This week's Candid Canuck is Jennifer from Ninja Mommers! Check out our interview with her..
Showing posts with label All Canadian Link Up. Show all posts
Showing posts with label All Canadian Link Up. Show all posts
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link Up! 07/27
Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up! This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview. Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!
This week's Candid Canuck is Jennifer from Ninja Mommers! Check out our interview with her..
This week's Candid Canuck is Jennifer from Ninja Mommers! Check out our interview with her..
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link up! 07/20
Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up! This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview. Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!
This week's Candid Canuck is Cheryl from The Beautiful Side of Hectic! Check out our interview with her..
This week's Candid Canuck is Cheryl from The Beautiful Side of Hectic! Check out our interview with her..
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link Up! 07/13
Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up! This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview. Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!
This week's Candid Canuck is Pat from Canadiana Connection! Check out our interview with her..
This week's Candid Canuck is Pat from Canadiana Connection! Check out our interview with her..
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link Up 06/15
Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up! This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview. Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!
This week's Candid Canuck is our own Kim from Tales of a Ranting Ginger. Check out our interview with her..
This week's Candid Canuck is our own Kim from Tales of a Ranting Ginger. Check out our interview with her..
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link Up! 06/08
Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up! This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview. Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!
This week's Candid Canuck is Annemarie from Celeb Dirty Laundry. Check out our interview with her..
This week's Candid Canuck is Annemarie from Celeb Dirty Laundry. Check out our interview with her..
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link Up 05/25
Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up! This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview. Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!
This week's Candid Canuck is Sara from The Travel Presse. Check out our interview with her..
This week's Candid Canuck is Sara from The Travel Presse. Check out our interview with her..
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| Sara with her two brothers in New Zealand. |
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link Up! 05/18
Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up! This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview. Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!
This week's Candid Canuck is Bonnie from The Koala Bear Writer. Check out our interview with her..
This week's Candid Canuck is Bonnie from The Koala Bear Writer. Check out our interview with her..
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link Up 05/11
Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up! This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview. Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!
This week's Candid Canuck is Deborah from Raising My Boys. Check out our interview with her..
This week's Candid Canuck is Deborah from Raising My Boys. Check out our interview with her..
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link Up 04/27
Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up! This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview. Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!
This week's Candid Canuck is Angie from Echoes of Laughter. Check out our interview with her..
This week's Candid Canuck is Angie from Echoes of Laughter. Check out our interview with her..
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link up! 04/20
Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up! This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview. Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!
This week's Candid Canuck is Kerrie from Family Food and Travel. Check out our interview with her..
This week's Candid Canuck is Kerrie from Family Food and Travel. Check out our interview with her..
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link Up! 04/13
Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up! This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview. Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!
This week's Candid Canuck is Shannon from Shannon's View from Here. Check out our interview with her..
This week's Candid Canuck is Shannon from Shannon's View from Here. Check out our interview with her..
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link up! 04/06
Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up! This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview. Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!
This week's Candid Canuck is Shayna from Mommy Outside the Box. Check out our interview with her..
This week's Candid Canuck is Shayna from Mommy Outside the Box. Check out our interview with her..
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link Up! 03/30
Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up! This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview. Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!
This week's Candid Canuck is Karen from Nourish With Karen. Check out our interview with her..
What prompted you to start your blog?
I started to blog because I love food and I want to share my ideas about healthier options! There is such disconnect between food and health right now. As a Nutritionist, I know that what we eat becomes the foundation of our health and wellbeing. So many of the medical symptoms we treat with drugs can be alleviated with proper nutrition. I want people to know that!
How do you meal plan when you have the challenges of food tolerances in your home/family?
When you first figure out that food intolerance plays a part in a family member’s health and you realize that the cure is changing what they eat, you are relieved! Then you start thinking about the logistics of meal planning.
There is a desire to replace products with like products. People, and children specifically, want the foods they are familiar with, but with time you find new favourites. Quite honestly, food intolerances were a blessing in disguise. We eat so much better now that we are aware of the food issues. There is much less dependence on packaged food. We eat fresh food, much less sugar and more fruits and vegetables. If you are travelling you often end up taking food with you.
It is amazing the baked goods you can make with wheat flour substitutes like almond flour and coconut flour, which are high in protein and fibre.
If you could give our readers one piece of advice when it comes to healthy meal planning, what would it be?
My advice regarding healthy meal planning is to stop relying on manufactured products like salad dressings, meals in a box, packaged cookies, etc. These products are high in salt, sugar and preservatives and low in nutrition. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store. This is where you will find whole, fresh foods which are so much better for you.
What do you think of as the ultimate Canadian comfort food?
I think of “one pot meals” as the ultimate Canadian comfort food. There is nothing better than coming home to a hot crockpot meal that is ready to serve on a busy weeknight.
Do you have a recipe you are particularly proud of?
I make a delicious chilli, which I have been tweaking for years. The flavours are complex and delicious. This is in part because of the play between the sweetness of the molasses and honey and the sour flavour of the tomatoes and apple cider vinegar. The smoked paprika and chipotle pepper add a smoky, rich flavour to it as well. It is the ultimate comfort food and can be prepared the night before, refrigerated, and then popped into the crockpot on low for 4-5 hours. (You can find this chilli recipe HERE, at Karen's website.)
Share with us a few other Canadian bloggers you think our readers should check out.
There are so many awesome Canadian bloggers in the blogosphere to choose from and the sense of community is overwhelming. I am grateful to the hosts of Canucks Rock: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy! These ladies are dynamic for their promotion of others!
Other websites I enjoy are: Satori Design for Living, Shauna has great ideas, gorgeous pictures and I always come away inspired. Just a Smidgen is another beautiful site which is described as a lifestyle blog filled with recipes, photography, poems, and DIY. It oozes creativity! Angie at Echoes of Laughter dabbles in all sorts of ideas, and I love her bright, sunny disposition. Of course being a foodie, I am drawn to all kinds of food blogs as well, Ceci n’est pas un food blog and Dan’s Good Side, to name a couple.
Thanks so much Karen!
Want to be one of our featured Canucks? Sign up here.
Right now, link up your Canadian blog and social media accounts, find some new reads and new friends!
Click here to grab this linky for your site!
This week's Candid Canuck is Karen from Nourish With Karen. Check out our interview with her..
What prompted you to start your blog?
I started to blog because I love food and I want to share my ideas about healthier options! There is such disconnect between food and health right now. As a Nutritionist, I know that what we eat becomes the foundation of our health and wellbeing. So many of the medical symptoms we treat with drugs can be alleviated with proper nutrition. I want people to know that!
How do you meal plan when you have the challenges of food tolerances in your home/family?
When you first figure out that food intolerance plays a part in a family member’s health and you realize that the cure is changing what they eat, you are relieved! Then you start thinking about the logistics of meal planning.
There is a desire to replace products with like products. People, and children specifically, want the foods they are familiar with, but with time you find new favourites. Quite honestly, food intolerances were a blessing in disguise. We eat so much better now that we are aware of the food issues. There is much less dependence on packaged food. We eat fresh food, much less sugar and more fruits and vegetables. If you are travelling you often end up taking food with you.
