#CdnMomsCook Twitter Party THIS Monday, RSVP Today!

Did you know Canada..  Canadian Moms Cook has turned 1 year old and we are celebrating with a Twitter party!

Join us on Twitter at 9pm EST Monday, June 17th for a chance to win 1 of 8 prizes, totalling over $400 in prizing!!

Who to Follow: @CdnMomsCook, @DiduKnowCanada and @MultiTestingMom

Visit Canadian Moms Cook to RSVP (You MUST RSVP for a chance to win a prize) and learn more about our amazing prizes!!

Shaidee

Did you know Canada..  just in time for summer, we've learned about a new protect to protect your little one while in a baby carrier.

If you have used a baby carrier you know that the biggest downfall is that there is no easy way to protect the baby's head, neck and arms from the sun.  Even with a hat the neck is often exposed and it becomes tricky to stay outside for too long.

But now, there's the Shaidee!  Cool and comfortable, it's light weight, one size fits all and compatible with most carriers and slings!

Wind resistant and machine washable, this breathable product does it all!

My little man and I have been using it and we receive a compliment from strangers every time we are out!  There is simply nothing else like Shaidee out there on the market and what a fantastic baby shower gift this summer for an expectant Mom!

Another fantastic Canadian product!

Avocado and Spinach Fest with Subway Canada All Summer Long #GiveAvoAGo

Did you know Canada..  It may not feel like summer outside these days, nevertheless SUBWAY®  Canada prepared for all of us an amazing summer season.  They are offering two new menu options, fresh and healthy by the way, adding avocado and spinach to Subway’s varieties of sandwiches and salad toppings.

As director of national marketing, SUBWAY® Restaurants of Canada, Kathleen Bell said: “Summer is the perfect time to enjoy these fresh and tasty healthier topping options Canadians have been looking for”. 

More than 3,000 SUBWAY® locations across Canada welcome customers to enjoy these new toppings along with a new Turkey & Bacon with Avocado specialty sandwich.

Last week we were invited to Subway Event at the restaurant located just across the Harbourfront in Toronto, one of my favorite places to spend summer time.  We had an opportunity to meet an awesome Subway Team including executive chef Chris Martone and SUBWAY® Canada Commit To Fit Ambassador Carl Savard.  It was great to be a sandwich artist even for a while.  We had a good time trying different toppings and created two sandwiches one with chicken another with ham and even named them: “Toronto Beach” and “French Impression”.  Delicious lunch was on a table; my little one just could not wait to try the sandwiches, usually not so easily convinced to eat, this time he was eating like a “pro”. 

Healthy summer can be fun especially with SUBWAY® so do not forget to add avocado or spinach, this fresh green gear to your order.

Faniya

Teddy Out-Ready 

Preparedness and Awareness in Natural Disasters #BepreparedON

Did you know Canada.  Insured losses from natural catastrophes in Canada are now at or near one billion dollars a year, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC).

We may feel pretty safe in Canada most of the time, especially those of us that are land locked, but something like a tornado can and do form during every season all across Canada.  In Canada, the risk of being struck by a Tornado is greater if you live in southern Ontario, southern Quebec, Atlantic Canada or the Prairies.

I'm sure all my readers know about August 2011 when an F3 tornado hit Goderich Ontario, severely damaging the downtown and surrounding area.  With one person killed and dozens others injured.  The insurance industry paid claims of more than $110 million to help people put their live back together.  Remember, this was just one moment, one storm, and lives where changed forever.

Be prepared.  What does your family need to know beforehand?  A great idea is to assemble an emergency supply kit.  Have a 72-hour kit ready before disaster strikes.  It should include: water, non-perishable foods, battery-powered radio, flashlight, extra batteries, first aid kit, sturdy shoes for each family member, identification, cash and special needs items such as prescription medications.  That entire big list is only the very basics.  If you are like me with a baby - you need even more fresh water, formula, diapers, wipes, clothes, a way to carry the baby, blankets and more!  Learn more about Toronto preparedness from the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

Also, prepare a household inventory.  This may make your life much easier should an emergency situation arise.  While working on this, think about making an emergency plan for the family.  How will the kids react in a scary situation, will they know where to go and where to meet you?  You don't want them hiding in the closet where you can't find them, with a plan in place everyone can react with level heads.

