Easter Ideas from Hasbro Canada

Did you know Canada..  around here we try to make Easter less about chocolate and candy (though the bunny does leave a few treats) but we would rather provide the boys with a few fun items that can be enjoyed much longer than a few bites.

Hasbro Canada has some fantastic ideas for the bunny to bring, promoting imaginative play, busy minds and lots of fun.  Check out a few items we've been enjoying..

Nerf guns, a spring item for every little one, even I remember receiving a Nerf gun at Easter!  How cute is this, the boys grabbed our empty diaper boxes and made a target in the basement to play with!  Easy enough for little hands, packs a punch but thankfully not enough to start any tears, my guys have been having so much fun with the NERF N-STRIKE JOLT Blaster, NERF N-STRIKE REFLEX IX-1 Blaster and NERF N-STRIKE ELITE TRIAD EX-3 Blaster.  Don't forget to sneak a little water gum in there either like the NERF SUPER SOAKER MICROBURST Blaster, you can never have too many, and the warm weather has to be right around the corner, right?!

For any and every gift occasion  we always include the favourite - Angry Birds!  I love the little ANGRY BIRDS STAR WARS Mystery Bags, it's a present within a present and a great size to add to a gift basket, hide for Easter, place on top of another present for an extra treat, the boys love them!

Some more items that are the perfect size to create a fun Easter basket for any little man in your life..
MARVEL ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN 3.75" Figure Assortment (my guys loved the spider that came with ours, a fun pack!)
MARVEL IRON MAN 3.75" All Star Action Figure Assortment (I bet you've seen the commercials for the new one! So exciting)
BEYBLADE METAL FURY HYPERBLADES Deluxe Battle Top Assortment (are the kids crazy about these at your guys school too?)
G.I. JOE Series 1 MICRO FORCE Mystery Bag (so popular right now, and a great gift idea as they are so new, stay tuned for more info on G.I. JOE products from Hasbro!)

What are you putting in the Easter Basket?

Easter ideas from Hallmark Canada

Did you know Canada..  Easter is sneaking up quick this year, but Hallmark has you covered with some cute ideas, see what we've been trying out..

Thumpin' Thumper (only $14.95 with a 3 card purchase!) - super cute, he thumps his foot and has 3 different sayings, what a great segue into introducing the kids to Bambi as well.  The boys have been enjoying this guy, he is their new in bed friend :-)

Squakin' Egg Droppin' Hen ($15.95 with a 3 card purchase) - we got this fun gal last year, she is HILARIOUS, when turning on the hen bounces up and down, sings a funny song and lays actual Easter eggs, we all this is so funny, great treat for the whole family.

New Mason Interactive Story Buddy and Mason's New Friends Interactive Storybook 2.0 ($34.95, $9.95 for additional books) - a sweet gift for a little one in your life, Mason is a really cute teddy bear who responds when you read his story book, all 3 of my boys have been enjoying listening to this and it's been great for working on my old boys reading skills.

Family Day with Sears Canada

Did you know Canada..  our Toronto Representative, Faniya, is attending a fantastic event Monday!

This Family Day we are glad to join Sears Canada to celebrate the exciting launch of Carter’s and OshKosh brands. We are invited to the Eaton Center in Toronto to preview the products, shop, meet the buyers and learn about why Carter’s and OshKosh became fabulous new additions to Sears family of products. 

Plus in support of the Sears Canada Charitable Foundation, The Sears Great Canadian Chill will present a custom built Chill pool, heated change tents, hot tubs, live entertainment, face painting, treats and many other activities for families that day at Yonge-Dundas Square.

Can't wait to hear how it went!

Family Day Ideas - Hasbro Canada

Did you know Canada..  this Monday is Family Day across most of Canada.  In Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan, it is observed on the third Monday of February. In the provinces of Manitoba and Prince Edward Island, the statutory holiday on this date is instead termed Louis Riel Day and Islander Day, respectively.

This year British Columbia began to celebrate Family Day on the second Monday of February.  Except in British Columbia, the timing of Family Day coincides with Presidents Day in the United States.

The second and third Mondays in February are regular working days in Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the territories. As Family Day is not currently recognized in the federal sphere, federal employees in all provinces (such as public servants and postal workers) still work on this day. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the third Monday of February is a school board holiday, but not an official provincial holiday.

A little confusing right??

Well if it's a holiday for you Hasbro Canada thinks it's a great day to Play!

This Family Day holiday, Hasbro wants to give families a chance to take a break from hetic schedules.  Switch off the electronic distractions and take part in an evening of game play to reconnect and reenergize relationships and most importantly, create memories together.

