Monday, October 31, 2011

CouponCabin’s 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Sponsor Spotlight – Nielsen-Massey Vanillas #CouponCabinHop

Be sure to come back November 1 for your chance to win a prize from this company during the 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Event.

Neilsen-Massey Vanillas carry Vanilla Extracts, Powders and Beans of many types. Nielsen-Massey has been creating with Vanilla for over 100 years!

Neilsen-Massey had donated one 4oz bottle of Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract (RV: $10)
The Bourbon is named after the place and it has no alcohol in it!

The website has information on Vanilla as well as some vanilla recipes. You can also buy their new cookbook. The vanilla facts section is interesting as well.

Buy It: Check out the Where to Buy page to find out where to get it.


*Disclosure: I will be receiving a bottle of vanilla extract to review this month. The company is sponsoring a giveaway during Coupon Cabin's 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

GIVEAWAY: Bring in the Holidays $1000 Cash Giveaway #LaMomba$1KGiveaway

To celebrate the beginning of the holiday season, we’ve teamed up with 50 friends to bring you a fun cash giveaway!

One lucky winner will get a head start on their shopping (or splurge on yourself at a spa) and have $1000 deposited directly into their Paypal account!!

This giveaway is sponsored by 50 incredible businesses and blogs – and you’ll love getting the chance to check them out. To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below! Also, go check out the fabulous business owners and bloggers involved in this event. Giveaway starts 10/31 at 12:00 am EST and ends 11/11 at 11:59 pm EST. Good Luck!


The cash giveaway is open to all worldwide (paid in US dollars) and will be paid directly into your PayPal account.

This giveaway is brought to you by:

LaMomba
Little Looster
Living Your Moment
Twenty 70 Hosting
Outnumbered Mama
The Work At Home Woman
A Well Being
Blog With Mom
Making Time For Mommy
Sunshine and Sippy Cups
Non Mom
Sprinkle Me Pink
Our Mom Spot
Songberries
A String of Pearls
The Frugal Buffalonian
El Belle Fashion Accessories
The Boy's Store
More 4 Moms Buck
November Sunflower
This Mama Can Cook
Mommy Powers
My 5 Minutes a Day
Cutie Pa Tutus
Linnell Media Group
The Crafty Charlestonian
The Ordinary Aunt
Free Sample Momma
Mark Your Saving With E
Wyoming Girl turned Coastie Wife
Dallas Single Mom
Keeping Up With The Rheinlander's
The Family That
Sports Action Board
Merciful Blessings
Happiness Delivered
It's Free at Last
PhotoPad
QCOS Kids
Choosing Love
Arizona Moms Network
Bear Haven Boutique
Mommy's Coupon Train
The Mommy Shops
Shonda's Gift Shop
Callista's Ramblings
Mommy Bag Marketing
MariLee Parrish


(Click Read More if you don't see the rafflecopter widget)

Sunday, October 30, 2011

CouponCabin’s 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Sponsor Spotlight – Sophia Grace #CouponCabinHop

Be sure to come back November 1 for your chance to win a prize from this company during the 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Event. 

How many stained shirts do you have from food splatter while cooking? I have so many it's not even funny. I have an apron but it's black and boring and I forget to put it on most of the time.

Sophia Grace sells beautifully designed aprons for women, men and children. They are made in Canada too! They also sell laminated ones that are great for hair dressers, crafters or anyone who prefers a apron that can be wiped clean. They even carry some special aprons that would make great wedding gifts!

Now you can cook in style! Their motto is Be Fun Be Flirty Be Fabulous!

Follow Sophia Grace Aprons on Facebook and Twitter

Sophia Grace Aprons is donating one apron for the Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Event.



 Buy It: Buy directly from the Sophia Grace website

Use the code "ilovecallista" to get $10 off AND free shipping! But hurry, this code is only good till Nov. 30.


*Disclosure: I will be receiving an apron to review this month. The company is sponsoring a giveaway during Coupon Cabin's 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

CouponCabin’s 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Sponsor Spotlight – GHG Global Powerhouse #CouponCabinHop

Be sure to come back November 1 for your chance to win a prize from this company during the 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Event.

Do you like healthy drinks? All the way from the Caribbean Island of Trinidad I have a health product for you. It's a non-alcoholic wine that doubles as an energy drink! I think it will be easier to quote the product page:

LaVie™ was born from Mother Nature’s most energizing, healthful and enchanting botanicals. This great-tasting, non-alcoholic drink began with red grapes from the Bordeaux Region of France, was masterfully blended with wholesome aloe vera and red raspberries, and finally garnished with an amazing array of nature’s sensuous bounty.

The word ‘LaVie’ is French for ‘life’…for the energizing and revitalizing effects and the incredible benefits to the human body that this product has, the name is perfect! According to some studies, LaVie’s™ key ingredients have been found to improve cardiovascular health, boost the immune system, recover lost stamina, and provide other uplifting physical benefits.

