Start off 2015 with His and Hers Essentials from P&G #PGmom #Giveaway

So between moving, surviving the flu and barely pulling off Christmas, I haven't had a lot of time to blog. To make it up to my readers, the last post of 2014 includes an incredible giveaway!

December was a great month for Chris in our household - at least when it came to the #PGmom program. We got to attend a Toronto Raptors game as part of Swiffer's #ManClean campaign where he was able to take over my Twitter account AND a bunch of new, great Old Spice products came to our condo just for him.

Would you like your man to have the latest from Old Spice? So far Chris likes the Old Spice Antiperspirant best - with all the hard work he's put in around the condo it keeps him dry and smelling great!

And of course, P&G would never forget us ladies! My favourite product from the kit is the Pantene Pro-V Heat Potion Serum. With the cold temperatures, blow drying my hair every time I wash it is a must.

All Hail King Julien by streaming his episodes on Netflix Canada #StreamTeam #AllHailKingJulien

A few weeks ago we were lucky enough to be among the first people across the country to view episodes of the latest Netflix Original Series for kids - DreamWorks' All Hail King Julien. Now everyone in Canada is lucky because the first five episodes of the series are available to stream on Netflix Canada!

Do You Wanna Build a Snowman? Sing-Along Edition of Frozen now on DVD

For the longest time, I didn't really "get" the whole Frozen phenomenon...because I had never seen the film.

Now that Hannah and I have watched the Frozen Sing-Along Edition DVD, I get it (not that I'll be getting into any fights for swag...yet.) If you've never seen it, Frozen is the story of two Royal sisters. You join Princess Anna as she sets off on an epic journey – teaming up with rugged mountain man Kristoff, his reindeer Sven and a snowman named Olaf – to find her sister Queen Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. 

Have a Happy Visit with Santa using Fast Pass at Upper Canada Mall

Before we went to Upper Canada Mall in Newmarket a few days ago, we had quite an interesting collection of holiday photos of Hannah with Santa. Her first Christmas, she cried...the entire time. Last year, because of the ice storm, we didn't get a chance to have a "proper" session - so we just have an unimpressed Hannah in her jacket sitting on Santa's lap.

We finally have a photo I can proudly show off, thanks to the super Santa and his fantastic photo elves at Upper Canada Mall.

Hannah was acting shy on her visit, looking down a lot, and the photographer still managed to capture her and Santa looking at the camera:

RBC Rewards take the chill out of holiday shopping

My Mom is one of “those” people. You all know one. Before the pumpkins come out for Halloween, she’s already finished all of her holiday shopping.

Until my daughter was born, I was the complete opposite. Come December 23rd you’d find me in a hectic mall, looking lost as I went from store to store attempting to find awesome gifts for my family and friends. And because I was so stressed from the trip, I also bought a bunch of unnecessary gifts for me as retail therapy, further expanding my holiday gift budget.

Now that I’m a mom my shopping isn’t so last minute (can you imagine trying to navigate a stroller through a mall in its busiest season let alone find a parking spot?). And thanks to RBC Rewards, by starting now, the first week of December, my holidays will be happy and stress-free…even if we just moved into our new home.

Thankfully I have the RBC Rewards Holiday website to assist both my budget and time constraints. I can order gifts (and gift cards!) using my RBC Rewards points online.

Holiday Hosting with P&G #PGmom #giveaway

As we move in to our new condo and use a variety of great P&G products to clean, I'm slightly thankful I won't have to host anything this holiday. (I'm also super thankful to the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser which saved me from painting our main bathroom).

Like my cat in the past Christmas photo above, I prefer to hide from hosting duties. But I won't be moving in to a new house every holiday, and eventually it will be my turn.

If you are hosting folks over the holidays, check out these great tips from P&G to help make hosting a breeze.

Snuggle through Sickness with Netflix Canada #StreamTeam

I can always tell when Hannah is feeling ill - she becomes extra cuddly and has a severe case of Mommyitis.

Enter Netflix - when Hannah needs her snuggles, we like to stream.

Last week we were home when Hannah had a bad cough. We decided to stream Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted. She hasn't seen the first ones, but she loved watching Alex and his pals buy and run a circus. Her favourite scene was the great circus performance. I enjoyed the witty dialogue throughout the movie.

