Get in the know about Auto Insurance #AutoXplained

Did you know Canada..  when chatting with friends about insurance I hear a lot about how those who have never made a claim deserve a very low rate, or how the kids with the "race cars" should be paying triple the rest of us.  Some might be surprised to know insurance companies really aren't picking on you, there are set systems in place that are used to calculate your premium.

Factors that are used include..

• Where you live - collisions and auto theft are more likely in urban areas
• What car you drive - make, model, year, value and potential repair cost are all taken into account
• What you use your car for - the more you drive, the higher your collision risk
• Your driving record and driver profile

What are some things you can control to reduce the cost of auto insurance? Drop collision coverage on an older car, get package deals by insuring both your car and home with the same company, install an approved theft deterrent system and buy a car with a lower-cost insurance rating.

If there is a claim do you wonder where the money will come from?  Well it works like this - the premiums of the many pay for the losses of a few.  So everyone's premiums (payments) go into a large pool and when someone makes a claim the money comes out of that pool.

Know the facts about auto insurance and why we pay what we do.


Although this post has been generously sponsored by IBC, the opinions and language are all my own, and in no way do they reflect The Insurance Bureau of Canada.

Mortgages in Canada

Did you know Canada..  we all know that deciding to get a mortgage is probably the biggest
financial decision you will ever make yet it's still a gray area for a lot of first time home owners.  Before you get a mortgage or change or renew one, it is important to do some research and be informed in order to get the mortgage that best suits your needs.

One of the first steps is to look into Canadian mortgage rates and compare different lenders, don't just walk into one bank and be done with it.  You also need to know if you want an open or closed mortgage - the difference between the two boils down to the amount of flexibility you have in making extra payments on the principal or in paying off the mortgage completely. These types of extra payments are called prepayments.

Open mortgages allow you to make prepayments whenever you want. Closed mortgages often include prepayment privileges, which give you the option to make prepayments up to a certain amount.  By making prepayments, you can save thousands of dollars in interest charges by paying down your mortgage faster but the interest rate on a closed mortgage is usually lower than on an open mortgage with a comparable term length.

Looking into mortgage rates and using online calculators to review possible monthly payments is a good way to see what purchase price on a house you can afford.  Remember, you also need to have a down payment ready - the minimum down payment is at least 5% of the purchase price and in some cases even more.

Speaking of rates, you need to know if you want a fixed, variable or hybrid interest rate.  With fixed you will know in advance the amount of interest you will have to pay; with variable the interest the rate can increase or decrease during the term and some lenders offer "hybrid" or combination mortgages—part of the mortgage is financed at a fixed rate and part is financed at a variable rate.

You may not know that mortgages don't have to be paid once a month, there's also semi-monthly, biweekly, weekly and accelerated options.  Accelerated weekly and accelerated biweekly payments can save you thousands, or even tens of thousands in interest charges, because you'll pay off your mortgage much faster using those options.  The reason is that with the "accelerated" options, you make the equivalent of one extra monthly payment per year. Regular weekly and biweekly options do not provide the same benefits.

A lot to consider and research to discover the value of the mortgage you can afford should be your first thoughts before you go house shopping!

Halloween with Hasbro Canada!

Did you know Canada..  Halloween doesn't just have to be about candy!  There are easy ways to offer a fun treat to the kids without the sugar and Hasbro Canada has you covered.

We LOVE blind bags like the Kre-O Transformers Micro-Changers Mystery Pack.  You get to build your own Transformers adventures with the 2-in-1 Micro-Changers, that means in one little package the pieces can turn into either a "guy" or a vehicle, very fun and the kids love to build and rebuild over and over again.  The surprise factor is also so much fun, wondering which guy will be inside, the boys love them!

The Play-doh Halloween bag offers another way to treat the kiddos, these colourful little cans offer fun for hours and hours.  I love these small cans best because the kids like to use lots of different colours anyways, so big cans don't get wasted.