When served chilled, LaVie™ not only becomes appealing as a dietary supplement, but it tastes great too! The suggested use is not to exceed more than two servings daily due to the intense amount of herbs and botanicals included in LaVie™. For this same reason, it is also not intended for children or pregnant women. Although each person’s reaction to LaVie™ may vary, when consumed accordingly, LaVie™ can be an excellent complement to almost anyone’s diet!
 La Vie is just one product from NHT Global/GHG Global Powerhouse which ships their products to 33 countries!

You can learn more about the product at the NHT Global site. Choose your country and then go to products and then La Vie.

I will be giving away one 32oz bottle (RV: $31.67) during the Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz event.

Buy It: You can purchase La Vie and the other products online at the NHT Global Store.

*Disclosure: I will be receiving a bottle of La Vie to review this month. The company is sponsoring a giveaway during Coupon Cabin's 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

CouponCabin’s 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Sponsor Spotlight – Cowboy Food Book & Spices #CouponCabinHop

Be sure to come back November 1 for your chance to win a prize from this company during the 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Event. 

Do you wish you lived in the Wild West? Here's your chance to cook like you did. Cowboy Food by DD Little is part novel/part cookbook. It features chili and many other recipes including salads and snack foods. The characters tell tales of the past throughout the book. The recipes originate from the mid 1800's to the early 1900's and have been converted to heart smart healthy recipes with the help of a number of cardiologists at UCLA, Kaiser and VA medical centers. Cowboy food is endorsed by a UCLA doctor.

Additionally, the book has spawned a unique line of gourmet spice blends.
 The blends originated from the chuck wagons and Oregon trail trecks made by early Americans. They carried their spices in bags or tins then and when one ran low they poured what was left in with something else. The result was wonderful spice mixes. They are now in Jars called Cowboy Food Spice Radicals. They truly give the taste of the Old West to your dishes. 
Find DD Little on Facebook and Twitter. Also check out the blog.

DD Little has donated a copy of Cowboy Food and a jar of spice (RV: $19) for the Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Event.

Buy It: From amazon.com Cowboy Food


*Disclosure: The purchase link above is an affiliate link. I will receive some change for any purchase made through the link. I will be receiving a copy of the book and a jar of spices to review. The company is sponsoring a giveaway during Coupon Cabin's 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

CouponCabin’s 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Sponsor Spotlight – Easy Entertaining for Beginners #CouponCabinHop

Be sure to come back November 1 for your chance to win a prize from this company during the 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Event.

I've never been one for entertaining, I don't host parties a lot. However recently it was decided I would host Easter and Thanksgiving at my house every year while my mom would do Christmas. Hosting this past Thanksgiving showed me that I need to purchase some serving dishes and that I need some new ideas if I want the holidays I host more than just an okay dinner.

Enter Easy Entertaining for Beginners by Patricia Mendez. It's a book for people like me, who are new to entertaining and want to know what to do.

Maple Heights Press (2008)
172 pages softcover
$18.95

There are 13 complete menus including one for first Thanksgiving, instructions and terms designed for beginning cooks and also includes some design ideas and drink ideas. I can't wait to review it.

Patricia Mendez has donated one copy of her books (RV: 18.95) for the Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Event.

Buy It: From Amazon.com: Easy Entertaining for Beginners

*Disclosure: I will be receiving a copy of the book for review purposes. The purchase link above is an affiliate link and will provide me with some change if you purchase through it. The company is sponsoring a giveaway during Coupon Cabin's 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Buzzed Halloween Driving - Be Careful!

This is a reminder to be extra careful when driving on Halloween night and to NOT DRIVE DRUNK!

Halloween night is often one of the deadliest nights of the year due to the number of impaired drivers on the streets. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2009, 48 percent of all traffic fatalities on Halloween night involved a driver or a motorcycle rider with a Blood Alcohol Content of .08 or higher. 

Even if you had half a beer, please DO NOT DRIVE. Halloween means more children and they are distracted by the excitement of the holiday and often don't obey traffic rules.

If you are headed out to a party on Halloween night, make sure you have a designated driver, even if you don't plan on drinking much. Or check out this list of 50 non-alcoholic party drinks.

If you don't have a designated driver, there are services that can help. If you are in the US, find a list here of Sober Ride programs.

Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving. - Find Out More

*Disclosure: I am posting this information because I believe in the cause. No compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Saturday, October 29, 2011

CouponCabin’s 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Sponsor Spotlight – Around the Plate #CouponCabinHop

Be sure to come back November 1 for your chance to win a prize from this company during the 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Event. 


Around the Plate is a website about nutrition with great articles and helpful tools. Kati Mora MS RD also makes handcrafted food and kitchen accessories. It started out as an Etsy shop and is just now changing to a boutique. If it looks empty, that's because the products are still in the process of moving in.

