Merry Christmas!

Did you know Canada..  we wish all our readers a very Merry Christmas, and a fabulous 2013!

Like I'm sure most of you, we will be taking much of this week to be with our family.

We may pop in with a post if a few free minutes come up, otherwise I imagine we will be knee deep in wrapping paper, cardboard, zip ties and batteries. ;-)

All the best friends and will be posting again soon in the New Year!!


Stacey
Did you know Canada?

Christmas Love Cards

Did you know Canada..  Have you heard about Christmas Love Cards??  Canadian made, these are really fun Christmas cards that would be perfect for the Holidays.

On my husbands side of the family for years and years we had annual card games at Christmas, hubby's Mom would provide prizes and it was a lot of fun :-)


The Christmas card deck that gets your family eating, laughing and dancing to your favourite festive Christmas card game.  Get caroling, boogeying and laughing while making the whole family a winner at the Christmas card game. Christmas Love is the deck of playing cards that adds a Christmas twist to your family's favourite card game.

How to Play?
Simply play your favourite Christmas card game as you normally would!

The twist: 
Each card adds a Christmas activity to be performed before playing your hand or card.  The deck contains 4 Christmas Themed Activity Categories of Jolly, Naughty/Nice, Caroling, and Sweets that are sure to get even Scrooge in the Christmas spirit. Make memories and enjoy delicious Christmas recipes all while engaging in some warm, fun Christmas competition.

We tried this out the past couple nights with the kids, and it was actually a lot of fun :)  I thought it might be a little too goofy for adults, but it ended up being a good time, perfect for the Holidays, even New Years Eve!  I bet the kids would love to use these all year long too.

Visit their website to learn more, and order a pack today at a specially marked down price of only $15!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days

Did you know Canada..  we JUST finished watching the brand new movie Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days on Blu-ray (it just came out on DVD/Blu-ray yesterday!).  It is SUCH a fun movie, and what a great gift idea for under the tree this  year (still a few shopping days left!).

Everybody’s favorite wimp, Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon), is back for three times the fun in the latest film based on the super-popular book series! When Greg’s dad (Steve Zahn) threatens to send him to military school if he doesn’t stay out of trouble, Greg finds all-new ways to land himself in the doghouse! For starters, Greg’s in over his head when he pretends to work at the swanky country club where Rowley’s family has a membership. Things don’t go much better on a father-son camping trip with the Wilderness Explorers, and then there’s the Heffley’s new dog, Sweetie, who fetches even more trouble for Greg in this hilarious family film!

My boys are a little young for the book, but we are just getting there and now that they have seen this fun movie, they are going to be even more excited to get into the books which I absolutely love!

A great movie to watch as a family, the whole thing is a hoot and the boys especially loved Sweetie the dog.  I think a wide range of ages would enjoy this one, and we will be picking up the older movies for the boys to enjoy too.  Perfect to watch on the second week of Christmas break from school.

We love the bonus extras too..


Blu-ray Exclusive Special Features:
- Commentary by Director David Bowers
- Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Director David Bowers
- Class Clown Animated Short
- Gag Reel
- FX Movie Channel presents Wimpy Empire
- Theatrical Trailer
- Sneak Peak


I remember a lot of movies like this from my youth, and find there are not a lot of these out today, so thankfully to Diary of a Wimpy Kid to create these kinds of movies for my boys to enjoy! :-)

Here's a fun deleted scene to enjoy..


Enter below for your chance to win a Blu-ray copy of Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days!!  Good luck!!

Giveaway

#PGMom Event

Did you know Canada..  we have some great info from our Toronto Rep Faniya, who attended the #PGMom event on our behalf..

Last month I had a chance to attend #PGMom Event. I know this is may be late to say about that but it just in time to talk about holidays. I find it was quite smart to invite Mom- influencers just before the holiday rush, since mostly Moms who clean, cook and bake, decorate, and take kids to holiday events. Holidays are truly special time as we all anticipate them the whole year, prepare for them, and create the magic with our own hands.  Who is that big helper for Moms and families to create holiday magical moments in their lives? I think you know the answer (and it is not Santa).

The event started with introduction to P&G history, lots of products created during long company life, innovated and the main point they did not stop on that, the company continues working on products improvements, design and non-stop research. I never realized that one Pampers diaper is such sophisticated system.

It was a real pleasure to meet Olympic champions Priscilla Lopes-Schliep and Christine Sinclair during the event, even take pictures with them.  I always feel inspiring when I meet sports people, they look awesome, exercise every day plus healthy diet, discipline and strong mind to win competitions.

Meeting P&G beauty experts was also a big adventure: Greg Wencel  Covergirl Make Up Pro, Luis Pacheco Consulting Colourist  and Justin German Pantene Pro-V Consulting Stylist. Pantene Mask and Demi-Permanent hair color were my favourites. We received mini-makeover, mini-manicure, introduction to new season colors and styles.

