Today I bring you good news. I will be continuing on as a member of Hallmark's 2016 Love, Hallmark Blogger Panel, sharing my thoughts on Hallmark Canada's latest products and special offers. Oh, and there may be some prizes in it for you, too! First up, we bring you our top picks for Valentine's Day, such as their Oversized Mugs. These large mugs would make the perfect gift for the coffee lover in your life. Prefer hot chocolate? Just think how many marshmallows you could fit inside. I use my new mug all the time and love wrapping my hands around a warm cup of java. These mugs retail for $12.95 and there are a number of messages to choose from.

Don't forget to shower the love in your life with words from the heart. Choose from either the "I Love Us" pack containing 100 love notes or the "What I Love About Us" collection which you can personalize with notes of your own. Both retail for $9.95 at Hallmark stores.

One of the things I love about Hallmark is that they carry a little bit of something for everyone. For the fashionista, check out their Wrapped in Love scarves, retailing for $19.95. They feature fun patterns but can be worn any time of year. For young ones in love, the Love U Forever trinket box is a cute yet subtle gift idea. It's perfect for storing special little love notes, jewelry or other small mementos. This little red box retails for $26.95. Welcoming a new bundle of joy? Spread some extra love with a Little Cupid plush rattle, only $8.95!

Hallmark has a large selection of other plush toys as well. For Valentine's Day, you can find these adorable Cuddles to Share Bears that are too cute to resist. I love their oversized heads and xoxo printed paws. If you purchase three Hallmark cards, you can nab these cuties for $7.95 each. Or you could up the ante and try the Love-A-Saurus plush that sings and dances to an MC Hammer inspired dino-tune. Although, it's tough to beat Hallmark's Hug-Lovin' Hippo they released last year.

Finally, we can't forget teachers. I don't usually buy gifts for my kids' teachers and rarely do I receive any gifts other than a Valentine with a chocolate treat. But if you are looking to do something a little extra special for that teacher who has gone the extra mile for your child, Hallmark's Memo Pad Set with Pen would make a lovely and practical gift. It contains two memo pads with 100 sheets each, one smaller memo pad with 50 sheets and a matching pen. And it only costs $12.95.

And wait, we can't forget to show a little love to our humble abode. Our home does so much to make sure we are safe from the elements, providing us with shelter and a place to raise our families. That's why I love Hallmark Canada's Happy Pillow. It's a great home décor gift item that will cheer up the living space. The pillow retails for $34.95 but luckily, you can WIN your very own! Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form. Open to Canadian residents only, excluding Quebec.

Disclosure: I received product to help facilitate this review. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Next up is Hallmark's Time for Cookies Snowman Techno Plush which features two utterly adorable snowmen and their pup. I love this one for the fine details and the ultra soft plush but watching these cuddly characters sing and dance makes this one hard to resist. You can save $15 when you purchase this plush with 3 Hallmark Cards. It also coordinates with Hallmark's "There's Snow Time Like Cookie Time" storybook, sold separately.

  

And they haven't forgotten about us Disney Frozen fans. Head into Hallmark to pick up a Will Anna and Elsa Miss the Ball? Puzzle Book. Read the story, build the puzzle and solve the mystery of the friends get to the ball on time. This set comes with a 24-piece puzzle and a softcover book.

Featured above are two gift ideas that would be perfect for teachers, I say. The first is a Nordic Clipboard Bundle that includes a 60-page notepad, two magnets and a pencil. The second is a festive Guest Towel and Basket Set. 

Of course, Hallmark has a very large range of greeting cards, including these Holiday Boxed Cards. They range from elegant to fun and are filled with heartwarming sentiments. 

Now don't go rushing off to your nearest Hallmark just yet. I have a Keepsake Kids My First Tree to give away. This huggable tree is made with soft felt fabric and is covered with large, colourful buttons for hanging Keepsake Kids Ornaments, sold separately. To be eligible to win, complete the Rafflecopter form below. Open to Canadian residents, excluding Quebec. And don't forget to check out Hallmark.ca to find more holiday gift ideas.

