Walmart Canada lends moms a helping hand #PGmom #PampersMom

Did you know Canada..  Since August, Walmart Canada and P&G began sponsoring a series of prenatal programs in hospitals and community centres countrywide by providing soon-to-be parents with special gift bags with Pampers product.

The reusable Walmart gift bags include a package of Pampers Swaddlers, the number one choice of Canadian parents for newborns, a sample of Pampers wipes and an educational pamphlet. This program is reaching 55,000 new moms from coast to coast, providing helpful tips on everything from how to secure a car seat to birth plans.

When I was pregnant with my twins I had a sudden moment of OMG, I don't know ANYTHING about babies!  I'm an only child and while I did more than my fair share of baby sitting and even worked at the Boys & Girls Club, I didn't know anything about taking care of a newborn.  All those car seat rules seemed impossible to understand and when someone mentioned a birthing plan, I had no idea what my options were let alone what I wanted.

My husband and I took a prenatal class and I am sooooo glad we did.  Included in the class was a hospital tour and that's what I really needed, you can look up a lot of info online but every hospital runs different, everyone has a different story and knowing how your birth is going to go is a big stress reliever when worrying about the big day.  If you are expecting for the first time or moved to a new area since having your first, I really recommend joining a prenatal class through your hospital (if you plan on birthing in one) they really put you at ease of what's expected of you, what you should be asking them for, what your options are and more.

At my hospital we were provided a few pampers diapers to get us going, but we needed to bring our own to get us through the stay and that's not something everyone might think of, so my biggest tip when planning for the big day is find out everything you can about your hospital's procedures, it will make your visit a lot less stressful too if hubby or gramma doesn't have to run out getting things you should have brought.

We are so excited to give our readers a chance to win a prenatal pack with Pampers and Walmart Canada!  Enter below for your chance to win: 

•  $50 gift card to Walmart Canada 
•  Pampers Swaddlers Newborn 
•  Sample of Pampers wipes 
•  Educational pamphlet courtesy of Pampers & Walmart 
• Canada 
•  Reusable bag from Pampers & Walmart Canada

Good luck Canada!

Giveaway

Should we change the Canadian National Anthem?

Did you know Canada..  Famed Canadian Margaret Atwood, former prime minister Kim Campbell and other prominent Canadian women calling for the lyrics of "O Canada" to be more gender-neutral.

Instead of "all thy sons command" they'd like to hear "in all of us command".  In a statement from Margaret Atwood she says "The words 'all thy sons command' in the English national anthem suggests that only male loyalty is being invoked,".

Check out a YouTube Video about their thoughts here:


Tell me, what do you think?

The Little Mermaid: Diamond Edition

Did you know Canada..  out today, October 1st, is a Blu-ray Combo Pack that I have been waiting for - The Little Mermaid: Diamond Edition!

This was an absolute favourite of mine growing up and I was SO excited to share it with my boys.  Even though it stars Ariel the mermaid, this movie is not just for little girls by far.  My boys loved Sebastian the Caribbean crab, sweet Flounder and was mesmerized by the sneaky sea witch Ursula.

Some movies from my youth are a flop with the boys and today's generation, but as well all know, Disney movies stand the test of time and are a favourite for every one.

Another reason to grab this one is the awesome 3 hours of Bonus Features including..

• "Part of your World" Music Video
• Disney Intermission (press pause and see what happens)
• Crab-E-OKE Sing Along
• Never-Before-Seen Deleted Character
• Part Of Her World: Jodi Benson's Voyage To New Fantasyland
• @DisneyAnimation - Go Behind the Scences
• Howard's Lecture - Music in Movies
• Under The Scene
• And more!!

With unforgettable characters, thrilling adventures, soaring Academy Award-winning music (1989: Best Music, Original Score, and Best Music, Original Song, Under The Sea.), The Little Mermaid is one of the most celebrated animated films of all time.

I LOVE combo packs because it means we can watch the Blu-Ray in the house and still have a DVD to take out into the van, it also includes a digital copy for your smart phone, tablet or computer!

With NEW State-Of-The-Art Digital Restoration and Disney's 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio this is The Little Mermaid like you've never seen it before, enjoy this one with your family today!

Fall Made by Hand Show Giveaway #madebyhandshow

Did you know Canada.. the Fall Made by Hand Show returning to the International Centre in Mississauga on October 19, 2013.  Check out this amazing list of exhibitors, all handmade crafts for body, baby, kids, home decor, clothing, jewellery, paper goods and more!

How would you like a $100 shopping spree at the show? We are giving away that and more, almost $500 in prizes.