Tips for Baby's First Christmas with HEINZ BABY

As I get ready to watch Toronto’s Santa Claus parade today, it’s hard to believe Hannah will be celebrating her third Christmas this year. As a January baby, the first time Hannah experienced the festive season she was almost 11 months old. Here’s a list of the top 5 things I wish Santa had told me to prepare for Baby’s First Christmas.

Common Cents with Gail Vaz-Oxlade and P&G #PGmom #FLM2014 #Giveaway

Did you know that November is Financial Literacy Month? Last month I had the opportunity along with my fellow P&G moms to listen to Gail Vaz-Oxlade, host of Til Debt Due U$ Part, Prince$$ and Money Moron as well as author of  17 books on personal finance.

For anyone who has seen Gail on TV, you know she's very engaging and supports a simplistic approach - but when it comes to money, a lot of people don't see things simply.

Among the tips she shared, there were a few that really stuck with me that I could immediately put in to practice. First was to use apps like Checkout 51 and Flipp to save on the go. Another was to switch my savings account to companies like Tangerine or Manulife which give more interest than the mortar banks. Also, to change your budget once a year - unless you change jobs, get a raise, move, have a child - anything life changing.

The long term tip I found slightly scary is this - for retirement, you should save ELEVEN times your income!

Have a KINDER Canada Holiday! #Giveaway #KinderSmiles #KinderMom

Christmas is easily one of my favourite holidays. Family, food and fun really can't be beat.

When I was younger, the best part of Christmas morning was opening my stocking. Every year Santa found lots of amazing little things to put in my my big holiday sock, and he always remembered to include KINDER SURPRISE eggs. My brother was always more into building the toys, so sometimes I'd trade him mine if he would share some of his chocolate.

Last year, Hannah didn't really understand the concept of a stocking...to be honest, she didn't really understand the concept of Christmas. And plus we were staying at my Mom's due to having no power or heat at home because of the big ice storm. Hopefully this year we can celebrate Christmas morning at home - with KINDER SURPRISE under the tree.

PAW Patrol Winter Rescues now on DVD #Review #Giveaway

Let me set the scene for you. It's the weekend and therefore later than we usually wake up on a weekday morning and Hannah has just come out of her room. While enjoying some fruit and milk for breakfast, she points to the TV and has only one request: "PAW Patrol." (It's the number one show on Nick Jr. in the US - so we know she's definitely not alone in being a fan.)

We have digital bunny ears which provide us about 6 Toronto-based TV channels...and Netflix. So before quite recently, we had to tell Hannah gently that PAW Patrol on demand was not an option.

Thank goodness we now own six great episodes on DVD! For the first time ever, Canadians can pop in PAW Patrol - Winter Rescues and watch Ryder and his team whenever they'd like. When I showed her the DVD case her eyes lit right up.

Tide Pods Free & Gentle (First ever Pods for sensitive skin!) #Giveaway #PGmom

The first time I washed Hannah's clothes with a Tide Pod instead of Ivory Snow liquid detergent I think I annoyed my Mom slightly. She loves the scent of Ivory Snow and was worried how Hannah's 18-month old skin would react to "normal" Tide. Full disclosure: I just wanted to do less laundry by throwing some of our items in together - and did not want to smell like a baby in the process (even if that scent is amazing).

If only Tide Pods Free & Gentle existed back then - a detergent free of dyes and perfumes perfect for sensitive skin. No sacrificing cleaning performance for gentleness! (And we all know how important cleaning performance is when it comes to kids.)

Preschool Confidential

A few weeks ago as I was approaching Hannah's preschool playground I heard some crying. As I got closer, I recognized the crying and saw my daughter with one of her best friends and a teacher close to one of the trees. Part of me wanted to run to Hannah, but another part of me wanted to stay back and watch the situation unfold to see what happens when I'm not there.

I decided on the later, and my appreciation for her centre - and the amazing people who take care of her - improved even more, which to be honest I never thought it could.

The catchy educational songs of Big Block SingSong come to DVD Oct. 28th! #Giveaway #Review

I was home on mat leave with Hannah the first time we saw Big Block SingSong. It was definitely unlike anything I had seen before. Big colourful block characters sing catchy educational songs in a variety of musical genres. It caught Hannah's young eye because of the screenfuls of colour. I liked it because the songs have a great beat and quirky lyrics.

Now that she's a preschooler, Hannah likes watching Big Block SingSong for the music - and the quick story lines. She likes to guess the animal if there is one in that episode, and she often dances along while playing her tambourine. I still like it because it reminds me of Flight of the Concords for kids.