Best yet comes a big surprise, either for a costume, themed party or a big surprise if Halloween night gets rained out (it looks like that is happening here, yikes!) - the Star Wars Darth Vader Voice Changer Helmet is so fun, not only does it change your voice when you are wearing it, there's also
another button that plays different Darth Vader sayings.  This is extra fun for us since we have baby Lucas, hubby has been having fun saying "Luke, I am your Father" to him..lol!  By the way, a little piece of trivia for you, did you know that line is never uttered in the movie?  The actual line is "No, I am your father" - huh!

To go with it is the Star Wars Anakin to Darth Vader Colour Change Lightsaber Toy - this is a must have for any Star Wars fans.  I bet your kiddos are like my boys who love to act out scenes and their own stories where you can start out an Anakin and with a press of a button you've turned into Darth, it makes a really cool sounds when you switch them too - great for play and homemade YouTube videos. ;-)

Just a few of the fun things Hasbro Canada has to offer to treat the kids this Halloween!

Carving our pumpkin with #GLADgruesome

Did you know Canada..  Halloween is next week!  They boys are so excited, we have candy coming out our ears, costumes are ready and tried on (and tried on again and again), we can't wait!

One of the best things about Halloween around here is picking, displaying and craving pumpkins!

This year we set out to carve our big pumpkin a little early, the boys insisted it needed a bat on it, so hubby searched around the web and free handed this cool design!

We had a lot of fun craving pumpkins with Lucas, his first Halloween!  Yay!

To store the pumpkin "guts" we are doing a fun challenge with GLAD - we have stored the pumpkin insides in a GLAD® compostable bag, in a small trash can and the lid in closed.  We will check back in a few days to see what's happened - is it stinky? did the trash can get all gross? I'm excited to find out.  One thing I can tell you, is that after we closed it up I forgot to get a picture, so I opened the lid and wheeew! The still fresh pumpkin smell was in my face, I couldn't believe how well the bag was containing the smell, you couldn't smell a thing before opening the lid.

Stay tuned for the results of our experiment!

When do you carve your pumpkins??

Online Gaming Laws in Canada

Did you know Canada..  Like America, Canada has clear prohibitions against non-governmental online gaming. However, as the online gaming industry continues to rapidly grow in both countries, with residents ignoring current gambling laws, the government may have no choice but to legalise and regulate the booming online industry.

Despite this though, the Criminal Code of Canada means that it is currently illegal to conduct or participate in any gaming activities in the country, unless they have been recognised as an exception in the legislation. Originally enacted for traditional gambling in Canada, the laws now also apply to all gambling activities conducted over the Internet.

The exceptions for online gaming in Canada include “lottery schemes” which are conducted and managed by a province, such as casinos and electronic gambling, as well as a small range of lottery schemes licensed by a province, rarely to a private individual and usually to a charity, fair or exhibition. In addition to this, bets made between individuals who are not engaged in the business of betting is legal, as is pari-muteul betting on horse races, which is regulated by the federal Minister of Agriculture.

The Criminal Code outlines that only provincial governments are permitted to operate a lottery scheme online, and it must only be available to residents of that province. The provincial government is not allowed to license other organisation to conduct the lottery, so they therefore are required to operate all sites offering the games themselves. The governments are also responsible for ensuring that residents of other provinces cannot access or participate in the lottery games, unless a cooperative agreement has been reached.

Commercial land-based sports betting is also prohibited in Canada and is not allowed to operate online. There is also some confusion over the availability of legal slots, poker and online casino games. Although the law states that non-government sanctioned gambling is a crime, a lack of enforcement and proper legal clarification has led to continued online gambling services.

Many Canadian companies, such as Cryptologic, which is one of the biggest creators of online gaming software in the world, have continued to involve themselves in the online gambling industry for some time without being prosecuted. It is also extremely unlikely that anyone playing online gambling games would encounter any issues with the law.

Although it is illegal to participate in any “common betting houses”, the lack of a physical location online means it is extremely difficult for the government to prosecute you for clicking on one of these sites. According to Zak Muscovitch, a Toronto lawyer, the proprietor of the “betting house” is responsible for the criminal aspect of the interaction of an online casino, meaning that the gamer is not technically committing a crime.

