts..haha..  So it's been a challenge to come up with some fun meals without looking around the store first.

Thankfully this past week I became a Cavendish From the Farm blogger, which introduced us to their 3 products - Cavendish From the Farm Wedges, Rustic Reds and Straight Cut potatoes.  Low in saturated fat, prepared with the skin on and are made with 100% canola oil and lightly seasoned with sea salt, they were a perfect addition to meal times.

Hubby had no problem finding the Farm Wedges and Rustic Reds at our local Real Canadian Super Store.

Instead of just a side dish we decided to try a main dish with the Rustic Reds, a potato casserole!

First we added a whole bag of Rustic Reds to a casserole dish.

Drizzled a little bit of olive oil over top and popped them in the oven for about 10 minutes.

While they were heating up I cut up a chicken breast, topped with salt, pepper and garlic powder and cooked it up.

Removed the potatoes from the oven, added about 1/4C of hot sauce to the potatoes, mixed well, added the cooked chicken, shredded cheese and a bit of green onion.

Popped it back in the oven for another 20 minutes and served, so good!  Even the kids, MY KIDS, loved it!!

Later this week we are thinking about making poutine with the Farm Wedges.

2 great ways to change up our dinners, easy to plan ahead even when you are off grocery duty and the kids loved them!!  I can think of so many more ways to change up a potato casserole with the rustic reds, the wedges and straight cuts are great side dishes on their own or easy to dress up.

Best of all - they are Canadian!!  Harvested exclusively from the rich red soil of PEI, they carefully select only the most delicious, premium potatoes for the Cavendish From the Farm line up.  The kids already heard my stories about our family vacations to PEI in my youth, such a beautiful place, I hope I can bring my own kids there some day.

Disclosure – I am participating in the From the Farm blog tour by Mom Central Canada on behalf of Cavendish. I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link Up

Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up!  This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview.  Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!

This Week's Candid Canuck is Real Momma, check out our interview with her..

Tell us about you and your background before you started blogging. 
I'm a BC girl, born and raised here which is probably my reason behind loving the outdoors.  I have lived all over British Columbia since I was born from the North, Kootenays, Okanagan and back again!  After gaining experience in high school working for other people I realized I wanted to be self-employed and I have been ever since finishing college. I have done everything from office management, cleaning, contracting services, home party businesses, to our most recent adventure of running a quick-service restaurant.  I guess you can say I've dabbled a little in everything.

What is your blog about? 
Now that's a loaded question!  My blog is about self-management tips for Mom's with only two hands, which pretty much sums it up!  I blog about life, kids, work, marriage, and how I make it all work giving some tips along the way.  I have to say my favorite part is trying new things just so I have something to blog about!

Does being self-employed and working from home help or hinder your blogging? 
For me blogging and working from home go together!  My blog started as an accountability tool for me to help keep me on the right track and have evolved into so much more!  I am fortunate enough to work from home and watch my kids grow up which taking them to school, sports, and having a TON of fun doing it.  Blogging has turned into one of my true passions lately and without it in my life I think I would have a hard time finding the balance between family, work and me!

How do you feel Canada is represented on the web? 
Online I believe Canada is under represented either people think we're hocking loving rednecks, ski bums, or we have no clue what technology is.  Every time I go online to find out something about Canada whether it be for personal or business I always get US sites or blogs, seems like we are a little behind the times here in Canada for the most part.  There are some beautiful sites out there though if you can actually find them with scenic pictures, travel advice, and just some good old Canadian love!

Is there a stereo type about Canadians that drives you nuts? If so, what and why?
YES!  To be honest stereo types of Canadian drives me nuts – other than us being the nicest people out there!  My least favorite is our accents and how we always say "Eh!", the part that annoys me the most is some Canadian companies have actually based advertising campaigns around that.  I don' think people realize that in Canada we are just the same as everyone else out there, here to enjoy life and have fun doing it!

