Blogging

Colour Your Hair to Conquer Cancer and Join the #GetYourColourOn Twitter Party

May 4, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

When my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer just after her sixtieth birthday, I was completely shocked. It was something I’d worried about as a child because my grandmother had died battling breast cancer. But as an adult, I’d put it out of my mind, convinced that my mom was still far too young to have to worry about such a thing.

In retrospect, I realize just how foolish that belief was. Current statistics show that nearly one in two Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. And while my mother’s story was the one that hit closest to home, I realized after her battle that I knew many, many people that had also received the dreaded diagnosis.

I’m very thankful that my mom’s chemotherapy and radiation has ended, hopefully forever. But I still want to do my part to help end cancer once and for all! That’s why I’m excited to learn about Colour Your Hair to Conquer Cancer, the newest initiative from Princess Margaret Centre to help raise funds for cancer research! [Read more…]

Come Join the Canadian Tire #JumpstartMonth Twitter Party on June 7 at 8pm EST and Help Kids Get in the Game

June 3, 2016 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

For the first time in a few years, both my boys are participating in organized sports this spring. Benjamin decided he wanted to play soccer, while Zackary chose baseball. Both boys have made some new friends, developed lots of new skills and learned about teamwork and the value of cooperation. My energetic oldest son has even done some pitching!

Seeing my boys grow and develop as part of a sports team was worth every penny I paid to register them for their chosen sports. But for some parents, that extra money just isn’t available. That’s why Canadian Tire started the Jumpstart program. The charity helps pay registration fees for kids in need so that they can reap the many benefits of being on an organized sports team. And since June is Jumpstart Month at Canadian Tire, it’s a great time to show your support for this worthy cause!

To kick off Jumpstart Month in style, Canadian Tire is hosting a fantastic Twitter party that you won’t want to miss. Come join the #JumpstartMonth Twitter party on June 7 at 8pm EST and chat with special Olympic guests Hayley Wickenheiser, Meaghan Mikkelson and Benoit Huot about the importance of organized sports and how you can help support Jumpstart in your community.

Best of all, there’s $1000 in prizes to be won for those that take part, so make sure to mark your calendar and get ready for fun. Please note that prizes are available to Canadians only, excluding Quebec, but everyone is welcome to join in the conversation! And if you’re new to Twitter parties, you may want to follow along on Twubs.

One of my favourite things about Canadian Tire Jumpstart is that all the money raised in a community stays in that community. So supporting Jumpstart means that you’re helping local kids get off the sidelines and into the game! Whether a child wants to try a new sport or continue a favourite one, everybody can reap the benefit of organized sports thanks to Jumpstart!

Date: Tuesday June 7, 2016
Time: 8:00pm ET
Hashtag: #JumpStartMonth
Hosts: @CanadianTire – @CTJumpstart
Guests: @wick_22 – @Mikkelson12 – @benhuot
Prizing: $1000 in Canadian Tire Gift Cards
NO RSVP

Don’t Chicken Out! Ask Your Member of Parliament To Be the #MPChickenHero

May 31, 2016 by Kathryn 1 Comment

If there’s one thing I love, it’s a really good chicken sandwich. Topped with fresh and tasty fixings and served on a perfect bun, there’s just nothing better than that first bite of tender, juicy chicken when I’m feeling hungry. Since 1992, the wonderful people at Chicken Farmers of Canada have served up tasty chicken sandwiches on July 1 at the Great Canadian Chicken Barbecue on Parliament Hill. It’s a big job, but so is creating a sandwich so delicious that Canadians will fall in love at first bite. That’s why Chicken Farmers of Canada is searching for an #MPChickenHero!

That’s right! With Canadians already planning to attend the Great Canadian Chicken Barbecue, who better to create the perfect chicken sandwich than one of Canada’s current Members of Parliament? Last year’s winning sandwiches included a Pesto Chicken Philly Melt from the Manitoba MP Hon. Vic Toews, a Chow-Style BBQ Sandwich from Ontario MP Olivia Chow and a Canadian BBQ Chicken Sandwich from Quebec MP Sylvain Chicoine. Personally, as a serious lover of both cheese and basil, the Pesto Chicken Philly Melt is my top choice for a great sandwich. But I can’t wait to see what delicious creations are put together this year too!

And even though superheroes don’t need a reward, the #MPChickenHero is going to get a great one for his or her community! The MP that creates the winning sandwich will win a $10,000 donation for their local food bank. I grew up in pretty severe poverty, so food banks are a cause that’s near and dear to my heart. In fact, when I won a $1000 donation to my favourite charity a few years ago, my own local food bank was my immediate choice. Over one third of the people that depend on Food Banks are children and in my own admittedly biased opinion, no child should ever have to go hungry. Such a generous prize means that the winning MP is ensuring happy, well-fed kids that will have the drive to thrive in their society.

