- Wednesday, February 27, 2013
- 51 Comments
When I was pregnant with my first child, I secretly wanted to feel spoiled and was hoping to have a fun little party with my family and friends. I felt like it was finally my turn to wear the silly hat made of bows and laugh as guests took part in equally silly games. Alas, I wasn't so lucky to have a baby shower or to get to sign up for a baby registry but was utterly delighted when my co-workers surprised me with a very thoughtful party one day after work. There's something about being pregnant and getting showered with attention and some baby gifts that makes the whole experience all the more special. So when I was offered a chance to surprise an expectant mom with some P&G products as part of the Ding Dong Diaper Ditch movement, how could I resist?
One of my colleagues at work is expecting her first and I was so excited to drop off a bundle of essentials outside her classroom door this morning. I guess I should call it a Knock Knock Diaper Ditch... It included a package of Pampers Swaddler Diapers, Ivory Snow Liquid Detergent, Sensitive Wipes, a Canada onesie with matching bib and a copy of “Caring for Kids: The Complete Guide to Children’s Health.”
- Tuesday, February 26, 2013
- 55 Comments
If you're looking for FREE programs for the upcoming March Break, the Toronto Public Libraries will be offering a selection in French and in English aimed towards children from 5 to 10 years old. Visit torontopubliclibrary.ca for more information on these French programs as well as additional programs in English.
To register, call the library directly or call Céline Marcoux-Hamade at 416 395-5762 for more information
- Monday, February 25, 2013
- 1 Comments
Once upon a time, in a faraway land, lived a talented cast of fairytale proportions. Brought to life by the producers of Apprentice to Murder and The Fine Art of Murder, Mysteriously Yours... Mystery Dinner Theatre introduces the latest show Once Upon a Murder full of familiar characters the likes of which you once read about as a child. Enter Prince Charmin, Jack Beanstalk, Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, the Big Bad Wolf, and the Fairy Godmother.
Prince Charmin played by Ian Ronningen |
Sleeping Beauty Princess Celeste played by Birgitte Solem |
- Friday, February 22, 2013
- 10 Comments
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Edwards Gardens sits adjacent to Toronto Botanical Gardens. |
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A river runs through it. |
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Feel free to link up your Wordless Wednesday posts below:
- Tuesday, February 19, 2013
- 27 Comments
Millions of children across the continent have been bullied, continue to be bullied or will be bullied this year. Chances are likely we all know someone who has been a victim of bullying at some point. The fact that bullying is the most common form of violence experienced by young people in the United States makes it a sad reality, one that is very difficult to face. It is a crisis that we do not want to accept and worse still, it is an issue for which we seem to have no right answer. In an attempt to shed light on the pain and suffering endured by those affected by bullying, Lee Hirsch delivers a new documentary film called BULLY, which offers "an intimate, unflinching look at how bullying has touched five kids and their families."
BULLY is a beautifully cinematic, character-driven documentary. At its heart are those with huge stakes in this issue whose stories each represent a different facet of America’s bullying crisis. Filmed over the course of the 2009/2010 school year, BULLY opens a window onto the pained and often endangered lives of bullied kids, revealing a problem that transcends geographic, racial, ethnic and economic borders. It documents the responses of teachers and administrators to aggressive behaviors that defy “kids will be kids” clichés, and it captures a growing movement among parents and youths to change how bullying is handled in schools, in communities and in society as a whole. Parents play a vital role in supporting their kids, promoting upstander rather than bystander behavior, and teaching and modeling empathy in the home.
You hear about it in the news. You read about it in the paper. You may even come across a tweet or status update on Facebook. When a child takes his own life, we are instantly devastated by the tragedy, especially when the child is merely 11 years of age. And it isn't until you walk a mile in someone's shoes that you can begin to comprehend how bullying can affect a young child so deeply that he feels the only way to end the suffering is by ending his own life, such as 17-year-old Tyler. Or how a victim of bullying can reach a certain breaking point that she feels her only recourse is to take a gun onto a school bus to defend herself, such as 14-year-old Ja'Meya. The film BULLY tells the stories of five children and their families and reveals an alarming need to take action. It is a film that will have you in tears within the first five minutes and leave you in tears at the very end, shaking your head over the senselessness of it all.
It's time to take a stand.
- Tuesday, February 12, 2013
- 3 Comments
Looking for gift ideas for Valentine's Day? Hallmark has got you covered. As a returning member of the Hallmark Press Pause Panel, I will be sharing some of my favourite Valentine's Day gifts and other great products from Hallmark throughout the year. Today, I begin with the beautiful Blooming Expressions flower. I adore it in the colour red and love that it's a flower that keeps on blooming. It is available with music for $24.95 or $19.95 without music.
Hallmark has a beautiful collection of Card Presenters for Adults, an assortment of elegant and beautiful, highly-crafted designs with gems, attachments and a unique clasp.
The embossed envelopes are absolutely gorgeous!
- Tuesday, February 12, 2013
- 2 Comments
Here are a couple of Valentine's Day cards I made at the request of a co-worker. I chose to go with a rose theme, since I especially love red roses. The rose is from the Cricut Indie Art cartridge and measures at 5.5". I really love how these handmade cards turned out!
