Home of OHM

I was on a crafty roll.

2012-02-11T22:19:00.000-05:00

It sure didn't start out so well. The first card took FOREVER. I had an idea, i started cutting paper, 20 minutes later i had nothing but frustration and some cut up paper. I scrapped it, and started over.
The first couple were slow, I had the pressure of knowing i needed to make 4 good birthday cards by tomorrow. UGH.
Finally after the first couple and a few sanity breaks, it just *clicked* and I was able to create not only my 4 but SEVEN cards!! WoooHoooo!
Why is it that we're our own worst critic? I think that's what makes it so hard. I am just so hard on myself!
Anywho, here they are! Do you like?

(yes, i really do need to learn to stop taking all my pics with my darn Blackberry and use my dslr, because there is depth to the cards, there were popdots used to make things stand out..the colours are bold and wonderful!)

So, does anyone think i have a hope of maybe selling some cards, like maybe Etsy or something? I have an insane, no more like INSANE amount of paper-craft supplies, and the amount of people i have to actually give cards to is rather small.. But I do really love making them..I don't know..just a thought..

I Made Something Off Pinterest: Samoa M&M Blondies

2012-02-09T17:23:00.001-05:00

Mmm..nothing like a good round of baking to cheer a girl up...until you realize that what you made is sooooo bad for you!! Woah sugar and butter Batman!

I was looking around on Pinterest today (yeah, i know, what's new?!) when i found THESE:

Source: eatatallies.com via Christy on Pinterest

Hello Samoa M&M Blondies!! Oh 'Eat at Allies', how you have lured me in!

Seriously, those look AMAZING!

Now for my version...

Mine? definitely not as pretty! lol. (note to self: learn to photograph food)
What went wrong? well i don't think that i 'browned' the butter properly. I also totally didn't listen to directions when it said to let them cool completely before removing them from the pan..oops! my bad!
I also used Easter M&M's...in FEBRUARY!...from LAST Easter! (no, i'm not tryin to kill anyone)

BUT they totally taste yummy! and it got me off my butt. oh! and PLEASE do NOT calculate the 'nutritional value' and tell me, because me and big ol' bum do NOT want to know! ;)

Lady and the Tramp Prize Pack

2012-02-08T18:47:00.003-05:00

Just over a week ago I did a promo post for Disney's Lady and the Tramp. It had a great 'spot the differences' and printable valentines on it!

Well now I have some awesome news! The wonderful people at Disney have offered me a fantastic 'Lady and the Tramp' prize pack for a giveaway!

Prize pack includes ONE “Lady and the Tramp” – Diamond Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack

and ONE "Lady and the Tramp" Read-Along storybook and CD

Experience the magic! Read along with the characters from the film with this storybook and CD!

I absolutely can't wait to see this wonderful love story again, can you?! If you need a bit of a refresher, be sure to check out the trailer below..It seriously had me smiling while watching!

Now for the GIVEAWAY! Just enter on the rafflecopter below!
(if it's not there, click on 'read more')

Open to Canadian residents(exc. Quebec)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wordless Wednesday - STILL sick

2012-02-07T20:50:00.000-05:00

* me on my couch, where i have basically been for a good 4 days now. headcold vs migraines. back and forth. fight to the death apparently. *

Saturday Photo Share

2012-02-05T11:10:00.001-05:00

...on Sunday. Sorry, I am rather sick with a horrid headcold right now.

Ok, so going clockwise...
1) Crazy Orangie face! lol. She loves for me to snap her pic being goofy.
2) Bowling practise! Both girls are on leagues. 10 pin baby!
3) Candle jars i upcycled this week. LOVE them!
4) Cookies I made and gifted this week.
5) Comfort food! Homemade mac n cheese.
6) My view from the couch. Being sick is NO fun!
7) More sickie shots
8) Last nights dinner for the girls, tea for me! I can apparently get off couch, go to mcd's, get food(drive-thru), drive home and be back on couch in 10 mins. Not bad! and so much easier than having to think and cook.

Now, back to the couch i go...*sniffle*

Vineyard Music: I Love Your Presence - Review and G

2012-02-04T19:56:00.001-05:00

About 'I Love Your Presence':
I LOVE YOUR PRESENCE was recorded live at the Burn Bright: Worship and The Kingdom Of God conference, hosted by Vineyard Worship. Several hundred worship leaders and worshippers gathered in the Arizona desert to explore the nature of God’s kingdom through music and teaching with some of the Vineyard’s most gifted communicators and musicians. This inspiring collection of songs recorded live at the The Vineyard Church North Phoenix will immerse listeners in the powerful worship that was the highlight of the event. I LOVE YOUR PRESENCE reminds us to not just think of worship as singing songs, but also laying down our lives for Him.

Tracklist

Let It Come
Glory to the King
Saving Grace
What Can I Bring
Love of God
One Thing Remains
Now and Ever
Invitacion Fountain
Sweet Mercies
Isn’t He/Amazing Grace
I Love Your Presence
Perfect Sacrifice
I Life My Eyes Up (Psalm 121)

Featuring worship leaders Matt Turrgiano, Chris Lizotte, Steve Jones, Anabeth Morgan, Kirsten Ford, Nigel Briggs, and Casey Corum.

My Thoughts:
I was hesitant when saying I'd review this cd. I'm generally not a fan of 'live' cd's. I find the the noise of the crowd takes away from the listening experience. This cd is not at all like that, there is no crowd noise! It has a great feel to it, I can picture singing along on Sunday morning in Church. It has quickly become a favourite worship cd of mine. I find that it's great for relaxing me, and helps me to focus when i need to get writing done. I admit I find myself stopping to think, absorb the words, tap my foot, nod, or sway a bit in my chair. This is a wonderful cd, quite uplifting, and I highly recommend!

For More Info:
Website: http://www.vineyardmusic.com/vm/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DiscoverVineyard
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/VineyardMusic
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-love-your-presence-live/id491711353

Now for GIVEAWAY time! One lucky reader will win a download copy of 'I Love Your Presence'.

Just enter below on the Rafflecopter! (if it's missing click on 'read more')

a Rafflecopter giveaway

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:”Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Mmmm. Cookies.

2012-02-03T16:22:00.000-05:00

Today was a yummy day in the kitchen! I made 40 wonderful oatmeal choco-chip cookies!

When looking for a specific recipe i tend to go to allrecipes.com, type in what i'm looking for, and then click the 'rating' button so that all the top rated recipes are the ones i see first. So far it hasn't failed me! Oh! and i also read the reviews too, to make sure I get the best possible recipe!

Today's recipe I used is Oatmeal Chip Cookies. For these ones I make them as the recipe states. It's great just as it is. (warning though, lots of butter and sugar!!)

Here are the prep pics:

And the final product:

The only problem with todays cookie session?? I made 40 scrumptious cookies...I ate 2 to make sure they were good enough to give, and have 6 leftover for the mr and the 2 kids!! :(

The good news is that I surprised my new neighbours with some, and a friend, and the mr's co-workers! :)

I'm a Kellogger

2012-02-03T09:55:00.000-05:00

Cereal is a major staple in our household! If I had to guess we have about 12 boxes is in the cupboard or pantry, just waiting to be chowed down on! So imagine my giddiness when I was selected as a Kellogger by Kelloggs Canada, and this awesome box of goodies shows up at my door!

* The box contained all these awesome products, plus a t-shirt and 2 rooster bowls! *

Immediately the t-shirt got snatched up by the older daughter, of course she made it 'cooler' by wrapping an elastic on the back and tucking it up...*sigh* Oh the joys of a tween! lol. 'Come on mom!! It looks GRRReat!' I couldn't help but laugh at that!

And because cereal is most definitely NOT just a morning food around here (i especially LOVE Mini-Wheats dry as a snack, sooo much healthier than chips or icecream!)...here's some bedtime snack pics!

* Interesting that the girls first choice to open was good ol' Corn Flakes! Perfect for bedtime snack though! Not sugary! LOVE it! *

* Orangie HAD to get that last little bit! *

Did You Know?: Consumers around the world enjoy Kellogg's products. We manufacture in 18 countries and sell products in more than 180 countries. Our beloved brands include: Special K, Vector, All-Bran, Kellogg's Corn Flakes, Kellogg's Two Scoops Raisin Bran, Eggo, Nutri-Grain, Rice Krispies, Pop-Tarts, Kellogg's Frosted Flakes, and Fruit Loops.

So, which one is YOUR fave?

* I wrote this post as part of the Kelloggers Network. I get free products and coupons as part of this program. As always you get my honest opinions! *

I got all crafty again today!

2012-02-01T23:04:00.000-05:00

What can I say, I've just been feelin' it lately. The need to craft!
Today, I took leftover candle jars and upcycled them into much prettier jars for tealights!(i have a thing for candles! Expect lots more upcycling in the near future! lol)
(and the mr was very happy to see that i was using up even just a tiny amount of my insane crafting supplies!)

Healthy Food and #EqualCanada

2012-02-01T09:39:00.003-05:00

It's seems to me that my weight just continues to go up and up and up. I know, I know, I need to stop eating garbage, cut my sugar intake, actually consume fruits and veggies, and you know, maybe get up from my computer and move this body!

First things first, I'm off to Wal-Mart to buy some better food! Quickly scan the flyer to see what fab sales are going on, and then check my coupons and hope i have some great savings coming to me!

*Note to self - you really need to find some method of coupon organization! cramming them in an envelope or sandwich bag just isn't cutting it!! *

I like to hit up Wal-Mart late at night or early in the morning..less people..less distraction..less people to elbow for that awesome deal! (lol, joking!!)

So back to why I'm at Wal-Mart. I have a doctors appointment, ugh a physical, in just over 2 weeks. She's going to tell me that my weight is out of control. It really is. 45 lbs weight gain for no good reason in 2 yrs just is NOT cool. It's horrible and embarrassing. So lord help me, I have 2 weeks (just to start!) to try and do SOMETHING about it!!

*1) What i WANT to buy(and lots of it!).....2) What I NEED to buy (booooo!) *

I tried really hard. I found healthy food (yay! leeks were a great price here and looked fab!) AND put it in my cart! I even passed up the icecream! Next I was on the hunt for the #EqualCanada in the new yellow cannister! It wasn't with the sugar/sugar substitutes section! I found it over in the pharmacy in the Diabetic section, which i honestly found a little weird, as I am not diabetic but yet I was looking to purchase it. Oh well, c'est la vie.

Seriously though, what a GREAT price (it's on Rollback baby!)

So after my trip around the store, here's what i bought:

* Don't judge me by my Alfredo sauce! *

On the way to the checkout I spotted the coolest thing. It's a smoothie-to-go blender!! This would be awesome for my weightloss quest! (but not today! sigh)

So, good food is now bought..time to move my body! Can i have a nap first? (joking!)

* This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All thoughts are my own! #CBias *

Follow Equal Canada on Twitter
Like Equal Canada on Facebook

Wordless Wednesday - What is going on?!

2012-01-31T23:39:00.001-05:00

It's 11:36pm Jan 31st, and when I said goodnight to a friend a few minutes ago we couldn't help but remark about the insane weather conditions! She sure didn't need to do up her winter coat, and it sure doesn't feel like we're in Canada, let alone 1/2 hour away from being Feb 1st!! Here's the current situation:

So needless to say, the blanket of snow that was out there this morning, is basically gone, or at least it will be by morning!

How's YOUR weather this winter??

Disney's Lady and The Tramp, available Feb 7th

2012-01-31T19:28:00.002-05:00

A classic love story unfolds in the best Disney tradition as a lovely young pedigreed cocker spaniel named Lady, who lives a pampered life, finds herself falling romantically for Tramp, an amorous street-smart pooch without prospects. Although they have fun together on several dates, including a sentimental spaghetti dinner by moonlight at Tony’s restaurant, their relationship is strained not only by Lady’s loyalty to her human family and their newborn baby, but by Tramp’s devil-may-care attitude that eventually gets Lady in trouble and tossed into the dog pound. However, good-hearted Tramp redeems himself by saving the baby from potential harm and thus wins Lady’s love and the affection of her human family.

Share this timeless Disney Classic with your family as Walt Disney’s beloved classic, Lady and the Tramp, finally releases from the Disney Vault for the first time ever on Blu-ray. This heartwarming tale now charms a new generation of families and fans with its exquisite animation and unforgettable songs in one of the greatest love stories of all time. Featuring high definition sound and immersive bonus features your family can enjoy together, Lady and the Tramp Diamond Edition is a must own addition to your Disney collection.

Blu-ray Bonus:

Disney Second Screen: Inside Walt’s Story Meetings*

Audio Commentary: Inside Walt’s Story Meetings

Diane Disney Miller: Remembering Dad

Three Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes

Never Recorded Song: “I’m Free as the Breeze”

Classic DVD Bonus:

* Lady’s Pedigree: The Making of Lady and the Tramp
* Finding Lady: The Art of the Storyboard
* Original 1943 Storyboard Version of the Film
* PuppyPedia: Going to the Dogs
* “The Siamese Cat Song,” Finding a Voice for the Cats
* “Bella Notte” Music Video
* Trailers
* Excerpts from “Disneyland” TV Shows

DVD Bonus:
Diane Disney Miller: Remembering Dad
PuppyPedia: Going to the Dogs

Digital Bonus:
Diane Disney Miller: Remembering Dad
Three Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes
PuppyPedia: Going to the Dogs

My Thoughts:
I barely remember this movie, it's been so long since I've seen it! I'm so glad that it's being re-released, and on BluRay! I can't wait to sit down and share this classic with my daughters!

I made something off Pinterest!

2012-01-31T12:41:00.001-05:00

I've pinned hundreds of things, but I have finally made something! My inspiration was this:

* http://www.thehybridchick.com/2011/01/paper-heart-wreath/ *

And yesterday as a blues buster dare with a fellow blogger, i made it! I altered mine a little(made it smaller, stapled hearts together w ministaples, etc). But i seriously LOVE it! And it was so insanely quick and easy to make!

Making the wreath:

and my final product! (on my ugly door! lol):

What do you think? :)

*Thanks so much to Heather GW at the HybridChick for such awesome inspiration!*

The one time i appreciate the snow..

2012-01-30T13:55:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, I actually admitted that it was beautiful outside. It's a known fact that i am really not a big fan of snow or cold(and yes, i am Canadian). But there was no way that i could not look out the window and admire the picturesque scene.

** I also wonder now if any of my neighbours saw me stickin' my lens through the blinds et al and think i'm now some kind of weird stalker/nosy Nancy! lol **

Saturday Photo Share - 01/28

2012-01-28T19:53:00.001-05:00

I haven't done the Saturday Photo Share in a while, and it needed to be brought back. Or at least i thought so..too bad i didn't take better pics this week though! There were slim pickin's!

1. yummy snack of popcorn and retro coca-cola. yum! there is something to be said about drinking out of glass bottles!
2. teeny-tiny gummie bears! gotta have! I absolutely LOVE LOVE them!
3. butternut squash soup (this was tonight's dinner! homemade goodness! unfortunately Orangie didn't like it, but she did make a good effort to at least eat SOME!)
4. bedtime story with Orangie this past week..Grumpy Bird!
5. Hero wearing pink bowling shoes...it HAD to be documented! lol. These would NEVER be her choosing! lol.
6. ginormous shopping totes full of Orangie's old clothes that need to be sold off (luckily a friend bought a bunch of them! woot!)
7. Orangie chillin' with a book and her mp3 player! (she has a wide variety on it! from Bobs and Lolo, to Rockabye Baby GreenDay, to Selena Gomez, and Justin Bieber!)
8. the before pic of the awesome scalloped potatoes i made for dinner this past week.

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Lovable Labels Friendship Pack - review and g!veaway

2012-01-28T12:40:00.001-05:00

Lovable Labels is your #1 source for durable personalized labels, tags, safety products and much more. By recognizing the unique personality in every child, Lovable Labels inspires children to take better care of their belongings. Our durable products will withstand the dishwasher, microwave, washer, dryer, and – the greatest test – your child. Lovable Labels brings organization to your family. Don’t lose it, label it with Lovable Labels.

Children, they have the ability to lose pretty much anything! Last year, during the FIRST week of school, Orangie managed to lose her $17 waterbottle *forehead smack*. All i had was her name written on the bottom with permanant marker. It was never seen again.
I learned my lesson, bought some labels, and so far NOTHING has been lost again! *cue singing angels* Now we label(not on the bottom!) pretty much EVERYTHING! All the lunch containers, various school supplies, planners, toys, bags, coats, shoes, boots..anything that leaves the house!

