Okay, I'm ready to hit the hay. But not before I announce the winner of the Dinosaur Train pyjama giveaway. There were a total of 20 entries into this giveaway but because the numbering system with Disqus also numbers replies to comments, there are actually 21 comments since I had left a reply. In order to maintain the odds of 1 in 20, I will draw a random number up to 20 and just count the comments accordingly. Have I lost you yet?

Here is the winning number:


Congratulations to Amanda N.

I will be emailing you soon. Thanks to everyone who entered and tweeted. Hope you have a terrific Tuesday!

This just in: Toronto Teacher Mom readers love summer the best. And that includes myself. Granted, only 13 people in total voted and while fall came up as the second most popular season, it's interesting to note that winter is the least popular.

Of course, it's pretty obvious that summer is my favourite season simply because I get two luxurious months off work to spend with my kids. But I also love going for walks and taking the kids to the park. And though I do enjoy winter activities, I detest the freezing weather, let alone all the colds that tend to come with it.

What about you? What's your favourite season and why?

Check out this amazing deal on Agoo Tushie Huggers. By purchasing three Tushie Huggers packs, you'll pay only $16.95 each. If you buy three Tushie Huggers bottoms, you pay $10 a piece or pay only $8.35 each when you buy three Tushie Huggers tops. Check out their newest line of Tushie Huggers today! While supplies last.

Also, I just noticed that if you share this deal via Facebook or if you blog about it, you will get up to two entries in the Agoo giveaway which consists of 3 pairs of Tushie Huggers. Yay! Check out the Agoo Facebook fan page for more details.

The other day, Peggy Kotsopoulos spoke at a media event which took place at the Life Choices Natural Foods headquarters in downtown Toronto. During her presentation, we learned a wealth of information including ways to sweeten foods the natural way and how to add lean protein and Omega-3's to your child's meals without them even realizing it. Peggy probably spoke for a mere half-hour, but she shared so many important and interesting facts that my head is still spinning. You may have seen her on television recently making guest appearances on both Breakfast Television and CBC's Stephen and Chris show. If you've ever watched any of the t.v. segments, you will know what I mean when I say that her passion and knowledge of holistic nutrition became quite evident within the first few minutes. In this post, I will do my best to impart the wisdom she shared with us that day.

Things I Learned From Peggy:

• One cup of juice contains about 25 grams of sugar which is more than half the daily consumption.
• White breads convert to sugar in the body. While breads made with whole grains are good, sprouted grains are much better.
• Correction: I have been informed by the Canadian Aqua Industry Alliance that the following statement is incorrect: "Wild fish is better than farmed fish. Did you know that farmed salmon are fed hormones which turn their flesh white? The farmers thus inject them with food colouring to maintain its 'natural' colour." It was not my intention to present any misleading information, but merely to retell a statement that had been made.
• Yellow dye #5 has been linked to ADHD in children and has been shown to be a major cause of allergies.
• The state of Florida is the only state that is still allowed to add food dye to their oranges! (Yes, I was just as surprised by this disturbing fact.)
• Sprouts contain up to 600 times more nutrients than spinach. Amazing, isn't it? We sampled sunflower sprouts and they really do taste like sunflower seeds!
• Coconut butter/oil is actually good for you because it will not be stored in your body as fat due to quick absorption by the small intestine. It also has a high smoke point which means it won't break down in high heat as, let's say, olive oil. The latter should be reserved for light sauteing or to dress foods after they have been cooked.
• One or two Brazil nuts a day can help boost your spirits since they help to raise serotonin levels.
• (Corrected since original publication of this post.) In general, we need to keep the ratio of Omega 6:3 to 2:1. Thanks for pointing that out, Peggy!
• Chia seeds are great to have on hand and Savi seeds are the next big thing in terms of power foods.
• When cocoa powder is made from the cacao bean, the remainder is mostly fat (called cocoa butter, I think) and is used to make white 'chocolate'. Um... yuck.

Learning about simple food substitutions at Life Choices headquarters.

