It's panda-monium with TELUS and WWF!

Did you know Canada..  Giant pandas Er Shun and Da Mao, arrived at the Toronto Zoo last week, all the way from China!  As part of a long-term conservation partnership agreement between China and Canada, signed by Hu Jintao, President of China and Mr. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada - these panda's are staying at the Toronto Zoo for at least 5 years and then heading to the Calgary Zoo sometime in 2018.

Currently at rest and getting used to their new home, their exhibit opens May 18th.

It's panda-monium this spring and the giant panda is the star of TELUS’ new mobility and multicultural campaigns!  The WWF (World Wildlife Fund) is Canada’s largest international conservation organization with the active support of more than 150,000 Canadians. They are creating solutions to the most serious conservation challenges facing our planet, helping people and nature thrive.  Since 2000, TELUS, its team and retirees have contributed more than $200,000 to WWF - TELUS is also helping further the cause by purchasing Adoption Kits from the WWF to share with their friends.  I received one of these awesome kits at a recent TELUS event I attended, it is SO nice, thoughtful and something I really enjoyed sharing with my boys!

For the first time, TELUS' advertising is featuring computer generated imagery (CGI) critters instead of live animals. To create their CGI pandas, they used existing images and videos of pandas to build a digital model that was refined, groomed and textured until its skin, hair, facial expressions and movement were as lifelike as possible. The entire process took nearly six months!  Check out their latest feature..




I love how dedicated TELUS is to the community and the World Wildlife Fund, check out what they are doing here.  This year they are working on some new opportunities to team up with WWF to keep our critters safe for years to come  I love supporting companies who are in turn supporting our communities, don't you?

Inter-Varsity Camps

Did you know Canada..   We have a great SHARE & WIN contest to tell you about with Inter-Varsity Summer Camps - it's a chance to win a free week of Summer Camp and an iPad Mini!

Located across Canada in Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia, Inter-Varsity Summer Camps are Christian summer camps for kids ages five to 17.  Each summer camp offers unique programs for children and youth as well as speciality programs in leadership development, water adventures, and horsemanship.

Each camp experience includes exciting activities like sailing, swimming, horseback riding, and rock climbing.  There's a daily schedule purposefully designed to provide your child with new skills, opportunities, and experiences, wall offering opportunities for your child will learn, grow, and develop through their time at camp.

I visited Circle Square Ranch in Brantford ON many times growing up and can tell you first hand these camps are places where children can grow, develop, make friends for life and feel safe, secure and welcome.

Check out the Inter-Varsity's 2013 Summer Camp Contest, click here to enter for your chance to win a free week of Summer Camp and an iPad Mini!  Easy to enter, no hoops to jump through, just enter your name and email address and you are good to go.  Share the contest on Facebook and Twitter and not only do you receive an extra ballot for every friend that enters, you also receive a 15% off coupon for Summer Camp!

Get In The Know - Help stop insurance fraud #T2T

Did you know Canada..  I just learned something I didn't know, and maybe you didn't either, if you suspect someone of committing insurance fraud you can submit an anonymous tip to Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC)!

IBC runs a toll-free tips line, available 24/7. Just call 1-877-422-TIPS. Or you can submit a confidential tip online - how forward thinking is this!

We all know that sometimes no good deed goes unpunished, and trying to involve law enforcement in a suspected insurance fraud case might leave you nervous, uncomfortable and you end up avoiding the situation to save yourself the hassle.  Now you can do the right thing and do so anonymously, so you don't end up in the middle.

Reporting fraud not only stops a criminal, it keeps premiums down for all of us, makes our roads safer and can prevent future crimes.  No fraud case is too small either, this isn't just about stealing a car or someone that is pretending to be injured.  This is also about someone making an exaggeration on claim, offer or accept unnecessary treatment after a collision-related injury has healed, or including pre-collision damage on an auto insurance claim.  Don't get fooled by someone that might shrug these situations off saying everybody does it.

It's time to Get In The Know and help stop insurance fraud.

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

Make a pledge to a more confident smile with Crest & Oral-B #PGmom

Did you know Canada..  April is Oral Health Month! Crest knows that life opens up with a confident smile. That’s why Crest is dedicated to creating products that improve your smile and promote your oral health.

During April, Oral Health Month, when you pledge to get a more confident smile by brushing, flossing and rinsing with Crest and Oral-B products for 30 days, they will donate $1 to Dress for Success (up to $20,000), a charity that helps give others the confidence to succeed in the workplace.

As we've discussed before, Canadians are quick to adopt the newest technology.  But not so when it comes to their oral health, Canadians are still using manual brushes – despite advances in electric toothbrush design and recommendations from dental health professionals.  In fact, as of 2011, 72% of Canadians where still using a regular manual brush.