It is amazing the baked goods you can make with wheat flour substitutes like almond flour and coconut flour, which are high in protein and fibre.
If you could give our readers one piece of advice when it comes to healthy meal planning, what would it be?
My advice regarding healthy meal planning is to stop relying on manufactured products like salad dressings, meals in a box, packaged cookies, etc. These products are high in salt, sugar and preservatives and low in nutrition. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store. This is where you will find whole, fresh foods which are so much better for you.
What do you think of as the ultimate Canadian comfort food?
I think of “one pot meals” as the ultimate Canadian comfort food. There is nothing better than coming home to a hot crockpot meal that is ready to serve on a busy weeknight.
Do you have a recipe you are particularly proud of?
I make a delicious chilli, which I have been tweaking for years. The flavours are complex and delicious. This is in part because of the play between the sweetness of the molasses and honey and the sour flavour of the tomatoes and apple cider vinegar. The smoked paprika and chipotle pepper add a smoky, rich flavour to it as well. It is the ultimate comfort food and can be prepared the night before, refrigerated, and then popped into the crockpot on low for 4-5 hours. (You can find this chilli recipe HERE, at Karen's website.)
Share with us a few other Canadian bloggers you think our readers should check out.
There are so many awesome Canadian bloggers in the blogosphere to choose from and the sense of community is overwhelming. I am grateful to the hosts of Canucks Rock: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy! These ladies are dynamic for their promotion of others!
Other websites I enjoy are: Satori Design for Living, Shauna has great ideas, gorgeous pictures and I always come away inspired. Just a Smidgen is another beautiful site which is described as a lifestyle blog filled with recipes, photography, poems, and DIY. It oozes creativity! Angie at Echoes of Laughter dabbles in all sorts of ideas, and I love her bright, sunny disposition. Of course being a foodie, I am drawn to all kinds of food blogs as well, Ceci n’est pas un food blog and Dan’s Good Side, to name a couple.
Thanks so much Karen!
Want to be one of our featured Canucks? Sign up here.
Right now, link up your Canadian blog and social media accounts, find some new reads and new friends!
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link Up! 03/23
Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up! This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview. Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!
This week's Candid Canuck is Serena from The Bewildered Bug. Check out our interview with her..
What prompted you to start your blog?
I originally started my blogging in 2008. I did this because I was arranging my wedding in Trinidad while going to school in Toronto. Only one of my friends from Canada was able to make the wedding, so I thought that it would be an easy way of keeping them up to date on what was going on while I was in Trinidad. It also helped me to not have to answer the same questions a million times, but rather, just email everyone the private link. After the wedding I used it to keep my family and friends in Trinidad updated on my new married life. I decided to go public because a few of my friends encouraged me to. I started with writing about life events and doing writing challenges. I later was mentored by Kim from Tales of a Ranting Ginger and started doing product reviews on my blog.
I have many, many allergies, the worst of which are my food allergies. After writing about it once, there were so many questions from readers that I decided to start writing about food allergies and promoting allergy friendly foods and products. I have also been diagnosed with Clinical Depression and Panic Disorder, and try to write about Mental Health to help get rid of stigma about Mental Illnesses and to help educate the public.
What are some of your favourite topics to blog about?
This is a difficult question. Blogging is therapeutic for me, so I like to blog about issues that bother me and my Mental Health challenges. However, I love blogging about food, I love attending events and travelling and then telling you about the awesome places I have been and things I have seen. I love jewellery and makeup, so when I get those products to try and write about I am over the moon!
As a gluten free blogger do you have a favourite recipe you'd like to share?
I still consider myself a newbie at gluten free cooking - the reason is because food, in itself, is actually pretty easy to convert to gluten free. If I write a recipe, I want it to be original and from me, not some form of someone else's recipe. Gluten Free baking, however, is a completely different matter. It is all about mixing different flours to get an effect close to normal wheat flour - which does not always work. Dairy free cooking and baking is probably the easiest because you replace dairy with dairy free on a 1:1 basis. The hardest allergen to replace is egg....because nothing in the world comes close to reacting like an egg!
I digress. My favourite recipe is actually not one of mine, but one from Carol A
at Simply Gluten Free - Dairy Free Chocolate Pots. I just make them without berries. I just die when I have them! I have made them with milk chocolate as well and those are quite divine and loved by my dairy-loving friends and family.
You recently moved from Canada to the U.k. What do you miss most about Canada?
I miss so much! I think it is due to me having to get used to it here. I am living at least 4 hours away from anyone I know so I am pretty lonely. I miss the familiarity of Canada and I miss having my usual support system. I definitely miss meeting up with my bloggy girlfriends! We did not do it that often but I always loved seeing them. I miss living near a big city where things do not close up at 5pm. I miss the 24 hour Korean restaurant down the road from me. I miss the stores (cause I am a shopaholic). I miss Pho!!!!!!! Wow I can go on and on, but in the end, moving somewhere new is a process and I just have to be patient (which I have a hard time doing).
What are some of the challenges of blogging from overseas?
There are a few challenges. When I knew I was moving I swore to upkeep the Canadian part of my blog because I have so many North American followers, and let's face it...without their readership, I never would have had a blog. So, the biggest challenge with regards to that is doing the reviews and attending the events. I am not there, so I have to depend on others (in my case my MIL and my cousin) to do what I used to do. My MIL is not the most reliable with getting info to me on time and she leaves it to my BIL to take photos which he NEVER does. After that, when I ask what they think, I get a one sentence answer ("I liked it" or something similar), which I have to tell you is impossible to write a review from. My cousin is more reliable but just learning the ropes. A lot of the time I end up buying a review item if they sell it here and reviewing it myself. With regards to events, I have to contact my cousin to see if she could go, and she has a newborn....and does not check her email very frequently...so I feel as if I am in the dark, but we are figuring things out (I hope).
With regards to British companies, I feel as if I am starting all over, and it is frustrating not to have the support and network that I had in Canada. If I ever needed help or advice, I knew who to turn to. If I needed to contact a company rep, I knew how to and who would answer. The British reps have no clue who I am and take their time getting back to you, if they get back to you at all. It just is very frustrating to have to start from scratch with my product reviews after a year and a half of it.
The awesome thing is that this is forcing me back to my personal blogging and I am starting to think out of the box to bring my readers interesting content that are not reviews and giveaways, but full of information and tales to make them react (hopefully in a positive way).
Share with us 3 other Canadian bloggers you think our readers should check out.
There are so many great bloggers that I will be doing an injustice to the ones who don't get mentioned. Let me first say that all of the Canadian bloggers I have met and read are amazing ladies, and each one of them have spectacular stories!
I love sarcasm and cynicism, so Tanis Miller (formerly Attack of a Redneck Mommy) is one of my absolute favourites. She lives in an incredibly difficult situation, yet she always manages to make me guffaw out loud when I read her writing. I think the first blog of hers I read was "Blue Thunder" - and what a read that was! She is so awesome that I have actually never gone up to her to meet her at conferences because I am too intimidated. Sad I know!