Right now Lovable Labels has a great offer called Friendship Packs! You get 120 labels for your child(ren) and then get 40 bonus labels for a friend! They come wrapped in a shiny red foil envelope that is great for gifting!

Above are the 2 colour/style options you have for the Friendship Packs. There is the Bedazzled and the Majestic. 'Orangie', the girlie-girl, of course chose the Bedazzled pack for herself, and gifted her sister 'Hero' with the bonus pack, who also chose the Bedazzled pack, but REALLLY likes the star sticker that comes with the Majestic pack.

Lovable Labels have labels for just about anything you can possibly think of!
For more information be sure to check them out on their Website, on their Blog, and be sure to join in the fun on Facebook, and Twitter!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

ONE lucky Home of OHM reader will win a Friendship Pack of their own!

(Open to Can/US, ends Feb 14th!)
**you MUST do the mandatory entry, or all your other entries will be void**

**Disclosure: The product(s) in this review were provided to me, free of cost, for the purpose of conducting this review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.**

a Rafflecopter giveaway

because when it rains, it pours..

2012-01-26T21:56:00.001-05:00

We just haven't been having a good week, month, year, we're broke...and well we all know that when it rains, it pours...and of course this time was no different!Yesterday mid-load, my year and half old washer decided to just STOP working. SOOOO not impressed.
So we called the service guy, we had no choice. We don't really know many people, let alone someone who has knowledge to look at a washer..and when the mr tried to remove the back panel from it just to 'take a look' he ended up slashing his 3 fingers on sharp metal. (sorry for those who have mental images of that and are gagging like i am! ewwww)
We really weren't too thrilled about having someone come out because it's $85 just for him to walk in the door!!!
Here's some shots to share..i wouldn't have been a good blogger if i didn't snap some!! lol.

* so this is a pic of the piece that connects to the motor..if you look closely at the top hole there is something stuck in it...sigh.* (this is the only shot that the fix it guy knew i took! muahahaha)

* this is the stupid sock that was stuck right in the washing machine motor...soooo not happy!!!* (oh! i forgot he knew i took that pic too...)

* he didn't know about this one! muahahaha!*

So yay, the washer got fixed! but BOOOOO it ended up costing us $198!! That's almost half of the original washer price. *goes to cry in the corner*

wordless wednesday - The man can bake!

2012-01-24T22:21:00.001-05:00

Mr. Christy, you make gooood cookies! (and i'm so thankful when you make them so that i can catch up on Grey's Anatomy!) *swoon*

* pb choco chip! *
*AND we didn't even know it was National Peanut Butter Day!!*

Orangie's series of unfortunate events :(

2012-01-22T22:56:00.000-05:00

WOW. It's was quite the night here tonight. I saw the red-ringed eyes the second that her dad dropped her off. I made the mistake of asking what was wrong. The dam burst and she was sobbing uncontrollably again.
Because this is what happens to over-tired little 7 yr olds who leave their best friend 'Pal' behind at their cousins house (and it can't be returned until tomorrow). It was absolutely HEART BREAKING :(

Tourney Weekend!

2012-01-22T22:29:00.000-05:00

It was a proud mama weekend! My girls are bowlers. Yes a little weird, but they're pretty decent at it and they love it! Above is 'Hero' doing the congratulatory handshake walk when she placed 4th out of 17 girls. She moved on to Sundays tourney where she had a bit of a rough time and placed 7th(out of 8). But it was an awesome learning experience. It gave her some confidence! (and we learned VERY quickly not to mess with the black dresspants dresscode that these tournaments have in effect...long story, but WOW, we'll never screw that up again! you don't drive an hour and a half away, spend money on a hotel and be threatened with disqualification..YIKES).

Penguins of Madagascar - Operation Blowhole (review)

2012-01-22T21:44:00.000-05:00

Neil Patrick Harris stars as Dr. Blowhole in the latest chapter of the Emmy Award®-winning series from DreamWorks Animation and Nickelodeon, “Penguins of Madagascar”. Skipper and the Penguins face off against their sinister nemesis, Dr. Blowhole, and his diabolical schemes in this action-packed adventure with six original musical numbers. It’s a Bond-spoof of Penguins proportions!

Format/Bonus Features:
• Widescreen Format
• English 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround, English 2.0 Dolby Digital Surround, French 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround & Spanish 2.0 Dolby Digital Surround
• English, French & Spanish Subtitles
• Special Features
o World of DreamWorks Animation

Running Time: 73 Minutes

Our Thoughts:We watched this together for family movie night, and it was an absolute hit! We're big Madagascar fans in this house. I, personally, love King Julian. But the kids LOVE the penguins! We had a great time watching this! There is lots of humour in it that goes right over the kids heads, and I think the mr and I might have been laughing MORE than the kids. And hearing Neil Patrick Harris saying 'peng-u-in' NEVER got old! lol.
We highly recommend!

* I received the above product for free, for review purposes. As always, you got my honest opinion. Your opinion may differ. *

A Mile in His Shoes - review/g!veaway

2012-01-20T09:40:00.000-05:00

Sometimes Miracles Happen When You Least Expect Them and Late in The Game.

Only a miracle can help baseball coach Arthur “Murph” Murphy (Dean Cain) and his losing minor league baseball team. As Murph sets out to recruit new talent, he stumbles upon Mickey (Luke Schroder), a young farmer with an incredible pitcher’s arm. However, Mickey’s parents are reluctant in allowing him to join the team because he has Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism. Murph convinces Mickey’s parents that life in the minor league will benefit their unique son, but he doesn’t realize just how much his new recruit will help the team’s game and, more importantly, their spirit. Based on a true story,  A Mile in His Shoes is an inspirational film that celebrates faith, determination and the power of friendship.

My Thoughts:
The mr and I sat down together to check out this movie(unfortunately when i had an awful migraine). I was eager to watch it because so far any of the 'Thomas Kincade Presents' movies that I've seen I have thoroughly enjoyed! This one was no different. I was sucked in right from the beginning! Luke Schroder is a wonderful actor, and not bad-looking either!(and Ricky Schroders son!!)
But all that aside, this is a fantastic heart-warming film about someone achieving a dream despite others perceptions of limitations. It really is *'A story of hope, strength, and the power of friendship.'
(*Steven J, McGivern, The American Autism Alliance)

Website: http://www.watchgmctv.com/video/mile-his-shoes#biography
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Mile-In-His-Shoes/270101973014772?sk=wall
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev2T0BFetH4
Dove Foundation Review: http://www.dove.org/reviewmasterframe.asp

WIN IT!
One lucky reader will win their own copy of 'A Mile in His Shoes'!
Just enter on the Rafflecopter form below!(if it's missing click on 'read more')

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or
services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it
on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally
and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance
with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the
Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Canadian! Honibe Throat Lozenges - review

2012-01-19T13:44:00.000-05:00

I was first introduced to this innovative Canadian company, in September, at the She's Connected Conference. On one of the breaks, I went to the coffee/tea counter and found Honibe Honey Drops as a sweetening option. I was very much intrigued. I love honey in my tea, but well it's rather sticky and messy. Honey Drops were different! They're DRIED honey: so you open the little packet and drop it in, stir until desolved and enjoy. I WAS IN LOVE.

So when Honibe approached me to review their Honey Throat Lozenges, there was no question. Of course i would! I get many sore throats over the winter, so anything that can help me out with this I would love to try!

Honibe Honey Lozenges are made from 100% pure dried Canadian honey. They are available in 2 flavours: Honey with Menthol and Eucalyptus, and Honey with Lemon, Menthol and Eucalyptus. Honey Lozenges are available in packages of 10 or 20 pieces.

Honibe Honey Lozenges provide upper respiratory relief for coughs and colds. Traditional upper respiratory products like lozenges and cough drops are sugar-based and are nothing more than boiled sugar candies with added health benefits. Honibe Honey Lozenges are 99.9% honey with menthol and eucalyptus. Consumers are getting the natural benefits of honey in addition to the menthol and eucalyptus.

My Thoughts:
FANTASTIC!!! These drops are now being added into the medicine cabinet. I love that they're NATURAL, and I can feel good about giving them to my kids when they're suffering from cough/cold/sore throat (although i do wish that they'd make them with a stick on them for kids! my daughter may be 7, but she is still uneasy about not having a stick attached!).

Where to Buy:
Honibe is available in many retailers across Canada and US. but don't forget you can also order directly from Honibe!

For More Information:
Check out Honibe online at their website, and on twitter and facebook!

and be sure to check out this video of Honibe's visit to Dragon's Den!

* I received the above product for my review purposes. I received no monetary compensation. As always you got my honest opinion, yours may differ!*

DaGeDar for Nintendo DS - review

2012-01-18T20:05:00.000-05:00

Trade, Collect, Race, Compete, Share your Favorite DaGeDar and More!

The competitive racing video game based on the popular DaGeDar™ brand of racing balls is available now for the suggested retail price of $19.99.

Battle it out with your friends or race evil spirits alone; DaGeDar’s virtual raceway will keep you playing for hours. With more than 30 fast and furious raceways, you’ll be looping, dropping, climbing, and banking your way to the end with fury, but watch out for the blocks and gaps in the raceway! Featuring 100 collectable balls with unique abilities, as well as special, limited edition characters, you’ll have a blast collecting and trading your favorite DaGeDar items. Whether playing alone or sharing with a friend using the game’s multiplayer download options, the action-packed world of DaGeDar will keep you hungry for more racing, collecting and conquering of evil spirits in a unique 33rd dimension world.

Additional DaGeDar game features:

Collectables:Unlock and collect up to 100 DaGeDar racing balls, for collectable and trading fun! Special limited edition, cool characters available too!

Unique Race Abilities: Each ball carries abilities of Acceleration, Top Speed, Defense and Attack modes.

Rewards: Earn DeGaDar points at the end of every race for special rewards and bonuses!

Our Thoughts:
Neither of my daughters were familiar with DeGeDar before we received the game for review, but quickly realized that it was similar to some of the other games/toys they like to play with. The youngest(7yr) gave it a try first, but it really wasn't her type of game and she quickly became frustrated. The oldest gladly played it next, and it seemed more her 'speed'. She quickly became glued to the screen trying to beat the computer player! Which is apparently quite tricky!! You really need to pick the right DaGeDar(each has different abilities/capabilities), and learn the different courses ups/downs/twists/turns in order to win! DaGeDar for DS is addictive, fast-paced fun!

Developed by Black Lantern Studios, DaGeDar for Nintendo DS is rated “E” for Everyone by the ESRB.
For additional information about GameMill’s line of products, please visit: http://www.game-mill.com/.

* Disclosure: Game provided for review, for free, in order to give an honest opinion. No other compensation provided.*

Wordless Wednesday: i heart cinnamon!

2012-01-18T15:11:00.000-05:00

Mmm..so a few months ago I was chattering up a barrista at Starbucks, because i had ordered a Tazo Joy tea, and then she commented about how she LOVED joy tea too! and had i tried it with cinnamon in it?
I honestly thought that she was kinda nuts, but i was intrigued, so gave it a try. I FELL IN LOVE. This girl was BRILLIANT! I could never drink my Joy tea again without the cinnamon in it. Then i tried it in other teas, some worked and some sure didn't. But then i got adventurous the other day and put a bit of cinnamon/sugar in my tassimo cappuccino...OMG! another hit!! and now i can't drink it without it. Good thing cinnamon is good for you!!

Do you put cinnamon in your drinks? or anything else that i should know about and try?

also, I had another barrista tell me that apparently the Tazo Passion tea and the Tazo Vanilla Rooibos go well..but i haven't braved that one yet! lol

whoops! this was soooo not wordless! :)

yummy soup and pizza rolls, and learning to give up control!

2012-01-17T11:06:00.000-05:00

I had a raging headache and I sure as heck did NOT want to cook. But i fought against the urge to resort to processed fishsticks..."Just make the damn soup, you know you'll feel better after!"...and I did.
I ended up making a new fave, and I relaxed and let Hero loose in the kitchen to make the Pizza Rolls.

The Southwest Sweet Potato soup is such an amazingly easy/tasty/healthy recipe. A friend of mine had made it one day when I went over for lunch...i honestly wasn't too sure what to expect. I am NOT adventurous in my eating, i like it nice and simple! But i was amazed at how much i loved it, and quickly asked her for the recipe! Basically what i did last night was peel a large sweet potato, slice it up(so it'll cook quickly), cover it with some chicken stock(just covered), cook till soft. oh! i added some black pepper and cumin while it cooked. Then add a bit of salsa for some zip, and immersion blender the heck out of it. (sorry, i don't actually follow recipes, i just 'wing it'). Hopefully you get the point. lol. YUMMM-O!

So while that was all cookin' up. I set Hero up with the task of the Pizza Rolls that I've seen on a few blogs lately and Pinterest (of course!!). SUCH a simple recipe, and they turned out AMAZING!!!
We used 2 packs of the Pillsbury weiner wrap, a bit of pepperoni, some mozza, and then pizza sauce heated up on the side. I think we baked them for like 11 mins(?) on 375.
I have to admit that Hero did an AMAZING job making them. It wasn't even remotely as bothersome as i thought that it would be. (i may or may not be a control freak who believes that it's just easier to do it myself! and then freak out later when i'm the one that has to do everything!!!)
Baby steps i tell ya. Baby steps.

(ha ha, it looks like i have stolen all the pizza rolls in this pic! lol. nom nom ALLLL MINE!)

yup, another venting session..

2012-01-15T22:14:00.003-05:00

It seems like these little venting sessions are coming more often now. The other night i said on twitter before i went to bed ; "..wondering if it's time to give up my blogging and just go find a job, 'fix' my life, etc..have i wasted the last 2 years??"...I guess i'm just not too sure where this is all going anymore(specifically the review/giveaway blogging)..I've come a long way from the early days of my Christian book reviews and whatever Bzzagent threw my way..but I was doing the dishes tonight and while i was standing there my eldest was practicing piano..and i suddenly recognized the song: Adele's 'Rolling in the Deep'...and it just struck me that I had NO idea she was working on that for piano(how cool of a song?!)..and then it just kept coming at me..how much i am truly missing just sitting here on my rapidly expanding 'bloggers butt' for hours on end, doing tasks for this and that, answering/writing emails, working on my google+ or my twitter or my facebook page or working on the blog design, joining hops, linking up, or spending an hour OR MORE trying to word a review 'just right' for what? do i really care about the token product i get in exchange for all the hours of work I've just spent? I'm just not sure anymore.

I ignored my pile of blogger work today, and I took my girls out to Chapters, and I COOKED. I'd been thinking lately about how I've never had or made potato leek soup, so the mr went out to do the grocery shopping(something i used to love to do!) and he brought me back the leeks I'd been looking for..and it was wonderful. I've missed cooking in all my stress and frustration. Looking for something new, and giving it a try, and praying to god that my kids and the mr will actually eat it and enjoy it.

I guess I'm just realizing that I'm 32 years old, and I have no idea who I am or where the heck I am going in life...and I'm afraid that if I spend anymore time just sitting at my laptop writing about nothing I'm gonna wake up(or not wake up) and find my life over before i even found it. There are so sooo many things that I miss or just want to go try.

Do I make sense here? Am i having a bad go lately and i'm out of my mind? or am I right and it's time to move on? I am just so tired. So tired of the jealousy. So tired of feeling 'behind'. I'm also really tired of the spam and moronic pitches(hey can you do this for NOTHING in exchange?)!!

Please jump in here...HELP.

Monster Jam!

2012-01-15T21:09:00.000-05:00

Last night Hero and the Mr headed off to check out Monster Jam with the tickets she won from the library(we love reading!!!). They had an awesome time on their little date, and were glad that they remembered to bring earplugs! lol. (gotta admit that i was kinda jealous that i missed out on this one, i remember loving it when i saw a monster truck show when i was younger...and also because they kept sending me pictures!! lol).
Here are some of the shots they sent me:

Did you see the show??

Greenmunch.ca - R/G

2012-01-14T17:32:00.000-05:00

Greenmunch eco store is Canada's source for trendy eco-friendly, reusable, natural, and compostable products.

*It's also a family run business, based out of Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada*

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I was when I saw what the wonderful people at Greenmunch had put in my review kit! It was some seriously colourful, eco-friendly, goodness in there!

3 sets of paper straws, 2 sets of Bagnetic bags, set of small kraft bags, set of green chevron bitty bags, set of green candy stripe bags, Washi Tape(holly), 3 types of Divine Twine..

And coming right before Christmas..well I was imagining all types of wrapping fun!