Give us the link to a favourite blog post of yours. 
This was a tough choice for me, but my favorite post would have to be one of my first serious posts, Make Your Day Work For You Not Against You, it was kind of a series of posts and this one I got a ton of emails asking for more pointers and what I do every day to make life that much easier!

What makes you proud to be Canadian?
Before we had kids we did a lot of travelling both by car and plane.  In Canada I have been as far East as Montreal and in the US we've made road trips to Chicago, Alaska, and a few plane trips including New York, Ft. Lauderdale, Denmark, and Las Vegas.  I also did a cruise around the eastern Caribbean islands and a family trip to Hawaii for my 16th birthday!  I  have to say I am always drawn to the beauty of BC though and keep coming back to it!

Thanks so much to Real Momma for sharing such great info with us!  Want to be one of our featured Canucks?  Sign up here.

Right now, link up your Canadian blog and social media accounts, find some new reads and new friends!

Click here to grab this linky for your site!

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.cafor 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

B is for..

Did you know Canada..  I'm taking part in ABC Friday, thanks to Maple Leaf Mommy and Mom vs. the Boys for this fun link up!

Here's how it works..  Each week is a new letter theme, starting with A of course, we will work our way through the alphabet.  All you have to do is post a picture with the letter theme for that week…. A is for Auto, B is for Beach, C is for Cake….I think you get

So B is for..  BEES!  We visited Clovermead Bee Farm this summer, learned all about bees, tasted some honey, played in their adventure land, a great place to visit in Southwestern Ontario!

Make sure you head over to Mom vs. the Boys and link up your B image!

Starbucks Deal Alert!

Did you know Canada..  I found a great deal on Living Social today!

Purchase a $10 Starbucks eGift for only $5 - 50% savings, it's free money!

I purchased the deal, got the eGift right away and transferred the total to an already existing gift card I had in my wallet.  Don't have a gift card?  No problem!  Just print it off and use it in any Starbucks.

What an awesome deal!  My hubby is very happy I just topped up our card, he loooves the Mocha Frappucinos..hehe.  I love Vanilla Latte's and the Veranda Roast, what's your Starbucks drink of choice?

Get Something Started in 2013 with DK Canada

Did you know Canada..  We are halfway through month one of 2013, how's it going??

Still working on those resolutions?  Got any projects started yet?  I hope no one has stalled out!

With a new baby on the way in the next TWO weeks, I will have to wait to start on any fitness goals and I'm just eating whatever isn't going to give me heart burn that day.  But one thing I was able to start was pulling out old hobbies and putting them to use.

Did you use to play guitar, knit, sew, wood work or garden but life got busy and your hobby got pushed to the way side?  For me it was beading.  My sister-in-law and I took beading classes at Michaels craft store, had lots of supplies, ordered special pieces and were actually pretty good at it. That was FIVE years ago!!  Then I got married, had twins, and well, the rest was history, but I kept everything and just this past weekend pulled it all out and read through DK Canada's book Beaded Jewelry.

Full of STUNNING photos in gorgeous colours, this book offers preparation info, techniques, projects and inspiration.  It's been perfect for me as I already knew most of these techniques but needed some definite refreshers and the photos were SO helpful.

If it's time for you to pull out an old hobby or start a new one, DK Canada can help Get Something Started in 2013 with their awesome selection of books on fitness, crafts, skills and more, all full of beautiful visual inspiration and at amazing prices!

Monster Jam tickets!

Did you know Canada..  as we promised, we have a 4 pack of tickets to giveaway to see Monster Jam at Budweiser Gardens in London ON on February 16th at 7pm!

Maple Leaf Monster Jam®, starring the biggest performers on four wheels: Monster Jam monster trucks! The twelve-feet-tall, ten-thousand-pound machines will bring you to your feet, racing and ripping up a custom-designed track full of obstacles to soar over or smash through!  Monster Jam provides a massive night's entertainment tailored perfectly for your family's budget, and these colorful, larger-than-life beasts are sure to capture the hearts of both young and old.

