The ROYALE Inspire Us Collection (#Giveaway)

Confession: I am sometimes very lame and choose boxes of facial tissue by what room they would look best in and how they match said room's colour scheme. This year's ROYALE Inspire Us Collection include boxes that would look pretty in any room.

The ROYALE Inspire Us Collection includes facial tissue boxes with stunning photography submitted by Canadians, including one post-secondary student, as part of the ROYALE Inspire Us Photo Challenge. More than 9,100 Canadians entered the contest and the top photos were chosen by members of the Moment with ROYALE community through an online vote. Not only are the winning photos now featured on millions of facial tissue boxes across Canada, but each winner also received a $1,500 cash prize.

#McHappyDay is Wednesday, May 8th!

I love Big Macs, and I REALLY love Big Macs with a cause.

On Wednesday, May 8th, $1 from every Big Mac®, Happy Meal®, and Hot McCafé® beverage you buy at McDonald's will be donated to Ronald McDonald Houses and other children's charities across Canada.

The RMHC® program is dedicated to helping sick children and their families in times of need. Ronald McDonald Houses provide accommodation and support for 10,000 Canadian families each year. You can watch the video below to learn about how Ronald McDonald House Charities helps give sick children what they need most – their families.

See you at McDonald's on May 8th!

 © 2013 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

Lest We Forget - Remembrance Day 2012

Today is Remembrance Day in Canada.

This morning my Mom, Hannah and I watched the ceremony in Ottawa on the CBC. More than a decade ago when I checked out Carleton University, my Mom and I went to the ceremony in person, and it's quite an emotional experience.

As a proud Canadian, I am so thankful to our veterans for the sacrifices they made for us so our country could become what it is today.

One of my favourite stories my Grandpa tells me about his youth has to do with World War Two. His older sisters (my Great Aunts) had enlisted and were fighting overseas. In 1944, unbeknownst to his parents, my Grandpa travelled all the way to Montreal from Toronto to enlist. However, being only 16, and therefore not eligible, his parents were called to collect him. My Grandpa begrudgingly returned to Toronto and became a War Warden in his neighbourhood - riding his bike, alerting everyone to turn out their lights during air raid precautions.

Today, I think fondly of my ancestors who fought for my freedom - and am thankful to those brave enough to enter the unknown.

© 2012 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

Book Review: Goodnight, Canada

Image: http://www.amazon.ca/

I'd like to start this post by saying I'm not really a fan of Goodnight Moon. Thankfully, Goodnight, Canada by Andrea Beck is NOTHING like that book - although the titles are very similar. I guess it's true what they say - never judge a book by it's cover, er, or title.

Goodnight, Canada takes us into the bedrooms of children across our nation so our little ones who are being read to can learn the names of our provinces and territories (and a little bit about each of them - the Nova Scotia child can see Peggy's Cove from his bedroom, the Ontario child can see the CN Tower from her bedroom, the Alberta child is lassoing a toy dinosaur, etc.). Hannah loves looking at the photos and taking in each child's bedroom (and collection of toys).

It's a great book which I am happy to add to Hannah's collection - and should be part of any Canadian child's.

Goodnight, Canada by Andrea Beck retails for $16.99

© 2012 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.