It was perfect for wrapping everything from my holiday baking to giftcards...We toted all the gifts to the family gatherings in the red and green Bagnetics, the tape was so charming, and twine was indeed divine!, and my girls are continually very eager to use the cool paper straws for everything they possibly can(shakes, milk, floats, hot chocolate, etc)! and I feel great knowing they're all eco-friendly supplies!

So I have to have peaked your interest about this cool Canadian company! Here are some other FAB things from Greenmunch.ca that I would absolutely LOVE...

1) 3B bags reusable produce bags
2) Lunchskins reusable bags (check out some of the colours!)
3) Colourful Grass Shoes (sooo awesome!)
4) Coloured School Chalk
5) Hydros WaterBottle (in pink!)

Are you totally in love yet?!

Well guess what?! It's GIVEAWAY time!! ONE lucky reader(open to Can/US) will win a $40 giftcard(does not include shipping) to Greenmunch.ca!

Just enter on the Rafflecopter below!(if it's missing, click on 'read more')

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Moon Dough Push N' Pop Ocean Pals - review

2012-01-13T16:47:00.000-05:00

So I am definitely not generally a fan of playdough/sand/messy toys because we live in a rental that has a lot of carpeting. BUT when I heard from Team Mom that they had an all new dough formula(better consistency/less crumbly), I decided to give it a second chance! For this review, we chose the Moon Dough Push N' Pop Ocean Pals set! I loved the look of this set, it was different from anything we owned! I could see 'Orangie' having lots of creative playtime with this!

Moon Dough (for children ages 3 and up) has an all new dough formula! This amazing molding dough not features a better consistency for molding and is less crumbly. This no-mess dough still never dries out, so you can use it again and again! With brighter and more vibrant colors than ever before, kids will have a blast sculpting the molding dough into fun creations!

'Ocean Pals' Product Features:
* Create your own unique adventure with the new one-step Push N' Pop tools.
* You can make a variety of Ocean Pals!
* Moon Dough never dries out, so you can mold coral reefs and Ocean Pals as many times as you want!
* set includes: 3 Push N' Pop Tools, Twisty Animal Molds, 2 colours of Moon Dough, and 1 Themed Mat.
* Hypo-Allergenic
* Wheat Free!

Our Thoughts:
I was sure it was going to be just 'Orangie'(7 yr DD) playing with the set, but when we pulled it out to open it 'Hero'(11 yr DD) wanted in on the action as well!
The girls REALLY liked the texture, they agreed that it was rather marshmallow-like! And I personally loved that there was NO mess to it (wooohoooo!) and it occupied their time for almost an hour(then it was bedtime). I may have even sat and enjoyed squishing it around in my hands! :)

Buy It:
Moon Dough Push N' Pop Ocean Pals can be purchased for $9.99 at Target, Toys R Us, Walmart, Kmart, Amazon.com, A.C. Moore, Michaels and eToys.

*Disclosure: We received the above product, from Team Mom, to review(for free) in exchange for our honest review! Your opinion may differ!*

Recent Winners!

2012-01-13T15:46:00.001-05:00

I had 4 giveaways on the 11th....were you a winner??

Thanks so much for entering!!! and CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Don't forget about my Oscillococcinum/Childrens Chestal giveaway going on right now! (open to US only)

my photo adventure day follow-up!

2012-01-12T21:06:00.000-05:00

so you all saw my bag packed up ready to go...and i think you all asked where i was off to...
here are some of my shots of the day..i'll save my favourite for last...I still can't believe that it was 10 degrees celcius on Jan 11th!!!

*sorry it's small, it wouldn't seem to post...these are rescue workers repelling down to break away some of the loose rocks..there is a road to the Maid of the Mist directly below that they were falling onto..yikes*

*yes this is the VERY edge of the Canadian falls! LOVE!!*

So yup, incase you couldn't tell, I adventure'd off to Niagara Falls! It's so awesome have one of the wonders of the world just 2-ish hours away! <3

wordless wednesday - camera's packed...see ya!

2012-01-11T10:57:00.000-05:00

WooHoo! Off on an 'adventure' today. Gotta love it. Jan 11th and it's sunny(no snow on ground) with a high of 7C today! This calls for a photo adventure day! See ya! <3

Searching for a good mood, and I need HELP!

2012-01-09T16:46:00.001-05:00

This 'poster' says it all for me. I've had it. This is NOT a good weight for me. And i don't come from good genes! I currently weigh 196, which makes me want to vomit, I'm only 5'3ish. 2.5 years ago i was 150, but that came from my husband walking out.

But now, i don't feel good. It scares me that I get headaches all the time(like my mom). It scares me the heavy feeling I get in my chest. I hate that I've been mistaken for pregnant. I hate how awful i feel all the frickin time, with no energy either! I want to find a GOOD MOOD!

AND....my daughter will be 12 this year, and this scares me because my mom got sick when i was 12 and never recovered and i might as well have grown up without a mom(yes it was like that, i had no one)...and well I don't want to be useless for my daughters!

Yeah, i know..a resolution post..*eye roll*..but I've had enough. Please help me/encourage me/ hug me/slap that cupcake outta my hand. please.

Oscillococcinum & Children's Chestal - review

2012-01-07T17:43:00.000-05:00

The dreaded cold and flu season is here again, so this year, why not take a vow to use solutions that work naturally with your body. Make sure your medicine cabinet is equipped with medicines such as Oscillococcinum® (Oscillo®) and Children’s Chestal®, both from Boiron, world leader in homeopathic medicines.

Nip Flu-like Symptoms at the First Sign
Flu is highly contagious and can put you out of commission for more than a week. There is no “cure” for the flu, but the key is to relieve symptoms that make us so miserable at the first sign.

Oscillococcinum, or Oscillo for short, may be difficult to pronounce, but it’s a must-have during flu season. The moment you start to feel achy or run down is when Oscillo can start working naturally with your body to relieve flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue, headache, body aches, chills and fever. Oscillo has been shown in clinical studies to help reduce both the severity and the duration of flu-like symptoms, helping you feel like yourself again. In one recent study published in a British scientific journal, nearly 63 percent of patients who took Oscillo within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms showed a “clear improvement” or “complete resolution” in as fast as 48 hours. Oscillo has no side effects and is packaged in individual doses, so it’s easy to carry with you and take as you need it. It’s sweet-tasting, melt-away pellets dissolve quickly under the tongue and require no water, chewing, or swallowing, and it’s safe for ages two and up.

Relieve Your Child’s Cough Naturally and Safely, Without Drowsiness or Sleeplessness
If the common cough is an inevitable part of your child’s winter repertoire, then Children’s Chestal cough syrup should have a permanent position in your home. With no artificial flavors or colors, this honey-based cough syrup is one of the safest and tastiest options for relieving all types of common coughs. Safe for children ages two and up, this non-drowsy medicine works by coating the throat with the sweet, natural goodness of honey, temporarily soothing throat irritation, while its blend of safe homeopathic medicines loosens chest congestion, thereby making coughs more productive for a speedier recovery. Children’s Chestal can be your little one’s day and night cough solution—calming those dry, fitful coughs that can prevent sleep at bedtime, but without the drowsy side effects that can hamper an active child’s day. In addition to being safe and non-drowsy, Children’s Chestal is also dye-free with no drug interactions.

Be the first to know about cold and flu outbreaks in your area before they strike in your home. Just enter your zip code in Boiron’s Cold and Flu Tracker at http://www.oscillo.com/flu-tracker to find out your region’s risk level.

My Thoughts:
I kept putting off my review, because I was sure that the next cold or flu was right around the corner, it always seems to be! But I waited and nothing! So I admit I wasn't able to actually see the product in action!
I've always heard really good things about it though, and i know of at least 3 friends who use the products and swear by natural homeopathic remedies.
I did however open up the Children's Chestal. The smell was very light and natural and had that yummy honey smell! And it tasted just like honey too, so I know that my girls will be much more willing to open up for this than normal cough medicine! This will definitely be my first stop when the girls catch a cold(which will no doubt be as soon as they go back to school!).

Oscillo and Children’s Chestal are available at Walgreens, CVS, Whole Foods and local health food stores.
Where to buy Boiron products in the US.
Where to buy Boiron products in Canada.

Learn more about Oscillo at http://www.oscillo.com/ and Children’s Chestal at http://www.childrenschestal.com/.
“Like” the Oscillo Facebook page for great tips about staying healthy during cold and flu season, as well as fun giveaways at www.facebook.com/oscillo.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

ONE lucky reader (US only, sorry) will win their choice of a box of Oscillo or Children's Chestal!

Just enter below on the Rafflecopter. (if it's missing, click on 'read more')

* Disclosure: I received these products for free in exchange for my honest opinion. Your opinion may differ! *

a Rafflecopter giveaway

rudely awoken at 2:50am!!

2012-01-07T10:07:00.001-05:00

BANG *scratch scratch* rattle *scratch scratch* bang (more assorted noise)

Me: "hon?? do you hear that noise?? what is that?? please go look!!"

we lay and listen a bit..sounds like an animal...at 2:50 am..basically just outside where all our bedrooms are..F*#@!

Yep we definitely hear SOMETHING!! So we bolt out of bed to figure it out...Mr says hmm..it almost sounds like water in the wall or something..see ya I'm off to the bathroom...

ME: OMG NOOOOO the tent poles are MOVING GET OUT HERE NOW!!! PLEASE?!?!?! Water doesn't move things..ANIMALS DO!!! (side note: I left the tent/canopy from Orangies bed in the upstairs corner...so it's MOVING)

He comes running back out to help, and i go running into the bedroom to cower and hide...
Then I hear...awww hun! come look!! it's..........

ready??

can you guess???

it was an animal alright!!!

* not my hamster, but it looks VERY similar*

Our poor little hamster Yoshi was on the loose! and the worst part is that we have no idea how long! We had gone to visit family before noon yesterday (and mr had fed him but was sure the door was closed!)..

So now we know what it is....but I'm not sure if you've ever tried to catch a socially inept escapee hamster before....he bolted...we tried to pick him up....he swatted then bolted again...GAHHHHH!

Finally i got the poor thing and ran him to his cage...but you try to get to sleep after THAT!!!

sing me soft kitty before i snap!

2012-01-05T22:21:00.000-05:00

Warning: this blogger is a crazy irritable beast!!

I don't know what the heck is going on..i think it's just that Christmas let-down is upon me, the kids are in 'entertain me!!!' mode, the house is an absolute frickin disaster, i'm behind, i'm stressed, eating too much garbage, etc etc etc. I feel so badly, i'm snapping at everyone. I just want to curl up and cry.
The mr says to me 'well? have you been taking your vitamin D's???"...how about i throw this bottle of vitamin d at your head?!

How are you all doing? Maybe i'm just a lunatic?

Vent over. I'm going to bed.

I was on a mission...

2012-01-04T20:24:00.002-05:00

...and i wanted to be somewhat incognito..i didn't want to be recognized...so i did my 'mission' looking like this:

* No, the goal was not to look like a hobo...and yes, that is my bathroom. *

And yes, i believe this is the weirdest, most vague post I've done to date! ;)

(and yes, i really do want to tell you what the heck i was doing today, but I can't yet, sorry!)

Stopain Cold - review

2012-01-04T16:52:00.001-05:00

Oh how i have been cursed with bad genetics. My mom is plagued with chronic pain/fibromyalgia/migraines/etc etc, and it seems that the apple don't fall far from the tree! I, too, suffer from migraines, bad back, etc. It doesn't take much for me to NEED topical pain relievers like Stopain!

Between 15% and 29% of the Canadian population (or approx. 76.5 million Americans) suffers from incidences of pain, especially in the winter months when the cooling weather aggravates the muscles and joints.

Don’t let the worry of wintertime bring you down. It’s time to “Stopain..and Go” do the things you want to do this season.

The active ingredient in Stopain is menthol, recognized by the FDA as an analgesic indicated for the temporary relief for minor pains and stiffness of arthritis, muscle aches, strains and simple backaches. It also contains peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil, recognized by the FDA for their analgesic properties. Extra-strength Stopain formulas are also formulated with glucosamine and MSM, essential nutrients that support joint health and mobility.

Stopain is available in four formulations: Stopain Spray, Stopain Extra-Strength Spray, Stopain Extra-Strength Roll-On, and the new Stopain Gel.

My Thoughts:
I received the Stopain Cold Pain Relieving Gel (as pictured above) for my review purposes. I admit that i was a little worried about it being labelled as 'COLD' and being a gel product. This is not what i would have picked out at the store, as when i have a backache or muscle pain I crave warm/soothing/comforting.
When i was having neck pain one night I asked the Mr if he could help me out and rub Stopain on my neck for me so that I could get to sleep. I cringed waiting for that COLD feeling, but was very pleasantly surprised because i found a warm feeling coming over me. I was almost instantly able to sleep! It does indeed start to work on contact! It also was non-greasy, non-staining, and did have a light scent(even though it contains 6% menthol!)..just as advertised! It is now, hand-down, my go-to product!

To learn more about Stopain, visit http://www.stopain.com/. And be sure to stop by on Facebook and Twitter too for great tips on managing pain and giveaways!

For where you can buy Stopain(in Can/US/online) click here!

GIVEAWAY TIME!

ONE lucky reader will win Stopain Cold Pain Reliever!

Just enter on the Rafflecopter form below (if it's missing click on 'read more')

* Disclaimer: I was given this product in exchange for my honest review. Your opinion may differ. *

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Old Farmers Almanac 2012 (and Kids version!)

2012-01-04T15:42:00.002-05:00

I'll never forget how much my grandmother loved to read and refer to The Old Farmers Almanac. It was always somewhere in plain sight at her house like on the kitchen table or the side table right beside her rocking chair. It was her go-to spot to check the weather each day.
I grew up hearing tidbits of information or interesting facts from it, and would always make sure that I had enough money to buy her a new one each Christmas. I always knew that it was be well received and so appreciated. But Grama passed on, and i grew up leaving behind the Almanac tradition.

When i received one in the mail to review, I was instantly brought back, and flooded with memories seeing that old familiar cover. I immediately started flipping through it, and found a recipe for Dark Chocolate Chile Balls(omg. YES!), and the weather forecast for winter and summer(famous for 80% accuracy!), fell in LOVE the astronomy section, and was pleased to see a gardening section(i need all the help i can get here!!). There is SO much information to be read! I was also REALLY happy to see a page with a 'Table of Measures' and Metric Conversion(I need lots of help with this too!).

About: Since 1792, The Old Farmer's Almanac has spoken to all walks of life: tide tables for those who live near the ocean; sunrise and planting charts for those who live on the farm; recipes for those who live in the kitchen; and forecasts for those who don't like the question of weather left up in the air.

Highlights:
- Long range weather forecasts
- Home remedies that work
- Astronomical Data
- Gardening Advice
- Wit, Wisdom, Folklore, and more!
- only $5.99

Both my girls were also the lucky recipients of:

Honored with five International Book Awards—Best Children’s Book Series, Best Children’s Educational, Best Children’s Nonfiction, Best Young Adult Educational, and Best Young Adult Nonfiction.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac for Kids keeps youngsters entertained for hours with fun facts, fascinating stories, and easy (and educational!) projects and activities such as:

Calendar: famous 13ths of the month
Weather: wacky ways to predict the weather
Gardening: how-to-grow for peas, tomatoes, and “alligator pears” (avocados!), and a cucumber in a bottle
Crafts: 12 easy projects to foster kids’ creativity—and fun!
Nature: how leaves change color, advice on poison ivy, and all about grasshoppers and birds and much, much more!

Kids can’t put it down!
Parents can’t wait to pick it up!
Teachers give it high marks!

* Here's a shot of my youngest daughter 'Orangie'(7 yr) reading her Kids Almanac on a car trip. I cannot believe how big of a hit this book is with her! I honestly thought it would be more her big sisters 'thing', but she spent an hour and a half reading off cool things she found to us! It's a BIG hit! *

And don't forget to connect with The Old Farmer’s Almanac on Facebook, and Twitter!

The O.F.A for Kids also has a FANTASTIC website for kids! Click here to check it out!

GIVEAWAY TIME!

ONE lucky reader will win a copy of The Old Farmers Almanac, AND a copy of The Old Farmers Almanac for Kids!

Just enter below on the Rafflecopter form(if it's not there, click on 'read more')

* Disclosure: I received these books in exchange for my honest review. Your opinion may differ. *

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wordless Wednesday - SNOW!!!!

2012-01-03T23:09:00.000-05:00

UGH! We went from green to white overnight on Monday. Even though I have been a Canadian all my life, i just haven't learned to live with snow, and i was NOT a happy camper come Tuesday morning! I believe the final total that fell here in London is about 40cm(aka 15.7inches)!!