Get ready to cheer on Canadian Monster Truck Northern Nightmare along with all your favourites!

Enter for your chance to win, and Good Luck!!!

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Google Doodle

Did you know Canada..  if you visit Google's main page today you'll see today's Google Doodle is celebrating what would have been Frank Zamboni's 112th birthday.

Frank Zamboni is of course the inventor of the Zamboni, every kids favourite part of a hockey game, the reason we always leave late from hockey practices and what I'm sure is the coolest job around. :-)

The Google Doodle isn't just a picture today either, it's a fun game, check it out!

Create your Registry with Sears The Baby's Room - #SearsBabysRoom

Did you know Canada..  when I had my twins 5 years ago things were so shocking with the idea of twins, the constant Doctor's appointments, we had to move to a bigger place, we had just gotten married before becoming pregnant, I never ended up making a registry or having a baby shower.

With number 3 on the way I knew I really wanted to experience all that this time though.  There was so much we needed because we either had items made for twins, or what we had we got rid of  things that had been used to hard, or things like car seats were now expired, etc..  So my first stop was the Sears website to create my registry.

It's very simple to head to the Gift Registry section of the Sears website, select the Baby Registry, click create and follow a simple 6 step process of filling out all your info and you are on your way!

The best part of course is adding all the items to your registry, here are a few of my must haves I put on my own registry..

• * Themed decor items like a lamp, we got the "Monkey'n'Around" Lamp
• * Bottles, Drying Racks and a Sterlizer
• * Bath tub, Wash cloths, Towels and shampoo/body wash
• * Monitors and Baby Gates
• One thing I wouldn't add a lot of is clothes.  People will often just pick whatever outfits they want for you, whether you want them or not..haha.. 

For more inspiration visit Sears special Tips section!

To add products to your registry from Sears.ca, you simply browse the site and click the Add to Registry link below the Add to Card button.  If needed it will ask you to log in to your registry and you're good to go!  You can then view your registry or continue "shopping" to add more items to your registry.

This can also be done in store by using the helpful kiosk in The Baby's Room section, fill out the form and meet with a Sears representative who will give you a scanner so you can go through The Baby's Room and scan the UPC codes of the items you wish to add to your registry.

The registry can be updated any time in store or online.  I found it nice to sit at home and browse my registry and Sears.ca to change some things around, update the quantity of items.  Remember you are going to likely want more than one pack of wash clothes, towels, soothers, etc..

When completing the process online I received cards in the mail a few days later to insert into the baby shower invites so friends and family knew where to find my registry online and in store.

Sears Canada’s Baby Registry also has the unique “Waiting Game” contest. It’s an amazing opportunity to win the value of everything on your registry! Just create your registry as we described above, and then correctly guess your baby’s arrival date! The date can be changed up to two times, at least 60 days prior to the “guesstimated” original date.  If the baby does indeed arrive on the guessed date, the winners will be awarded coupons equivalent to the net amount of items purchased off of the registry.  The most recent winner won just over $3000 to spend back in the Baby’s Room!

With Sears Baby Days happening RIGHT NOW until January 24th, it's the best time to create your registry and get shopping. You’ll find 15% off all cribs, strollers, travel systems, travel accessories, nursery furniture, high chairs, boosters, playards, bouncers and swings, and 20% off all humidifiers, monitors, carriers, gates and Halo sleepsacks!  Check your local flyers for even more savings!

More good news from Sears, The Baby’s Room has been certified by PTPA (Parent Tested Parent Approved) and they are running a fun contest to celebrate!  Until January 31st, shoppers can win the Spot the Seal contest by taking a picture of themselves in-store (with the seal!) and sharing the photo on Twitter or PTPA’s facebook page.  When using Twitter be sure to tag @PTPA & use the #SpotTheSeal hashtag to be entered into the contest!  You’ll be able to find the seal in The Baby’s Room area of Sears locations all across Canada!