With such issues arising over internet gambling in Canada, as well as the large amount or revenues generated, it appears that the industry could be regulated by Canada’s federal and provincial governments in the near future.  Some states in America, including Nevada and Delaware, have already legalised regulated online gambling and Canada could soon follow its example. However, until any change is made, players should be aware of the risks they run by clicking onto an online gambling site. 

Calling All Gamers!

Did you know Canada..  our blog post "Just Dance 4" is being featured over at And She Games.. today, do you have a gaming post to share?  Join the linky below!

Who else loves video games?  We love our XBox360, PS3, WII U, so do the kids.  They especially love active games like Just Dance 4 and all the LEGO games.

What do you play??

Link up here:

NEW Swiffer BISSELL SteamBoost #PGMom

Did you know Canada..  there is a new Swiffer in town - the NEW Swiffer BISSELL SteamBoost!

Designed to deeply penetrate dirt and remove messes mops can leave behind, this product is amazing!  I've been using it to clean muddy dog prints and muddy kid shoe prints with the rain we've been having today and I love it!

Fill it with water, attach a Steam Pad and plug it in - that's it!!  No other cleaning solutions necessary and your floors will be sparkling like mine.  I was very happy with how light the machine was to zip around and loved how quickly the floors were dry after going over them with the Swiffer BISSELL SteamBoost too - no worries about keeping the baby off the floor for too long and I can easily run it through the house while he naps without having to drag out a bucket or clean after I clean if you know what I mean.

The special Steam Pads have a steam-activated, dirt-dissolving cleaning solution that pulls dirt from surfaces and locks it away - no yucky residue!

This Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22 you can get more than just groceries at your local Real Canadian Superstores. Visit any Real Canadian Superstore this weekend to collect a coupon booklet which includes a full mail-in rebate on Swiffer Sweeper and Dusters! The booklet
will also have coupons for other Swiffer and Mr. Clean products including $5 off my new favourite - the Swiffer BISSELL SteamBoost!

I know you are dying to try one on your floors right now, well guess what Canada - enter below for your chance to win a Swiffer BISSELL SteamBoost!!  You will love it!!

Giveaway

Tenant Insurance #TenantsNeed2Know

Did you know Canada..  if you are tenant you need tenant insurance!

That's right, as a tenant you are liable for any harm caused to any part of the building and to other who live or visit there. If your faulty microwave starts a fire that damages the apartment complex, that's on you!

Even if you think your stuff isn't worth much just because you are not swimming in jewels, have the most expensive clothes or the best TV could you imagine having to replace it all at once? Although subject to some exclusions or limits, tenant's insurance will help you recover losses.

For the simple cost of a few coffees a month (yes, that's IT!) you'll have the protection you need in case of a problem. Not only with losses but say you were forced to leave your apartment while being repaired - insurance will pay for necessary expenses such as hotel stays, restaurant meals and even moving costs (subject to some limits).

Statistics Canada says tenant households that bought insurance spent an average of only $309 on it last year.

With many students recently moved into new apartments you may be surprised to know students may even be covered under their parents' home insurance and it wouldn't cost them a cent. Double-check with the insurance provider to find out if this is the case for you.

Did you know about tenant insurance?


Although this post has been generously sponsored by IBC, the opinions and language are all my own, and in no way do they reflect The Insurance Bureau of Canada.

M&M Meat Shops’ National Family Dinner Night

Did you know Canada..  On Thursday, September 19, 2013, M&M Meat Shops will once again step up to the plate and encourage Canadians to enjoy the tradition of the family dinner.

Did you know a recent national study completed for M&M Meat Shops reveals that fewer families than ever before are making family meal time part of their daily lives. Nearly 10 per cent of Canadians say that they never have dinner with their partner or their family, and fewer than 40 per cent sit down with their family for a daily meal!

At our house we do have dinner together *nearly* every night, but I can see as the boys get older and get even more involved in sports and activities, sometimes it's really hard to get together BUT it's so important.