I have decided that I shall hibernate!

My Very unFairy Tale Life - review

2012-01-03T18:00:00.000-05:00

* This is one damsel that doesn't need rescuing. *

My Very UN Fairy Tale Life - by Anna Staniszewski

Book summary:
Is your magical kingdom falling apart? Twelve-year-old Jenny is on the case, whether she likes it or not. Saving the world might sound exciting, but for Jenny it’s starting to get old — even staying in the real world long enough to take a math test would be a dream come true! And when you throw in bloodthirsty unicorns, psychotic clowns, and the most useless gnome sidekick ever, Jenny decides that enough is enough. She’s leaving the adventuring business and not looking back. Or…is she?

Thoughts I got from 'Hero'(11 yr dd):
Hero is an avid reader. She tends to stick close to the fantasy/mystery genre, and though she wasn't eager to read it due to the cover looking too 'girlie' for her, I made her read it anyways, and she quickly realized that there was the fantasy and adventure in there that she loves to read. She *may* have learned that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover!! She did say that it was bit slow in the beginning, but once Jenny learns more about the mission, it got really good and she couldn't put the book down. She gave it 4 out of 5 stars, and said that she'd recommend it to her friends because it was 'different' and FUNNY!

Sound interesting? Read the first chapter here!

About the Author:
Born in Poland and raised in the United States, Anna Staniszewski grew up loving stories in both Polish and English. She was named the 2006-2007 Writer-in-Residence at the Boston Public Library and a winner of the 2009 PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award. Currently, Anna lives outside of Boston with her husband and their adopted black Labrador, Emma. When she’s not writing, Anna spends her time teaching, reading, and challenging unicorns to games of hopscotch. Her first novel, My Very UnFairy Tale Life, was released by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky on November 1, 2011. The sequel, My Way Too Fairy Tale Life, is scheduled for Spring 2013.

* We received this book from Sourcebooks in exchange for our honest review. Your opinion may differ. *

My Friendship Bracelet Maker / My Ribbon Barrette Maker

2012-01-03T16:45:00.002-05:00

The girls need more encouragement in the crafting department, so any opportunity that I get for us to review craft products I tend to jump at!
This time around it was 'My Friendship Bracelet Maker' and 'My Ribbon Barrette Maker'. They're both rated for 6 years and up, but for review purposes I had Hero do the bracelet kit, and Orangie do the barrette kit.
When we got the kits we dove right in! Everything you need is included in the kits, and the instructions are big, colourful, and easy to understand.

* Hero working on a skinny bracelet! *

The 'My Friendship Bracelet Maker' is a wonderful helpful tool for making friendship bracelets! It really helps to keep the threads separated, so making bracelets becomes quick and easy! I love that everything you need is right in the maker! So it's great for travel! I also love that it comes with 56 precut threads in 14 colours. The adjustable butterfly clip holds really well, and the maker itself seems VERY durable! One thing to note is the huge variety of bracelet patterns available on their website!My favourites being the 'be my valentine' and 'penguins'! Hero is a big fan of making friendship bracelets, and loves her new 'My Friendship Bracelet Maker'!

* Orangie working on her first barrette! *

Orangie did REALLY well when trying out the 'My Ribbon Barrette Maker' for the first time. She did need a little help getting started, but quickly figured it out and got crafting! She picked her favourite colours Orange and Pink of course! I love that everything you need is included within the maker! It comes with 8 barrettes, 16 colourful ribbons(8 colours), and 128 tri-beads. The 'My Ribbon Barrette Maker' itself seems VERY durable, and also seems great for travel!

We loved these kits and definitely recommend them to crafty kids out there ages 6+!

Giveaway time! ----> ONE lucky reader will win BOTH the 'My Friendship Bracelet Maker' and the 'My Ribbon Barrette Maker'!

Just enter below on the Rafflecopter form! (if it's not there, click on 'read more')

(open to Can/US, ends Jan 11th at 11:59 pm EST)

*Disclosure: i was given these kits for free in exchange for my honest review. Your opinion may differ.*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kung Fu Panda 2 review

2012-01-03T14:56:00.000-05:00

KUNG FU PANDA 2, DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.’s spectacular follow up to the Academy Award®-nominated original debuts on Blu-ray and DVD on Panda 2sday, December 13, 2011. Combining non-stop action, beautiful storytelling and stunning animation, the “winning sequel” (USA Today) delighted viewers of all ages with its engaging story that is both “hilarious and full of heart” (WABC-TV). The film earned more than $650 million at the global box office, making it one of the top five films of the year worldwide. In addition to the smash hit film, the KUNG FU PANDA 2 Awesome Packs feature the exclusive debut of the all-new Po adventure Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters plus two free memberships to the popular online game universe Kung Fu Panda World. Packed with even more panda-rific bonus features, the KUNG FU PANDA 2 Awesome Packs will be available with expected pricing as low as $25 on DVD and $30 on Blu-ray. Consumers who purchase this DreamWorks Animation signature entertainment experience on Panda 2sday will get both an awesome and affordable holiday gift – over $75 in value.

In the action-filled companion story Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters, Po and the Furious Five uncover the legend of three of kung fu’s greatest heroes: Master Thundering Rhino, Master Storming Ox and Master Croc. Kids can then follow in Po’s footsteps to become a kung fu master with Kung Fu Panda World, the virtual online game universe where kids create avatars, play games with their favorite characters, win points towards earning a kung fu black belt, chat with friends and more.

Featuring an all-star cast of voice talent including Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Gary Oldman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Michelle Yeoh, Danny McBride and Jean-Claude Van Damme, KUNG FU PANDA 2 will also be available on a single-disc DVD and in the Kung Fu Panda Collection on either DVD or Blu-ray, which includes both movies, Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters, two free online game memberships to Kung Fu Panda World, and loads of additional fun.

Our Thoughts:
The whole family(2 adults, and 2 daughters, 7 and 11) sat down to check this movie out, and we were impressed! The action never stopped! The laughs were plenty! and it was just all around fantastic! Orangie hardly ever sits through a full movie without some form of break, but she just sat there mesmerized! I can definitely see us watching this one again! We give it 2 thumbs up! (or 8 thumbs i guess! lol)

Disclosure: I was given a Kung Fu Panda 2 Awesome Pack in exchange for being featured on Home of OHM. As always, you get my honest opinion.

Orb Factory Sticky Mosaics Review

2012-01-03T13:20:00.003-05:00

The Orb Factory is a creative toy manufacturer located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Sold in more than 40 countries around the world, The Orb Factory’s products have won numerous international awards for outstanding innovation and design.

Before the holidays, my girls and I had the opportunity to review 2 craft kits of our choice. I selected the Enchanted Horses Jewelry Box for Orangie, and the Fairy Box for Hero. They were both chosen from the Sticky Mosaics Room Decor section.

The girls were very excited when they saw the kits (they had no idea they were coming) and it turns out i had made the right choices when selecting the kits for them!

Sticky Mosaics® allow kids to peel & stick sparkling foam and jewel tiles to create Mosaics by Number® that are ready for display. Our My First Sticky Mosaics® line brings crafting to kids 3+ with Big Pieces for Little Fingers®. Their toys are both imaginative and educational, and have been used as learning tools in classrooms around the world.

Instantly when seeing the kits, i realized that they were just like a paint by number, only you stick foam pieces and jewels to the numbers instead. Both kids(7 and 11) were EASILY able to follow the included directions and get to work creating their jewelry boxes. Everything that we needed was included(there were even extra pieces 'just in case'!). The kits also took up a fair chunk of time, definitely OVER a full hour of working away, and would be fantastic for snow days or rainy days at the cottage, or even just ANY DAY!

Both kits we chose were for ages 5+, and had 800-1200 pieces. It was a bit daunting at first but because it was so easy to follow, the worry QUICKLY passed. There was one small issue that Orangie(7yr) had with her kit, and that was with the teeny tiny jewels. She stuck *maybe* 2 on and begged me to do the rest of the teeny ones for her! They required quite a bit of manual dexterity and patience. Though it was nice to sit and craft with her.

* here's the finished products! *

Both girls found the kits very fun and absolutely LOVE the final results, AND have asked about buying a new kit to try every time we see them at Chapters!

We give these kits an enthusiastic 2 thumbs up!

Stay up to date with Orb Factory!:

http://www.orbfactory.com/

http://twitter.com/orbfactory

www.facebook.com/orbfactory

http://orbfactory.blogspot.com/

Now for the GIVEAWAY! ONE lucky reader will win an Orb Factory Sticky Mosaics Craft Kit!

(just enter below on the Rafflecopter form, if it's missing click on 'read more')

Disclosure: I was provided with 2 craft kits to review. All opinions expressed are my own. Giveaway is sponsored by Orb Factory, and their responsibility. Prize will be selected based on their discretion and availability.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be in more pictures!

2012-01-02T00:51:00.000-05:00

Earlier today i saw someone post about their resolution to be in more photos...BRILLIANT! This is always a big complaint of mine. We all have cameras, every single one of us in this family, and yet so little photos are actually taken. So while we were all just hangin' out this afternoon, I handed Orangie my Blackberry and said 'here boo! take a pic of mama!', and well...here it is:

(and here is the part where i will not complain about how i feel about this pic, and how it relates to other resolutions that i may or may not have for 2012!)

Happy New Year!!

2012-01-01T21:19:00.002-05:00

Wow, today marks the 2nd anniversary of this blog!
It started Jan 01, 2010 because of a project that some local moms here wanted to try; Project 365.
We were going to post a picture every day for 1 yr...at least that was the goal. I never did keep up with that project, but the blog kept going, and here i am 2 years later. I can't believe what it's turned into, and the amazing opportunities that it's brought within the last 6 months or so!!

I really can't say that i've gotten better at posting consistently, and i'm really not sure if my writing has become any better, but i CAN say that i love the people that i've met because of it, and i really do hope and pray that i can get better at all this!

I appreciate every single one of you! Please keep reading! <3

Much love,
Christy
aka Mama.

Wordless Wednesday - Christmas oops!

2011-12-28T17:21:00.001-05:00

Christmas came and went just far far too fast. In fact I even have a Christmas regret....i took THREE pictures at Christmas!! *forehead smack*
Here are 2 of them!! (so sooooo disappointed in myself)

* Yay! Presents waiting to be opened!! *

* Orangie being silly and wearing 2 pairs of shades at the Christmas Eve family get-together *

Sooo.. what was the only other pic i got? a pic of Orangie holding the letter from Timmy Tinsel. That's it, that's all. No pics of the Mr and I. No pics of opening presents. No pics of my other daughter! *sigh* Bad mamarazzi!

* Although the Mr did recommend that we 're-enact' Christmas in order to get the photos...ummm no! lol *

Last days with Timmy Tinsel

2011-12-28T17:14:00.000-05:00

As you all may know, Timmy Tinsel went back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve to be with all his elf friends at home. It was definitely a sad time for Orange, she really isn't that good with separations yet, and really was quite fond of running downstairs every morning to see what Timmy Tinsel was up to this time.

So here is Day 16: zip-lining from above the Christmas tree, down to the Poinsettia.

and what we found on Day 17(Christmas Day):

Yay! He's coming back next year! and a little bit earlier this time!

Christmas Day hunt for coffee and @EqualCanada #CBias

2011-12-27T09:20:00.001-05:00

Christmas time is such a crazy busy time of year, all the hustle and bustle, and driving here and there!

On Christmas Day, we did the present thing and had a bit of playtime, but then it was time to take the girls to their dads house. So the Mr and I thought that would be the perfect time to go hunt down an open coffee place and see if they offered #EqualCanada! We needed a nice quiet break to just relax and re-connect!

Step 1: Find an open shop...took some effort!! but McDonalds was OPEN! woohoo!

Step 2: Order up some yummy treats! Helloooo McCafe! I love the new look!

The Mr and I decided to keep it simple on this visit. We knew what we were looking for. Coffee and muffins! It was early afternoon and that was just the pick-me-up we needed! It was Christmas after all! We'd had more than enough food and snackies! lol.
When asked what we wanted in our coffees, I asked if they had sweetener. They said of course, we offer (competitor). I said 'oh, do you have anything else? maybe some Equal?'..to which the girl looked annoyed but went into the little cupboard and checked, 'No, this is all we offer'. 'Oh, ok then, that's too bad, they are VERY different products, I was hoping for Equal'.
When asked if there was someone who i could talk to regarding more choice, she said i could do the customer experience survey online. Fair enough.

Step 3: Find a cozy spot to sit and chatter! DONE! Nice little cafe chairs by a fireplace(that wasn't even on..boo). Good enough! (the muffins were tasty! all gone!)

This was the perfect little stop that we needed! We were able to talk about the Christmas dinner with family the day before, and about our little Christmas that morning with the girls, and more upcoming Christmas' to come this week! But most importantly, we got to just sit together and talk, without little interruptions or the phone, or a house that needed to be tidied!
It's too bad that we didn't find Equal though! I hope that with all us bloggers out there looking for it, that the managers/suppliers start listening that people want choice! Equal Please!

Step 4: Go home to fill out customer experience survey. Forgot to take the pic where i requested that they please offer Equal. oops! (but look, i got a fantastic coupon for my feedback! yay!)

* For more information, be sure to check out the Equal website, @EqualCanada twitter page(join the conversation #EqualCanada) and Equal Canada on Facebook.

*Disclosure - This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All thoughts/opinions above are honest and my own. My thanks to #CBias and #EqualCanada for this opportunity.*

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T22:55:00.001-05:00

It's been absolutely chaotic around here lately, so i am just popping in to quickly say Merry Christmas to all my wonderful readers. I appreciate each and every one of you. It's been an amazing blogging year for me thanks to you all.

Much Love,
Orangeheromama

I'll leave you with my FAVOURITE 'christmas' song for this year. Straight No Chaser's - 12 days of Christmas. (I absolutely LOVE their humour! and to bring in 'Africa'! LOVE LOVE!)
(this was the best video i could find of it. others were too clappy or cheering-filled! lol)

Timmy Tinsel: Days 9-15!

2011-12-23T21:49:00.000-05:00

Well I've been truly slacking on my posting due to the insanity of the holiday season. But here is a quick catch-up of what Timmy Tinsel has been up to for days 9 through 15(today).

Day 9: Timmy was just resting on bell-ringer Snoopy.

Day 10: Timmy was chillin' up on a shelf with some other holiday decor. This was the night that Timmy Tinsel took the girls letters to Santa!

Day 11: Timmy decided to chill on the dollhouse chaise on our coffeetable with some donuts and milk(in my Starbucks ornament!!). He was watching some holiday specials through the night.

Day 12: Timmy was just hangin' around for day 12.

Day 13: on this day Timmy decided to hang out with some Christmas cards!

Day 14: Where's Timmy?

Day 15: Timmy joins the Peanuts band!

And that is what Timmy Tinsel has been up to around here! Thanks for stoppin' by! <3

Chick-Fil-A Widget Fun!

2011-12-18T22:26:00.001-05:00

Cow Watches are available in Chick-fil-A Kid’s Meals!

Check with your local Chick-fil-A restaurant for availability

http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Locations

Limited quantities available while supplies last.

Check out the Chick-Fil-A holiday widget below, with fun family holiday activities along with a great holiday quiz. * I took the quiz, and I am a 'Friend of the Frost'.*

Win It!

1 lucky winner will receive a Chick-Fil-A prize pack containing 5 cow watches and 2 Chick-Fil-A plush cows!! Just check out the widget and then enter on the rafflecopter below!(if it's missing, click on 'read more')

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Day 8 with Timmy Tinsel!

2011-12-17T15:37:00.000-05:00

LOVE it! We had another fun surprise morning with Timmy Tinsel!
He was having a snowball fight with his frosty little friend...and very obviously winning! lol.

Day 7 with Timmy Tinsel

2011-12-15T23:47:00.000-05:00

So 2 nights without the girls is all that Timmy Tinsel can handle I believe! Here is the poor sad sight that I saw this morning when I went to find him. (Luckily, the girls are home now tonight, so tomorrow morning he should be back up to his normal silly surprises!)

OH! and the girls thought that it was pretty awesome that Timmy Tinsel still did stuff while they were away at their dads! :)

Day 6 with Timmy Tinsel

2011-12-15T13:14:00.000-05:00

The girls go to their dads house for Tues/Wed, and I think that may have confused Timmy Tinsel and made him a little sad...so yesterday morning I went looking for him and found him all snuggled up in Orangie's bed...he even had cold weather friends surrounding him!

Wordless Wednesday: Soft Kitty, Blind Kitty...

