present

The De’Longhi Coffee, Espresso and Cappuccino Combination Machine is One Machine that Does it All-Giveaway

December 17, 2016 by Kathryn 179 Comments

One of the very few downsides of loving coffee as much as I do is that I tend to have way too many different devices for brewing that perfect cup. From single-serve machines to drip brewers and everything in between, my love of fancy coffee drinks means I’m either constantly moving different brewers in and out of my cupboard or I’m losing all my counter space to multiple appliances.

But just in time for holiday entertaining, De’Longhi has come to my rescue with a brand-new solution that lets me brew all my favourite drinks with one space-saving device! The De’Longhi BCO330T Combination Machine is a combination drip brewer and espresso/cappuccino machine that lets me choose between brewing a pot of coffee, whipping up a restaurant-worthy gourmet beverage or both, any time I like! [Read more…]

Surprise Kids on Christmas Morning with the Newest Building Sets from PLAYMOBIL-Giveaway

November 16, 2016 by Kathryn 150 Comments

When Benjamin was about four years old, he had birthday money to spend and used it to buy a PLAYMOBIL horse and stable set. It was my first experience with PLAYMOBIL and I fell in love with the high quality, interactive building/play sets at first sight. The company is constantly coming out with new themes and this year, PLAYMOBIL has some great choices for kids of all ages! Since Benjamin has just started skating and gained an interest in hockey, my personal favourites are the new PLAYMOBIL licenced NHL Hockey sets. Recently I received the NHL Score Clock with Referees and the NHL Arena so I could see for myself what they were like.

The NHL Score Clock features an actual working score clock and two referees, so that kids can keep track of the score as they pretend to play. With a countdown clock, sound effects and whistles for the referees, this set lets kids get the full hockey experience as they play! And with the logos of all the NHL teams emblazoning the clock, kids will be ready to cheer on their favourite teams. [Read more…]

Creative Fun is Guaranteed this Christmas with the Crayola Air Marker Sprayer-Giveaway

November 14, 2016 by Kathryn 118 Comments

Almost every kid loves creating unique pieces of art, and if you’ve got a creative child on your holiday shopping list, Crayola has a great new gift idea that you’ll want to see! The Crayola Air Marker Sprayer uses a special electric sprayer unit, Crayola markers and stencils to let kids create colourful rainbow pictures with a unique air-brushed style! Recently I had the chance to test out the Crayola Air Marker Sprayer for myself and I couldn’t wait to see how my boys liked it.

Using the device is as simple as plugging it in, securing a marker in the nozzle and pulling the trigger. The boys liked being able to either freestyle a design onto the paper or use the included stencils to add leaves, flames, letters and animals to their pictures. Zackary especially loved the dragon stencil and had a lot of fun combining different colours to get the look he wanted! [Read more…]

Give the Gift of Creativity with Subscription Boxes from Kiwi Crate-Giveaway

December 15, 2015 by Kathryn 79 Comments

If there’s one thing that I believe is hugely beneficial in my boys’ development, it’s building and creating with their hands. From simple crafts at school to projects at home with wood scraps, a hammer and nails, there’s so much learning that goes on when a child is building something on their own! That’s why I’ve always loved Kiwi Crate subscription boxes.

These fun-filled boxes for different age levels contain a craft or building project centered around a certain theme. The Koala Crate is for children from 3-4, the Kiwi Crate is for children from 5-8, the Doodle Crate is for craft-loving kids from 9-13 and the Tinker Crate is for future engineers between 9-13. No matter what types of activities your children love, there’s a crate for them!

[Read more…]

Delight Your Child this Christmas with the Jake and the Never Land Pirates Mighty Colossus from Disney Junior

December 10, 2015 by Kathryn 31 Comments

When it comes to putting smiles on children’s faces, nobody knows quite how to get the job done like Disney Junior. Both my boys used to love the fun and engaging shows on the popular channel, from the adventurous Jake in Jake and the Never Land Pirates to clever Oso the bear from Special Agent Oso. Now, just in time for Christmas, Disney Junior is making the holidays happier for kids and easier for parents with themed toys that little fans are sure to love!