I must admit, until late last year, I was one of those people!  An electric toothbrush sounded painful and a lot of work.  Well, was I wrong!  I received a Oral-B Professional electric toothbrush and I love it!!  Talk about going from a junker to a Cadillac, this is truly the Cadillac of toothbrushes.  It doesn't hurt!  It fits in your mouth the same as a manual toothbrush, your teeth honestly FEEL cleaner when you use it, and the wireless timer is not only kinda fun, it's great motivation to keep brushing (even if the kids are screaming).


With 40,000 pulsations and 8,800 oscillations per minute, its innovative triple zone motion sweeps in between teeth and removes up to 100 per cent more plaque than a regular manual toothbrush, helping to prevent and reverse gingivitis.  There is Five Customized Brushing Modes: Daily Clean, Deep Clean, Sensitive, Whitening and Massage.  A built-in pressure sensor stops pulsations when brushing too hard and every 30 seconds, a brief signal occurs encourage thorough brushing of all four quadrants of mouth (love this! before I was all over the place).

Crest is supporting Dress for Success in its mission to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Visit facebook.com/crestcanada or facebook.com/oralbcanada to make your pledge today!

Then come back here, because we have a surprise - one lucky reader is going to WIN an Oral-B Professional Deep Sweep Triaction 5000 (valued at approx. $110) to help you make the switch and pledge a more confident smile.  Enter below, and good luck Canada!

Giveaway

Have you heard? Softsoap* skin is in™! #BodyBliss #Softsoapskinisin

Did you know Canada..  We received a beautiful basket of Softsoap*’s 2 unique lines of Body Wash, their Fragrance and their Body Butter collections.

The Fragrance collection provide fruity and floral scents that can wake you up in the morning and make you feel like a human again after a grimy day at work or with the kids.

The Body Butter collection is rich and delightfully creamy, beautifully scented and your skin feels amazing after use.

Our current favourite, and the one you can see in use in my shower, is the new Citrus Splash & Berry Fusion - this is a moisturizing body wash with moisture beads that smells SO GOOD, the whole family loves it, though I would like to keep it for myself!

Softsoap* offers the absolute best of both worlds, providing ultra-rich formulas and truly irresistible fragrances to make showering a sweet experience instead of another chore.  With a new baby at home I won't tell you how many times I've already been covered in milk (and other unmentionables) and it is heaven to sneak into the shower on my own for  few minutes to get refreshed and cleaned up.  On the same note, I can tell you for a fact how moisture rich Softsoap* is, as it has been curing my poor hands that have been doing so much laundry and bottle washing the last few weeks, for that I can't thank them enough!  Sometimes we Moms don't take care of ourselves when we should.  So go ahead, give your skin the moisture it deserves Mama!

We want one of our Canadian readers to transform their shower into an indulgent experience as well, enter below for your chance to win a gift basket full of Softsoap* products, and in the mean time pick up a bottle so you can experience it for yourself, because Softsoap* skin is in™!  Click here to check out savings on Softsoap* Body Wash!

Enter for your chance to win below, it's a quick one, so come back every day to tweet, and good luck Canada!

Giveaway

Chris Hadfield

Did you know Canada..  I just have to shout my love for Canadian Chris Hadfield (born in Sarnia, Ontario).

One of the coolest guys on Twitter in my opinion, this former Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot is also the first Canadian to walk in space, and the first Canadian to command the International Space Station.

He has been aboard the International Space Station since December 21st 2012 and has kept the world in touch with space daily via his Twitter and Facebook feed, enlisting his sons Evan and Kyle to manage his social media presence (how awesome is that?!)

He is funny, playing a cute April Fools joke on his readers yesterday with some alien presence, he is also informative, sharing with the world what they are working on, how they accomplish daily tasks in space, he also shares gorgeous, breath taking pictures of our world.

I don't know what it is or what it wants, but it keeps repeating "Sloof Lirpa" over and over. Alert the press. twitter.com/Cmdr_Hadfield/…
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) April 1, 2013

Are you following Chris Hadfield?

Northern Biscuit

Did you know Canada..  my doggies, Maddie and Bailey, love to snack, as all doggies do.  We try our best to give them healthy treats but as our dogs like to tell us some of those don't taste so good.  Thanks to Northern Biscuit, we've found a Canadian Made treat that start with fresh foods and simple, honest recipes. No dough risers, no artificial anything.

Baked in small batches, our pups have sampled a few of Northern Biscuit's flavours, including their most patriotic flavour - Canadian Bacon!

Wheat-Free Canadian Bacon uses food-grade Ontario and Quebec Pork, Canadian maple syrup and blueberries for antioxidants. Pumpkin Pie features Pure Ontario pumpkin sprinkled with cinnamon is great to aid digestion and settle upset tummies.

