Friday, June 07, 2013
KanDi Jewelry ~ Because Every Girl Needs Something Sweet & Special @kandijewelry
There is no doubt that we have a little girly girl on our hands. As much as I banned pink, frilly, girly, froufrou, blingy, sparkly items from the very beginning, we somehow ended up with a child who is all about the pink girly bling.
I am not kidding. The girl wears frilly tutus and rubber boots to the barn!
She does have her ears pierced, though I have never (until recently) changed her earrings. Of course I had taken them out, cleaned them, etc. I just didn't give her more than the one pair she had. She's only 4 years old. She doesn't need to have a zillion pairs of earrings...yet.
Then one day, I received an email from KanDi Jewelry filled with the most adorable jewelry for little girls. It was a veritable feast for the eyes...only with zero calories and zero cavities!
The Gummy Bear earrings, bracelets, and necklaces looked EDIBLE! They were the cutest things I had ever seen! If I weren't 37. I'd like to have some for myself!
My daughter sat with me at the computer and oooh-ed and ahhhhh-ed, trying to decide which earrings she'd like. I totally thought she'd want the pink, but chose the purple.
When the earrings arrived, Little One was over the moon!
Little One and I fell in love with the Gummy Bear earrings. She has since asked me to get her the necklace and bracelet too.
Candy heart and jawbreaker jewelry are also available and are super cute. I still love the Gummy Bears best.
I cautioned Little One that as irresistible as they may look, the earrings are NOT edible. She looked at me and laughed. "Awwww! Mommy! You're silly! Of course not! They're not REAL Gummy Bears, silly Mommy!"
Okay, then!
If you have a little girl who would absolutely love a pair of Gummy Bear earrings, you're in luck! KanDi Jewelry is giving one lucky Life on Manitoulin reader a pair of Gummy Bear earrings in the colour of the winner's choice.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure - I received product to facilitate this review. All opinions and thoughts on this blog are honest and my own.
I am not kidding. The girl wears frilly tutus and rubber boots to the barn!
She does have her ears pierced, though I have never (until recently) changed her earrings. Of course I had taken them out, cleaned them, etc. I just didn't give her more than the one pair she had. She's only 4 years old. She doesn't need to have a zillion pairs of earrings...yet.
Then one day, I received an email from KanDi Jewelry filled with the most adorable jewelry for little girls. It was a veritable feast for the eyes...only with zero calories and zero cavities!
The Gummy Bear earrings, bracelets, and necklaces looked EDIBLE! They were the cutest things I had ever seen! If I weren't 37. I'd like to have some for myself!
My daughter sat with me at the computer and oooh-ed and ahhhhh-ed, trying to decide which earrings she'd like. I totally thought she'd want the pink, but chose the purple.
When the earrings arrived, Little One was over the moon!
Candy heart and jawbreaker jewelry are also available and are super cute. I still love the Gummy Bears best.
I cautioned Little One that as irresistible as they may look, the earrings are NOT edible. She looked at me and laughed. "Awwww! Mommy! You're silly! Of course not! They're not REAL Gummy Bears, silly Mommy!"
Okay, then!
A Little Bit About KanDi Jewelry
"KanDi Jewelry was founded on the concept of fashion fun and candy. We create candy-inspired products specially designed for girls, tweens, and teens. From candy necklaces to gummy bears, and jawbreakers, each piece in our collection is colorful, fun, and irresistible. The jewelry is NOT edible but looks like it is!
KanDi Jewelry Inc. was founded in 2011 on the concept of fashion fun and candy. We create candy-inspired products specially designed for girls, tweens, and teens. From candy necklaces to gummy bears, and jawbreakers, each piece in our collection is colorful, fun, and irresistible. The jewelry is NOT edible but looks like it is!"
{ WIN IT }
If you have a little girl who would absolutely love a pair of Gummy Bear earrings, you're in luck! KanDi Jewelry is giving one lucky Life on Manitoulin reader a pair of Gummy Bear earrings in the colour of the winner's choice.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure - I received product to facilitate this review. All opinions and thoughts on this blog are honest and my own.
