Tonight I announce the fifth and final sponsor in the Merry Fluffy Christmas blogmania event - BabyLegs! They are the makers of super-soft leg warmers that are not only fashionable, but they also make diaper changing and potty training much easier. They are also great for keeping legs warms in a stroller, protect knees from hard surfaces and rug burn and provide a great alternative to tights. Check out their adorable holiday collection!


As part of the Merry Fluffy Christmas event, BabyLegs has generously offered a prize pack that consists of 2 leg warmers, a pair of tights and a pair of socks (or two pairs of socks for boys). This prize pack is valued at approximately $50. Since they do not currently ship to Canada, this giveaway will be limited to residents in the U.S. (Sorry, Canada!)


If you'd like to show BabyLegs some sponsor love, you can connect with them here:

BabyLegs Facebook Fan Page
BabyLegs on Twitter

Check back on December 5 for details on how to enter the Merry Fluffy Christmas with BabyLegs giveaway.

Today I announce the fourth sponsor in the Merry Fluffy Christmas blogmania event - MotherofaSale.com! It is a one-stop discount shopping site that is aimed at moms who want the best brands for the best prices. At MotherofaSale.com, you can save between 40% to 80% on their deal of the day. Today's Sale is 50% off Agoo Tushie Huggers, an innovative 2-in-1 ensemble which is great for your Active little one. Agoo is the makers of kids active wear for children ages 0-9 years and also a sponsor of the Merry Fluffy Christmas event here on Toronto Teacher Mom.



As part of the Merry Fluffy Christmas event, Mother of a Sale has generously offered a $50 gift voucher valid on their site. This can be used towards any purchase and if you keep your eyes peeled, I have seen them offer Fuzzibunz diapers in the past. This gift voucher will be the fourth prize up for grabs and the giveaway will begin on December 4.

If you'd like to show Mother of a Sale some sponsor love, you can connect with them here:

Mother of a Sale Facebook Fan Page
Mother of a Sale on Twitter

Check back on December 4 for details on how to enter the Merry Fluffy Christmas with Mother of a Sale giveaway.

This week, I have another couple of giveaways that are ending so I'm opening up another thumbnail linky. I invite you to link up any giveaway you have that is ending this week and enter any of the ones that caught your interest. I will be adding the html code if you'd like to include the linky on your blog as well.

PS. Only three weeks left until Christmas vacation! (Grinning from ear to ear.)

As part of the Merry Fluffy Christmas event, CSN Stores has offered to sponsor one of the giveaways here on Toronto Teacher Mom. CSN Stores offer an incredibly extensive variety of items from baby furniture to lighting, kitchen items to sling backpacks. Whatever you're looking for, you can probably find it in one of their 200+ online stores.

I first came across CSN Stores about a year ago and was able to host a giveaway for an item from their CSN Baby store. They offered a really great shipping policy on items that were guaranteed to arrive before Christmas. I also recently discovered that they are among the 650 online stores scouted by Bing.ca for their Bing Shopping comparison site, which not only compares the best prices but also the best discounts, shipping and cross border duty charges, as well as a unique deal rating system.  CSN Stores also sells products that are organic and also offers Energy Star rated, eco-friendly and "green" products.

As part of the Merry Fluffy Christmas event, CSN Stores has offered to give away a $40 one-time use gift code that can be used to use towards a cloth diapers purchase. This will be the third prize up for grabs and it will begin on December 3, 2010. Come back on that day for details on how to enter the Merry Fluffy Christmas with CSN Stores giveaway.

If you'd like to show CSN Stores some sponsor love, you can connect with them here:

CSN Stores on Twitter
CSN Stores on Facebook

One of my favourite things to do during the holidays is play board games with the family. This holiday season, I'll have more of an opportunity to play more Trivial Pursuit: Bet You Know It and now, so will one of my readers. There were 172 entries in the Trivial Pursuit giveaway and Random.org has returned the following number:


This means that the winner of the Trivial Pursuit: Bet You Know It board game is:

154. Mom vs. the boys said... http://twitter.com/theonlygirl/status/7833976982994944
daily tweet

Congratulations! I will be emailing you soon. Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway and all those who tweeted and followed. I would also like to thank Hasbro Canada for sponsoring the giveaway as well. Please remember that there are still a couple of giveaways left with a few more to come. Currently, you can still enter to win one of two Scotch-Brite gift packs (each valued at approximately $50) as well as a Johnson's Baby Care gift basket which includes some of their new Naturals line.