I seem to like people who struggle with problems and manage to get past them somehow...and then take it that step further to try to help, in their own little way. My friend Sober Julie has a section on her blog called "Sober Doesn't Suck" where she talks about her alcoholism, addictions, her sobriety story and ways to help others get sober/clean. I admire people like that.
Not really a blogger, but rather, a community of bloggers, I like Masalamommas because in the one year that I was alone in Toronto, Anjum, Sheba and Kulbinder, three of their bloggers, supported me to a ridiculous extent online and IRL. If it wasn't for their encouragement I am not sure I would have gotten through my loneliness as easily as I did. Anjum in particular also somehow got through some of my fears of mingling with a South Asian community and I truly appreciate her welcoming me with open arms to Masalamommas events even though I am neither South Asian, nor a Momma.
So what is the future for Bewildered Bug?
I am looking into starting "Wandering Wednesdays", a series of posts with loads of photos that describe the areas I now live in. England is so different and I want you to discover it along with me!
Also not so much this blog, but soon to be an affiliated website, I am starting my allergy free baking business, The Baking Bug. I will be specialising in professional allergy free celebration and wedding cakes for the West Yorkshire area. Unfortunately I cannot ship to Canada. Oh, and yes, I am formally trained.
Thanks so much Serena!
Want to be one of our featured Canucks? Sign up here.
Right now, link up your Canadian blog and social media accounts, find some new reads and new friends!
Click here to grab this linky for your site!
This week's Candid Canuck is Serena from The Bewildered Bug. Check out our interview with her..
What prompted you to start your blog?
I originally started my blogging in 2008. I did this because I was arranging my wedding in Trinidad while going to school in Toronto. Only one of my friends from Canada was able to make the wedding, so I thought that it would be an easy way of keeping them up to date on what was going on while I was in Trinidad. It also helped me to not have to answer the same questions a million times, but rather, just email everyone the private link. After the wedding I used it to keep my family and friends in Trinidad updated on my new married life. I decided to go public because a few of my friends encouraged me to. I started with writing about life events and doing writing challenges. I later was mentored by Kim from Tales of a Ranting Ginger and started doing product reviews on my blog.
I have many, many allergies, the worst of which are my food allergies. After writing about it once, there were so many questions from readers that I decided to start writing about food allergies and promoting allergy friendly foods and products. I have also been diagnosed with Clinical Depression and Panic Disorder, and try to write about Mental Health to help get rid of stigma about Mental Illnesses and to help educate the public.
What are some of your favourite topics to blog about?
This is a difficult question. Blogging is therapeutic for me, so I like to blog about issues that bother me and my Mental Health challenges. However, I love blogging about food, I love attending events and travelling and then telling you about the awesome places I have been and things I have seen. I love jewellery and makeup, so when I get those products to try and write about I am over the moon!
As a gluten free blogger do you have a favourite recipe you'd like to share?
I still consider myself a newbie at gluten free cooking - the reason is because food, in itself, is actually pretty easy to convert to gluten free. If I write a recipe, I want it to be original and from me, not some form of someone else's recipe. Gluten Free baking, however, is a completely different matter. It is all about mixing different flours to get an effect close to normal wheat flour - which does not always work. Dairy free cooking and baking is probably the easiest because you replace dairy with dairy free on a 1:1 basis. The hardest allergen to replace is egg....because nothing in the world comes close to reacting like an egg!
I digress. My favourite recipe is actually not one of mine, but one from Carol A
at Simply Gluten Free - Dairy Free Chocolate Pots. I just make them without berries. I just die when I have them! I have made them with milk chocolate as well and those are quite divine and loved by my dairy-loving friends and family.
You recently moved from Canada to the U.k. What do you miss most about Canada?
I miss so much! I think it is due to me having to get used to it here. I am living at least 4 hours away from anyone I know so I am pretty lonely. I miss the familiarity of Canada and I miss having my usual support system. I definitely miss meeting up with my bloggy girlfriends! We did not do it that often but I always loved seeing them. I miss living near a big city where things do not close up at 5pm. I miss the 24 hour Korean restaurant down the road from me. I miss the stores (cause I am a shopaholic). I miss Pho!!!!!!! Wow I can go on and on, but in the end, moving somewhere new is a process and I just have to be patient (which I have a hard time doing).
What are some of the challenges of blogging from overseas?
There are a few challenges. When I knew I was moving I swore to upkeep the Canadian part of my blog because I have so many North American followers, and let's face it...without their readership, I never would have had a blog. So, the biggest challenge with regards to that is doing the reviews and attending the events. I am not there, so I have to depend on others (in my case my MIL and my cousin) to do what I used to do. My MIL is not the most reliable with getting info to me on time and she leaves it to my BIL to take photos which he NEVER does. After that, when I ask what they think, I get a one sentence answer ("I liked it" or something similar), which I have to tell you is impossible to write a review from. My cousin is more reliable but just learning the ropes. A lot of the time I end up buying a review item if they sell it here and reviewing it myself. With regards to events, I have to contact my cousin to see if she could go, and she has a newborn....and does not check her email very frequently...so I feel as if I am in the dark, but we are figuring things out (I hope).
With regards to British companies, I feel as if I am starting all over, and it is frustrating not to have the support and network that I had in Canada. If I ever needed help or advice, I knew who to turn to. If I needed to contact a company rep, I knew how to and who would answer. The British reps have no clue who I am and take their time getting back to you, if they get back to you at all. It just is very frustrating to have to start from scratch with my product reviews after a year and a half of it.
The awesome thing is that this is forcing me back to my personal blogging and I am starting to think out of the box to bring my readers interesting content that are not reviews and giveaways, but full of information and tales to make them react (hopefully in a positive way).
Share with us 3 other Canadian bloggers you think our readers should check out.
There are so many great bloggers that I will be doing an injustice to the ones who don't get mentioned. Let me first say that all of the Canadian bloggers I have met and read are amazing ladies, and each one of them have spectacular stories!
I love sarcasm and cynicism, so Tanis Miller (formerly Attack of a Redneck Mommy) is one of my absolute favourites. She lives in an incredibly difficult situation, yet she always manages to make me guffaw out loud when I read her writing. I think the first blog of hers I read was "Blue Thunder" - and what a read that was! She is so awesome that I have actually never gone up to her to meet her at conferences because I am too intimidated. Sad I know!
I seem to like people who struggle with problems and manage to get past them somehow...and then take it that step further to try to help, in their own little way. My friend Sober Julie has a section on her blog called "Sober Doesn't Suck" where she talks about her alcoholism, addictions, her sobriety story and ways to help others get sober/clean. I admire people like that.
Not really a blogger, but rather, a community of bloggers, I like Masalamommas because in the one year that I was alone in Toronto, Anjum, Sheba and Kulbinder, three of their bloggers, supported me to a ridiculous extent online and IRL. If it wasn't for their encouragement I am not sure I would have gotten through my loneliness as easily as I did. Anjum in particular also somehow got through some of my fears of mingling with a South Asian community and I truly appreciate her welcoming me with open arms to Masalamommas events even though I am neither South Asian, nor a Momma.
