Create a New Best Friend with an Amazing Promotion from Build-a-Bear Workshop on National Teddy Bear Day-Giveaway

September 6, 2017 by Kathryn 112 Comments

My boys have always loved their special stuffed animal friends. From the giant duck my middle child found at a second-hand shop to the tiny husky puppy my oldest has had since he was a baby, their stuffies have been there through the years to cuddle them when they’re sad, talk to them when they’re angry and help them feel secure when they’re scared.

But there’s no stuffed animal friend quite as special as one that you make yourself. And that’s why Build-a-Bear Workshop has long been a favourite destination for children of all ages in search of an extra special new best friend.

[Read more…]

Celebrate International Women’s Day with 4 Inspiring Documentaries from Netflix

March 21, 2017 by Kathryn 15 Comments

As the only women in a house full of males, I often think about how lucky I am to have a husband that truly understands the importance of feminism, and I also wonder how I can best teach my boys that same respect for women. Since International Women’s Day just passed, finding ways to celebrate how far we’ve come in forwarding women’s rights and investigating what we can do better is on the forefront of many people’s minds. If you’re looking for some inspiration, these four documentaries on Netflix are a great place to start!

Miss Representation

I had the chance to see an exclusive premier of this movie when it first debuted and it has a powerful message about the destructive representation of women by the entertainment and media industries. Seeing the way that the media’s portrayal of women influences the way women are perceived by society had me inspired to find ways to change the narrative and ensure women are seen as the strong, complex and unique individuals they truly are. [Read more…]

Stock Up on Children’s Clothing at the Souris Mini Boxing Day Sale

December 25, 2015 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

I’m a bit of a fashion lover and to my delight, both my boys have inherited that trait from me. But actually shopping for clothes just isn’t much fun for me or the kids. Dragging them through a crowded store to try on shirts and pants isn’t something any of us get excited about. Luckily, online boutiques mean that shopping can be a pleasure instead of a pain!

Souris Mini, a Quebec-based children’s clothing boutique, had everything I wanted in a kid’s clothing store. The selection was fabulous. The sizes were ideal for my boys. The fashions were trendy. And the prices were reasonable. Personally, the cuddly Nordic pajamas were a favourite with me, so both boys now have a pair on the way! [Read more…]

Maple Leaf Cupcakes Make an Easy and Delicious Canada Day Treat

June 29, 2015 by Kathryn 41 Comments

I love cooking up special treats for special occasions, and with Canada Day coming up so quickly, I couldn’t resist making something tasty to celebrate our country! The Kraft Canada website is always a go-to resource for me when I want delicious Canada Day recipes and its Jell-O based Flag Cake is a treat I’ve made many years in the past. But this year I decided to switch things up a bit and make cupcakes instead! To keep with the theme, I used Red Velvet cake mix and a tasty cream cheese frosting.

Maple Leaf Cupcakes

Simple red and white cupcakes perfect for Canada Day

Course Dessert

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 24

Author Kathryn

Ingredients

1 box Red Velvet cake mix
3 eggs
1 cup milk
1/3 cup oil
4 oz. Philadelphia Cream Cheese softened
1/2 cup butter softened
3 cups icing sugar
1/2 cup sliced strawberries

Instructions

Prepare cake mix using eggs, milk and oil. Pour into paper-lined muffin tin and bake according to package directions.
Meanwhile, beat cream cheese and butter together until fluffy. Gradually beat in icing sugar.
Cool cupcakes completely and frost with cream cheese icing.
Arrange strawberry slices on top to resemble maple leaf.

[Read more…]

Treat Dad to a Perfect Shave on Father’s Day with a Crabtree & Evelyn Gift Set-Giveaway

June 18, 2015 by Kathryn 176 Comments

If there’s one thing that almost any man can use, it’s good shaving products. And with Father’s Day coming up this weekend, Crabtree & Evelyn has some fabulous products to help you give Dad a gift he’ll love. The company sent me the Crabtree & Evelyn Duo Gift Set to check out and I knew at a glance that it would be the perfect gift for any guy that loves a clean shave.