Do you have emergency plans and kits in place for your family?  Don't wait until it's too late.

Disclosure: 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.

KRE-O Star Trek Construction Sets

Did you know Canada..  Hasbro Canada has some AWESOME new KRE-O Star Trek Construction Sets based on the new Star Trek into Darkness movie!

My guys were so excited to receive this 432 piece set!  The  U.S.S. Enterprise ship along with 5 Kreon figures, the ship lights up and shoots missiles, the boys (and Dad) and been having a ton of fun.

It's also been a great gateway into introducing the boys to the world of Star Trek and the older movies.

Easy to put together with easy to understand instructions, well made pieces that fit together perfectly, once assembled it's been able to stand up to a lot of play.  The boys love to put KRE-O sets together, searching for the right pieces, following the directions, and seeing something as exciting as the U.S.S. Enterprise come to life right before their very eyes!

What a fun gift to give for the start of summer, it would be a great project to work on!

How does the rest of the Commonwealth compare when it comes to saving money?

Did you know Canada..  we recently started RESPs for our children and RRSPs for ourselves, and I've been trying to understand more about banking and investments in general.

While on the topic I've also been interested in banking practices of other countries, how is everyone
else in the world managing accounts and investments?

Such as the use of an ISA in the UK  - ISAs (Individual Savings Accounts) are a very popular way to pay less tax on your savings and investments.  Money is contributed from after tax income and not subjected to income tax or capital gains tax within a holding or upon withdrawal. Cash and a broad range of investments can be held and there is no restriction on when or how much money can be withdrawn. Funds can not be used as security for a loan. It is not a pension product but can be a useful complement to a pension for retirement income, particularly when it is desirable to draw down capital at a faster rate than permitted in a pension.

This is similar to Canada's Tax-Free Savings Account.  The Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) is an account that provides tax benefits for saving in Canada. Contributions to a TFSA are not deductible for income tax purposes. Investment income, including capital gains and dividends, earned in a TFSA is not taxed, even when withdrawn.

One mechanism in the design of the TFSA is the carry-over aspect. Any unused space under the $5,000 cap can be carried forward to subsequent years, without any upward limit. The TFSA also allows income splitting to an extent, because a higher-earning spouse can contribute to the TFSA of a lower-earning spouse.

A TFSA differs from a RRSP in that there is a tax deduction for contributions to a RRSP, and withdrawals of contributions and investment income are all taxable. In contrast, there is no tax deduction for contributions to TFSA, and there is no tax on withdrawals of investment income or contributions from the account.

How do you feel about the investment options available in Canada compared to those in other countries?

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..

DK Canada's Dads Rock Boutique

Did you know Canada..  DK Canada knows Dads Rock, they really do!  We always know it's important to make Mom feel special on Mother's Day, let's do the same for Dad this year and show him how much we care!

Dad probably doesn't want a sappy card, flowers or god forbid a tie, but I do know a few things he will like!  Check out DK Canada's Dads Rock Father's Day Boutique for some amazing books that every Dad is sure to love and treasure.

We checked out a few books that are just gorgeous..

SMITHSONIAN AIRCRAFT - it a HUGE book that broken down into the decades of flight right from the get go until 2000 and beyond.  Not only planes, but also helicopters, hot air balloons, engine detail and more, with the most amazing pictures you'll ever see!  As always, my favourite part of DK Canada's books are that they are broken down into small bites, you can pick it up any time, few some info and come back to it later.  Dad will love studying this book with the kids too as they discuss the amazing leaps and strides we've made in aviation in the last 100 years.

BEGINNER'S PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE - a great introduction to SRLs, getting the jargon down, techniques on setting up a picture and more.  Maybe everyone went in on a camera for Dad as a gift this year? Or he got one for Christmas?  This would be a perfect companion to a new camera and one he will be going back to again and again.