So what is the future for Bewildered Bug?
I am looking into starting "Wandering Wednesdays", a series of posts with loads of photos that describe the areas I now live in. England is so different and I want you to discover it along with me!
Also not so much this blog, but soon to be an affiliated website, I am starting my allergy free baking business, The Baking Bug. I will be specialising in professional allergy free celebration and wedding cakes for the West Yorkshire area. Unfortunately I cannot ship to Canada. Oh, and yes, I am formally trained.
Thanks so much Serena!
Want to be one of our featured Canucks? Sign up here.
Right now, link up your Canadian blog and social media accounts, find some new reads and new friends!
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link Up 02/09
Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up! This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview. Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!
This Week's Candid Canuck is Jacquelyn from The Gourmet Housewife. Check out our interview with her..
Tell us what inspires your recipes.
I subscribe to over 75 cooking blogs and 3 magazines. I love pouring over other recipes, which give me ideas for food I want to make.
What made you start a blog?
Not only do I love cooking, but I love sharing recipes too. I always have people comment about how my food is so "fancy", when it really isn't. I wanted to show that it is possible to cook restaurant quality food at home, with very little time and effort. You don't have to be a 5 star chef to move away from pan fried pork chops and boiled peas.
Have you ever tried a recipe that just did not turn out? Tell us about it.
Oh yes. Many times. Those ones just don't get documented. ;) I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so most times it's actually perfectly edible...and it drives my husband crazy that I'm so critical of myself.
For actual failures, there are two that stand out clearly in my mind:
#1: I used to make this chocolate cake as a kid, but every time I did, it didn't hold together and kept falling apart. It was still delicious, but you had to eat it in a bowl with a spoon. The recipe called for "1 cup sour milk (1 tsp vinegar)", which I assumed meant: "If you don't have sour milk, just put in the vinegar." I didn't understand that I was supposed to add the vinegar TO the milk to make buttermilk.
#2: I am TERRIBLE at doubling or halving a recipe. I always miss one ingredient. I made oatmeal cookies using the recipe on the back of the Robin Hood bag. They were flat and see-through. I kept ranting, "You would THINK that the people who made the oats would know how to make oatmeal cookies!" Turns out...when I was doubling the recipe, I forgot to double the oats.
Is there something you want to try but have not had a chance to do it? If yes, what?
So much! A couple on my list to try soon are making my own homemade chèvre (goat cheese) and dumplings.
Why do you dislike cilantro so much? If a recipe calls for it, what do you use?
I used to be okay with cilantro, but something changed about 10 years ago. The smell actually gives me a headache. I keep trying to train myself to like it, so I can handle it in small quantities, but I find that for me it adds nothing to a recipe. Most times I just omit it from a recipe, though once in awhile I'll substitute fresh parsley instead.
Surviving Canadians winters, what can you simply not live without during the wintertime?
My oven. There's just something about snowy winter days that makes me want to bake. It's always going full steam during the winter months, popping out bread, cinnamon buns and cookies on a weekly basis. My husband and coworkers love it. ;)
Thanks so much Jacquelyn! Want to be one of our featured Canucks? Sign up here.
Right now, link up your Canadian blog and social media accounts, find some new reads and new friends!
Click here to grab this linky for your site!
This Week's Candid Canuck is Jacquelyn from The Gourmet Housewife. Check out our interview with her..
Tell us what inspires your recipes.
I subscribe to over 75 cooking blogs and 3 magazines. I love pouring over other recipes, which give me ideas for food I want to make.
What made you start a blog?
Not only do I love cooking, but I love sharing recipes too. I always have people comment about how my food is so "fancy", when it really isn't. I wanted to show that it is possible to cook restaurant quality food at home, with very little time and effort. You don't have to be a 5 star chef to move away from pan fried pork chops and boiled peas.
Have you ever tried a recipe that just did not turn out? Tell us about it.
Oh yes. Many times. Those ones just don't get documented. ;) I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so most times it's actually perfectly edible...and it drives my husband crazy that I'm so critical of myself.
For actual failures, there are two that stand out clearly in my mind:
#1: I used to make this chocolate cake as a kid, but every time I did, it didn't hold together and kept falling apart. It was still delicious, but you had to eat it in a bowl with a spoon. The recipe called for "1 cup sour milk (1 tsp vinegar)", which I assumed meant: "If you don't have sour milk, just put in the vinegar." I didn't understand that I was supposed to add the vinegar TO the milk to make buttermilk.
#2: I am TERRIBLE at doubling or halving a recipe. I always miss one ingredient. I made oatmeal cookies using the recipe on the back of the Robin Hood bag. They were flat and see-through. I kept ranting, "You would THINK that the people who made the oats would know how to make oatmeal cookies!" Turns out...when I was doubling the recipe, I forgot to double the oats.
Is there something you want to try but have not had a chance to do it? If yes, what?
So much! A couple on my list to try soon are making my own homemade chèvre (goat cheese) and dumplings.
Why do you dislike cilantro so much? If a recipe calls for it, what do you use?
I used to be okay with cilantro, but something changed about 10 years ago. The smell actually gives me a headache. I keep trying to train myself to like it, so I can handle it in small quantities, but I find that for me it adds nothing to a recipe. Most times I just omit it from a recipe, though once in awhile I'll substitute fresh parsley instead.
Surviving Canadians winters, what can you simply not live without during the wintertime?
My oven. There's just something about snowy winter days that makes me want to bake. It's always going full steam during the winter months, popping out bread, cinnamon buns and cookies on a weekly basis. My husband and coworkers love it. ;)
Thanks so much Jacquelyn! Want to be one of our featured Canucks? Sign up here.
Right now, link up your Canadian blog and social media accounts, find some new reads and new friends!
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link Up! 02/02
Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up! This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview. Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!
This Week's Candid Canuck is Elizabeth from Frugal Mom Eh! check out our interview with her..
Do you have a money saving tip you would like to share?
I think the best way to save money is to take a good look at your monthly bills. Your cell phone bill, your electrical/hydro bill, your cable bill etc… All your telecommunication bills are NEGOTIABLE! Shop around at your providers competition and call in to your current provider armed with the “amazing” offers you are considering switching to. Ask for the “loyalty” or “retention dept” to get the most savings. If you are paying for services without any discounts or offers you are being ripped off! As far as utility bills take a look at how you can reduce your consumption. You can easily cut down on your water usage and your electrical usage without depriving yourself.
You have had some great products featured on your blog. What is your fave product/brand you have reviewed and why?
That’s so hard! I have been really blessed to have worked with some really great companies over the past year, it’s incredible. LilHelper has been really fabulous to deal with, I can’t say enough good things about those guys, and their cloth diapers rock! I also recently worked with SodaStream and Samsung on product reviews and I definitely have to put the SodaStream Fizz and the Samsung Series 9 UltraBook up there with my favourite products I’ve reviewed. DK Canada books are really wonderful to deal with and have such amazing quality books. Hasbro is also a lot of fun to work with – my daughter absolutely loves the Rocktivity Sit to Stand Musik Skool we reviewed. Honestly this is such a difficult question to answer because I really value the relationship I have with so many brands I can’t pick just one!