The fun and engaging animated musical series, which currently airs across the globe on TV (Kids' CBC in Canada), will be available on DVD for the first time ever in the U.S. and Canada on October 28th.

Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre

Halloween is almost here and the LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre at Vaughan Mills is celebrating the entire month of October with Brick-or-Treat!

Every Saturday and Sunday in October (and Halloween Day - Friday, October 31) little ghosts and mummies can come and enjoy the themed décor, spooktacular entertainment and costumes and much more. All included within the price of admission!

Spooky activities include:

• Make Your Monster Building Fun 
• Spooky Creative Challenge in our LEGO® Master Builder Academy 
• Monster Mash Scavenger Hunt 
• Spooktacular LEGO® Pumpkin Trail 
• Boo Crew Costume Contest

The Baby Event is back at Loblaws stores now until Oct. 23! #PGmom

If I had to pick a favourite, the grocery store I like best is the Real Canadian Superstore. That's because while Chris and Hannah collect important items such as fruit, vegetables and milk, I spend my time in the Joe Fresh area looking at clothes (usually for me and Hannah), the book area, the toy area and of course, the make-up section. Since we recently purchased our first condo, I'm also perusing the home area and mentally noting all the great items I will soon purchase. It's one stop shopping at its finest. Our home location even has covered parking, which is perfect for Canadian weather.

Some great news - the baby event is back! Participating retailers include Loblaws, Atlantic Superstore, Extra Foods, Your Independent Grocer, Zehrs Markets, Valu-mart and Real Canadian Superstore across Canada. Lots of baby items are on sale, Pampers included! (Here's a flyer so you can see all the great deals for yourself.)

Barbie® Amaze Chase - New Episode and VIP Viewing Party Contest

When I was little, the only time I recall Barbie being on TV was during commercials. I would jump up and down and remind my Mom that Christmas or my Birthday was quickly approaching. (I kid you not, one year I actually "measured" Barbie's RV Camper from my television screen to a big box under the tree - let's just say I was NOT disappointed Christmas morning).

Ladies and gentlemen, Barbie is now on TV.  The first-ever 22-minute episode of Barbie™ Life in the Dreamhouse is coming to Teletoon on November 23rd at 5PM and YTV on November 30th at 8:30 AM. In the episode, Barbie, her friends and family are getting ready to compete in the reality competition, The Amaze Chase! Five teams will be racing around to famous Barbie locations for the top prize.

Your child and their BFFs could watch them take on adventure from their very own Barbie® Amaze Chase party!

Have a Spooktacular Halloween with Rice Krispies #rkhalloween #kelloggers #recipe

I'm not the greatest cook or the greatest baker, but when a black cat cookie cutter arrived in the mail from Kellogg's Canada I got really excited. (Mostly because Booyah is a black cat.)

Looking for some delicious treats that older kids can help create? Check out all the awesome ideas on the Rice Krispies website (scroll to "Halloween").

I attempted to make the Spooktacular Butterscotch Pops (I write attempted because I did not make them pops). Would you like to make them? Here's the recipe.

October is a Mystery with Netflix Canada #StreamTeam

Back in the summer, Chris, Hannah and I were at a museum when I needed to use the Ladies Room. While I was gone, Hannah sang to Chris, "Where is Mommy? Where is Mommy? It's a mystery, a mystery!"

Of course, this was after she discovered Yo Gabba Gabba! on Netflix Canada, and the episode "Mystery".  (The real song goes "Who is Fooful? Where is the picnic? It's a mystery, a mystery!") Plex and Toddee are sent on somewhat of a scavenger hunt to find Foofa - and after going through a scary bat cave (in which Plex tells Toddee not to be afraid of the dark) they meet Fooful, who turns out to be Foofa's brother, and they all enjoy a picnic at the beach.

Another great part of that episode is when Muno "loses" his hat, and he and DJ Lance Rock sing a great song "Look Again, You Might Have Missed It" which I can see singing to Hannah very soon when she asks me about where a certain toy or book is.

Join the Swiffer Man Clean Movement #PGmom #Review #Giveaway

Amir Johnson from the Toronto Raptors has partnered with Swiffer to change the definition of Man Clean, encouraging men to boast about their cleaning swagger. After reviewing his tips on how to clean like a man, unofficial P&Gdad Chris decided to share his own tips in the post below.