This year, in addition to encouraging everyone to enjoy a family meal, M&M Meat Shops is challenging Canadians to share their own family-favourite recipes that feature M&M Meat Shops’ products.

From September 13 to October 11, 2013, Canadians can submit their recipes on the M&M Meat Shops Facebook page to be entered for a chance to win 1 of 3 prizes of a $100 M&M Gift Card. Winners will be selected by a panel of M&M food and recipe experts and the winning recipes will be featured on www.mmmeatshops.com.

One of our favourite dinners is fajita night using M&M Meat Shops Grilled Chicken Breast Slices.  I love that the chicken comes in a resealable bag so I only use as much as we will eat that night (unless we want leftovers!) and I love that the chicken pieces are never stuck together because I like mine different from the rest of the family.

So I get out 2 pans, start frying onions and sliced peppers in both, add the frozen chicken breast slices and heat.  Then in my pan I add chopped chipotle peppers (seeds removed) in adobe sauce, in the other pan I add fajita spice.  Serve on tortillas, I like to add sour cream too - delish, everyone is happy and we can all sit down and chat while we eat.

With only 33 per cent of Canadians aged 18-34 regularly take part in a family dinner night and almost 80 per cent of survey respondents indicated that a less busy schedule would help them better enjoy family dinners it's time to make quick, easy and delicious meals so you can get to the table!  In fact, shopping at M&M Meat Shops means you can be in and out of the store in 10 minutes or less.

Head to M&M Meat Shops and participate in the Ninth Annual National Family Dinner Night on September 19, 2013!

Jamberry Nails are coming to Canada!!

Did you know Canada.. this is BIG BIG news!  Jamberry Nails officially launched in the U.S. in 2011 and became a multimillion dollar direct selling company.  They are now arriving in Canada as of September 1st!

You apply Jamberry nail wraps yourself at home in just minutes. They are a solid film covering so they don't chip or scratch like nail polish.  They are even surviving the summer with 3 kids, with polish I can't even get 24 hours without a chip, so that's telling you something.  Lasting up to two weeks on your fingernails and eight weeks on your toes.  And they are BEAUTIFUL!  The style options are absolutely endless!

I am on my second set now and I can't even begin to tell you how many compliments I am receiveing, absolutely everywhere!  When grabbing my coffee at Timmies, from other Mom's during playdates, at the grocery store, everyone comments on how beautiful, cool and natural they look!  These are not fake nails of old, Jamberry Nail wraps are a chemical, latex free, salon quality nail wrap that bonds to your nail with heat and pressure to give you a water tight seal. You get a salon quality look for a fraction of the cost!

Here's how it works:

• Clean unpolished nails with alcohol wipes (I actually skipped this step and it still lasted 2 weeks!) and push back your cuticles
• Match a nail with the nail wrap that will fit best
• Peel off the nail wrap and warm the back of it with a hair dryer, just 10-15 seconds until soft
• While still warm press onto your nail, no worries if you got it crocked, just lift it up and reapply, then press around the edges
• Trim the top and file downwards
• Apply heat again for a few seconds to make sure it sticks and you are done!

The first time definitely takes a little getting used to the routine, but on my second application I was a pro and done in less than 10 minutes!

Since my nails are so short I actually cut the wraps in half so I didn't waste them and extended the use!  You'll have a few leftovers and I was thinking if you had a matching polish at home you could even just put a wrap on your ring finger for a cool look! (remember the polish will chip and wear long before the wrap though)

Not just for adults either, there's Jamberry Juniors for girls, how awesome would it be to have a Jamberry themed birthday party where all the girls came to the at home "spa" and got their nails done??

If you have ever thought about a career in direct sales you will definitely want to get in on the ground floor with Jamberry Nails!  I hope there is a consultant near me, I already have a slew of Mom's, friends and co-workers that are dying to attend a party! Contact Alisha Pierce at alisha.pierce@yahoo.com to get started TODAY!

Who would love to be a Jamberry consultant or love to host a party??