What is your biggest pet peeve about blogs, bloggers or blogging?
Oh but I have so many! When it comes to blogs themselves, I can’t stand an unorganised messy looking blog.
Where do you see your blog in a year from now? Do you have any fave blogs you read often? Share with us 2 of your must reads.
Bigger, better but similar. I’m not planning any big changes. Just hoping for growth like everyone I suppose.
I have so many blogs that I read regularly and have since before I started blogging myself. I have 3 Canadian blogs that I’ve been reading for a while now and motivated me to start my own so I am going to share all 3 rather than just 2. Tales of a Ranting Ginger, Feisty Frugal and Fabulous and Mommy Kat and Kids.
You have one hour alone to yourself, what do you do?
Oh gosh I would take the longest, hottest, bubbliest bath in the history of bathing with a BIG glass of wine and a book. Bliss!
Thanks so much Elizabeth! Want to be one of our featured Canucks? Sign up here.
Right now, link up your Canadian blog and social media accounts, find some new reads and new friends!
Click here to grab this linky for your site!
This Week's Candid Canuck is Elizabeth from Frugal Mom Eh! check out our interview with her..
Do you have a money saving tip you would like to share?
I think the best way to save money is to take a good look at your monthly bills. Your cell phone bill, your electrical/hydro bill, your cable bill etc… All your telecommunication bills are NEGOTIABLE! Shop around at your providers competition and call in to your current provider armed with the “amazing” offers you are considering switching to. Ask for the “loyalty” or “retention dept” to get the most savings. If you are paying for services without any discounts or offers you are being ripped off! As far as utility bills take a look at how you can reduce your consumption. You can easily cut down on your water usage and your electrical usage without depriving yourself.
You have had some great products featured on your blog. What is your fave product/brand you have reviewed and why?
That’s so hard! I have been really blessed to have worked with some really great companies over the past year, it’s incredible. LilHelper has been really fabulous to deal with, I can’t say enough good things about those guys, and their cloth diapers rock! I also recently worked with SodaStream and Samsung on product reviews and I definitely have to put the SodaStream Fizz and the Samsung Series 9 UltraBook up there with my favourite products I’ve reviewed. DK Canada books are really wonderful to deal with and have such amazing quality books. Hasbro is also a lot of fun to work with – my daughter absolutely loves the Rocktivity Sit to Stand Musik Skool we reviewed. Honestly this is such a difficult question to answer because I really value the relationship I have with so many brands I can’t pick just one!
What is your biggest pet peeve about blogs, bloggers or blogging?
Oh but I have so many! When it comes to blogs themselves, I can’t stand an unorganised messy looking blog.
Where do you see your blog in a year from now? Do you have any fave blogs you read often? Share with us 2 of your must reads.
Bigger, better but similar. I’m not planning any big changes. Just hoping for growth like everyone I suppose.
I have so many blogs that I read regularly and have since before I started blogging myself. I have 3 Canadian blogs that I’ve been reading for a while now and motivated me to start my own so I am going to share all 3 rather than just 2. Tales of a Ranting Ginger, Feisty Frugal and Fabulous and Mommy Kat and Kids.
You have one hour alone to yourself, what do you do?
Oh gosh I would take the longest, hottest, bubbliest bath in the history of bathing with a BIG glass of wine and a book. Bliss!
Thanks so much Elizabeth! Want to be one of our featured Canucks? Sign up here.
Right now, link up your Canadian blog and social media accounts, find some new reads and new friends!
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link Up! 02/23
Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up! This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview. Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!
This Week's Candid Canuck is Amanda from Multi-Testing Mommy check out our interview with her..
Tell us a bit about yourself and your background before you started blogging.
Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to become a teacher. I went through life working with kids as a babysitter, swim instructor, piano teacher, Child Life assistant (in a hospital) and more. Teaching was who I was until I had a family of my own. I focused my everything on being a teacher. I loved teaching Kindergarten and music! When I had children, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to focus on my family and have enjoyed doing this for the past 8 years! I got into blogging as a way to stay connected to the outside world when my daughter was born and also as a way that I could share her exciting developments. Slowly, my blog started taking on new forms of sharing information with other Canadian parents so I re-branded and became what I am now - Multi-Testing Mommy.
Three things that I love to do are hold babies, bake and sing.
One thing that I don't love is seafood, can't stand it! Never have, never will.
One thing that I strive to figure out is time management and organization.
I am a people pleaser, a mix between an introvert and an extrovert (depending on the situation) and I am sensitive.
I love to give advice when asked and I try to be an open book, if you want to know something, just ask! I love to share :)
If you went on a trip to the Bahamas what three items would you NEED to take with you?
Can I say my family? My hubby and my two kids? LOL! Seriously! If not, then for sure my computer, a bathing suit and LOTS of sunscreen!
Tell us about Multi-Testing Mommy, what's the theme or idea behind your site?
Multi-Testing Mommy started off as a separate blog from my personal blog, a place where I could share product reviews and giveaways only. Slowly, over time, it has become a place for me to share everything and anything from crafts, recipes, activities for kids and families, product reviews and of course giveaways (I know the readers love these!). If I had all the time in the world, I would post more parenting posts and activities for kids. This year, I am trying to take on less product reviews and write more about the things I love to write.
Last year, I also started up Canadian Moms Cook with Stacey from Did You Know Canada?. I wanted a place that my readers could go to see all of my recipes in one place and it is always fun to go an adventure with a friend!
Since you often review products, name a few of the favourite items you've reviewed.
Wow - I've been introduced to so many amazing products through my blog, it is hard to name just a few.
I absolutely loved reviewing the Zoku Popsicle Maker. It has been well used in our house and I cannot wait for the summer, when it will likely be put to use every single day!
My daughter and I loved reviewing the Ford Taurus! We love testing out different vehicles and talking about whether or not they will work for our family. This is something we would love to do more often this year, once the weather gets a bit better.
I also love reviewing toys and books for children. This past summer, we received some Hex Bugs for review. We had such a fun time testing them out together.
I'm also a skin care junky in that I love to review different products for the hair, body and skin. This year, I am so excited to be a #PGMom and have had the opportunity to test out all kinds of awesome products, but I have also received many more natural products that I have grown to love as well, for example, Burt's Bees.
What tip would you give to other bloggers who are just starting out?
When starting out, it is so easy to compare yourself to some of the "bigger" blogggers. Try not to do this. Network like crazy and make your rounds around the blogosphere, reading other blogs and leaving comments. Post regularly and interact with your commenters/fans so that they will be encouraged to come back! As much as we sometimes get bogged down with numbers, it's about the interactions and the readers!
Share a link to one of your favourite posts.
I love to give advice to other parents, especially from a Kindergarten teacher's perspective. I loved writing this post about Information for New Kindergarten Moms and Dads because I have now experienced Kindergarten from the teacher's and the parent's perspective.
Thanks so much Amanda! Want to be one of our featured Canucks? Sign up here.
Right now, link up your Canadian blog and social media accounts, find some new reads and new friends!