2011-12-14T00:33:00.000-05:00

* Yes, we absolutely LOVE Big Bang Theory! *

BUT, i think you're likely asking WHY do we have THREE Soft Kitty's?!

The story goes a little like this..a friend posted the link for soft kitty on her facebook wall..i fell in LOVE.

Then my wonderful man orders soft kitty for me for my birthday.

It gets here, and luckily we decide to open the box before my birthday because when we look inside we see BLIND kitty! Umm hello? You forgot to stitch his eyes on!!

So we look into returning it to the CBS store..but oh man these guys are insane because they don't care about the $15 brokerage you paid, or the shipping it'll cost you to send it back etc etc..NOOOOO.

SO, i tweeted about it to CBS store and Ripple Junction...AND..

Ripple junction says 'woah not cool! we'll get that fixed!!' (ok, not verbatim! lol)

SO, turns out they're on backorder/unavailable..but it's my bday gift..so guy has one special made for me AND sends me a big pillow head kitty too!!

*SWOON*

so now i have soft kitty, blind kitty, and pillow kitty!

oh! and did you know that soft kitty and blind kitty sing the Soft Kitty song?!

*********

( I may or may not have them sing it in a round on a daily basis! )

Day 5 with Timmy Tinsel

2011-12-13T21:30:00.000-05:00

Oh that Timmy Tinsel! He's just so fun and creative!
And on day 5? Well he got a little curious!

Timmy decided to get creative and use the critter 'playpen' as a ladder to climb up and see what was in the cage! He found our sweet little socially inept hamster, Yoshi! <3

Checking out the @ToshibaCanada #ToshibaTablet, thanks to @ShesConnected!

2011-12-12T14:17:00.001-05:00

You'll remember my excitement and joy when I announced last month that I was chosen to be 1 of 44 Toshiba Canada Ambassadors, thanks to ShesConnected Multimedia Corp!

Well, it was enhanced greatly when I received my sweet yellow Toshiba Camileo camcorder(to keep!squee!) to take visual stills, record footage on my shopping trip or record a vlog after my excursion. The Camilieo, valued at $139.99, is mine to keep in appreciation of my efforts!

My Mission?
To visit a local authorized retailer and check out the Toshiba Tablet or the Toshiba Passive 3D TV! Get to know the features and benefits and be sure to ask any questions that I might have.

My Report:
So last weekend the Mr and I found ourselves kid-free on Saturday, so we headed over to Best Buy to learn about the Toshiba Thrive. It was rather busy, due to the holiday rapidly approaching, but we made our way to the tablets and were happy to see that the Toshiba was free for us to check out! The reason that I chose the tablet to learn about was because after #sccto we actually bought the Toshiba Thrive! But the Mr had done ALL the reasearch, and he uses it MUCH MUCH more than me, so I thought that I should learn about it, so I could actually understand it better and use it to it's full potential! (you mean it's not just for playing Angry Birds?? lol)

What I learned:
* There are 8G,16G and 32G models. (but the memory is also expandable with an SD card!)
* Powered by Android 3.1, Honeycomb, a platform specifically designed and optimized for tablets.(and there are LOTS of Android apps available!)
* The nVIDIA Tegra 250 processor and 1gb of RAM offer FAST performance!
* 10.1 inch screen with LED backlight...exclusive adaptive display technology, which adjusts brightness and contrast to the surrounding light conditions!
* 16:10 high resolution HD display
* uses Adobe Flash! (yay!!!)
* stereo speakers (great for watching movies!), or pop in some headphones!
* 5 mp rear-facing camera / 2 mp front-facing camera (videoconferencing, Skype, etc!)
* long lasting, easily REPLACEABLE battery.
* 3 ports: USB, HDMI, and mini USB.
* interchangeable backplates in 6 pretty colours! (psst Santa, i'd love the lime green!)
* Bluetooth
* wi-fi! (my favourite!)
* GPS!

We own a few Toshiba products in our home, including 2 tvs, the thrive tablet, and now the Camileo! They are fantastic well-made products that we find stand the test of time. I'd gladly buy a Toshiba product again in the future...hmm hey Santa what about a Toshiba laptop? I've been sooo good!

Will you be putting a Toshiba product under the tree this year?

For more information make sure to stop by the Toshiba Canada website! or join in the conversation on Facebook and Twitter!

** Disclosure: I am participating in the Toshiba Brand Ambassador program by ShesConnected. I received a Toshiba Camileo in exchange for my participation in this campaign. The opinions on this blog are my own. **

Day 4 with Timmy Tinsel

2011-12-12T01:14:00.000-05:00

The antics continue!
We're really enjoying Timmy's short stay with us this holiday season! Each morning, we're so curious to see what Timmy has been up to overnight!
This morning we awoke to find that Timmy was camping out in under our Christmas tree in a GroovyGirls sleeping bag in a GroovyGirls tent. He'd borrowed the Playmobil campfire cooking set and the woodchopping set and had obviously worked his Elf-y magic because he'd toasted a couple marshmallow on toothpicks!

Our Coffee Dash and the Hunt for #Equal Canada (#CBias)

2011-12-11T23:54:00.001-05:00

It's been a crazy week around here, and the mr has been working A LOT. But we found some free time (kid-free!!) this morning to hit the mall for a bit and try to nail down some Christmas presents! Now normally i am REALLY not a fan of shopping on weekends, ESPECIALLY during the holiday season, but it was a sunny day and i needed some cafffeination ASAP!

We are blessed (depending on how you look at it! lol) to have a major mall less than a 2 minute drive from our house. So off we went and immediately bee-lined to the fancy new Starbucks! It was crazy busy, but i was actually thankful for the line so that i could snap some pics!

While in line, there was lots of discussion as to what we were going to treat ourselves to. Decisions! Decisions! So many wonderful holiday choices! The red velvet whoopie pies? slice of gingerbread loaf? ginger molasses cookie? By the time we got to the counter, which was really only about 3-ish minutes, we had finally decided. I decided upon the ginger molasses cookie, and my FAVOURITE holiday drink: a grande Joy tea! The mr was going to get his regular ol' Pike Place blend coffee and a ginger molasses cookie too! He had to get the cookie because i told him i don't share! (he'll never learn! lol)

We got our order and quickly went to doctor up our drinks. And there it was! VOILA! The Equal!! Infact, we were surprised at just how many choices there were! Kudos to Starbucks for realizing people want CHOICE!
The mr is a good ol' double-double guy, and i normally fix my joy tea up with a bit of sweetness and cinnamon. Today I decided to use the Equal because I had finally found it! (well, that and umm..well..my waistline ain't pretty!). It was super yum!

When finished, we noticed there were still no seats available! We really needed to sit and discuss the logistics of our shopping trip. Where we were headed, and for who, etc etc. With the mall this busy we needed a PLAN! Finally, a couple was leaving, so we rushed over to snatch their table! When we sat down I went to fill out the comment card I had grabbed but realized when i turned it over that there was info to tell you what store location you were visiting (etc), and then directing you to their website to share your thoughts. So i'd have to do that when i got home.

So after we gobbled up our de-lish(!!) cookies and made our plans, off we headed to brave the stores and make those holiday purchases! The little stop was JUST what we needed to energize us! I'm quite a fan of this new location, and I must say it's fantastic having TWO starbucks just minutes from your home! Oh! and now I can tell everyone that they carry Equal!

* For more information, be sure to check out the Equal website, @EqualCanada twitter page and Equal Canada on Facebook.

*Disclosure - This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All thoughts/opinions above are honest and my own. My thanks to #CBias and #EqualCanada for this opportunity.*

We've been JibJab'd!

2011-12-11T15:59:00.000-05:00

I absolutely LOVE to visit JibJab every year to see what kind of crazy video they have for the holiday season. Here's this years, starring US! Hope you enjoy! (and PLEASE let me know if you do it too!)

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Day 3 with Timmy Tinsel

2011-12-10T23:48:00.000-05:00

Well, today was a pretty tame day here with Timmy Tinsel.
We really weren't sure what to expect after yesterday's TP'ing of the tree! lol.
But thankfully this morning we awoke to find Timmy 'riding' on our big stuffie Rudolph! *Phew!*

I hosted a Thomas #MegaBloksParty!

2011-12-10T22:36:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, thanks to MomSelect and MommyParties, I got to throw a Thomas & Friends Mega Bloks Party! Here's a peek into the excitement and fun that was going on at my house!

When my kit arrived last month i could hardly believe my eyes! It contained everything i needed for this party (minus the food and kids! lol).

It contained:

- Day at the Dieselworks (host gift)

- 5x Thomas at the Races sets

- 5x Diesel at the Dieselworks sets

- Thomas & Friends DVD

- Lots of Thomas MegaBloks coupons

- ballots for the raffle prize!

Luckily my guests arrived at pretty much the same time, so I could hand out the sets and we could get the FUN started! The kids attending ranged in age from 2-6, and though the kits were for 3+ the young one was closely supervised.

(connecting the thomas set to the host gift!)

So we opened the packages and got to it! The kids needed a bit of help because there were stickers to apply(and unfortunately there really wasn't much instruction for where to put those, you had to look closely at the pictures).

( connecting the Thomas and the Diesel set!)

The Diesel and Thomas kits were very neat products. The storage container holds all the pieces until you're ready to play, then you just open it up, dump it out and flip the container over and it's a 'mountain' track for the trains to slide down! When you're done, just pop it all back into the container and close! So convenient to take along with you!

( here are 2 of the upside down container tracks! so easy! )

Halfway through the party, we stopped to serve snacks. I'm glad that i chose mini muffins and juiceboxes because the kids did NOT want to stop playing! Most just grabbed a muffin, popped it in and went back to playing! lol.

( Thomas MegaBloks are great for girls too! )

( The dvd was played over and over, and was a BIG HIT! )

The parents were all excited by how well the kids kept playing. The Mega Bloks really held their attention! They just kept interchanging and re-arranging the pieces to see what could be created next! In fact the party went on for longer than I expected, but it was great to catch up with a couple good friends!

For more information on the products seen here, and other Mega Bloks products, be sure to check out the Mega Bloks Website! or visit them on Twitter, and Facebook!

* Thanks so much to MomSelect and Mega Bloks for this cool opportunity! And giving me the kit in exchange for review. The above opinions are mine, yours may differ! *

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (wii game review)

2011-12-10T13:11:00.000-05:00

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked is a full-body motion-based dance experience on Kinect for Xbox 360 and Wii™ that is fun for all ages. Players can choose to dance to multiple routines as their favorite ‘Munk (Alvin, Simon, and Theodore) or Chipette (Brittany, Eleanor, and Jeanette), while earning more points if they can dance on the beat. In addition, players who fill their “Munk Power” meter are then able to perform ultra-cool dance moves that electrify the crowd.

“A terrific soundtrack and dynamic play mechanic puts players right on stage with The Chipmunks and The Chipettes in an experience that continues the storyline of the upcoming blockbuster movie,” said Jesse Sutton, CEO, Majesco Entertainment. “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked delivers a fun and engaging full-featured experience that is perfect for the entire family to enjoy.”

The game is based on the forthcoming Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked movie in theaters December 16th, which finds the trio vacationing aboard a luxury cruise liner until they become ‘chipwrecked’ on a remote island. The Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked video game continues the story with an around-the-world journey that has the ‘Munks visiting six tropical locations inspired by the movie. While dancing as the playable Chipmunks or The Chipettes, players perform more than 50 different dance moves to excite the crowd while rocking out to 30 of the greatest Chipmunk tunes that all generations can enjoy together.

“The music of Alvin and the Chipmunks has always been a great way for families to come together, and a huge high note for the blockbuster film franchise,” said Jeffrey Godsick, President of Fox Consumer Products. “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked is the perfect vehicle for fans to become immersed in the energetic, musical world of The Chipmunks leading up to the film’s release next month.”

Full Music Track List Includes:

- All Day and All of the Night
- All Star
- Beat It
- Bring It On
- California Dreamin’
- Crocodile Rock
- Hit Me With Your Best Shot
- I Fought The Law
- It’s Tricky
- Just Like Heaven
- Karma Chameleon
- Kids In America
- La Bamba
- Life Is A Highway
- Love Shack (w/ The Chipettes)
- Oh Pretty Woman
- Only Want to Be With You
- Play That Funky Music Chipmunk
- Shake Your Groove Thing
- Stayin’ Alive
- Surfin’ Safari
- The Chipmunk Song
- Turn the Beat Around (w/ The Chipettes)
- Video Killed the Radio Star
- Walkin’ On The Sun
- We’re the Chipmunks (Deetown Remix)
- Whip It
- Witch Doctor
- You Really Got Me
- You Spin Me ‘Round

Thoughts from Home of OHM:
This quickly became one of our FAVOURITE video games! When we first got it in for review, the girls squealed and begged to play. They were a little nervous at first to be dancing while others watched(awaiting their turn!) but quickly they got sucked in and were rocking it out to some absolutely FANTASTIC songs. We've also taken it to family games night, and quickly the teenagers even got into the game! It was really amazing to see! Even though the game is rated 10+, Orangie has been playing it even more than her older sister, and she's only 7! I highly recommend this game to anyone who wants to get active and have some dancing fun! It's a great game for the family to play together! Definitely a solid Christmas gift idea!

Developed by Behaviour Interactive, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked is rated E10+ and now available on Kinect for Xbox 360 for a suggested retail price of $39.99, and on Wii™ and Nintendo DS™ for a suggested retail price of $29.99.

To watch the launch trailer and find out more, please visit http://www.chipwreckedgame.com/.

* We were sent a copy of the game for free in exchange for our honest review. Your opinion may differ! *

Day 2 with Timmy Tinsel

2011-12-09T23:56:00.000-05:00

Well, after the crying fiasco of day 1, I really wasn't too sure how day 2 was going to go. BUT when we woke in the morning and went downstairs, our eyes bugged out of our heads and laughter ensued...Timmy Tinsel had TP'd our Christmas tree!!!

It then became a day filled with many, MANY questions about why and how and well 80 billion other questions about Timmy doing this to our tree! (thankfully Orangie went to school in there or well i think i would have gone CRAZY!). When I popped into the hallway after school, i overheard Orangie very excitedly chattering with about 5 other grade 2'ers about Timmy's antics and what another kids elf had been up to! She also said that she'd been telling the teacher about Timmy and she thought Timmy was pretty funny. It's just so fantastic to see the joy that Timmy is bringing to the girls. I think it'll be 2 solid weeks of 'What will Timmy do Next?!'.

Nature Clean - review

2011-12-09T22:18:00.000-05:00

Natureclean® is about caring for your family's health, it's about the passion we feel for protecting our natural world, and it's about loving ourselves enough to use safer products. Enjoy!

Our goal is to create healthier, non-toxic alternatives for the products that are used in homes daily. We are a 100% Canadian, third generation, family run company dedicated to providing safer consumer household products. We promise to provide...

* Full disclosure of ingredients on all packaging
* Safer formulas for you, your family and our environment
* Ingredients that have been reviewed against European Standards set by the International Agency for Research on Cancer

We're also incredibly proud of our heritage and love telling people that our products are manufactured and packaged in Canada. Making us a locally owned company, helping to employ Canadians and producing Canadian made products.

My Thoughts:

I had the opportunity to review the 3x concentrated liquid laundry and the sensitive body bar. Well actually let me try that again, I HAD the opportunity to review them until my mother found out that I had them and she begged me to give them to her to try! lol.
My mom is ALWAYS on the lookout for natural, eco-friendly products..ESPECIALLY ones that do not contain Sodium Lauryl Sulphate! She also has EXTREMELY sensitive skin, that gets very angry looking, peels, etc at the slightest trigger. I was honestly surprised when she had nothing but great things to say about both products. There is always something wrong! *eye roll*...BUT, she said that they did their jobs well, and caused her NO issues! She liked the light natural orange scent of the laundry soap. She was also very happy about how easily available they were for her to buy, and affordable too! She will definitely be a repeat customer!

For more information please check out : Nature Clean Living website.
They're also on Facebook, and Twitter!

* I received these products for free in exchange for my honest review. Your opinion may differ. *

Dec 07 - Elf on a Shelf is here!

2011-12-08T22:36:00.001-05:00

So today we have a new guest in our home....Timmy Tinsel!

So Day 1 begins with Timmy Tinsel showing up in our poinsettia(with his story of course!). So after the girls got home from school, we introduced them to our holiday guest. They both knew exactly who he was, as they had just seen the tv movie a couple nights prior at their dads house. So we settled in to read the story, and discuss all the logistics like giving him a name(which of course we settled on Timmy Tinsel!). Then chaos settled in when Orangie realized that come Christmas Eve Timmy would be going home to Santa's house until next holiday season. Well that certainly did NOT go over well!! But we just kept saying over and over how we need to enjoy our time together super duper much so he'll come back again next year, and how we'll take lots of pictures, and how he WILL come back again next year, etc etc etc.

