Reviews

Looking for a Different Main Course for the Holidays? Let’s Talk Turducken!

My family loves turkey as a holiday main course, and it’s a long-standing tradition that I cook up a huge glazed turkey for any major celebration. But after years and years of holiday turkey meals, I have to admit that I was ready for a change. And Echelon Foods had the perfect solution for me…the

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Kids Will Love Learning this Christmas with the VTech InnoTab Max Tablet-Giveaway

It’s hard to believe it, but Christmas is only about six weeks away and my boys are already starting to get excited. The hunt to find the perfect toys for under the tree has begun and this year, VTech has a great new option for parents that want to combine fun and learning! The new

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Encourage STEM Learning with HEXBUG VEX Robotics Building Kits

My boys have been fans of the HEXBUG product line since the brand first released the adorable HEXBUG Nano micro robotic creatures, little critters powered by vibration technology that raced around elaborate tracks. Since then, we’ve discovered some of the other great HEXBUG products and now, just in time for the holidays, HEXBUG has a

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South Park: The Complete Seventeenth Season is Now Available on Blu-ray and DVD

The adult animated series South Park is one of those guilty pleasures that I’ve indulged in ever since my early twenties, though I have to make sure the boys aren’t around when I watch it now! And if you’re a fan as well, you’ll want to check out the recently released South Park: The Complete

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That Meaningful Connection with Somebody Special…It’s the Cheerios Effect-Giveaway

Have you heard of the Cheerios Effect? It’s not exactly a celebration of cereal; it’s actually a real scientific principle that you can test out at home. Drop two Cheerios into a bowl of milk and eventually they will float together and connect. And just like Cheerios, we humans are hard-wired to be drawn to

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Charge All Your Household’s Devices Easily with the Eggtronic HUB IT Sync & Charge Station-Giveaway

Running a website, it goes without saying that my house has quite a bit of technology. In fact, I have two different phones, a tablet, a small digital video camera and a DSLR that I use on a regular basis. I have charge cords for all of them but I must admit that I often

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Nourish Your Skin Gently with the New Live Clean Fresh Face Collection-Giveaway

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of the naturally sourced skin, hair and body care products from Live Clean. And part of the reason I love the brand so much is that it’s always coming up with new innovations. The recently launched Live Clean Fresh Face collection is a perfect example and I

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Heal Minor Wounds Faster with Nexcare Tegaderm Dressings and Other Nexcare Products

My energy-filled boys get their fair share of bumps and scrapes in the course of their days and I have to admit that I’m often sporting just as many little injuries as they are. While bandages are always in the cupboards as a result, it wasn’t until last year that I discovered Nexcare bandages. The

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Fall is Extra Delicious with New Chocolate Peanut Butter Drizzlecorn from Popcorn, Indiana-Giveaway

Popcorn is one of those snacks that I tend to forget about unless I’m at the movies, but it’s one of my absolute favourite treats when I do buy it. And while good old-fashioned buttered popcorn will always be something I love, I have to admit that I can’t resist some of the tastier gourmet

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Get Back to Routine this Fall with Olay, COVERGIRL and Secret-Giveaway #PGMom

With the arrival of fall comes a return to routine and that can sometimes leave moms and kids both feeling a little worn out. Early morning activities, late night study sessions…it’s not always easy putting your best face forward during the busy autumn season, especially if you got a little less sleep than you expected!

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Encourage Your Little One’s Early Mental Development with Merdy Twinkles of Joy Blankets-Giveaway

While my boys have long outgrown their baby years, that doesn’t mean that there are no more babies in my life. In fact, with five younger siblings all in relationships, there’s been a new baby cousin born every year since I gave birth to my oldest. And that means that I get plenty of opportunities

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Make This Creamy Salted Caramel Latte Recipe and Other Delicious Drinks with New Pure Via Stevia Liquid Sweetener-Giveaway

As somebody that is fairly health conscious, but also shuns artificial ingredients in my food, I’ve been a fan of Pure Via sweetener since it was first introduced in Canada. This naturally sourced option is made from an extract from the leaves of the Stevia plant and provides low-calorie sweetness that doesn’t cause fluctuations in

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Kids Will Love the Nutty Taste of #DarePeanutFree Bear Paws and Wagon Wheels with Wowbutter-Giveaway

I’m very lucky to have two boys that so far don’t have any food allergies, but of course not everyone we know is so lucky. Our small-town school is very reasonable about peanut allergies and each year the teachers inventory the students and limit foods allowed in lunches on a class-by-class basis. The first few