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Today I announce the next sponsor in the Merry Fluffy Christmas Event here on Toronto Teacher Mom - EcoMom. This wonderful company aims to link the health of our environment to the health of our children by offering a wide array of affordable eco-conscious and organic products. They offer products related to healthy eating, bath and body, toys and books and are geared towards mom, baby and the home. With an easy-to-navigate website full of adorable baby pictures, browsing their site makes for a pleasant and informative experience.

I had a chance to review some of their organic baby food and kid snacks as well as a pair of organic cotton training pants. They have a wonderful variety of products that you'll be sure to find something to suit your fancy.

As part of the Merry Fluffy Christmas event, EcoMom has kindly offered to give away a prize pack consisting of a gDiapers Little gPants (in the winner's choice of size) as well as some Episencial diaper cream (total ARV is $28.00). This will be the second prize up for grabs and it will begin on December 2, 2010. Come back on that day for details on how to enter the Merry Fluffy Christmas with EcoMom giveaway.

If you'd like to show EcoMom some sponsor love, you can connect with them here:
Eco Mom on Twitter
Eco Mom on Facebook




But wait! EcoMom is currently offering customers the chance to win their entire purchase from now until November 29, as well as a donation of equal value to a shelter in conjunction with Baby2Baby.

Interesting
          Details About The Event: 

Thank you to everyone who participated and shared some fabulous brushing tips for kids. I wish I had read these when I had my first child. There are some pretty creative ideas! And now, one lucky reader will get a Philips Sonicare for Kids Toothbrush along with a sample of Aquafresh toothpaste as part of this blog tour via Mom Central Canada. And the winner is...

11. C said... Wow! What a wonderful, wonderful post. I can appreciate your wish for your children, as I am an educator as well.


As for my toothbrush tips, I have to say that I started Little One early. I got her used to the toothbrush even before her teeth were fully out! She actually liked the sensation of the toothbrush on her gums when she was teething! LOL! Now, she is the one who comes to ME and asks for her toothbrush. The kid LOVES brushing her teeth...and she only just turned 2!

Congratulations, C! I will be sending you an email shortly! To all my wonderful readers, be sure to check out my growing linky list of giveaways ending this week. There are a bunch already listed that are open to US residents, too!

When sitting down to write this post, I felt the need to include a disclosure up front. You see, I am not a food blogger. I am not even close to being a food expert of any kind. All I know is what I like, and what I like is Menchie's Frozen Yogurt.


A few weeks ago, Mary Luz Mejia from Sizzling Communications invited me to attend an event called Blogurtfest to take place at the new Menchie's on Bloor St. With the opportunity to try some delicious frozen yogurt and to finally meet Mary Luz in person, how could I afford to say no? I was originally planning on taking my daughter with me, but I was kind of glad that I didn't. There were 15 blogger teams crammed into a small dining area and an anxious little 5 year old might have driven me bonkers. Speaking of insanity, the endless number of possible combinations of creamy yogurt and delectable toppings was enough to drive me crazy.


Clearly, I was out of my league. Many bloggers in attendance already had a flavour combination in mind. At least one of the bloggers had attended the opening day, so this was not his first sampling. I, on the other hand, decided to try pretty much every flavour of frozen yogurt and a mish-mash of ingredients. Our mission: to explore strange new toppings, to seek out new flavours and new combinations, to boldly go where no blogger has gone before. (Cue Star Trek theme song.) Oddly enough, my Canadian Yo-Jita medley was out of this world. But not in a good way. You see, our concoctions were judged by a panel of food specialists which included Adell Shneer and Anabelle Waugh from Canadian Living. When they began to stifle their giggles and widen their eyes upon sampling my strange creation, I sunk into my chair knowing mine was probably the worst of the bunch. Perhaps the Piña Colada and Irish Mint yogurt topped with roasted coconut could have been passable but I did the unthinkable and added some other toppings, which shall remain nameless. I should have stuck with my instincts and prepared a chocolate based yogurt with caramelly and chocolatey toppings. Cause if there's anything I do know, it's chocolate.



In the end, I was so grateful to have been able to take part in the first ever Menchie's hosted Blogurtfest. So I didn't win the iPod Shuffle with a grand prize winning Tropical Thunder, but I did leave with a happy tummy. And I did get to meet some fabulous and inspiring foodies. I also bumped into Carrie from KitchenVixen.ca and her beautiful babe Xander, who was such a well-behaved little guest and made me regret not bringing my kids. They would have loved to have seen Menchie the Mascot!