I received the Indian Sandalwood Duo set to review and as with all Crabtree & Evelyn products, the gorgeous presentation was immediately appealing to me. The gift box contains Shave Cream, After Shave Balm and a vintage inspired tube key, perfect for getting a perfect shave every time. Even better, the set is available in either Indian Sandalwood, Moroccan Myrrh or the award-winning West Indian Lime scent! Since my man tends to favour classic, woodsy scents, Indian Sandalwood was my favourite choice!

[Read more…]

The Best of Walt Disney World-A Guide to Experiencing All Four Parks in One Day

March 11, 2015 by Kathryn 25 Comments

It’s easy to spend multiple days exploring the four different parks that make up Walt Disney World and see new things every day. But if time is short and you want to make the most of your visit, this is the information you’ve been looking for. Enjoying the best of all four parks in twelve hours might seem impossible but with some strategic planning and a little luck, it can be done. On a recent trip to Orlando, I decided to prove that with a 1 day park hopper pass and a whirlwind day that took me from the plains of Africa to the surface of Mars!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Since Disney’s Animal Kingdom closes earlier than the other parks, it’s a great place to start the fun. The Tree of Life is a must-see, with its stunning carving depicting over 300 different animals. After taking a few minutes to admire the tree, I was off to Expedition Everest, one of the park’s most popular roller coasters. As a first ride, it’s a great one with a fast-paced coaster and a very close encounter with the Abominable Snowman. In fact, it was such a great ride that I just had to go on it twice!

Then it was off to walk through the Maharaja Jungle Trek and see the giant fruit bats, tigers, tapirs and other animals inhabiting the area. With the fun of seeing animals up close fresh in my mind, heading to the popular Kilimanjaro Safaris ride was my next top pick. Watching lions, elephants, giraffes and more roaming in expertly designed areas that simulated their natural landscapes was thrilling.

After all that walking, I was ready for a break. And watching the hugely popular 4D live show It’s Tough to be a Bug was the perfect way to relax while enjoying some great entertainment. Featuring 3D special effects, smoke, scents and more, it’s one of the top attractions in the park for good reason! My personal favourite moment was right at the end when the seats simulated the feeling of bugs crawling away underneath me! [Read more…]

Come Join In the @KraftCanada #CheesecakeoftheYear Twitter Party July 30 at 9pm EST

July 24, 2014 by Kathryn 3 Comments

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times…I LOVE cheesecake. The variety doesn’t matter, the time of year doesn’t matter, if it’s a cake made with delicious Philadelphia Cream Cheese, I’m sure to love it. And that’s why I can’t wait for National Cheesecake Day on July 30!

Now this year, Kraft Canada is making National Cheesecake Day even better with a fabulous #CheesecakeoftheYear Twitter party! To celebrate the occasion and the announcement of the Cheesecake of the Year winner, which is taking place right before the party, we’re going to be chatting about all things cheesecake and, of course, sharing some incredible recipes too! [Read more…]

Broccoli Salad Recipe for Sobeys Food Revolution Day #BetterFoodForAll #PotluckChallenge

May 20, 2014 by Kathryn 58 Comments

Friday, May 16, was the third annual Food Revolution Day, an occasion created by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver to help teach children about the joy and importance of cooking with real, wholesome ingredients. This year, Sobeys teamed up with Jamie Oliver to host the country’s biggest potluck, the Potluck Challenge, through the Better Food for All website and I was so excited to be a part of it!

The mission was simple. Host a potluck for Food Revolution Day, Tweet and Instagram pictures from the event using the hashtags #PotluckChallenge and #FRD2014 and for each hashtag mention, Sobeys would donate $1 to Children’s Aid Foundation’s Cooking Toward Independence project. This initiative teaches children in the child welfare system how to cook so that when they reach adulthood, they have the skills they need to prepare nutritious meals for themselves. I’ve always taken for granted the cooking skills I learned from my mother when I was younger but since learning about this program, I’m so grateful that I had her in my life. Thanks to Sobeys and Food Revolution Day, now other children will have a chance to develop the same essential skills!

I shared a few tips for hosting a potluck a few weeks ago, and I took advantage of every one of them when Food Revolution Day arrived and it was time for my own potluck. I decided on an outdoor barbeque potluck, so as host I provided burgers and fixings while guests brought salads and desserts. But I couldn’t resist also whipping up one of my favourite potluck recipes, Broccoli Salad! [Read more…]