Staples Canada - THE Place for Office Supplies!

Did you know Canada..  well, it just feels like fall today in my neck of the woods, how about you?  With cooler weather it gets me in the mood to get the kids ready for back to school, and with them busy during the day it means Mom needs to get her home office together too!

I headed to Staples Canada recently, because when you think of office supplies, it's the place to go right!  I was really excited to see the Martha Stewart Home Office™ section, what a beautiful AND function group of products!  I thought the Chalk Board labels were so fun! and the Tags are just genius.  Fun colours for not so fun organizational items like drawers and folders, you can create a whole office in style, or even use these to make that corner in the kitchen your own!

I also picked up something that I love - pens!  Even with the days of smart phones you can never have enough pens.  Mine are always missing, stolen or decide not to work the moment I need them most!  Thankfully Staples Canada has a isle dedicated to my favourite must have.

Hubby picked up some blank dvds for file storage, I picked up a cute little note book from the clearance section and the kids noticed the Soda Stream stuff!  How fun would it be to have a Soda Stream in a small office, or especially, the home office!  They also have coffee/tea pods - a must have to get through any office day. :)

Why not pick a cool day this August to set up your own home office, or freshen up the office at work, it makes everyone in a better mood and Staples Canada has everything you need!

Got Game? Link up!

Did you know Canada..  our blog post "THE GAME OF LIFE zAPPed" is being featured over at And She Games.. today, do you have a gaming post to share?  Join the linky below!

The boys have requested iPod Touches for their 6th birthday, many of their friends have one.  What age do you think is appropriate for something like that?

Link up here:

Skechers GOwalk shoes

Did you know Canada..  I have been trying to go walking every day with the baby so I have enough energy and GO to keep up with my little man!

But you know what, all this walking hurts my feet!  Especially since I wear sandals allll the time, I kinda hate socks (unless they are really cute), so I have been having really sore feet for months.  But then, THEN, I discovered Skechers Go Walk shoes, they are amazing!

With an integrated orthoLite sockliner - it's an anti-microbial sockliner helps inhibit odor from barefoot wear and prevents slippage.  JUST what I need, I get to wear bare feet!!

The resalyte midsole is lightweight and effective impact absorption elevates walking experience and reduces pressure on ankle and knee joints.  It is like walking on air!  These are the coziest shoes ever!

Very stylish too, I've already received compliments on them out and about, folks commenting on how cozy the soles must be too.  If you play sports or work out hard at the gym, these shoes would be perfect for wearing afterwards to help your feet recover.  The GOimpulse technology and innovative materials is designed to flex and twist so your foot can move more naturally.  You can really feel the difference.

What activities have you been doing this summer?  Do your feet hurt like mine did?

Blast into summer with NERF!

Did you know Canada..  Summer is in full swing, we had a major heat wave a couple weeks ago and the boys were grateful to have some water toys to play with like NERF SUPER SOAKER SWITCH SHOT Blaster!

It is sooooo cool, you get to choose your spray pattern (Scattershot, Triple Shot, Atomizer or Jetstream mode) and soak friends 4 different ways with the SWITCH SHOT water blaster!  Easy enough for a 5 year old to turn, and fun enough for my husband..lol..  this has been the toy of the summer for sure!  My guys had a lot of fun playing in the pool with it too.  The SWITCH SHOT blaster holds up to 20 fluid ounces of water in the Banana Clip; you can fill extra Banana Clips too so you never run out of ammo - we love this feature so we don't have to constantly stop to refill the blaster.

We've also been playing with the NERF N-STRIKE ELITE ROUGH CUT 2X4 Blaster.  My guys love that this blaster launches 2 Elite Darts at once at targets up to 75 feet away!  It's led to a lot of fun in the basement.  The boys have been setting up targets to use too, and having games about who can knock the most things down.

Use pump action to send out a steady stream of darts.  My guys love that there's 8, so you get some good fun out of it before having to stop to find the darts then reload.  Again the pump is easy enough for my 5 year old which is fantastic!