Menchie's is definitely a great place for a yummy treat. The cost is calculated by weight so you need to be careful. I saw a couple weigh in both of their large cups and end up paying a total of over $18. My suggestion is to go with the smaller cup or go easy on the topics. The frozen yogurt is so delicious on its own. Plus, the toppings rotate so you can visit each day and still come up with a totally unique combination each time. My favourite feature is that they use real milk instead of powdered bases and it contains healthful live and active cultures. They also offer fat-free, Kosher, no sugar added, gluten-free and calorie-reduced options so everyone can enjoy the palate-pleasing sensation that is Menchie's.

For a list of other bloggers in attendance, check out Chronicles of a Food Junkie which also includes her review of the Bloor St. location and some fantastic photos as well as links to her reviews of other fro-yo shops in the US and Montreal.

About a year ago, I was approached to review some cleaning products here on Toronto Teacher Mom. When an extra large box arrived at my door full of the stuff, I thought I was one lucky gal. So I shared some with family and members of my staff. Since then, I have had numerous opportunities to test out a wide variety of products and attend special events. Really, I consider myself quite lucky. Because there are people out there, both young and old, who don't even know where their next meal is coming from.

If you've been following my blog, then you know I am a supporter of Me to We. Our school is trying to raise enough funds to complete our goal, which is to adopt a village in Kenya. And we hope to achieve this goal by the end of this school year. To help expedite the process, I decided to take advantage of the perks of being a blogger and use a product I received for testing as a raffle prize among my staff. It was a Kobo eReader. And as much as it was hard to part with such a neat little gadget, it made me smile knowing that we raised nearly enough money to buy a cow for our village. Yes, a cow. Just one animal can be an incredible source of income and livelihood for the people of Kenya. Because they, too, struggle to feed the hungry.

What else makes me smile? The act of sharing makes me smile. Whether it be a material object, a hug or a useful tip, it gives me great pleasure when people reach out and connect on a human level. It's the reward of sending out good karma, the idea of paying it forward, that can touch the lives of people you've never met. And who knows, maybe karma will grant you the good fortune of one day meeting these very kind and giving people, like Sherrie who, after coming across one of my tweets, shared an important tip when our family was staying at Great Wolf Lodge this summer. When I finally met this lovely lady from Ottawa, it brought a huge smile to my face to be able to thank her in person. She has one of those smiles that makes you want to smile, too.

And so I introduce you to the Snack Pack Share a Smile Campaign. With the goal of raising $20,000 for Food Banks Canada in time for the holidays, Snack Pack will donate $1 to Food Banks Canada each and every time you share a smile with a friend. And, to add an extra smile to your day, you are also entered to win a great weekly prize from Sony. Every day for the next 10 weeks there will be a new idea for different ways to enjoy a smile with a Snack Pack. Indulge in a little afternoon fun and accept the challenge. It's so easy to take part in the Snack Pack Share a Smile Campaign and raise funds that will help feed the hungry. Simply log onto Facebook, like the Snack Pack Canada page, Share a Smile and a $1 donation will be made on your behalf to Food Banks Canada. You can also opt to Share a Smile and Snack Pack will make the donation on behalf of one of your Facebook friends. You will then be given the option to register for the contest and receive a ballot into their weekly prize draw. Plus, you’ll earn a point towards one of the fun Smile badges! Remember, the more often you smile, the more donations, ballots and badge points you’ll collect. It’s no surprise that Smiling everyday would have its perks.

To find out more about Snack Pack products (including Juicy Gels and low-fat puddings), visit them at snackpackcanada.ca/.

If you’d like to join me in spreading the message on Twitter, feel free to use the hashtag #SnackPackSmile.

And don't forget to smile. It's contagious!

Disclosure - I am participating in the Snack Pack program by Mom Central on behalf of Conagra Foods Canada. I received a gift card as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

This week, I have a couple of giveaways that are ending so I thought I would open up a linky for any other giveaways in the blogosphere that are also ending this week. Feel free to link up your giveaway and enter any of the ones that caught your eye. I will be adding the html code if you'd like to include the linky on your blog as well.

PS. Only four weeks left until Christmas vacation! (Enter beaming smile here.)

I don't know about you, but I am a huge fan of Grey's Anatomy. After my dear husband purchased an iPhone for me, it wasn't long before I bought the first season of Grey's Anatomy for high definition viewing on my sweet new gadget. And today  I'm excited to share with you this week's lineup of guests on Canada AM which includes Kevin McKidd, Justin Chambers, Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. But that's not it. Check out who else will be on the show this week (from the press release):

• KEVIN McKIDD: Bev talks to the GREY’S ANATOMY hunk and goes behind the scenes of Seattle Grace Mercy Hospital
• PAUL HAGGIS: talks about issues of “faith, trust and disbelief” in his new movie, The Next Three Days.

