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.

Clean Water Family Kindness Challenge #CleanWater #PGmom #Giveaway

Since April 2014, Canadians have come out in droves to support the P&G and Walmart Clean Water Program, raising more than 20 million days of clean drinking water for families around the world and propelling the initiative to within 20 per cent of its year-long donation goal. P&G has pledged to donate the equivalent of one day of clean drinking water for every participating P&G household product purchased in Walmart stores or online at Walmart.ca until March 19, 2015. By stocking up on P&G products, you’ll be taking a small step to make a big difference. 

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!).

Ride for Karen supports children living with cancer

The Ride for Karen is an annual cycling event that has raised over $2 million to support children living with cancer. For the past 12 years, the Ride for Karen has taken place the first weekend of September. The event is a fantastic day of fully-supported cycling – for you AND your kids – plus the important distinction that 100% of money raised supports children living with cancer. Even if you’re not avid cyclists, you and your kids can participate!

In addition to a century ride, the Ride for Karen features 25km and 100km courses. While you’re riding, your kids can participate in the Kids Fun Ride, geared towards 2 to 12 year olds. Held in an enclosed and supervised area before the start/finish section of the ride, kids will be challenged to obtain sponsorship per lap they ride and to ride at least their age in laps. When not on their bicycles, they can enjoy jumping castles, face painting and other fun activities.

The Ride for Karen takes place Sunday, September 7, 2014 and starts at the Markham Fair Grounds.

© 2014 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

Ronald McDonald House Charities: Helping Canadian Families For More Than 30 Years

As soon as I knew I was pregnant, I started worrying. Becoming a parent is one of the most amazing experiences – but I never imagined in a million years how emotional I would be when it came to my daughter.

I remember my first “alone” outing with Hannah – we had to get her blood tested because she was showing signs of jaundice. Chris had to get to work and was unable to stay. I hate needles (and blood) but I knew I had to be strong for my days old daughter. I don’t know how I would deal with my daughter being REALLY sick.

Thankfully we live in the same city that houses The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). And I am so grateful that Hannah is healthy.

Unfortunately, not every family is as lucky as ours and not every family has healthy children or lives close to a children’s hospital.

Thankfully there is Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).

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.

#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.

Crest and Oral-B donate to Dress for Success during Oral Health Month (#PGmom Giveaway)

April is Oral Health Month! Crest knows that life opens up with a confident smile. That’s why Crest is dedicated to creating products that improve your smile and promote your oral health.

And during Oral Health Month, when you pledge to get a more confident smile by brushing, flossing and rinsing with Crest and Oral-B products for 30 days, they’ll donate $1 to Dress for Success, a charity that helps give others the confidence to succeed in the workplace. Crest is supporting Dress for Success in its mission to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Visit facebook.com/crestcanada or facebook.com/oralbcanada to make your pledge today! 

Over the last decade, the evolution of technology has made a significant and positive impact on our day-to-day lives. Canadians are quick to adopt the newest technology in many areas from computers and cell phones to TVs, but when it comes to their oral health, Canadians cling to their manual brushes (in 2011, 72 per cent were still using a manual brush!) – despite advances in electric toothbrush design and recommendations from dental health professionals. The SmartGuide also lets you know when you are brushing to hard - and as an exhausted working Mom I need the reminders in the morning and evening when I am brushing half asleep.

P&G is providing an Oral-B Professional Deep Sweep Triaction 5000 to help one lucky YYZ Bambina reader make the switch and pledge a more confident smile.

Film Screening on International Women's Day to benefit Because I am a Girl

To mark International Women’s Day, Vireo Research will host a screening of Miss Representation on Wednesday, March 6 at The Royal Cinema, 608 College Street, 6:30 p.m., to benefit Because I am a Girl, Plan Canada. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion, moderated by Jacquelyn Salnek, partner, Vireo Re-search.

Written and directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Miss Representation exposes how mainstream media contributes to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. The film challenges the media's limited and often dis-paraging portrayals of women and girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel powerful herself.

