Reviews and Giveaways

Fun and Practical Holiday Stocking Stuffers from Church & Dwight-Giveaway

December 14, 2017 by Kathryn 99 Comments

It seems like just when I’ve finished my Christmas shopping, I have to reach into my purse once more to buy enough trinkets and treasures to fill stockings for my boys and my husband. But filling a stocking doesn’t have to cost a fortune, so this year I’m on the hunt for fun and practical stocking stuffers for the whole family.

By keeping stocking items more sensible, I know I’ll be able to keep the family budget in check and give some truly useful items at the same time. Here’s a list of some of the best ideas for stocking stuffers from Church & Dwight that are both practical and affordable.

Gifts for Her

Batiste™ Dry Shampoo Lotus: With hints of Apple, Wildberry, Grape and Citrus, Batiste™ Dry Shampoo Lotus instantly refreshes your hair between washes by absorbing excess oil from the roots, leaving hair smelling fresh and clean for every and any occasion. [Read more…]

Four Reasons the Alcatel A50 Smartphone Makes the Perfect Tween Gift

December 5, 2017 by Kathryn 27 Comments

The older my boys get, the harder they get to shop for. And that’s especially true for my almost-a-teenager, Zackary. He’s a mature boy for his age and finding a gift that he will enjoy but will also be useful for him is no easy task.

That’s why I’m taking a leap this year and surprising him with his very first smartphone. It’s something I’ve been planning for after our recent move to our out-of-town acreage, so that I could get in touch with him in an emergency. And when I read about the Alcatel A50 smartphone, I knew I’d found the perfect tween gift.

Searching for that all-important first phone for your youngster as well? Here are four reasons why this smartphone is the BEST choice for your tween: [Read more…]

Get Festive with Tasty New Seasonal Treats at McDonald’s Canada

December 5, 2017 by Kathryn 1 Comment

December is here and that means I am in full holiday mode! The tree is up, our new house is strung with lights and I’ve already dressed up Baby Cormac in a sweet Christmas outfit. But the holidays aren’t just about the decorations for me. They’re also about the food! And McDonald’s Canada has introduced some delicious festive menu items that I couldn’t wait to try.

[Read more…]

Share Holiday Memories Instantly with the Fujifilm Instax SQUARE SQ10 Camera and SHARE SP-3 Printer-Giveaway

December 4, 2017 by Kathryn 75 Comments

Disclosure: I am participating in the FujiFilm Canada campaign managed by SJ Consulting. I received compensation in exchange for my participation in this campaign. The opinions on this blog are my own.

When it comes to capturing holiday memories, I’m guilty of the same thing that so many of us are. I tend to take hundreds of photos, load them onto my computer and then leave them there. It’s rare I ever think to print a few of them to frame or decorate my house. But when I do, I always enjoy having those personal photos on display.

That’s why I was so excited to review the new Fujifilm Instax SQUARE SQ10 Hybrid Instant Camera and the Instax Share SP-3 SQ Smart Phone Printer. These two devices give me a fun and easy way to print photos in a flash and share them with friends and family…while also still being able to store them on my computer for future enjoyment.

[Read more…]

Protect Your Home and Keep Your Family Powered Up with a Champion Generator-Giveaway

November 30, 2017 by Kathryn 162 Comments

About a month ago, my family moved into the newly built house that my husband and I have been labouring over for the last five months. It sits on six acres of beautiful prairie land in a subdivision just outside Saskatoon, and is everything we dreamed it would be.

For the most part, everything about the move has been wonderful. But even though we’re in a subdivision, we are still technically on a rural property. And that comes with some challenges. We waited for an Internet connection for over five weeks. We have a septic system instead of a sewer line. And, being in a rural area, I know that power outages are going to be much more common.

Luckily, Champion Power Equipment has come to the rescue to help me ensure a power outage doesn’t mean it’s lights out for the family! The company sent me its 3000-Watt Generator featuring a gasoline-powered 196cc engine and 4000 starting Watts to help ensure that even if our house loses power, we’ll be able to function. [Read more…]

Teaching My Baby to Take a Bottle with 3 Simple Techniques-Giveaway

November 30, 2017 by Kathryn 17 Comments

Disclosure: I am part of the PTPA Brand Ambassador Program with Philips Avent and I received Compensation as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Shortly after Baby Cormac was born, my husband and I began preparing for our first night out without our little one. We have season tickets to the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and the concert on November 18 featured Tanya Tagaq, a performance I knew that I had to see. So, I used my Philips Avent Comfort Manual Pump to stock up on milk and got my Philips Avent Natural Bottles ready for our baby.

When the big day rolled around, I saddled my sister with instructions and headed out the door feeling excited, but apprehensive. My husband had tried to get Baby Cormac to take a bottle a few weeks ago when I was running errands, and our little darling hadn’t been very enthusiastic about it. But my sister, in addition to having three girls of her own, is also a nurse. I was confident that her skills combined with our Philips Avent Natural bottles would keep our baby fed.

Imagine my surprise when I got home and learned that my baby had slept the entire three hours we were away! My sister and I were both a little disappointed that she hadn’t been able to try feeding him, but I decided that to make our next excursion easier, I would start trying to give Baby Cormac a bottle a little more often. And these are the three techniques I’ve been using to increase my chances of success! [Read more…]

Lighting McQueen is Back in Disney’s Cars 3 Now on Blu-ray and DVD-Giveaway

November 29, 2017 by Kathryn 54 Comments

When my oldest son was just a toddler, he fell in love with the spunky and speed-driven Lightning McQueen when Disney’s Cars hit theatres. A few years later, his little brother learned about Lighting and his friends in Cars 2. (And he still says Mater is his favourite!)

Now, more than ten years after the first movie was released, Lightning McQueen is back to delight kids once again in Cars 3, now available on Blu-ray and DVD! Since I have a little one that will soon be watching cartoons with his big brothers, I can’t wait to see what my third child thinks of the movie we received to review. Here’s a brief synopsis:

Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician with her own plan to win, inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet, and a few unexpected turns. Proving that #95 isn’t through yet will test the heart of a champion on Piston Cup Racing’s biggest stage! [Read more…]

Let Kids Create Holiday Magic with the Crayola Magic Scene Creator-Giveaway

November 24, 2017 by Kathryn 115 Comments

When it comes to finding the best Christmas gifts, choosing presents that inspire creativity is a must for me. And that’s why, year after year, I’ll find myself choosing the newest products from Crayola. From simple crayons and markers to fun art gadgets like the Crayola Air Marker Sprayer we reviewed last year, I can always count on Crayola to inspire my boys’ imaginations.

This year, we were given the chance to review the Crayola Magic Scene Creator. This clever portable art device gives my boys the chance to create all kinds of pictures, stories and scenes that come to life with the push of a button. The screen has an innovative light that, when switched on, turns the included Motion Cards into roaring dragons, swimming fish, sparkling stars and more! [Read more…]