Filipino Bistek (Beef Steak) @CanadianBeef #LoveCDNBeef
With May being the month my Lola (grandmother) passed away last year, I've found myself making a lot of Filipino dishes. We're now into the beginning of June and I find I'm still cooking a lot of Filipino food. This has totally been done unintentionally. I think it's perhaps because I really, really miss my grandmother right now. I've also been missing her cooking and by me cooking up some of the food that remind me of her, it also brings me back to my roots.
My husband and four year old daughter certainly don't mind. We had Filipino Bistek for supper tonight and it was a hit.
This is a family recipe that has been tweaked. I didn't have *calamansi (citrus fruit native to the Philippines - looks like a little lime/lemon). Since I can't get calamansi where I live, I use regular lemons. It doesn't taste quite the same as the Bistek in the Philippines, but it does the trick!
My husband and four year old daughter certainly don't mind. We had Filipino Bistek for supper tonight and it was a hit.
This is a family recipe that has been tweaked. I didn't have *calamansi (citrus fruit native to the Philippines - looks like a little lime/lemon). Since I can't get calamansi where I live, I use regular lemons. It doesn't taste quite the same as the Bistek in the Philippines, but it does the trick!
Filipino Bistek
Ingredients:
1 lb of beef sirloin, sliced thinly (about a quarter inch in thickness)
*the juice of 1 lemon, freshly squeezed
2 tbsp minced garlic (I like a lot of garlic, so I actually put in 4-5 cloves, minced)
2 large onions, cut into rings
1/2 c soy sauce
black pepper, freshly ground
cooking oil
Instructions:
- Slice beef into thin strips. Season beef with freshly ground black pepper.
- In a large bowl, mix together the garlic, soy sauce, and lemon juice.
- Marinate meat in soy/garlic/lemon juice mixture. Overnight is best, but if you're short on time, at least 30 minutes.
- In a skillet, heat cooking oil (enough to cover the bottom of the skillet) and stir fry the onion 'rings' until slightly soft and slightly golden. Make sure not to overcook them. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Using the same skillet you cooked the onions in, pan fry the strips of beef. It's best to cook in small batches.
- Once all the meat has been cooked, return to skillet. Let cook for a few minutes in the sauce. If you need to add more soy or lemon juice, add according to your taste. I don't like my Bistek too salty and prefer it on the sour/lemony side.
- Place beef slices on a serving plate with onion rings arranged on top of meat.
- Pour remaining sauce over Bistek and serve with rice (and whatever vegetables you'd like on the side). In true Filipino style, spoon sauce over rice and eat!
Thursday, June 06, 2013
A Little BlackBerry Love @BlackBerry #10BestOfBBQ10 #BBElite
My love for BlackBerry began many years ago. First it was the Curve. Then I fell head over heels for the Bold 9900. Then there was the Z10 and now the Q10. One thing remains constant though - My love for BlackBerry is undeniable.
A Little BlackBerry Love
When I was invited by TELUS to take part in the #10BestOfBBQ10 campaign, I could rhyme off a million reasons why I love the Q10.Favourite BB Q10 features:
QWERTY Keyboard
It's the classic BlackBerry keyboard BlackBerry users love, only re-engineered for the most effortless typing experience. I love the predictive text with the Z10, but really missed the physical keyboard that I associated with BlackBerry. Since my work in Social Media (as a Community Manager as well as in Digital Marketing) requires me to be on my smartphone for a good portion of the day, I need to be able to type documents, reply to emails, create posts, and without making mistakes. For this reason I require a physical keyboard. That's just me though. I type faster and more accurately with the QWERTY keyboard. As much as I was getting accustomed to touch typing and predictive text, I'm still more comfortable (and more efficient) with the QWERTY keyboard.
The Hub
For me, being able to peek into all my messages and conversations effortlessly and with ease is a huge bonus for me. I can just take a quick glance and see what needs to be addressed immediately and what can be left until later. This is one of my favourite BB Q10 (and Z10) features. It's brilliant! I don't have to stop what I'm doing or close windows or files to take a glance at messages. Tweets, mentions, FB wall posts, emails and more are all available to view with but a single swipe.