Miss Representation includes stories from teenage girls and provocative interviews with politicians, journalists, entertainers, activists and academics like Condoleezza Rice, Lisa Ling, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow, Rosario Dawson, Jackson Katz, Jean Kilbourne, and Gloria Steinem. The film offers startling facts and statistics that will leave audiences shaken and armed with a new perspective.

All proceeds from the March 6 screening will be donated to Because I am a Girl, Plan Canada. Tickets are $15 and available in advance on Eventbrite: http://vireomissrepresentation.eventbrite.ca and at the door.

Iams Home 4 the Holidays

I often say I like animals way better than I like most people. I've been lucky enough to adopt some pretty amazing animals so far in my life, full of personality and love.

Skittles even posed with me for self-photos. What a gal!

It's not easy going to a shelter knowing you can only save one or two animals. The last time I went I was 13. The Toronto Humane Society had a bunch of cats, and I really couldn't decide on one. Thankfully my Mom found Skittles (not her name before we adopted her). Skittles had just given birth to yet another litter, and her owner decided to keep a kitten instead of Skittles. She was two years old at the time, and the Humane Society would only let us have her if we agreed to spay her (which we did). My Mom thought it would be a good idea to adopt an older cat, since many people want kittens. I'm so glad we did.

Skittles was a part of my life for the next 14 years. She was often my "shoulder" to cry on when some stupid boy I liked did something moronic. She hung out with me while I was studying, watching TV and even listening to the Backstreet Boys. As I got older, she was also the sense of reason. Some nights if I stayed too long at the bar, she had this stern look when I finally came home AND would sit on my phone to make it more difficult for me to drunk text. She still cuddled me the whole next day while I was nursing a hangover. She really was such an amazing cat, not to mention a beauty. I may have given Skittles shelter and food, but she gave me so much more in return.

Chris adopted Booyah way before we started dating, and when we moved in together I may or may not have been more excited about living with Boo than I was with Chris...

Booyah with a toy banana.

As you probably have guessed, I am a total cat person. I have nothing against dogs, I just prefer cats. Booyah is a nice hybrid. He meets us meowing at the door, wants attention for a certain amount of time, and then goes about his business. While we were in Hawaii my brother took care of Boo. He couldn't believe how much Boo meows, and how much attention he wants before he'll leave you alone. Booyah definitely makes you feel needed.

So why write a post now about adopting a pet? Because I wanted to tell you about Iams Home 4 the Holidays. I'm sure you've heard about it before, but did you know you can participate without adopting (although that is an option)?

Canadians can participate in the program in more ways than one, including:

• Donating through Bags 4 Bowls – For those who are already pet parents, Iams will donate one bowl of food to a participating Iams Home 4 the Holidays animal organization for every specially marked package of Iams pet food purchased during the campaign.
• Adopting from a local shelter – Every day more and more animals end up in shelters or in rescue care, and more than 25 per cent are pure breeds*. This is important to keep in mind when deciding to bring a pet into your life, the animal you’re looking for is probably in your neighbourhood shelter. To find a participating animal shelter or rescue organization near you, visit iams.ca or facebook.com/iams. 
• Volunteering – Shelters need volunteers to do everything from feeding, caring for and keeping rescue animals company, to assisting at events and fundraisers. If you can’t adopt but would still love to help do so as a volunteer.
• Visiting the Iams Facebook page – Visit the Iams Facebook page and click to “Like” the page or various messages, photos, videos, etc. For each “Like” comment Iams will donate meals to participating animal shelters.   

Last year alone, 1.2 million pets were adopted during the holiday campaign and an estimated 5 million meals were donated to pets in need. In Canada, more than 75,000 animals found forever homes during the campaign.

When Hannah is a little older and ready for a pet, Chris and I will gladly take her to a shelter to find her new best friend. And maybe we'll bring my Mom, just to ensure only one comes home with us (I'm sure Booyah will appreciate that).

If you have a pet, did you adopt them?

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.