When it comes to cleaning, men have a bad reputation. And I can’t say it’s not warranted. I lived with male roommates for several years and we were often lax on household chores. I’ve certainly been guilty of cutting corners in the past. But since I’ve been with Sarah I’ve tried to step up my cleaning game. Whenever I find myself alone in the house, I make it a point to set aside some time and clean. Sarah does the same when I’m out of the house, and so between the two of us we’re a pretty great clean team.

Disney's Sleeping Beauty: Diamond Edition Available Oct. 7th #Review #Printables

While pregnant, one of the things I looked forward most to was watching childhood movies with my son or daughter. Between my brother and I, we seemed to have all the classic Disney Movies - on VHS. So I started collecting them all again - this time on DVD & Blu-ray.

The latest movie added to our collection? Sleeping Beauty, available in stores on Tuesday, October 7th, 2014.

We made it a family affair last Saturday afternoon, as we all piled on to the couch (cat included) to watch the digitally restored picture and sound of the 1959 movie.

Adventures in Preschool

Considering the last preschool I was in was my brother's in the late 80s, the only recent knowledge of preschool I had was Sesame Street's ear worm parody "Preschool Musical" (based on Disney's High School Musical, of course). There's a snippet from Sesame Street's YouTube channel below, you can watch the full video on the Sesame Street website.

So about six weeks ago when Hannah became a "Preschooler" while she checked out the room I did too. I was ecstatic to see there was indeed "Block Corner" (they don't have "Dress Up Corner", but they do have a dress up box near the toy kitchen).

Pure Via NEW Liquid Sweetener #Review #Giveaway

I'm always looking for ways to save money AND calories, if possible. New Pure Via Stevia Liquid Sweetener does both.

I can keep it easily on my desk, so I can have sweetener at my desk when I make my morning tea - versus purchasing it en route (and ensure none of my coworkers "borrow" it, a problem in some office kitchens). You just squeeze it in your beverage, I didn't even need a spoon. Another bonus - it also works in cold beverages!

It has a clean, sweet taste - and has ZERO calories.

Here are some more Sweet Facts from the Pure Via website:

• Pure Via stevia extract is 97% Pure Reb A made from the sweetest extract of the stevia leaf. 
• It is sweetened using all natural stevia. 
• No drip lid. Great in hot & cold beverages. 
• 1 squeeze is equivalent to 1 teaspoon of sugar. 
• Pure Via liquid sweeteners are suitable for people with diabetes. 
• It's certified Kosher Parve.

Back to Routine with Olay, COVERGIRL and Secret #PGmom #Review #Giveaway

Hannah and I might not be in school. But I work on a university campus and Hannah attends daycare there. In August, we saw tumbleweed (OK, not literally, but you get the idea). Now, there are students as far as the eye can see. You have to move fast to stay out of their way and keep with the general direction or you'll feel like a salmon swimming upstream. It doesn't help that Hannah walks slowly or demands to be carried to and from the car. What was once a 45 minute commute, is now at least an hour - it sometimes takes us 15 minutes just to get out of the parking lot and off campus!

Talk about a sweaty, stress-filled mess! Thank goodness I have Olay, COVERGIRL and Secret to take care of my skin and make sure I don't smell (even after carrying my 30 lbs toddler up four flights of stairs).

We try to go to bed earlier to deal with the chaos on campus, but sometimes our cat has different ideas (yes, the cat wakes me up more than my 2.5 year old does). Regardless, when you get up at 6 a.m. (aka before the sun) it's nice to have fresh smelling products to wake you up.

Super Beasts is Serious Fun at The Little Gym #Review #Giveaway

Hannah has a lot of words. Sometimes she forms comprehensible sentences, other times she does not. After we tried our first Super Beasts class at The Little Gym of Vaughan, I thought they must have found a toddler with a flair for the English language who detailed everything the perfect gymnastics class should include - because Super Beasts (a Parent/Child Class) was everything Hannah wanted and more.

The class is 45 minutes long, but time passes by quite quickly. First there is a welcome song, where the children get to use musical shakers and other instruments. Then there is some group play - the first time we went we played with bean bags, the second class brought out balls and the parachute to the absolute joy of my daughter.

Get creative with Stampin' Up! #Review #Giveaway

Do you ever surf Pinterest for inspiration, and instead, just get the overwhelming feeling you could never create the beautiful homemade works of art showcased? Me too.

So when I heard about Stampin' Up! I was excited. Maybe I just needed a little help to be creative and make cards and journals at home.