Click here to grab this linky for your site!
This Week's Candid Canuck is Amanda from Multi-Testing Mommy check out our interview with her..
Tell us a bit about yourself and your background before you started blogging.
Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to become a teacher. I went through life working with kids as a babysitter, swim instructor, piano teacher, Child Life assistant (in a hospital) and more. Teaching was who I was until I had a family of my own. I focused my everything on being a teacher. I loved teaching Kindergarten and music! When I had children, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to focus on my family and have enjoyed doing this for the past 8 years! I got into blogging as a way to stay connected to the outside world when my daughter was born and also as a way that I could share her exciting developments. Slowly, my blog started taking on new forms of sharing information with other Canadian parents so I re-branded and became what I am now - Multi-Testing Mommy.
Three things that I love to do are hold babies, bake and sing.
One thing that I don't love is seafood, can't stand it! Never have, never will.
One thing that I strive to figure out is time management and organization.
I am a people pleaser, a mix between an introvert and an extrovert (depending on the situation) and I am sensitive.
I love to give advice when asked and I try to be an open book, if you want to know something, just ask! I love to share :)
If you went on a trip to the Bahamas what three items would you NEED to take with you?
Can I say my family? My hubby and my two kids? LOL! Seriously! If not, then for sure my computer, a bathing suit and LOTS of sunscreen!
Tell us about Multi-Testing Mommy, what's the theme or idea behind your site?
Multi-Testing Mommy started off as a separate blog from my personal blog, a place where I could share product reviews and giveaways only. Slowly, over time, it has become a place for me to share everything and anything from crafts, recipes, activities for kids and families, product reviews and of course giveaways (I know the readers love these!). If I had all the time in the world, I would post more parenting posts and activities for kids. This year, I am trying to take on less product reviews and write more about the things I love to write.
Last year, I also started up Canadian Moms Cook with Stacey from Did You Know Canada?. I wanted a place that my readers could go to see all of my recipes in one place and it is always fun to go an adventure with a friend!
Since you often review products, name a few of the favourite items you've reviewed.
Wow - I've been introduced to so many amazing products through my blog, it is hard to name just a few.
I absolutely loved reviewing the Zoku Popsicle Maker. It has been well used in our house and I cannot wait for the summer, when it will likely be put to use every single day!
My daughter and I loved reviewing the Ford Taurus! We love testing out different vehicles and talking about whether or not they will work for our family. This is something we would love to do more often this year, once the weather gets a bit better.
I also love reviewing toys and books for children. This past summer, we received some Hex Bugs for review. We had such a fun time testing them out together.
I'm also a skin care junky in that I love to review different products for the hair, body and skin. This year, I am so excited to be a #PGMom and have had the opportunity to test out all kinds of awesome products, but I have also received many more natural products that I have grown to love as well, for example, Burt's Bees.
What tip would you give to other bloggers who are just starting out?
When starting out, it is so easy to compare yourself to some of the "bigger" blogggers. Try not to do this. Network like crazy and make your rounds around the blogosphere, reading other blogs and leaving comments. Post regularly and interact with your commenters/fans so that they will be encouraged to come back! As much as we sometimes get bogged down with numbers, it's about the interactions and the readers!
Share a link to one of your favourite posts.
I love to give advice to other parents, especially from a Kindergarten teacher's perspective. I loved writing this post about Information for New Kindergarten Moms and Dads because I have now experienced Kindergarten from the teacher's and the parent's perspective.
Thanks so much Amanda! Want to be one of our featured Canucks? Sign up here.
Right now, link up your Canadian blog and social media accounts, find some new reads and new friends!
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link Up 02/16
Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up! This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview. Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!
This Week's Candid Canuck is Trina from Life's a Blog, check out our interview with her..
If you could interview anyone dead or alive who would it be and why?
Lady Gaga. For a girl in her 20’s, she’s got more common sense than most people in their 40’s. If I would have had half the knowledge and confidence at her age, I’m certain my life would have taken a brave new direction.
You have had some fabulous interviews and attended some great events, is there one that is your favourite? Why?
The Toronto Film Festival is my favorite event but last year I attended the Boots and Hearts Country Music Festival and it rocked my world. I can’t stop talking about the great time I had there. It was all about the people! The performers were amazing, but the people were out of this world.
In regards to my interviews, I was scared to death to interview Ian Astbury of the Cult during his media tour last year. I asked myself several times who I thought I was to deserve this? The interview went great and he was such a great person to listen to and learn from. I believe it was also the interview that I realized that my personality allowed me to find out truths that were never truly discovered. After my interview, I read reviews that it was a “revealing” interview with Ian Astbury.
What goals do you have for your blog for 2013?
Two goals actually.
In 2012, I was catering to too many companies and hosted too many giveaways. This is NOT who I am. In 2013, it’s strictly those brands who I truly love. If they don’t want to work with me because I’m an advocate and not an influencer, then I’ll love them in silence. My blog this year will become a business, not a free walking billboard for brands with a multi-million dollar advertising budget.
Looking back to 2008, my blog started as a venue to talk about the Toronto Film Festival with a mix of entertainment news. Last year, I discovered that I love interviewing people. I love to learn what makes them tick and the secret to their success. This year, I want to aspire to connect with PR companies and publicists in Toronto and LA to review movies and interview as many people that I can.
It is great that your blog has contributors including your teen daughter. If you could give a piece of advice to a new blogger starting out, what would it be?
Write what you love. Writing about what you love consistently, with a basic understanding of SEO and Social Media, can take you places you have never imagined.
If you could live anywhere in Canada, where would it be?
Quite honestly, I’m blessed with where I am right now. I have a few lifelong friendships online and offline. People I think the world of. However, as a couple, Toby and I would like to experience something new soon. I’d love to live right downtown Toronto so I am at the center of everything. I think Toby would like that too because he never gets out.
What inspires you day to day
Quite frankly, life’s challenges. Everyday I’m always faced with a challenge. Whether it’s writing copy for a sell sheet, interviewing someone, a whiny teenager or dealing with an issue, there is always a hurdle to overcome. It’s what inspires and drives me (crazy) every day.
Is there anything you want the world to know about Trina Stewart?
It’s funny because most people online take me VERY seriously until they get to know me. Most of the time I’m laughing. Even when I’m mad, I find the funny part of the situation. I guess it’s the best way to make light of any situation to get you through it. Also, despite my good humour, I have no issue calling a spade a spade. I don’t care how popular or successful you are, I do not tolerate bullying or abuse towards another individual.
Thanks so much Trina! Want to be one of our featured Canucks? Sign up here.
Right now, link up your Canadian blog and social media accounts, find some new reads and new friends!
Click here to grab this linky for your site!
This Week's Candid Canuck is Trina from Life's a Blog, check out our interview with her..
If you could interview anyone dead or alive who would it be and why?
Lady Gaga. For a girl in her 20’s, she’s got more common sense than most people in their 40’s. If I would have had half the knowledge and confidence at her age, I’m certain my life would have taken a brave new direction.
You have had some fabulous interviews and attended some great events, is there one that is your favourite? Why?