We then moved on to tree decorating, and then dinner, and then watching Prep and Landing!

It was a great night! We can't wait to see what antics Timmy gets into tonight!

Dinosaur Train: T Rex Tales, review

2011-12-07T23:36:00.000-05:00

Get on board the Dinosaur Train with Buddy, an adorable dinosaur, and his adoptive Pteranodon family as they embark on nine whimsical voyages in the Dinosaur Train: T-REX TALES DVD available from PBS Home Video and Paramount Home Entertainment. In these special adventures, Buddy travels to Rexville, home of the Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaurs, and learns that he too is a Tyrannosaurus!

Kids can learn fun and fascinating new facts about the dinosaurs while traveling through prehistoric jungles, swamps, volcanoes and oceans. “Dinosaur Train” embraces and celebrates the fascination that preschoolers have with both dinosaurs and trains while encouraging basic scientific thinking and skills. Perfectly timed to the holiday gift-giving season, the DINOSAUR TRAIN: T-REX TALES DVD includes a bonus holiday episode, interactive games, coloring pages, Dr. Scott’s Segments and a reference guide for parents.

Dinosaur Train - T-Rex Tales includes...

1. I'm a T-Rex! - Buddy travels to Rexville on the Dinosaur Train and meets Delores Tyrannosaurus and her daughter Annie. When he sees that he shares all the same features, Buddy learns that he is a Tyrannosaurus rex!

2. Armored Like an Ankylosaurus - The kids travel on the Dinosaur Train with Mr. Pteranodon to see his hero, Hank Ankylosaurus, play a game of Dinoball. Afterwards, they even get to play with Hank and learn what it's like to be a dinosaur that is covered with armored plates and has a mighty club for a tail.
3. T-Rex Teeth - When Buddy loses a tooth, Mom takes him to Rexville to ask his Tyrannosaurus friends all about T-Rex teeth. They explain that he'll grow new teeth to replace the old ones.
4. Buddy Explores the Tyrannosaurs - Buddy, an adopted T. rex, wishes he knew more about his T. rex ancestors. So, Dad takes him and Tiny on the Dinosaur Train back to the early Cretaceous, to visit an ancestor: an earlier version of Tyrannosaurus rex called Raptorex.
5. T-Rex Migration - Buddy and Tiny go to visit their friend Annie Tyrannosaurus and discover she isn't home, so they follow clues and find her on a migration with her family.
6. Play Date with Annie - Buddy is excited that his friend Annie Tyrannosaurus is coming to the Pteranodon nest to visit and play. After Tiny feels left out, Buddy and Annie show her that they can all be friends!
7. A Spiky Tail Tale - Buddy and Tiny help settle an argument between Morris Stegosaurus and Alvin Allosaurus, two very big dinosaurs - one with a very spiky tail, the other with a mouthful of sharp teeth.
8. Big Stomping Feet - Tiny is very worried after she loses Shiny's favorite shiny shell, and enlists Dad and Buddy to help find a new one. As Tiny becomes more frantic, she begins stomping with frustration. Then the kids meet Daphne, a Daspletosaurus kid who shows them how to make stomping a fun dance instead of a temper tantrum.
9. Don's Winter Wish - When the Pteranodon family travels back to the North Pole, Don declares that it's his "winter wish" to see snow fall again. When a big blizzard comes, and even the Dinosaur Train gets snowed in, Don worries that his wish brought the blizzard.

Street Date: November 29th, 2011
Specifications: Widescreen with Dolby Digital English Stereo and English SDH subtitles
Rating: U.S. – Not Rated; Canada – G
Runtime: Approximately 115 minutes
SRP: $12.99 U.S.; $13.99 Canada

Our Thoughts:
I thought that my youngest daughter, 7, was a bit too old for Dinosaur Train when I received it for review, but i still had a bit of hope...When she saw the package she was eager to watch it! So we put it in, even with big sister around...and it was a hit!! I admit that I found the theme song RATHER catchy, and instantly fell in love with the cute characters! I miss the days of watching PBS with my little girls, so it was really nice that we were all able to sit down and enjoy this together..we even watched it all in one sitting! I highly recommend Dinosaur Train for toddlers to kindergarteners. It's fun AND educational!

* Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of Dinosaur Train: T-Rex Tales on DVD for review purposes. All opinions are honest and my own. *

Wordless Wednesday - Nativity!

2011-12-07T10:21:00.002-05:00

I can't even think of how long i have wanted a nativity in my home...well ok, since i moved out..but i wanted a cool one, and nothing struck me as 'perfect' until I saw someone who had one from Playmobil.
And this year, i FINALLY got one! :)
(it's not fully set up yet, it's just on the box in a corner until the rest of the christmas stuff finds a spot etc, but it's out and the girls love it...and i have a feeling that one day i'll look over and santa and who knows what else will be apart of it from the other playmobil set..lol)

*..and wow, this was soooo not wordless, but i tried! *

Do you have a nativity? what's is yours? or from where? tell me it's story! <3

Dec 05 - tree trimming

2011-12-06T17:02:00.001-05:00

Last night we finally had plans to get the tree all decorated. Slight damper was that Hero had a big ol' fever and was REALLY not feeling well(seems like 24 hr flu), so she just layed on the couch and watched. Which really isn't that big of a deal because both girls have small 3 ft trees for their rooms that they decorate with their own decorations etc.
So anywho, after a nice dinner while watching Shrek the Halls(yayyyy!) here is a sneak peek at the tree..it's not fully done, but it's pretty close. Full on pic coming soon.

Is your tree up? Real or fake? themed tree or sentimental mix match? etc ..

Remembering December

2011-12-04T23:18:00.000-05:00

I have so many thoughts running around in my head, and i'm really hoping to just spew them all out here, and also throw in some cheer(like my Frosty fridge!) at the end so bear with me!

December is generally so very chaotic, and then i'll get to the end and not even have a clue what i've done over the month, and feel like such a holiday failure...so this December I'm really going to try and do as much family fun stuff as possible and blog/facebook/tweet about it so that i can look back and realize that 'no no, i did do a lot and it was great!'.

Maybe this will be the December that I can let go of a lot of the commercial insanity and bring back the family togetherness. Maybe that is why I haven't had much luck in the job hunt. Maybe i'm supposed to just learn to do with LESS(but so much more). At least I am really and truly praying that this is the case. I need it to be the case!!

It's only Dec 04th, and yet i find myself freaking out that 'IT'S GOING SO FAST!!!'. I found myself with a sinking feeling earlier when i realized that Christmas Eve is only 20 sleeps away! I just want to remember and enjoy and RELAX!

So anyways, i don't want to be a big ranty-pants, so here is what we've been up to since Dec 1st:

Thurs Dec 1st - I was so glad that the Christmas play was over at church, so Orangie's thursday afterschool program at the church is on hiatus. We came home and PLAYED. We pulled out one a box that had items for the girls to review and we just sat and created and it was wonderful. As a special Dec 1st snack I made them some GREEN hot chocolate! (i found this mix in November at Winners)..i didn't really like it, but the girls thought it was fabulous!

Fri Dec 2nd - Picked the girls up from school and we were off to the Mr's family in Kitchener. So nice to just hang out and have family game night. We brought the new Chipmunks: Chipwrecked for Wii with us and the kids had a blast dancing the night away. Oh and as always there was a crazy big game of Apples to Apples! I was very happy that my Starbucks birthday freebie postcard came in so I redeemed it that night for a Venti Salted Caramel Mochaccino..I made it just past the half-way point and thought i was going to die. It was good, but OH SO SWEET and heavy! Such a glutton for punishment!!

Sat Dec 03rd - the girls were with their dad all day, and i had a party to throw for a review in the morning, but we picked the kids up at 4 and it was a rare treat to head back to Kitchener again for another family game night! This time the kids(and me!) sat down to check out the Smurf movie! <3 I totally forgot how much i LOVE this movie. I absolutely adore Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays in it! (we also had another big Apples to Apples game, and other assorted fun)

Sun Dec 04th - Today was a day for slowing down and getting some crafting done! The girls and I started out with a weird packing peanut craft fiasco, so that was scrapped and we moved onto decorating their tree stars from IKEA(the girls each have their own Christmas trees for their bedrooms). We also popped open another box of crafty goodness that the girls need to review and had some fun with that for a while! Then I saw something on Pinterest that absolutely needed to be re-created in our kitchen! Frosty fridge! Throw in some helping the girls with homework and some cooking in the kitchen, and you had my somewhat relaxing and fun day! <3 (shown is Orangie's tree star, as Hero's star was all about her name! lol)

If you made it this far, thank you so much. I appreciate you. Happy December! <3

Wordless Wednesday - Christmas crafting!

2011-11-29T23:24:00.001-05:00

(I'll keep it short since i am really not feeling so hot at the moment)

I had an awesome day catching up with an old friend from highschool while we had some fun crafting!

We made a bunch of Christmas magnets and gnomes!

LOVE!

*OH! and today(nov 30th) may or may not be a special day...*cough* my birthday *cough* Oh man, that was totally shameless! lol. *

Mr. Poppers Penguins DVD giveaway!

2011-11-28T17:40:00.000-05:00

Enter to Win Your Very Own DVD Copy, Out on December 6!

My Strange Dad

Everyone thinks their father is strange, but it doesn’t get any stranger than when Mr. Popper inherits six penguins and turns his home into a penguin habitat. It may be unconventional, but the experience brings Mr. Popper closer to his children. In this feature, we'll examine dads in movies that do strange things and go to extreme lengths to be better dads, leading them to have a better relationship with their children. We'll include dads such as Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in The Tooth Fairy, and Tim Allen in The Santa Clause.

Jim Carrey (A Christmas Carol) stars in MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS, available on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download December 6th. The whole family will be full of laughs watching Mr. Popper, a driven businessman, inherit six adorable and mischievous penguins. As Mr. Popper quickly gets attached to his winged roommates, his life quickly unravels: the deal he’s long been working on with a formidable socialite, Mrs. Van Gundy (Angela Lansbury), is derailed and Popper almost lands in jail. While Popper’s penguins turn his swank New York apartment into a snowy winter wonderland - they teach him valuable lessons about family – human and otherwise!

Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire

After a divorce leaves him only being to see his three children once a week, Daniel (Robin Williams) sees that his ex-wife has put out an ad for a nanny. Using his skills as a voice-over actor, along his brother’s make-up and costume artistry, he answers the ad as ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ – a British nanny and housekeeper. Acting in disguise as the children’s nanny, Daniel is able to see them every day and spend time with them. Through his alter ego, Daniel is able to better himself, and ultimately ends up being able to spend time with his children as himself.

Tim Allen in The Santa Clause

As Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) attempts to spend Christmas Eve with his son, they hear noise on the roof and go to investigate. The noise turns out to be Santa Claus, and through a series of mishaps Scott reluctantly becomes Santa. Naturally, his ex-wife and her new psychiatrist husband think that Scott is completely insane and succeed in revoking his custody of their son. However, with the help of the elves in the North Pole, Scott is able to convince his ex and her husband that he is, in fact, Santa Claus and is, in turn, able to spend Christmas with his son.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in The Tooth Fairy

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stars in The Tooth Fairy as Derek, a minor league hockey player who is dating a single mother (Ashley Judd) of two young children. Unfortunately, Derek is callous towards children and steals the dollar left under his girlfriend’s daughter’s pillow for a tooth she lost. For this, he is sentenced to two weeks of duty as a tooth fairy. Through his success and hilarious failures as a tooth fairy, Derek learns the importance and value of helping children (and adults) fulfill their dreams.

Jim Carrey in Mr. Popper’s Penguins

The uptight businessman Mr. Popper (Jim Carrey) is given six penguins after his father’s death. He intends to give them away, until he discovers that his children love the penguins. Through the penguins, Mr. Popper and his children are brought together and grow very close. After the penguins lay three eggs and only two of them hatch, Mr. Popper becomes obsessed with the un-hatched egg, and when he can’t save it he gives all of the penguins to the zoo. After realizing that he let his children down, he steals the penguins back and regains his children’s love and respect.

Chevy Chase in National Lampoon’s Vacation

In a misguided effort to bond with his wife and children, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) takes his family on a cross-country road trip to visit the fictional amusement park, Walley World. Along the way, Clark encounters numerous crazy obstacles (including being stranded in the desert, a dead Aunt Edna, and Walley World being closed for repairs), but through his determination (and mild psychotic break) he is able to eventually provide his family with the quintessential – albeit slightly unorthodox – American Vacation.

and now....for the GIVEAWAY!
One lucky reader will win a copy of the Mr. Popper's Penguins dvd, and a Mr. Popper's Penguins Ice Cube Tray!
Just enter below on the Rafflecopter form (if it's not there click on 'read more').

* I received a copy of the movie and the icecube tray in exchange for posting this promotion and giveaway. Thank you so much to 20th Century Fox for this opportunity!*

bad blogger does #redcrossCPR update!

2011-11-28T17:11:00.000-05:00

The guilt was getting to me! So the event may have been Nov 16, but darnit I am gonna post about it and show you some pics! I feel it should be shared! :)

So it turns out that November is/was CPR Awareness month and the Canadian Red Cross hosted free, four hour CPR certification course for its Twitter friends! My dear friend from highschool, @jmayville, is the communications coordinator for @redcrosscanada and she always invites me to area Red Cross events that need tweeps or bloggers! (like the disaster food challenge i did in August with @_citymom) Thanks Jen! <3

I had the fantastic opportunity to help out Jen with the organization of this awesome event! and so did @diduknowcanada, another wonderful Twitter/blogger pal.

So..there were six #RedCrossCPR classes being held: Halifax, St. John’s, Edmonton, Toronto, Richmond Hill and London! It was a very educational evening, and thankfully TONS of fun too! I have a feeling that the instructor may have thought we were a tad cuckoo, but most of the tweeters at the event all knew each other, so it was a giggling good time!

Here are some shots from the evening:

* @jmayville 'choking', and getting help from the instructor *

* @ymcbookalicious doing cpr on my 'date for the evening' *

* @rossanawyatt and @inkscrblr getting ready to roll the instructor over *

* pushing the button on the AED simulation machine *

I highly recommend getting your CPR certification! I was having such a great time at the event that it didn't 'hit me' until the drive home how awesome it was that i now am certified and can SAVE someone!

FFH - One Silent Night

2011-11-25T20:05:00.000-05:00

Press Release for FFH:

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) Sept. 30, 2011– Best-selling pop group FFH will usher in the holiday season with its first Christmas album. One Silent Night, available Oct. 18, is a mix of original songs and Christmas classics.

Produced by FFH founding member Jeromy Deibler, One Silent Night has been four years in the making. Giving in to the persistent appeals of loyal fans, FFH has crafted a project worthy of your holiday music collection.

Listeners will recognize favorites like “Winter Wonderland,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” and “Jingle Bell Rock,” among others, while being introduced to new tracks including “The Birthday of a King,” “Glorious Impossible,” and “One Silent Night.”

Deibler comments, “We just feel blessed to be able to make this record and wanted to do the kind of Christmas music we like to listen to, something that’s not trendy but more of a classic style. For us Christmas is about remembering… slowing down to see what is important. And being reminded of the glorious impossible that was the birth of Christ. We hope this album reflects that desire and inspires others to do the same.”

FFH plans to support the album with singles “One Silent Night” and “Baby It’s Cold Outside” to radio Oct. 1 as well as select tour dates in November and December.

About FFH:

Pop vocal group FFH has released thirteen projects, sold more than two million albums, and garnered 24 radio hits, including seven No. 1 singles and ten Top 5 radio singles. In addition to multiple Dove Award nominations, FFH has been recognized at the Inspirational Life Awards as well as the Billboard Music Video Awards. The group has performed more than 1000 dates since 2000 and continues to be a favorite on the tour circuit. FFH is also known for its work with the “Make-A-Wish Foundation,” Kurt Warner’s “First Things First Foundation,” and for its contributions to national ad campaigns for Coca Cola and IBM.

Website: http://ffh.net/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FFHmusic
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/FFHMusic
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/one-silent-night/id474548207

My Thoughts:

This cd is absolutely a joy to listen to. It is the most played holiday cd in my house right now. There isn't a song on it that I don't love hearing. Their voices work so well together, and are just so warm and wonderful.
My very favourite song though is definitely 'Baby, it's cold outside', I always love to hear different takes on it. I can't believe that i haven't heard of FFH before, and will be on the lookout for more of their music. I imagine it will impress just as much as this album!