Remember App
Though my daughter is now four years old, I still blame my poor memory on "Momnesia". In all seriousness, Remember is my best friend. As someone who is constantly online and whose job requires her to be on social media and super organized, the BlackBerry Q10 Remember App is by far one of my best friends. I rely on Remember. It allows me to create, organize, and track all my projects and at my fingertips! It keeps all related information for my projects, planning, and interests all together and organized in one convenient place. It also syncs memos and tasks from Cloud and Evernote for me. Another thing I love is that (I am totally going to be a real geek here right now) I can colour coordinate my folders and have a different colour for each different project or task! Due dates, deadlines and timelines can be kept track of as well. This is an amazing and helpful feature if you have deadlines and projects that are time sensitive. The Remember App makes my #10BestOfBBQ10 list because it's a lifesaver for work and just keeping my life "together" and organized.
Docs To Go
I can stay productive without a laptop now. I used to lug my laptop or tablet to conferences, but never ended up pulling them out of my bag! It's just so handy to use my smartphone and now with Docs to Go, I can update spreadsheets, edit press releases all from my Q10. Latest versions of Microsoft Office sync with Cloud providers and technology that maintains 100% of the original document formatting when making edits on the go. This is perfect for working on the go!
Story Maker
Create great quality videos with Story Maker. I've used this feature many times already. On a recent trip to Niagara Falls, I created a fun video of our experience using photos taken with my phone and easily uploading them with music. The result was a beautiful video that was so simple and quick to put together!
TimeShift Mode
Taking photos of little ones, pets, or groups is often a challenge to get everyone looking great! Often with little children, they move too quickly, don't sit still, etc. With Time Shift, you can focus on a specific person on the photo and go back in time to a shot where the person's eyes are open, smile is perfect, etc. You can have a photo of your family where everyone is posing perfectly! It's pretty much like creating a moment in time that never existed! Ha! I love it! It's pretty surreal!
BBM Video
BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) has always been one of my favourite BB features. Now with BBM Video, we can chat AND see the person we are talking to (provided they also have a Q10 or Z10). This proved to be one of our favourite features when Little One was in the hospital and we were 9 hours away from Hubby. Our Little One was homesick and crying in the hospital, but when she got to see and chat with Daddy via BBM Video, it totally made her day!
Voice to Text
I won't lie. There are times I am busy doing something like typing or cooking and need to text. Voice to text comes in so handy when you need to text/write something but don't have your hands available!
Print To Go
Wirelessly print a variety of files from your BlackBerry device that is associated with your BlackBerry ID! Yet another handy feature for those who do much of their work on their BlackBerry and on the go!
Connect to Dropbox
You can use the built-in file manager to browse and open all of your Dropbox files right on your BB10 device. Files (including music, movies, documents, photos) are accessible right on your phone and can be transferred back and forth.
There are so many other features I love about the BlackBerry Q10, but I'll just leave you with my Top 10.
More exciting BlackBerry info:
As a BlackBerry Elite, I am also privy to a wealth of information when it comes to BlackBerry (new apps, features, events, updates, news, etc).
Did you know that BlackBerry was honoured for the third time in a row as the Coolest Brand Overall at the Sunday Time Generation Next Awards? BlackBerry also took home the top prize in the Coolest Cellphone category, while BBM was awarded the Coolest Cellphone App!
With the launch of the Q10, new apps are being added each week. Make sure to check out the many new apps for BlackBerry World. A few developer favourites are Stickers for BBM, FaceMix for BlackBerry 10, and Photo Crush!
Have you checked out the Q10 or Z10 yet? If yes, what do you think? What's your favourite feature?
I missed Dine & Dish with Dawn. but have a Bacon Seafood Chowder Poutine #Recipe for you! #PGMom
My husband likes to joke that I'm a veritable snob when it comes to food. Why? Well, he thinks it's funny that I like my food authentic and the way it was meant to be enjoyed. Case in point: I went to Singapore for a real Singapore Sling and some Singapore Noodles, Philadelphia for a real Philly Cheese Steak, Bali for some authentic Nasi Goreng, Japan for real sushi...You get the point.
Having grown up in Montreal, I simply cannot eat certain Quebecois foods that are made in places other than Quebec. It's just not the same. Though I have been living in Ontario for a while now, I still cannot eat poutine, bagels or smoked meat if they're not Montreal style. I know, I know. Awful! I just can't!
I know it's just poutine! I realize it seems silly to be so fussy about the way it is prepared, but I was horrified when I saw places serving grated cheddar or Mozzarella cheese instead of the squeaky cheese curds (also known as "poutine cheese"). If it doesn't squeak, it's not the right cheese!
