Life on Manitoulin, along with friends, Sober Julie, This Lil Piglet, and Mommy Matter are bringing great Canadian friendly giveaways all in one place! This will be a weekly feature to make life easier for us all.

If you have a Canadian friendly giveaway on your blog, feel free to link up! If you're looking for great Canadian giveaways, find them here!

Don’t forget to mark this page on your calendars! We will be bringing you great giveaways every Monday!!

With the Holidays just around the corner, and pocket books a bit tight for many, being able to win some gifts is a great idea, yes?

Sober Julie, Life on Manitoulin (aka @chancesmommy), This Lil Piglet, and Mommy Matter are bringing you a place to post your giveaways and a place where you can find great Canadian giveaways to enter.

If you have a Canadian friendly giveaway on your blog, feel free to link up! If you're looking to enter fab giveaways, we'll be posting every Monday!

Good luck, everyone!

If you live on Manitoulin Island, you'll have likely sampled some of the amazing items Our Garden creates.  If you've been to the Farmers' Markets on the Island, you'll most likely have chatted with the friendly Chuc and Linda Willson, owners of and masterminds behind Our Garden products.

Since I moved to the Island a few years ago, I've been a fan of Chuc and Linda's jellies, vinegars, and other goodies. I pick up a few items every now and then to mail to friends and family for Christmas presents. They are SO delicious!

Their products are made fresh with local fruit of the field or naturally sourced herbs from their own garden. They never add artificial flavour to any of their products. They also do not mix any of their products, because they want  you to enjoy the true taste of the fruit or herb. Another thing I love is that they use organic fair trade sugar to assure their product is eco-friendly, the growers get a fair price, and because it's better for us.

Just last year, Linda introduced me to Our Garden's vinaigrettes! I'm not a fan of creamy salad dressings (Okay, I am a fan, but my waistline isn't!), and I absolutely love vinaigrettes!


What you do is you buy the basil infused vinegar and whatever basil jelly you prefer from Our Garden.  Then you follow one of the amazing recipes Chuc and Linda have so generously shared on their Our Garden pamphlets.

Here's one of my favourites from Chuc and Linda:

Ruby Raspberry Vinaigrette
1/2 cup Ruby Basil Vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
3 Tablespoons Raspberry Jelly or to taste
3 Tablespoons Ruby Basil Jelly or to taste

Combine ingredients in tall narrow jar or a vinaigrette bottle for easy pouring. Let stand at room temperature overnight. Shake well before using. If not used up within a week, store in refrigerator.


Chuc and Linda Willson's Our Garden is a MyPick Verified Local Farmer.  The MyPick logo is your assurance that Farmers' Markets Ontario has visited their farm and confirmed that they are indeed a bona fide  local producer.  Everything at Our Garden comes straight from their farm and is a result of their hard work.

I should also add that Chuc and Linda are two of the nicest, kindest, loveliest people you will ever meet!

Find Our Garden at the Farmers' Markets  on Manitoulin Island and on Facebook!

Disclosure - This is not a sponsored post. I am not being compensated for any of my Manitoulin Spotlight posts. I have chosen to showcase local businesses because I would like to support them and spread the word about all the wonderful hidden and not so hidden) gems we have on the Island. All the opinions written here are honest and my own.

On Wednesdays all over the internet, bloggers all over the world post a photograph with no words or explanation of the photo on their blog. Hence the title ‘Wordless Wednesday’. The idea is that the photo itself says so much that it doesn’t need any description. However, today's post isn't so wordless.

The above photos were taken at the Dinner & A Book event at the Garden Shed Cafe on Manitoulin Island. I was fortunate enough to attend this wonderful book signing and reading, and chat with one of my favourite people - New York author, Bonnie Kogos. 

"Experience Manitoulin Island through author, Bonnie Kogos’ eyes as she takes character, Lily Gardner through a whirl wind of love, sex, adventure & conflict."

Bonnie's sense of humour and amazing ability to tell stories simply draw in her audience. 