Hasbro Canada has games for every family and every age.  We introduced our boys to a fun new version of JENGA, that is perfect for little boys as there's an explosion!  JENGA Boom - Just like in the classic JENGA game, you’ll need a delicate touch to pull blocks out of the stack without knocking it down. But in JENGA Boom, you have to move fast, because you start the detonator before each turn – and you have to get your block out before your time runs out and the stack "explodes!"  We have been having lots of fun with this, and I was kind of surprised the boys actually have the patience and skills to play JENGA - who knew!, we've been having lots of fun!

Another fun family game is Draw Something - have you been playing this one on your phone like hubby and I have?  Now you can play in your living room!  While one player draws, everyone else shouts out their guesses at what they're drawing. Whoever guesses the word earns coins along with the drawer, and the harder the word, the more coins you earn! Collect 15 coins for the win!

My absolute favourite game, and one I am so happy to have (previously we only had The Simpsons version) is the CLUE The Classic Mystery Game.  Ransack the mansion for clues, ask cunning detective questions and leave no card unturned. Solve the murder first to win!  Hubby and I have been enjoying this one at night after the big kids go to bed, I love it!

This Family Day is the perfect day to stay inside and break out a new game.  When we play games in the living room or at the kitchen table we have so much fun and I'm always surprised by how much we begin to talk, the boys are always more open to share things that happened at school the previous week, their thoughts and ideas and something silly always happens that we can reminisce about later.  Why not surprise the family with a new game from Hasbro Canada this Family Day, and enjoy each other!

Celebrate Valentine's Day with Hallmark Canada

Did you know Canada..  we received a few fun treats from Hallmark Canada that I had to share with you..

“CUPIG” shuffles and shakes his belly while singing a parody of the “Cupid Shuffle.” The perfect Valentine’s Day gift for those looking for some cuddly comfort.  Special: $15.95 with each purchase of 3 Hallmark cards.  My guys love this so much they took it to school today to share with their friends!  It is so sweet!

"Something for you pup" - deliver a special something in a memorable way with this cute pup. Simply place an item in his mouth (anything from a card or flower, to a small box of candy) and give it to your loved one. When your Valentine pulls it out, the puppy will give a little “grrr” and then a happy “ruf, ruf!” with a wagging tail. (Only $14.95)  We have been having too much fun with this, the boys have been making everyone in the family cards and presenting them with this cute pup so we can hear the fun little bark!

The Ultimate Gift Bear. This ultra soft and cuddly teddy bear comes with a festive (removable) bow. This is a perfect cuddly friend for my new little man, this sweet bear is perfect for this Valentine's Day or any occasion.

Fuzzie Wuzzies Card Presenters for Kids - Kids can feel the love with these amazing cards. The line features cute critters covered in fun textures with Valentine messages tucked inside. After you remove the Valentine, keep this little friend around to store your favourite little things - $6.49 each.  So soft and cute, and great to keep long after the card is gone, I think this is the cutest!

Have you picked up any Valentine's Day specials from Hallmark Canada?

Family Day Idea - Riverdale Farm

Did you know Canada..  Family Day is fast approaching, do you have any plans yet??  If you are in the Toronto area, we've heard about a great event at Riverdale Farm.

Riverdale Farm and Grain Farmers of Ontario Invite you to get back to your roots this Family Day

When:                Monday, February 18, 2013
                          9:00 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. 

Where:               Riverdale Farm
                          201 Winchester Street
                          Toronto, Ontario 

How:                  Free event, open to the public, all are welcome 

All day activities include:

Francey Barn: Grain Farmers of Ontario Interactive Trailer

•         Learn what plants need to grow with the Seed Survivor video game
•         Play in a corn box filled with replic farm machinery and tractors

Francey Barn: Meet a farmer

•          Sheep farmer - 10 a.m.
•          Goat farmer  - 12 p.m.
•          Horse farmer - 2 p.m.

Simpson House: 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

•          Treats from the kitchen
•          Decorate a cookie, donation appreciated

Meeting House: 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

•          Display and demonstrations from the Toronto Guild of Spinnners and Weavers
•          Cabbagetown Qualters Sewing Activity
•          Preschool playroom

The residence: 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

•          Regent park Cabbagetown Museum – Artifacts and displays

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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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???

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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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?

Make your Moments Golden with Ferrero Rocher

Did you know Canada..  if there was ever a chocolate that makes me think of the Holidays, for me, it's always been Ferrero Rocher's.