 Thanks to all the giveaway hosts: Made by Hand, Mayahood Blog, Canadian Blog House, Canadian Mom Eh, Maple Mouse Mama, One Heart One Family, Journeys of the Zoo, Socially Engaged, Little Miss Kate, Did you Know Canada and Tales of a Ranting Ginger.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

 Open to ALL CANADIANS

ALL Prizes will be picked up in person at the Fall Made by Hand Show, October 19, between 11:00am - 5:00pm, International Centre, Hall 6, Mississauga. For more information on the MADE BY HAND SHOWS please visit http://www.madebyhandshow.ca

Canada's Baking and Sweets Show & Celebrity Pastry Chef Christian Faure M.O.F.

Did you know Canada..  this past weekend was the Canada's Baking and Sweets Show at the Toronto Congress Center.  The highlight of the show was watching Award-winning Chef Christian Faure M.O.F. create an impressive Alice in Wonderland edible sculpture.

The sculpting began Friday September 27, 2013..

And by the end of Day 2, the progress on the Alice in Wonderland Sculpture Saturday, September 28, 2013..

Behold the completed Alice in Wonderland edible sculpture, a masterpiece!

At the show, Christian Faure M.O.F. also announced  the opening of Maison Christian Faure, the first international school in Canada for professionals interested in a career in the pastry arts. With only 10 students per class, this small, focused and hands-on approach to teaching will offer its first 6-month, 600-hour program, beginning November 1, 2013 in Montreal.

The 6-month program will concentrate on practicing and perfecting techniques needed to become a successful pastry chef.  Each day there will be 2½ hours of demonstration followed by 3½ hours of hands-on work.   The course curriculum will include Breads and Viennoiseries; the Art of Chocolate; Desserts and Cakes for Special Occasions; Ice Cream and Cocktail pastries and Sugar Work, with the preparation of the final masterpiece to be displayed at graduation.   Six special guest chefs, all holding the title of M.O.F. (Meilleur Ouvrier de France or Best Craftsman of France), will make appearances throughout the program.

Enroll online or by email registrar@christianfaure.ca.   Maison Christian Faure will also offer evening and weekend courses for serious amateurs and there will be Saturday courses throughout the year for “Little Bakers” and their parents.  Summer courses will be available for all.

You may already know Chef Christian Faure M.O.F. has an impressive list of achievements and awards with the title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Craftsman of France), being the ultimate recognition.  He was awarded “Best Pastry Chef in the World” by the American “Hospitality & Sciences” Academy, he has worked for the Prince of Monaco, in the palaces of several Arabian princes, in the VIP Olympic Villages of Salt Lake City and Vancouver and recently competed and won in the "Sugar Dome" competition on the Food Network.

An exciting weekend and fantastic news to learn of the opening of Maison Christian Faure in the heart of old Montreal in a 300-year old historic building that has been entirely refurbished.  You may not be a chef, but if you are in the neighbourhood be sure to stop by to visit a wonderful Snacking Café and Parlour, Boutique and Pastry Shop on the ground floor where you can buy croissants, brioches, pastries and much more!

Canadian Giveaway Linky! 09/30

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!!

Private School Expos Toronto and Halton-Peel

Did you know Canada.. Education is one of the most important part of our life. Everyone has own gifts and talents, education gives us an opportunity to develop these talents and build a bright future. Just remembering the famous  B.B. King quote: "The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.",  education is always wise investment.


This fall Our Kids invite families, supporters and educators to visit Private School Expos across Canada. We are glad that in October the GTA will host two Our Kids Expos. Find the best school for your child at the Our Kids Halton-Peel on October 20th or Toronto Private School Expo on October 26th, 2013. These Expos are the largest in Canada and feature the very best private and independent schools in Ontario and outstanding schools across Canada. Do not miss the exclusive opportunity to explore private school options and find the best school for your child quickly and easily.

Find all the information you need in one day at one location:

• meet face to face with top schools
• speak with education experts
• attend information sessions

From preschool to high school, traditional to special needs,  Private School Expo is a must for every parent. Get your FREE VIP family admission vouchers compliments of Did You Know Canada? using the promo code “DYK” by following the registration link here.

 
Halton-Peel Private School Expo
When and Where Date:
Sunday, October 20th, 2013
Time: 12:00pm to 4:00pm

Location:
Oakville Conference Centre
2515 Wyecroft Road
Oakville, ON L6L 6P8
 
 Toronto Private School Expo
When and Where Date:
Saturday, October 26th, 2013
Time: 11:00am to 3:00pm

Location:
Roy Thomson Hall
60 Simcoe Street
Toronto, ON M5J 2J5

Faniya
Teddy Out-Ready

PlaSmart - Stomp Rocket

Did you know Canada..  we have had tons of fun this summer checking out PlaSmart's Stomp Rocket!

With no batteries or fuel required this air powered rocket is the perfect activity to bring to the park, beach, friends house or even just out into the backyard.  Think about where you are before you stomp too hard though, the Stomp Rocket Super High Performance can get up to 400 feet!