Around the Plate has donated a 31 day food diary (RV: $12) for the Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz event.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aroundtheplate
Twitter: @aroundtheplate

Buy It: The boutique will have food journals this week and in honor of the boutique launch, Kati is offering 20% off each order with the coupon code: NEWPLATE20


*Disclosure: I will be receiving a food journal to review this month. The company is sponsoring a giveaway during Coupon Cabin's 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

CouponCabin’s 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Sponsor Spotlight – Zone Fast Weight Loss Program #CouponCabinHop

Be sure to come back November 1 for your chance to win a prize from this company during the 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Event. 



Dr. Barry Sears, a leading authority in anti-inflammatory nutrition is the creator of the Zone Diet. He has developed a new line of Zone 1-2-3 foods using his patented molecular baking™ to make foods that are commonly high in unfavorable carbohydrates healthy for consumption.

With Zone 1-2-3 foods you can enjoy the "forbidden foods" like bread, pasta, pizza and even brownies without the resulting weight gain. Read how here.

You can read all about the Zone Diet at the website.

For the event, I'll be giving away the Zone Fast Diet Weight Loss Program (RV: $179.00)

I have not tried the program myself so I can't speak for results. You can check out the testimonials page if you want.

Find Zone Fast on Twitter
@drbarrysears and @thezonediet

Buy It: You can purchase all Zone Diet products online.

*Disclosure: I did not receive the product(s) mentioned above but I will be trying a few foods from their selection for a review this month. The company is sponsoring a giveaway during Coupon Cabin's 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

REVIEW: Scared Shrekless and Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins From Outer Space DVD Pack


I love holiday movies, no matter what the holiday. I have a collection that I like to add to. I was very happy to add to my Halloween collection with these two short movies from Dreamworks Animation.

Scared Shrekless is the latest Shrek movie. Did you see Shrek the Halls a few years back?

In Scared Shrekless, the gang gathers to celebrate Shrek’s favorite holiday: Halloween!  But instead of the usual tricks or treats, Shrek ups the ante and challenges everyone to spend the night telling scary stories—the last one to be scared Shrekless wins.  The DVD includes spooky spoofs on classics horror movies and features the voices of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas.

If you know your horror movies, you will find these spoofs quite funny.  The video also has the Shrek cast doing a spoof of the music video of Thriller by Michael Jackson which is pretty funny. I love the zombie donkey!

Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space finds Susan, B.O.B., The Missing Link, and Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D. dispatched as special operatives to investigate a mysterious alien presence on Halloween.  As the night unravels, innocent-looking pumpkins are revealed for what they really are – mutant aliens!  Luckily the monsters are there to smash the mutants’ wicked scheme to take over Earth.  Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space features the star-studded cast of voice talent from the original hit film including Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Kiefer Sutherland and Rainn Wilson.

I actually haven't seen the original Monsters vs. Aliens so I was a little lost with who everyone is and what their relationships to each other were but if you have seen it, it will make perfect sense I'm sure. You can watch it without knowing who they are though. This one was more funny than scary and was downright corny at times but would make a fun quick video for a child 6+.

TRAILER:


TECHNICAL INFO/DISC BREAKDOWN

Halloween Party Double DVD Pack:
Scared Shrekless and Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space are each presented in widescreen with English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, English Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround with English, French and Spanish subtitles.  The disc breakdowns are as follows:
Scared Shrekless
•    “Thriller”
•    Puss In Boots “These Boots Are Made For Walking”
•    Previews


Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space
•    Karaoke Music Party with:
o    Ginormica
o    B.O.B.
o    Dr. Cockroach Ph.D. and The Missing Link
•    Modern Monster Movie-Making
•    Previews

Both Discs also have World of DreamWorks Animation:
•    Shrek “I’m A Believer” music video
•    Shrek video
•    How To Train Your Dragon “Fly High” music video
•    How To Train Your Dragon video
•    Kung Fu Panda “Kung Fu Fighting” music video
•    Secrets of the Furious Five video
•    Kung Fu Panda World video
•    Madagascar “I Like To Move It” music video
•    “Penguins of Madagascar” video
•    Megamind “Mega Rap” music video
•    Megamind video


*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. 

CLOSED: $200 Christmas Shopping Spree Extravaganza

WINNER IS Mary C!

Welcome to the $200 Christmas Shopping Spree Extravaganza! I have teamed up with a group of bloggers to offer you an amazing giveaway prize -- the winner will receive TWO gift cards (1) $100 Amazon Gift Card for all your online Christmas shopping and (1) $100 Gift Card of your choice to use at your favorite store! Winner will be chosen by random.org.