Two fun toys from NERF and Hasbro to enjoy the rest of the summer, would make great birthday or special week gifts too!

Got Game? Link up!

Did you know Canada..  our blog post "History of Table Hockey" is being featured over at And She Games.. today, do you have a gaming post to share?  Join the linky below!

We are big gamers around here, hubby and I were heavily into World of Warcarft, Diablo, EverQuest and other MMORPGs before we had kids.  Now we mostly play XBox360, PS3, WII U with a little of the new Sim City and the latest Diablo once and awhile.

We also play table games with the kids like yahtzee, clue and some kids games, our air hockey table gets some good use too!

Are you a gamer?  What do you play??

Link up here:

5 Gadgets for Busy Geeks

Did you know Canada.. If you're tech geek on the go, you probably love gadgets. If you're not, how do you know what the latest gadgets are? Well, sit back and check out this list of gadgets that may end up on your next "must-have" list.

Heys eCase

Image via Flickr by CollegeDegrees360

For the tech geek who travels and wants the perfect carry-on luggage, the Heys eCase is just what you're looking for. It doubles as a back-friendly wheelie case for easy transport, but is savvy enough to include a combination TSA lock should you decide to check it instead of carry it onboard. With accordion-style pockets, you can keep files separate from your underwear. And of course it has a padded laptop sleeve. You can also pick your own color and design when ordering. 

J5 Create Wormhole KM Switch
Sharing files between laptops has always been a bit problematic. You have to connect the laptop, configure your partner's security settings, and then have them load the files to the network before finally being able copy the files from the network to your own laptop. Not anymore.

This USB cable takes the complexity out of the task. Simply plug Wormhole KM Switch into both laptops via a USB cable. It works with Macs or PCs. The software on the USB connectors allows you to copy files back and forth. In addition, the keyboard and mouse from one computer can control both computers.

Targus Premium Laptop Charger
You have to keep your laptop charged but that bulky brick of a charger is a pain, especially if you're carrying around several of them for various devices. Well, no more.

The Targus Premium Laptop Charger is about the size of a BlackBerry, with a seriously sleek design. It'll power your laptop as well as one other mobile devices from a car, wall socket, or even a plane. You'll never look back after you rid yourself of that brick. If you were thinking about purchasing a blackberry 10 or similar smartphone, you may also want to consider picking up this slick gadget as well.

Lewis N. Clark Bell Hop Travel Door Alarm
Not all tech geeks are paranoid, but in case you are (or even if you aren't) you'll love this little baby. It's a door security system with a high-pitched 91-decible alarm. If anyone opens your hotel room door you'll know about – and so will your neighbors. Just remember to disengage it before room service enters. 

Jawbone Jambox
For the frequent traveling tech geek, a decent speaker in a hotel room is the perfect luxury item to make your hotel stay a bit nicer.  It's wireless, portable, affordable, and has other great features including an output capacity of 85 decibels and a 10-hour battery life.  Additionally, it can double as a speakerphone for your VoIP and cell phone calls. And the customization options using the MyTALK online platform are simply amazing.

If it's true that the "geeks shall inherit the earth," it would seem the takeover is now underway. Jump onboard and see what gizmo you could use – or simply have fun with. 

Tooth Tunes Toothbrushes!

Did you know Canada..  you may remember back in April we attended the launch of Arm &
Hammer Tooth Tunes toothbrushes!

Arm & Hammer Tooth Tunes toothbrush plays two minutes music to encourage longer brushing and ensure kids follow the recommended brushing time, so no more timer set-up and unwillingness to brush.

Enjoy a party with Arm & Hammer Tooth Tunes, the only toothbrush with Music in Your Mouth technology which streams music sounds from the bristles of the toothbrush to the teeth, straight to the head, allowing kids to hear music during brushing. For kids from three to five there are some super fun songs available -
“We Found Love” performed by Kidz Bop™
“Good Feeling” performed by Kidz Bop™
“The Alphabet Song”
“Brush-A-Long Song”

My boys have been using ones with "The Alphabet Song" and they love it!  As Mom, I love that they have been looking forward to brushing their teeth every morning and night and continuing until the whole song finishes - yay!