Win It!
One lucky reader will win a download copy of FFH's One Silent Night.
Just enter on the Rafflecopter form below(and if it's not there, click on 'read more')

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services
mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I
only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:
"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Family Movie Nights - 'Game of Your Life'

2011-11-25T14:45:00.000-05:00

'Game of Your Life' Synopsis:

When industrious high school gamer Zach Taylor lands a prized scholarship to the prestigious Digital Institute of Game Design (DIGD), his future breaks wide open. The opportunity to study under gaming legend Marcus Bentton and alongside the country’s most creative minds will certainly propel him into a successful career as a video game designer. That is, if he can pass the infamous freshman project that eliminates more than half of the class within the first three months.

Paired with brilliant yet socially awkward teammates Phillip and Donald, the trio persuades Sara Ramirez – a determined and striking team leader with whom Zach has a history (and possibly a future) – to join their team. Working off-campus in the teched-out Lincoln Alley loft, the four set out to involve the entire campus in a quirky new social interactive game. But as the group becomes entrenched in the project, Zach learns that his father Billy, a widower, is facing growing financial woes at home. To help out, Zach accepts an opportunity to work directly with Marcus Bentton on a secretive side project that seems too good to be true. The effort requires nearly all of Zach’s time and energy, which he should be devoting to the project. Struggling to keep it together, Zach is torn between his responsibility to his team, his admiration for Bentton and a chance to help his father.

Everything comes to a breaking point when Zach’s team threatens to remove him from the group and the deceptive truth behind Bentton’s project comes to light. With the guidance of Professor Abbie Lambert, Zach must make a decision that not only affects his future, but the lives and livelihoods of the people around him as well. It’s a revealing story that recognizes the magnitude behind the choices we make and the importance loyalty plays in making good decisions.

My Thoughts:

I sat down to watch this last night with my 11 yr old DD, I figured that she's an avid 'gamer' and we were in need of some together time, and what better way to than by watching a Family Movie Night movie. I admit that i had concerns because it takes place in college, but should have known better because these movies are ALWAYS family friendly, with nothing questionable in them.
My daughter was more than happy to watch the movie with me when she spotted Nathan Kress(Freddie on iCarly) about 5 minutes in! lol.
We had a great time watching the movie, and i honestly think that I'll let her stay up 'late' to watch it again when it airs Friday Dec 02nd! Yet another great Family Movie Night movie!

For More Info:

Website: http://www.familymovienight.com/game-of-your-life/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/familymovienight
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/fmnib

Game of Your Life - Talks with Nathan from Moms4FamilyTV.com on Vimeo.

Wordless Wednesday - my car Rudolph!

2011-11-22T20:45:00.000-05:00

* woohooo! my cute little car got in the Christmas spirit today! *

(unfortunately it doesn't fly though)

Mastermind Toys / Make a Wish: Be A Star!

2011-11-22T18:48:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to share an amazing campaign that is going on with Mastermind Toys and Make A Wish Foundation this holiday season!

How it works:
For every new Facebook fan we acquire, Mastermind Toys will donate $1 to the Make A Wish Foundation Canada. Our goal is to donate $10,000 by December 23rd, 2011! We are kicking off the campaign on October 31, 2011 on our Facebook Page with a $0.50 per Facebook Fan we already have.

About Be A Star:
The Mastermind Be a Star campaign is in its 10th year, and together with our customers we have raised over $800,000 for children’s charities. All donations go directly to the charities, this is the first year we have brought this program online through our Facebook campaign.

How can you help?:
Just a simple click on the “like” button on the Mastermind Toys Facebook Page will result in a $1 donation made to Make-a-Wish Canada! That's it!

Bonus!:
Mastermind Toys is also running a sweepstakes draw for a $1000 shopping spree at Mastermind Toys to thank their fans for their loyalty and participation on their facebook page!! Can you imagine winning that?!
After you click 'like', make sure you click on the 'promotions' tab on the sidebar and enter that giveaway!

About Mastermind Toys:
Mastermind Toys is Canada’s Premier Specialty Toy Retailer. Mastermind prides itself in offering the highest quality and most play-worthy toys available today. Our knowledgeable sales staff is ready to help you find the perfect toy whether you’re in one of our stores or online. Not only do we have high quality toys, we also offer our complimentary gift wrapping service online as well as in our stores. At Mastermind Toys, we know the way kids play!

For more information on Mastermind Toys, visit our website.
Visit Make a Wish Canada.
Like Mastermind on Facebook.
Follow Mastermind on Twitter

* This post was sponsored by Mastermind Toys, but i was more than happy to participate anyways because i believe in this cause and i LOVE Mastermind Toys. *

Little Remedies - review and giveaway

2011-11-18T10:28:00.000-05:00

The timing of this review for me couldn't have come at a better time. If you follow me, you'll know that Orangie has been fighting 'the sick' for about a month!(update: she is FINALLY healthy and happy again!)
With her having a recurring fever, I was thankful I had Little Fevers by Little Remedies in our medicine cabinet!

Little Remedies INFANT Fever/Pain Reliever:
– Flow restrictor bottle and new special dosing syringe
– Dye free; gluten free
– New natural grape flavor as well as natural cherry
– Weight and age-based dosing instructions on package
– Suggested retail price for a 2-ounce liquid bottle is $6.79.

Little Remedies CHILDREN'S Fever/Pain Reliever:
– Flow restrictor bottle and dosing cup
– Dye free; gluten free
– New natural grape flavor as well as natural cherry
– Weight-based dosing instructions on package
– Suggested retail price for a 4-ounce liquid bottle is $7.99.

I found the product EASY to use. I LOVE LOVE the flow restrictor bottle! There's no sticky mess anymore! I also love that it's dye free! The weight-based dosing instructions are easy to read/easy to follow!
And there was no arguing or fuss because Orangie thought it tasted great!

WIN IT!

One lucky reader (US only, sorry) will win a package with both the Infant and the Childrens Little Fevers!

Just enter below on the Rafflecopter form (if it's not there click on 'read more').

* I received sample product for review. This in no way influenced my opinion. I received no monetary compensation. *

Christmas Lodge dvd - review and giveaway

2011-11-18T00:56:00.000-05:00

About the Movie:
Thomas Kinkade presents Christmas Lodge: a place where a heart-warming past and loving future meet for one remarkable group of people. During a weekend trip to the mountains, Mary (Erin Karpluk) finds herself at the now- dilapidated lodge where she spent the holidays with her family growing up. She becomes determined to restore the building to its former glory. Inspired by her grandfather and guided by her grandmother in heaven, Mary throws herself into the project, and during the process finds herself drawn to Jack (Michael Shanks), a handsome man who loves the lodge as much as she does. Historically unlucky in love, this chance encounter allows Mary to renew her faith in life and discover her one true love. For an uplifting story about the importance of faith, family and the true holiday spirit, go to the Christmas Lodge.

I had my wonderful friend Leah take a look at this movie for me! (Thanks so much Leah!!)
Here is what she had to say:
"I LOVE Christmas! One of the things I look forward to every year is watching Christmas movies!!! New and old! I was excited when my friend Christy asked me to watch Thomas Kinkade's "Christmas Lodge" for her and do a review. Thank you Christy!
I absolutely love this movie! I especially love the message about the importance of family, helping each other out, not giving up your dreams, and having faith in God. It's a very clean movie! It's appropriate for all ages!
The only thing I wish is that the other children, besides the main girl, were more involved in this movie! I love watching Christmas movies that involve young and old because Christmastime is about bringing family and friends together, including children!!! The main characters of this movie are nine adults and one girl! There are other children in the movie but they don't have any lines and only appear for a few seconds/minutes.
But other than that, "Christmas Lodge" is a great movie and I love it!"

Watch the Trailer:

Win it!
One lucky reader will win their own copy of the Christmas Lodge dvd!
Just enter on the rafflecopter form below!(if it's not there, click on 'read more')

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services
mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I
only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:
"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Wordless Wednesday - Noro Scarf

2011-11-15T23:55:00.000-05:00

Nothing too exciting this time around..I just wanted to share what i've been working on in my down time lately. I had been working on a project with this wool last year, but ripped it out the other day, and now it's becoming this scarf..i think i might like it when done..i hope.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 - widget and giveaway!

2011-11-15T12:50:00.001-05:00

The final face-off between good and evil is finally upon us as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is released on DVD November 11, 2011, just in time for the holidays! Join Harry, Ron and Hermione as they do battle against Voldemort in the epic conclusion to the film series everyone is talking about!

1. Take The Harry Potter Trivia Quiz! Are you an expert in all things Potter? Test your knowledge in our trivia quiz! Discover if you are an expert or a novice by challenging your skills! The results might surprise you!

2. Discover The Harry Potter Buzz Portal! Are you hungry for the latest in all things Potter? The Harry Potter Buzz Portal will give you real time updates on the trending Harry Potter topics from Facebook and Twitter. Plus, you can share your top three tips to having the ultimate Harry Potter party!

Now for the GIVEAWAY!! woohooo! One of my lucky readers will win a copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 on dvd!

Just take the quiz and enter below on the rafflecopter! (if rafflecopter isn't there, click on 'read more'.)

* Thank you to PartnersHub for providing me with this info and giveaway! I will receive a free copy of the dvd in exchange for posting this widget and giveaway. *

KidzMed VeraTemp No-Contact Thermometer

2011-11-14T12:29:00.001-05:00

I recently had the opportunity to receive a Kidz Med Vera Temp Non-Contact Thermometer to review.
WOW, it couldn't have come at a better time! If you follow me on the web, you know that Orangie has been sick off and on for almost a MONTH now! She's just getting over Strep right now. So this thermometer sure got a work-out!!
I can honestly say that this is my absolute FAVOURITE thermometer. I'm surprised that the batteries haven't worn out yet because yes, we've used it THAT much! There are so many uses! You can check for fever(body temp), surface temperature, room temperature, temperature of your coffee, baby's bottle, or bathwater, or even your dear hamster Yoshi! lol. Yes it's true, we even took the hamsters temperature! It's also easy enough that everyone here could use, and they did! Orangie(7) was always asking if she could take the thermometer and 'shoot someone/something'. I had to explain that probably wasn't the best way to phrase that!
I loved that i could tiptoe quietly into Orangie's room and take her temp without disturbing her late at night. It gave me peace of mind knowing how she was before i went to bed.
I highly recommend this thermometer!

“Comprised of the most advanced technology in thermometry known today, the NEW Kidz-Med VeraTemp™ Non-Contact provides Mom’s with the comfort of using a trusted device at a time when reliability is essential. This "no-touch" thermometer’s proven accuracy, ease-of-use and instant reading ability eliminates any uneasiness that comes along with obtaining the temperature of an infant or toddler.”

* more accurate than a rectal, oral or ear thermometer
* No need to touch, startle, upset or wake your child completely touch free!
* Pediatrician recommended
* Proven accuracy
* Safe, hygienic and easy to use
* Instant reading: measures temperature in the time it takes you to press the button!
* Back-lit LED display, take temperature in the dark while child is sleeping
* No probe covers needed
* Multi-Use: measures any temp. incl. core body temperature, nursery, bath, formula, food
* Celsius or Fahrenheit
* Affordable
* built in memory records last 32 readings
* battery-saving auto-off feature

1. Orangie has a fever - it's RED
2. Orangie has a low fever - it's YELLOW
3. My temp is normal - it's GREEN
(sorry, i changed between Celcius and Farenheit!)

Buy It:
The Kidz Med VeraTemp No Contact Thermometer can be purchased for $39.88 at Amazon.com
More info on where to buy HERE.

Win It!
One of my lucky readers will win a Kidz Med Non-Contact Thermometer!
Just enter below on the rafflecopter form!(if it's not there click on 'read more')

* I received the product for my honest review, no other compensation was nor will be received. All opinions are 100% our own. *

Mr.Popper's Penguins - activity sheets

2011-11-14T10:26:00.001-05:00

What’s Black and White and Blu all over?

Debuting on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download December 6!

Just in time for the holidays, enjoy Jim Carrey (A Christmas Carol) in MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS, on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download on December 6th from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. The whole family will be full of laughs watching Mr. Popper, a driven businessman who is clueless when it comes to the important things in life until he inherits six, “adorable” and mischievous penguins.

As Mr. Popper quickly gets acquainted with – and increasingly attached to – his winged roommates, his life quickly unravels: the deal he’s long been working on with a formidable socialiate, Mrs. Van Gundy, played by the acclaimed Angela Lansbury (Murder She Wrote, Beauty and the Beast), is derailed and Popper almost lands in jail. While Popper’s penguins turn his swank New York apartment into a snowy winter wonderland - they teach him valuable lessons about family- human and otherwise!

MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS is based on a novel, originally published in 1938, written by the husband and wife team of Richard and Florence Atwater. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1939, Mr. Popper’s Penguins became a classic through generations, and is a staple on elementary school shelves to this day. The Blu-ray and DVD bonus feature “The Legacy of Mr. Popper’s Penguins” highlights literary experts and family of Richard and Florence Atwater telling the fascinating story behind the story.

From the director of Freaky Friday and Mean Girls, and the producer of Gulliver’s Travels and the Garfield franchise, MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS will be available on December 6, 2011 on Blu-ray, DVD, digital download and a limited edition MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS gift pack that includes the DVD and TY Beanie Plush Penguin – perfect gift for the holiday! The Blu-ray and DVD also feature a never-before-seen animated short, “Nimrod & Stinky’s Antartic Adventure,” in which Zookeeper Nat Jones flies to the antarctic determined to get Popper's Penguins back. The penguins, led by Nimrod and Stinky, outsmart him once again.

** Don't forget to keep reading 'Home of OHM' for your chance to win a copy of this fantastic DVD! (coming soon!) **

Saturday Share - on sunday night

2011-11-13T22:57:00.000-05:00

oopsie. bad blogger! totally forgot to share on saturday!

1. 'Blind Kitty' - this was supposed to be a birthday gift for me..glad we opened it a bit early! needless to say, we're chatting it up with customer service over this one. can we have one WITH eyes please?

2. Gorgeous shot of the sky here one evening, i believe that was the night before the first snow...which luckily melted, i wasn't ready to hibernate yet! ;)

3. Knitting at the market on Saturday mornings has started up again! yipppeeeee!

4. Finished my first project of the season. A very colourful wash cloth!

5. 2nd project? I'm working on a scarf with wonderful Noro Aya wool.

6. A cute little Curious George birthday card i whipped up!

7. I added pumpkin pie spice to the coffee...too much. It was drinkable, but also a learning experience! lol

8. Pretty bracelet that Orangie made for me! I absolutely LOVE it.(i think she still wants to add cheezy horse-y charms to it, but i think i may convince her otherwise, i love it as-is!!)

Thanks for stopping in! Hope you enjoyed! :)

My DD's Rememberance Day Poem

2011-11-12T15:12:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to share a poem that Hero(11) wrote for Rememberance Day. So proud! She got an A+.

Revolution Worship - review and giveaway

2011-11-11T14:49:00.000-05:00

We are starting a Revolution. We are touching the poor. And we are touching a community. And we are touching a state. And we are touching a nation. And we are touching a world. And it can begin today in the form of a seed.

About Revolution Worship LIVE:
Released 10/18/11, “Revolution Worship…Live At Joy Church International”, is a tremendous Praise & Worship album with a powerfully inspiring collection of songs that is unparalleled to any other Praise & Worship series in it’s category. Filled with meaningful lyrics and sincere, personal worship, “Revolution Worship…Live At Joy Church International” masterfully demonstrates authenticity at it’s best. From fiery, electrifying tracks with edgy, rock-driven guitar to peaceful, intimate tracks, this album focuses on pointing attention to God.

And because it’s recorded live, you get to experience the congregational feel of being in a vibrant church service. Infusing musical quality with a spiritual impact that raises the bar on what to expect in new Praise & Worship music, “Revolution Worship…Live At Joy Church International” brings you a brand new worship experience. From start to finish, this release is about the act of ministering uncompromisingly God-centered music through pure, heart-felt praise!

My Thoughts:
This cd wasn't what i was expecting, i was expecting more of a Hillsong sounding cd, and this is more of a worship cd of music like i hear in church Sunday morning but a tad louder, not as peaceful/sub-dued.
And I also admit that I couldn't get past track 4 when I tried listening to it..BUT i read a review that had echoed my thoughts, and she said to push past and keep listening, that there is some good music further on. So i tried again, and she was right! I really do like a few of the later tracks! My favourite being 'None Like You'.