There's also Stomp Rocket Ultra soaring up to 200 feet and Stomp Rocket Jr. Glow going up to 100 feet - lots of options for every age range and space range.

Easy to set up, the Stomp Rocket Super High Performance came with 6 rockets, stand, air hose and launch pad, that's all you need for an afternoon of fun!

We brought ours to a pool party this summer and the boys and their uncles had fun seeing who could launch the rockets the highest.  It also led to some interesting discussions about how it worked, why a harder stomp made it fly higher, why it needed to be straight up and down on the stand - I think the boys learned a lot!  Everyone was also really pleased it came with 6 rockets, so you could launch them one after another without having to chase the rockets down where they land.

Not just for summer though, Stomp Rockets are a great outdoor activity for this fall too.  If the grass is too wet to play on, take it to a big empty parking lot and have fun with it there!

Canadian company PlaSmart has a host of smart, innovative and amazing toys - stay up to date with them on Facebook, Twitter and on the web.

Enter below for your chance to win a PlaSmart Stomp Rocket, the whole family will love it!  Good luck Canada!

Giveaway

Back to School with Crayola

Did you know Canada..  now that we are a few weeks in to school, we know what the kids REALLY need at school and Crayola has you covered with their Back to School must haves.

A must have in this house was whiteboard tools.  When I went to school it was all dusty chalk boards, but now it's all about whiteboards!  Heading into Grade 1 my guys had to have their own dry erase markers as part of their supplies.  Crayola has a big selection of dry erase products..

Dry Erase Washable Broad Line Markers - Bright, bold, Crayola coloured dry-erase markers wash right out of clothes and easily wipe off of dry-erase surfaces leaving parents with little clean-up.

Dry Erase Broad Line Markers - Low odour dry erase markers from Crayola are perfect for students, teachers, and all members of the classroom. Suitable for everyday use on all standard whiteboard surfaces.

Dry Erase Fine Line Markers - For smooth, fine line writing, Crayola Dry Erase markers deliver bold colours and low odour. Squeak-free and easy to erase, the extended ventilated cap is safety designed for use by children.

Dry Erase Crayons, Original or Brights - Ideal for use on white or dark dry-erase surfaces, these large-size washable crayons provide a punch of non-messy colour. Includes a crayon sharpener and an E-Z erase cloth.

Dry Erase Coloured Pencils - These pencils’ unique formula give kids the chance to write and erase on dry-erase surfaces, just like paper. Trace designs, practice lettering, create images and perfect fine details and shading. Sharpener included.

We tried out the dry erase crayons - every day after school the boys and I work on their word list for the week by practicing the words on their white board.  We love it because we can easily practice lots of words without wasting paper, we can do it in the middle of the floor without needing a table or book under the paper, and easy clean up!  I was really happy to learn about dry erase crayons, I didn't even know they existed, but they are perfect for Grade 1'ers hands to write easily with and the boys love the colours.

Do your kids use dry erase products at school too?

Star Wars Reads Day II is coming to Canada October 5, 2013

Did you know Canada..  it's true - Star Wars Reads Day II is coming to Canada October 5, 2013!  On October 5th bookstores, libraries and schools all around the world will all be taking part in a one day celebration of literacy.

Star Wars Reads is an international day-long celebration of literacy and all things Star Wars.  Last year, 30 authors and 1,500 costumed volunteers participated in over 1,200 Star Wars Reads Day events across North America.

We are HUGE Star Wars fans in this house, have I showed you a few pictures from my boys 6th birthday party in August?  We had an all out Star Wars day with Jedi Training, light saber cookies, costumes, the works!  My boys love all things Star Wars and that includes books.

Our favourite our the DK Readers, perfect for my Grade 1'ers learning to read, we even include the books on the nightly reading list!  (When they get to 50 books they get a prize - whoo!)

Two DK Reader books we have been reading at bed time are DK Readers Star Wars Clone Wars Watch out for Jabba The Hutt and Jedi in Training, both enjoyable story lines, accurate Star Wars information, awesome graphics and perfect for my guys to practice with.

We also love the Star Wars Complete Vehicles - it is packed with visual explorations of more than fifty essential Star Wars spacecraft and landcraft, including the TIE bomber, Imperial shuttle, A-wing, B-wing, and more. Full-color cross-section artwork presents in-depth examinations of each craft's weapon systems, engines, hyperdrives, cockpits, and construction secrets, providing a never-before-seen glimpse at the vehicles that drive the Star Wars universe.  The detail is every picture is amazing, it's a great read full of fast facts that my boys are mesmerized over every night.

Visit DK Canada's Star Wars Boutique and you can save 30% off Star Wars books, order now to surprise the kids (and maybe hubby!) in time for Star Wars Reads Day and celebrate the joy of reading!