I am so grateful for this opportunity to meet Peggy and sample some of the delicious products from Life Choices Foods. It has impacted the way I think about food and Peggy's enthusiasm has made me all excited to try new things in the kitchen. Not only is she a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, she is passionate about sharing her insights and helping children to eat healthier diets and is also a Certified Health Educator. And by the way, we took the family shopping at the Big Carrot today to find a batch of sunflower sprouts, which we added to our lunch, and bought a jar of coconut butter, which happened to be on sale. Yay!

Chocolate mousse with pumpkin purée.

Peggy also showed us some really easy recipes such as a chocolate mousse made with pumpkin purée, cocoa powder and maple syrup. She also has a recipe for a chocolate avocado pudding.  I love her suggestion to use coffee extract for a mocha version or hazelnut butter to make 'nutella'. Yum!

My favourite dish was her mini-mac muffins using whole wheat shells with flax and white cheddar by Life Choices. It was super tasty and filled with wholesome natural goodness. They can also be frozen for future meals and make for a great addition to your child's lunchbox. Here is Peggy's recipe:

Mini-Mac Muffins

Who doesn't LOVE mac n' cheese? This take on a kid-friendly staple is a guaranteed hit! You can have the ease and convenience of traditional mac n' cheese without all the artificial ingredients and food dyes (in particular, yellow dye #5 which is linked to ADHD in children). This baked mac n' cheese blends in puréed cauliflower for extra creaminess, ground chia seeds for an even greater boost in brain power and colourful veggies, including red peppers and zucchini. AND they are baked right in individual portions in muffin tins, making them an easy and portable lunch-box winner! Serve with raw veggie sticks and dip, such as hummus.

Makes: 6 Mini-Mac Muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg Life Choices Whole Wheat Shells with Flax & White Cheddar
• 1cup greek yogurt  
• 1 cup pureed cauliflower (see recipe below) 
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 
• 2 tbsp ground chia seeds 
• 2 tbsp milk 
• 1 small sweet red pepper, diced 
• 1cup zucchini, grated
• 3 oz cheddar cheese, finely grated

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease xx muffin cups; set aside.
2. In saucepan of boiling water, cook Life Choices Whole Wheat Shells as per package instructions; drain and return to pot.  
3. Stir in cheese mix from package, along with yogurt and extra virgin olive oil. 
4. Stir in chia seeds and milk. 
5. Stir in cauliflower purée, red pepper and zucchini. 
6. Spoon into prepared muffin cups; sprinkle with cheese. 
7. Bake until set and cheese is bubbly, about 20 minutes. Let cool in pan on rack for 10 minutes.
8. Wearing oven mitt to hold pan, run knife around muffins to loosen and lift
   out. 

For cauliflower purée:

1. Chop and steam 1 small head of cauliflower until tender 
2. Add cooked cauliflower to food processor or blender along with 2 tbsp
   each extra virgin olive oil.
3. Blend until pureed.

Tip: This also makes a great substitute for mashed potato.

Peggy suggested another fabulous idea to make your own Rob the Hotdog Kebobs using sweet pepper, tomatoes, pineapple and Life Choices hot dogs, which, thankfully, do not contain those nasty cancer-causing nitrates. I really like this idea because the kids can easily join in the fun and make their own.


Other ideas included:

Funny Face Organic Whole Grain Pizzas

Greek Yogurt Parfait chock-full of protein

You can read Peggy's recent article called "What's in Your Kid's Lunchbox?" on the Life Choices website. You can also find plenty of other recipes to try while you're there.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Life Choices for sponsoring the event as well as providing us with a couple of bags full of their delicious products.


And also, I would like to thank Peggy Kotsopoulos for sharing her passion for food and nutrition, and for helping to make a difference in children's health and well-being.

No, I'm not summoning the pee gods in some kind of strange version of the Rain Dance. I'm celebrating that my son, who will be three in May, asked to use the potty Wednesday morning and he did it! He went pee in the potty for the first time in months. And he was so proud of it, too! I wasn't expecting him to do anything so I was pleasantly surprised. He even started singing the Potty Dance song we learned last March. Only he kept singing the first line over, and over, and over...