In the past few years, I've seen variations of poutine recipes. Gourmet poutine like poutine avec foie gras or poutine with Montreal smoked meat are common now. I've had poutine with spicy chili and pulled pork. I have no objections when it comes to being adventurous with poutine recipes. Just please don't put grated cheese and overly salty, lumpy gravy from a packet on some fries and call it poutine.
On Wednesday, June 5th, Food Network’s John Catucci hosted Dine & Dish with Dawn - a pop-up poutinerie at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto, where the poutine was free if you cleaned your own dish with Dawn Ultra. That’s right; if you eat it – you clean it! P&GMom bloggers were invited to join the grease-cutting, poutine party.
Friends and family know that I'm addicted to Food Network and absolutely love John Catucci! I wish I had been able to attend the event. Living six hours north of Toronto makes it a challenge to attend all the events I would love to be at.
Instead, I made a Bacon Seafood Chowder Poutine (because I'm wacky like that). This is something I just came up with because A) I was craving chowder and B) I was craving carbs. Because I cannot eat poutine in Ontario, I just don't eat it. This time, however, I had a hankering for some! We normally do not eat food so rich and full of...potato!
Please excuse the poor quality photo taken with my 4 year old's iPod. I couldn't find my camera!
Bacon Seafood Chowder Poutine
Ingredients:
Seafood chowder
2 tbsp butter
Instead of butter, I used 4 strips of bacon, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp thyme
salt and pepper
2 large potatoes, washed, peeled, and diced
2 c water (or fish stock or vegetable stock--whichever you prefer)
2 c milk
1/3 c flour
1 c fresh fish, chopped and with skin removed (I use whatever fish my Dad has caught for us fresh from the lake)
2 c cooked seafood combination
-lobster
-scallop {seafood in bite sized pieces, amount depends on your taste/preference}
-shrimp
-crab
-oyster
Cheese curds for poutine. I had a package from my friend brought me back from Quebec. It's not real poutine cheese if it doesn't squeak!
Fries for poutine
potatoes, washed, peeled and cut into fries. In our house we generally cook "1 potato per person and 1 for the pot". If you don't want to make your own fries, just use frozen french fries and follow cooking instructions on the package.
Instructions for chowder:
In large stock pot, saute with butter (or in this recipe, chopped bacon) the celery, onion, thyme, salt and pepper. When onion starts to turn golden, add potatoes and saute them for a few minutes.
Stir in water and increase heat to boil. Cover pot and reduce heat. Let potatoes cook until slightly tender.
In a measuring cup or bowl, whisk flour into milk to act as thickener for your chowder. Add to pot and simmer, making sure to stir and not scald.
Add fish and seafood and stir often. Cook until fish is no longer translucent or until it becomes flaky.
Arrange fries in a bowl or dish and generously ladle seafood chowder and add cheese curds onto fries.
Enjoy!
Since I wasn't able to be at the Dine & Dish event, I dined and dished at home with Dawn by taking the Dawn Ultra grease-fighting challenge. Let me tell you that Dawn really cut the grease and cleaned those dishes pretty much effortlessly!
Disclaimer: I am a P&G Mom. As part of my affiliation with this group, I receive products and special access to P&G events and opportunities. The opinions on this blog are always my own, are never influenced by brand relationships, and are not paid unless otherwise stated (“sponsored post”).
Wednesday, June 05, 2013
@LittlePassports Teaches Kids About Travel & Culture { @PTPA Award Winner } Giveaway
Growing up, my parents taught us that travel and exposure to the world around us and different cultures were very important. They encouraged exploration and whetted our curiosity by taking us on trips to my Dad's homeland of Trinidad and Tobago and to other points of interest. Long road trips from Montreal to Florida or camping trips in New Brunswick or Gatineau were things we were no strangers to.
Travel has always been a large part of my life and before I settled down and got married, I made sure to travel a lot. Barbados, the Philippines, Singapore, Japan, Bali, and over thirteen U.S. states and (only) four Canadian provinces were among the places I marked off on my map.
It is my hope and dream that Little One gets the same opportunities to travel as I did. She embarked on her first international trip last year when we went to the Philippines.
The experience for my then three year old was amazing. It opened her eyes to a new lifestyle, language, culture, and a new life in general!