This giveaway is also a friendly competition between all the sponsoring bloggers, please make sure to follow this very important step:

In the first Rafflecopter entry, you'll be asked to give the name of the blog that referred you -- please enter [Callista's Ramblings] in the Extra Info box. The blogger who refers the most people to this giveaway will win a special gift card prize too, so thanks for your help!

The rest of the entries are easy entries where you will follow each of us on Facebook and Twitter for one entry each. Giveaway starts 10/26 at 12:00 am EST and ends 11/8 at 11:59 pm EST. This giveaway is open worldwide.

Note regarding double entries: We know that many of our readers enter multiple giveaways a day and sometimes lose track of which ones they've entered. If you should happen to enter twice by accident or on separate blogs, this will NOT disqualify you. At the end of the giveaway all double entries are deleted so that each person has only one set of entries. This is to ensure that all entrants have a fair chance at being chosen as the winner.

Don't forget that there are several daily entry opportunities as well, so bookmark this giveaway and come back every day to claim yours!

Good luck!

(Click Read More if you don't see widget)

Monday, October 24, 2011

GIVEAWAY: Winnie the Pooh DVD/Blu-Ray Combo Pack

Winnie the Pooh is on DVD and Blu-ray October 25, 2011!

Take a look at the widget below for a fun quiz  and to get some fun downloads! Giveaway is below the widget.



I have one DVD/Blu-Ray Combo pack to giveaway to a lucky winner from Canada or the US. This is a short giveaway, open only until October 29, so hurry and enter!

GIVEAWAY RULES
Use the rafflecopter form to enter. If you do not know how to use rafflecopter, see this guide. Open to US/Canada till October 29 11:59 PM EST. Only one entry per household please. Winners will be randomly selected using the rafflecopter widget and notified via email. You will have 2 days to claim your prize or another name will be chosen. Winners will be listed in the rafflecopter widget using the name you enter with so don't put a last name if you don't want it displayed.

Click Read More Below if you don't see the widget.

GIVEAWAY: In Honor of the Tatas Giveaway Hop - CANADA ONLY

*This post will be a sticky until October 24. Please scroll down to see if there are any new posts (but probably not since I'm away this weekend!)

Gifts

In Honor of the Tatas is a giveaway hop hosted by Makobi Scribe. All participating blogs will have giveaways of $50 or more in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Please visit my sponsors for this event:
First Alert
Tic Tac Canada
Pink Ribbon Garbage Bags

Make sure you use the linky below the rafflecopter widget when you are done entering to hop to another giveaway!

GIVEAWAY RULES
Use the rafflecopter form to enter. Comments will NOT be accepted as entries. If you do not know how to use rafflecopter, see this guide. Open to Canada Only till October 24 11:59 PM EST. Only one entry per household please. Winners will be randomly selected using the rafflecopter widget and notified via email. You will have 3 days to claim your prize or another name will be chosen. Winners will be listed in the rafflecopter widget using the name you enter with so don't put a last name if you don't want it displayed. Each sponsor will ship their prize separately, they will not all come at once.

Click Read More Below if you don't see the widget.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

REVIEW: First Alert Smoke & Fire Alarm (In Honor of the Tatas Sponsor)

We should all know how important it is to have working smoke alarms in our home and to test them regularly but many of us slack off and don't have the right amount or have them in the right places, or test them enough.

According to Fire Prevention Canada, eight Canadians die every week from fires and residential fires account for 73 per cent of Canadian deaths caused by fire

It's been a long time since I got a new smoke alarm so maybe all new smoke alarms have these cool features or maybe they don't, I don't know. However I am impressed with the following features:
  • Bright Escape Light - automatically activates when alarm sounds to help show the path to safety. Perfect for hallways or rooms without windows.
  • Mute Button - The button that can be used to test the smoke alarm can also be used to mute the alarm in case it goes off and there is no danger (like when you are cooking.)
  • EZ Access Battery Drawer - You do NOT have to take the smoke alarm down to change the battery. There is a little drawer that slides out (see the package). 
  • Optional Theft-Prevention Lock - when activated, batteries and/or alarm cannot be removed without proper tools. This would be perfect for a young child's room where you are afraid they may do something to the alarm during play so that it doesn't work in an emergency.
  • Ionization Smoke Sensor - Apparently flaming fires produce greater amounts of smaller particles that may not be picked up by older smoke alarms. This one will sense them.
First Alert is the leading manufacturer of smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, combination alarms, fire extinguishers, safes, security camera and much more. It is the most trusted, recognized safety brand in Canada and has protected families and what matters most for over 50 years.