Once you reach a certain age, lots of friends start getting married and having kids. I was the first of most of my friends to have a child, and I spent so much money on standard thank you cards. I wish I had discovered the Everyday Occasions Cardmaking Kit a few years ago. I made some cards on the weekend, and they look great while having such personal touch (including a "Created by" stamp!). All the difficult stuff is done for you, and there's even a brochure of examples (which I totally used as a guideline to create my own ideas).

Back to Basics with Monster Math Squad on Netflix Canada #StreamTeam

If I ever become famous and do one of those "25 Things You Don't Know About Me" with US Weekly magazine, one of my things would be that I got perfect on a city-wide math test in grade 4. If I felt honest, I would then share I went on to almost fail math in grades 10 and 11 and took grade 12 advanced math - twice.

Math has an unfortunate stigma attached to it, so I'm happy the Canadian show Monster Math Squad exists. It makes the basics of math fun for Hannah as she starts to learn about numbers and all the fascinating things you can figure out by using them.

New Shapes, Sizes and Pringles from Kellogg's Canada #KelloggCAInnovations #Kelloggers #Review #Giveaway

Once upon a time an amazing brown box arrived at my Mom's office (she is the official package receiver for YYZ Bambina) with the words "Pringles/Cereal" on it. This elicited great excitement from my Mom, Chris and of course, me. Truthfully, we are always excited when a new box from Kellogg's Canada arrives.

Almost a year ago my Mom was diagnosed with diabetes, which unfortunately runs in our family genes. She eats cereal every morning and needs it to be low in carbohydrates and sugars. It's not surprising she has quite the collection of Kellogg's Cereal in her pantry. She was happy to learn about new Rice Krispies Multi-Grain Shapes which are low in carbs and sugar. They also have no artificial flavours or colours, are fortified with Vitamin D, made with whole grain and are an excellent source of iron.

When the Kellogg's Krave Chocolate Flavour Cereal came out of the box, you would have thought it was Christmas with the look on Chris' face. The fact that in was Family Size just made it better - now you can make your kids (or kid at heart) extra happy too with a bigger box to purchase in the cereal aisle.

Dig Out Your Blender For A Healthy Energy Boost with Kiss Me Organics Matcha Green Tea #Review

As Chris is the cook at our house, he wrote this review.

One of the many, MANY benefits of being with Sarah is getting the opportunity to try out healthy and tasty foods and beverages. So when she asked me to give Kiss Me Organics Matcha Green Tea Powder a taste test, I was all over it.

I chose the Berry Good Morning Smoothie recipe – unfortunately the supermarket was out of strawberries (to the dismay of both Hannah and myself – she loves coming with me to buy groceries) so I just doubled the blueberries.

Shoo away Back to School germs with Boogie Wipes #Review & #Giveaway

Hannah might not be going back to school - she's been at daycare and then preschool all summer - but the germs are definitely coming back. Soon the crisp fall weather will force her and her friends indoors more often, and as they share toys, books and markers so too they will share their germs.

I've never been more sick than when Hannah started daycare two winters ago. Last winter was slightly better, but not by much. It breaks my heart when she has a Rudolph nose...and I hate having one right along with her!

Thank goodness for Boogie Wipes, the first ever saline nose wipe for sore, red, runny noses.

Top 5 Tips to have a blast at the Canadian National Exhibition with a little kid #CNE2014 #letsgototheex

As a native Torontonian, a yearly tradition for me is attending the annual CNE (Canadian National Exhibition). When I was younger, I was all about the Tiny Tom Donuts and the rides.

Now that I'm a Mom, I'm still all about the Tiny Tom Donuts, but I see the Ex through my daughter's eyes. We still spend a little bit of time on the midway (Hannah isn't quite tall enough to ride the rides herself), but we enjoy watching the President's Choice SuperDogs, spending hours in the CNE Farm building looking at the piggies and cows and of course riding the Fun Train (well, Hannah, I'm too big for that one).

The CNE can be so many things to anyone. Great shopping. Great food. Great entertainment. It's all at the Ex.

A Tale of Two Tees

Yesterday Hannah wore her Thomas shirt to school. The one I purchased at Walmart. In the boy's section. (The girl's section had no Thomas).