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Let Your Kids Blast Up Some Fun with BOOMco Toys from Mattel #BOOMcoBLAST

My boys are always excited to check out the latest new toys and so when a large BOOMco box from Mattel arrived at the front door recently, Zackary and Benjamin were bouncing off the walls with excitement. This new line of blasters features fun soft tips that will stick to targets without damaging breakable household

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Experience #FigLove with 100% Natural #NaturesBakeryPtc Fig Bars-Giveaway

This post was created in partnership with Nature’s Bakery. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Now that school is back in session, finding tasty snacks for my boys’ lunches is a top priority for me and it’s not always a job that’s easy. I like to choose healthy and natural foods whenever possible, but

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Getting Ready for Back-to-School with Neutrogena Naturals Skincare and Other Healthy Essentials

Before we know it, it will be time to stock up on school supplies, outfit our children with a new wardrobe and prepare for the busy back to school season. And while pencils, notebooks and fall clothes are on every mom’s shopping list, they certainly aren’t the only back-to-school essentials! I remember when I was

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Babies Have Sweeter Nights with Live Clean Baby Calming Bedtime Bubble Bath and Body Lotion-Giveaway

When it comes to helping a baby to sleep through the night, most parents are willing to try anything and I was certainly no exception. From regular routines to soothing music to aromatherapy, I found all kinds of ways to try to maximize my boys’ sleep time. And for me, the most helpful tip I

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Our Family is Smiling Brighter Thanks to Philips Sonicare! #SonicareSmile

About two weeks ago, Philips Sonicare challenged my boys and I to change our smiles with the help of the new Sonicare DiamondClean adult toothbrush and the Sonicare for Kids power toothbrush. In just two weeks, the brushes promised to improve our smiles and as a family that’s had plenty of dental concerns already, that

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Organize Your Household and Preserve School Memories with the Fellowes Saturn2 95 Laminator-Giveaway

There are some devices that I don’t even realize I need until I try them, and then I wonder how I ever got by without them. Recently I added just such a gadget to my household: the Fellowes Saturn2 95 Laminator. While I remembered how much I loved having school projects laminated when I was

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Arnicare Gel and Other Boiron Products Help Families Enjoy Summer More #BoironFamily

When the warm weather arrives, my boys and I are outside more than we’re inside and that means we end up with plenty of summer irritations too. From minor strains and sprains to itchy insect bites to scrapes and burns, my boys and I frequently deal with those little inconvenient injuries that don’t really slow

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Save Your Family’s Memories with Easy Scrapbook Options from Project Life by Stampin’ Up!-Giveaway

My family has a lot of great memories but I have to admit that I’ve never been that good at preserving them. Even since Zackary was a baby, I found that the pictures I took sat on my computer for far too long without ever being enjoyed and even when I did get prints made,

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Kids Can Learn, Play and Record Memories with the VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch

Owning a smartwatch is all the rage right now and even kids are getting in on the fun thanks to VTech! Just in time for back-to-school, VTech Canada has released the VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch, a durable multi-tasking watch that lets kids learn as they play! This watch is great for teaching children to tell time,

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ramada kelowna hotel and conference center

Celebrate 60 Years of Ramada Hotels with a Two-Night Ramada Getaway

There is nothing better than having the chance to travel and explore some of the fabulous areas that Canada has to offer, and right now Ramada Hotels wants you to experience the country’s beauty for yourself as the chain celebrates its 60th anniversary! With over 75 locations across Canada, there’s sure to be a Ramada

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Big Fish Games Awakening Kingdoms is Now Available for iPad and iPhone

Some time ago I had the chance to play Big Fish Games’ iPad release of Midnight Castle and I came away quite impressed by this immersive hidden object adventure. Today, the company is back at it again with the much-anticipated release of Awakening Kingdoms for iPad and iPhone, the next title in the Awakening series.