• JUSTIN CHAMBERS: Bev finds out what’s in store for the former fashion model and GREY’S ANATOMY star.
• SMART COOKIES: tips for planning holiday budgets
• JANN ARDEN: performs from her new album ‘Spotlight’.

• CHANDRA WILSON and JAMES PICKENS JR.: deliver details on upcoming episodes of GREY’S ANATOMY.
• KT TUNSTALL: performs from her recently released album ‘Tiger Suit.”

• SALMAN RUSHDIE: discusses his second children’s book Luka and the Fire of Life.
• THE CANADIAN TENORS: perform and talk about the American release of their Christmas album ‘A Perfect Gift.’
• HAPPY BIRTHDAY BANFF: Jeff celebrates the 125^th birthday of one of Canada’s national treasures.

• THE GREY CUP: Jeff is in Edmonton checking out the preparations.
• RICHARD CROUSE: reviews weekend movies
• LIAM NEESON: talks to Marci about filming The Next Three Days.
• JON MONTGOMERY: Discusses his upcoming Discovery Channel special BEST TRIP EVER
• ALSO: dogs are on parade with a dog fashion show.

It's that time of year again. Winter will be soon upon us along with the dreaded cold and flu season. This probably means that you will be visiting the doctor more often than you'd like. But before you do, you might first like to check out http://www.ontario.ca/healthcareoptions. This site contains information on where to find health care nearby. They have also created a series of YouTube videos to better illustrate how you can navigate the health care system and be more prepared during those times when you unexpectedly need to turn to health care. Here are three videos that you might find useful:

Your Ontario Health Care Options - Intro - Kevin Finnerty, Executive Director, Communications and Information Branch of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care explains how the site can help you and your family make better health care decisions.
Website Walkthrough -  This video demonstrates how you can use the site.
Sharing Features and Mobile Enabled -  In this video, Finnerty discusses the sharing and mobile-enabled features of www.ontario.ca/healthcareoptions.

Hopefully, you won't have a need to find health care this season. No one likes being sick. But I do like knowing that the Ministry of Health has jumped on the IT bandwagon and made it a lot easier for us to find health care in our neighbourhood. Have you already referenced their site? Let me know how useful it was for you and I would be more than happy to share your feedback with the Communications and Information team.

Here's to a happy and healthy holiday season!

On the evening of International Argyle Day, I am announcing the winner of the Argyle Agoo Leggings giveaway. There were 113 entries over the past two weeks and I plugged that number into Random.org to determine tonight's winner.


Congratulations goes to...

44. Dianne said...

Daily Tweet http://twitter.com/wowcheckitout/status/1845261617860609

8 November, 2010 10:55 PM 

You will be receiving an email shortly. To everyone who participated, you can still save 40% off your next purchase at Agoo4u.com by using the promotional code dinomania40. And don't forget to join in the fun during the Merry Fluffy Christmas event where you can win over $3000 worth of cloth diaper and related prizes. Agoo Leggings is graciously sponsoring Day 1 of the event here on Toronto Teacher Mom with a $50 gift voucher!

Today I announce the first sponsor in the Merry Fluffy Christmas blogmania event - Agoo Apparel! They are the makers of kids active wear for children ages 0-9 years. One of my favourite features of Agoo is their line of bamboo clothing and leggings. It is an eco-friendly, breathable material that has wick-away, non-irritating, anti-bacterial and odor resistant characteristics. It also washes incredibly well. I had a chance to review their Tushie Huggers and my son loves them, they're so comfortable.


Agoo is also the maker of Agoo Leggings, which are all about being fashionable and functional. They are designed to fit perfectly over baby's legs, providing warmth and added protection from scrapes and abrasions for the crawling toddler in your home. These leggings range in sizes from age 0 to any age and coordinate with their existing apparel. And because they're still made using luxurious 100% sustainable bamboo fibers, they stretch easily or can be scrunched up for tiny babies, making them quite versatile and helping you to stretch your dollar. You can even wear them on your arms!


As part of the Merry Fluffy Christmas event, Agoo has generously offered a $50 gift voucher valid at Agoo4u.com. This will be the first prize up for grabs and the giveaway will begin on December 1.

Also, today is the last day to enter the International Argyle Day giveaway here on Toronto Teacher Mom which includes 3 pairs of their oh-so-cute argyle leggings.

If you'd like to show Agoo some sponsor love, you can connect with them here:

Agoo Facebook Fan Page
Agoo Leggings Facebook Fan Page
Agoo Apparel on Twitter
Agoo Baby Leggings on Twitter

Check back on December 1 for details on how to enter the Merry Fluffy Christmas with Agoo giveaway.

Happy International Argyle Day!

