September 3 is Bacon Day - YUM!!

(c) Flickr User shawnzam.

I'll be camping this weekend but if you love bacon, here's your excuse to eat it for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Here are some bacon recipes from Kraft Canada.

Here's a bacon recipe I LOVED from AllRecipes. Bacony Bok Choy! Even if you think you won't love it, I think you will!

What's your favourite bacon recipe?

GIVEAWAY: Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song - Have Fun and Enter a Giveaway Too!

You may have heard about the movie Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song. I've got a fun widget for your tween to play with and a chance to win a copy of the movie!

What You'll Find:
Write Your Own Cinderella Story! Take our interactive quiz and make your own musical fairytale come true!

Lip Sync Music Video Contest! Film a short YouTube video to the sounds of Lucy Hale’s song “Run This Town.” Dress up! Be creative!

Achieve Your Dreams PDF! Download “Top 10 Ways to Stand Bright” and write your own goals!

A Cinderella Story: Once Upon A Song! Sneak a peek of the Cinderella Story Three trailer!

Stars of the Movie! Check out Lucy Hale take the quiz and Freddie Stroma and the gang lip sync along to the song!

GIVEAWAY

I have one copy of the DVD to giveaway to a US/Canada Winner.

Giveaway open till September 5, 2011.

If you've never used rafflecopter before to enter giveaways, check out this rafflecopter guide. Winners will be contacted by email and will have 2 days to claim their prize. I must have winner's address in by Sept 9 so winner only has 2 days to reply this time. If you have any problems using the form, let me know in the comments and I'll see what I can do.

Just click Read More if you don't already see the rafflecopter widget.

Energizer Canada & Evergreen's "Do Something Little, Help Something Big"

Evergreen is a not-for-profit organization that is committed to making Canadian cities greater and more liveable… creating a more sustainable future for all of us. Energizer Canada has teamed up with Evergreen on their “Do Something Little, Help Something Big” initiative.

Energizer is proud to contribute $100,000 to Evergreen to make cities more liveable.

You can help make that amount larger. Make a pledge to perform kind acts that make positive energy.  Pledge at least three things and Energizer will donate an additional $1 to Evergreen.

I've made the pledge to the following Kind Acts:

1. I will tell my kids how much I love them.
2. I will greet a person in the elevator.
3. I will donate clothes to charity.
4. I will smile or say a kind word to create more positive energy around me.
5. I will do my laundry during off-peak hours.

In reality I already do most of those and some others I didn't include but I pledge to do them more! May I ask that you consider pledging some of the ones that aren't about the environment? You may think greeting a person in an elevator is easy and no big deal but a smile or hello goes a long way. Have you ever seen the movie Pay it Forward? If not you should. I make a point of saying hello, smiling or nodding to every person I pass in an elevator or on the street.

Make sure you pledge your kind acts!

NOTE: It didn't work for me in Firefox. I had to use IE. If pledge counter is showing no numbers, then the form won't work and you will need to use a different browser.

Disclosure – I am participating in the Energizer Canada and Evergreen “Do Something Little, Help Something Big” program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of Energizer Canada and Evergreen. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Kinder Surprise is all-new for 2012 and as a #KINDERMom I will keep you updated!

If you follow me on Facebook you already know that I was picked to be a Kinder Mom with Kinder Canada. Over the next few months I will be bringing you information on the re-launch of Kinder® Surprise®.

You must know what I'm talking about. Those yummy chocolatey eggs with the milky coating and a special toy inside? I used to get them all the time when I was a child. I always begged my mom to get me one and I collected the toys on my windowsill on my window. I had my own little toy army of people, animals, cars and more. I remember getting one of those giant Kinder Surprise eggs for Easter with a cardboard plane in it. They were by far my favourite treats as a child.

Now that I'm an adult I get to share them with my children. My girls love them too and my younger girl always begs me for them at the checkout too. I can't indulge her every time but I get them as often as can because I remember how much I loved them!

Guess what? In 2012 there will be a whole new toy collection to discover in the Kinder eggs. You can get a peek at the toys at the Kinder Canada Facebook page. Watch for inflatable toys, stamps, racing toys, flying toys, toys that squirt water and more. They must have released some of these toys already to try them out because my kids already have a water squirter and magnifier!