Grain-Free Beef Tripe is Canadian beef tripe mixed with Manitoba-grown potatoes and is gluten free.  So is Grilled Bison, which features Alberta Bison from the ranches of Western Canada also with Manitoba-grown potatoes.

Our Maddie's favourite has been the Beef Tripe, and Bailey, well, she likes everything..haha..  for me, I like that these treats are dry, they don't get all gooey or gross up my carpet.  They actually smell pretty good too and the pups think they smell great!

I love that the ingredients are front and centre on the packaging - how often will you find a company, especially one producing for animals, that are proud of the ingredients they include in their product?!  Wouldn't these biscuits would be perfect for a sweet gift for a doggie friend? :-)

What a great company to support, supporting this Canadian company means you are supporting a whole host of Canadians, from Canadian growers providing their freshest, food-grade meats and vegetables. The packaging (which I think look great by the way) is made from compostable, recyclable, renewable Canadian paper, manufactured only one hour from their bakery.  Folks from Community Living Ontario groups affix the labels to their bags; Northern Biscuit also supports local animal rescue organizations and local environmental initiatives.

Find Northern Biscuit on the web, twitter, facebook and pinterest to keep up to date on their tasty treats!

Have you tried this yet? #PGmom

Did you know Canada..  I just had to share, I checked out April's FLARE magazine today and was so excited to see P&G's Have You Tried This Yet? Advertorial - you'll see we are part of the promotion, quoting our Downy Unstoppables post we posted in December (I still LOVE them by the way!)

The ad is also featured in Chatelaine Magazine and Lou Lou, have you seen it yet?

Sensitive skin laundry regimen #PGmom

Did you know Canada..  with a new baby in the house, my life is laundry, laundry, laundry.  Especially as we just upgraded to his 3-6 month clothes this past week (oh my gosh, how is this happening already?! so sad!).

Making sure the products we use are gentle enough for baby skin, but still making his clothes clean and fresh are VERY important to me.  Hubby's skin doesn't seem to like products with a lot of perfume, and my Mom has very sensitive skin, so we are very conscience of what we use, don't want any rashy kids!

I LOVE being a P&G Mom, being introduced to all of their products and learning how Tide, Downy and Bounce have joined forces to provide a laundry regimen that’s gentle enough for sensitive skin - this is something I needed to know about!  We were already using Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Detergent that has been specially designed for sensitive skin. It’s made with no dyes or perfumes and is dermatologist tested to provide your fabrics with a great clean that’s gentle on your skin.  Now I also know about Ultra Downy Free & Sensitive Liquid Softener - free from dyes, perfumes, and worries, it is the leading “free” fabric softener that’s also 100 per cent dermatologist tested so you can focus on enjoying fabrics that are wonderfully soft with less static and fewer wrinkles.  And then my new favourite product - Bounce Free & Sensitive Dryer Sheets so we can enjoy the softness and static protection of regular dryer sheets without perfumes or dyes, love it for my babe!!!!

In fact just this morning I picked up more Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Detergent and Bounce Free & Sensitive Dryer Sheets at Walmart, two products I absolutely never want to run out of.

We want one lucky reader to experience this sensitive skin laundry regimen from Tide, Downy and Bounce for themselves!  Enter below for your chance to win these 3 products, I know you will love them as much as I do!  If you don't have any sensitive skin worries at home, what a beautiful gift for a new Mom as well, trust me, she will appreciate it!

Giveaway

Kraft Pourables

Did you know Canada..  we have been trying out the new Kraft Pourables - made with real fruits and vegetables, it has been a real treat to experiment with these dressings and they have been fabulous for Mom on the run here for lunch.

Let me share my current go to lunch with you thanks to Kraft Pourables..

I start with fresh baby spinach leaves as my iron is very low after having the baby, then add a hard boiled egg or two (I'm doing the eggs in the oven now, have you seen that? so easy!), sometimes I add a bit of chopped red onion and shredded cheese and then top with one of my yummy Kraft Pourable Dressings.  My current go to favourite is the Garlic Parmesan with Roasted Cauliflower - so good!

I'm not the only one that has been enjoying it either, I recently got one of my boys hooked on salads (go Mom!) and he has been loving the Berry Balsamic!  Don't I feel like a great Mom, having my boy enjoy not only salad, but with using Kraft Pourables, made with fruits and veg, no artificial flavors or colors and have low fat and salt - fabulous!

A great way to liven up your go to salad, Kraft Pourables comes in four fantastic flavours - Berry Balsamic, Roasted Yellow Pepper, Garlic and Lime, Fire Roasted Tomato with Basil and Garlic Parmesan with Roasted Cauliflower - have you tried them yet?