Want to hear something cool? The audience was filled with a few other Canadian celebs including artists and musicians. One some of you may know is Canadian singer, Jane Siberry.

Feel free to link up your Wordless Wednesday posts! We love checking them out and commenting!

Growing up, I remember getting really excited about the Olympics. I think my earliest memories of the Olympics were from when I was in grade 4. We had a project on the Winter Olympics and I watched TV religiously, cheering on and supporting Canada's athletes. We had a class project and had to research and write about the history of the Olympic Games, some of the events/sports, and athletes. I actually still have that duo-tang with all my hard work, research, newspaper clippings, and drawings.

There is something that gets me all choked up watching as our Canadian athletes represent our country and bring back the gold (or silver, bronze, or even just giving it their all).  One of the most exciting things is cheering on our athletes.

To celebrate the hard work, dedication, and perseverance, General Mills has launched an inspiring Cheer Campaign to empower everyone! Carry the message of our great nation by sporting Cheer gear! Not only are these items fun, but they're also FREE!  Cool, fun, and FREE t-shirts and flip flops with the purchase of selected General Mills snacks and cereal.

As a #LMDConnector, I received my Cheer gear! I got some very cool, patriotic flip flops and my favourite...Multi-Grain Cheerios! Hubby loves the Honey Nut Cheerios, and Little One alternates between the two.  I was sent a specially marked box of Multi-Grain Cheerios, which I was able to use to order my Olympics 2012 t-shirt.

Do you watch the Olympics? Who will you be cheering for? I know I'll be wearing my flip flops and Hubby will be wearing the t-shirt as we show our support for Alexandre Despatie, Benoit Huot, and the rest of our amazing athletes who represent Canada in the 2012 Olympic Games.
If you'd like your own free Cheer gear, after purchasing your specially marked boxes of General Mills snacks or cereal and enter your pin codes online at www.lifemadedelicious.ca/cheergear.

Disclosure - I was given the products mentioned for being part of the #LMDConnector program. All the thoughts expressed on this blog are honest and my own.

I'm sure many of you already know my lovely blog (and IRL) friend, Julia (aka: nugglemama) from Nugglemama's Handful.  You've most likely seen her on various social media platforms. I mean, the woman is everywhere!

Well, my dear friend is trying to find sponsors for BlogHer! Why this amazing woman has not been snatched up by some smart sponsor is beyond me! I mean, this woman will SING to get a sponsor! To be honest, I believe she would be fabulous for promoting a brand. She's open, honest, vocal...she has great online presence and a huge following. Plus, she's FUN!

Check out some of her videos and tell me you don't want to sponsor this wonderful, vibrant, amazing blogger/tweep! Hop on over and see why you need to sponsor Nugglemama for BlogHer!

Canada celebrates its 145th birthday today.  All over the nation, people are celebrating. Whether it be by heading to the nation's capital to join in on all the festivities Ottawa has going on or just hanging out at the cottage by the lake, or having a BBQ with friends and family, there's no doubt that your weekend is all about having a great time with your loved ones. 


For us, since Hubby's on the Fire Department and First Response Team, we spent our day supporting our local firefighters. There was a massive yard sale, lots of great attractions, a parade, and an annual fish fry. Tonight, we will be watching the fireworks down by the water. 


In honour of Canada Day, I thought a little trivia would be fun. How much do you know about Canada? Here are a few questions for you. Feel free to add any "interesting facts about Canada" in the comments section on my blog!

1. What is the origin of the name "Canada"?
2. How many oceans touch Canada?
3. How many countries border Canada?
4. True or False?  Canada is the world's second largest country, by land mass?
5. How many territories in Canada?
6. True or False?  Superman was created by a Canadian?
7. What are Canada's national languages?
8. How many time zones in Canada?
9. What is the leader of Canada called?
10. What is the name of the elected lower house of Canadian parliament?

One more question for good measure: What animal is on the Canadian quarter?