We received a few packages of Ferrero Rocher's, so hubby is treating some of his co-workers with a tasty treat today, I'm saving one to put out at Christmas time, and we have a few to introduce our kiddos to Ferrero Rocher's.  It's funny how memories can be attached to things like snacks and treats but I have so many memories of special Holiday treats like Ferrero Rocher's.

It was a golden moment to share a Ferrero Rocher with my boys and tell him about how this was Mommy's favourite chocolate growing up and how Great Gramma and Grandpa used to be the ones to always surprise Mom with a box.

Ferrero Rocher has an exciting promotion going on right now too!  With AMAZING prizes: 10 All New Mercedes-Benz 2013 B-Class Vehicles and 1,000 Ferrero Holiday Hosting Gift Baskets!!!

Find a PIN in specially marked Ferrero Rocher 200 gram chocolates, enter the code on Ferrero Rocher Canada Facebook page, and you could win instantly!

To celebrate we have a box of Ferrero Rocher's to give away to one lucky reader that will include a PIN!  Enter below for your chance to win, and here's to Golden Moments! :-)

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Happy Halloween!

Did you know Canada..  Happy Halloween!  We have a quick Canadian Halloween fact:

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

Hope everyone has a fun, safe, and dry night :)

Stay tuned tomorrow when we change gears and get ready for the Holidays!  We will be posting our 2012 Holiday Gift Guide and start sharing some reviews of our favourite products for the Holiday Season.

Luxe Advent Calendar

Did you know Canada..  have you heard about the Luxe Advent Calendar??

Today, October 15th, the new, exclusive Luxe Advent Calendar is available from our friends at Loose Button.

The perfect gift to surprise someone special with or one that you can indulge in yourself. Celebrate the festive season with the anticipation of a new surprise lying behind each window, every day for a month starting December 1st leading up to Christmas Eve. Originally an adaptation of the traditional advent calendar filled with chocolate, the Luxe Advent Calendar delivers an exciting beauty and fragrance discovery. Experience the innovative fragrances, beauty and skincare products from Lancôme, Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani and shu uemura.

• Available to Canadian residents only while quantities last
• Calendar includes 24 deluxe-sized samples
• Shipped to you by the end of November
• Includes a $10 gift card to spend towards the purchase of full-size products in the calendar

Be sure to head over to their Facebook page for a chance to win a Luxe Advent Calendar as well!!  make sure you share with your friends and family for more entries!

Watch Did you know Canada? for a review of this fun calendar, what could be better than chocolate?  Beauty products of course!!

Halloween with Hallmark Canada

Did you know Canada..  it's just over 2 weeks until Halloween!!  Time to push those Christmas decorations aside and pull out the scary, spooky Halloween decorations.  Thankfully Hallmark Canada has the best decorations you can go pick up today!  Check out how we have been decorating thanks to Hallmark Canada..

We received these Halloween themed decorations..

And added them around the house..

We all love the Ghostly Singing Duo, perfect for a fun Halloween decoration with their trick-or-treat parody of "The Addams Family" theme song, we have been playing this non-stop.  I love that they have the button up on the arm to start the song so we can reach it easily. (Great deal alert, these guys are regularly $32.95, but are available for $15.95 with the purchase of 3 Hallmark cards!)

One of my guys absolutely loves this My Pet Ghost, he carries it around everywhere.  Press the button on the top a cute ghost in your jar appears and he has a few different things to say.  We have Maxwell McSpooky, a curious ghost in a mad scientist's lab.  "Handle with scare" as the jar says ;-)

We have been having lots of fun with this witch hat as well.  Hang it up and when someone walks by it cackles, says Happy Halloween in a witchy voice and a spooky green witch face appears below.  We have it right next to our front door so we have been scaring visitors for days. :-)

With the quality of Hallmark products we will be able to enjoy these decorations for years to come, it's so fun!!  Be sure to check out your local Hallmark stores for these and other fun Halloween decorations!!

Thanksgiving in Canada

Did you know Canada..  it's Thanksgiving weekend!  A weekend to spend with family, maybe draw some secret Santa names for Christmas, get a last romp in the backyard, and eat massive amounts of food - what could be better!

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

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

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

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

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

It might have snuck up on us a little early this year, especially with the warm weather some of Canada is still enjoying, but I for one am very thankful.  I am also going to be remembering how thankful I am for my husband, children (including our new baby on the way), our home, and the fact that we can enjoy a meal with the people we love.

What are you thankful for??

May Two-Four is Coming! #CANSnack

Did you know Canada.. It's May 2nd and we are only a couple weeks away from one of Canada's favourite long weekends - May Two-Four!! Raise your glass in honour of Queen Victoria's birthday as well.

