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.

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.

Create new traditions with 25 Days of Christmas from Simply Fun Families

When Hannah got home from daycare today she declared: "I like Santa." I'm not sure why this happened today (perhaps a Christmas-themed craft?) as I've slowly been decorating our home all week.

Last year we moved on November 30th. We didn't have a Christmas tree, I purchased AND wrapped Hannah's presents in front of her (the joy of mat leave) and a strung one lonely set of lights in our dining room window.

Now that she's nearing two I wanted to make this year a bigger, better, and definitely more organized occasion.

Enter Simply Fun Families' 25 Days of Christmas.

Visit Mozart's Magical Castle at Casa Loma

Two amazing things about living in Toronto include: having a castle in our city AND having a thriving cultural scene.

This holiday season, Casa Loma and Opera Atelier are partnering to create Mozart’s Magical Castle, a month-long installation which will bring Toronto’s castle to life with the sights and sounds of Mozart’s beloved opera The Magic Flute.

Running December 1-30, 2012, this unique interactive installation will feature a variety of performances, educational workshops, and creative activities that will expose participants of all ages to the music, dance and story of Mozart’s most famous opera in the magical environment of Casa Loma.

Artists from Opera Atelier’s production (running April 6-13, 2013 at the Elgin Theatre) will be on-site to perform excerpts from The Magic Flute, a team of arts educators will help participants connect with the artist inside them, and activities such as costumed characters and a scavenger hunt will ensure that all Casa Loma patrons will get to participate in the fun.

Company of The Magic Flute
Photo: Bruce Zinger / Company of The Magic Flute(2006)

Casa Loma will also be maintaining its holiday tradition of strolling carolers, an elves’ workshop, beautiful decorations including a 25-foot tree, and - of course - visits with Santa Claus.

For more information on Mozart's Magical Castle, including descriptions and specific timing of events, please click here.

© 2012 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

Uncle Neil and Friends Annual Toy Mountain Show

As previously mentioned, I am so excited for Hannah's first Christmas. In fact, so far she's the only person I've purchased gifts for!

As a new parent, I can't wait for her to see all of her new toys on Christmas morning (and OK, I can't wait to crack LOL Elmo out of his box so I can play with him).

However, I can only imagine what it's like for some parents who don't know if their child will get any presents on Christmas. That's where Toy Mountain comes in - working with the Salvation Army they strive to ensure every child in Toronto has a toy to open on Christmas morning.

On Sunday, December 9, 2012, Uncle Neil and Friends will take the stage for their Annual Toy Mountain Show. There will be live music, face painting and even a visit from Santa! The event takes place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at The Birchmount, 462 Birchmount Road (at Danforth Road) in Scarborough, which has lots of free parking.

There is no cover charge, just bring unwrapped toys! To date, Uncle Neil and friends have collected 38,000 toys for Toy Mountain. When buying toys, please note the most needed toys are for ages 0-2 years and teenagers.

For more information on this great event, please visit the Uncle Neil and Friends Annual Toy Mountain Show website.

© 2012 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

Help Duracell Canada Power the Holidays with Children's Miracle Network

It's baby's first Christmas, and I am slowly starting to buy presents to put under the tree addressed to her.

Surfing the web finding the most awesome toys is making me really excited for this holiday season. I just hope she likes playing with the toys we pick as much as Chris and I will!

It's no surprise that most of these toys require batteries to work. I'm working on a post about gifts we think are awesome, but in the meantime I wanted to let you know about a program Duracell Canada is running which may be even more awesome.

This holiday season, Hasbro is donating Duracell-powered toys to Children’s Miracle Network hospitals across Canada. Every time you like or share a new post from Duracell Canada's Facebook page, between Nov. 5 – Dec. 31, 2012, they will donate $1 CAD to the Children’s Miracle Network up to a maximum $25,000.

So make sure you like and share posts from Duracell Canada so the $25,000 mark is reached!

Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom. As part of my affiliation with this group I receive products and special access to P&G events. The opinions on this blog are my own. 

© 2012 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

Give Gifts that keep Giving with World Vision

Halloween is over. And even though you won't hear Christmas music in Shoppers Drug Mart, all the stores are stocked with Christmas items and gifts.

Could you imagine giving someone a goat, chicken or cow for Christmas? With World Vision, you can.

I am very thankful that Hannah (and I) were born in a country where we don't need to worry about access to clean water, feeling cold at night or receiving an education. Many children in other countries aren't so lucky.

At SCCTO I met some folks from World Vision and they provided me with their Christmas 2012 Gift Catalogue. (You can view items online here.) I also was given this uber pretty bracelet, which, as you can see, Hannah is a fan of as well. The proceeds from this bracelet go to World Vision programs that help women and girls escape exploitation and abuse around the world. There are other handcrafted gifts you can purchase for a loved one that all support World Vision programs.

There are all types of gifts you can give - as I previously mentioned, you can buy animals. And medicine, food, clothes, and classroom supplies. Soccer balls, musical instruments and toys. You can even give a community the gift of solar power.

All the gifts you can give have a lifetime impact. You can also buy gift cards and let the receiver decide what gift to give.

Lydia, a seven-year-old from Uganda whose family received a goat and sheep, says, "We can sell the baby animals to buy clothes, shoes and books for school."

If you want to help children closer to home - you can. Did you know one in five Canadian children go to school hungry? You can feed hungry Canadian families or provide school supplies to a Canadian child in need.

Last year, as part of my Christmas gift, Chris "bought" me a Polar Bear from the World Wild Life Fund. This year, World Vision is my charity of choice. I'm debating between a pig and medicine - either way, I know my gift will impact someone's life.

Do you buy Christmas gifts that support charities?

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this post. All language and opinions are my own.

© 2012 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.