Toronto Teacher Mom: Mom Central

New Proactiv Canada Blog Tour and Giveaway

Thursday, December 09, 2010
89 Comments

Share a Smile and Raise Funds for Food Bank Canada

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.

Monday, November 22, 2010
1 Comments

Cheerios Milestones Blog Tour and Giveaway

For Kids

Thursday, October 07, 2010
4 Comments

Playhouse Disney Canada Blog Tour with Giveaway

Canadian

This giveaway is now closed.

The winner has been announced!

As one Mom Central Canada blog tour nears its end, another one is underway. (Mind the pun.) The Playhouse Disney Canada Blog Tour has introduced my children to shows that hadn't previously seen before. It's an unfortunate fact that my current cable provider, which shall remain nameless, does not offer the Playhouse Disney Canada channel. Yet. I hope that changes.

My kids have been on a Mickey Mouse craze lately, requesting to watch YouTube videos of the original Mickey episodes from the 1930's. Who knew they had been around for so long? It's a true testament to the creativity and kid-appeal of Mickey Mouse and friends. I had no idea my kids would be so into a cartoon that had very little in the way of dialogue and had classical music. They can't keep their eyes off the screen. That's why I am grateful for the opportunity to introduce them to some of the shows from the Disney Playhouse Channel. As part of this tour, we were sent a CD sampler containing episodes from the following shows: Handy Manny, Imagination Movers, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Special Agent Oso and My Friends Tigger and Pooh. Both my kids really loved Mickey and Pooh, and Manny, too. Since they first watched Imagination Movers, my daughter now asks for it. While on our mini family vacation last week at the Great Wolf Lodge, she saw an episode of Imagination Movers and was so excited, she insisted we all watch it with her.

While I try not to encourage too much t.v. in our house (since it has been very addictive in the past - you should see our DVD collection of kids' t.v. shows!) it is great to know that there are a variety of options for our kids and that Disney Playhouse offers programming with some of their classic characters as well as original programming. There's sure to be something to suit any child's interests. I kind of hope that they would bring back some of the old school cartoons but that's just my preference. My kids don't seem to care at all about the difference when they watch the newer animated versions. It's all entertaining for them regardless.

Tuesday, August 03, 2010
91 Comments

underWAY Blog Tour Part 2

Food Review

Saturday, July 24, 2010
0 Comments

underWAY Blog Tour with Giveaway

For Families

Monday, July 19, 2010
100 Comments

Majesta Product Review - $15,000 Green Makeover Sweepstakes

Canadian

Wednesday, April 21, 2010
2 Comments

Pull-Ups Potty Dance Blog Tour

For Moms

Okay, it's that time again. That oh, so dreaded milestone that can cause anxiety amongst even the most resilient of parents. Potty training. Just typing those mere two words turns my stomach into knots. It's not that I'm less than optimistic about being more prepared with my second try at potty training. It's simply that it conjures up feelings of dread when I recall how many "accidents" we experienced with my daughter. This time, I am making sure that I'm prepared. And I have Huggies to thank for their contagious Potty Dance which will make for a very effective tool to encourage my son and make it more fun to use the potty. Even Canadian comedian Jessica Holmes is doing the potty dance! And if you don't believe me when I say it's contagious, just watch Traci Melchor from eTalk bust a move with her kids Phoebe and Phoenix. I watched the videos today and my daughter was instantly hooked. It's been about 10 hours since I first watched the videos and I still can't get that song out of my head. My daughter loved it so much, she insisted that I videotape her this afternoon while my son napped. You see, it really is easy to learn and lots of fun, too!

Huggies Pull-Ups Potty Dance from Diana M on Vimeo.

Since my son is approaching his second birthday and can already say the words relating to potty time, I know he is well on his way to his first successful potty experience. Here are a couple of tips I'd like to share based on my ~~mistakes~~ experiences the first time around:

Wait until your child is aware of his/her bodily functions and can indicate when he/she has soiled or wet his/her diaper.
Allow your child to be in the washroom when you, your spouse or older siblings use the toilet.
Have a potty situated in the main areas of the house where your child spends most of his/her time. I also plan on keeping a couple of soft potty seats in both of our bathrooms as well.
Incorporate song, dance and other playful ideas as a motivator and a distraction, if needed.
Rewards in the form of a sticker chart might also work.
Make it a routine of placing your child on the potty at regular intervals throughout the day. At this stage, I have a general idea of when my son has bowel movements.
Don't let your child see you angry or disappointed when your child has an accident. It's all part of the learning process. Which leads me to my next point...
I've learned to hope for the best and expect the unexpected. Even after I just had my daughter on the potty, I remember she would sit there for a long time, give up and then go pee in a corner. So now I'm going to resign myself to having rolls of paper towel and some cleaner stashed on every level of the house to be ready for the inevitable.
Always remind yourself that this is just a stage, and although you may never grow out of the My House Must Always be Clean and Sanitized stage, your child will eventually grow out of diapers.