* Edited to add *  ANSWERS

1. Huron-Iroquois word 'kanata', meaning village or settlement
2. 3 - Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic
3. 1 - the U.S.A.
4. True
5. 3 - Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut
6. Yes
7. English and French
8. 6
9. The Prime Minister
10. The House of Commons

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll know that I've got some little quirks and that there are just a few odd little things about me.

1. Coffee puts me to sleep. I kid you not. A shot of Espresso knocks me out cold in 5 minutes flat!
2. I  have a food sensitivity to green apples, which makes me really sad. Though I LOVE the tartness of green apples, they cause my mouth to get itchy and my lips to become inflamed. Seriously, my brothers laugh and tell me I look like a platypus when I eat green apple.
3. I have extremely sensitive skin.

Going on a cross-country road trip has been a dream of mine ever since I was a kid.  I think I was in grade 4 when I told myself that I needed to see all of Canada before I die.  Yes, I thought about things like that in grade 4!  I wanted to rent a Winnebago and travel coast to coast, take in the sights, and learn all about this great country of ours.

Thirty-something years later and that dream still holds true. I've travelled around the world, visited over eleven countries, twenty-something U.S. states, and only four Canadian provinces. I am sad to say I've seen more of Asia, Indonesia, and the Caribbean than I have my own country.

The dream is still there and I will one day go coast to coast with my daughter. I'd like to teach her about Canada and all its amazing wonders.

In the meantime, I live vicariously through Gran, Alice, and Cal.

HEY CANADA!

Join Gran, nine year-old Alice and eight year-old Cal as they embark on a magnificent road trip across Canada. Their journey is not told in traditional prose, but rather in a melange of poems, funny songs, and other fun and engaging ways.  They even tell their stories in tweets and blogs! It's a really interesting way to captivate their audience and make readers feel like they're going on a cross-Canada road trip with them.

The three voyageurs share their experiences through story, poems, comics, photos, and talk about historical facts and interesting tid bits about Canada. One really understands how vast, varied and surprising Canada really is. Canada truly is a multi-faceted country with so many hidden gems!

My child is only three years old, but she loves Hey Canada!  In fact, she loves having me read it to her and often repeats to others all the interesting Canadian factoids she's absorbed. As a teacher of ESL (English as a Second Language), I believe this is a fabulous resource for students studying English in Canada. This is a fun and light way of incorporating history, geography, and facts about Canada into a learning experience. It's a great tool for ESL teachers.

I'm taking part of an exciting blog tour. The Hey Canada! Blog Tour is from June 25-29, 2012. Make sure to check out the blogs participating in this virtual blog tour! It's going to be a lot of fun!

More information about Hey Canada!

Written by Vivien Bowers
Illustrated by Milan Pavlovic

Category: Juvenile Nonfiction - People & Places -Canada; Juvenile Nonfiction - History - Canada;Juvenile Nonfiction - People & Places
Imprint: Tundra Books
Format: Hardcover
Pub Date: May 2012
Age: 7-10 years
Trim Size: 8 x 11
# of Pages: 72 pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-255-4 (1-77049-255-0)