And that’s where we come in! None of our Members of Parliament can be the #MPChickenHero if they don’t know about this great opportunity, so let’s band together and make sure our local heroes enter their best recipes! I’ve been looking through the downloadable recipe book from last year’s contestants and there are some pretty amazing recipes that have been created in the past. But I’m sure this year’s MPs are up to the challenge! Visit the #MPChickenHero contest page to learn how you can contact your MP and let them know about this fun opportunity. In addition to the grand prize, a second and third place sandwich will also win donations to their local food bank. And of course, everyone that attends the Great Canadian Chicken Barbecue will get to enjoy the winner’s mouth-watering recipe on July 1. There are really no losers in this contest!

I wouldn’t have thought that there was a way to make me love chicken sandwiches even more than I already do, but Chicken Farmers of Canada has done it! The chance to discover a delicious new way to cook a chicken sandwich while also ensuring that kids across Canada have the food they need to grow and prosper is an opportunity that I can’t pass up. Visit the contest page now and make sure that your MP takes part. A little time in the kitchen could make a world of difference to a hungry child!

Join the @CanadianTire #CanadasGarage Twitter Party April 7 at 7pm EST

April 2, 2016 by Kathryn 3 Comments

When it comes to keeping a car running well, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. When I was younger, I had a bad habit of running my vehicles until they were no longer road-worthy and only then getting them fixed. The result? Costly repairs that could have been prevented with some cheap and easy maintenance. That’s why now I put a lot more effort into keeping my car in good running order. Spring is the perfect time to do that, since I’m already heading to the garage to take off my winter tires. And Canadian Tire is always a top choice for one-stop servicing for my beloved car!

Wondering what kind of maintenance your car might need this spring? Topping up fluids is a must, from antifreeze to brake fluid. An oil change is usually a good idea too; planning one every spring and fall will help keep a car running smoothly for years. It’s also a good idea to check spark plugs, especially if you’ve noticed your engine stutter a bit at any point. And having your mechanic check the condition of a car’s brakes, timing belt and air filter can save thousands on future repairs. Brake pads need to be changed periodically; left too long and both pads and disks will need replacing. And breaking a timing belt can ruin the entire engine, so checking it for wear is a must.
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Baby You Can Drive My Car? Ford Predicts the Future of Cars May Not Involve Driving Them #FordNAIAS

January 21, 2016 by Kathryn 40 Comments

Despite living in a small town with limited services and having a lifetime love of cars, I didn’t get my license until fairly late in life. In fact, I was in my early thirties with two kids before I became a licensed driver. I think that at least partly because of that, I have a strong love of driving. After so many years of having somebody else drive me around, being behind the wheel feels like freedom.

But for many, driving is a hassle rather than a pleasure. In fact, my younger sister absolutely hates driving and only does so when she has to. She thinks that the entire concept of hurtling down a highway at high speeds and trusting everyone else on the road to be responsible enough to keep you safe is crazy.

Our two different attitudes are my own first-hand experience of larger global attitudes about driving, vehicles and transportation in general. And recently I had the chance to explore some of those attitudes, and what they might mean in the future, while in Detroit with Ford Canada at the North American International Auto Show.

The event kicked off with a delicious dinner at Ford Field. Having the chance to tour the stadium, see the locker rooms of the players and even attempt kicking a field goal was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I’ll never forget. I probably should have worn different shoes, but I still had a blast even though I didn’t score our Canadian crew an extra three points! [Read more…]

Getting a Look at the Future of Automobiles with Ford Canada #FordNAIAS

January 8, 2016 by Kathryn 2 Comments

Three years ago, I attended the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan on a special blogger trip with Ford Canada. I had the chance to see into the past of the Ford Motor Company while exploring the Henry Ford Museum, and then glance into the future as the Ford’s newest vehicle was unveiled for the first time. Of course, I also spent a bit of time admiring the many other gorgeous vehicles at the auto show too!

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Come Join the #ThisLifeCBC Twitter Chat on December 7 at 9pm EST

December 4, 2015 by Kathryn 3 Comments

It takes a lot for a TV show to impress me. I tend to have a want-it-all attitude when I watch any show; I want to laugh, I want to be touched, I want to connect emotionally with the characters…needless to say, there aren’t many programs that can manage to satisfy my desires! But CBC’s new series This Life has had me hooked since the very first episode, and I know I’m not alone.

The series follows the story of Natalie, a single mother whose terminal cancer diagnosis turns her family’s lives upside down. While her journey and struggle are the focus of the series, the adventures of her siblings, parents and teenage children all provide their own substance and development to the story. It’s impossible to watch an episode and not feel your heart aching for the characters, even as you’re sometimes laughing along too. [Read more…]