When PTPA introduced me to Little Passports, I thought it was a brilliant idea and a great way to foster the importance of travel and culture in children.
Little Passports is a great way to teach children about other countries and cultures through the adventures and world travels of Sam and Sofia.
With Little Passports, parents can inspire a love and understanding of the world as your child learns about geography, history, culture, and more through monthly packages delivered to your door (starting at $10.95/month).
Simply sign up, select your monthly subscription, and get set to learn about the world with Sam and Sofia! My daughter, though only four years old, absolutely LOVES Little Passports! She was so excited to see the postcards, stickers, letters, souvenirs, etc. Best of all, it was mail for her! What kid doesn't love receiving mail?!
Little One can't read on her own yet (she's in Junior Kindergarten), so I helped her with reading the postcards and letters from Sam and Sofia. I was surprised at how "into" the whole experience she was! It was almost magical seeing her go on the adventure with them (so to speak). She really seemed to feel like she was part of their adventures!
I thought it was neat that when Little One opened up the envelope from Japan, she found origami paper. We had a layover in Tokyo on our way to the Philippines last year and Little One totally made the connection between the origami paper and what I had told her about Japan. Incidentally, she loved Narita Airport! I lived and worked in Japan from 1998 to 2000 and absolutely fell in love with the culture. Little One somehow remembered hearing that and took a keen interest in what she was learning from Sam and Sofia's trip to Japan.
I really love learning activities like Little Passports. They teach kids valuable lessons in an interactive and creative way.
Travel has always been a large part of my life and before I settled down and got married, I made sure to travel a lot. Barbados, the Philippines, Singapore, Japan, Bali, and over thirteen U.S. states and (only) four Canadian provinces were among the places I marked off on my map.
It is my hope and dream that Little One gets the same opportunities to travel as I did. She embarked on her first international trip last year when we went to the Philippines.
The experience for my then three year old was amazing. It opened her eyes to a new lifestyle, language, culture, and a new life in general!
When PTPA introduced me to Little Passports, I thought it was a brilliant idea and a great way to foster the importance of travel and culture in children.
Little Passports is a great way to teach children about other countries and cultures through the adventures and world travels of Sam and Sofia.
With Little Passports, parents can inspire a love and understanding of the world as your child learns about geography, history, culture, and more through monthly packages delivered to your door (starting at $10.95/month).
Simply sign up, select your monthly subscription, and get set to learn about the world with Sam and Sofia! My daughter, though only four years old, absolutely LOVES Little Passports! She was so excited to see the postcards, stickers, letters, souvenirs, etc. Best of all, it was mail for her! What kid doesn't love receiving mail?!
Little One can't read on her own yet (she's in Junior Kindergarten), so I helped her with reading the postcards and letters from Sam and Sofia. I was surprised at how "into" the whole experience she was! It was almost magical seeing her go on the adventure with them (so to speak). She really seemed to feel like she was part of their adventures!
I thought it was neat that when Little One opened up the envelope from Japan, she found origami paper. We had a layover in Tokyo on our way to the Philippines last year and Little One totally made the connection between the origami paper and what I had told her about Japan. Incidentally, she loved Narita Airport! I lived and worked in Japan from 1998 to 2000 and absolutely fell in love with the culture. Little One somehow remembered hearing that and took a keen interest in what she was learning from Sam and Sofia's trip to Japan.
Did you know that Little Passports is a PTPA Award Winner?
Yes, it's true! Little World Edition and USA Edition Subscription won the PTPA Award! Parents tested and parents approved!
I really love learning activities like Little Passports. They teach kids valuable lessons in an interactive and creative way.
Thanks to PTPA and Little Passports, we are giving one lucky reader a 3 month Little Passports subscription!
To enter, simply complete the Rafflecopter form below. Contest open to residents of Canada and the US. Ends June 21, 2013 at 12:00AM EST.
Disclosure- I received the above product for testing purposes. We tested and approved! Thrilled that Little Passports is a PTPA Award Winner. All opinions expressed on this blog are honest and my own.
Giving Thanks
Never in a million years would I have ever imagined what it would feel like to be on the receiving end of the kind of love and support we received over a week ago. When I think about the tremendous outpour of concern and well wishes, I get so overwhelmed and end up crying.