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Treat Minor Injuries with Hot or Cold Therapy Thanks to THERA°PEARL Packs-Giveaway

As a somewhat clumsy mom with two very active boys, it goes without saying that we have our fair share of bumps, bruises, strains and sprains in this house. In fact, in the last week alone my youngest son got a black eye playing with his brother, my oldest scraped his knee racing in the

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spaghetti bolognese

Best Bolognese Sauce Recipe with T-fal Jamie Oliver Professional Stainless Steel Cookware

I love cooking and I am always excited to learn something new when it comes to perfecting different dishes. And even though I’ve been cooking since I was eight years old, one of my most important lessons in the kitchen didn’t come until I was an adult. That lesson was this: the right tools make

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Serve Your Drinks In Style this Summer with New Drinking Mugs and Lid Sets from Bernardin-Giveaway

Every year in the late summer and early fall, I find a way to preserve the extra vegetables and fruit that I grow in my garden or get from the local market gardens and most of the time, I do that by canning. From my family’s favourite plum jam made with plums from the tree

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Say #GoodbyeFlyaways and Shave #InASnap with New Products from Gillette Venus and Vidal Sassoon-Giveaway #PGMom

Summer is definitely the season for wearing cool, flowing dresses while sporting cool, flowing hair and I have to admit, it’s one of my favourite things about July and August. There’s simply nothing better than feeling the warm breeze blowing while being outside in the sunshine. But summer clothes can mean summer woes at times,

Say #GoodbyeFlyaways and Shave #InASnap with New Products from Gillette Venus and Vidal Sassoon-Giveaway #PGMom Read More »

Kids Will Have a Healthy Summer with Natrol Angry Birds Vitamins

My boys are huge fans of the Angry Birds franchise, and in addition to the games themselves, they have a collection of memorabilia including stuffed toys, building sets and mini characters. But now, thanks to Natrol, Zackary and Benjamin have a whole new way to enjoy Angry Birds…as vitamins! New Natrol Angry Birds vitamins come

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Biking is More Fun and Versatile with Child Carriers and Bike Trailers from MammaCangura-Giveaway

One of the first things I do when spring arrives each year is pull out my family’s bicycles, and once they’re in the front yard, we are all out riding almost every chance we get. Last year, Benjamin rode in a bike trailer when we went on long rides. But this year he’s old enough

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Rio 2 Downloadable Activity Sheets and Outdoor Ideas Make Summer Fun

Get ready to shake your tail feathers! Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment takes you deep into the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest for the most fun you’ll have all summer, as Rio 2 debuts on 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD. Just in time for summer vacation, this hilarious family adventure will samba its way into your home

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Treat Yourself to Your Favourite Special K Products and Earn a Free Tote Bag

Summer is in full swing and to keep you fueled up when you’re outside enjoying the sunshine, Kellogg’s Special K has all kinds of delicious snacks that will help you feel full without weighing you down. From breakfast cereal packed with protein to energizing shakes, there are options for every taste! Personally, the Special K

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New Weleda Baby Derma White Mallow Protects Baby’s Delicate Skin

Sensitive skin is something that we understand very well in this family. Between allergies, a history of eczema and the fact that our skin often seems to just be easily irritated, I always make sure that I’m choosing skincare products that are gentle, natural and helpful at soothing irritated skin. Weleda products are always a

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KRE-O Transformers: Age of Extinction Building Sets are Perfect for Summer Fun-Giveaway #BuildKREO

When I was a child, the highlight of my week used to be sitting down on Saturday to watch the Transformers cartoon. So when the first hit movie was released in 2007, I saw it as soon as I could. But while I love the movies, I think what I love even more about the

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Share Your Music this Summer with the iFrogz Tadpole Bluetooth Speaker-Giveaway

Nothing makes summer more enjoyable than some great tunes and if you like to take your music with you wherever you go, the new iFrogz Tadpole Bluetooth speaker is the perfect new companion! This compact wireless speaker is just two and a half inches tall and comes with a carabiner clip so that it can

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Power Up at Breakfast with Multi-Grain Cheerios + Ancient Grains-Giveaway

I love mixed grain products for the added nutritional benefits they provide, and Ancient Grain products tend to be a special favourite. I generally enjoy Ancient Grain blends in things like bread and tortillas, but now General Mills is bringing the blend of grains to breakfast with brand new Multi-Grain Cheerios + Ancient Grains! This

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Show Off Your Style and Stay Organized with a MEIDUM Leather Purse-Giveaway

If there’s one thing becoming a mother taught me, it’s that all purses are not created equal. I have a fairly extensive purse collection, but that’s because different occasions really do require different bags! And no matter what type of bag I need on any given day, I want it to be high quality, fashionable

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Father’s Day Books for Dads and their Kids from Scholastic Canada

