Holiday Watching with Netflix Canada #Giveaway #NowOnNetflixCA #StreamTeam

The holidays are a time to spend with friends and family. They often provide some much needed down time. My idea of some good down time is streaming, cuddling and laughing together.

Netflix has a bunch of holiday movies and holiday episodes of your favourite shows.

Habitat for Humanity Gingerbread Build with Bounty #PGmom

Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom/mamanP&G. 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 my own.

Last weekend Hannah and I had the opportunity to participate in the 13th Annual Habitat for Humanity GTA Gingerbread Build at the Ontario Science Centre. She might not be old enough to build actual houses, but Hannah was amazing at decorating a gingerbread house for a great cause.

As the Presenting Sponsor of Gingerbread Build 2015, Bounty once again makes Habitat GTA a part of its holiday celebration. 100% percent of the funds raised through Habitat's Gingerbread Build go directly to building more Habitat homes for families in need of affordable housing in the GTA.

You can still participate in the Gingerbread Build - you can purchase a kit to put together at home, or purchase a kit for a family in a shelter to put together. For more details, visit http://gingerbreadbuild.weebly.com/build.html.

Right now every donation to Habitat for Humanity will be matched dollar-for-dollar by P&G until December 31st, 2015. For more details, and to donate, visit here.

© 2015 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

Cleaning for surprise guests this holiday with P&G #PGmomGiveaway

Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom/mamanP&G. 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 my own.

This season guest may drop by last minute. I try to keep the condo as clean as possible, but having a three-year old means sometimes it's not as tidy as I would like. So when we get short notice that someone is stopping by, I immediately rely to Swiffer and Febreze.

We don't own a dog, so crumbs can be a daily issue...especially because sometimes my daughter plays while she snacks. Thankfully we have the Swiffer Sweep and Trap - I LOVE the fact I can collect particles AND clean at the same time!

Ways to Give Back this Season including Rice Krispies #TreatsforToys #Kelloggers #Giveaway

Yesterday, my Mom, Hannah and I were at our local Walmart when we saw an interesting sight. There was a TTC bus parked right at the entrance - this is unusual because the entrance is far from the street where a normal bus would stop. My Mom bought some toys that Hannah donated to Stuff the Bus and we tried to explain to her that not everyone is as lucky as we are during the holidays.

Make. Share. Give.

The Kellogg’s Rice Krispies #TreatsforToys program helps bring a smile to children in need by encouraging Canadians to make a toy-shaped Rice Krispies treat and share a picture of it on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook using the #TreatsforToys hashtag. For every image uploaded from now until December 21, 2015, Kellogg’s Rice Krispies will donate $20 to The Salvation Army to buy a toy for a child in need during the festive season. 

Hallmark Canada for the Holidays! #giveaway #LoveHallmarkCA

This is Hannah's third Christmas. She's always liked specific ornaments on Grandma's tree, but this year she's really noticing all the decorations and has even asked to help us with our holiday decorations. So a couple of weeks ago when she was home sick, it was a great surprise for us to receive a great box full of holiday goodies from Hallmark Canada.

She loves the Keepsake Kids My First Tree, the Keepsake Ornament - Disney The Sorcerer Apprentice and the Time for Cookies Snowman Interactive Stuffed Animals.

Find great P&G gifts for everyone at Walmart Canada! #MomsShopWalmart #PGmomgiveaway

Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom/mamanP&G. 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 my own.

As I got older, my favourite part of Christmas day was opening my stocking. Of course, I liked whatever "biggie" present my Mom had purchased for me, but the stocking contained fun things that I needed - things like candy, shampoo and holiday lip gloss - essentials for any teenage girl.

Regardless who is on your shopping list this season, P&G and Walmart Canada have you covered! Now that Christmas is less than a month away, check out the great gift sets below:

Star Wars holiday gift pack retails at $16.98 and contains 1 battery powered Oral B Toothbrush, 1 tube Crest Fluoride anti-cavity toothpaste and 1 bottle Crest Anti-cavity rinse.

Let Netflix Canada help you with your bedtime staller #5MoreMinutes #StreamTeam

Ever since Hannah started daycare, my favourite time of the day is pick-up. After working all day, as I get closer and closer to pick-up time I get more and more excited to see my kid.