The Toronto Film Festival is my favorite event but last year I attended the Boots and Hearts Country Music Festival and it rocked my world. I can’t stop talking about the great time I had there. It was all about the people! The performers were amazing, but the people were out of this world.
In regards to my interviews, I was scared to death to interview Ian Astbury of the Cult during his media tour last year. I asked myself several times who I thought I was to deserve this? The interview went great and he was such a great person to listen to and learn from. I believe it was also the interview that I realized that my personality allowed me to find out truths that were never truly discovered. After my interview, I read reviews that it was a “revealing” interview with Ian Astbury.
What goals do you have for your blog for 2013?
Two goals actually.
In 2012, I was catering to too many companies and hosted too many giveaways. This is NOT who I am. In 2013, it’s strictly those brands who I truly love. If they don’t want to work with me because I’m an advocate and not an influencer, then I’ll love them in silence. My blog this year will become a business, not a free walking billboard for brands with a multi-million dollar advertising budget.
Looking back to 2008, my blog started as a venue to talk about the Toronto Film Festival with a mix of entertainment news. Last year, I discovered that I love interviewing people. I love to learn what makes them tick and the secret to their success. This year, I want to aspire to connect with PR companies and publicists in Toronto and LA to review movies and interview as many people that I can.
It is great that your blog has contributors including your teen daughter. If you could give a piece of advice to a new blogger starting out, what would it be?
Write what you love. Writing about what you love consistently, with a basic understanding of SEO and Social Media, can take you places you have never imagined.
If you could live anywhere in Canada, where would it be?
Quite honestly, I’m blessed with where I am right now. I have a few lifelong friendships online and offline. People I think the world of. However, as a couple, Toby and I would like to experience something new soon. I’d love to live right downtown Toronto so I am at the center of everything. I think Toby would like that too because he never gets out.
What inspires you day to day
Quite frankly, life’s challenges. Everyday I’m always faced with a challenge. Whether it’s writing copy for a sell sheet, interviewing someone, a whiny teenager or dealing with an issue, there is always a hurdle to overcome. It’s what inspires and drives me (crazy) every day.
Is there anything you want the world to know about Trina Stewart?
It’s funny because most people online take me VERY seriously until they get to know me. Most of the time I’m laughing. Even when I’m mad, I find the funny part of the situation. I guess it’s the best way to make light of any situation to get you through it. Also, despite my good humour, I have no issue calling a spade a spade. I don’t care how popular or successful you are, I do not tolerate bullying or abuse towards another individual.
Thanks so much Trina! Want to be one of our featured Canucks? Sign up here.
Right now, link up your Canadian blog and social media accounts, find some new reads and new friends!
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link up 02/09
Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up! This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview. Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!
This Week's Candid Canuck is Tammy from In R Dream, check out our interview with her..
How does where you live in Canada effect or inspire the way you blog?
I am a proud Canadian and hold that dear and close to me with each post. I try to insert and share my love for the great white north when I can.
Is there an opportunity you have had presented to you, you would not have had if you did not have your blog.
Choosing to be a SAHM goes hand and hand with learning how to make many scarifies and accepting to support our family on one income. The world of blogging has offered us opportunities we would never of been able to enjoy as a one income family, especially as a BIG family in today’s society. A few that stand strong in my mind are taking 3 of 4 kids to see Dream Works ~ How to Train a Dragon Live Spectacular, Disney On-Ice, Max & Ruby Live. These are the incredible opportunities we have received that we are forever grateful for and why I keep on blogging.
Is there a Canadian blogger you look up to? Who and why?
This is a tough question because I have met and look up to so many Canadian bloggers. If I have to name a few I would choose a few of my favourites to be ( in no order) Mom Vs Boys, Multi Testing Mom, Everything Mom and Baby, Kidsumers, Ginger Mommy, Mommy Moment, Maple Leaf Mommy. These Canadian Bloggers are the ones who have introduced me to the world of blogging with open arms and stand out in my mind as down to earth and amazing moms on top of all else.
Tell us about you and your blog.
Hi I am Tammy I am married to my childhood sweetheart, soul mate and best friend, we just celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary. We have been together since I was 14 and 4 years later we invested in our first home. Today I am living my dream as a stay at home mama to 4 incredible children (6 & under). Which is why I named my blog “In R Dream”. In between split milk and playing cars I letting my creative juices flow writing. I love the share information, product reviews and mother inspiration which also gives me a bit of adult interaction in my day. Our family loves to garden where we grow crops to feed our family all summer long. Together we love the outdoors, hiking, exploring, travelling and enjoying nature.
What do your children think about your blog?
They are too young to really understand, but they love testing and it goes hand and hand with blogging.
Share with us the link to your favourite post on your blog.
I chose this as my favourite because my husband printed it off last year after I posted it and he tried very hard to make extra sparks fly last February and everyday since. http://inrdream.com/29-day-challenge-i-love-u/
Thanks so much to Tammy from In R Dream! Want to be one of our featured Canucks? Sign up here.
Right now, link up your Canadian blog and social media accounts, find some new reads and new friends!
Click here to grab this linky for your site!
This Week's Candid Canuck is Tammy from In R Dream, check out our interview with her..
How does where you live in Canada effect or inspire the way you blog?
I am a proud Canadian and hold that dear and close to me with each post. I try to insert and share my love for the great white north when I can.
Is there an opportunity you have had presented to you, you would not have had if you did not have your blog.
Choosing to be a SAHM goes hand and hand with learning how to make many scarifies and accepting to support our family on one income. The world of blogging has offered us opportunities we would never of been able to enjoy as a one income family, especially as a BIG family in today’s society. A few that stand strong in my mind are taking 3 of 4 kids to see Dream Works ~ How to Train a Dragon Live Spectacular, Disney On-Ice, Max & Ruby Live. These are the incredible opportunities we have received that we are forever grateful for and why I keep on blogging.
Is there a Canadian blogger you look up to? Who and why?
This is a tough question because I have met and look up to so many Canadian bloggers. If I have to name a few I would choose a few of my favourites to be ( in no order) Mom Vs Boys, Multi Testing Mom, Everything Mom and Baby, Kidsumers, Ginger Mommy, Mommy Moment, Maple Leaf Mommy. These Canadian Bloggers are the ones who have introduced me to the world of blogging with open arms and stand out in my mind as down to earth and amazing moms on top of all else.
Tell us about you and your blog.
Hi I am Tammy I am married to my childhood sweetheart, soul mate and best friend, we just celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary. We have been together since I was 14 and 4 years later we invested in our first home. Today I am living my dream as a stay at home mama to 4 incredible children (6 & under). Which is why I named my blog “In R Dream”. In between split milk and playing cars I letting my creative juices flow writing. I love the share information, product reviews and mother inspiration which also gives me a bit of adult interaction in my day. Our family loves to garden where we grow crops to feed our family all summer long. Together we love the outdoors, hiking, exploring, travelling and enjoying nature.
What do your children think about your blog?
They are too young to really understand, but they love testing and it goes hand and hand with blogging.