Make sure you Like Kinder Canada while you are there. At midday Eastern Time they will be giving away 5000 coupons for one free Kinder Egg only on the Facebook page. 

Surprising your child with Kinder Eggs isn't the only way to make the day fun! Don't forget to play! I'm busy but I try to make time each day with my kids, after all, that's why I had them!

I paint their nails, or play outside with them, play a board game, put on some music loud and dance or become a tickle monster. Each of these doesn't really take that long and are easy to do!

What do you do for fun? Do your children like Kinder Surprise Eggs?



Disclosure: I’m part of the Kinder® Mom program and I receive compensation as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Summer Pharmaceutical Guide

Summer is almost over but if you are planning one last trip before school starts back up, you may want to pick up the following items to have on hand. All of them would be of use even when it's not Summer so you can get more than one use out of them!

*Reviewing/Mentioning a product does not mean I am recommending it to everyone. You should never take medication without checking with your doctor first. I cannot be held responsible for anything that happens if you choose to take any medication or use any product mentioned here.

Anacin
Aspirin + Caffeine NSAID Pain Reliever
100 Coated Tablets
Temporarily Relieves minor aches and pains due to headache, sore throat, toothache, muscular aches, cold, backache, arthritis or menstrual cramps

It's always good to have a pain reliever on hand, no matter what you are doing! This is definitely one you can use anytime!

Auro-Dri
Ear Drying Aid for Swimmer's Ears
Isopropyl Alcohol 95% in a Anhydrous Glycerin 5% base
Helps relieve clogged ear discomfort due to bathing, showering and swimming

I've never had swimmer's ear but I'm not one of those people who go swimming a lot. I've heard it's very painful though. This product, safe for kids is meant to dry up in inside of the ear.



Bonine
Prevents Motion Sickness in Chewable Once-A-Day Tablet
Meclizine Hydrochloride - Antiemetic
Prevents and treats nausea, vomiting or dizziness associated with motion sickness

I've never heard about motion sickness being hereditary but both my daughter and I have it. She even got sick once on a 45 minute city bus ride. I have to take a motion sickness pill anytime I'm going on a longer drive but then I end up being really sleepy and falling asleep. I hate it. Bonine prevents motion sickness without making you so drowsy you will fall asleep.

Pronto Plus (Travel Size)
Kills Bedbugs & Dust Mites Where They Hide
Various Chemicals
To Kill those bedbugs!

Some areas in Ontario are having major problems with bedbugs. If you have them, you need to get rid of them fast. If you are travelling, you don't know what the place is like and if there are bedbugs or not. Bring the travel size spray with you to your motel and treat it while you are out, before you unpack.

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

I'm featured at Simply Stacie!

I'm featured at Simply Stacie today in her Tuesday Top Blogs! I'm highlighting my top blogs that I read and what I love about them. Maybe I mentioned you!

If you are visiting from Simply Stacie, welcome! Be sure to come back September 1 for your chance to win $500 Cash + a special prize!

Reminder: The Social Picnic Starts September 1!!

Just wanted to remind my readers that you have another chance to win $500 cash and a special prize to be announced starting September 1 12:01 AM! To gain entries, you follow and subscribe in various ways to any or all of the participating blogs, of which Callista's Ramblings is one.

So if you follow me on GFC, Facebook or Twitter or Subscribe via email or reader, you will gain entries into the giveaway!

Thanks to the Summer Camp Sponsors!

A while back I asked for some sponsors for the Girl Guide Summer Camp I am a leader at. Three wonderful companies/people stepped forward!

Thank you to Discovery Girls, New Moon Media and Leanne Power, author of You Are Sooooo Beautiful.

Discovery Girls donated 50 magazines to the camp. Each girl got to go home with one!
Discovery Girls Magazine is for tween girls, by girls. Quizzes, fashion advice, friends, advice and more.

New Moon Girl Media donated a bunch of magazines for the girls as well. New Moon also makes magazines for Tween Girls and there is an online group too.

 

Leanne Power and The Soulstice Book Company donated 5 copies of their picture book for the younger children to take home. The book is beautiful and a great way to raise self esteem in your child.

Thank you SO much to these wonderful people! The girls all went home very happy with their "presents."