When I think back to my childhood, I distinctly remember how much I dreaded washing my hair and the soap stinging my eyes. I also recall using a bubble bath that would turn the water a deep blue and had a potent scent that would sting the nostrils. This was before the terms "natural" and "green" became a regular part of our consumer vocabulary. Now, the market has become inundated or "green washed," as they say. You can find natural products everywhere you turn. So the question is, how do you determine which products are most trustworthy? Well, if you are among those moms who have trusted the Johnson's Brand and their dedication to baby care for the past 100+ years, then you will be happy to know that they now have a new Johnson's Natural baby skin care line.

Johnson's Natural states that every ingredient in their natural line of products "meets or exceeds the guidelines set forth by the Natural Products Association." In fact, all of the Johnson's Natural products are at least 98% natural, with the remaining 2% dedicated to preserving their gentle formula.

In addition, the Johnson's Natural Brand has made a commitment to preserve the earth's natural resources by using product packaging that contains up to 60% post-consumer recycled materials. They also support growth and use of sustainable palm oil, and use natural ingredients derived from sustainable plant and fruit sources. You can also read more on their Healthy Planet 2010 goals to be the most environmentally friendly company in the world.


Our family was fortunate to try three products from the Johnson's Natural line: Baby Shampoo, Head-to-Toe Family Body Wash and Body Lotion. In general, I found these products to be very gentle and effective in cleansing my son's hair. And, while I appreciate that Johnson's has used their ALLERFREE fragrance, which is completely free from known allergens and irritating essential oils, I am not a huge fan of the flower essences combined with powdery and vanilla scents. It is a personal preference, however, the fragrance is subtle enough that I have gotten used to it. My son doesn't notice it at all. He does love the foaming body wash and takes great pride in washing himself. It is so foamy and creamy in texture that I would use it on myself! The body wash is definitely my favourite of the three.


For your first entry, which is mandatory, share a tip on making bathtime fun. Leave a comment on this post along with a way to contact you if you win.

For additional entries, you may choose to do any or all of the following:

• Add my blog button to your website for one entry. If it's located on your sidebar, add a second entry. Copy code is located to the right.
• Become a follower of Toronto Teacher Mom using Google Friend Connect.
• Like the Johnson's Baby Canada Facebook fan page. 
• Like the Toronto Teacher Mom Facebook fan page. 
• Subscribe to this blog by email or in a reader.
• Become a follower of Toronto Teacher Mom on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. Tweet daily for additional entries. Feel free to use the following tweet:  

Contest ends December 6 at 10pm EST. Open to Canadian residents only. Winner will be selected using Random.org and must reply to the notification email within 3 days or a new winner will be drawn.

Raise your hand if you have children and they have already come home from school with a terrible cough. Yup. That's what I thought. It seems hard to escape these days. Oftentimes, it seems like they never really get rid of it entirely. And it can be frustrating trying to figure out how to make your child feel more comfortable when he or she ends up coughing the night away. That's why I'm grateful for ZarBee's All-Natural Cough Syrup.

ZarBee's is a 100% drug-free cough syrup for children aged 12 months to 12 years and beyond. Developed by pediatrician Dr. Zak Zarbock in 2008, this all-natural cough syrup came from a need to find a safe and effective way to provide cough relief in children. This need became especially apparent after the FDA determined it unsafe to administer drug-based cough syrups to children under age 4 that same year.


My Thoughts

Here are the reasons why I like ZarBee's cough syrup for my children:

• It is made from pure honey blended with buckwheat and wildflower and contains only 6 ingredients.
• It is safe and can be given to infants as young as 12 months.
• It is effective and can be used to treat coughs due to colds or allergies as well as to soothe sore throats.

In my experience, ZarBee's has worked well with my two children, aged 2 and 5. They are finally recovering from a cough and enjoy the taste of ZarBee's cough syrup, even though my daughter's initial response indicated that it was an acquired taste. I tried it and love the natural lemon flavour. My daughter is used to taking homeopathic remedies that are mostly honey-based but she is now used to the lemon flavour. I would definitely recommend ZarBee's cough syrup. I'm just not sure why it is labeled as a dietary supplement.

Where to Buy

You can purchase ZarBee's online through sites like Drugstore.com as well as in store at places like Walgreen's and Whole Foods. You can visit ZarBees.com for a full list of retailers and to download a $1 off coupon.

Connect with ZarBee's

If you're on Facebook, you can join the ZarBee's Facebook fan page. They can also be found on Twitter @ZarBees as well as on YouTube.

Disclosure: This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own. I received a 4 fl.oz. bottle of ZarBee's Cough Syrup to facilitate this review. 