Victoria Day weekend, known as May Two-Four to many Canadians, is a weekend of firsts of the year..
* often the first BBQ
* first trip to the trailer/cottage/camp
* first trip to the beach
* cracking open a "two-four" case of beer
* first weekend you can plant your flowers
* first time you cut the grass (not this year though, we've already been out there once!)

To celebrate the start of Canada's party and summer season so to speak, Wholly Guacamole and Beanitos have teams up to cover snacks in a delicious, health-conscience and fun way!

Beanitos Single-Serve Healthy To-Go Snacks have 6 g Protein & 6 g Fiber, are Gluten-free and Non-GMO and come in four awesome flavours - BBQ, Cheddar Cheese, Black Bean and Pinto Bean and Flax.

Wholly Guacamole guac and salsa is made from all natural ingredients, is Preservative free, Additive Free, Gluten Free and Non-GMO and is Kosher Certified.

Did I mention they are both DELICIOUS as well??

This coming long weekend, impress your friends and family with a spread from Beanitos and Wholly Guacamole!! Enter below for your chance to win a CASE of Single-Serve Beanitos and a prize pack from Wholly Guacamole that includes Free Product Coupons and fun swag!!

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Happy St. Patrick's Day

Did you know Canada.. Happy St. Patrick's Day! It's a great chance to look into some St. Paddy's Day facts across Canada..

According to the 2006 census by Stats Canada, the Irish are the 4th largest ethnic group with 4,354,155 Canadians with full or partial Irish descent, which is 14% of the population.

It is estimated that about 80% of Newfoundlanders have Irish ancestry on at least one side of their family tree.

Some famous Irish-Canadians include..
Paul Kane - painter
Maureen Forrester - an operatic contralto
Thomas D'Arcy McGee - "Canada's most eloquent Father of Confederation"
Robert Samuel Mc Laughlin - founded the Mc Laughlin Carriage Company
John McDermott - best known for his rendering of the song "Danny Boy", he was born in Scotland but is of Irish decent as well

The 188th Montreal St. Patrick's Day Parade is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. on Sunday, March 18, 2012 - this is the oldest St. Patrick's Day Parade in Canada.

Montreal's Griffintown is often described as the Irish gateway to North America. Up to half a million Irish immigrants came through Griffintown from early to mid 19th century in the midst of the industrial revolution and Ireland's devastating famine.

Approximately 5,400 establishments serving green beer in celebration of "St. Paddy's Day". If you're making it at home I've read some beer works better with blue food colouring, mixing with the yellow of the beer to get a nice green colour. Make sure you toast your drinks with the Irish saying "Sláinte!" which means health, the equivalent of saying "Cheers!".

How are you celebrating St. Patrick's Day this year?

What Did You Make on March Break

Did you know Canada.. Our friends at DK Canada have an awesome promotion going on this month: What Did You Make on March Break - where they are asking parents to submit photos of what their kids (ages 3-14) make on March Break! This can include a craft, painting, cooking - whatever your guys are working on this March Break. DK Canada also has an awesome selection of books to help with inspiration for "what to do with the kids?", check out their March Break Survival Boutique.

This week our family tried the Alien Robot Kit that's part of the DK Canada March Break Survival Boutique. We've learned some amazing stuff about physics, mechanics, forces, and motion while creating these awesome robots!

It was a great family activity while we checked out the whole book, the boys each got to pick a robot to make, Dad showed us all about putting wires together - it was the first time we've ever done something like that and the boys were in awe!

I love the re-usability factor of the book too, it shows you how to take everything apart so you can make more alien robots and the pieces are sturdy enough that it can handle being used and reused.

The March Break creations will be judged by our Craft Guru Extraordinaire Jane Bull, author of Make It, Made by Me and the upcoming Stitch By Stitch. The winning entry wins a signed Jane Bull collection and a $150 DK shopping spree!!!! Enter today and entries will be posted on cn.dk.com and on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DKCanada Good luck!!

Family Day

Did you know Canada.. this coming Monday February 20th is Family Day. This occurs on the 3rd Monday in February and corresponds with Presidents Day in the United States.

Not everyone gets the day off though, it's a regular working day in British Columbia, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador (it is a school board holiday) and the territories. Also federal employees in ALL provinces still have to head to work - this includes Postal Workers.

Check with your local businesses about what events are available, some places like museums, movie theatres and skating rinks will be open so families can spend time together doing one of these great activities!

Do you get Family Day off? How are you celebrating?