It's seems like a long time ago since we first pulled out the porto-potty but we never really made a huge effort to get him out of diapers. I think back to when we tried to train our daughter and all the stress and frustration that came with it. Not pleasant. This time, I don't have such high expectations and I'm taking a more laid-back approach. We'll see how it goes.

If you'd like to read my tips on potty training, head over to my Pull-Ups Potty Dance post. I just finished watching the video of my daughter. Isn't she just plain adorable?

Back in December, I shared the news that I would be taking part in a 30-day New Proactiv challenge. I was really excited to try out their new faster and gentler formula and focus on obtaining the clear skin that I always wanted. And I was pretty good for the first two weeks. Then, just before the Christmas holidays, my son fell ill with some type of bug and days later, so did my daughter. This involved a lot of TLC on my part with the occasional midnight bed change. Needless to say, I hardly felt in the mood to follow the 3-step system both in the morning and before bed. I also found it was drying out my skin so I resolved to using it only before bed after the kids had fallen asleep. I probably could have called the Proactiv Skin Care Advisors to discuss the dry skin issue I was experiencing but really, who has the time when one is busy wrapping presents, wiping noses and playing with one's iPad?

The first few weeks showed great results. My skin was smoother and felt clearer. It did a great job with those nasty blackheads, too. But in the midst of all the chaos, I resorted to... dare I say it?... popping pimples. I know what you're thinking: "Eek, gads, woman! Don't pop them!" Believe me, I am just as disgusted by it. It is SO bad because they just end up getting irritated, more infected even. And then I end up picking at them some more. My husband hates that I do it. More than I hate his nasty nail-biting habit. And I really try not to do it. But sometimes, I don't realize that I'm doing it. Or I do, but ignore it anyway. I just want to get rid of them once and for all. You catch my drift?

So, here I am, more than 30 days later, trying to figure out what to write in this post-Proactiv post. Was I being proactive by not using Proactiv as frequently? Not really. But I did enjoy clearer skin for those first few weeks. And then there was always that question in the back of my mind that made me stop and think; Is there any side effect of using a facial product containing benzoyl peroxide? The words themselves sound pretty powerful. Perhaps it's so powerful that it caused my skin to feel drier than normal. I did use the repairing lotion, which helped a bit. Yet, I wonder if I had the Proactiv Green Tea Moisturizer, if that would have helped with the dryness.  Based on the following description, it sounds like a good solution.

What about you? Have you tried the New Proactiv System? How has it worked for you?

Last November, my kids and I had the pleasure of watching a live performance by the marvelous and talented Bobs and Lolo. It was their first time touring Ontario so when the lovely ladies at Mom Central Canada offered us the chance to go, I couldn't say no. We caught them on their last stop in Brampton after they delighted crowds in both Guelph and London. Truth be told, I didn't know many of their songs, aside from the few I recognized from Treehouse. And neither of my children were terribly familiar with them either. It was also the first time that my son, who is 2 years old, had ever attended a live performance of any kind. So I wasn't quite sure how they would react. But after the first song and watching my daughter hopping and a-bopping, I knew that Bobs and Lolo were a hit. My son warmed up to the notion of dancing amidst a crowd of fans by the end of the show, after his initial reaction of wonder and awe wore off. He sat there frozen for the first few songs, not quite certain what to make of it all. But he did come out of his trance a few times to shoot a smile over at me, as if to say, "Wow, mommy! This is pretty cool!"


One of the things that I love about Bobs and Lolo's music is that they teach kids something, whether it be how many legs bugs can have or determining what sea lions eat by looking at their poo. My all-time favourite is a song that teaches about the Canadian Provincial Birds, called "Honk for Canada." I learned that our newest province Nunavut calls the Rock Ptarmigan their provincial bird, but who knew that the Northwest Territories claimed the Gyrfalcon as theirs? Heck, who even knows what a Gyrfalcon looks like? (Don't fret. I'm a teacher of French, not geography, nor zoology.) Plus, the song is just oh, so catchy and fun to sing. I'm wondering if they could do a French rendition. I always love throwing in cross-curricular instruction in my programming and what better way than through song. Right?