Giving Thanks
What I originally thought would be a quick in and out visit at the hospital for an ultrasound for my four year old turned into a "We're flying you to Ottawa for doctors at CHEO to find out what's going on with [insert Little One's real name here]".
To be honest, the whole experience was rather dizzying. For three weeks, Little One had been complaining of really bad abdominal pains, yet no one could figure out what was wrong. One minute we were at the hospital on the Island, and the next minute we were being flown to Ottawa.
A Huge Thank You to CHEO
The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario really impressed me. Everything from their patient care to even the tiniest detail like giving their littlest patients stickers for doing a great job (like letting the nurses put in their PICC line for their IV or staying still for an X-Ray or ultrasound). CHEO also makes the experience a happy one even though circumstances may not be so happy. What do I mean by this? Well, CHEO has a great play room for their patients. Computers, an air hockey table, arts and crafts, and so many other activities to keep kids busy and having fun.
My four year old was excited to do some arts and crafts. She was all over the paints and glittery stickers!
Another thing that impressed me was CHEO's library! A fully stocked library for patients to enjoy! Little One had us reading princess book after princess book!
Thank You to the Blogging Community
Through Facebook and Twitter, my online friends were watching and waiting with baited breath for news about Little One. What I didn't know was what was going on behind the scenes. Some of my friends from the CBN and Blogaholics were gathering up funds for us.
Thank you to all these amazing friends for doing something so thoughtful (and unexpected). A BIG thank you!
I was totally shocked, moved, overwhelmed, and in tears. This was something I was not expecting and couldn't even imagine why people would team up and do something like this for us. To me, it was more a question of "Why would anyone ever do this for us? Who are we to deserve something like this?"
Our friends were all parents who could imagine the costs of being away from home and in hospital for an extended period of time. This reminded me of the 72 days spent when Little One was in the NICU. As a preemie born at 28 weeks, we had to stay at Mount Sinai for 72 very long days. People don't often think of things like travel costs, food, etc.
Thank goodness I didn't have to stay in a motel or take public transportation every day to see my daughter at the hospital. I was able to sleep in a chair that pulled out into a bed (right beside Little One's hospital bed).
Having just the clothes Little One and I were wearing, I had to get my friend to run to Wal-mart and pick up some capris, t-shirts, socks, undies, and necessities for both Little One and me. Things like toothbrushes and all the little every day items were things I didn't have with me (as I wasn't expecting to be flown to Ottawa).
Thank you SO much to all our blogging friends! You have touched our hearts more than you can ever imagine. Thank you.
I think what surprised me too was that companies like TELUS and Mom Central Canada also sent us some love online. I had been offline for a bit and when I saw this tweet from TELUS, I cried.
I'm telling you, there was a lot of crying going on last week! If you think of it though, it says a lot about a company when they reach out to their fans/followers/customers/community. I'm more apt to go with (and stay with) a company that values their members and doesn't treat them as just a number. Still wowed by the gesture from TELUS. Yet another reason I love them and have been with them since 2000! The longest relationship I've had ;)
Giving Thanks to Some Very Special People
My friend, @flywithbaby has been one of my closest friends since we were 17. She also happens to live in Ottawa and came to the hospital every day when Little One was under CHEO's care. Being still in shock that we had to be sent by air ambulance and also being severely sleep deprived and worried about Little One, I was pretty useless. Kelly (aka @flywithbaby) was the extra set of ears I needed and asked the doctors questions I didn't even think of asking.
She also did a lot of running around (going to the pharmacy to get Little One's medication, picking up clothes and food, etc) while I was by Little One's bedside. She and her husband also housed us for the days following Little One's surgery.
Another VERY special person to us is @CanadianDadBlog! He and his family were such a great support while we were in Ottawa. This experience has really shown us how blessed we are to have such great friends. Canadian Dad visited Little One when she was released from hospital and then brought us back to CHEO when Little One had a fever and was ill post surgery. Not only did he drive us to the hospital, but he also stayed with us for a few hours until @flywithbaby came to join us. So thankful for such amazing friends when I was so emotional (and Hubby was 9 hours away tending the farm).
If all that wasn't enough to give thanks for, Canadian Dad also chatted with Official Princess Parties and got Little One's favourite princess to visit! That experience will not be forgotten. Belle made Little One a very happy girl!