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY THROUGH THE YEAR - a BEAUTIFUL book that gives you info on how to set up a perfect shot any time of year.  Not just family photos either, but how, when and where to take nature photos, pets in the snow, birds in the spring, rain drops, children splashing in a puddle, the list goes on and on!  Every section is easy to access through the table of contents - look up what shot are you taking, flip to that page and you have simple instructions and visuals that will help you get the best photo possible!

All the books in DK Canada's Dads Rock Father's Day Boutique are 30% off, so head over today, find a couple books for Dad - whether he is into photography, cars, do it yourself, birds, star trek or James Bond, you will find a book he will love!!

#AverysActOfKindness THIS Saturday, June 8th

Did you know Canada..  this Saturday, June 8th, 2013 is a fundraiser event to raise funds for the Women & Babies Program at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

 

Avery was born on January 18th, 2013 at 28 weeks and 2 days premature. When Avery was born she weighed 2 pounds 12oz. She was immediately transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. There at Sunnybrook she was cared for by the best doctors and nurses in Canada. Her parents soon learned that Avery had a lung disease. She was diagnosed with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Disease. Over the next few days she was given the absolute best care by some of the most compassionate health care professionals at Sunnybrook. Sadly after a long fight Avery passed away on January 28. With the NICU`s advanced technology and kind hearted staff her parents were able to spend 11 unforgettable days with Avery.

I was very lucky with my two pregnancies, everything went pretty smoothly.  But to this day I still have nightmares about how quickly something could have happened, especially with my twins.  My carrying twins to 37 weeks was fantastic, but they could have so easily been born very early, too early, like little Avery was.  We must support NICU's so they can support our babies, because you never know when that situation could happen in your family.

Avery's family is holding their first fundraiser event to raise funds for the Women & Babies Program at Sunnybrook. Their goal is to raise $10,000 towards an incubator in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. This is a self contained unit that provides controlled heat, humidity and oxygen microenvironment for the baby. This device will help many more babies like Avery in the future.

Starting at 11 am this is a family oriented event with BBQ, music, games for kids, wagon rides, silent auction items and fire truck tour - everyone is welcome.

Family Farm (Stan Coe)
478449 3rd Line, Melancthon
Shelburne, Ontario
L0N 1S6.

Cost $10 Adult, $5 Children and under 5 free!
Ticket includes 1 hamburger or hotdog with a baked potato

At 2:00 there will be a butterfly and balloon release in memory of Avery.

They appreciate any and all support to keep Avery’s memory alive and support the Sunnybrook NICU.  Click this button to donate today.

 

Disney Movies coming out this summer

Did you know Canada..  Summer is already here, school and classes are almost over and we are all ready to have fun enjoying sun, swimming, picnics, camping, and other outdoor activities.  And after busy days do not forget to stop by your nearest theatre because this summer Walt Disney Studios invites everyone to join fantastic adventures with three movies you are sure do not want to miss.

First one is Monsters University coming out  June 21, 2013 and will be shown in Disney Digital 3D in select theatres:  Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) and James P. Sullivan (John Goodman) are an inseparable pair, but that wasn’t always that way.  From the moment these two mismatched monsters met they couldn’t stand each other. Monsters University unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends.

Second one The Lone Ranger opens in theatres on July 3, a thrilling adventure infused with action and humor.  Native American spirit warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law, into a legend of justice—taking the audience on a runaway train of epic surprises and humorous confrontation as the two unlikely heroes must learn to work together and fight against greed and corruption.

The third one is animation picture Planes, from above the world of Cars, with release date fell or takes off, we will see on August 9, an action-packed 3D animated comedy adventure featuring Dusty (voiced by Dane Cook), a small-town plane with dreams of competing as a high-flying air racer.  But Dusty’s not exactly built for racing—and he happens to be afraid of heights.  So he turns to an experienced naval aviator, who helps Dusty qualify to take on the defending champ of the race circuit.  Dusty’s courage is put to the test as he aims to reach heights he never dreamed possible.

In May we were invited to Walt Disney Studios Canada in Toronto to learn about upcoming movies of 2013 and by the way enrol in Monsters University, so see you in theatres and be ready to have a good time.

Faniya

Teddy Out-Ready