Feel free to link up your Wordless Wednesday post using the thumbnail linky below.
- Tuesday, February 12, 2013
- 21 Comments
Have you been hit with the travel bug? I know I have. In fact, I'm itching to travel somewhere warm and sunny, perhaps a beach in the Caribbean. Yet, there are so many beautiful sights to see right here in Canada and throughout North America that I have yet to visit. On my bucket list, you will find places such as Whistler, Vancouver, and Baffin Island in Canada, and the Grand Canyon, Hollywood and Waikiki south of the border. If you long to travel as much as I do, you'll be happy to learn that National Geographic is offering a chance to win a seven-day adventure for two in North American through their Passport to Explore campaign.
Prize:
One lucky explorer will win a dream getaway to any North American destination that is serviced by Air Canada and Loews Hotel & Resorts, including...
- Economy airfare for two
- 7 days and 6 nights at the Loews Hotel & Resorts destination of your choice *
How to Enter:
Entering is easy. Simply follow the steps below.
- Visit a participating National Geographic and National Geographic Explorer luggage retailer. Select stores include, but are not limited to, CAA, Sears, The Bay, Business Depot. You can find a full list by clicking on Where to Buy.
- Identify the animal that appears on The Passport to Explore hangtag that can be found on National Geographic and National Geographic Explorer products.
- Visit www.passporttoexplore.ca and submit your personal information along with the name of the mystery animal.
Bonus Entries:
You can earn an additional ballot by sharing the contest on Facebook as well as by entering a special blogger code when filling out the entry form. Looking for a special blogger code? You've come to the right place!
- Tuesday, February 12, 2013
- 1 Comments
Last week, while eating my plain old sandwich in the staff room at work, I noticed another teacher eating a Greek salad that smelled oh, so good! It suddenly gave me a craving for some Greek pasta salad, which I hadn't had in months. So this weekend, I decided to make a huge batch to keep in the fridge for my work lunch this week. I was visiting with my parents in Hamilton over the weekend, since it was my birthday, and decided to shop at the Bulk Barn near their house. The closest Bulk Barn in my neighbourhood is more than twice the distance making this location much more convenient.
Before heading into the store, I quickly checked the Bulk Barn Twitter feed to see if they had recently tweeted out a coupon. Unfortunately, the latest coupon had already expired. This was my first time at this Bulk Barn location so I had to wander up and down the aisles a couple of times to become familiar with what they had to offer. I was pleasantly surprised to find organic bulk bin items as well as pre-packaged organic foods that my family buys all the time. I found some all-vegetable fusili pasta for my salad and purchased some organic red quinoa and organic black rice which I can use as side dishes for dinner this week as well. I can double the amount of rice or quinoa that I would usually prepare to ensure enough leftovers for the following day. I will be honest, though, that I don't make a habit of planning my meals ahead of time but it is certainly more convenient and cost effective, especially when you make bulk shopping a part of your regular shopping routines. My friend plans her every meal and can account for every penny spent. I only wish I could be so organized.
- Monday, February 11, 2013
- 6 Comments
Today is the day that I turn 35 years old. If you round up, that's almost the same as saying I'm 40. It's a sobering thought knowing that I'm not, nor will I ever be, as young as I once was. But that's okay. I can live with the pair of strands of grey hair that I see in the mirror every morning. And I'm okay with the fact that I don't have the most up-to-date or trendiest wardrobe. I will even admit I kind of miss my neon green New Kids on the Block t-shirt.
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Sporting my NKOTB tee alongside my buddy Mickey |
What I have difficulty with is the fading memories. I want to be able to remember all the little things right alongside the milestones of years past. I want to remember the good, the bad and even the ugly. Including my atrocious perm below, bangs and all.
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Grade 8 grad |
Over the past few days, I have contemplated cutting my hair really short and trying out a completely different hairstyle altogether. And I have also reevaluated my need to be more physically active and get into better shape.
At the end of the day, I may not be the prettiest, most fashionable or physically fit 35-year-old on the planet, but I can surely take pride in my accomplishments over the years, the friends I have made, and the life I have established for my children. I am an imperfect mother and wife, a horrible cook, an aspiring teacher. I make no apologies for who I am today or for any of my faults. The person that I am took 35 years to make and I wouldn't change a thing.
As a gift to myself to acknowledge all of my hard work, sacrifices and successes, I treated myself to my very first DSLR camera, a Canon Rebel T3i, so that I can preserve today's memories and maybe even get mom in the picture more. You're only 35 once.
- Sunday, February 10, 2013
- 27 Comments
Today I am sharing with you this very important public service announcement. Though this isn't just any old PSA. This one is intended for moms of all ages across the continent. Trust me, it is definitely worth a read. You're welcome!
Who: Moms, ALL moms, including aunties, grandmas, stepmoms, adoptive moms and all women in a mothering role across North America are welcome at MomThrive. Plans are currently underway for the first MomThrive USA conference.
When: Thursday, April 4 - Saturday, April 6, 2013
Where: Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel in Toronto.