I was so touched when Canadian Dad told me that he had spoken to Official Princess Parties and that though they were fully booked for events that weekend, the owner put it out to her princesses who were off day to see if anyone was interested in doing this for us. Within minutes, she received three "yes" replies! That totally made me cry!
It's no wonder they are so popular! What a great company. Find out more about all the great things they do for kids' charities here.
Thank you to Team PTPA for the beautiful flowers and teddy bear for Little One. They arrived right before her surgery and totally made her day. I have to say that PTPA is a great company to work for. They're my second family!
Little One's BFF had her grandma in Ottawa bring over a Hello Kitty. Other special visits included a visit from one of my old friends (we went to kindergarten together and the last time we saw each other was maybe high school graduation or perhaps sometime in c.e.g.e.p.), may aunt, uncle, and cousin, one of my old students from when I taught in Toronto, @LilMissKateCo, my childhood friend & my parents' best friends.
Giving thanks to all the special people in our lives
We are so blessed to have all of you in our lives and we really appreciate all the love and support you have given us.
** We were going to do a special Vlog Thank You to everyone, but I couldn't bring myself to make it go "live". I was crying too much and really had the "Ugly Crying Face" thing going on! **
Personalize Your Gear with SwaggerTag! { Review & Giveaway }
I'm one of those travelers who needs my bags to be tagged - not once, but twice. Even more so, I need my bags to be tagged with something that stands out. I'm paranoid about getting my luggage mixed up with someone else's and when I see my suitcase on the baggage carousel, I want to be able to see it right away.
To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Open to residents of Canada. Ends June 19th.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure - I received the above products to facilitate this honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed on this blog are honest and my own.
I have been looking for a bag tag that withstands the rough bumps and knocks of traveling and of being tossed around. I also wanted something that didn't come off easily or expose my personal information on the tag (address and phone number).
Along came SwaggerTag. I was on Twitter (surprise, surprise) and it was my boss, Sharon at PTPA who was raving about SwaggerTag. If you know Sharon, you will know that she travels more than anybody I have ever met. For the many TV show segments for which she is a contributor to conferences and all kinds of work related events, Sharon is no stranger to airports.
When SwaggerTag asked me if I'd like to try out their tags, I said yes! How serendipitous since I was actually in need of something like this!
I was sent the following:
Items you can SwaggerTag:
• backpacks & lunch bags
• sport, duffle & golf bags
• bikes, scooters & strollers
• briefcases & purses
• equipment bags & electronics cases
• luggage, carry-on’s & overnight bags
• camper, camping and hiking gear
• coolers & equipment trunks
• diaper bags
• tote bags & tack bags
• instrument cases
• wheelchairs, walkers, crutches & medical equipment
• dog leash, and pet totes and crates
• anything that goes out the door!
• sport, duffle & golf bags
• bikes, scooters & strollers
• briefcases & purses
• equipment bags & electronics cases
• luggage, carry-on’s & overnight bags
• camper, camping and hiking gear
• coolers & equipment trunks
• diaper bags
• tote bags & tack bags
• instrument cases
• wheelchairs, walkers, crutches & medical equipment
• dog leash, and pet totes and crates
• anything that goes out the door!
SwaggerTag is perfect for:
• students
• kids
• families
• travelers
• sports enthusiasts
• hikers, campers & camps
• golfers
• those with other specialty sporting equipment
• musicians
• pet owners
• collectors
• schools
• businesses
• institutions & organizations
• those with special needs and equipment
• anyone who wants to keep track of their gear!
• kids
• families
• travelers
• sports enthusiasts
• hikers, campers & camps
• golfers
• those with other specialty sporting equipment
• musicians
• pet owners
• collectors
• schools
• businesses
• institutions & organizations
• those with special needs and equipment
• anyone who wants to keep track of their gear!
The tags are very durable and I love that the part where you write is protected. Your address and other info won't get wet or smudged! It's safe!
Best of all, I love that we can personalize our tags! How awesome is this?
SwaggerTag customized my ID tag to match my blog! The other tag they gave me to personalize on my own. I put a photo of my daughter in it. It looks great!
For all you travelers or parents with kids in sports (or just anyone who wants to have their bags tagged), SwaggerTag is giving 2 lucky Life on Manitoulin readers a pack of 3 tags each! Winners get to choose their colours!
