Ronald McDonald House Charities: Helping Canadian Families For More Than 30 Years

As soon as I knew I was pregnant, I started worrying. Becoming a parent is one of the most amazing experiences – but I never imagined in a million years how emotional I would be when it came to my daughter.

I remember my first “alone” outing with Hannah – we had to get her blood tested because she was showing signs of jaundice. Chris had to get to work and was unable to stay. I hate needles (and blood) but I knew I had to be strong for my days old daughter. I don’t know how I would deal with my daughter being REALLY sick.

Thankfully we live in the same city that houses The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). And I am so grateful that Hannah is healthy.

Unfortunately, not every family is as lucky as ours and not every family has healthy children or lives close to a children’s hospital.

Thankfully there is Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).

Syracuse Family Getaway Giveaway!

Welcome to the Syracuse Family Getaway Giveaway!

This Giveaway is made possible by the Syracuse Tourism Organization!

HOSTED BY: OTTAWA MOMMY CLUB

CO-HOSTED BY: CANADIAN BLOG HOUSE ~ JOURNEYS OF THE ZOO ~ LIFE IN PLEASANT VILLE ~ SHANNON’S VIEW FROM HERE

GETAWAY PACKAGE:

• 1 room with 2 double beds for 2 nights at Double Tree Hotel by Hilton for a family of four with buffet breakfast for four each morning based on availability. Valid through 4/30/14
• 4 Tickets (2 adult & 2 children) to the Pole Position Raceway in DestinyUSA
• 4 tickets (2 adult & 2 children) to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo
• 4 tickets ( 2 adult & 2 children) to the Museum of Science and Technology (MOST)
• 4 tickets ( 2 adult& 2 children) to Wonderworks in DestinyUSA
• $100 Gift Certificate to spend at DestinyUSA Mall

A Trip to The Buffalo Zoo (#BuffaloForReal)

Our family LOVES zoos. Hannah likes checking out the animals, I like watching Hannah watch the animals and Chris likes to photograph the animals.

Even though I’ve been to Buffalo many times in my life, I had never visited the Buffalo Zoo. Located off the 198 highway in Delaware Park, the Buffalo Zoo is a great place for Torontonians to take kids (and partners) when they’ve had enough of the malls.

The day we went, we made sure to check out the baby polar bears first. They were very active and playful and a pleasure to watch.

Playtex Twist ‘n Click Snacker Cup protects snacks, avoids mess

As a mom of a toddler who is becoming more and more independent, I look for products that will help me help her…avoid mess. It’s amazing how much time we spend cleaning – her, her high chair, her clothes…and of course our floors.

Have you ever swam in a sea of Goldfish crackers? Our cat has.

But he no longer needs to fear being rained on by cheddary goodness – now Hannah has a Playtex Twist ‘n Click Snacker Cup.

Mark your calendars for delicious Taste of Buffalo (#BuffaloForReal)

Imagine a street full of delightful foods, deserts and drinks (wine slush anyone?). Such is the Taste of Buffalo - one of America's largest food festivals. We were lucky enough to be there the weekend it was held this summer. The countdown is already on for 2014 - only 352 more days!

Chris and I headed to the Taste of Buffalo before we went to the Buffalo Bisons game.

Blue Jays Baseball in Buffalo Fits Like A Glove (#BuffaloForReal)

Recently we spent the weekend in Buffalo, New York and Chris and I took in a Buffalo Bisons baseball game. Coca-Cola Field is easy to get to (located in downtown Buffalo right by the highway) and family friendly - next time we'll bring Hannah. The food was affordable, the seats were comfortable and the mascots were entertaining. The highlight of my night was the Mascot Race! It's not every day you see Celery, Bleu Cheese, Chicken Wing and an Atomic Wing battle it out.

As the biggest baseball fan I know, I thought Chris may be better suited to write this post. His take is below.

There’s nothing quite like minor league baseball. It’s as pure a form of the game as you can get nowadays; the feelings of nostalgia and simpler times waft through the park.

That atmosphere was certainly present at my first ever Buffalo Bisons game, in more ways than one.

Pampers Mommy Blogger Videos (#PGmom Giveaway)

Back when I first posted about my Pampers Mommy Blogger YouTube Video on Facebook, I mentioned a great giveaway – and here it is! (For more about my experience, you can read Behind the Scenes: Being a Pampers Mommy Blogger.)

Behind the Scenes - Being a Pampers Mommy Blogger #PGmom

When I was first asked if Hannah and I would like to be in a Pampers YouTube video, I only had one fear – that I would cry. You see, before Hannah came in to my life I had a heart of stone. Now just thinking about her makes me teary.

The days before the shoot, in the midst of cleaning, wondering if I should attempt to trim Hannah’s bangs and sending a bunch of stuff to my Mom’s for storage, I started to feel a little better. The story board arrived in my inbox. Shots changing Hannah, shots playing at the park. Why would I cry talking about diapers, and how they keep Hannah happy and dry?

$500 Children's Place Gift Card Giveaway

When I was younger, I was always jealous of the kids who got to wear uniforms to school. The only time I got to wear a uniform was in the one class I loathed - gym.

Seeing what school uniforms are like today, I kind of hope my daughter goes to a uniformed school so she's not jealous like I was!

The Children's Place has a lot of great school uniform pieces.

For girls:

And boys:

Playtex Mommyville - advice, prizes and more!

Sometimes I wonder how we lived without the Internet, Google specifically. How did people find out answers to the most burning questions instantly?

Now that I'm a Mom, I'm even more thankful for the Internet. If my daughter does something, I can log in, type in "get pasta sauce out of clothing" and be met with a wealth of information to get tomatoes off of her favourite yellow shirt.

One website I like to visit for advice is Mommyville, run by Playtex.

Mabel's Labels offers new Royal Baby Sticky Labels

Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, are expecting the birth of their first child and in celebration, Mabel's Labels is offering new limited edition Royal Baby Sticky Labels for only $9.95! 

The Sticky Labels are super durable, dishwasher/microwave safe and create a fun and easy way to organize all of your belongings. 

Plus, every Royal Sticky Label purchase gives you a 1 in 10 chance to win a delicious treat from Peter Rabbit Organics. 

Don't miss your chance to shop this great promotion!

Disclosure: I am a Mabel's Labels affiliate.

© 2013 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

I See Me! My Very Happy Birthday Book (Review and Discount Code)

July is Hannah's half-birthday, and as her birthday is so close to Christmas, we acknowledge and celebrate it (at least we bought a cake last year and a small gift...and will most likely do the same this year).

So when I was approached to review one of I See Me!'s Birthday Theme books for the month for July, it was fate!

I decided on the My Very Happy Birthday Book. 

Online Shopping at Walmart.ca #ShopWMonline #shopPGonline (#PGmom Review)

If you live in downtown Toronto, you may have recently seen TTC shelters decorated as mini Walmart stores. When I lived downtown, one thing I missed was not being close to a Walmart store (I lived a streetcar and two subway rides away from the closest location at Dufferin Mall.)

You don't need to live in Toronto near transit shelter - folks everywhere can still shop online at Walmart.ca. (Not going to lie - shopping in my PJs is a big plus!)

Recently P&G sent me a gift card to purchase P&G products at Walmart.ca. I decided to buy a bunch of great P&G cleaning products for my brother, who recently moved in to his first condo. I figure, if we send him the supplies, that's half the battle when it comes to actually cleaning.