CDN Price: $21.99 / US Price: $19.95

Summer's here! School's out! You know what that means! Time to celebrate time with family! What do you and your family do for Canada Day? Do you stay close to home? Do you go on road trips? Do you check out all the amazing sites and activities your neighbourhood and community have to offer?
I  have to say that when I lived in Toronto and Montreal, I used to partake in all the festivities...big time! I'd catch the parade, check out all the local fare, listen to local bands performing for Canada Day, and end the evening watching the fireworks.
Now that I live on an island that many of my Toronto and Montreal friends have never heard of before, I still do all of the above. Only now it's on a much smaller scale. The parade is much smaller. The fireworks aren't as lavish. This said, the sense of community is incredible! Islanders are proud Canadians and they know how to have fun!
You know what's also Canadian?  Manitoulin Chocolate Works chocolates are Canadian! More importantly, they're made on Manitoulin! Since many people in our great country are not familiar with Manitoulin Island, let me acquaint you with this beautiful island.
Manitoulin Island is the largest fresh water island within a fresh water lake in the world. Pristine beaches, breathtaking hiking trails, incredible flora and fauna, quaint countryside, idyllic hamlets, and villages by the water make "the Island" a great travel destination for those who seek the rest and relaxation this peaceful place has to offer. It's also a fabulous getaway for those who love adventure seeking and outdoor activities! The Island is known as a biker's haven. Cyclists also make Manitoulin a destination for riding the open highways and taking in the sights. Fishing on the Island is popular and avid fishermen flock to the Island to try to snag a prized catch!
Because I love supporting local businesses and want to share all that is fabulous about Manitoulin, I'm giving away some scrumptious Manitoulin Chocolate Works chocolate to one lucky reader! 

Included in this delectable prize pack:

• 1 Pecan Butter Toffee bar
• 1 Bag of Dirty Mint chocolates
• 1 Bag of Cranberries with Blueberry Chocolate
• 1 Bear Claw

To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Make sure you leave a comment (mandatory)!a Rafflecopter giveaway
I'm participating in The Great Canadian Blog Bash for the second year in a row. Make sure to follow #TGCBB hosts Positively Pampered Patty, Mom vs. the Boys, Good Girl Gone Green, Whispered Inspirations, and Kat's Confessions!  There are tons of other amazing Canadian bloggers participating in this blog hop! Make sure to check them out too!
Check out Manitoulin Tourism, Our Manitoulin, and other websites on the net for more information or to plan your visit to Manitoulin Island, Ontario!

Since we do live on beautiful Manitoulin Island, I thought it would be wonderful to incorporate a bit of the local flavour and share some Island gems with you. Every week, I'll be showcasing a different Island "must see"!

My very first Island spotlight is the amazing Gypsy Family Farm.

If you've ever visited Manitoulin Island and have stopped by the Farmers' Markets, undoubtedly you'll have met Farmer Ted.

He's the guy with copious amounts of fresh local produce, smiling and always ready to offer suggestions and recommendations of what to buy and how to prepare it! I always love bumping into him at Farmers' Markets. Honestly, his produce is beyond compare! I've bought everything from lipstick red peppers to assorted squash from him. You can tell how much hard work and dedication he puts into his farming!

The group description on Gypsy Family Farm's Facebook page reads:

Put a face on your food. Welcome to Gypsy Family Farm where everything has a story. We are located on pristine Manitoulin Island, Canada and are dedicated to food production through ethical farming practices.

What I love about Gypsy Family Farm and Farmer Ted is that they work tirelessly to provide people with real food. Real, fresh, local food! Farmer Ted posts regular photos of what he's growing and he also offers farm shares to Island residents. Farm share members can get a glimpse of what they are about to receive every week.

Gypsy Family Farm also makes jellies and other good things!  Last year, I picked up some of Farmer Ted's Royal Pain jelly! It is perfect served on top of stone-milled crackers with melted Brie! Oh, so good!

Next time you're at the Farmers' Markets on Manitoulin Island, make sure you stop by and say hello to Farmer Ted. Oh, and make sure to pick up some delicious lettuce, peppers, lettuce, and other Gypsy Family Farm items for a mouthwatering salad made with all local produce! Farmer Ted is fabulous at introducing people to new, interesting, and unusual edible masterpieces (like the "lipstick" red pepper I mentioned earlier or the "crayon carrots" he has).

Photo credits: Gypsy Family Farm and Farmer Ted photos via Google Images. Royal Pain image courtesy of yours truly.

Okay, who doesn't like winning things?  I've entered quite a few amazing and fun giveaways in the past and have won some pretty great prizes.  I've also hosted some great giveaways, but I  have to say that this giveaway is quite different from any I've ever seen!