Established in 1986, The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) is the leading national volunteer-based organization in Canada with regional offices in British Columbia/Yukon Territory, Prairies/NWT, Ontario and the Atlantic Region.
So Why did First Alert and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) partner up?
  • First Alert and CBCF have one common and important message to spread to Canadians: early detection saves lives – whether it be a middle-of-the-night fire alarm or a routine mammogram.
  • October is Fire Safety Awareness Month and Breast Cancer Awareness month. Fires and Breast Cancer can both be fatal and for both, early detection is key.
So First Alert developed a line of Canadian Breast Cancer Fire Safety products: two smoke alarms, a carbon monoxide alarm and a kitchen fire extinguisher. For each product sold, First Alert will donate $1 to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

First Alert has donated some smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms as prizes for the In Honor of the Tatas event starting tomorrow so come back to win.

I'll leave you with some Home Safety Tips from First Alert:

  1. First Alert recommends having a working smoke alarm on every level of your home. In addition, you should also install alarms inside or near every bedroom.
  2. Smoke alarms wear out and should be replaced every 10 years as per the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC).
  3. The number one complaint about smoke alarms is that it can be difficult to change the battery—purchase one that has an easy access battery door so it never has to be removed from the ceiling.
  4. Fire extinguishers are often your first line of defense in a residential fire. Keep at least one extinguisher on every level of your home—especially in the kitchen—and ensure every member of the family knows how to use them.
  5. Carbon Monoxide is odourless, colourless and tasteless—it is a silent killer. Ensure a detector is installed on every level of your home and if the alarm goes off, get out of the house immediately. Review a fire escape plan for your family. Walk through exit paths and decide on a place to meet outside—then practice it.

*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. 

Tic Tac Canada (In Honor of the Tatas Sponsor Spotlight)

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, Tic Tac Canada is donating $25,000 to
the Breast Cancer Society of Canada and will be launching a limited edition Pink Grapefruit flavour. 


All month long, the Tic Tac Canada Facebook Page will be posting pink-related promotions, giveaways and prizes.

The Breast Cancer Society of Canada is a registered, national, not-for-profit, charitable organization dedicated to funding Canadian breast cancer research into the detection, prevention, treatment and to ultimately find a cure for the disease that women fear most.


You can find out more here: http://www.bcsc.ca/

Meet the new Tic Tac character that was created to represent Tic Tac Canada's support for the cure!




Guess what? Tic Tac Canada has agreed to provide a Prize Package for the In Honor of the Tatas event including some pink grapefruit Tic Tacs and some Tic Tac swag!

You can also follow @TicTacCanada on Twitter.

*Disclosure: I will be receiving 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. 

$1,000,000 Aviva Community Fund Competition

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Aviva Community Fund for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

How would you like to make a difference?

Aviva Canada Inc., has announced their third annual Aviva Community Fund Competition. They are offering $1,000,000 to support community initiatives across Canada.

Do you have an idea for positive community change? Visit Aviva Community Fund Contest to submit an idea and then tell everyone you know to vote as the most popular ideas will have a chance to share the $1,000,000 Aviva Community Fund.

Sit for a minute and brainstorm. What is needed in your community? A program for special needs children? A special dog walking path? A resource for single parents? Think about what people need in your community and in what way that could be accomplished. Don't have any ideas? Be sure to tell others so they can get their ideas heard.

A little information about last year:

"The eleven winning ideas in 2010 ranged from a hockey team for youth with intellectual and physical disabilities in Ottawa, to an animal shelter in Yellowknife, to playgrounds for schools in British Columbia, Ontario and New Brunswick. Launched in the fall of 2009, the Aviva Community Fund competition has already provided over $1.5 million in funding to 19 charities and community groups."

New for this year, all ideas submitted to the fund can be viewed on Facebook and will be able to accept votes via Aviva's Facebook Community. Also for every Like the Aviva Community Fund receives on Facebook, $1 will be donated to Free The Children to support at-risk youth programs in Canada.

like Aviva Community Fund on Facebook

Follow @avivacf

To increase the odds of your idea getting noticed (and voted for), get an insurance broker to support your idea, share with your social network as well as your offline friends, family and coworkers and even get it published in your local paper!

No ideas? Make sure you vote! Voting determines which idea wins. Voting continues until November 30, 2011, and the winners are announced on January 25, 2012.

There are some really GREAT ideas and it will be hard to choose as they all have merit!

Aviva Community Fund competition

Visit Sponsor's Site

REVIEW: Pink Ribbon Bags (In Honor of the Tatas Sponsor)

The Breast Cancer Society of Canada has partnered with Enviro Healthcare Inc. to develop an exclusive line of pink ribbon garbage bags for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  You will have an opportunity to win some of these bags starting tomorrow during the In Honor of the Tatas Event.

Enviro Healthcare Inc. is a leading supplies of high quality hospital laundry bags and other healthcare products.

Enviro Healthcare is donating $0.50 from each sale directly back to the Breast Cancer Society of Canada. The campaign will continue throughout the holiday season. They are hoping to raise a minimum of $35,000 across Canada by the end of 2011.