In addition to the sponges, I was able to test out a variety of other cleaning supplies including Scotch-Brite's Kitchen Microfiber Cloths. I had not tried them before and wish I had. I love them! They are ultra absorbent and easy to rinse and wring. I really like that they dry quickly, too, unlike the standard cloths I use that end up building a funky stink within a day or two. I give these Scotch-Brite cloths two clean thumbs up!


Dirty Little Secrets Contest

Scotch-Brite is inviting Canadians to share their dirty little secrets for a chance to win weekly prizes valued at $50 and the Ultimate Household Cleaning Gift Basket from 3M Scotch-Brite which includes a $250 gift card from Wal-Mart! That's over a $300 value! Entering is easy. Just visit www.dirtylittlesecrets.ca and leave a secret or tip for cleaning. Contest ends November 24, 2010 and there are currently 8 weekly prize packs up for grabs. Here are some tips sharing by real fellow Canadians in the Dirty Little Secrets Contest:


And if that wasn't enough, I get to give away TWO Scotch-Brite prize packs right here on Toronto Teacher Mom valued at approximately $50 each!


You can find Scotch-Brite products at a variety of stores including Loblaws, Shoppers Drugmart and Zellers. Visit the 3M Scotch-Brite site for a full list of retailers.
Two readers will each win a prize pack containing similar items as the ones I received for review which came in a handy reusable eco-friendly tote.  (ARV $50 each)

For you first entry, visit DirtyLittleSecrets.ca and tell me which product you'd love to try. Leave a comment on this post with a way to contact you if you win.

For additional entries, you may choose to do any or all of the following:

• Add my blog button to your website for one entry. If it's located on your sidebar, add a second entry. Copy code is located to the right.
• Become a follower of Toronto Teacher Mom using Google Friend Connect.
• Like the Scotch-Brite Facebook fan page for one entry. Leave a comment on their wall telling them I sent you and you can get a second bonus entry.
• Like the Toronto Teacher Mom Facebook fan page. 
• Subscribe to this blog by email or in a reader.
• Become a follower of Toronto Teacher Mom on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. Tweet daily for additional entries. Feel free to use the following tweet:  

Contest ends November 30 at 9 pm EST. Open to Canadian residents only. Winner will be selected using Random.org and must reply to the notification email within 3 days or a new winner will be drawn.

In case you didn't notice the link to my craft blog, you may want to head on over to Diana's Designs Blog to check out some of my latest greeting cards that I made using my beloved Cricut Expression. The latest post is on one of my all-time favourite cards, a Tracy Gough inspired Ampersand card that I made for my friend of 27 years who just recently got married. (See the snippet to the left.) I also have links to some other fabulous and super talented crafters who I have come to admire over the last few years, including Tracy's Scrap Happens. I wish I had but an ounce of her creativity...

From the low entries on the Royal Canin Natural Cat Food giveaway, I'm guessing that not too many of my readers own a cat. LOL! Anyway, I get to select two winners out of the 24 entries and here they are:


Congratulations to...

10. Glogirl said... I learned that Vitamin C is "generally non-essential in dogs and cats" but "it is important to provide vitamin C in the food when the animal’s liver cannot produce enough."

17. Annie1 said... http://twitter.com/greeeneyedwhwom/status/2984842555817984

I will be sending you both an email soon. Please reply within 3 days of receiving the email in order to claim your prize.

Thanks to all who entered and thanks to Royal Canin for sponsoring this giveaway!

As a French teacher, I often get asked by parents and friends with kids if they should enroll their children in French immersion. I find myself wondering the same thing now that my daughter is in kindergarten. In fact, we nearly enrolled her in a private French school last year but I backed out at the last minute. Did I make a mistake? I'm not sure.

You see, I'm not from Toronto. I never thought that in a million years I would ever live here. But then I met my husband and gave up my hometown. We found out we were pregnant just a couple of months after getting married and bought a house just before she was born. So many things had happened so quickly, I don't feel like I ever really adjusted. I've been living here for over 6 years and I'm still struggling to feel like I fit in, like I belong. I know people who have immediate family and friends overseas, and that it must be really difficult for them not to be able to take a short car ride to visit them. But it still makes me sad that I don't live closer to my family and childhood friends. It makes me sad when I think how very little time my kids get to spend with their only cousin or their maternal grandparents. It makes me so sad that I sometimes burst out into a helpless ball of sobs and seemingly endless tears. And yes, I'm sobbing right now.