GIVEAWAY: Lice Shield

Did you see my review of Lice Shield?

One Canadian Winner will receive one shampoo, one conditioner and one hair spray. You have the choice of Normal Hair or Dry/Coloured Shampoo and Conditioner.

Giveaway open to Canadian Residents Only till September 1, 2011.

If you've never used rafflecopter before to enter giveaways, check out this rafflecopter guide. Winners will be contacted by email and will have 3 days to claim their prize. If you have any problems using the form, let me know in the comments and I'll see what I can do. If you come back to do the daily entries again and it won't let you without doing the mandatory entry, redo the mandatory entry and put DO NOT COUNT in the extra info section.

REVIEW: Lice Shield Hair Products

Raise your hand if your child has ever had lice.

Now instead of waiting and dreading when your child will be sent home with them, you can take action to prevent head lice.

Lice Shield comes in a shampoo/conditioner and a shield spray made with Citronella to repel head lice.

You can buy it in Canada at Walmart, Loblaws and Zellers and Shoppers Drug Mart. It's also available in the US, see the website for locations.

The shampoo smells strongly of citronella but after your hair is dry, you no longer can smell it so you won't be a walking citronella candle. The shield spray can be used on towel dried hair, dry hair or even hats, scarves or helmets. I will be using this on our toques in the winter for sure. The smell does seem to stay in your hair when you use the spray but wasn't too overwhelming if not used too much and hey, if it repels lice, it's worth it right?


My kids do not like the smell but maybe they just need to get used to it. I don't mind the smell of Citronella.

I like the idea of stopping lice BEFORE it gets into our house. Please note the products are for PREVENTION and will do nothing to get rid of an infestation. However it is recommended that you keep using it even while treating for lice.

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Starting Kindergarten V.2

Last year my first child started Kindergarten. It was scary and exhilarating at the same time, for both of us. This year we get to do it all over again with daughter number two who will be starting this September. That's right I'll have both my daughters in Kindergarten this year.*

So this school year is special for me. Sure in 4 years I'll have another child starting Kindergarten and it's not new to me this year but this is the only time I'll have two children in the same classroom. In my children's school, JK and SK share a classroom and do most things together.

I wonder if this will be easier having them together, or harder. Will they get on each other's nerves and fight each other all the time like they do at home? Will they help each other out and will the older one be there when the younger one misses me? I can't really prepare for this as I don't know what's going to happen.

I may not be able to prepare for all this but I can make sure we are all prepared for the first day of school by making sure we have what we need. If you are looking for a place to shop for unique back to school products, try Tiny Prints. They sell lunch box notes, allergy cards, family planners, emergency contact cards and more.

*For those in other countries where things might be done differently, there are two years of Kindergarten, JK and SK (Junior and Senior) before Grade 1 starts. Kindergarten is not mandatory but most children attend.

**I received compensation in exchange for writing this post but the stories and thoughts are all real. 

Click for Babies: Knit Baby Hats for Shaken Baby Syndrome + Period of P.U.R.P.L.E. Crying

Babies Cry.

We've figured out that much so far. Sometimes they seem to cry for no reason, as if  something is bothering them, but you can't figure out what.  Now I'll be honest and say that I've been blessed with babies who don't cry for long periods of time for seemingly no reason. When the first baby was easy, I figured the second HAD to be colicky. When the second was a bit more cranky but still not colicky, I thought for sure the third would have to be. When the third wasn't colicky either, boy was I surprised!

If you are expecting a child or just had a little one, you may have heard of The Period of P.U.R.P.L.E. Crying. If not, you might want to pay attention. I first heard of it in the hospital after having my third. They had us watch the video in hospital and I took a copy home. Let me show you:

Click On Image to See Larger

If you are concerned by the amount of your babies crying, are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted or are concerned your yet to be born child may be "colicky", you should check this out. You can find out more about crying babies at Period of P.U.R.P.L.E. Crying.

Attention Knitters! 

Click for Babies is helping to raise awareness for The Period of Purple Crying and Shaken Baby Syndrome by collecting knitted purple hats for newborns across North America to be distributed in November with information on a newborn's crying phase. The aim is to have a hat for every baby born in November at participating hospitals.