Share with us the link to your favourite post on your blog.
I chose this as my favourite because my husband printed it off last year after I posted it and he tried very hard to make extra sparks fly last February and everyday since. http://inrdream.com/29-day-challenge-i-love-u/
Thanks so much to Tammy from In R Dream! Want to be one of our featured Canucks? Sign up here.
Right now, link up your Canadian blog and social media accounts, find some new reads and new friends!
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link Up! 02/02
Welcome to our weekly All Canadian Link Up! This weekend and every weekend, Canucks Rock! with our All Canadian Link Up and Candid Canuck feature interview. Brought to you by your hosts: Did you know Canada?, Tales of a Ranting Ginger and Maple Leaf Mommy!
This Week's Candid Canuck is Frugal Edmonton Mama, check out our interview with her..
What is Frugal Edmonton Mama all about?
I started Frugal Edmonton Mama as a way to share deals, promotions and sales – but it’s funny because I was just learning myself. Before starting the blog I was a self-confessed non-frugal shopper that wouldn’t have a second thought spending upwards of two hundred dollars on a haircut and color. After becoming pregnant and realising the sheer expense of having children, I knew there had to be ways to save, without sacrificing the stuff that I wanted. There was – and now, I share those deals, shopping tips and product insights with Moms.
Share some of your best shopping/saving tips with us.
Choosing when to shop is the most important thing that you need to know about shopping. Shopping in advance – before you need the items and have to pay full price isn’t a new concept. It’s something that our grandparents did – and something that can save you hundreds of dollars every single year. Shop ahead for the next season at the end of the current one, stock up when items are at their lowest price and use the sales at Costco to save. Doing this, you can save without even clipping a coupon.
What is the best deal you ever found?
There have been a few great deals. I was able to stock up on diapers for our oldest for two years for under a hundred dollars. Of course, that was back a few years ago when you could still stack coupons. One of the most exciting deals? We paid $39/person to go to Las Vegas combining an Expedia promotion code with a hot sale. That’s flights + accommodations for four days. For that price, how could we not go!?
Surviving Canadian winters, what can you not live without in February in Canada?
The fireplace. We live in a newer house but on those windy days it seems that the house just can’t get warm enough. We hang out in the living room watching movies together and doing crafts to get through those cold days.
For occupying the kids? Food coloring. There are so many crafts and activities that we do with food coloring from painting in the snow, bringing the snow inside and painting it, colored bath tub paint and liquid watercolors and even making fun hair colors. It’s the cheapest tool I have in my beat-the-winter-boredom toolkit. That, and I’m always freezing but never wear socks, so warm boots!
Do you have a popular blog post that people keep coming back to?
There was one time that I was able to use Scanning Code of Practice at Costco. That never happens. I titled it “I Won the Costco Lottery” for that reason. It’s only a couple of months old or so but it gained some traction with the most viewed post on Frugal Edmonton Mama. That’s impressive since there are some big contenders. I have a deep love for Costco, you can find me there a couple of times weekly!
Tell us about you and your background before you started blogging.
Before I started blogging I was a student and freelance writer. I had met Frugal Dad and it was a whirlwind relationship. We were seeing each other for a couple of weeks, moved in together a month later and got engaged just a few short months after that. Just over a year after we had been engaged our first child was born, and it brought out my inner frugalista. I wasn’t willing to change the quality of items that we purchased, but I was willing to hunt around for the best price. It was a hobby-turned blog that quickly caught on with local readers and has been growing ever since.
You can find Lori blogging frugal living tips, DIY projects and the latest Canadian deals at Frugal Edmonton Mama. She’s also over-sharing on Twitter, giving hot money-saving tips on Facebook and addictively pinning on Pinterest.
Thanks so much to Lori from Frugal Edmonton Mama for sharing her tips and tricks with us! Want to be one of our featured Canucks? Sign up here.
Right now, link up your Canadian blog and social media accounts, find some new reads and new friends!
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This Week's Candid Canuck is Frugal Edmonton Mama, check out our interview with her..
What is Frugal Edmonton Mama all about?
I started Frugal Edmonton Mama as a way to share deals, promotions and sales – but it’s funny because I was just learning myself. Before starting the blog I was a self-confessed non-frugal shopper that wouldn’t have a second thought spending upwards of two hundred dollars on a haircut and color. After becoming pregnant and realising the sheer expense of having children, I knew there had to be ways to save, without sacrificing the stuff that I wanted. There was – and now, I share those deals, shopping tips and product insights with Moms.
Share some of your best shopping/saving tips with us.
Choosing when to shop is the most important thing that you need to know about shopping. Shopping in advance – before you need the items and have to pay full price isn’t a new concept. It’s something that our grandparents did – and something that can save you hundreds of dollars every single year. Shop ahead for the next season at the end of the current one, stock up when items are at their lowest price and use the sales at Costco to save. Doing this, you can save without even clipping a coupon.
What is the best deal you ever found?
There have been a few great deals. I was able to stock up on diapers for our oldest for two years for under a hundred dollars. Of course, that was back a few years ago when you could still stack coupons. One of the most exciting deals? We paid $39/person to go to Las Vegas combining an Expedia promotion code with a hot sale. That’s flights + accommodations for four days. For that price, how could we not go!?
Surviving Canadian winters, what can you not live without in February in Canada?
The fireplace. We live in a newer house but on those windy days it seems that the house just can’t get warm enough. We hang out in the living room watching movies together and doing crafts to get through those cold days.
For occupying the kids? Food coloring. There are so many crafts and activities that we do with food coloring from painting in the snow, bringing the snow inside and painting it, colored bath tub paint and liquid watercolors and even making fun hair colors. It’s the cheapest tool I have in my beat-the-winter-boredom toolkit. That, and I’m always freezing but never wear socks, so warm boots!
Do you have a popular blog post that people keep coming back to?
There was one time that I was able to use Scanning Code of Practice at Costco. That never happens. I titled it “I Won the Costco Lottery” for that reason. It’s only a couple of months old or so but it gained some traction with the most viewed post on Frugal Edmonton Mama. That’s impressive since there are some big contenders. I have a deep love for Costco, you can find me there a couple of times weekly!
Tell us about you and your background before you started blogging.
Before I started blogging I was a student and freelance writer. I had met Frugal Dad and it was a whirlwind relationship. We were seeing each other for a couple of weeks, moved in together a month later and got engaged just a few short months after that. Just over a year after we had been engaged our first child was born, and it brought out my inner frugalista. I wasn’t willing to change the quality of items that we purchased, but I was willing to hunt around for the best price. It was a hobby-turned blog that quickly caught on with local readers and has been growing ever since.
You can find Lori blogging frugal living tips, DIY projects and the latest Canadian deals at Frugal Edmonton Mama. She’s also over-sharing on Twitter, giving hot money-saving tips on Facebook and addictively pinning on Pinterest.
Thanks so much to Lori from Frugal Edmonton Mama for sharing her tips and tricks with us! Want to be one of our featured Canucks? Sign up here.
Right now, link up your Canadian blog and social media accounts, find some new reads and new friends!
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