The pink bags are available in the following sizes:
Large Bags - for average household garbage cans - 67 liter capacity
Small Bags - kitchen and bathroom garbage cans - 31 liter capacity
Both sizes come with twist ties and are on rolls for easy storage and to limit packaging.

Can I just say, PINK was a great choice and not just because of Breast Cancer Awareness. My girls got more excited over the pink garbage bags we received than they did over a toy we received for review around the same time. They have a Dora garbage can in their room and they quickly took the garbage out so they could put a pink bag in!

The garbage bags are of really great quality, very durable. 

You can purchase the bags at many major national and local retailers across Canada including: London Drugs, Thrifty Foods, Northwest Stores, Overwaitea Foods, Buy Low, Sobeys, Loblaws Superstore, Metro, Fairway Markets and Atlantic Co-op.

You can find the Pink Ribbon Garbage Bags on Facebook and Twitter @PinkRibbonBags

*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. 

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

REVIEW: Strawberry Shortcake Growing Up Dreams DVD


My girls LOVE Strawberry Shortcake and the version in the videos is much better than the skinny "Itty Bitty" one on Disney Junior.

Up until this point we had only borrowed some DVDs from a friends so my girls were beyond excited to own their own Strawberry Shortcake DVD.

Summary: Strawberry Shortcake™ and all of her friends take summer fun to new heights in the fabulous new adventure Strawberry Shortcake: Growing Up Dreams, arrived on DVD August 30 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and American Greetings Properties.


Strawberry Shortcake and her friends can’t wait to grow up, and they wonder what they’ll become some day. It’s all berry exciting as imaginations soar and Strawberry and her friends see what it’s like to be busy career girls! But when Peppermint Fizz becomes Mayor and gets berry, berry bossy, trouble strikes in Strawberryland. Growing Up Dreams is all about getting along, working together, and believing in your dreams. Plus, no matter how big you get...you should never outgrow being nice!

Strawberry Shortcake is one of those cartoon characters that has lasted throughout the ages (although she has certainly changed from the 80s Strawberry Shortcake!)

She always has great messages of self love, helping others, being kind and dreaming big! Best of all, we learn all these lessons with fun songs. It's a cartoon I don't mind hearing over and over again.

I recommend Strawberry Shortcake Growing Up Dreams for your little girl.

*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. 

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Bloggers: Join Christmas Kinection and Gain More Followers

Christmas KinectionAre you looking to gain more followers for your blog but having trouble getting new potential followers to visit your blog?

Sign up for the Christmas Kinection event. There are only 6 spots left as of this blog post.

The giveaway is for a Xbox 360 4GB Kinect Bundle (yes, that’s the Xbox 360 console, Kinect, and Kinect Adventures game) PLUS 2 Kinect games: Kinectimals and another to be determined. To enter, people will have to follow you and your blog in different ways.

There is a special promotion right now. You can get 3 follow methods for $20. This promotion will end 10/23/11 or when spots are filled, whichever comes first. If spots still remain the cost will go back up to $20 for 2 follow methods and optional $5 for a 3rd method.

I've had great luck with these sorts of giveaways. The grand prize brings in new visitors and they can choose to follow you. If you do sponsored posts or sell a bit of advertising, you can use the money you've made with that to pay (that's what I do) so you aren't really using money out of your pocket.

Hurry and take advantage of the offer!

NOTE: This is to tell bloggers ABOUT the event. The actual event doesn't start till Nov 25 so you have to come back then to enter.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Heart Surgery at Three Years Old

(c) Flickr User Shawnrossi
When my oldest niece Unique was just three years old, she had to have heart surgery. She had to have a valve widened. The problem was discovered at a routine checkup when the doctor listened to her heart. She was lucky that the problem was caught before it caused any problems.

I asked her (she's now 14) and her mother what they remember or what jumped out at them about it.

Her mother remembers being scared that she wouldn't make it through, that she wouldn't be all right. The surgery took 3 hours and Unique was up and walking around only 3 hours after that. What a trouper! Little Unique was more upset about the needles than when they took out her chest tube, dripping with blood. Luckily it was determined that her condition was not related to any genetic component.

Unique doesn't remember much as she was only three. Just bits and pieces like waking up a bit from being sedated and feeling pain from what they were doing and then they put her under more. She remembers them pouring water over her to make her empty her bladder before the procedure. She remembers when she was older, finding two scars in her leg from where an angioplasty was done and asking her mom what they were from and why there were there.

She has a long scar in the middle of her chest and perhaps because she's had it for so long, she doesn't mind it all. She likes that it starts conversations and she doesn't mind explaining what happened. She isn't afraid to show her scar and I'm proud of her for that.