I'm feeling a little more at ease now that I've put some thought into my strategy for potty training my second child. And the Pull-Ups dance will definitely come in handy. I've already stocked up on training pants during a Shopper's Drugmart Optimum Points promotion and got 6 packs for free! Yay, me! Do you have any other ideas or suggestions that worked for you? Feel free to leave a comment with advice and tips that made potty training easier for your family. I'd love to read them!

Before I click on the Publish Post button, I can't help but recall a joke by Howie Mandel using the voice of his cartoon character Bobby. When asked why Bobby would cry every time he sat on his potty, he sang, "It's my potty and I'll cry if I want to!" Okay, it's a little lame but I'll never forget how I almost peed in my pants during his live comedy act in Hamilton many moons ago.

I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central

Sunday, March 28, 2010
1 Comments

March Break - A Week in Review Part 1

Baby #1

Sunday, March 21, 2010
4 Comments

hydraSense® Nasal Aspirator Review and Coupon Code

Baby Care

With all this wonderful sunshine and all the birds a-singing, it's almost easy to forget the events of winters past. It isn't any surprise that this winter was full of stuffy noses and annoying coughs, in our household at least. However, statistics show that babies are likely to get as many as eight colds in a year, so I'm sure I wasn't alone. And even though some people may insist that having my kids in daycare would increase their chances of getting sick, I'm still grateful that my son learned at a very early age how to blow his nose thanks to his diligent teachers. He's 22 months old and can blow his nose on his own. It's really quite cute. What's not so cute is having to listen to your kids struggle to inhale at night due to nasal congestion. When I recall my experience with our children's first cold, I remember feeling frustrated at not being able to help my kids sleep more comfortably at night aside from slightly elevating the mattress and using a humidifier. I did use a homeopathic remedy for runny nose/nasal congestion by Boiron called Coryzalia and that seemed to help. But sometimes, when the cold was already fully blown, it wasn't as effective. So imagine how relieved I would have been if the hydraSense® Nasal Aspirator was available back in the day. My husband and I would have probably had less sleepless nights, I'm sure. Check this thing out!

Here's a little more about the hydraSense® Nasal Aspirator:

The hydraSense® Nasal Aspirator and its filters were developed with pediatricians, and are brought to you by hydraSense® , the leading brand in saline solutions for the whole family. The hydraSense® Nasal Aspirator is a gentle and safe way to relieve your baby’s nasal congestion quickly and effectively. It helps to maintain clear breathing and to facilitate eating and sleeping. Its soft nasal tip is specifically designed for babies’ delicate noses and its transparent design allows for you to see the amount and type of mucus that is being removed. hydraSense® Nasal Aspirator has a protective single-use filter that traps excess mucus, providing hygienic aspiration. The tip and base of the aspirator are easily removable for effective cleaning after each use. Unlike squeezable nasal aspirators, the hydraSense® Nasal Aspirator allows you to control the strength of the suction with your aspiration.

For best results, hyrdraSense recommends liquefying the mucus before using the hydraSense® Nasal Aspirator. This can be done by simply using hydraSense® Easydose, which comes in 5 mL doses and can be used twice daily, morning and evening, as part of baby's hygiene routine or 4-6 times a day when the symptoms of colds or allergies are present. You simply turn the tamper-proof tip of the vial to open, carefully place the tip in the nostril and apply 1-2 drops, pressing gently on the vial. Spray some on a tissue or a cotton ball and use it to wipe the baby's nostrils. You can even try hydraSense®Ultra-Gentle Mist with Comfort Tip, a nasal solution composed of isotonic, undiluted, sterile, 100% natural-source desalinated seawater which contains more than 70 trace elements and minerals naturally occurring in seawater and is preservative free.

Why not become a Dolphin Club member? If you sign up with hydraSense® to join their Dolphin Club, you will receive this exclusive club member kit for FREE!