Welcome to The Great Mystery Box Giveaway! Brought to you by your hosts: Did You Know Canada, The Knit Wit by Shair, Maple Leaf Mommy and Talking Momcents.

How would you like a chance to win one of four themed boxes, full of awesome goodies and mysterious prizes? Our four hosts have pooled together to collect over ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in prizes! The fabulous and bountiful prizes have been divvied up into four themed mystery boxes,with a little something for everyone....

The four themed Mystery Boxes are:
Baby - think newborn +. (estimated value $200)
Kids - toys, clothes and other assorted treasures. (estimated value $220)
Health & Beauty - lotions, potions and other related goodies. (estimated value $330)
Box of Intrigue - Mystery, Suspense, Intrigue! (estimated value $310)



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Eating healthy is on everyone's minds these days.  Whether it's trying to maintain a healthy weight or just wanting to make sure we eat foods that are healthy for us, we are all striving to eat well so we can live well.
In our home, we love our raw veggies and our fruits.  We also love our steel cut oats and Quinoa.  Because Hubby's a beef farmer, he cannot live without meat.  Lean meats, that is!  We get a good balance of all food groups here.

We make a conscious effort to choose wisely when it comes to what we put into our bodies.  This is why I was excited when I was asked to review some of President's Choice Blue Menu items!
We received: Blue Menu vegetarian chili, Tangerine-Guava-Pink Peppercorn salad dressing, Omega-3 granola, Fibre Plus bran flakes, Pad Thai sauce, Berry Blend fruit snacks, PC Organics Quinoa and Almond Beverage, as well as PC Green dishwasher detergent. We were also given a reusable PC Green shopping bag and the Insider's Report.

Loblaws Companies Ltd./President's Choice brand have items that are part of the in-store Live Life Well platform.  It encourages Canadians to eat and shop healthy with a number of different avenues (ex: pharmacy offerings, etc).

 I was pleasantly surprised to read that Loblaws Companies Ltd. and the Canadian Diabetes Association are offering a year-long national in-store program.  Were you aware of this?

“Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions among the Canadian population.  Many people with prediabetes or undiagnosed type 2 diabetes may actually display no symptoms.  It is critical that we all act now as diabetes is not only costing our healthcare system, but is costing Canadians their life,” said Michael Cloutier, president and CEO, Canadian Diabetes Association.  “Our campaign sponsors and distinctive collaboration with Loblaw will help Canadians get checked for type 2 diabetes and provide educational resources to help them manage the disease.” (Source: Canadian Diabetes Association)

I loved President's Choice brand before, but love it even more now! I love that they offer healthier options and that they are made available to the public at very reasonable prices.

I don't know about you, but I find myself checking (and double checking!) the ingredients and nutritional facts on everything!

For breakfast today, we had this:
Blue Menu Omega-3 almond vanilla granola mixed with Blue Menu Fibre Plus Bran Flakes and some PC Organics original unsweetened fortified almond beverage.  I had an apple to finish off the meal. Absolutely delicious start to our day!

A friend got me drinking almond milk about a year ago. Before that, we rarely had anything with nuts in the house because of our nieces' nut allergies.  They're not over often anymore, and Hubby loves nuts of all kinds.  Little One isn't allergic to nuts, so we re-introduced them into the house. Prior to that, I drank soy and rice milk.  Hubby and Little One drink 2% milk.  They keep the dairy farmers in business with the amount of milk they drink!

I really enjoyed the PC Organics Almond Beverage.  It had a sweet, slightly nutty flavour, and was light (leaving me without that heavy feeling I get when I drink milk).  I also like that the boxes for the Blue Menu cereal have the "Source of Omega-3", "High Fibre", "Very High Fibre", and "Low Sodium" written on them.

Hubby and Little One LOVE their cereal, so I'm glad that if they're going to eat cereal, it's this kind.  Little One has never been introduced to sugary cereal or any of the ones with artificial colouring.