Unique's heart surgery may not have been related to a family history of heart disease but that doesn't mean it wasn't there. Both of my in laws struggled with heart disease. My mother in law pass away in 2006 from her second heart attack and my father in law had over 30 heart attacks and 4 heart surgeries in his lifetime. My husband remembers these surgeries and how it affected the family. That fighting spirit of Unique's must have been passed down to her by her Papa because he was laying down scrubbing floors after his first surgery, when he was supposed to be resting.

I hope my husband's family never has to endure a heart surgery again but if they do, I hope it is a minimally invasive heart surgery and they all take a page from Unique and are proud that they made it through.


*Disclosure: I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

(Guest Post) Beware: Dog in the House

(c) Flickr User Clay Larsen
Dogs are wonderful companions to those with children or those who live alone but don’t want to be lonely. They can be the bonding link in a family, a way to test one’s ability to care for others, or added protection from both human and animal intruders.

It’s a good idea to be prepared for an animal friend because they significantly change the way you go about home security, holiday planning, and home selling. Let’s examine these situations one by one, shall we?

Doggy Door

Your dog can contribute to home security him- or herself – especially if he or she is large enough to scare off human intruders. Unfortunately, there are security risks involved with having a doggy door as well. If you’re kind enough to give your pet a doggy door so that it can go in and out at will, you’re effectively leaving a hole in your security. Not only does a doggy door make it easier for human intruders to sneak into the house or circumvent your other security measures, but it will allow almost any other type of small animal to roam into your place when you and your dog aren’t home. And if you haven’t had a raccoon or skunk pay you a visit, know that it’s not of the most pleasant experiences. Not only can the animal loot your place for food and other goodies, but it can often leave you a nice “greeting” on the floor, on your bed, or in your bathtub. (Learn more about Raccoon control and about the animal itself.)

To keep unwanted animal intruders out, you will likely have to install a lockable doggy door so that you can secure the house while you’re away or asleep. This will, however, prevent your dog from moving inside or outside the house as well — unless you teach him or her to use handles and keys, that is.

On the bright side, a doggy door is a great way to maintain tidiness in your house on all other occasions. If you can train your dog to run outside of the house after its meal, you’ll save yourself plenty of headaches — and arm aches.

Doggy Holidays

Each time you go for a longer holiday, you’ll have to find somebody to take care of your pet, or you’ll have to take him or her with you. Taking a pet along is easy if you’re driving and are visiting pet-friendly places along the way, but forget about flying with your dog or taking him or her on a ship unless you absolutely have to. The mere hassle and stress imposed upon your beloved animal friend make it not worth the effort in most circumstances.

Either way, you’ll have to make sure that your pet receives enough food and liquids while you’re travelling, and that her or she has suitable conditions (temperature, shade, moisture, et cetera) to get by comfortably in your absence.

Selling and the Dog

When you decide to put your house on the market, you can expect visitors who wish to tour your property and see how they like it. In these cases, even a perfectly trained dog in the house can cause trouble. Sometimes, your potential buyers may be allergic to pets and may refuse to tour houses with pets in them. Other times, when your buyers own their own pets, your dog may be more aggressive or unfriendly towards them, which definitely does not bode well for you. In the extreme case, your buyers may bring their own pet along (although this is very rare and rather unwise of them), at which point a cataclysmic clash of the titans may ensue in your home.

Nothing of the above may be your fault, but if any of it happens to you, it won’t increase the likelihood of your attracting that particular buyer.

For these reasons, it’s wise to plan ahead when you’re considering selling your house and to find a friend or relative who would take care of your pet until the transaction comes to a close. While this may seem a harsh measure to you, not having a dog at home will allow you to perform thorough cleaning procedures without risking poisoning your pet. It will allow craftsmen or craftswomen to repair or upgrade your dwelling without annoying your dog or vice versa, and it will decrease the likelihood of a debilitating allergic reaction chasing your buyers away.

You can move your dog with you into your new place in the end, after all, and he or she will be happy to “gain new territory.”

Author Bio: Whatever your needs and wants, work with The Julie Kinnear Team to ensure that your Toronto real estate transaction is as smooth as possible and that you’ll find a pet-friendly new home for you and your furry friends.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

GIVEAWAY: Monte Carlo DVD Starring Selena Gomez

Enter to win a copy of the DVD after the article.


Favorite Post-Graduation Trips


Throughout all of high school, Grace has been looking forward to her trip to Paris, and ends up getting more than she ever dreamed. Monte Carlo proved that anything can happen in France, but what are some other favorite post-graduation spots around the world? Here we discuss the best destinations to visit after graduation!

Selena Gomez stars in Monte Carlo as Grace, a recent college graduate who is ready to live out her idea of a perfect vacation with BFF Emma (Katie Cassidy) to Paris. After several twists and turns, including her unhappy stepsister Meg (Leighton Meester) joining them on the trip, Grace falls into a fairytale of her very own in the French Riviera.