There are 3 weekly $100 gift cards to be won and an amazing Grand Prize consisting of Stork Craft Carrara nursery (two cribs and a two-drawer change table!), Tfal Steamer & Blender, Angel Care Movement & Sound monitor and a Crane Animal Shaped humidifier!!  A value of $929.95!

So many great reasons to visit your local Sears store this month, if you have a little one on the way create your registry, enter the Waiting Game, take advantage of Sears Baby Days Sale and enter the Spot the Seal contest!

Disclosure: I am part of the Sears – 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.

Online Gaming in Canada

Did you know Canada..  do you play online games?  Ones for money like online casino games?  I found some interesting facts about online gaming in Canada..

• * 70.7% of Canadians gamble (on and offline)
• * People who gamble on the Internet also gamble on land-based games
• * Worldwide, poker is the most popular form of online gambling, while in Canada, the most commonly engaged in forms of online gambling are playing skill games (mostly poker) and playing lotteries (59.7% and 23%, respectively)
• * Males prefer sports betting and games of skill while females prefer online bingo
• * 30.8% of Canadians are gaming from their smartphones
• * Gambling is a growing industry in Canada

If you are gambling online make sure you check the rules of the site to insure you are legally in the clear, the rules can be unclear and you want to make sure you are using a reputable site.  Most sites have practice tables or areas where you can play for free to make sure you understand the rules of the game itself before putting any money down too.

Play smart, safe, and have fun!

Contest News: Pampers for a year with Shoppers Drug Mart and P&G! #PGMom

Did you know Canada..  we've heard about an amazing Pampers giveaway happening thanks to Shoppers Drug Mart and P&G!

Use your Shoppers Optimum card between December 29, 2012 and January 25, 2013 and you’ll be automatically entered for a chance to win one year’s worth of Pampers diapers! See in store for more details.

To celebrate this awesome contest, we have a Pampers giveaway for OUR readers!  Our giveaway prize pack will include..


* Pampers Swaddlers size 1
* Pampers Cruisers size 3
* Pampers Splashers size 3-4
* Pampers Easy-ups size 3-4
* Pampers Natural Care Wipes
* HBC Canada onesie (size 0-3 mos or 3-6 mos)

I am SO excited about this.  With our new baby on the way in only TWO weeks, I am all about diapers right now, we have newborn swaddlers in the hospital bag, boxes of size 1 and 2 swaddlers in the baby's room, I love, love, love the smell of FRESH diapers, it's the essence of babyness. :-)

Head into Shoppers with your Optimum card in the next couple weeks to win the motherload and in the mean time, enter below for your chance to win this amazing prize pack!  Good luck Canada!

Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

By entering the following contest you are accepting that if you win your contact information will be shared with a P&G PR agency for the purpose of mailing your prize.

Monster Jam!

Did you know Canada..  Monster Jam in coming to the Budweiser Gardens in London ON in February!

February 16th & 17th get ready for the time of your lives.  My guys are SO excited to go!  (make sure you have ear protection for little ones) We went last year and it was so exciting to cheer on Canadian Monster Truck Northern Nightmare!

Check out this amazing video from the World Finals..




Don't have tickets yet?  Use promo code MUM4 to get $4 off each ticket!  Excludes Front Row, Gold Circle, TAP, and VIP tickets. No double discounts. Additional Fees May Apply. 

Stay tuned for a chance to win a 4 pack of tickets later this week!

Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link Up

Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up!  This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview.  Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!

Starting next week, and every week there after, we will be featuring a new rockin' Canuck and their interview.  Want to be one of our featured Canucks?  Sign up here.

Right now, link up your Canadian blog and social media accounts, find some new reads and new friends!

Click here to grab this linky for your site!

A is for..