Stay tuned for more of our #PresidentsChoice #BlueMenu posts!  They've got healthy, nutritious, delicious items for everyone in the family!
Disclosure - I received PC Brand Blue Menu and PC Organics items to help spread the word about the Loblaws Companies Ltd. in-store Live Life Well program. All the opinions expressed on this blog are honest and my own.

My husband and I love our coffee.  True, Hubby has only recently been introduced to the variety and quality of coffees from around the world.  During our honeymoon in the Dominican Republic, he sampled the rich, robust flavours of Dominican coffee beans when we went on a tour and learned about the beloved coffee bean.

Since then, his tastes in coffee have expanded and he now enjoys coffee from Hawaii, South America, Africa, etc...

Hubby now knows what "good" coffee is.  I attribute this to also hanging out with our friends from Italy and France!

I know. Those of you who know me already know of the adverse effect coffee has on me.  You know it knocks me out cold in five minutes flat.  Yes, my friends. I'm one of the few people in the world that falls asleep if I have coffee.  This isn't necessarily a bad thing! I get to savour coffee when I have insomnia! Need to fall asleep? No problem! A shot of espresso or cappuccino will do it for me!

I just wanted to share this amazing deal with all the coffee loving family, friends, and readers in my life.  Did you know that BuyCoffeeCanada has put together a 45% off deal for 2 lbs of Fair Trade Organic Coffee ($25/2lbs with free shipping) for residents of Ontario? Hang tight. If this promotion is a success, it could be Canada-wide soon!

They also carry Torani syrups (even the sugar-free ones!). If you're like me and have had dreams of having your kitchen equipped so that you could make your own lattes and play "barista", you'll love BuyCoffeeCanada!

If you're interested in the group buy for the coffee, click here!

Disclosure- I am participating in the BuyCoffeeCanada Blogger Program. All the thoughts expressed on this blog are honest and my own.

I finally took the plunge. I purchased my own domain. I must tell you that change isn't something I deal with very well. I am a creature of habit and change actually stresses me out. The thought of saying goodbye to lifeonmanitoulin.blogspot.com also saddened me. That blog saw the beginnings of my life on Manitoulin Island, as a newly married woman (Ha! A city girl turned farmer's wife!), a new mother, and more.  Plus, changing the blog/the domain would mean I'd need to start from the beginning. I was worried I'd lose all the followers I  had from the other two blogs and have to start all over from the beginning. Laziness and not wanting to have to start from scratch were the main reasons I didn't want to give up my blogspot.com blogs.

On the other hand, I grew tired of having to manage a personal blog and a reviews blog and considered putting everything all under one roof. What better timing too. Those of you in the blogosphere are probably already familiar with the fabulous work of  Aeryn from Habitué Toronto. I mentioned my concerns and she told me that we could tie in both blogs together, I'd still be able to keep all my old posts, and that readers/followers would follow me to my new "home".

Not only is she a fabulous friend, but the woman is a tech guru. She's the master of all things html and graphics related. The woman understands code like no one's business. She is my hero...and the creator of my fancy new look! Yes, ladies and gentleman! You need to consult Aeryn for your blog facelift!

She's so easy and fun to work with. I can honestly tell you that it was a great experience. She's very intuitive. I gave her a rough idea of the vision I had for my blog, and so translated that all into a fantastic, unique, and personalized template.  She seemed to just know what I wanted and she knew how to get everything that I wanted done!

Over the course of a few days and a few Skype video meetings, we (as in me telling Aeryn what my vision for the blog was and Aeryn working her magic) came up with this new look and layout that I absolutely love!

Look! Aeryn even made me not one, but two blog buttons! Aren't they adorable? Is it wrong for me to be in luuuuv with my new blog buttons?














Why two? Well, we couldn't choose! They were both so cute! You get to pick which one you want to put on your blog (copy and paste the code on the right sidebar). Pick one or collect them all! ;)

When my three year old saw the blog buttons, she squealed with delight. She immediately said, "That's ME! I'm the little calf with the pink ribbon!"