My least favourite time of the day is bedtime. (And depending on the mood she's in when she wakes up, morning can be equally frustrating.) I doubt I'm alone.

Disney's #Aladdin Diamond Edition available now!

Like any other consumer, my little kid sometimes takes a few exposures before she really likes something. Case in point – Disney’s Aladdin. When we saw a special screening in theatres, even walking the “magic carpet”, she liked it – especially Jafar’s pronunciation of “Prince A-boo-boo.”

Now, like many other people, she can’t get enough of the Genie (voiced by the late Robin Williams). Thank goodness the Aladdin Diamond Edition was recently released on Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy – so we can watch it over and over at home and in the car on the iPad.

I donated 8 inches for @Pantene #BeautifulLengths - you can stilldonate! #8or8 #PGmom

Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom/mamanP&G. 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 my own.

If you follow me on social media, you may already know that yesterday I donated 8 inches of my hair as part of Pantene Beautiful Lengths National Donate Your Hair Day to help create real hair wigs for women fighting cancer.

When I entered the BANG Salon in Toronto on the Danforth, there was already a buzz of excitement and nervousness in the air. Many ladies had much longer hair than mine and went just as short as I did!

I was in the amazing hands of Justin German, owner of BANG Salon and Pantene Consulting Stylist. He suggested we cut my hair using two ponytails instead of one which would keep a little more length. It's a strange experience going for a hair cut when at the beginning you are presented with cut off ponytails of your own hair, but there's also the feeling of thankfulness knowing that you have strands of hair  to give that can help someone else feel a small sense of normalcy when they are going through a difficult time.

Give #8or8 on @Pantene #BeautifulLengths National Donate Your Hair Day #PGmom

Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom/mamanP&G. 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 my own.

One day I was chatting with a friend at work who I had known for a couple of years. I mentioned how I loved her hair and loved that it was so long. Suddenly, she moved in a little closer to me and whispered, "It's because I'm a breast cancer survivor. After I lost it all, I've always worn it long."

This Saturday, November 7th is National Donate Your Hair Day. I will be cutting off 8 inches of my non-dyed hair to donate to the Canadian Cancer Society to help create a free, real-hair wig for women who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment.

I'm doing it for my many friends who have bravely fought breast cancer, and all woman like them. If one small act can give someone a feeling of normalcy, why not?

Fall Cleaning with Mr. Clean #15MinReno #PGmom

Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom/mamanP&G. 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 my own.

Fall has proven to be quite a busy time in my household. I started a new job in August and I'm still adjusting to the responsibilities and hours. This has left little time for blogging and even LESS time for cleaning.

When I was preparing for Thanksgiving, a noticed a lot of things that needed to be fixed - but that might only be noticed by me. Since the craziness of the fall long weekend is complete, I was able to take on a couple of those tasks with the assistance of Mr. Clean and his #15MinReno.

The first thing I tackled was some paint on the living room blinds. See the awesome transformation below:

Haunting Halloween Must-Haves from Hallmark Canada! #Giveaway #LoveHallmarkCA

"Mommy, how many more days til Halloween?" "Mommy, Halloween is in fall. Did you know it's fall now?" "Mommy, can I try on my Elmo costume again?"

This year, my kid is ALL about Halloween. It may have started when a fabulous box arrived from Hallmark Canada with some of their latest must-haves to celebrate the day.

Cleaning up for Thanksgiving with Mr. Clean #15minreno #PGmomgiveaway

Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom/mamanP&G. 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 my own.

I like Thanksgiving slightly better than Christmas. You get family time without snow, or the pressure of finding the perfect present. Thanksgiving, like Christmas, involves a tasty meal and family visits which leads to doing the deep clean before guests arrive and the turkey goes in the oven.

I like Mr. Clean Magic Erasers slightly better than my Swiffer WetJet. That Magic Eraser has save me mucho dollars over the years, especially with a preschooler (yes, it's taken "art" off our walls).

This year I'm using Mr. Clean Extra Strength to give my family the cleanest version of my home when they come to visit.