Did you know Canada..  I'm taking part in ABC Friday, thanks to Maple Leaf Mommy and Mom vs. the Boys for this fun link up!


Here's how it works..  Each week is a new letter theme, starting with A of course, we will work our way through the alphabet.  All you have to do is post a picture with the letter theme for that week…. A is for Auto, B is for Beach, C is for Cake….I think you get

So A is for..  Angry Birds and Avengers around here!  These are the boys school backpacks, which  5 months later are still in one piece and they boys are still happy with them!

Make sure you head over to Mom vs. the Boys and link up your A image!

School Tomorrow?

Did you know Canada..  if you have elementary kids in Ontario you got a letter or phone call yesterday letting you know school was closed Friday Jan 11th due to the teacher's protest.

Well you must check in with your school board again tonight!  With the threaten $2000 fines (and $25000 for the union) and a cease and desist order filed by the government; many school boards are now taking a wait and see approach to decide if the doors will be open tomorrow morning.

Our local school board will be making a decision by 6am tomorrow - yikes!  Better pack those lunch bags tonight, put the baby sitters and Grammas on watch and wait it out..

Dora the Explorer Snack Time for Baby Boots

Did you know Canada..  Dora is part of growing up now, like the Jetsons and Flintstones were for me :-)  Even my boys loved Dora growing up, and one of their little friends we watch a few times a week still loves Dora.

I was so excited to be able to share Dora the Explorer Snack Time for Baby Boots Playset with her this week.  She was THRILLED to say the least, and even the boys have gotten in on the play time.  It's been a great way to remind the boys how we will be treating our new baby on the way as well!

It's snack time for Baby Boots, "prepare" him a snack with the Fisher-Price Dora the Explorer Snack Time for Baby Boots Playset. Sit Boots on his highchair, so he doesn't make a mess! The Fisher-Price Dora the Explorer Snack Time for Baby Boots Playset comes with Dora and Baby Boots figure and a high chair. Includes snack time adventure storybook.

I loved how realistic the highchair looked, again a great gateway toy into me explaining about feeding a baby and I love all the little stories the kids come up with while they play, so sweet!

I love being a Nickelodeon Mom so I can offer my readers a chance to win this fun playset too!  Enter below for your chance to win Canada!  Good Luck!

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Snack Pack #NoTradesies

Did you know Canada..  I don't know about you, but I was happy to see the kiddos back to school this week.  We only go every other day so we get lots of together time but the break is also good for all of us.  One thing I *really* don't like about school though - lunch!

No matter what awesome lunch I make, or what terrible leftovers they get on a Friday, they hardly ever eat ANY of it!  So I was so excited to be part of the Snack Pack “No Tradesies” Blog Tour, and try to bring some fun back into lunch time!

We did a few taste tests to ensure this lunch was good to go.  First we made sandwiches with really fun Lunch Punch Sandwich Cutters.  I always wanted to get these but never ended up happening.  So glad to have them now because it made a huge difference to the boys!  We cut off the crusts anyways, so there was no loss of sandwhich, and now every time we make a sandwich they get to pick which shape they want - love to see them involved in the process!

Next we tried some Snack Pack's, this guys fav was the dessert flavour - Ice Cream Sandwich!  Not only spoonable, snackable and portably delicious, Snack Pack pudding is made with skim milk and have no preservatives or trans-fats - perfect for our kiddos!  We also tried the Lemon Meringue Pie and Vanilla, all tasty.  He loved using the smiley face spoon we received, much better than the plastic spoons I often sent to school - now Mom knows better!  Make sure you follow Snack Pack on Facebook for new flavours and awesome lunch tips and ideas!

We also received a mini portable travel speaker that works so well!  Mom and Dad have their eye on this one..haha..  I think this will be perfect in the summer at the beach and park.  We also love the cooler bag and leak-proof, compartmentalized food containers - my guys hate it when one food touches another, so these are perfect for keeping food separate  and keeping things like damp grapes and strawberries away from a dry sandwich or crackers.