How to Join in Ontario
 Knit or crochet from 5 to 50 purple baby caps using soft baby friendly yarn and send them by mid-October to:

Southwest Ontario
Denise Polgar
Injury Prevention Specialist Trauma Program
London Health Sciences Centre/Children's Hospital
800 Commissioners Road East
Room E1-129
London, Ontario N6A 5W9

Click for Babies is a North American campaign with sites in BC, Utah, Kansas, Iowa and more. Hospital addresses are listed at http://www.clickforbabies.org/ (URL fixed 08/12/11)

REVIEW: Rio DVD

Available in DVD with Digital Copy or Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Copy starting Aug 2 (US/Can), Rio is the newest movie by the creators of Ice Age.

Run time: 1hr 35min
US Rating: G

Synopsis:
Captured as a young bird from the wild, Blu (Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network) is a domesticated Spix Macaw living thousands of miles away from his homeland, Brazil. When his human owner Linda (Leslie Mann, 17 Again) discovers that he is the last male of his kind, they head south to Rio de Janeiro to meet the only other female. But it's far from love at first sight between the socially-awkward, flight-challenged Blu and the fiercely independent, high-flying female, Jewel (Anne Hathaway, The Princess Diaries). Shortly after Blu's arrival, the two rare birds are captured by greedy animal smugglers and find themselves lost in the Brazilian rainforest. Unexpectedly thrown together, they embark on a hilarious and clumsy adventure where they learn about friendship, love, courage and spreading one's wings to fly.

The creators of ICE AGE bring audiences a whole new tropical adventure in RIO featuring the most colorful cast of characters south of the Equator, including George Lopez (Beverly Hills Chihuahua), Tracy Morgan ("30 Rock"), Jemaine Clement (Despicable Me), Rodrigo Santoro (Che), will.i.am (Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa), Jamie Foxx (Dreamgirls), Jane Lynch "Glee"), & Wanda Sykes(Over The Hedge).

My Review: I haven't laughed this much at one movie in a long time! It was hilarious. I kept laughing and then going into coughing fits because I have a cough right now.

My family has a really hard time coming up with movies we all want to watch. My husband prefers Documentaries, Horror or Comedies that I consider "Stupid-Funny" and which I don't like that much. I prefer Comedies in general but also Drama and Psychological Thrillers. Even when there is a movie in a genre we both generally like, we don't both like the movie. Most movies I love, my husband hates. Ones he loves, I hate. We rarely watch movies together and it's even rarer that we both enjoy it. Plus my children get scared very easily and so won't watch most real movies (as opposed to Dora.) They found Beethoven too scary and the even Madeline: Lost in Paris. My older one has just recently been able to watch the Barbie movies without being scared. Every time I think I found a family movie with no scary parts, we end up stopping it because they are scared.

With Rio, the whole family was able to watch it. Even though there was a "scary" bird and some "scary" men they weren't that bad and were around for short periods so my kids were able to watch the whole thing. Plus the funny parts were so funny, it made up for the slightly scary parts.

I loved RIO and am recommending it to everyone as a great family movie.

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

REVIEW: Netflix Canada -

Having heard great things about Netflix, we applied for our one month free trial (which you can get yourself from the Netflix website.) We've had it for 3 weeks and our family LOVES it. I figured I wouldn't use it too much since I don't watch movies that often but I've gotten into watching Heroes since I missed it the first time around. I like watching TV shows one after the other, with no commercials or week long breaks!

Pros

• Cheap - Only $7.99/month, taken directly from your credit card.
• Unlimited movies and TV shows and what's there is added to constantly. Bound to be something you like!
• Rate the shows and movies you watch to see recommendations.
• You can watch it on your TV through your gaming consoles (Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3 etc..), handheld devices (ipad/ipod), blue ray, home theater and more.
• If it's using up too much of your bandwidth, you can adjust the video quality to use less.
• There are parental controls (although I haven't tried them out)

Cons

• Not EVERY movie is available that you could normally rent.
• To use on your PS3 you have to be signed in to playstation network for some weird reason (you can browse web without being on network.) So if network is down or won't sign in, you can't use netflix.
• It's addicting!

*We will be paying for our subscription ourselves, I was not compensated in anyway. I just wanted to review it!