I Love You, You Love Me, Now the only thing on DD's Netflix is Barney #StreamTeam

Until recently, the only Barney on my Netflix was a wicked awesome New Yorker who throughly enjoys high fives, being awesome and making up rules for everyone to follow, while looking great wearing a suit (I'm talking of Mr. Stinson, from How I Met Your Mother, of course).

Hannah has taken to watching Netflix on my MacBook. It's a lot easier for her to scan shows that way, and one day she discovered Barney - the purple dinosaur. As a kid who loves to sing and dance, it was only a matter of time before she became obsessed - and obsessed she is.

When asked, why do you like Barney? Hannah responds, "Well, because he's my friend."

Sesame Place a must visit for Sesame Street fans #SesamePlace

If you could travel anywhere tomorrow, most people would choose to visit an exotic location or travel to family far away. Not me. I'd want to go to Langhorne, Pennsylvania. My family travelled there this summer and our day in Langhorne was by far my favourite of the entire vacation. As soon as we drove away, I immediately wanted to go back. Because, even though Sesame Street is set in New York City, Sesame Place is in Langhorne.

Back-to-School with Walmart Canada and P&G! #BeReady2Roar #Giveaway #Review #PGmomGiveaway

Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom/mamanP&G. 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 my own.

So, it's the first Saturday after back-to-school. How did everyone fair?

Hannah is a January baby so she won't start kindergarten until next fall. However, I work on a university campus and she attends preschool there so it was a hectic week for us nonetheless!

Fresh books and new clothes can go well with a new beauty routine, and P&G have some great products to help you look and feel your best as temperatures start to dip.

Love, Hallmark 7 Card Challenge #LoveHallmarkCA #Giveaway

I still remember when Facebook Chat was introduced and I thought, "I'll never use this." Fast forward to 2015, and that's the way most of my friends and I connect, even more than texting.

I was recently sent 7 cards by Hallmark Canada to participate in the Love, Hallmark 7 Card Challenge. Figuring out who to send the beautiful cards to was easy, in a world where everyone texts for an address to put in their GPS, it was finding out where to mail the cards that proved difficult.

#DinoTrux latest and greatest from Netflix and DreamWorks #StreamTeam

Actual conversation I had with my daughter's preschool teacher:

Miss F: Hannah really likes dinosaurs.

Me: Yeah, she really does.

Miss F: She picked up a dinosaur earlier today and told me, 'This is a Brontosaurus', and when I looked at the bottom of the toy, she was right!

As you can see, dinosaurs are big in our household. It's mostly emerged from Hannah's obsession with a show called Dinosaur Train. It's about a time-travelling train that's filled with dinosaurs. What preschooler wouldn't like that show?

So when I heard about DinoTrux I was pretty sure we had another Netflix Original show that would quickly make its way into our usual rotation. (Recently when we were on vacation in the United States we picked up a King Julien beatbox as part of a Wendy's kids meal that plays the theme song, which of course thrust that show back into the spotlight.)

Travel to Paradise with Strasburg Rail Road! #StrasburgRailway

While we were travelling earlier this month, one of our stops was Paradise. Literally.

The Steam Train from Strasburg Rail Road takes you on a return trip to Paradise, Pennsylvania.

Hannah loved being on a train (and the Thomas filled gift shop). I liked seeing the farms and Amish country side.

#KinderSmile this year at the CNE! #KinderMom

As a child growing up in Toronto, when the CNE arrived in town it was bittersweet. Bitter, because it signalled the summer was about to end. Sweet, because of all the rides, shows and food!

KINDER® is at the Canadian National Exhibition again this year, as the Kids’ World presenting partner! That means there’ll be KINDER® SURPRISE® fun happening every day from August 21 to September 7. The KINDER® Smile Booth will be there to capture great photos, and thousands of free KINDER® SURPRISE® eggs will be handed out resulting #kindersmiles. Make sure you leave time to play in the Smile Play zone.

The Seventh DWARF out now from Shout Factory #Review #Giveaway

As Hannah grows older, she's starting to learn all the fairytales - their stories and their characters. So she really loved seeing most in the new movie from Shout Factory - The Seventh DWARF.

I like any movie that has a song about birthday cake so near the beginning. In fact, I loved this movie's entire soundtrack - Hannah especially loved the witch's song which we listened to 10 times in a row.

