Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link Up! 03/16

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 Alanna from Fridays Off. Check out our interview with her..

Tell us why you created your blog?

In February 2010 I had a miscarriage at 12 weeks pregnant and was completely devastated. I had been thinking about starting a blog and that was the event that pushed me into it. I needed something to occupy my brain when I got home from work and blogging helped heal my broken heart. Happily one year later I gave birth to a healthy, cute baby boy who I affectionately call L'il E in my blog posts. I'm pregnant again with number 2 and due in July, so I'll be dishing about pregnancy round 2 and life with baby all over again.


What is your favourite thing to write about?

This is a tough question to answer because it can change on a daily basis. When it comes to writing my blog I don't get bogged down with editorial calendars. I just write what feels right at that time whether it be a really great recipe I've tried, relationship advice, parenting advice, coping mechanisms, a cool beauty product I'm loving. I like writing about it all and I don't like to box myself in to specific categories.


If you could give a tip to a new blogger what would it be?

Write your blog for you and don't try to be someone you're not. If you're you, the words will naturally write themselves and your readers will love your posts.


Do you have a project you've created (food or fabric) you are most proud of?

My latest project is a big one and I'm super proud of it. I just launched my own online fabric shop aptly named Fridays Off Fabric Shop. I'm in the start up phase and slowly building my inventory of 100% cotton designer fabrics, sewing cards, and creating sewing kits. I am so excited about this project and my blog led me down this new avenue. You can check out my shop at http://fridaysoff.ca


Tell us about where you live in Canada. What do you want the rest of the world to know about your town/province/country.

I live in Toronto, Ontario. I think most of you know about Toronto and sadly have your own preconceived notions about the city. I live in the city's west end, I'm sandwiched between West Queen West and Parkdale. It's an awesome part of the city that has a little bit of grit combined with great restaurants, your choice of indy coffee shops, great parks for the littles, and cute little boutiques. I love living here and couldn't imagine living outside of my little bubble.


If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

Sadly it wouldn't be in Canada :( I would come back and visit often though. I need sun, sand and heat and if I could live anywhere it would be either California or Costa Rica.

Thanks so much Alanna!

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BlueWater Seafood - Giveaway

Did you know Canada..  Canadian company BlueWater Seafood, located in Lachine, Quebec), are now serving Gluten Free products as well!  BlueWater took the steps necessary to ensure that all of its Grill Fish products are gluten free. The great taste has remained the same as it always has been, but now procedures have been implemented at the production location to avoid cross-contamination, and there is ongoing monitoring and testing to ensure that Grill Fillets are gluten free.

Check out our post over on Canadian Moms Cook, not only for a couple great recipes, but also a giveaway!  Enter to be one of 3 BlueWater Prize Pack winners!

March Break Fun with Hasbro Canada

Did you know Canada..  we are on Day Two of March Break here.  I know some of you still have March Break coming next week and the week after.  For fun every day of the week Hasbro Canada has you covered with some great ideas on family fun!

Yesterday we checked out 2 fun items from Hasbro, their Easy-Bake Ultimate Oven and Angry Birds Star Wars Millennium Falcon Bounce Game!

My boys just finished taking a cooking class through our local Parks & Rec and have REALLY enjoyed cooking and creating in the kitchen, which I LOVE and their future wives can thank me for..haha..  So to foster that love even more at home, what a better way than the Easy-Bake Ultimate Oven!  At 5 years old, the big oven is off limits to the boys, so they were very proud to have their own to use (with Mom's help of course).  We made cookies and had lots of fun!  The only thing the boys were a little disappointed about were not being able to watch the cookies cook like you can on the big oven, but it won't stop us from trying out more treats with the Easy-Bake Ultimate Oven.

My guys two loves - Angry Birds and Star Wars - it's so exciting to see them put together!  And if you are any kind of Star Wars fan you know how very cool the Millennium Falcon is on it's own, add Angry Birds to it and you're a hero!  Fun to set up, even the box is part of the game that you get to decorate with stickers on the inside.  The boys have been having tons of fun with this, whether they are playing the actual game or just playing imagination games with all the pieces, it's one they enjoyed for hours yesterday, which was fantastic!!

Hasbro Canada also has many more fun ideas for this March Break, like their Play-doh Sweet Shoppe, JENGA Book Game, BeyBlades and more, you'll be able to have fun with the kids every day of the break!

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!

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Time to Play with DK Canada

Did you know Canada..  our friends at DK Canada, who make the most beautiful, entertaining books in my opinion, think it's Time to Play this March Break, and we agree!

Check out their Time to Play Boutique for savings on books and activities that will keep everyone busy and having fun next week.  We recently checked out the Lego Brickmaster Lego City and Star Wars sets.

These fun books come WITH the appropriate legos to make buildings, vehicles and people!

You follow the fully coloured, step-by-step instructions, all compacted in a nice kit to keep the legos together (Thank-You!) and the kids can make up to 6 different models!  Lots of fun to build, play, destroy, and rebuild!