For kids ages six to twelve, each toothbrush has one of the following top chart songs:
“What Makes You Beautiful” performed by One Direction
“One Thing” performed by One Direction
“All Day” performed by Cody Simpson
“If I Ruled the World” performed by Big Time Rush
“We Will Rock You” performed by Queen
“Tonight, Tonight” by Hot Chelle Rae
“Dynamite” performed by Taio Cruz

Available at drugstores and mass retailers across Canada for a manufactures suggested retail price of $9.99.  I find tooth brushes to be a fun packing present when going away whether it be camping, to the cottage or a week long adventure at a hotel.  It's so much fun for kids to get a fresh, new toothbrush, and to have one with a top chart song will be so exciting!  Our boys will be taking their new toothbrushes to our mini vacation to Toronto next week, and they are soooo excited to use them!

We have an amazing surprise for our readers as well, we have a huge prize pack to giveaway!  Enter below Canada for your chance to win a Arm & Hammer Tooth Tunes One Direction Gift Basket! The gift basket includes..

2 Arm & Hammer SpinBrush Pro Whitening Battery Toothbrushes
2 Arm & Hammer SpinBrush Pro Sensitive Battery Toothbrushes
2 New Arm & Hammer Advance White EXTREME Whitening Toothpaste
2 Arm & Hammer PRO Sensitive Whitening Toothpaste
2 Arm & Hammer Extra Whitening Advance White 3 in 1 Power Toothpaste
2 Orajel Toddler Training Toothpaste with Thomas & Friends
2 Orajel Toddler Training Toothpaste with My Little Pony
2 Arm & Hammer Tooth Tunes Junior Toothbrushes
3 Arm & Hammer Tooth Tunes One Direction Toothbrushes
1 One Direction: Up All Night – The Live Tour DVD

I can hear the screams and squeals now when one lucky family member sees the DVD to go along with a One Direction toothbrush!!  Good luck friends!

Giveaway

Minion fun with Hasbro Canada!

Did you know Canada..  Despicable Me 2 is the movie of the summer!  Back in #1 spot this weekend, it's a perfect summer movie to take the kids too.  Especially to get away from this heat! (movie theatres are always exceptionally cold, aren't they?)

To go along with the movie, Hasbro Canada has 2 really fun games available, wouldn't it be fun to surprise the kids with a Despicable Me 2 Monopoly Game or Operation Game along with some movie tickets??

We checked out both games and LOVE them, they are perfect for kids, playing with Mom or with a group of friends, check it out..

Despicable Me 2 Monopoly has an updated board and easy to use payment system, perfect for kids!  The only money is Banana Bucks and each valued a $1 - easy for kids to count out!  The spinner is a minion with a banana that tells you to move your minion 1-6 spaces around the board - fun to spin and easy numbers to work with!  Like the monopoly we all know and love buy and sell properties and collect Banana Bucks! Another fun feature is that each game includes exclusive minions and there's 50 minions to collect!

Easy enough for my 5 year olds, fun for Mom and Dad since there's no frustration and easy to play on the floor so baby bro can watch too! (keep the small pieces away from the baby though!!)

Despicable Me 2 Operation is another fun one, works like other operation games, use the tweezers to remove the silly parts, but touch the sides and you set off the buzzer!  One with I really enjoyed about this set is that the buzzer is not loud at all, more of a "phone vibration" type sound, great for not freaking out the kids!!!  Just like the monopoly another fun feature is that each game includes exclusive minions and there's 50 minions to collect!  Once you see the movie it's extra funny to operate on Stuart to remove the unicorn fluff or fix his nutty noggin and his toxic tongue!

Two great games from Hasbro Canada, perfect to take to the cottage or gramma's house with easy to understand rules this summer!

Mastermind Toys - Summer Sizzlers!

Did you know Canada..  you know how much we love Mastermind Toys, a favourite store of ours we visit in London ON and can be found at many other locations across Ontario and a new store in Calgary AB!  Don't have a store close by?  No worries, you can shop online too!!