As part of the Aquafresh Advanced Futures blog tour with Mom Central Canada, I have been asked to share my hopes and aspirations for my children's future. And as much as I'd like to say that I want to give my son and daughter the best education that money can buy, I won't. That would be too easy. Instead, I want the peace of mind in knowing that my children will be raised and educated in a community where they feel like they belong and with which they have a connection. So while I sometimes wonder if denying my first-born a private and "higher" education was in her best interests, I feel more reassured in my decision when I see the bonds that had been forged in her preschool years are growing stronger as she continues into grade school. I can breathe a sigh of relief as I witness my daughter's emerging personality traits and her definition of self becoming clearer. I feel justified knowing that I didn't disrupt her sense of comfort and belonging by breaking the links of relationships and familiar places.

So, to answer the question, I want more for my kids than to lead long, healthy lives. I want them to have more than a bright future. What I want is for my children to grow up with determination, a strong sense of self-worth and the skills to be critical thinkers. I want them to follow their dreams and let nothing hold them back. Whether it's becoming a teacher like their mother, learning how to trade stocks in the market or join the likes of Craig and Marc Kielburger to help less fortunate kids realize dreams of their own, I want them to not feel rushed or pressured but rather to be one hundred per cent certain that the paths they take are the ones they themselves yearn to follow.

What about you? What kind of future do YOU want for your kids?


Share your wish by visiting www.aquafresh.ca/contest for a chance to WIN a $10,000 RESP, courtesy of new Aquafresh Advanced! Wouldn't that come in handy? I know I'm a little late in sharing this with you but the contest doesn't close until November 30, 2010, so you still have plenty of time to enter.

But wait, I get to give away an Aquafresh Advanced prize pack to one of my readers, too. Up for grabs is a Philips Sonicare for Kids Toothbrush ($70 MSRP) and a sample of Aquafresh Advanced toothpaste. All you need to do to be entered in the giveaway is simple share a toothbrushing tip or trick for kids, such as make it a habit by including it in your routine and brushing for at least two minutes.

Contest is open to Canadian residents and closes on November 22 at 9 pm. Participants can enter on multiple blogs throughout this blog tour but are only eligible to win once.


Disclosure - I am participating in the Aquafresh Advanced Futures program by Mom Central on behalf of GSK. I received a sample of Aquafresh Advanced and gift card as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

This week, I have decided to participate in Wordless Wednesday after coming across the post of one of my newest blogging buddies Tara from Tara's View of the World. I chose to dedicate this post to a fallen Canadian hero, who happens to be the brother of one of the nicest ladies I have ever had the pleasure of working with.

Sgt. John Wayne Faught (April 20, 1965 - January 16, 2010)

If you'd like to leave your condolences or share memories, you can sign and view an online guest book at Legacy.com.

More not so Wordless Wednesdays can be found this week at 5 Minutes for Mom.

No, I don't have any pets and no, I have no desire to buy one any time soon. However, many of our friends do and when I read that Royan Canin makes 100% natural pet food for cats and dogs, I just knew I had to enlist the help of my dear friend Sandra for this review. She owns two cats and was sent a Royal Canin Discovery Pack for them to sample. Here is what she had to say (with eloquence, no less!):

The sound of a bag crinkling puts my cats into a state of absolute delight. When I opened the three samples from Royal Canin, and poured each into its respective bowls, my cats just about toppled over each other with excitement. Roxy is especially more rotund and she proceeded to devour the succulent delight in the orange bowl, Protein Preference - a bowl which she nearly devoured as well. Pixie delved into the pink bowl of Savor Sensation and now and again explored the purple one filled with Aromatic Attraction. By the second day the girls had made their preference quite clear: Protein Preference was their winner! Not only are the names delightful, but clearly the flavors are too. Keep in mind, my cats are especially finicky, so I was quite impressed with this product and with how quickly my cats preferred it as opposed to their usual brand. Furthermore, the 100% pure and wholesome ingredients are especially vital not only for the overall health of my cats but also for their outer health as well, i.e., their coat. I’m convinced your cats will enjoy this delectable food as well!

Based on the information I received from Royal Canin, a cat's preference for food is not determined by its sense of taste, unlike us humans, because taste is its least developed sense. Therefore, the actual flavour is less important than the aroma, texture and feeling of satisfaction, and each cat has its own preferences in these regards. Royal Canin has conducted several studies and discovered that there are three main types of cat preferences. As a result, they have developed three meal options.

• Aromatic Attraction for cats who are attracted most to the aroma of their food.
• Savour Sensation for cats who are attracted most to the shape and feel of food in their mouth. 
• Protein Preference for cats who enjoy a feeling of satisfaction after a meal.