By the end of their performance, the kids were all dancing at the edge of the stage and I even caught myself singing along and dancing in the shadows. The songs were so enjoyable and had enough repetition which made it easy to learn the chorus. Shortly after their final song, the audience was able to line up just outside the theatre entrance and have their picture taken with Bobs and Lolo. They were so friendly and happy to spend a few minutes to talk to the kids and give them each a sticker. I couldn't resist leaving with a copy of each of their albums. It was cheaper to buy all three and who can resist a deal? And of course, it's all we listened to on the ride home. And the next day. And the day after that...


Bobs and Lolo have some events confirmed this year taking place in their province of British Columbia and have a new CD release as well as other events in the coming months. They just shared a blog post "Great Expectations" in which they also announce the exciting news that Lolo is expecting her first baby. You can even see the image from her ultrasound where the baby is waving hello!

For more information on Robyn (Bobs) and Lorraine (Lolo), visit BobsandLolo.com. You can print out song lyrics, watch videos, or learn how can you book them for a school performance. If you would like to keep up to date on other Bobs and Lolo news, you can follow them on their Bobs and Lolo Facebook fan page and on Twitter as well @BobsandLolo.

I'd also like to thank Mom Central Canada for providing us with complimentary tickets to the show.

How many of you made New Year resolutions for 2011? And for my next question, how many of those resolutions are related to health and well-being? My experience leads me to believe that the numbers would be quite high. We all want to feel better and look better, too. The problem is that there are so many ideas out there (and by ideas I mean diets) that claim you will lose weight and experience better health. Hence the reason I find it difficult to commit to a resolution that focuses on pounds and inches. I will admit that I have terrible eating habits and that I have put on some weight recently. I feel out of shape and I only have myself to blame for it. So I've decided not to commit myself to the idea of attaining the perfect body, but rather, a healthy body, one that functions as it should. And I have decided to apply some of what I have learned from The Phytozyme Cure.

Written by Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook, The Phytozyme Cure provides detailed information on the healing powers of phytonutrients and enzymes, which can help us to strengthen our immune systems, protect us from disease and yes, even reverse those dreaded signs of aging. With her extensive background in Natural Medicine, Nutritional Consulting, Orthomolecular Health, Acupuncture and Bioenergetic Medicine, Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook paints a concise picture of how phytonutrients and enzymes work, what their individual benefits are and how we can and should take advantage of them. It has taken 20 years of clinical practice for her to be able to use the latest scientific discoveries and provide the tools needed to tackle 30 common health conditions ranging from ADHD/ADD, Alzheimer's, Depression, Diabetes, Ear Infections all the way to Heart Disease.

I think it's important to note that the author, while in her late teens, was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease for which there was no cure. When an unfortunate decision was made by her physician to change her treatment medication, she became severely ill and bedridden, unable to lift her limbs to leave her bed on most days. After consulting several specialists, she was inevitably told that there is no cure for her genetic disease and that she would require medication for the duration of her life. Without it, she would surely die. It wasn't until she forced herself to spend some time outdoors under the sun that she clued in to the healing powers of nature. Today, she has more energy and has dramatically reduced the pain she used to feel. And although she still has her bad days, she has survived the past 16 years without the medication that used to keep her alive.