Check out what we've created so far, my boys are so proud of their accomplishments, this is something we enjoy doing as a family, and what a perfect project for March Break that can be done over a series of days.

That's not all the Time to Play Boutique has to offer either, check out books on crafts, cooking, doodling, science experiments and more - great for any ages and genders!

Visit DK Canada today for awesome savings on these fun books and more!

First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit

Did you know Canada..  I still have taxes on the brain, as many of you do I'm sure.  There are more credits not everyone knows about, like the First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit.

The First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit is part of Canada's Economic Action Plan to help Canadians purchase their first home (You must not have lived in a home owned by you or your spouse in the last five years).  This doesn't have to be a free standing home, it can also include townhouses, semis, apartments, mobile homes or condos like Sax condo.  It does have to be your principal residence though, something like a cottage would not count.

So what it is is a $750 rebate for everyone buying their first home.  After you buy your first home, the credit must be claimed within the year of purchase and it is non-refundable, claiming it on your personal income tax return on line 369.

While it won't sway a decision on purchasing a home or not, it's a nice bonus anyways.

What tax credits are you taking advantage of this year?

Family Day with Sears Canada #SearsBabysRoom

Did you know Canada..  our Toronto Representative Faniya attended a fantastic event for us last month at Sears..

In February on Family Day I was lucky to be with Sears Canada to celebrate the exciting launch of Carter’s and OshKosh brands. Buying these brands before I can say that they are fabulous new additions to Sears family of products.

I am glad that Tracy Culleton,  Sears Canada VP, Kids Room, and Carter’s Inc. VP of Wholesale and eCommerce, Charlotte Taylor-Wright were with us that day to celebrate this amazing news and tell us more about these family-focused brands.      

Carter’s and OshKosh  colourful prints and fancy design will make you enjoy the spring and anticipate the summer as the summer collections feature jungle graphics and stylized animal prints.  At school, on the beach or a playground your kid will look stylish and feel comfortable thanks to brands quality and thoughtful design details. I walked through the isles that day and I was feeling a summer breeze of these colours around me.

Since I have a boy and I buy mostly boy’s clothes and I was impressed with great prices at OshKosh on tees, jackets, shorts and other clothing. 

Carter’s offers stylish clothing from newborn - 24 months for babies and young children up to size 7.  OshKosh clothing range in size from newborn - 24 months for babies and children 2T-5T, from $7-$24. These clothes will be on the shelves at 79 Sears locations across Canada and online at Sears.ca. 

Faniya

Teddy Out-Ready

Boating in Canada

Did you know Canada..  if you are like me, you're already day dreaming about May 2-4 weekend, trips to the beach, maybe renting a cottage or getting out on the water.  If you are thinking about renting a boat or renting a cottage that supplies a boat, there are things you need to know.

You must have a canadian boat licence - yes, you, you and even you.  Everyone who will be operatoring a recreational powered watercraft who operate within Canadian waters needs a card. Regardless of age, engine size, or length of boat.  Once you have the card there are no restrictions for those 16 and older, there are still some restrictions for those less than 16 though...

• Under 16 years of age - Not allowed to operate a PWC 
• Between 12 years and under 16 years of age,and not directly supervised - Can operate vessels with under 40 hp
• Under 12 years of age, and not directly supervised - Can operate vessels with under 10 hp

My husband got his boating licence a few years ago, at that time he had to take an in class lesson, do the exam during the class and it was a bit of a pain in the butt to be honest.  But now it's much simpler.

You can take the course and test online in the comfort on your own home, retakes are free as well if you do not pass the exam the first time.  Once you pass you can print off your temp licence and you are good to go!

The fines for not having your Pleasure Craft Operator Card on board with you vary province by province; it may be as high as $250.  Always make sure you have the card with you to avoid fines!

Who's planning on going boating this summer??

WSPA

Did you know Canada.. the WSPA is the World Society for the Protection of Animals.  They have worked to expose animal cruelty and prevent animal suffering for more than 30 years.

The WSPA works with individuals, organizations and governments across the globe, they work towards ending the mass suffering of industrially farmed animals, protecting animals in disasters and more.

You can make the world a better place for farm animals every day too. Simply commit to making more humane food choices when you shop and eat.  You can take the pledge and join the global barnyard!

Take the pledge and commit to making life better for farm animals.  By making more humane food choices when we shop and eat (such as choosing pasture-raised animal products, cage-free eggs, etc.), we can use our purchasing power to change the conditions in which farm animals live.

This is kinda fun too, as a thank you for taking the pledge,  you can “Farmify” your face, and share the fun photo with your social networks, friends and family.

Sadly most farm animals live in extremely cramped conditions. They are fed unnatural diets, antibiotics and suffer painful mutilations like de-beaking and tooth breaking so they can be kept at huge numbers on factory farms.  I think it's time to take the pledge, what about you?

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!