Everyone will love Bobo, the youngest dwarf who's shoes are always untied, and Burner, the dragon without fire.

Celebrate Pampers #SagtoSwag this Saturday, August 22 at Walmart Square One! #PGmom #Giveaway

Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom/mamanP&G. 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 my own.

If you recall, back in June I had the opportunity to visit Cincinnati as part of a special Pampers Bloggers visit. Since then, I've had to keep a secret about the latest and greatest Pampers innovation. And it was hard. The Pampers employees were so excited to share with us. And as a blogger who is constantly sharing, once I learned about the innovation, it was so difficult not to share the amazingness with my readers.

So I'm relived to finally tell you exactly how amazing new Pampers Cruisers are. It's so big, to celebrate the innovation being available to caregivers in Canada, Walmart & Pampers are hosting a special event for moms and babies this Saturday, August 22nd at Walmart Square One in Mississauga. There will even be a fun Pampers photo booth!

ToonSeum - A Must Visit for Comic Fans in Pittsburgh #lovepgh #yyzlovespgh

Chris visited ToonSeum during our time in Pittsburgh. Read about his visit below.

While the ladies were off shopping in downtown Pittsburgh, I took the opportunity to do a little sightseeing and made a stop at the ToonSeum in the Cultural District. It’s only one of three museums in the United States dedicated exclusively to the comic and cartoon arts.

Since I’m a HUGE fan of both comic books and cartoons, I made it a priority to set aside some time to visit the ToonSeum – and I was not disappointed.

Amazing Views of Pittsburgh from the Duquesne Incline #lovepgh #yyzlovespgh

No trip to Pittsburgh is complete without a visit to the Duquesne Incline. Opened in May 1877, the funicular offers amazing views of the city from Mount Washington every day of the year, from as early as 5:30 am on weekdays until 12:45 am.

Each car can hold 18 people as it travels up or down at 320 feet per minute. The cars move determined by the demand of folks waiting to go up or down.

Get Creative at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh #lovepgh #pghkids #yyzlovespgh

Having never visited a children's specific museum before, I didn't know what to expect when we stepped into the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh. What we found was amazing activities and incredible learning experiences - for Hannah, and the rest of us, too.

We took the T from Station Square to the North Side Station and then walked for about 10 minutes. There is also ample metered parking at the museum for those who wish to drive.

We started our day in the Studio where Hannah did a variety of crafts. She loved the painting station so much! I was thankful for the art vacuum dryer, which I used for a good 10 minutes before the paper was stiff enough to lay on a drying rack (What can I say? My kid loves to paint every part of a white piece of paper).

Fun for everyone at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium #lovepgh #zooforall #yyzlovespgh

A week ago today we were just starting our road trip vacation through Pennsylvania. Our first stop was Grove City for shopping, and then we headed to Pittsburgh. The first stop in Pittsburgh was the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium - and we ALL loved it. In fact, my Mom has declared this stop her very favourite out of our whole trip, and my Mom has visited Zoos all over the world, so you know this one is impressive.

If you're road tripping it to Pittsburgh, the Zoo has you covered with free parking. It was about a 20-minute drive from our hotel downtown.

Fuel your summer with Vector! #Kelloggers #Giveaway

When the weather becomes nice, my family and I love spending time outside, and therefore we're always on the go. Recently Kellogg's Canada sent us some yummy items from their Vector line, including the new Vector Granola, to keep us fuelled on the go!

My favourites are the bars...especially on those mornings when we wake up late and still want to beat traffic to the cottage.

As for the granola - it's delicious. A lot of people enjoy it with milk or with yogurt - but I like to eat it plain, right out of the bag!

To help you fuel your summer, one lucky YYZ Bambina reader will win a Vector prize pack from Kellogg Canada featuring the items in the photo below:

A Magical Summer Giveaway from Hallmark Canada #LoveHallmarkCA

Is Disney as big at your house as it is in mine? Hannah constantly talks about Mickey, Minnie and friends.

From now until Sunday, August 9th, Hallmark fans can enter for a chance to win 1 of 4 $250 Disney prize packs.