Thank you Aeryn! Thanks for all your suggestions, tips, ideas, and...template/code/image magic!

Friends, Family, & Blog Readers:
I'd like to thank you all for following our journey (known as our crazy life on the farm!) and supporting us in more ways than you can ever imagine.  Since this is a new domain, could you please follow us here www.lifeonmanitoulin.com from now on?
Could you also please follow me on NetworkedBlogs? :)

If you've been reading the blog, you'll know that I am a regular guest blogger on the Canadian Beef Blog. To help celebrate the launch of my new blog, Canada Beef is running a giveaway here! How fun is that? Okay, and how appropriate is it too? I'm married to a beef farmer. I live on a beef farm. We love Canada Beef! Totally fitting!

Canadian Beef is giving away 10 Prize Packs! That's right! TEN of my lucky readers will will a prize pack!
The Canada Beef Prize Packs include: Canadian Beef calendars, basting brushes, and aprons!

To enter the giveaway, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway ends on February 20, 2012.

We've got some exciting news brewing! One of the coolest things I wanted to share is that I am the newest member of the PTPA Blogaholics! {doing the happy dance}

Many of you are already familiar with PTPA. For those of you who aren't, let me give you a brief introduction. PTPA (Parent Tested Parent Approved) has parents (Yes, parents!) as their product testers. Real life parents test and evaluate products and give their honest opinions. That's how the products earn the PTPA seal of approval.

For me, doing research on what products are the best and the safest for my Little One is really important.  What I value the most is honest opinions from parents just like me. Let's face it. Parents know what's best for their kids. With PTPA, it's just like getting feedback on products from your best friends or from other parents at play group. Very cool.

Whenever you see the PTPA Winners Seal, you know it's a product you can trust for your family.


Want to browse the some of the PTPA Winners? Click here for the list of all the winners.
You can join their growing community of over 40,000 parents and test products too! Just head on over and register!

Some of you may already know that I'm a guest blogger on the Canadian Beef Blog.  I was not born into a farming family, but I married into one.  I blog about life as a city girl living on a working beef farm.  Hopefully, I can offer a unique perspective by linking city and country (coming from both worlds), let people know more about the beef farming industry (like debunk certain myths about beef farming!), and just share our adventures on the farm. Not only am I a city girl living in the country, but I'm also a Chinese-Caribbean-Filipina-Torontonian-Montrealer living on an island in Northern Ontario! This all makes for some interesting (and often comedic) blog fodder!

Here's my latest post - Not Yo' Standard Meat and Potatoes!

Pssst! If you read the post, you'll see that I've included Hubby's favourite beef recipe! It's not just your standard steak and potatoes either!
Follow Canadian Beef on their blog, on Twitter, and on Facebook too!

No one ever told me how difficult it would be to be a parent. It's the best experience in the world, but at times, the most challenging.  Lately, I've been feeling a lot of heat from everyone regarding potty training. I've been getting flack from all directions about how children should be potty trained as soon as they hit two years old. In all honesty, I think there's no magic age when children are "supposed" to be potty trained. Some potty train earlier than others and some later. It can be a stressful experience for both toddler and parents. Why add to the stress?

I started potty training Little One over the summer and she was doing remarkably well. Two weeks ago, she just decided that she wasn't having anything to do with potty training. She refused to sit on the potty, she only wanted to wear diapers, and she said things like "I'm a baby, Mama!  I'm just little!"

We have been going from weeks of her not wearing a diaper and only wanting to wear her Dora or Strawberry Shortcake panties (or being completely naked!) to weeks of her not wanting the potty and only wanting the diaper or training pants/easy-ups.

Frustrating! 

I heard from other moms that sometimes toddlers have set backs, they can go back and forth for a while, but once they're ready, they're ready.  In the meantime, we will make sure to have diapers on hand.