After we had a chance to walk through the P&G product displays split by categories:  products for everyone in a family including pets.  So I made a list of words reflecting P&G products: soft, fresh, caring, beautiful, clean, shiny, protected and charged.  If you have some, please add them too.

Faniya
Teddy Out-Ready

Hasbro - Stocking Stuffers

Did you know Canada..  I have my big shopping done, but now using this week to gather all the stocking stuffers, how about you?

This year we are going very low on snacks and candy and instead going with fun little toys, games and other items that can be used all year long.  Not only does this cut back on sugar, it cuts back on the candy we have sitting around the house and gives the kids even more to play with post Christmas.

Hasbro Canada has some fantastic products that are stocking size and provide hours of fun, here's a couple of our favourite..

Play-doh is number one on my list.  Hasbro has a fun set shaped like a candy cane, with a great range of colours that my guys love.  Playdoh is hours and hours of fun, leads to imagnative play and ideas, and a pretty easy clean up too.

Beyblades are something popular at the boys school but not something we've gotten into yet.  So they were so excited to receive a Basic Battle Top, and it's been spinning around my kitchen for hours. ;-)  We got some for the boys stockings so they have a few to play with, these are actually pretty fun!

Barrel of Monkeys is a fun one from our own childhood, great not only for play, but it takes skill and patience to get past the first couple monkeys!  Fun for the whole family to challenge each other.

For our new little one on the way I love the Sesame Street Mini Plush, they are a great size (not tooooo small), cozy and sweet.

Some more great ideas are KRE-O TRA KREON mirco-changers, card games like Battleship Hidden Threat and Monopoly Millionaire - Hasbro Canada has tons of great options!

What's in your stockings this year??

Disney On Ice: 100 Years of Magic

Did you know Canada..  Disney On Ice: 100 Years of Magic is coming to Budweiser Gardens in London ON January 24th to 27th.  What a great idea to surprise the family with tickets to the show this Christmas!

Join the celebration as more than 60 of Disney's unforgettable characters from 18 beloved stories come to life in Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic!  You'll be captivated by the one and only Mickey Mouse, the irresistible Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio and many Disney Princesses.  Be thrilled by exciting moments from The Lion King; Mulan; and Disney/Pixar's Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Toy Story films; in a skating spectacular filled with magical Disney moments you'll remember forever as Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic!

Use promo code MUM4 to purchase 4 tickets for $44 on Weekdays and $4 off per ticket on Weekends.  Excludes Front Row, Rinkside, and VIP tickets. No double discounts. Additional Fees May Apply. Weekday is defined as Monday thru Thursday and Friday Matinee. Weekend is defined as Friday evening and Saturday and Sunday.

Stay tuned, we will have a giveaway for tickets coming up right after Christmas!

MUKS & MOCS

Did you know Canada..  have you heard about MUKS & MOCS?  They are an amazing online store that who's products are a combination of comfort, style and tradition. As an Aboriginal-owned company, they are proud of the history connected to our product. Inspired by the beautiful designers and expert craftsmanship of our ancestors. There are literally hundreds of years of history in each of the products they sell.  And absolutely beautiful products at that.

If you haven't checked them out yet, here are a few of my favourites..


Short Wrap Mukluk

The Short Wrap Mukluk from Muks and Mocs is 9.5” of cozy cowhide suede, comfy rabbit fur and soft sheepskin shearling. Featuring unique beadwork and traditional wrap-styling, the Short Wrap mukluk is the perfect combination of fashion and function. The low profile, rugged sole was developed by Vibram™, the leader in sole technology. Vibram™’s durable sole stands up to rain, sleet and snow which means these resilient boots can be worn year round. A sheepskin lined footbed will keep feet warm in even the coldest Canadian winter. Many colours available.

These are my absolute favourite, they would be perfect for wearing to the hockey rink or picking the kids up from school, I love the look and really love that they can be worn year round.

Tall Classic Mukluk

The Tall Classic Mukluk from Muks and Mocs is the quintessential mukluk. Standing at 15” tall, this boot provides unwavering warmth on even the coldest days. Fully lined with sheepskin shearling, rabbit fur and cowhide suede, the Classic mukluk is the new standard in comfort. The Tall Classic isn’t all looks - a durable Vibram™ sole made from rugged TC1 compound will stand up to the elements. Available in a wide range of styles, the only difficult part about this decision is deciding on a colour.

This would be perfect for those spending a lot of time outside, they are not only beautiful but have a Vibram sole that can take you anywhere!

Deerskin Moccasin

When it comes to moccassins, the Deerskin Moccasin from Muks and Mocs is the ultimate in cozy comfort. These moccasins are fleece-lined with rabbit fur trim, and handcrafted from Canadian Deerskin leather. Outstanding quality, fit and style - what more is there to say? Traditional designs and unique stitching pay homage to North American Indian tribes that invented moccasins thousands of years ago. Now you can cozy up in a little piece of history.

Talk about cozy.  Growing up my parents both had moccassins in the house, they loved them and I love them, they not only look great but are so much more durable that fluffy slippers, perfect for the man of the house as well.