We got some great tips from Snack Pack on how to make the best "No Tradesies" lunch too..

• * Can’t get your kids to eat their fruit? Adding Snack Pack to the mix turns fruit into a tasty, dip-able adventure. Try the Caramel Apple, all it takes is some apple slices and a Toffee Caramel pudding
• * Sandwich Shape-up: Even a favourite sandwich can seem boring and routine when it shows up in the lunchbox day after day. Keep things interesting and kids engaged by breaking out the cookie cutters and cutting the sandwiches into fun shapes.
• * Kebab it up: skewering some bite-sized veggies on a kebab with a side of veggie dip is a different and fun way to make sure veggies are not coming home at the end of the day.
• * Utensils are key: let your kids pick out their utensils, napkins and lunchboxes. They definitely won’t be reaching for the aluminum, and giving them a say means they will take pride in their lunch pack. Have bright, colourful spoons on hand so kids can choose whether it’s a yellow, blue or orange kind of day!

Thanks to Snack Pack lunch has been a much better experience for everyone this week and I'm more confident in providing my guys with fun and healthy meals!

We are so excited to share a Snack Pack “No Tradesies” prize pack with one of our Canadians readers! The prize pack contains two delicious flavours of Snack Pack pudding, Lunch Punch Sandwich Cutters, Happy Spoons, a mini portable travel speaker and a tote-able lunch bag consisting of a cooler bag and four leak-proof, compartmentalized food container, a $50 value.

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Disclosure – I am participating in the Snack Pack “No Tradesies” blog tour by enCompass Media on behalf of Con Agra Foods. I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion.

Charminize your Washroom #PGMom

Did you know Canada..  now that the holidays are over, kids are FINALLY back to school and hubby is back at work, I am ready to spruce up the house, especially with the new baby on the way this month!

One way I'm sprucing is to Charminize the Washroom!  When the new baby gets here we will have lots of friends and families coming over to visit and I am so excited (honestly!) that the washroom at least is covered :-)  (Mama needs at least one less worry right!)

It's easy to Charminize your washroom too; show your guests a little piece of luxury and create a space that is both relaxing and welcoming.  Stock your washroom with Charmin Ultra Soft toilet paper and Charmin Freshmates, so your guests can “Enjoy the Go”!  Finish your guest’s experience with towels washed with Downy Unstopables In Wash Scent Boosters, allowing them to keep their fresh scent until the next time they are washed.

And remember to download the Charmin Sit and Squat app to find the closest clean washroom while you are out and about. Because when you have to go, you have to go!

As a #PGMom I am excited to help one lucky reader Charminize their washroom, enter below for your chance to win a $40 Charmin Prize Pack including: two packs of Charmin Ultra Soft, two  tubs of Charmin Fresh Wipes, two boxes of Puffs tissue and one bottle of Downy Unstopables!

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Disclosure- as a P&G Mom I receive perks for participation in the program. All opinions are my own. Collection of personal information of winner is for shipping only.

Disney On Ice: 100 Years of Magic Tickets

Did you know Canada..  You will remember we mentioned Disney On Ice: 100 Years of Magic is coming to Budweiser Gardens in London ON January 24th to 27th.

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!

We have some fantastic news about a new way to save on tickets!  Use code 100YEARS to get a Family Four pack of tickets for $100 (Valid on $35 price level only, Valid on all performances)

What awesome savings and a great night out as a family!  This show is going to be packed with so many characters, check out these fun stats about the costumes involved in the show..

• Number of yards of fabric used to make the costumes 1300
• Number of costumes in the show  160
• Number of costume pieces that make up the costumes  650
• Number of costumes per cast member 4-5 average
• Number of washers and dryers that travel with the production 3 washers and 3 dryers 
• Number of costume shops used to make the costumes 8
• Total number of people who worked on costumes 1,000

Not only do we have this awesome savings code for you, but if you haven't picked up your tickets yet, enter below for your chance to win a Family Four Pack!!  The winning tickets are only valid for the evening performance at 7pm, January 24th at Budweiser Gardens in London ON.