Check out this great 90 sec promo video for Revolution Worship:

Click here to hear samples on iTunes!
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MyWorldRevolution
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/MWRevolution

And great news! One of my lucky readers will WIN a copy of the Revolution Worship cd! Just enter on the Rafflecopter form below! (if it's missing click on 'read more')

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. All opinions are my own. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials."

Sickie-girl :(

2011-11-10T23:09:00.000-05:00

Sorry i haven't been blogging these last couple days, tomorrow is sure going to be a catch-up day i tell ya!
But if you follow me on twitter/facebook, you'll know we've been having issues this school year with Orangie(7) being sick a lot(or questionably sick), missing school, fevers, a couple trips to the dr, etc..
Well Monday night she was back to feverish again, so her dad took her to the dr on Tuesday where she found Orangie has strep throat, and has lost some weight etc..
So now that she's not contagious anymore I took her to get bloodwork done today. That went really well(phew!!), and hopefully we'll hear back soon!
We now really have to watch her food intake, plan our meals a little more intensely, change her over to homogenized milk, she has to go back to the dr in a month, and anytime she has a fever or is sick, etc.
Of course the dr's concern has me concerned, because she knows her stuff!
So if you all could pray that Orangie's blood is all good, and that she gets back to her normal self asap, that would be great. Thanks :)

Because i've been 'slacking', I've got a bunch of great giveaways coming up VERY soon, so keep checking! :)

Wordless Wednesday - tis the season!

2011-11-08T22:33:00.001-05:00

...to get back to knitting that is! woohooo! <3

(yes, i'm a seasonal knitter...just don't want to play with wool when it's scorching out! lol. Seems like more of a cozy hobby to be done in front of a fireplace with a cup of tea!)

while you're here, can i bother you to click on my facebook and 'like' me? I am SOOO close to 600 likes, so it would mean so much! ------------------------->

I was chosen!!!

2011-11-08T00:24:00.000-05:00

Tonight I got a fantastic email. I literally squee'd out loud!!

I am a Toshiba Ambassador!

This season, Mom is the Holiday Hero! And we’ll help you give the gift of technology to all the little heroes on your list. Simply check out the Toshiba Tablet or a 3D HDTV at your nearest authorized retailer, and tell us about your experience in a blog post. For your convenience, you’ll receive a Toshiba Camileo camcorder to take visual stills, record footage on your shopping trip, or record a vlog after your excursion (or a combination of the three). The Camileo, valued at $139.99, is yours to keep in appreciation of your efforts.

We’ll be selecting 44 bloggers to participate in two waves; the first posts will be due at the end of November, the second at the beginning of December.

I am shocked, and absolutely honoured to have been chosen. The ambassador program is brand spankin new to She's Connected, and to be picked up in the first round is just mind-blowing! I was looking around at some of the other 'chosen ones' and I am just in awe. I am in the midst of some big name bloggers!
I am absolutely excited to get my Camileo and assignment(s) and get out there!

Wish me luck please, because I am ~~kinda~~ extremely nervous!!!

Saturday Share

2011-11-05T22:13:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to start something new...where i share some shots on saturday! (wow S's! lol)

1. I was so excited to finally pull out the awesome EMU boots i bought in late spring for only $40!

2. Snuggling with Orangie for bedtime..the book --> 'Happy Halloween Stinky Face'. LOVE IT!!

3. Angry Bird Pumpkin i carved for Halloween.

4. Free Coffee week at McDonalds. Yup, I'm lovin it! <3

5. Awesome new to me vintage pyrex mug. Only $0.50! Sweet!

6. My brand spankin new un-released Dickies paisley bag! (thankyou Dickies, what a sweet surprise!!)

7. They're back!! Holiday wonderfulness at Starbucks!

8. Nothing better than a big ol' pot of simmering applesauce.

Thanks for popping in! Hope you enjoyed my Saturday Share!

What is He Thinking?? - review/giveaway.

2011-11-04T15:06:00.002-04:00

About the Book:
In WHAT IS HE THINKING??, Rebecca interviews a range of men from high-profile types to the guys next door, men that every woman can relate to. Although the interviews focus on single guys ages 20-35, Rebecca also includes words of wisdom from older mentors she respects who have been successfully married for years, people like her dad, life coach, and pastor.

The men share their thoughts on topics like how women can respect themselves and the men in their lives, modesty, purity, taking it slow, friendship, letting guys lead, and more. This book gives them the floor to say what they would really like women to know.

The men respond candidly to questions such as:

What is the most attractive quality to you in a woman?

Is modesty truly attractive?

Is neediness a turn-off?

What do you find beautiful?

How can we be dependent on God for our identity, not on you?

How can we help you with boundaries physically?

Rebecca also discusses her own dating life, speaking openly about the single life, her struggle with loneliness, and her hope for the future. She challenges women to see the men in their lives as brothers in Christ and to trust God with their dating lives.

About Rebecca:
Australian born Rebecca St. James is a Grammy Award winner and a multiple Dove Award recipient, with international success that has driven her record sales into the millions. In January 2008, she was named Favorite Female Artist in Contemporary Christian Music by readers of CCM Magazine for the seventh consecutive year. Rebecca also won Best Female Artist of 2007 from Christianitytoday.com-her fifth consecutive year to be given this honor. She's been involved in several film productions and voiced the character of Hope the Angel in VeggieTales' bestselling DVD production The Easter Carol.

My Thoughts:
Yup, i admit, i wanted to review this book for myself. With a failed marriage under my belt, it's obvious that i really don't know what he is thinking, and i sure don't want to screw up the relationship i have now.
And while the interviews were focused on 20-35 yr olds, I do think that it's meant for late teens to mid-20's, where the height of dating/sexual curiousity/figuring things out comes in. I love that it's a highly interesting, 'light' read, and will definitely be saving it for my daughters.

Learn more about Rebecca St. James:

Facebook (Author): http://www.facebook.com/RSJames
Facebook (Book): http://www.facebook.com/whatishethinkingRSJ
Twitter: http://twitter.com/rebeccastjames
Website: http://rsjames.com/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/rsjchannel

Link to HBG website book detail page: http://goo.gl/RTy0O
OpenBook Link: http://goo.gl/BWgEs (preview the first 10% of the book!)

WIN a copy of 'What is He Thinking' right here! Enter on the rafflecopter form below, and if it's not there click on 'read more'. Good Luck! :)

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services

mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I
only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:
“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

drive in the country - pics

2011-11-02T23:32:00.000-04:00

About a week ago, I went venturing off in the countryside with my trusty dslr..thought i should share some of my favourites. (all are un-edited, except size!)

Would love to know what you think!

Brittany Hargest - review and giveaway

2011-11-02T19:37:00.000-04:00

Four years after Hello & Goodbye, the final studio project from pop sensations Jump 5, its youngest member, Brittany Hargest, is jumping back into the spotlight with her release, Love All The Way. Don't underestimate this girl. While she clearly still knows how to have fun, she's not a newcomer, and no longer a kid. At 23, Brittany is a seasoned industry veteran and her confidence and command behind the microphone is evident. She was behind the wheel on this project, having provided writing contributions to most of the songs. Brittany's back, and Love All The Way is sure to be a hit with listeners of all ages.

While I was only vaguely familiar with Jump5, I was very eager to review this cd. I am always on the lookout for family friendly music. My daughters are 7 and 11, and well that age is rather impressionable. I first listened to the cd on a 1 hr roadtrip to visit a friend. I found it was the perfect cd for driving! It was peppy and upbeat and very very catchy! Even though it was my first time listening i had a strong desire to sing along..but needed to learn the lyrics first! lol. I think my favourite song has to be the first one 'Critical', but i truly LOVE the entire cd. Not only is it great for driving to, it's great for working out, or cleaning, etc etc. It puts you in a great mood and keeps you going! Both my daughters LOVE the cd, and have asked for it to be put on their MP3 players. LOVE IT! I recommend this cd to ANYONE who loves pop music!

Website: http://www.brittanyhargest.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/brittanyhargestmusic
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/brittanyhargest
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/brittany-hargest/id448125384
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4r4MLof_g3k

So..who wants to win a copy of this fantastic debut album?? You know you do!
Just enter below on the rafflecopter form, and if it's not there click on 'read more'.

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services
mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I
only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:
"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Mighty Macs - review

2011-11-02T17:17:00.000-04:00

'She dared to dream. They dared to believe.'

ABOUT THE MOVIE:

It's 1971. Cathy Rush is a woman ahead of her time ... and she's about to embark on an adventure for the ages. A new era is dawning in the country and in collegiate athletics, where a national champion will be crowned for the first time in women's basketball.
In the lead up to this historical season, major universities are preparing their game plans to win that first title. Meanwhile a tiny all-women's Catholic college in Philadelphia has a more modest goal: find a coach before the season begins. Providentially, Cathy Rush is about to find Immaculata College.
Recently married, Cathy is dealing with the aftermath of a truncated playing career. While cultural norms would have her staying at home, she's willing to do the hard work necessary to help her new team reach their goals—or perhaps she's just trying to achieve her unfulfilled dreams through them.
From the beginning, her challenges are as imposing as the big-school teams Immaculata will face on the court. Cathy learns there is no gymnasium on campus, she receives little support from the school's Mother Superior, and the school is in dire financial straits. To top it off, she may not even have enough players to field a team!
While it appears the Macs don't have a prayer, all hope is not lost. With the help of Sister Sunday—a spunky assistant coach—and the support of a booster club of elderly nuns, Coach Rush creates a new game plan that just might bring the team—and the school—together.
Will this pioneer buck cultural norms and spur her rag-tag team to unexpected heights? Or will her hard-driving ways create a wedge between the coach and everyone around her? One thing's for certain: there's never been anyone like Cathy Rush at Immaculata!

My Thoughts:
I was VERY excited to review this movie. I'd seen the preview on one of my past review movies, and was eagerly waiting for it to come out.
I decided to watch this movie in bed late at night, I admit i was worried that i was sleepy and might fall asleep..but WOW, this movie was absolutely grabbing! It was such a feel good movie, and had me glued right from the beginning! It's G-rated(family), humourous, a true story and inspirational! And though I don't think my 7 yr old would 'get it', i think that my 11 yr old basketball loving daughter would LOVE it!

The Mighty Macs - In theatres now!

Website: http://www.themightymacs.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/themightymacs
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/MightyMacsMovie
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/MightyMacs1

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services
mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I
only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:
"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

ET TU kits review

2011-11-02T16:12:00.000-04:00

At one of the breaks at SCCTO, I started chatting with Andrea of Faye Clack Communications(turns out she was sitting just behind me!). She introduced me to the wide variety ET TU kits, and well here I am writing a review!

About ET TU:
Linsey Foods has been creating Family-favourite ET TU Salad Kits for over 20 years.
From humble beginnings as a favourite menu item at a diner, our homemade Caesar was an instant hit with clientele. However, patrons simply could not get enough. To keep our loyal customers happy we packaged the individual ingredients to go, and before we knew it a family business was born. After all, the customer is always right!

This is the wonderful review kit that Andrea sent me..

I'd seen the salad kits in the grocery store before, but i admit that i'd never bought them before. As for the fish kits and the dessert kits, these were news to me! ET TU kits are fantastic because basically only the main/fresh ingredient(s) are missing! This made me jump for joy! With our busy life (kids extracurriculars!) there are a couple nights a week that i need an EASY dinner ASAP! ET TU is perfect for those nights!

Salad Kit:
My family are big fans of caesar salad, so I was eager to dig into this one! All that was needed for this kit was one head of romaine, 2 hearts, or 10oz(283g) of pre-cut romaine. Literally there are only 3 steps to the instructions. Wash lettuce and put in large bowl, Add contents of all four packages(in kit), Toss thoroughly and serve immediately! LOVE IT! So i let my daughter(11yr) make this one! :)
There was enough for 2 large portions or 6 side salads(we split it into 4 portions). The full fat version contains real crumbled bacon bits therefore making that one our favourite, but the light version was just as tasty(in fact that one was split between the mr and myself for lunch today! YUM!)

Fish Kit:
For this dinner we used the 'Citrus Dill Fish Fillets with Wild Rice Medley'. This kit says it's dinner for 2, and recommended for 2 halibut/salmon/sole fillets(350-400g total). So the mr and I made this on one of our kid-free dinner nights, but the package of fish we bought had 4 fillets in it totalling 400g so it could have been used on a night with the kids home. I found it contained enough rice for 2 adults and 2 small children, especially if using the salad kit with it! :)
But regardless, we had a big dinner that night. I loved the added touch of the sauce pouch. It said to serve beside the fish, but i decided to drizzle it across the fillets. Delicious! My only complaint is that the rice was a tad too pepper-y or overseasoned..but maybe i just had a picky palate that evening. The mr thought i was crazy, because he doesn't like much spice and he LOVED it. I would totally buy the kit again regardless. It made for a simple wonderful meal that was ready in 30 minutes! We're looking forward to trying the 'Maple Mustard Fish Fillets with Orzo Pasta' in the near future, it sounds fantastic!

Apple Crisp Kit:
This kit came at the perfect time! Who doesn't crave warm apple crisp in the fall?! This has to be one of our favourite desserts! and it's relatively healthy too! woohoo!
All this kit required was approx 7 cups of peeled/sliced apples, and 1/4 cup of melted butter, and 45 mins in the oven! Mmm.
And again, this kit had an added touch that i loved..a caramel drizzle package!
This kit got mixed reviews from us. The mr and Orangie(7 yr DD) LOVED it. In fact it had raisins in it and the mr still liked it, so that's a RAVE review! But Hero(11 yr DD) and I only kinda liked it. I honestly think that it was only because there wasn't an abundance of sugar in it like the one that i make! lol. It also could have been the apples we used too. They were a tad on the tart side. Would definitely make it again using a sweeter apple! That, and the convenience factor! As i said, we ~~love~~ LOVE apple crisp!

Check HERE to find out where you can buy ET TU kits!
You can also find ET TU here on Facebook!

Thank you so much to Andrea for introducing me to ET TU kits!

* i received my review kit for free in exchange for my honest opinion. Your opinion may differ.*

Wordless Wednesday - date night and pyrex

2011-11-01T20:38:00.000-04:00

But not together! lol. Just two things i wanted to share! :)

* This is from tuesday night 'date night' with the mr! Gettin' cozy on the couch with dinner and snacks, and catching up on some House! *

* And here is the latest mug for the collection. An awesome vintage pyrex that i snagged for $0.49!

Thanks soooo much @ohkeeka for gettin' me all obsessed! lol *

Peter Nimble - reviewed by Hero!

2011-10-28T16:53:00.002-04:00

"A magical adventure for fans of the Brothers Grimm and Lemony Snicket"..and for this reason I requested this book to review for my 11 yr old daughter, 'Hero'. She's an avid reader of the magical, mysterious, fantasy, etc, and has read the entire Lemony series. I knew this would be perfect for her!

Transcript: This is the story of Peter Nimble. A small, blind, friendless orphan who also happens to be the greatest thief who ever lived. One day Peter steals a mysterious treasure that sets him on a journey beyond farthest seas, across endless deserts to a lost kingdom in need of a hero, in an adventure that can only be called … fantastic.

About the Book:
Overflowing with wit and invention, Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes is the beguiling tale of a ten-year-old blind orphan who has been schooled in a life of thievery by his brutal master, Mr. Seamus. One fateful afternoon, as he's picking the pockets of townspeople enraptured by a travelling haberdasher, he "discovers" (steals) a box of magical eyes. When he tries on the first pair, he is instantly transported to the island at the top of the world, where he meets the maker of the eyes, Professor Cake. The Professor gives Peter a choice: travel to the mysterious Vanished Kingdom and try to rescue a people in need ... or return back to his master and a life of crime. Peter chooses wisely, and together with Sir Tode, a knight errant who has been turned into a rather unfortunate combination of human, horse and cat by a grumpy witch, he embarks on an unforgettable adventure in a book destined to become a classic.

About the Author:
Jonathan Auxier was raised in Canada and obtained his MFA in Dramatic Writing from Carnegie Mellon University. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, a lecturer in Victorian children's literature. Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes in his first novel.

Hero's Thoughts: (very condensed due to her spoilers! also keep in mind she just turned 11!)
I really enjoyed Peter Nimble. I liked how it was funny and magical, and how all the characters played an important part in Peter's journey. My favourite character was Peter, because he is smart, and even though he did some bad things in the beginning, he ends up doing the right things and making good choices in the end.

She says it's definitely a 5/5!

* Thankyou to Penguin Group Canada for giving us an advanced copy of this book in exchange for our honest review. *