When I was asked to review Pampers Cruisers 3-Way Fit diapers, I was more than happy to take the opportunity to check out what the product had to offer. It couldn't have come at a better time too.
Pampers is a brand trusted by many parents. It is also the brand that the hospital used on Little One when she was in the NICU. Yes, Pampers has diapers that fit even the tiniest of preemies! Well, Little One was so little that the nurses had to fold her diaper over so it would fit. Still, the fact that Pampers was the brand the hospitals used and trusted, was something that always stayed in my mind when thinking of which kind of diapers to use.

Pampers® Cruisers diapers

Pampers Cruisers 3-Way Fit  does live up to its word. The fit is quite possibly the best fit on Little One so far. Because it adapts to fit the waist, legs, and bottom, it gives her the freedom to roam around and be as active as she wants to be...and not have any leaking if she does pee in her diaper.

Pampers recently launched its Canadian Facebook Page which will feature product information, meaningful discussion, tips, and news specifically for Canadian parents. You can visit the Pampers Canada Facebook Page and join in the discussions! "Like" it, and share it with your friends!

To celebrate the exciting launch of the Pampers Canada Facebook Page, Pampers is giving one of my lucky readers an amazing Pampers Prize Pack! The Prize Pack includes a beautiful Skip Hop Deluxe diaper bag (with changing pad) along with Pampers diapers!

**Edited to add:** Because of the issues readers have been reporting regarding the Rafflecopter form freezing, we have extended the giveaway deadline. The giveaway ends on January 6, 2012. Instead of filling out the Rafflecopter form, please leave a comment in the comments section at the end of this post for each entry. 

TO ENTER:
Visit the Pampers Canada Facebook Page and tell me what you like about the page! This is a mandatory entry. (2 entries)

While you're on the Pampers Canada Facebook Page, "like" them and tell them I sent you :) (2 entries) 


"Like" Random Thoughts and Musings from the Island REVIEWS on Facebook. (2 entries)

Follow Random Thought  and Musings from the Island REVIEWS on Google Friend Connect! (2 entries)

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Disclosure - I was given a package of Size 4 Pampers Cruisers 3-Way Fit diapers and wipes to facilitate this review. All the opinions on this blog are honest and my own.

Want to know who won the Bibiray's Giveaway?

Congratulations to SJB (entry #73)! You have won a Bibiray's Adjustable Organic Knots Dress! Please check your inbox, as an e-mail has been sent to you.
Your little one is going to love her new dress! Mine wants to wear hers all the time! She loves the neat design and all the colours. There's also a huge pocket sewn into the dress that Little One loves toting all her special little toys in.

I love the fact that the dress is made of organic cotton and that it grows with my child. Adjustable organic clothing is such an amazing idea!

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway! Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

For my birthday today, my husband and some friends planned a surprise party for me at the Spruce Glen Bakery and Cafe in Wikwemikong, Ontario.

If you haven't stopped in yet, you should!  Spruce Glen serves up fabulous gourmet coffees and specialty teas at very reasonable prices! They also serve freshly baked treats like apple strudels, flat breads, cherry-filled treats, etc.  I am a fan of their Soy Chai Latte and my husband really likes their Wiky Wake Up (also known as the Red Eye)! It's a great coffee with a shot of Espresso!

Though the shop is not open on weekends, Spruce Glen (at the urging of my party-planning friends) opened to host this small event. Some of my favourite people on the planet were there. It was a lovely gathering and just makes me even more aware of how fortunate I am to have some very special people in my life. I actually almost didn't even attend my own party. My friend, ArtsyTeacherMom told me we were going to the Santa Claus Parade in Wiky and I said I didn't feel like going and that I had laundry to do! Not taking no for an answer, she told me to get into the vehicle! Good thing, because a surprise gathering was being cooked up...along with the most decadent cake. Thank you to Ultimately Chocolate for my mint chocolate birthday cake. We've tried pretty much all of Ultimately Chocolate's cakes and love them all!

What a wonderful day.  Thanks to everyone for making my birthday a very special one.

Spruce Glen Bakery Cafe is open on Mondays to Fridays from 6AM to 5PM.