In The Pytozyme Cure, it becomes clear that enzymes play a crucial role in overall well-being, digestion in particular. I know this is true because I once suffered from serious gallstone pain. It was so bad at one point that I was picked up in an ambulance after calling in my symptoms that sounded like I was having a heart attack. What I was really experiencing was heartburn, indigestion and acid reflux in addition to what felt like constriction around my chest. I couldn't even hold my then one-month old firstborn to nurse her. It was awful. After further examination, it was determined that gallstones were the cause and that I would need to remove my gallbladder. I had experienced several bouts of this pain that I just wanted it to go away. So I went ahead with the surgery. Weeks later, the pain returned and I felt disillusioned. It wasn't until I met with a naturopath that I discovered that I could have avoided surgery altogether. Based on what I had described, he predicted that I was probably deficient in enzymes. After he completed a food intolerance test, he threw in an enzyme test at no charge. I was astonished to find out that of all the major digestive enzymes your body needs, I had but one. That's it. His suggestion? Take a digestive enzyme supplement, which I did for about a month without regret. He also suggested that women should add a pro-biotic to their daily diet as well. So when I read about The 7 Ways to Improve Your Digestion in The Phytozyme Cure, I couldn't help but nod my head in agreement. Needless to say, I will be following the seven steps more closely. I am also planning on re-introduction a digestive enzyme back into my diet once I take a better look at my options. There are a lot of suggestions in the book that after a first read left me feeling a little overwhelmed. I also plan on being more conscious of what I eat and will aim to consume a larger variety of fruits and vegetables in a range of colours each day in order to experience the benefit of "the phytonutrient rainbow". The Phytozyme Cure includes a handy reference chart that lists the uses and primary sources of phytonutrients.

Here is a list of some of the benefits you will read about in The Phytozyme Cure:

• Faster healing 
• Improved energy 
• Greater mental clarity 
• Increased resistance to illness 
• Enhanced immune functioning 
• Accelerated weight loss 
• A more youthful appearance

You can also read excerpts from The Phytozyme Cure: Treat Or Reverse More Than 30 Serious Health Conditions by Michelle Schoffro Cook or better still, win a copy for yourself!
In order to win a copy of The Phytozyme Cure, simply leave a comment on this post and share your resolution for the New Year. 

For additional entries, you may choose to do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each entry indicating what you have done.

• Blog about this giveaway (2 entries).
• Add my button to your site.
• Become a follower of Toronto Teacher Mom using Google Friend Connect.
• Subscribe to Toronto Teacher Mom.
• Become a follower of Toronto Teacher Mom on Facebook via Networked Blogs. 
• Like the Toronto Teacher Mom's Facebook fan page.
• Become a follower of Toronto Teacher Mom on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use the following tweet:

Contest ends February 7 at 10 pm EST. Open to Canadian residents only.

Me and my first-born, summer 2007

Tonight our family had a lot fun playing the silliest of nonsensical games. In fact, the games didn't matter. Spending the time together was what really counted. At one point, I stopped and admired how small my 2-year-old son is and how much my 5-year-old daughter has grown. I tried to remember my daughter when she was two, sans bangs and sporting pinchable chubby cheeks. Man, I miss those days. Life was so much easier when you could give all your attention to one child. Yeah, I miss those days...

You can find more Wordless Wednesday posts here and here.

It's that time again. Here's another giveaway for a $40 gift voucher from CSN Stores, which has over 200 online stores that offer an incredibly extensive variety of items. With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I'm sure you'll be able to find something for the significant other in your love. Or better yet, treat yourself!

They also carry some "green" products for those who are looking for eco-friendly options.
Mandatory Entry: Visit CSN Stores and browse through their catalogue. Have a look around and leave a comment on this post with the name of the product that you think would make for a great gift for Valentine's Day or tell me something you would like to receive as a gift.

Please note: With the newly installed Disqus comment system, you no longer need to leave your email address in the comment itself. This keeps your email address private.

Bonus Entries: You may choose to do any or all of the following for bonus entries and leave additional comments letting me know what you have done. Please read carefully to make sure you get all your entries in.

• Like the CSNStores Facebook page .
• Follow CSN Stores on Twitter.
• Blog about this giveaway. (3 entries)
• Become a follower of Toronto Teacher Mom using Google Friend Connect.
• 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 on the sidebar to the right.
• 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 on February 4, at 10:00 pm EST and is open to both Canada and the U.S.

Gift voucher will expire March 1, 2011 or after first use and will not cover any international fees.