Since she's a preschooler now, I couldn't help but wonder if other kids would notice that she was wearing a boy's shirt. Some of the kids she's with now are 4 years old. When you're only 2.5 you don't notice much of fashion (OK, my kid doesn't). She just notices the characters or colours. She doesn't care what section it was purchased from or who it was "intended" for.

And obviously, since I made the decision to purchase it, deep down I don't care either. Thomas is a non-offensive show that she enjoys. There are two Thomas backpacks in her new coat room - guess what she shows me every day?

But a part of me couldn't help but wonder if the older kids would pick up on it. Would they think she's cool for liking Thomas? Would they question her as to why she's wearing a boy's shirt?

Be part of a Guinness World Record with Kinder Surprise at the CNE on August 30th #kindersmiles

I love Kinder Surprise. And I love Guinness World Records. 

On Saturday August 30th, 2014 you can make history with KINDER® Canada as they attempt to break the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® mark for the most people opening candy simultaneously on at the Canadian National Exhibition.

Adventures in Preschool Streaming with Netflix Canada #StreamTeam

As part of the Netflix Canada #StreamTeam, you may have noticed I post at least once a month about awesome Netflix shows, and usually said posts have a theme. The theme for August is Adventures. The PR folks recommended a slew of great titles for little kids and for the first time ever, ALL the shows recommended were ones that have never streamed on our TV screen.

So, it's been an adventure trying to watch something new with my preschooler who lives for routine (and rotating through the same episodes of Yo Gabba Gabba!, Bubble Guppies, Thomas and Friends, Sesame Street, Super Why! and Pingu).

Right now, Hannah is obsessed with turtles. Well, at least her turtle shirt. Whenever we wash it she HAS to wear it the next day, so I thought for sure she would want to watch A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures.

#ShineStrong with Pantene #PGmom #Giveaway

Beautiful is the strength it takes to reach for your dreams, to speak a little louder, to stand up for what you believe in and to not apologize for it. And that’s what Pantene wants to recognize and celebrate!

#ShineStrong is an exciting movement designed to empower women around the world to be strong and shine, on the inside and out. It celebrates women just like you—who are confidently and courageously bringing this essence to life and inspiring other women every day to do the same.

As part of this movement, Pantene has started #ShineStrong Tag to encourage women to give a shout out to the people, events and products that help them #ShineStrong via YouTube, Instagram (@PanteneHair), Twitter (@Pantene) and Facebook (Facebook.com/PanteneNA)!

Interactive History at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum #Review #Giveaway

With all the rain we've had this summer, it's good to have some indoor activities in your back pocket. Enter the Canadian Warplane Heritage museum in Hamilton, Ontario.

The Canadian Warplane Heritage museum is a working airplane hangar with many interactive displays where you can touch, sit in and learn about warplanes. There are also flight simulators for kids to experience what it would be like to be in a plane.

Hannah enjoyed  sitting in an Avro Canada CF100 MK 5D with Daddy, riding in a "jeep", and sticking her head through the photo cutouts to be a pilot with Mommy.

The Busy Parents Guide to Dating - Hospital Styles

Yesterday I was in the ER. I'm a migraine Mommy, and this "summer" weather (pft) has not been kind to my head.

On Tuesday evening I couldn't feel my right leg. Sometimes my limbs go numb, but usually after a night's sleep I feel normal again. Not the case Wednesday morning.

So Chris dropped me off at the hospital, drove Hannah to daycare and then came back to meet me. He arrived after my blood had been drawn (can you believe that still freaks me out after having given HOW much blood during my pregnancy?) and right before the coolest ER doctor ever saw me. This guy needs his own reality show. He was really just that cool of a dude. You would have thought we were just conversing like old friends at a party instead of him attempting to diagnose me in a busy Toronto hospital.

Stop being #Noseblind - Febreze to the Rescue #Giveaway #PGmom

During my pregnancy, I was very sensitive to smells. Food, body odour, almost any scent grossed me out. Even now, my nose is more sensitive than Chris - or maybe he's just noseblind.

Definition of Noseblind: The gradual acclimation to the smells of one’s home, car, or belongings, in which the affected does not notice them (even though their family members or guests do).

Many times I'll come home with Hannah, and Chris will already be back from work. I will smell dinner, or worst case scenario, Booyah's letterbox...he may have sensitive smell, but he's one cat who is definitely noseblind! I crack out the Febreze Air Effects Meadows & Rain to make our home breathable for all.

Go Wild at African Lion Safari #africanlionsafari

Recently we had the opportunity to go wild at African Lion Safari, about an hour west of Toronto in Cambridge. And boy, did we ever.

