Tim Hortons #CampDay is Wednesday, June 5th!

Stopping for Timmy's is a daily routine for most Canadians. In fact, I plan my lane changes on Tim Hortons location en route to work (thankfully we have many Tim's locations on the university campus I work at).

It's important we ALL go on Wednesday, June 5th, 2013. That's the date for this year's Camp Day. Tim Hortons restaurant owners will donate 100 per cent of the proceeds from coffee sales to the Tim Hortons Children's Foundation, helping send kids on an unforgettable, fun-filled camping adventure to help inspire them for a better future.

Thought Spots (Review & Giveaway)

If you read my personal posts, you will know that my daughter has been in daycare since December.

As a first-time mom who has gone back to work after maternity leave, I often feel like there is never enough hours in the day. I lack time, I lack sleep and I lack cuddles with my baby (er, toddler...). It seems like everything has become more overwhelming difficult than it ever was before. So when I was contacted by Thought Spots to review a Thought Pack, the choice was simple - I needed pick me ups for Positive Parenting.

As Thought Spots says, "It’s all about living with intention and keeping the good stuff in sight…and in mind!" 

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.

Green Your Routine with Seventh Generation

Did you know that it only takes two weeks to form a habit (or change a bad one)? With that in mind, Seventh Generation has set out to Green Your Routine during Back-to-School. Over the next few weeks, please join me by:

1. Packing a litterless lunch
2. Switching to eco-friendly cleaners
3. Green commuting
4. Rebranding responsibility

Every step of the way I will post about how my family is changing their habits - and how yours can too. By adopting these four small and simple changes you can save you money, make a lasting impact on
the environment, and positively affect the health of your family.

As part of the Green Your Routine campaign, Seventh Generation will award one YYZ Bambina reader a Seventh Generation Starter Pack. The pack is composed of three coupons redeemable for Seventh Generation products. The winner will be able to choose from any of Seventh Generation's household products or laundry products (Shower Cleaner, Tub & Tile Cleaner, Toilet Bowl Cleaner, All-Purpose Cleaners, Glass & Surface Cleaner, Natural 4X Laundry Detergent, Natural 2X Laundry Detergent, Liquid Fabric Softener or Natural Liquid Fabric Softener).

I was sent some Seventh Generation products and I will review them in my switching to eco-friendly cleaners post next week.

In the meantime, start thinking about how you can Green Your Routine, enter the giveaway below, and look for my first #GYR post on litterless lunches later this week!

Open to Canadian Residents only. Valid entries only. Contest ends Sunday, September 23, 2012.
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

© 2012 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

Book Review - Jonathan Cleaned Up - Then He Heard a Sound

With the whole theme of The Great Canadian Blog Bash this week (giveaways end on Canada Day - Sunday, July 1st), I thought I'd review a book by my favourite Canadian children's book author - Robert Munsch. 

Back in my school days, the Munsch books always seemed to sell out quickly at book sales. Over the years I've enjoyed Mortimer, Something Good, and Moira's Birthday. All written by Munsch and illustrated by Michael Martchenko.

But my favourite has always been Jonathan Cleaned Up - Then He Heard A Sound (or Blackberry Subway Jam).

The story follows a poor fellow named Jonathan who is told to not make a mess of the apartment while his mother goes to purchase noodles. Somehow, Jonathan's living room becomes a subway station and plenty of people get off and make a mess - leaving him to scramble to clean it before his mother gets home. Eventually he gets sick of having his apartment be the last stop on the subway and complains to a conductor who tells him to go to City Hall.  Everyone is on lunch, but somehow he finds a City worker who reroutes the system to not stop at his apartment (with humorous results, of course).

I grew up in Toronto with a Mom who didn't drive, so we took the TTC and the subway. A LOT. So a part of me almost wanted my house to be right on the subway line. Maybe not having an exit to my living room, but it would be really convenient to have next door. And ever since I've moved out of my Mom's house, I've always made sure to live walking distance from the subway (even though I drive). Even now, I can hear the trains if I'm close enough to our windows.

Jonathan Cleaned Up - Then He Heard A Sound retails for $5.95 at Chapters Indigo.

© 2012 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

Baby's First Canada Day - #TGCBB

Canada Day is one of my favourite days of the year. Anything that includes summer, fireworks and celebrating (in my opinion) the greatest country in the world must equal a pretty fantastic day. And after the age of 19, it's pretty much illegal to NOT enjoy a homegrown Canadian beer on July 1st. (Although, I did pass last year, seeing as I was pregnant and all). And for those under the age of 19, it usually marks freedom from school and the beginning of summer holidays.

This year Chris will be taking shots of the Blue Jays at the SkyDome (I will never call it the Rogers Centre, even though, by stating I will not, I have...). Depending on the weather, Hannah and I may spend Canada Day up at my Grandpa's cottage.

Regardless of where she is, Hannah will be wearing the cute Joe Fresh Canadian onesie her Nonna bought her and her Elmo "Happy Canada Day!" bib her Grandma bought her. Even though she has no idea what Canada is and won't understand how lucky she is to be Canadian until many years from now, it's very important to me to raise her in such a way that she values her citizenship.

I think I was around 9 years old when I finally realized how great our country truly is. Having only then traveled to places in the United States and Canada, I had no idea how people in other countries lived. Not that I wasn't exposed to other cultures - I grew up in Scarborough and a lot of my fellow students were born in other countries, with parents who chose to come to Canada for a better life.

It doesn't matter how many generations ago one of our family members came to Canada, it's easy to forget how awesome we have it. Clean water? We just go to the tap. Sick? We see a doctor and don't have to worry about a bill. And can I mention BeaverTails? I would eat them every day for the rest of my life if I could.

Not to mention getting to experience four weather seasons, our coloured money, Loonies and Toonies,  hockey, la cross, the zipper, our Olympians, basketball, bowling (five-pin), Terry Fox, Banting and Best, Barenaked Ladies, Anne of Green Gables, Smarties, Kraft Dinner, Ketchup chips, the Jolly Jumper (a new favourite of Hannah's)...the random list of reasons why we should be proud, happy and thankful to call Canada home goes on and on and on.

And I don't think I even need to mention how gorgeous our provinces and territories are from coast-to-coast. From the mountains to the Maritimes,  our landmass is beautiful.

So on Canada Day, I will proudly dress Hannah in red. (And in the years to come every July 1st I will teach and remind her what it means to be Canadian.) After she's gone to sleep, I will crack open a Molson Canadian, light my sparkler and celebrate my country.

Happy 145th Birthday Canada!

This post is a part of The Great Canadian Blog Bash, hash tag #TCGBB on Twitter. To win some fabulous prizes, please visit the blogs below.


Thank you to the TGCBB hosts Kat from Kat's Confessions, Nancy from Whispered Inspirations, Patty from Positively Pampered Patty, Jen from Mom vs. the Boys and Stephanie from Good Girl Gone Green in addition to all of the generous sponsors!