Father’s Day is this weekend and Scholastic Canada is celebrating with some great books that illustrate that special bond between a dad and his kids. I received a few of Scholastic Canada’s newest books featuring dear old dad to review and they are a great choice for little ones this Father’s Day! Mighty Dads by

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Celebrate Motherhood with Top Items from the Distinctive Assets Mother’s Day in Hollywood Gift Basket

Every Mother’s Day in Hollywood, 25 of the top new celebrity moms are treated to a gorgeous gift basket created by the LA-based marketing firm Distinctive Assets. Packed with tons of designer items for Mom and Baby, these gift baskets are always extraordinary and this year was no exception! Celebrity moms and moms-to-be including Gwen

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The PetSafe Canada Simply Clean Litter Box and Pet Loo Make Caring for Your Pet Easier Than Ever-Giveaway

If there’s one thing that most people know about me, it’s that I absolutely love my cat, named Racer by my oldest son. As the only other female in the house, she immediately latched onto me even as a kitten and I have to admit, I can’t resist her complete devotion. But Racer’s also a

The PetSafe Canada Simply Clean Litter Box and Pet Loo Make Caring for Your Pet Easier Than Ever-Giveaway Read More »

New HEXBUG Aquabot and Battle Spider Toys are Tons of Robotic Fun

A few years ago, my boys discovered HEXBUG Nano, small mechanical robot bugs that use vibration technology to scoot around different tracks in an incredibly realistic manner. HEXBUG Nano bugs were a hit with children everywhere, but the company didn’t stop the innovation there! The HEXBUG company has recently created even more fun robotic creatures

New HEXBUG Aquabot and Battle Spider Toys are Tons of Robotic Fun Read More »

Nature’s Path EnviroKidz Cereal Makes Breakfast Delicious, Healthy and Eco-Friendly-Giveaway

When it comes to breakfast, I really can’t go wrong giving my boys cereal. They love almost any variety of cold breakfast cereal and as an added bonus for me, Zackary is old enough now to pour out cereal and milk for himself and his brother! But when I’m choosing breakfast cereal for my boys,

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Brighten Up Your Table for Spring with Novogratz Collection Dinnerware-Giveaway

If there’s one thing that makes the arrival of spring even better, it’s freshening up the household décor with some cheery new accessories. I often tell people that my favourite colour is rainbow and while it may not be an appropriate colour for every season, it’s a great choice for spring! So when I saw

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Little Girls Celebrate Canada’s Diversity with Maplelea Girls Dolls

One of the things I love so much about Canada is its diversity, and that’s why I’ve always loved Maplelea Girls. These large and realistic dolls are instantly appealing to both children and parents because of their wholesome look and realistic body type. But even better, each of the Maplelea Girls dolls has a unique

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Take the #WeledaHairDare with New Weleda Oat Replenishing Hair Care-Giveaway

I absolutely love discovering new bath and beauty products and when those products are made with natural ingredients, that’s even better. I have a few different hair care lines that I love but with my long hair, I never miss a chance to try new shampoo and conditioner just in case I discover something I

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Give the Gift of Time Spent Together with Datevitation Love Coupon Books-Giveaway

We’ve all had that moment of struggle when trying to find a perfect gift and I think part of the reason that deciding on a great gift can be a challenge is that many of us don’t really need very much. In fact, in today’s busy world, sometimes the best gift of all is just

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Treat Mom to a DQ Cake and Support the Children’s Miracle Network through Lindsey’s Cakes for Miracles #LCFM

When I was a child, one of the most exciting and coveted treats in my life was an ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. But with a birthday in January, I never actually got one. My sister, with a birthday in June, was more often the lucky one that got to blow out the candles

Treat Mom to a DQ Cake and Support the Children’s Miracle Network through Lindsey’s Cakes for Miracles #LCFM Read More »

Get The Oscar-Nominated Film The Wolf of Wall Street Now on Blu-ray and DVD

I’ve become greatly interested in the stock market as I start to take control of my finances. Part of this interest has also spilled over into learning about the history of the market for the last 20-30 years. So it was quite timely when the movie The Wolf of Wall Street was released on Blu-Ray

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Grill Steak, Chicken, Fish and More to Perfection with the T-fal #OptiGrill-Giveaway

If there’s one thing that I love about living in a small town, it’s the high number of small, family-run businesses to which I have access. And one of my absolute favourites is our local butcher shop, Jerky Boys Meats. As the name implies, the shop’s jerky is its claim to fame; nobody I know

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