We started our day on the Safari Tour Bus (our car has yet to be paid for, so we left Megatron in the ample free parking lot).  The Bus Tour is air conditioned and only water (no other food or drink) is allowed to be consumed, so make sure you give kids a snack before boarding the bus. Our driver was very knowledgeable as she swerved through traffic (including an ostrich!) as she took us through the Game Reserves. We were able to capture some great pictures, especially of Safari the baby giraffe who is the first in Canada and the second in the world to be born through artificial insemination. Hannah wasn't sure what to make of the situation of us being "caged" on the bus and the animals being wild. But I thought it was pretty neat, especially when the baboons would hitch rides on the cars!

Summer Hair #Giveaway #PGmom

Has this ever happened to you? You're in the public pool's changing room, struggling to get a bathing suit on your impatient child for your parent and tot swimming lesson and there it is. That hair on your leg you missed this morning in the shower.

This happens to me ALL THE TIME, which is why I was so excited to learn about the NEW Gillette Venus Snap with Embrace.

It's so small you can put it in your bag, and takes up little space in your weekend getaway bag. It works super well for missed patches, but might be difficult to do a whole body shave with the smaller handle.

P&G #cleanwater Photo Challenge July 18 - 31, 2014 #PGmom

Hannah LOVES water. Now that it's summer, her happiest places are the swimming pool and various splash pads. She also enjoys drinking water, and on a hot day, water is usually my choice beverage too. 

In Canada we are lucky to have clean water come right from our taps, unfortunately this is not the case in all countries around the world. Thankfully the P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water (CSDW) Program helps provide clean drinking water to people in need through a water purifying technology developed by P&G. 

From July 18 through 31, P&G and Walmart want you to share photos of the role clean water plays in your life and the life of our family and friends through the P&G #cleanwater Photo Challenge. Here are the daily words:

Cuteness and Fun at the Bowmanville Zoo #bowmanvillecubs #bowmanvillezoo

Less than an hour east of Toronto, Bowmanville Zoo is the perfect place for kids. With my toddler's limited attention span, there are no long walks between enclosures. She can go at her own pace, and if she wanted, walk the entire zoo. She can pet the animals and feed them. And, she can attempt to be as cute as the new lion cubs!

Breakfast's Best Buds - Kellogg's #CerealAndMilk #Kelloggers #Giveaway

Along with 78 per cent of Canadians, in high school every morning I ate cereal for breakfast. So when I started commuting almost an hour and a half to university, I got creative...and got made fun of by my fellow freshman. I needed to have my Kellogg's Mini-Wheats, but to save time in the morning, I would throw some Mini-Wheats into a plastic sandwich bag...and bring my milk in a sports bottle. I would throw a Mini-Wheat in my mouth, and swallow it with the milk I brought. True story. And somehow, that year, I still managed to make life long friends. 

Do you have a morning ritual with Cereal and Milk? Check out the neat facts in the infographic below:

Super Duper Canadian Kids Content on Netflix Canada #StreamTeam

When I was little I loved to sing. A lot. Hannah is the same. It's not unusual to hear her sing in the car, while playing with her toys and she pretty much always does it while she's colouring. One of her favourite songs to sing is "Hip, hip, hooray....the super readers saved the day...". If you are unfamiliar with the tune, you haven't watched Super Why!, a great Canadian show that streams on Netflix Canada.

Celebrate Summer with a FREE Kellogg's Special K Tote #Kelloggers

Being a Mom, any outing requires at least two things - a bag big enough to carry lots of stuff (sunscreen, phone, water, diapers, wipes, etc.) and healthy snacks easy to consume on the go. With lots of upcoming day trips, I'm so excited to have the stylish Special K tote to keep on my arm - and Hannah's favourite snack, Special K Cracker Chips (Salt &Vinegar!) inside.

Day Out with Thomas in St. Thomas, Ontario #Giveaway

Part of my youth was spent watching Thomas the Tank Engine and Shining Time Station, usually while playing trains with my brother (to this day, I have a soft spot for Toby). So if anyone is to thank for Hannah's Thomas obsession, it's probably him (the dude has the 90s Thomas theme song as his ringtone). Hannah LOVES Thomas, so it was only fitting for her second birthday he was our theme - Thomas cake, Thomas hats, and Thomas train sets as gifts of course!

