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:

Canadian Giveaway Linky! 07/29

Did you know Canada.. We are so happy to once again bring you this weekly feature with our co-host Tales of a Ranting Ginger - Every Monday we are opening a weekly linky for giveaways open to Canadians. We appreciate everyone's interest and contributions!

Do you have a blog that is running a giveaway and it's open to Canadians?? Link up below!!

Visit here through out the week to find giveaways open to Canadians and get winning!! Good Luck!!

Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link Up! 07/27

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 Jennifer from Ninja Mommers! Check out our interview with her..

Bic Flame Disc

Did you know Canada...We have a portable charcoal grill that we take with us when go camping or on one day trip to stay one-on-one with the nature. And, of course, we have a big bag with charcoals handy in a garage. When I heard a lot of good things about BIC® FlameDisk® I decided to check it and see if it is better then traditional charcoal.

The biggest challenge with charcoal is to light it. Putting some lighter fluid on charcoal will add a bad taste if you don't do it right and this happens to me from time to time. It also takes some time and requires to be patient.
FlameDisk uses ethanol as the main fuel ingredient. It lights instantly and burns for 30-40 minutes. This time is enough to grill food without any bad taste for 4 average adults. If you have more people you have to use more then one FlameDisk. It very compact and have a regular frisbee size and weight. It takes definitely less place in you car than big bag of charcoal. And my favorite turn around  - no cleanup!

With FlameDisk there are no hot coals, no ash, and no soot leftover – you just need to recycle it. Bottom line is that if you have a bunch of hungry teenagers or have a party and want everything to be perfect - BIC® FlameDisk® is for you. It very easy to use and you need just portable Charcoal Grill – FlameDisk fits almost any of them. If your want to enjoy the process and there is no restriction in time then do it in old fashion way with a bag of charcoal and lots of smoke.
 

 

Faniya

Teddy Out-Ready

We loved the Day Out With Thomas: The Go Go Thomas Tour 2013

Did you know Canada..  this past Sunday we checked out the Day Out With Thomas: The Go Go Thomas Tour 2013 in St. Thomas ON - one of only 3 stops in Canada and the only one in Ontario!

It was AWESOME!  The boys had a great time.  Not only do you get to ride Thomas but there is so much more to do - bubbles to play with, stories to listen to, entertainment, animals to pet, a hay maze, a mist area, really fantastic balloon animals, Thomas tattoos, 2 jumpy areas, a gift shop and more!

The boys loved making big bubbles and they REALLY loved the jumps, there was even a Thomas jumpy the has a slide.  There are also activity stations set up to colour, make conductor hats, play with Thomas the train sets, just so much to do.

Then comes the main event - riding Thomas!  You hop on the train and take a lovely 25 minute ride through the outskirts of St. Thomas, you also listen to Thomas music during the ride, meet with the conductor, get a family photo taken if you'd like and the kids get a certificate at the end of the ride.

There was quite a few different food options as well - hot dogs, pizza, fries, cookies, ice cream and more.  You can really enjoy an entire day out, the community of St. Thomas even offers a few treats to every visitor as well - a discount at the local Wendys, a coupon for Boston Pizza, a free visit to the Elgin County Railway Museum which is a really interesting stop.

Fun for a huge age range, all my boys enjoyed the day!  The Day Out With Thomas: The Go Go Thomas Tour 2013 is in St. Thomas one more weekend, so there's still time to ride!  Tickets for Day Out with Thomas™: The Go Go Thomas Tour 2013 are on sale now and available by calling Ticketweb toll-free 1-888-222-6608, or by visiting www.ticketweb.ca/dowt or www.ecrm5700.org  Ticket prices are $23 plus tax for ages 2 and up (plus service charges).  The event is rain or shine.

For more information and directions, contact the Elgin County Railway Museum at 519-637-6284 or visit www.ecrm5700.org.

For information on Thomas & Friends, visit www.thomasandfriends.com/dowt
Follow Thomas & Friends on Facebook and Twitter @TrueBlueEngine.

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. 

Canucks Rock: All Canadian Link up! 07/20

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 Cheryl from The Beautiful Side of Hectic! Check out our interview with her..

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

African Lion Safari - Go Wild!

Did you know Canada..  if you follow me on twitter (@diduknowcanada) you'll know we visited African Lion Safari in Hamilton Ontario this past Saturday, and it was AWESOME!

We've actually visited African Lion Safari every year since the boys were born, and let me tell you, if you haven't been yet this year, you need to go, because they have made some amazing updates!  A completely updated splash pad area, new ball pit play structure, the outdoor food area has been set up differently, we were very happy with the updates.  Along with the old favourites like the safari itself, elephants, shows and more!

The staff was very friendly from the moment we pulled up, once you go through the gates the parking lot is large and easily accessible (which I LOVE, especially with the baby).  We hopped on the first bus with it's huge windows, air conditioning and informative driver that gives you awesome facts and info about each animal in the park.  You can also drive your car through, which is nice for being able to stop as long as you want at each section.  Just be aware you may end up with a baboon sitting on top of your car!

The boys had a great time examining the map and guide book, and the animals were amazing!  The boys LOVED seeing a giraffe up close and seeing just how tall they really are.  The cheetah, zebras and lions were also big hits.  The baboons were the most exciting though, a couple jumped on top of the bus, they were on cars beside us, there was a Mama with a sweet baby, so much fun!

(do you see the Mama holding the baby baboon?  Sooooo cute!!)

After the bus ride we rode on the boat tour and hit up the splash pad, it was so much fun for the whole family.  A toddler area the little man could hang out in without getting splashed too much, the boys LOVED the new water slides and I loved how closely watched they were by staff, they organize the children in line, allow only 1 at a time on a slide and have them hop out of the way as soon as they splash down.  There's also a misty area, some fun bucket drops, and a little deeper area for the bigger kids.  This is an awesome way for everyone to cool down, including allowing mom to stick her feet in while holding everyone's stuff!

We stopped for a yummy pizza lunch in the air conditioned food area - lots of choices for everyone including the pizza we had, salads, hot dogs, chicken and more.

After lunch one of my big guys had to get his face painted as spider-boy!  The staff member applying the paint was friendly, got it done quick and easy, it was fun!

The boys were very excited to see the new play structure, they went through it countless times!

There was also lots of cool birds to see, the elephants, the petting zoo, the bird shows, the train rain, it was amazing!  A very full day, and the kiddos were tired and happy at the end of the afternoon.

If you haven't been you are missing out on an amazing experience for the whole family, I really recommend it and look forward to our visit again next year!  We are so excited to offer a giveaway from African Lion Safari, one lucky Canadian family will be heading there soon!  Enter below for your chance to win a family pass - 2 adults and 2 children, a $133 value!!!

Giveaway