Not just for adults, they have children's styles too, even pink for the little ladies in your life!  All of these would make fantastic gifts this Holiday Season, I know I would LOVE a pair of the Mukluk's under my tree this year.  Which one is your favourite?

Holiday Survival Kit #PGmom

Did you know Canada..  We all know the holidays are hectic and the best way to reduce stress is to be prepared! Keeping essential items on-hand can save time and put your mind at ease while entertaining this holiday season.

I love tips and mentioned before I'm in great need of tips this year with the baby on the way, here's some ways to survive the Holidays from P&G (and a great giveaway too!)..

Be Beautiful
Playing hostess is always a bit demanding, especially during the holidays. Between planning a festive feast and decking your halls, remember to take some time to pamper yourself. Try taking a few minutes the night before your big event to decompress in the tub while hydrating your dry winter locks with something quick and easy, such as Pantene Moisture Mask. While your treatment sits you can use your Venus & Olay razor and Satin Care with a Touch of Olay Shave Gel (I have tried both of these, and LOVE them, I wouldn't have guessed adding the Olay to the razor would make much of a difference, but it makes a HUGE difference on how smooth your legs are after) to get touchable and smooth legs. Be sure to protect your luscious locks from simple blow drying to holiday styling with a quick mist of shine, such as Herbal Essences Set Me Up Heat Protection Spray (another fav of mine, been using it everyday, I have that not so good curly hair that I have to blow dry every day). Try picking out your outfit the night before. The less you have to think about, the better.

For the day of the celebration, keep your makeup easy, breezy and beautiful.  Mascara alone can really bring your look from average to amazing (I'm getting to be a mascara only girl in these last few weeks of pregnancy!).  For a long-lasting impact to last from morning to night, try CoverGirl LashBlast 24 Hour Mascara.  Finish off your look with your favourite shade of CoverGirl Blast Flipstick, ready to pucker up under the mistletoe.

Be Fresh and Tide-y
Keep your cool during the holidays and avoid embarrassing moments by being prepared with Secret Outlast deodorant, which gives you 48 hours of odour protection to outlast your day.

Slips and spills are inevitable, especially with holiday dinners, baking and parties, but you can be prepared. Keep Tide to Go in your purse (I have one in mine!) to clean up a stain on your new blouse without starting a load –your guests will never be the wiser.

Be Prepared
With all of the toys under the tree, many electronic, batteries are often an afterthought. By stocking up on longlasting batteries, like Duracell (see our post about Duracell here), you can avoid tears of frustration and keep the kids playing with their new toys for hours, while the adults get some much-needed grown-up time.

P&G wants to make sure you are ready for the Holidays with their Holiday Survival Kit, enter below for your chance to win this awesome set of products!!

Giveaway

Power the Holidays with Duracell #PGmom

Did you know Canada..  if you have kids you know Christmas really means opening difficult boxes, fighting with zip ties and loading everything up with batteries!  You can't even imagine the tears (or maybe you can!) to have a toy not working because you don't have enough batteries in the house, or worse, you have them but they are dead!

Thankfully Duracell has you covered for the Holidays, and I really recommend preparing with lots of batteries RIGHT NOW, so there are no sad faces later - I just got 2 big packs from Costco last week. Duracell is the # 1 trusted battery among parents in Canada and they have engineered all of their batteries with DuraLock, a new technology which preserves power for up to 10 years in storage,  I was super happy to see the AA's and AAA's I bought at Costco last week had the new DuraLock technology!  Check out ways Duracell can keep you powered this season (these make AWESOME gifts too!!!)..

Heading on a holiday trip with the family or needing a quick recharge? Compact enough to fit in your carry-on luggage, the Duracell Quick Charger provides a fast way to recharge your batteries, taking only one hour to charge them. Whether you are rocking out with your travel speakers, powering kids toys or snapping pictures on your camera, the Duracell Quick Charger ensures that none of your holiday vacation moments are powerless. The Duracell Quick Charger has a suggested retail price of $24.99. Click here for more details.  Hubby already has his out and ready for the Christmas rush, and we purchased one for my parents as well!

Need to make a quick call to double check a wish-list? There is nothing worse than getting halfway through the day and seeing your cell phone or Ipod is running on empty. Luckily, the Duracell Instant Charger is a handy portable power solution that allows you and your loved ones to charge their new USB-powered devices on the go. Small and light, it can charge many gadgets and is great to keep in your purse or pocket. Suggested retail price is $44.99. Click here for more information.

I LOVE this, here's me using it in the car last week waiting to pick up the kids for school, it is SO HANDY!  Especially while away at friends and family when you don't have your phone charger with you, I'm going to be using this is the hospital when I have the baby too.

Free Shipping Day!

Did you know Canada..  it's Free Shipping Day!  That's right, over 250 retailers are offering FREE shipping today, not only big brands but small businesses are getting in on it as well.

Visit FreeShippingDay.ca to see a list of retailers, check out your favourite stores, and get your last shop in before the Holidays!

I've already placed 1 order!  How about you???