Why: MomThrive is a two-day, three-night girls' weekend
away, solely focused on the overall health, wellness, support, personal
growth and happiness of moms with a very special emphasis on self care
and “Me Time.” Enjoy the fun of a mini getaway with
helpful support sessions led by expert speakers on topics including life
balance, parenting, style, and many more, intended to inspire, encourage and energize. These speakers will include my dear friends Shelagh Cummins, Lara Galloway and Laurel Crossley along with Devan McGuinness, Julia Rosien, Kathy Buckworth and Julie Cole among others. And what girl’s weekend would be complete without a party? (Or, rather,
several parties?) They're all part of the
package, too. Last but not least, there will be pampering; something moms never get enough of, such as sleeping in, which you'll have a
chance to do on the first day!
Cost: The current Early Bird price is $240 per ticket or $220 per ticket for groups of two or more. BUT I have a special promo code you can use that will save you $48 for single tickets or $68 if you bring a friend. Simply enter promo code DIANA on the Mom Thrive registration page to enjoy your additional 20% savings. Just remember, these prices won't last forever. Early bird ticket sales will close on February 28, 2013.
Why MomThrive?
MomThrive was created because we know you need, crave and deserve time for self care, but might not be sure if it’s even attainable. We believe that it is, and we want you to have it. It’s not selfish. It’s not inconsiderate.
Taking “Me time” is a basic need that helps us relax, de-stress, slow
down and really LIVE. A happier you means a happier family, that that is
our ultimate goal.
- Friday, February 08, 2013
- 0 Comments
Toronto is a busy city with plenty to see and do during the day. It also boasts a bustling nightlife that offers a myriad of fun-filled and delectable ways to spend an evening with friends. Last year, I discovered how entertaining it is to participate in a murder mystery dinner when I joined the likes of Sue Polyester, Regis Fildin, Joan Rivets, Lindsay Lohest, Gary Boozy and Madame Gaga for their Apprentice to Murder dinner theatre at Mysteriously Yours. The food was tasty and the hilarity endless.
Last fall, actress Birgitte Solem and producer Brian Caws, along with the remaining cast, worked on a new script that had Sherlock Holmes smoking his pipe and solving yet another puzzling mystery. I love Sherlocke Holmes, especially the Robert Downey Jr. variety. So when I was extended a VIP invitation, I couldn't resist.
While the humour wasn't nearly as consistent as in Apprentice to Murder, the show was entertaining nonetheless. Perhaps I had set my hopes too high based on my experience at The Fine Art of Murder, a veritable knee-slapper of a show. Regardless, I take my hat off to Brigitte and the talented cast: Danny Wengle, Pierre Alain Trudel, Ian Ronnigen, Barb Scheffler and Kristen Corvers. You stumped me this time!
While the humour wasn't nearly as consistent as in Apprentice to Murder, the show was entertaining nonetheless. Perhaps I had set my hopes too high based on my experience at The Fine Art of Murder, a veritable knee-slapper of a show. Regardless, I take my hat off to Brigitte and the talented cast: Danny Wengle, Pierre Alain Trudel, Ian Ronnigen, Barb Scheffler and Kristen Corvers. You stumped me this time!
- Wednesday, February 06, 2013
- 0 Comments
Whenever I make a handmade greeting card whose intended recipient is a female, I love to use flowers. After making this card, I realized I was running low so I headed out to Michael's. Their Primas were on sale for 40% off as was their Martha Stewart Valentine's Scrapbook pads. I was also tempted to buy some Copic markers but I don't do a lot of stamped images. Maybe next time...
You can visit my craft blog for other handmade greeting cards: Diana's Designs Blog.
You can visit my craft blog for other handmade greeting cards: Diana's Designs Blog.
- Tuesday, February 05, 2013
- 26 Comments
Valentine's Day is just around the corner so it's time to start thinking of suitable Valentines for the kids' classmates. I always veer away from edible treats mainly because of potential allergies and also to avoid unnecessary sugar consumption. This year, we are going with plain-and-simple Play-Doh - it's treat without the sweet! To jazz them up, I decided to pull out my Cricut Expression to craft an embellishment of sorts. The first thing that came to mind was flowers, of course! Read on for a little tutorial on a simple Play-Doh flower Valentines craft that you can enjoy with your kids. It's as easy as 1-2-3!
- Sunday, February 03, 2013
- 19 Comments
Valentine's Day is a popular day for movie releases this year. On February 14, Safe Haven will hit the theatres and bring to the big screen an adaptation of the novel written by Nicholas Sparks, the best-selling author behind the hit films The Notebook and Dear John. Safe Haven is an affirming and suspenseful story about a young woman’s struggle to love again and stars Josh Duhamel, Julianne Hough, David Lyons and Cobie Smulders.
When a mysterious young woman arrives in a small North Carolina town, her reluctance to join the tight knit community raises questions about her past. Slowly, she begins putting down roots, and gains the courage to start a relationship with Alex, a widowed store owner with two young children. But dark secrets intrude on her new life with such terror that she is forced to rediscover the meaning of sacrifice and rely on the power of love in this deeply moving romantic thriller.
- Friday, February 01, 2013
- 8 Comments