We received the Disney Junior Jake and the Never Land Pirates Mighty Colossus playset to check out for ourselves, and Zackary and Benjamin decided to give their own opinions on why it makes such a great Christmas gift. While the shooting cannon is a big part of the appeal, the fact that the ship rolls around is also tons of fun for kids. Any parent with speed-crazy boys in the house will know just how appealing racing around a new toy can be! [Read more…]

Mattel Has 9 Holiday Gifts That Are This Year’s #ListToppers for Kids-Giveaway #PlayAdvocate

December 9, 2015 by Kathryn 143 Comments

Holiday shopping is in full swing right now, and if you’re still looking for that perfect gift, Mattel has some great suggestions for you! From trains that do tricks to trendy tree decorations, there’s something for kids of all ages in this collection! Check out the nine toys that are sure to be list toppers for kids this year!

Fisher-Price® Thomas & Friends™ Turbo Flip Thomas™ Ages 3+Y | $59.99 | Available at Walmart, Toy’R’Us® and Amazon®

The original Thomas the Tank Engine™ train was made of wood and got pushed around on traditional tracks. Who would’ve guessed that one day Thomas would have such amazing features? A remote control, light-up track projector and the ability to do jaw-dropping backflips and wheelies make Turbo Flip Thomas™ a toy for a new generation.

Barbie® Rock ‘n Royal Courtney and Erika Dolls™ Ages 3Y+ | $29.99 | Available at Walmart, Toys’R’Us® and Amazon®

Have you ever watched the Barbie® Rock ‘N Royals™ movie and wished Barbie® could perform a private concert in your own home? Well, if you haven’t, you can bet your kids have. The Barbie® Rock ‘n Royal™ Courtney and Erika dolls sing songs from the movie and can perform an awesome rock concert. Their variety of songs and fashion outfits are perfect for hours of playtime fun this holiday season. [Read more…]

Surprise Your Little Boy with the Hottest Holiday Gifts from Hasbro-Giveaway #PlayLikeHasbro

December 1, 2015 by Kathryn 198 Comments

If you’re still hunting for the must-have Christmas gifts of the holiday season for boys, Hasbro has you covered with tons of great choices for little boys of all ages! From Transformers to Star Wars, Hasbro Canada has gifts for whatever hero your child is cheering on at the moment! Here are my top three gift choices for boys in 2015:

Best for Preschoolers – Playskool Heroes Super Hero Adventures Iron Man Armor Up Fortress Playset

Little heroes will love getting Iron Man suited up for adventure with this fun playset! When a hero is needed, kids simply place the Tony Stark character at the top of the fortress and then lower him into his suit so that he’s ready for action. With sound effects, cool lights and two different Iron Man suits, being a hero has never been so much fun. The fortress even has a cage for trapping bad guys! This playset is available for just $29.99 at stores across Canada. [Read more…]

Surprise the Person on Your #TASSIMONiceList with the TASSIMO T47 Brewer-Giveaway

November 27, 2015 by Kathryn 265 Comments

It’s no secret how much I love coffee. I love a simple cup of regular coffee with cream, a fancy latte or cappuccino as a treat, a mocha when I’m in the mood for something sweet…if there’s a drink with coffee involved in any way, I’m a fan. But I’m the only one in the house that really drinks it, so using a full-sized coffee maker on an everyday basis just doesn’t make sense. That’s why single-serve coffeemakers have been a favourite in this house for years.

The very first single-serve coffee machine I ever owned was a TASSIMO, and I absolutely loved it. I only stopped using it because I accidentally melted its cord when it was too close to the stove and never got around to replacing it. In the years that followed, I tried plenty of other single-serve coffee machines and I enjoyed them all. But I still remember how much I loved that very first TASSIMO machine.

So when I had the chance to receive and review this year’s ultimate Christmas gift for coffee lovers, the TASSIMO T47 brewer, it was a dream come true! Before the machine even arrived, I was online shopping for all my favourite varieties of TASSIMO T DISCs so that I could whip up some tasty beverages as soon as it arrived. [Read more…]