From the makers of Charley the Chameleon and Nighty Night Owl comes the latest and greatest from Cloud B - New Twilight Buddies Horses. For review, our family received an adorable plush unicorn to help bring some magic to our bedtime routine. Not only does it light up the room with a soothing glow, it also projects a starry night sky onto the bedroom ceiling and walls, similar to Dreamz To Go Octo. This is probably the neatest feature because hidden among the stars are three constellations. Twilight Buddies include a handy Constellation Star Guide to help you point them out as well as an adoption certificate. The built-in timer automatically turns off the lights after 45 minutes to ensure complete darkness while your child is in a deep sleep, recommended by pediatricians.

Twilight Buddies Unicorn features quality construction and uses long lasting LEDs which stay cool and extend battery life. The three soothing colour choices are perfect for creating unique ambiances associated with positive moods. For example, amber projects warmth; blue is peaceful; and green inspires feelings of harmony and renewal. Since it so easy to use and help eases fear of the dark (did I mention it's utterly adorable?), Twilight Buddies Unicorn would make a great gift idea. Other horses include a Palomino and a Pegasus. Requires 3AAA batteries, which are included, and retails for $35.99 each.

Disclosure: I received product to help facilitate this review. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Every Easter, our family looks forward to spending time with relatives and friends both here in Toronto and back in my hometown. This year will be even more special now that we have a new addition to the family, my baby nephew! I don't often buy gifts for this particular holiday, aside from some delicious Easter-themed chocolates, but I happened to have some Easter DVDs as well as some really cute plush toys from Hallmark that we received for review. I even thought about buying the Bunny Mugs and Bunny Serving Platter above as a little hostess gift. Don't you just love the spring colours? The platter retails for $19.95 and the mugs are $10.95 each.

For as long as I can remember, bedtime has always been a challenge with my first-born. As a newborn, she would often fuss and cry at night but I thought if we could just implement a routine as she got older, things would get easier. And sometimes it did. But mostly, it didn't. It turns out, she needed someone with her in her room every night. Yet for me, I needed her to go to sleep on her own. I was often tired and if I were to lay down next to her, I would inevitably fall asleep in an awkward position on her twin bed and wake up with an arm resting on my face. I'm sure many parents can relate. Lots of fun, right? Nope. I needed to sleep in my own spacious bed and I needed my daughter to find ways to self-soothe. My husband, however, would prefer to lay down next to her than have her call us repeatedly to her room out of fear of the dark. We have tried a few different night lights but, even at nine years of age, she was still afraid of being alone in her room at night. Until we met Charley the Chameleon, that is.

Initially, I had intended for my six-year-old son to have Charley because it was designed for babies and toddlers, I thought to myself. Surely the novelty would wear off and then I could pass it on to my baby nephew or my three-year-old goddaughter. While my son loved it, he really didn't need it. He's always been a pro at sleeping and would often sleep for 10-11 hours a night since he was one month old. But because Charley is so cute, my kids decided to take turns with him each night. What ended up happening? My daughter kept him in her room and my son really hasn't asked for him in weeks. Which is perfectly fine because for the first time in a very, very long time, my daughter will go to bed without asking me to say with her. I'm still having a hard time believing it myself, but it's true! I feel like bowing down to the Cloud B gods and saying, "I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy!"

As one of the oldest and largest Fair Trade organizations in North America, Ten Thousand Villages is a non-profit program that sells artisan-crafted personal accessories, home decor and gift items from the world over. They have as their mission statement the goal of creating "opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to our markets through long-term, fair trading relationships." And what could be better than giving a gift made by a talented artisan that has been fairly purchased from sustainable sources? 

Given that Ten Thousand Villages is an organization designed to benefit artisans, they market products from handicraft and agricultural organizations based in low-income countries, thereby supporting their livelihood. So not only will you find products that are truly unique, you can shop in good conscience knowing that the artisans who have made them have received respect, dignity and hope from earning fair value for their hard work.