Entering is simple, visit www.winwithhallmark.ca, enter your personal info and hit "Enter". You will receive a special offer from Hallmark Canada just for entering, and you can enter daily to increase your chances of winning!

Playtex PlayTime Cups keep drinks cool, prevent spills

Sometimes when we are driving home from preschool Hannah likes to recite the favourite drinks of her family members: "Grandma likes Diet Coke, Daddy and Grandpa like beer, Mommy, you like Coke Zero and I like delicious cold water!"

Note Hannah's favourite drink - delicious cold water. Not room temperature water, delicious cold water. Now that the hot weather has arrived, keeping her water cold can be kind of tricky - especially when we are on the go.

That's why we both love the new Playtex PlayTime Cups. She loves that her cups feature Thomas and My Little Pony. I love that the cups keep her water cool and that they are leak-proof. I can throw her cup in a bag with my wallet and iPad and not worry. I also love that the cups are dishwasher friendly - which means Thomas stays Thomas and I don't get asked why I "scratched" him.

Shaping Up with Wacoal Intimates

I was in grade 8. I was on the phone with my then-boyfriend when my brother and parents returned home from shopping. My brother got on the phone and announced matter-of-factly that Mom had bought me a bra while they were out. I immediately turned red and hung up the phone, humiliated. Perhaps that is the exact moment bras became embarrassing for me - a necessary clothing item I would continually hate to deal with and shop for.

Because of my relationship with bras, I have only been fitted twice in my life – the first time for breastfeeding bras when I was about to become a mother and the second time was recently with a Wacoal Sales Consultant at Hudson’s Bay. My post-baby body needed some help, and Wacoal definitely rose to the occasion.

Celebrating 30 years in business, Wacoal is proud to provide the perfect fit for every woman. Wacoal uses modern fabrics, innovative technologies, advanced manufacturing processes and unique designs to meet the evolving needs of today’s women. Wacoal sells a variety of laced bras, sports bras, underwear and body shapers. Bras range from band sizes 30 to 40 and cup sizes A to H.

Be Adventurous with Netflix Canada's new series Dragons: Race to the Edge #StreamTeam #Dragons

Last month Hannah became a Dragon Trainer.

We headed to downtown Toronto for an afternoon of fun activities, and to get a sneak peak of the first two episodes of the latest Netflix Original DreamWorks Series - Dragons: Race to the Edge. She learned how to toss sheep, dress like a viking and got to wear face paint while doing so.

The new show follows Hiccup and Toothless, from the movies How to Train Your Dragon, as they discover there are more dragons outside of Berk.

10th Annual HorseCapades at the CNE - Free this August!

One of my favourite parts of the Canadian National Exhibition is visiting the animals. The excitement of the CNE stampedes into Toronto early this summer with HorseCapades, an exciting and interactive program that introduces fans of all ages to the wonder of horses.

In its 10th consecutive year, HorseCapades returns to the CNE beginning August 2nd, 2015, at the Horse Palace, Exhibition Place. You and your kids can pet horses, learn about grooming and shoeing, guess a horse’s weight, as well as enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride. Children can also enjoy a free pony ride!

Always #LikeAGirl – New Unstoppable Video #PGmom

Hannah just got out of Pampers and is no where near needing to use Always products, but the brand has already helped her and other girls her age by changing the opinions and impressions of their elders and showing that girls are unstoppable. As a mother to a daughter, I love the Always #LikeAGirl campaign. Every day I try to instil in my daughter that she can be whoever she wants to be - and that is what Always is telling millions of girls too.

Always, a brand that has been championing girls’ confidence for more than 30 years, is on a mission to help stop the drop in confidence girls experience at puberty and beyond. Last summer the Always brand created a social experiment video that was launched on YouTube, encouraging girls everywhere to change the meaning of #LikeAGirl from an insult into doing something downright amazing! The Always ​​​​​​#LikeAGirl YouTube video currently has over 90 million views across the globe.

A new Always survey shows that 72 percent of girls feel held back by society, which dictates what they should and shouldn’t do. They have created a new social experiment video that brings that statistic to life and encourages girls to feel unstoppable and smash any limitations that hold them back. Watch it below:

SURPRISE! The Minions are in KINDER SURPRISE eggs! #KinderMom

Everyone is excited that the Minions are coming. Everyone except my kid that is.