For all you travelers or parents with kids in sports (or just anyone who wants to have their bags tagged), SwaggerTag is giving 2 lucky Life on Manitoulin readers a pack of 3 tags each! Winners get to choose their colours!
To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Open to residents of Canada. Ends June 19th.
I'm Featured in @EatInEatOutMag!
So excited to announce that I've been featured in www.eatineatout.ca! My Filipino BBQ recipe can be found here!
This is the dish that is a must serve at all our BBQ parties:
Want the recipe? Check out Eat In Eat Out Magazine's Summer Grilling Issue!
Tuesday, June 04, 2013
#WordlessWednesday w/ Linky: #MonthOfMom in Review
I took part in (and completed) the #PGMom #MonthOfMom Photo Challenge. Here are some of our photos for the month.
May started off as a "typical" month on the farm, but ended with Little One being airlifted to the hospital. What a wild and crazy month it has been!
Link up your Wordless Wednesday posts here. We'd love to check them out!
Monday, June 03, 2013
Official Princess Parties & a BIG Surprise for a Sick Little Girlie!
Over a week ago, my four year old was airlifted to Ottawa and sent to CHEO (Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario). Other than her early delivery (when I was sent by air ambulance to Mount Sinai, where Little One canon-balled her way into existence), this experience was probably one of the scariest times in my life.
After Little One's surgery, one of the first things she uttered was, "Now you really have to take me to Disney!"
I had heard of Official Princess Parties through my friend, Canadian Dad's blog posts this past year and knew my four year old would love to meet her favourite princess.
As soon as Little One was discharged from the hospital and had rested for a few days, I wanted to have a thank you BBQ for my friends @flywithbaby (and her husband and family), as well as for @CanadianDadBlog and his family. Both families were such a great support while Little One was in the hospital. Having a young child in the hospital is scary and emotionally challenging, but coupled with being away from Hubby and being 9 hours away from home, it is even more challenging.
Canadian Dad made the big BBQ party even more special by organizing a meeting with Little One's favourite princess! Little One was so excited to see Belle!
Check out the smile on Little One's face! Now, that is one very happy kid!
I was really impressed with the entire princess experience. We were staying at my friend's house and Belle popped in for a visit. She wowed all the children with sing-along tunes, dancing, story time, and cheek glitter and tattoo application!
Little One running to greet Belle. For a kid who was in a lot of pain from having surgery, she sure ran very quickly to see her favourite princess!
Thank you to Official Princess Parties, Belle, and Canadian Dad for making one sick little girlie very happy!
Connect with Official Princess Parties on Facebook too.
After Little One's surgery, one of the first things she uttered was, "Now you really have to take me to Disney!"
I had heard of Official Princess Parties through my friend, Canadian Dad's blog posts this past year and knew my four year old would love to meet her favourite princess.
As soon as Little One was discharged from the hospital and had rested for a few days, I wanted to have a thank you BBQ for my friends @flywithbaby (and her husband and family), as well as for @CanadianDadBlog and his family. Both families were such a great support while Little One was in the hospital. Having a young child in the hospital is scary and emotionally challenging, but coupled with being away from Hubby and being 9 hours away from home, it is even more challenging.
Canadian Dad made the big BBQ party even more special by organizing a meeting with Little One's favourite princess! Little One was so excited to see Belle!
I was really impressed with the entire princess experience. We were staying at my friend's house and Belle popped in for a visit. She wowed all the children with sing-along tunes, dancing, story time, and cheek glitter and tattoo application!
The cheek glitter and princess tattoos were a huge hit!
Connect with Official Princess Parties on Facebook too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
From Our Farm to Your Table
Farmers Feed Cities
You Can Find Me Here!
Affiliates
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
Brand Ambassador for
For Fellow Bloggers
|
|
 |
 |
Proud Recipient
About the Blog Author
City girl moves to the country, falls in love, and marries a farmer. She tries to incorporate her city ways with her new country lifestyle and blogs to keep in touch with friends, family & students who live far, far away :) Can this city girl go country? Watch as she learns all sorts of exciting things about life on the farm and in a small rural community. *UPDATE* We are now parents! Our baby girl was born on Nov. 11, 2008 (at 28 weeks gestation- 12 weeks premature, but she's quite the trooper)!!!
Les Boutons!
Let's Connect
Subscribe To
Posts
All Comments
Support