You can only imagine how excited Hannah will be in a few weeks at a Day Out with Thomas when she gets to ride in a car that Thomas himself will be pulling at the Elgin County Railway Museum in St. Thomas, Ontario.

Celebrate our country with Canada Doodles! #printables

In less than a week, Canada turns 147!

Celebrate with your kids with colouring in the Raincoast Book Canada Doodles by Megan Radford, drawings by Peter Cook.

Making the Morning Rounds with Ozery's Pita Break

In his latest DADPOST, Chris tries out the Ozery's Pita Break new Date & Chia Morning Rounds.

Breakfast has been a tricky thing for me over the past year. My new job starts at early o’clock (7:30-8 AM), which means I’m up at around 6:15 or 6:30. And my body understandably does not want food at that time. If Pre-Father Chris saw how early Post-Father had to get up, Post-Father Chris would likely lose his appetite.

So when Sarah presented me with a dozen Ozery's PitaBreak Date & Chia Morning Rounds, I was ecstatic. Six breakfasts covered right there! I usually take a croissant or a granola bar to work and eat it at a more reasonable hour, but this was a serious upgrade.

Krista-link-a-La and the Size 13 Shoes #Book #Review #AuthorInterview

One of the greatest things about Toronto is the multiculturalism of the city. When I was in primary school, I was usually one of the only Caucasian girls in my class. I was in awe of these other kids, who had come from other countries and whose first language was almost never English. I remember watching some kids in grade three see snow for the first time. It was awesome to see the way their faces lit up, looking in awe at something I totally took for granted.

So it's funny that until now I haven't come across a book for kids that describes the immigration experience. Thankfully our children can read Tina Petrova's Krista-link-a-La and the Size 13 Shoes. A funny twist on the Cinderella story,  the book follows Krista-link-a-la (based on a young Tina) as she finds a clever way to build a bridge between the old world she was born into and the new world she must make her way in.

The Canaccord Genuity Great Camp Adventure Walk to benefit SickKids Teaches Fun Philanthropy #walkforSickKids

“Sharing is good, Mommy,” says Hannah as she offers me a piece of wooden toy pizza. “I like sharing.”

I’m happy she likes to share, but I often wonder how to explain you can share more than just toys. That you can share your time, your support and your money too.

A perfect solution is to join The Canaccord Genuity Great Camp Adventure Walk on Saturday, September 27, 2014. This event is a family adventure to benefit SickKids – and a great, exciting way to teach kids about philanthropy. A full day of adventure, the whole family can challenge themselves to walk 5, 10, 15, or 20 km, with stops at fun-filled campsites along the way. Each themed campsite offers unique games and activities that will challenge and entertain (and yes, the routes are stroller friendly!).

Summer Travel Essentials #PGmom #Giveaway

Summer weather is finally here! After a long winter of ice storms, snow and freezing COLD temperatures, it's time to crack out sunscreen, sandals and swimsuits.

My favourite place to be in the summer is my family's cottage on Rice Lake, about an hour's drive from Toronto. This past weekend, my Mom and I took Hannah up to the cottage and she loved it. She kicked off her shoes to run in the grass, watched ducks swim in the lake and explored our back lot which she called "The Jungle".  Like most toddlers, Hannah repeats stories all the time and the past few days all she's been asking is to go back to "The Jungle".

The view from our cottage

Whether you are headed to a cottage or going on a day trip, Summer is filled with time in the car and P&G has some tips to keep everyone clean and happy for the ride.

Relaxing with the inmates of #OITNB on Netflix Canada #StreamTeam

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you'll know I was very excited and very happy for the return of Orange is the New Black. 

As much as I love watching Bubble Guppies, Sesame Street and SuperWhy, I'm thankful to be able to stream stuff I want to watch while Hannah is asleep (and even more thankful I can do so on my MacBook to keep the apartment quiet). 

One look at my Netflix profile will tell you I enjoy comedies, documentaries and dramas. Some might say that Orange is the New Black (OITNB) is all these things and more. 

Gillette Fusion ProGlide with FlexBall Technology #ShaveFace (Review & Giveaway)

Chris is back with another unofficial #PGdad post - his first one with a giveaway! Find out what he thinks about the new Gillette Fusion ProGlide with FlexBall Technology and enter to win your own.

Here’s the first thing that came to mind when I opened the package of the Gillette Fusion ProGlide with FlexBall Technology: running shoes. Stay with me, it’ll make sense.