A few months ago we were at a fair and Hannah was given a minion Stuart. She didn't like him. At all. I'm not sure if it was his yellow body. Or jean overalls. Or the fact that he only has one eye. But she definitely wasn't a fan.

However the rest of the world seems really excited about their new movie - including KINDER Canada. Minions toys are inside specially marked limited edition KINDER® SURPRISE® Classic eggs, in stores now! There are 11 Minion toys to collect.

Pampers New "Hush Little Baby" Video has all the feels #BetterForBaby #PGmom

Almost two weeks ago I saw Pampers new Hush Little Baby video at P&G Baby Care headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio. Regardless of how old your baby is - whether they are still in Pampers, graduating kindergarten or graduating college, this heart warming lullaby video will definitely make you tear up.

As we watched it as a group of bloggers and P&G staff, there wasn't a dry eye in the house - make sure you have Puffs near by if you're about to hit play!

My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic: Cutie Mark Quests #DVDReview #Giveaway

Usually the first thing Hannah asks me when I pick her up from preschool is, "Where are we going?" For the last week it has been, "Mommy, can we go to the condo and watch My Little Pony?"

It makes me want to find MY My Little Pony, er ponies, from the 80s. My favourite was one that had a sundae on its side and smelled like vanilla ice cream.

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: Cutie Mark Quests was Hannah's first introduction to the television show (she already has the Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash toy ponies). The episodes on the disc Hannah likes best are about the ponies ultimately coming to gather to work to a common goal (although, for awhile, you're not sure they will be able to get along).

This is definitely more of a show of social/situational learning versus learning colours, numbers and shapes...and I think Hannah loved graduating to a "big girl" show.

Come on Toronto, where's our #PampersNursingSuite? #PGmom

June 21st. It's officially summer and this year it's Father's Day. Chris' favourite sport to watch is baseball which means it's perfecting timing for this post.

When I was in Cincinnati over a week ago, I had the opportunity to visit the Great American Ball Park - home of the Cincinnati Reds (Chris was totally jealous) AND the first-ever Pampers Nursing Suite.

Have you ever taken your child to a baseball game at SkyDome (OK, "Rogers Centre")? Hannah went to her first Blue Jays game when she was 8 months old. There was no place to feed her except the stands. There was no place quiet to go and sit when she wanted a quick nap. I do applaud the Jays for having change tables in almost every washroom. And the stroller valet parking is definitely a plus. And if your child is going to freak out anywhere, an open stadium is probably the place to do it. But boy, would I love the Jays to build a Pampers Nursing Suite for their fans!

P&G #ThankYouMom Twitter Party on June 22 with Olympian Brianne Theisen-Eaton #PGmom

Regardless of your profession, one person you always look to for advice is Mom. When I first moved out, I bought all the products my Mom stocked our house with - Tide, Bounce, Febreze without a second thought.

When I was pregnant with Hannah, I again looked to my Mom for advice. We stocked up on Pampers because that's what my brother and I wore when we were babies. We washed all of Hannah's new clothes in Ivory Snow because that's what my Mom had done with my baby clothes.

After Hannah was born it seemed like on some days I was calling my Mom on an hourly basis for guidance. Even now, when greeted with a new parenting experience, my Mom is my first call to ask how she would deal with the situation. Hopefully if Hannah ever decides to have children I can be as helpful to her as my Mom is to me.

P&G realizes just how special and busy moms are. That's why they create products that work well and help parents get through chores faster. Recently P&G teamed up with Canadian Olympian Brianne Theisen-Eaton and her mom.

Check out this great video with Brianne Theisen-Eaton and her mom!

Disney/Pixar's Inside Out tickles a range of emotions #InsideOut

As soon as I saw the trailer, I knew I needed to see Disney/Pixar's Inside Out. More often than once, I've wondered "What are you thinking?" when it comes to family members and friends. Perhaps I should have been focusing on, "What are you feeling?"

That's exactly what Inside Out does - it takes you inside the human mind - complete with employees, headquarters and work flows for emotions and memories. 