If you don't know which one your cat would like, they now offer a discovery pack with samples of all three for your cat to try. And did you know...? Royan Canin was first founded in France in 1967 and  added a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Guelph, Ontario in 2008, reinforcing their commitment to the Canadian pet food market.

The SelectiveTM line for cats are now available in stores across Canada including Pet Valu, Global Pet Foods, Petcetera, Mondou, and several other independent pet stores. The Discovery Pack (which offers samples of each SelectiveTM variety) is available for an MSRP of $5.99, while bags of Aromatic Attraction, Savor Sensation, and Protein Preference range from $18.99 to  $35.99.
Two of my readers will each win a Royal Canin Discovery Pack as well as a coupon for a free large bag of cat food for whichever meal their cat prefers.

For you first entry, which is mandatory, visit their nutrients information page under Nutrition 101 and tell me something you learned. Leave a comment on this post along with a way to contact you if you win.

For additional entries, you may choose to do any or all of the following:

• Become a follower of Toronto Teacher Mom using Google Friend Connect.
• Like the Toronto Teacher Mom Facebook fan page. 
• Subscribe to this blog by email or in a reader.
• Become a follower of Toronto Teacher Mom on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. Tweet daily for additional entries. Feel free to use the following tweet:  

Contest ends November 13 at 9pm EST. Open to Canadian residents only. Winner will be selected using Random.org and must reply to the notification email within 3 days or a new winner will be drawn.

Did you know that November 19 marks International Argyle Day? Who knew? It is the day to show your sophistication and appreciation for Argyle. And to help celebrate, Agoo Leggings is offering my readers a savings of 40% off. You can get three adorable leggings styles for $18.00. That means you save $12 per pack. Simply use the code argyle40off at checkout. This code is valid from now until the end of November. Wouldn't these leggings make a cute Christmas gift?

Also, Agoo has generously offered to give one of my readers a pack of 3 Argyle Bamboo Leggings. All you need to do to enter is leave a comment on this post telling me who you would give the leggings to, along with a way to contact you if you win.

For bonus entries, you may choose to do any or all of the following:

• Like the Agoo Leggings Facebook page and leave a comment on their wall. (Two entries.)
• Follow Agoo Apparel on Twitter.
• Become a follower of Toronto Teacher Mom using Google Friend Connect.
• Like the Toronto Teacher Mom Facebook fan page. 
• Subscribe to this blog by email or in a reader.
• Become a follower of Toronto Teacher Mom on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. Tweet daily for additional entries. Feel free to use the following tweet:  

So go ahead and get sophisticated! Contest ends on November 19, at 9 pm EST.

When I was first pregnant, I remember always scouting the best deals on baby items, namely diapers. I found myself comparing prices and feeling a little overwhelmed trying to take advantage of the best sales. The problem was, having just moved to the big city that is Toronto, I didn't know where all these stores were located or the best routes to get there. It was a frustration that I could do without. Instead, I decided to stick with a loyalty problem that worked for me - Shoppers Drug Mart's Optimum program. Once the baby arrived, I found I could take advantage of their sales and combine it with coupons while also saving up reward points to be redeemed for future savings. Plus, it was easy to find a Shoppers Drug Mart nearby or one that was open 24 hours. A few years later, they added the Shoppers Drug Mart v.i.b. program and who doesn't love additional perks?


This month, as part of the Shoppers Drug Mart v.i.b. blog tour with Mom Central Canada, I get to share with you some of the perks of joining the very important baby program. Upon arrival of a new baby, v.i.b. moms are sent a New Baby welcome kit which includes samples of Huggies wipes and their new Pure and Natural organic diapers, Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash, Aveeno Fragrance Free Daily Lotion with Natural Colloidal Oatmeal, Johnson's Baby Wash and a really cute "v.i.b. It's all about me" cotton bib. In addition, each v.i.b. member receives updates on exclusive Optimum offers, hot deals on baby products and life stage relevant information via e-newsletter. Also, sign up to be a v.i.b. member between November 3rd and December 1st and you could win one of fifty $50 Shoppers Drug Mart gift cards*! PLUS as a new member, you'll receive 2500 points the next time you purchase any Pampers diaper products! Enter this exclusive v.i.b. contest today!

* NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Visit www.shoppersdrugmart.ca/babycontest for full contest details and information on how to enter without a purchase. Approximate retail value of prize is $50. Chances of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Correct answer to skill-testing question required to be declared a winner. Must be a Canadian resident and age of majority or older in province or territory of residence. Valid Shoppers Optimum Card® required to participate. Contest ends December 1st, 2010.

Disclosure: I am participating in the Shoppers Drug Mart v.i.b program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of Shoppers Drug Mart. I received a gift card and a new baby gift pack as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.