The year is 2011 and hit t.v. series Dinosaur Train® has an all-new episode premiering Monday, January 17 on PBS KIDS®. It's entitled “The Good Mom;” “Diamond Anniversary,”  and features Mrs. Pteranodon who meets fellow mom Millie Maiasaura, an over-protective parent. The two moms compare their mothering styles during a play date at the Big Pond. The name Maiasaura means "good mother lizard". It was a large duck-billed dinosaur that lived in North America during the Late Cretaceous period. There is evidence that Maiasaura lived in large nesting colonies where the parents cared for their young with utmost diligence. The episode continues with Mr. and Mrs. Pteranodon decide to surprise each other with anniversary gifts. To find out what time this episode will air, please check your local listings.

And now, on to the giveaway! (US only. Sorry!)

The “Dinosaur Train™ Striped Footed Pajamas” is now available at Kohl's. These pajamas will keep your child warm during the winter months. It has dinosaur appliques and a striped pattern. SRP is $26.00 and is available in sizes 2T-5T.

One Toronto Teacher Mom reader will win a Dinosaur Train pajama in size 4T.

For a chance to win the Dinosaur Train Footed Pajamas in size 4T, leave a comment on this post telling me how long you or your kids have been a fan of Dinosaur Train along with a way to contact you if you win. (You need to click on the word "comments" at the bottom of this post to take you to the comment form.)
For additional entries, you may choose to do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each entry indicating what you have done. Include additional comments if indicated below.

• Like The Jim Henson Company Fan Page on Facebook
• Like Toronto Teacher Mom on Facebook
• Add my button to your blog (two entries!) 
• Follow Toronto Teacher Mom via Google Friend Connect
• Follow the Henson Company on Twitter
• 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 January 31 at 11pm EST and is open to U.S. 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.

Yes, I'm the owner of a new iPad! My darling husband went out and bought me one for Christmas. We weren't supposed to exchange gifts but that's okay. Because we both enjoy it. And the kids, too! I can't get over how my two-year-old can work his way around it. He even knows how to access the Netflix application and pick a movie or t.v. show for streaming. Can you believe it?


Speaking of CSN Stores, I will be doing a giveaway for a $40 CSN Store promotion code to be used on any of their 200+ stores. So stay tuned!

With Family Day about a month way, you might be wondering what you can do with the kids to enjoy this special holiday. The Ontario Apple Growers have already got you covered with their Winter Apple Ball. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the Macintosh apple and the OAG is inviting all families to join in the fun. For free! In exchange for an eventful day, you are asked to bring your favourite Ontario apple which will be donated to Second Harvest, a charitable organization that feeds Torontonians in need. And the OAG will match all donations, too!

Here is a list of some of the apple-licious activities lined up for Family Day:










Don't worry, each participant in the bobbing activity will receive their own bobbing container.

By the way, did you know...?

The McIntosh apple appears on the 1996 Canadian silver dollar to commemorate the 200th anniversary of John McIntosh’s arrival in Canada, rather than the year he discovered the tree. Designed by artist Roger Hill, the coin is titled “Canada’s Premiere Apple.”

This Winter Apple Ball will take place at the Westin Harbour Castle from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Also, if you register by Thursday, February 10, your family could win a free night stay at the luxurious Westin Harbour Castle Hotel in Toronto. But hurry, there are only 1000 free tickets available. Register on www.onapples.com.

And teachers, if you're looking for some apple themed ideas, you can download free educational classroom activities suitable for various age groups on their site as well.

Have you had an apple today?

My colleague showed me this video today and I couldn't resist sharing it with my readers. It's from the BBC show called the One Ronnie. It's a clip about two older gentlemen who talk tech in the less conventional sense. And for your information, I didn't know what a dongle was until I looked it up myself. Anyway, here's the video. I hope you find some humour in it!

Sweet. Creamy. Delicious. And natural. The stuff is so good, you could eat it. Yes, Burt's Bees has done it again. As if their fabulous Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil wasn't good enough, Burt's Bees has now added to their lip-smacking line of lip balms with their newest product - Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm.

And it's official. I declare that Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm is now my all-time favorite weapon to fight chapped lips. Why? Because not only does it feel great, glide on smooth, and smell oh, so tasty, it also has beautiful tint that makes me feel a bit more... sexy. It's not like I do my makeup everyday. So by using the tinted lip balm, I feel more 'made up" all the while benefiting from the relief provided by this 100% natural lip balm.

Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm is available in 6 shades of colour making it easy to find one that suits you. For this review, I was sent the Hibiscus, my favourite, as well as the Honeysuckle, to which my daughter laid claim. They will be on store shelves this February and are priced at $7.99.

Did you know that Burt's Bees has adopted a business model called The Greater Good? It involves a commitment to Social Responsibility, Natural Well Being and Sustainability. So this means that they never test their products on animals, use natural ingredients and package their products in the most eco-friendly way. In fact, by 2020, Burt's Bees aims to be a zero landfill waste company operating on 100% renewable energy and producing 100% natural formulas in biodegradable or recyclable package. They get two thumbs up from me!

Since one of the winners here on Toronto Teacher Mom has already won on another blog, I get to pick another winner. And this time, she hasn't won anywhere else! Yipee! Here is the fifth (and final!) winner of the Proactiv Green Tea Moisturizer:

56. roswell said... daily tweet
http://twitter.com/roswello/status/13904391845191680


And just so you know, I will be posting another review with giveaway very soon!

Happy Monday!

I can! My sister-in-law mentioned over the holidays that it's possible to peel a hard-boiled egg without the tedious task of peeling off broken pieces of shell. She had seen a video where they had pinched off some of the shell on either end of the egg and then blew on one end until it popped out the other. Admittedly, I didn't believe her. So I had to see it for myself. I googled "how to peel a hard-boiled egg without peeling" and found Tim Ferriss' instructional video. Not only is he handsome enough to watch, he demonstrated how easy it was to perform the aforementioned task. In the video, he shares the following tips:

1. Slow boil the eggs with about 2 inches of water above them for about 12 minutes.
2. Cool the eggs in ice water and add a teaspoon of baking soda. This lowers the pH balance which thereby reduces adhering. (I didn't have any on hand but it still worked!)
3. Crack one end of the egg by gently tapping it on a hard surface and pinch the end to remove a bit of the shell. Repeat on the other end.
4. Hold the egg securely in one hand, pointy side up, and bring your hand to your mouth. Your finger and thumb will form a circle that should fit around your lips to create a bit of a seal.
5. Blow until the egg comes out of the other end. Don't forget to catch it.

NB. (update) - Some readers have expressed concern about the unhygienic nature of doing this. I do NOT endorse this as something you should do if you plan on serving the eggs to anyone other than yourself. Simply cooling the eggs in ice water will make it easier to peel by hand and safe to serve to others, assuming you have washed your hands.

Here's what I had left after attempting this for the first time:

I've included the link to the Tim Ferriss video below. I told you he's cute.

You can also learn why you shouldn't use farm fresh eggs when hard-boiling from Ontario egg farmer Diana Schenk on eggfarmersontario.ca.

I survived. Today was the first day back at work in 2011 and I survived. What surprised me most was that each of the classes I taught today had a significant amount of absentees. It's probably due to the fact that some kids are still on vacation or their parents had the day off. Or they're probably sick. In any case, it made the day fly by having low and more easily manageable numbers in the classes. I have a tonne of things I'd like to prepare for a fresh week back at school but I will take a few minutes to announce the winner of the Dr. Oetker gift basket giveaway. Out of 264 entries, here is the winning number:


208. Sweet Panda said... tweeted: http://twitter.com/PandaSweetSweet/status/21252342166855680

Congratulations! I will be emailing you soon. I'd like to thank everyone who participated in this giveaway and would like you to know that I have a couple of giveaways lined up for you in the coming weeks. There are some exciting things brewing for Toronto Teacher Mom and I can't wait to share them with you. If it weren't for you, my readers, this blog would not be possible. Thanks again! And also, I'd like to say thanks to Dr. Oetker for sponsoring this giveaway!

Happy Tuesday!

Looking back on the past year, I am amazed at all the wonderful things I have been able to do thanks to blogging, Twitter and Facebook. There are so many memorable moments that the list could be a lot longer. In any case, here are my top ten events and excursions of 2010, in David Letterman style.