Plus, you'll receive over $50 worth of products and rebates. And if you join by April 10, 2010, you'll be able to download an exclusive coupon. Once logged back into your account, enter the code MC2010 under the online coupons tab and you will get an $8 off coupon to be used towards the purchase of the hydraSense® Nasal Aspirator (Coupon itself expires December 31, 2010). Visit the hydraSense® site today to take advantage of this great offer.

* Disclosure * I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central and received a Mom Central gift pack to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Friday, March 19, 2010
1 Comments

"A Parent is Born" Blog Tour

Contest

As any new mom can testify, starting a new life with a newborn can be both exhilarating and also frightening. While you may feel overwhelmed with joy and excitement, there is still quite often the fear of the unknown. You might find yourself asking what you should do when the baby wakes up crying in the middle of the night. Or you might often worry about the transition back to work after your maternity leave is over. Whatever the situation may be, there may be consolation in knowing that you are not alone, and that millions of women over several generations have experienced similar concerns and asked similar questions. So who do we turn to for the answers? More than likely, you turn to experienced moms, those who've been through it all and those who are going through it right now. Their tips and advice can ease your worry and maybe even allow you that extra hour of sleep or two. That is why Pampers is working with Mom Central on a project entitled "A Parent is Born."

The aim of this project is to compile a list of useful tips for new and expecting Canadian moms. This list will be published in the Pampers Online Tips Sheet and 25 randomly selected entrants will receive a $20 gift card and one grand prize winner will receive a cash prize of $500! (Just in time for the holidays!) To enter, visit MomCentral and share your tips for any of these two categories:

1. How to Cope with Going Back to Work: Ways mom can prepare for the big day and ways to soothe the unease.

2. Baby/Mommy Sleep Tips: Tips on helping both Baby and mom sleep through the night.

Here are some tips I would like to share.

Topic 1: If you intend to return to work after having a baby and need a daycare, start looking at all the available options and put your name on as many waiting lists as you feel are worthwhile. You can always narrow down your choices at a later date but I found you can be on a waiting list for at least a year before a spot opens up. So I'd say start looking while the baby is still in utero.

Topic 2: I'm sure every mom can tell you that routine is key. (Keep late night activity to a minimum to avoid over stimulation; watch for the baby's cues such as rubbing his/her eyes, or in my son's case, sucking his fingers; turn the lights down low; consider a warm bath with calming lavender bubble bath and/or a massage before settling down to read a book.) For moms who nurse, you might want to try nursing in bed while lying down. My friend told me about it and it really made it easier for me to handle late night feedings.

If you have some advice you'd like to share on these two topics, be sure to place your entry before December 10, 2009 at midnight in order for a chance to win. This contest is opened to residents of Canada (excluding Quebec).

(Disclosure: I am participating in a Mom Central blog campaign and I received an Amazon.com gift certificate as a thank-you.)

Wednesday, December 02, 2009
0 Comments

A Link to a Great Giveaway

Giveaway

Thursday, November 26, 2009
0 Comments

"Moms Fight the Flu" Blog Tour

Healthy Living

During this crazy flu season, you might be one of those moms (or dads) who, like me, is constantly debating about what to do to help our kids be as healthy as possible. Now that my kids are both in daycare, with my eldest attending kindergarten as well, I often worry that they are now at more of a risk of catching the flu and other ailments.

This year we opted out of giving our children the flu vaccine as well as the H1N1 flu vaccine. I think the main reason we chose to do so is simply because our kids now have to get so many more vaccines than we did as children. It's scary to think about what is actually inside these vaccines (such as thimerosal in the hepatitis B vaccine) but it can be even scarier to think about what can happen if our children were to fall ill to the disease itself. I know this can be a very touchy subject but it is one that should be explored, discussed and debated until we can find a definitive answer, which could take a very long time if it is at all possible. It is thus my opinion that parents should do their own research if they are unsure of what to do, cover all our bases, so to speak. I know it can be time consuming and frustrating when you find information that conflicts, so it is handy to know which sources are most reliable and contain the most up-to-date information.

I was asked by Mom Central to participate in their blog tour to help make moms (and dads) aware of the resources provided by the Ontario Ministry of Health. Here are some of their helpful links that may aide in your decision-making process:

Updated flu clinic information

General flu information provided by the Ministry of Health

Online influenza assessment tool

(Disclosure: I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central, who will be sending out a "Fight the Flu" gift pack to the 20 bloggers who have to chosen to participate. Also, my name will be entered into a draw to win an Acer Notebook computer. So please keep your fingers crossed on my behalf!)