unique

Socks are Anything But Boring this Christmas with Good Luck Sock-Giveaway

November 19, 2016 by Kathryn 175 Comments

It may be a bit of a cliché to give somebody socks for Christmas, but that doesn’t mean it’s not still a great gift idea! And if you’ve been wondering how to make a practical gift into one that’s also lots of fun, I’ve found the perfect solution! Good Luck Sock, an Edmonton-based company specializing in fun and funky sock designs, has both men’s and women’s socks that loved ones are sure to get excited about wearing!

I recently received five pairs of Good Luck Sock socks so that I could see firsthand what the designs were like. I picked a few favourites and asked for random patterns for my remaining pairs. When the package arrived, I couldn’t wait to see what kind of socks my husband and I would be sporting! [Read more…]

Try Snacks from Around the World with a Treats Subscription Box-Giveaway

October 14, 2015 by Kathryn 163 Comments

My family and I are all big fans of snacking and because of that, we love discovering new and delicious snack foods to enjoy. From a savoury new chip flavour to a unique chocolate treat, we’re willing to try almost anything once! That’s why I love the idea of the Treats subscription box service.

There are a lot of subscription box programs that offer monthly snacks, and I’ve had the chance to try a few of them in the past. What makes Treats different is that the company features snack foods from different countries each month, so each shipment of treats is also a glimpse into another culture. I recently had the chance to review a Treats Premium Pack featuring 8-10 snacks from Japan and the whole family was excited about giving the goodies a try! [Read more…]

Combine Fun and Learning with Magformers Building Sets-Giveaway

August 19, 2015 by Kathryn 164 Comments

When it comes to finding the best toys for my boys, I tend to favour those that encourage creativity. That’s why building blocks have been a favourite with Zackary and Benjamin for years now; the building possibilities are only limited by the imagination of my children. But recently I had the chance to review a toy that gave children a different way to create…Magformers! These clever geometric shapes contain magnets on each side so that they can snap together in all kinds of ways.

Recently I had the chance to review some of the newest Magformers sets and I knew my boys would be only too happy to help me out. I received the Unique 44pc set and the WOW 27pc set to review. I loved the idea of a set that included wheels since my boys love any kind of vehicle. But they had just as much fun seeing how many shapes they could build with the Unique set!

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Celebrate Your Unique Family with Great Shows from Netflix #StreamTeam

May 20, 2015 by Kathryn 19 Comments

I’ve never been much of a fan of the concept of a “traditional” family, perhaps because my own family was so different. My mom was my dad’s second wife; he’d had four children with his first wife that were all so much older I tended to think of them more as aunts and uncles than sisters and brothers.

My own parents then also divorced after having three children together: my two siblings and me. My dad remarried a third time and had one last son. My mom remarried as well and had two daughters, but then divorced again. She’s currently engaged to the man I generally think of as my stepfather.

That means that in total, I have two older half brothers, two older half sisters, my own brother and sister, a younger half brother and two younger half sisters. And that’s not including the stepsiblings. When trying recently to describe the origin of a book I received as a childhood git, I actually used the phrase, “my ex-step-grandma.” [Read more…]

Taking Trash to Treasure with a DIY Custom Picnic Table Makeover

March 25, 2015 by Kathryn 43 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #trash2treasure #CollectiveBias

There’s nothing like spring to bring out my inner creativity, and this year I had the chance to really show off my springtime style with a fun trash to treasure spring makeover project! Giving an outdated item new life is something I’ve always enjoyed, both because it saves money and because it lets me put a unique twist on items in our home. While I had a few different project ideas, the one piece of furniture most in need of some tender loving care was our back yard picnic table, so I set out to take it from drab to fab with a budget of just $25!

After two weeks of gorgeous weather, a huge snowstorm had me frightened I’d have to abandon the project, but I’d managed to cover the top of the table in time to keep it dry enough for the makeover. My blow dryer came in handy as well for ensuring the seats were dry enough to sand and paint. I started by using the sanding attachment on my power drill to smooth the top and seats while removing the peeling paint at the same time. [Read more…]

Find the Perfect Feeding System for Your Baby with the New Playtex Bottle & Nipple Gift Set and Nipple Variety Pack-Giveaway #MomTrust

March 14, 2014 by Kathryn 43 Comments

I love being a mother and it’s something I’ve embraced since I learned I was pregnant eight years ago. My emotions after having my first son were mostly of wonder, happiness and love, but in the coming weeks another emotion started to creep into my days…confusion. When it comes to taking care of a baby, parents have a plethora of choices. That’s a good thing, but it can also make life more confusing for a new mother! Bottles are the perfect example. From different bottle designs to different nipples that provide certain benefits and flow rates, how is a mother to know which bottle is best for her little one? Babies can be picky and so even after making a choice, many parents find that their little ones reject the bottle or nipple that’s been purchased and favour a different one.

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Surprise Your Honey with a Sustainable JORD Wood Watch this Valentine’s Day-Giveaway

February 7, 2014 by Kathryn 153 Comments

If you’re looking for an original gift for your sweetheart this year, a stunning and unique wooden watch from JORD is a gift that’s sure to make a statement. These beautiful watches are made with a selection of different woods from all over the world to create a look that is unique, stylish and sustainable. And with a variety of designs and colours, there’s sure to be one that catches your eye.

Recently I received the SULLY series watch in Cherry and Maple from JORD Wood Watches to review. I loved the two-tone wood colouring of this watch, which gave it an extra bit of originality. The watch strap is sized large to ensure that it fits a larger man’s wrist, but can easily be resized for a perfect fit by removing some of the links in the band. [Read more…]

SO SO Happy Clothing and Accessories are Now Available in Canada-Giveaway

December 13, 2013 by Kathryn 101 Comments

One of the most important lessons we can teach our kids is that being different makes them special, and that concept is one that the fun-loving brand SO SO Happy embraces to the fullest. Recently, SO SO Happy made its Canadian debut with an adorable and original line of clothing and accessories available at Walmart Canada. I fell in love with the quirky characters and bright colours of the clothing at once and was so excited when I received a few of the items to check out for myself.

The SO SO Happy line includes t-shirts, hats, gloves, onesies, stationary and plush toys that are sure to make kids smile. And making kids smile is what the company is all about! It was created by Cindy Bailey as a way to spread positivity and self-empowerment to children after her own child was bullied. The company donates 10% of its proceeds to organizations that help kids in crisis; in Canada, the company is donating its proceeds to Breakfast Clubs of Canada. [Read more…]