For review, Ten Thousand Villages sent over a lovely package that contained a gorgeous Garden Paisley Infinity Scarf ($34) and a pair of teardrop Kenya earrings ($24). I think I'm going to get a lot of use out of my new scarf. It suits me well, no?

When it comes to the hottest toys of the season, you can pretty much guarantee that remote-controlled robots will be among them. This year, VEX Robotics by HEXBUG, the makers of Aquabot 2.0, bring you hands-on play as you construct your very own jumbo-sized robot ant. Drive the robot manually using the remote control or select the autonomous drive mode to send Ant scurrying about all by itself, mimicking real-life movement. 

Ho, ho, ho-ly mackerel! There are only two weeks left until Christmas and I still have much to do to get ready. Okay, I will never be ready just like I have never been ready for Christmas since I'm such a procrastinator. Leaving things to the last minute has always been a fault of mine. I guess that's why I loved childhood so much. It was my parents' job to worry about getting ready for Christmas while all I had to worry about was begging them to let me open just one gift on Christmas Eve. Golly, those were the days! Now, I need to make sure that I have enough gifts for everyone, all the decorations are up and the house has had a good cleaning before hosting dinner guests next weekend. At least I've had some help with one of those items on my to-do list thanks to Hallmark Canada.

For a special little one on my shopping list, I will be gifting the adorable Perfect Tree Snowman Plush that has a sign that lights up as the snowmen sway. It is a great commemorative item for 2014 and this year the plush features a parody of "Up on the Housetop." If you purchase three Hallmark cards, you can nab this plush for $15.95. It also coordinates with "There's Snowbody Like You!" storybook, sold separately.

And what child wouldn't love a Push and Play Techno Plush? Hallmark's Rudolph is simply irresistible, so much so that I had to keep him at work. My grade one students are so eager to be chosen as my special helper who gets to take care of Nez Rouge during French class! Also available: Clarice, the reindeer and Bumble, the abominable snow monster.

Hallmark is also expanding their collection of itty bittys® with their Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 50th Anniversary Collector Set. Buy the whole kit and caboodle for $29.95 or individually for $6.95 each.

If it's a hostess or a teacher gift you're looking for, Hallmark has several "Gifts to Go" that come packaged with a designer to/from hang tag and a festive sprig of evergreen tied with a bright red ribbon. Choose from a cozy mug, nesting bowls, a Christmas tea set or an appetizer plate set (featured above).

From the makers of the Toy of the Year Award recipient Tranquil Turtle comes the latest in smart technology - Nighty Night Owl Smart Sensor. This super cute plush owl is incredibly soft and is made with different textures and patterns. It comes with a sound box that has a built-in sound-activated sensor which automatically restarts its soothing white noise to help ease baby back to sleep. Wait. Mom and dad get to stay in bed while this smart owl does the work? Seriously, where was this thing when my kids were babies?

You know that moment when you're trying to fit in one last tweet before your smartphone runs out of battery and then you realize you don't have a charge cable on hand? Yeah, can't say it's ever happened to me either. (Ok. Yes, it has.) If there's one gadget I cannot live without, it would be my smartphone. It's the main medium through which I communicate, calculate and calendarate. (And no, that's not a real verb.) I use it to take notes, pay for my coffee, snap photos, and control the Roku remotely. If there were a way to configure it to take care of the dishes and never ending laundry, I'd be in heaven. The point is, I use my phone. A lot. Every day. I rely on it enough that the very sight of a diminishing battery indicator lit up in red is enough to send my heart palpitating slightly with anxiety. The reason is I am notorious for misplacing my USB cable, and heaven forbid if I should have to actually leave my house to retrieve the cable from my Jeep while still in my pyjamas. It's a good thing I now have a new little friend to rely on - the NOMAD ChargeKey.

My review unit of the NOMAD ChargeKey arrived via mail nearly two weeks ago and has proven to be quite convenient. It is currently attached to a key ring with my house key and car key so it pretty much goes wherever I go. It's also quite thin and small so there isn't much added bulk to my key ring. Recently launched in Canada, this NOMAD accessory allows for charging from any USB port and full data transfer when connected to a computer.