Good luck!

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How to Select the Best Food for Your Kitten

Golfing in Canada

Did you know Canada..  do you have any golfers in the family?  Anyone get a new club for Christmas?

We have a few golfers in our family, and I remember when I was very little, 7 or 8, we had one of those very warm Decembers, like we just experienced again this year in Southwestern Ontario.  Well, my Grampa's Birthday was December 26th, and it was so warm that year, the local golf course decided to open and my Dad took my Grampa for a round of golf for his Birthday!  It was a funny day, and talked about for years and years afterwards, I'm guessing it was one of the most memorable Birthday's my Grampa had.  :-)

Courses like Ottawa golf at Loch March offer quality, service and facilities of the exclusively private clubs wrapped in a resort atmosphere, but are exclusively public!  What a great place to hit this spring when the courses are open again (I checked the weather is Ottawa, it is NOT open right now, they have quiet a bit of snow..haha..).

Even with our winter and unpredictable weather, golfing is a huge sport and past time in Canada. In fact, the game of golf is played by an estimated 6 million Canadians each year, with 2.5 million Canadians participating as core golfers, playing an average of 28 rounds per year.  And get this:  Based on participation, golf is the number one recreational activity in Canada, played by more Canadians than hockey!!

Are you a golf fan?  Would a round of golf on your Birthday be a perfect day, just like it was all those years ago for my Grampa?


Source:  Golf Participation in Canada, 2006 Edition – Ipsos Reid, Statistics Canada, Based on a study of Participation in Sports, The Daily, issued Thursday, February 7, 2008.

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

Did you know Canada..  last night we attended Disney's Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever! in London, ON.

It really was the The Best LIVE Tour Ever, we had so much fun!  Great seats, could see and hear everything, enjoyed the warm up act with trivia and dancing, loved that they had a few fans on stage just after intermission as well, was really pleased to see how interactive the show was.

We had some fun purchasing a few items, I've found Phineas and Ferb are not easy to find in the store, so my guys were super happy to pick up a few things with their Christmas money - we got a Perry stuffy that my son slept with last night, he is SO HAPPY with it, and that makes me so happy :-)  My other guy got some perry binoculars so he can spy on people ;-) and they both got yummy cotton candy that came with Ferb or Phineas hair, we got one of each and they have been having lots of fun wearing it, super cute!  As Mom, I appreciate that everything seems to be good quality and durable as well, no tears yet!

The show itself was fantastic, as I said, very interactive, at one point they had some big bouncy balls in the audience as well.  I loved the story line and we were happy to hear all our favourite songs, especially Squirrels in my Pants, a favourite episode around here!

Everyone cheered like crazy when Agent P hit the scene, loved seeing the entire cast including not only the Stars - Phineas and Ferb, but also Isabella and some Fireside Girls, Jeremy, Buford, Baljeet, Dr. Doofenshmirtz and his fun theme song - everyone!

I can't say enough good things about the show, if Disney's Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever! is still heading to your city, get some tickets and be prepared for a fantastic time!!!

Back at it!

Did you know Canada..  I'm back after an extended Holiday break, kids are back at school this morning and hubby is back at work.

Anyone else feel like Christmas was months ago???  Especially here, as we have spent the past week getting the house ready for our new baby on the way.

On that note, if I disappear for a week or more, that means it's baby time!  Our new little one will be joining us at the end of the month, but of course, babies are unpredictable and could make an earlier appearance. I'm not sure if I will get to the blog right away, and I will be in the hospital for a few days as well, but keep watch on Twitter for some baby news!!!

Stay tuned this week for some great info, news, and giveaways!!

Happy 2013!!