The Crazy Space Adventures of Princess Sparkly Butt & The Hot Dog Kid #FringeTO #Giveaway

Hannah loves going to the theatre, and so do I. We are both super excited to see The Crazy Space Adventures of Princess Sparkly Butt & The Hot Dog Kid.

Blasting into FringeKids is an epic musical quest about a tradition ‐ defying princess who discovers that she can control time with her butt. She must use her butt powers for good, not evil, if she wants to save her planet from totally exploding. Enter Prince Doofmuncher, who identifies not as a boy – but as a hot dog. This space-exploring, planet-­saving, expectation-­shattering duo will bring laughs and thrills, while weaving in a few socially progressive lessons for good measure.

Throwback with Netflix Canada #StreamTeam

Follow me closely on this. My Throwback post for Netflix Canada this month is a documentary released in theatres/for purchase earlier this year and is now streaming on Netflix as of TODAY.

It tells the humble beginnings of the Boys whose posters covered my walls in high school and whose CDs had a permanent place in my Discman from 1995 until I got an iPod. I dressed up like one for Halloween when I was 16. I've travelled to Winnipeg, Detroit and Buffalo to see them, and have seen them in Toronto so many times I've lost count. My daughter was even born on my favourite band member's birthday.

If you knew me personally, you'd know I'm talking about the Backstreet Boys. And today their documentary, Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of is streaming on Netflix Canada.

100 Years of P&G Canada! #Giveaway #PGmom

If you follow me on social media, you'll know that last week I was lucky enough to be in Cincinnati - and it wasn't just because each day I was there was 34 and sunny, while Toronto dealt with 15 and rain.

I was able to join the American Pampers Baby Board to learn more about diapers and the AMAZING things coming this year from the brand. While in the hometown of Procter & Gamble, we also visited P&G Headquarters and got to visit the Archives and learn all about how Procter & Gamble started.

William Procter, a candle maker, and James Gamble, a soap maker, married the Norris sisters. Their father suggested that the men go into business together and Procter & Gamble was born.

Town of Newmarket Pop Up Shop at Upper Canada Mall #NewmarketPopUpShop

June hasn't been the hottest month in Toronto and so far it's been filled with rain. But Upper Canada Mall has families covered when it comes to fun, FREE activities that take place indoors.

The Town of Newmarket has introduced its first-ever, retail Pop Up Shop at Upper Canada Mall for the month of June - Recreation Month. Families can take advantage of a diverse range of indoor fitness, culture and recreation programs. There’s an activity that everyone will enjoy, and the best part is – it’s all completely FREE! The offerings are fun, inventive and modern. You can view the entire guide here.

New on DVD: Disney Junior's Mickey Mouse Club House: Minnie's Pet Salon

Hannah owns a Minnie Mouse hat, Minnie Mouse jacket, Minnie Mouse sunglasses and Minnie Mouse sandals. From her outerwear, you can probably tell she's a fan of Minnie Mouse.

So she was super excited when we received Mickey Mouse Club House: Minnie's Pet Salon to review.

Steal the Spotlight with COVERGIRL and Olay #Review #Giveaway #PGmom

I used to be obsessed with eyeliner. I had almost every colour of the rainbow to go with every look and any outfit. 

My obsession started out innocently enough, by watching a little too much of MTV's Laguna Beach. It quickly became a make-up staple for nights out on the town BH (that is - Before Hannah). On days when I wasn't in a rush, I'd even wear it more conservatively for work. 

So I was really excited to test drive to new items from COVERGIRL, especially the new intensify me! liquid liner.

Celebrate Dads and Grads with Hallmark Canada! #LoveHallmarkCA #Giveaway

June is the month to celebrate Dads and Grads all across Canada. Apparently it's also the month my family comes down with a summer cold and hence the quietness of my blog lately. But let me make it up to you by sharing some amazing gifts Hallmark Canada has in store now for both occasions.

Father's Day is Sunday, June 21st this year.

Chris is an amazing Dad. He jumped right into fatherhood without ever looking back. He's the man in charge of bedtime and usually bath time too. And he's a great cook to boot. Hannah loves watching the Blue Jays with him and forever talks about their daddy-daughter trips to the Park.

Hallmark has a variety of gifts for the father figures in your life such as golf balls ($9.99 for set of 3), frames ($16.95), mugs ($14.95 each), and BBQ supplies.

Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants #Review #Giveaway

There are kids who don't like to get dirty. And then there are kids who "swim" in the sandbox at preschool and bring half of it home with them inside their shoes. My daughter is definitely the latter. She's into dirt, bugs and reptiles - a lot of things that would make an adult (namely me) squirm.

So when we were given the opportunity to review the latest movie title from kaboom! Entertainment, Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants, it was right up Hannah's alley.

Family Fun with Netflix Canada #StreamTeam #Newstalgia

There was one show as a child that I watched religiously with the rest of my family. In fact, on Friday nights my Mom and my Godmother would usually take us out for dinner or to shop and we made sure we would always be home in time for TGIF. I was (am) the same age as Stephanie Tanner. I always wondered what it would be like to grow up with a big sister...and a little sister (I have a little brother). Or in a house without a Mom, but with a Dad, an Uncle Jesse and a Joey. And later an Aunt Becky, and a bit after that two cousins.

The show I am referring to, of course, is Full House. I'm definitely having some Nineties Newstalgia as the entire show is streaming now on Netflix and I watch with Hannah (it's still considered a "Mommy" show by her - although her favourite episodes include dancing and singing - she LOVED "Our Very First Telethon" and we've watched the dancing and singing portions more than once).

Celebrate warmer weather with Pantene, Olay & Crest! #PGmom #Giveaway #Review

Warmer temperatures have officially arrived, and with it our skin and hair rejoices (at least mine do - my hands HATE the combination of cold weather, dry heat and scratchy paper towels in my work restroom).

P&G Beauty products will help take your hair, skin and teeth from winter blah to summer gorgeous. Some of the amazing products include:

A Surprise Inside with Kellogg's Canada Cereals #Kelloggers

When I was little, one of my favourite things about breakfast time was eating cereal to get to the toy. Sometimes my brother and I were vying for the same toy and it was an anxious experience waiting to see if the coveted toy landed in one of our bowls.

This spring, Canadian families will experience that delight again as they open specially-marked, family-size boxes of Kellogg’s cereal with one of five collectable Cereal & Milk Spoon Straws inside!

Emergency Preparedness with Duracell and the Toronto Fire Service #PGmom

It was the evening of Dec. 21, 2013, when our superintendent loudly knocked on the door around 10 pm. She apologized for disturbing us but wanted us to move our car as she was afraid the storm might take a tree down and land on it. And boy, did that storm ever wreak havoc - and the tree did come down. Our car was safe - but the tree came down on a power line leaving our apartment building without electricity for a whole week.

You would think after living through that ordeal I would have an emergency kit to sustain my family and home for the recommended 72 hours. Alas, I am one of the 53 per cent of Canadians who don't have one - and my reasoning is the same as those who were surveyed by Duracell and the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs. When my power eventually came back, it was not top of mind (like 57 per cent of other Canadians)...and I became lazy about it (like 23 per cent of our nation).

So when I was contacted through the #PGmom program with the opportunity to learn how to create my own emergency preparedness kit I jumped at the chance. Earlier this week Hannah and I found ourselves at Fire Station 121 in Toronto and we both learned new safety rules and how to be prepared.

Disney's TinkerBell and the Legend of the NeverBeast in stores now!

Hannah has liked TinkerBell since she first opened one of her friends in a Kinder Surprise egg. So she was really excited to watch TinkerBell's latest movie - TinkerBell and the Legend of the NeverBeast.

Upgrade your #ScentDecor with Unstopables #Review #Giveaway #PGmom

You know when you enter certain places and just need to take a deep breath? For me, it's my Mom's house at Christmas time. There's just a lovely smell in the air and I completely feel at home.

Does your home have a Scent Decor? If you are looking for one, Unstopables is a superior option.

Unstopables is a new, crave-worthy collection of home and fabric care products with sophisticated scents that deliver rich, long-lasting and enveloping sensorial experiences to elevate the everyday. Featuring a fabric refresher, air refresher, scented oil warmer, candle and in-wash scent booster beads, Unstopables lets you style and upscale your environment and wardrobe with sophisticated and fragrant Scent Décor reflective of your signature style.