Greece

For a place that is not just interesting and exotic, but also historically fascinating, head to Greece for your grad trip. Spend your days visiting awe striking landmarks like Mount Olympus – home of the gods – or the acropolis in Athens. At night indulge yourself with rich Greek food and visit the numerous clubs and bars that are there for tourists and natives alike.

London

London is another of Europe’s great cities that not only harbors fascinating landmarks and history, but is also a major center of nightlife and culture. Visit one of the many free museums and attractions that London has to offer, then really celebrate your graduation British-style by partying in London’s star studded West End.

Mexico

Celebrate your graduation by taking a trip to the undecipherable and mysterious Mayan ruins in Cancun. The nightlife in Cancun is famous for starting late and not finishing until the sun comes up! Many of the clubs also operate an all-you-can-drink policy, with helpful staff ensuring you never have to wait for a table.

Las Vegas

Famous as a city of sin, and even more so because of the movies that showcase this, Las Vegas is the number one spot for those wanting the ultimate party experience. What better way to celebrate graduation than to see where Elvis and the Rat Pack performed while playing a leisurely game of blackjack, craps or roulette?

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Thanks to Fox Entertainment I have one copy of the DVD to give away to a US or Canadian Reader! You can enter below using rafflecopter. Just click Read More if you can't see the entry form.

If you've never used rafflecopter before to enter giveaways, check out this rafflecopter guide

Friday, October 07, 2011

Making Time For Play Every Day #KinderMom

As I mentioned before, I'm one of 60 bloggers partnered up with Mom Central Canada and Kinder Canada to encourage play and promote their new toys. This month we talk about making time for play.

My girls playing. One on the left is pregnant
and one on the right is her doctor.
Sure children play at school and sports and lessons are a form of playing too but every child needs to have time for free play where they can play in anyway they want.

Children's days are getting busier than ever these days with more lessons and more homework and chores and of course eating and sleeping. Do you make sure your child has time for free play everyday?

Here are some tips:
  • Do you walk your kids to and from school? If so, instead of just walking, encourage them to play an imagination game of their choosing. My girls pretend they are on a train while we walk, taking turns being the engine. Sometimes they hold their hand to their head and pretend they are talking on the phone to each other. Both of these games they invented themselves. You may want to leave a bit earlier to ensure you still get there on time but as long as they are still walking, I allow the games.
  • The kids want to play with you but you are exhausted and just want to lay down and rest? Give them some paint brushes and lay down and rest. Tell them you are a robot they need to paint or let them pretend to do face paint on you. You would be surprised how relaxing a small dry paint brush on your face is. It's like a mini massage. Or play the alphabet game. Lay on your stomach and have them sit next to or straddle your back (depending on their weight.) Have them scratch or draw with fingertips (depending on your likes) on your back different letters and guess them.
  • Bath Time! Doesn't every child play during bath? Don't limit them to "bath toys." Anything that
    won't get ruined if wet and can air out properly to dry without growing mold can be a bath toy. Change it up so the games they play will be different. Try plastic Tupperware and play food, plastic balls (with no opening for water to get in), jelly bracelets or even those little plastic eggs inside the Kinder Eggs that hold the toy!
Do you have any ideas of how to squeeze playtime in?

Make sure you enter to be one of 10 winners of a basket of goodies from Kinder Canada worth $200!


*Disclosure: I’m part of the KINDER® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Thursday, October 06, 2011

Printable Monte Carlo Postcards Starring Selena Gomez

Monte Carlo Sashays onto Blu-ray and DVD October 18th

I have two printable postcards below from the Monte Carlo movie starring Selena Gomez which comes out October 18. Check back soon for a giveaway of the DVD!

Summary: Bon Voyage! Take a journey across the ocean with a trio of friends who make front page headlines when a dream trip turns into a hilarious case of mistaken identity. The delightful jet-setting comedy MONTE CARLO arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on October 18th. Produced by Academy Award®-winner Nicole Kidman* (Moulin Rouge, The Stepford Wives), MONTE CARLO will take you on a fanciful ride through the picturesque sights of Europe - with three charming girls in tow!

Actress and pop sensation Selena Gomez (Ramona and Beezus, “Wizards of Waverly Place”) lights up the screen as Grace, a high-spirited high school graduate looking forward to a vacation in Paris with her best friend Emma (Katie Cassidy, “Melrose Place”), and stepsister Meg (Leighton Meester, “Gossip Girl”). Just as the girls think their trip is ruined when their hyperactive tour guide leaves them behind, Grace is mistaken for a wealthy socialite and the trio is whisked away to Monte Carlo for a thrilling week of glitz, glam, and unforgettable fun.

MONTE CARLO features supporting performances by Cory Monteith (“Glee”), Pierre Boulanger (Monsieur Ibrahim), Luke Bracey (Home And Away), and Andie McDowell (Groundhog Day).

Click to see full size

Click to see full size
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