10. Camp Spooky at Canada's Wonderland - Who knew Wonderland kept their rides open in October? Thanks to Central Counties for the complimentary passes and a day of fun for the kids. Okay, I had a blast, too!

9. Louise Kent's CD launch party - Louise Kent has an amazing talent and really engaged the kids in the audience. This event was emceed by the talented Scott Hammell, another Free the Children activist.

8. Yo Gabba Gabba Live! There's a Party in my City - Let me tell you, these characters really know how to throw a party! The V.I.P. experience was totally awesome! Thank you, Michelle Sisco!

7. Maple Leaf Foods Dinner - I, along with about 25 other bloggers, sat down with the CEO of Maple Leaf Foods to discuss the new Maple Leaf Pledge to be a global leader in food safety. Truth be told, I didn't realize I was having drinks with el presidente until he introduced himself after we sat down to dinner. I also met a number of fabulous bloggers, too. Thanks to Sumaya Khan at Matchstick for the invitation.

6. Love, Loss and What I Wore - With a cast that included Louise Pitre, Mary Walsh, Andrea Martin, Sharron Matthews and Paula Brancati, how I could I decline an invitation from Hubert Hsu to join in the fun? And yes, my friend nearly peed her pant(ie)s, it was that funny!

5. Lays Chip Trip to Casa Loma - I have always wanted to visit a castle and Casa Loma fit the bill. I still can't get over how beautiful the grounds are. And the view from the top of the tower was absolutely stunning! I am so lucky to have been able to participate in this program thanks to Jessica Matthews and Miranda McCurlie of Fleishman-Hillard Canada.
4. Tour of the CN Tower and a Date with Dora - I will never forget how lucky I was to meet two of the wonderful ladies behind Mom Central Canada, Kathryn and Cora, at this exclusive meet and greet with Dora followed by a tour of the CN Tour. What a great way to spend the March Break! I also met for the first time two lovely blogging tweethearts that I still bump into from time to time, Wendy @mapsgirl and CarrieAnne @cbadov.

3. X'10 Canada - Okay, Xbox Kinect may be the coolest gaming system ever! All I want it for is to play Dance Central. I know I'll never be as good as Blake McGrath was that day we bumped into him, but it doesn't matter 'cause it's just so gosh-darn fun! High Road Communications sure knows how to throw a shindig, too, by the way.

2. Yummy Mummy Club Barbie Pink Carpet Premiere - What can I say except that this was one of the most awesome V.I.P. events my kids and I were so fortunate to experience! We're talking limo rides, an exclusive meet and greet with Barbie and incredible swag. If you haven't joined the Yummy Mummy Club yet, what are you waiting for? This was only one of their amazing contests and I know there's another Barbie movie coming out. So that must mean another Pink Carpet event? And at the very least, you'll love reading all the fantastic articles from Erica Ehm and her incredible team of mummy and daddy bloggers, too.


And now, for the #1 event of 2010... drum roll please...


1. Blissdom Canada - Never in a million years would I have seen myself amongst an incredible group of women who were in attendance at the first ever Blissdom Canada conference here in Toronto. I cannot tell you how lucky I felt to meet such amazing ladies, many of whom I had only 'met' online and finally had the opportunity to meet face to face. The sessions were good, too, but my favourite parts were the social gatherings such as at Mabel Bliss where we got to mingle alongside the wonderful Julie Cole and Tricia Mumby from Mabel's Labels while Cocktail Deeva did her thang. Or, the unforgettable YMC Bliss party at the Body Blitz Spa with Erica Ehm. But my ultimate favourite was singing shamelessly to the tune of Shakira's 'Hips Don't Lie' and busting a move with the wonderfully clad Alli Worthington, co-founder of the event, during the Halloween Karaoke party. And to all the wonderful ladies who made my first ever blogger conference so blissful, thank you! I have to include a shout-out to my blogging buddies Stephanie, Shelagh, Tara, Cynthia, Sherrie, Tammi, Kimberly, Cheryl and Nolie. I'm sure I have left people out but remember this list could go on and on and on... I truly hope I will be able to attend Blissdom Canada '11. Will you be there?