Mastermind knows how to have fun in the summer and unlike some other stores, always has the NOW toys on sale.  Like the fact that until July 16th you can save 25% on all pool toys!  Perfect!

We checked out a couple must haves for this summer and they were amazing..

Zoku Slush and Shake Maker (comes in a bunch of fun colours) - Easy to use, you simply freeze the core overnight, then pour in juice, milk, ice cream or even your own home made smoothies, stir it up with the specially designed slush spoon and in approximately 7 - 9 minutes you’ve got a delicious, icy treat - no electricity needed!  Our favourite way to use it is to combine water and snow cone syrup in the Zoku, it tastes great, the kids love to watch the water turn into a yummy, slushy treat, it's simple to clean and store.

SkyTrix Stunt Glider - is AMAZING!  make sure you are in an open area - perfect for the beach, park, cottage, or camping, this glider can catch a breeze and really fly!  The SkyTrix glides like a plane, soars high in the sky like a kite, performs tricks like a yo-yo, and plays catch like a flying disc. The concept is simple - a plane on a tether. But the design and performance are anything but ordinary! Both the kids and the adults will have fun with this, just playing around or even creating a catching game with it.

Mastermind loves summer and knows how to do it right.  Why not check out their 101 Summer Essentials, surprise the kids with a new way to play this summer!

5 Quick Ways to Reduce Stress On the Job

Did you know Canada..  As the economy struggles and workplace demands intensify, when employees are interrupted an average of 7 times an hour and distracted more than 2 hours a day, it's no wonder we suffer from overbearing amounts of stress. We need a way to daily, if not hourly, reduce the amount of pressure we face on the job. 

1. Identify what you Can Control

Image via Flickr by Alan Cleaver

When a situation is out of our control, we experience stress. It actually activates a stress hormone, which can eventually wear you down and ruin your confidence, sense of well-being and your ability to concentrate. To remediate this feeling, you need to identify the aspects of the situation you can control. Those are generally your actions and responses. Work to be the master of these forces, and accept that some things you can't control and let them go.

2. Deep Breathing, Meditation and Prayer
Stress places unnecessary strain on our bodies and increases health issues. It will cause our heart rates to increase and blood pressure to rise. If you step out of a particularly stressful meeting, it is an excellent idea to gain control over these physical reactions. Deep breathing helps settle everything down. Inhale slowly for 5 seconds, hold for a beat then exhale through your nose. It's like a mini-yoga class at your desk. Close your eyes and meditate on simple quiet scenes. Silently pray and reach out to God for serenity. Similar ideas can be found at the Ed Young Fellowship.

3. Manage Interruptions
Today's workers are more bothered by interruptions than ever before. They can come in so many ways, phone calls, instant messages, emails, pop-ins, urgent deadlines, text messages. It's difficult to control the distractions, but with an appropriate response and good management, you can. First, decide to either accept the interruption, diagnosis its importance and make plans for it, or simply cut it off. Decide in advance which response you're going to make. Manage as many of them as possible by only answering email at a pre-designed time, set up office hours, and when necessary close the door and take the phone off the hook.

4. Schedule and Take Breaks
Trying to push through a 10 hour day will result in less efficiency because of stress. Take planned breaks following every 90 minutes of intense concentration. Walk, stretch, do a breathing exercise. This brief period of recovery will clear out the stress and rejuvenate our systems.

5. Diet and Sleep
Poor diets stress our systems. Stay away from the junk food and stay on a low-sugar, high-protein diet. Your body can use the right ingredients to better handle stress. Same goes for adequate sleep. The CDC says some 60 million of use don't get enough sleep, and that kills productivity the next day and adds to our stress levels. Try this simply breathing trick to fall asleep quickly: cover your left nostril and breathe through your right for five minutes.

Stress is a killer, and there is so much self-imposed pressure in our lives, compounded and reinforced by the jobs and expectations we put on ourselves. Not taking a moment to relieve all that tension could be fatal.