Toronto Teacher Mom: Mother's Day

Thank You, Mom! #LoveHallmarkCA

Saturday, May 11, 2019
25 Comments

Springtastic Gifts for Her from Hallmark

Hallmark Tote Coloblok Camel - Adventure Passport Holder Luggage Tag Set - Floral Grey Scarf #LoveHallmarkCA

Spring is in the air and so too is Mother Nature's calling to revitalize, rejuvenate and rejoice. After a long and stress-filled winter, I know I feel compelled to escape the everyday, indulge in some rest and relaxation, and celebrate the beauty of the season, which also happens to be replete with many a birthday. Luckily, I had a little help from Hallmark in finding the perfect gifts for my family and friends. First up is this beautiful Mark & Hall Camel Colorblock Tote Bag, featured above. Stripes are always fashionable and this handbag has the perfect blend of simplistic style and practicality. It's a steal at a special value of $14.95. Featuring comfortable shoulder straps and a reinforced bottom panel in attractive vegan leather, it pairs beautifully with a matching embossed luggage tag and passport holder set. We gifted this as a bon-voyage-slash-early-birthday gift for my sister-in-law who is living in Italy for a few months while she works on writing her cookbook. But it would also make a great gift for a graduate, honeymooning bride and groom, or a friend journeying abroad. We also threw in a botanical inspired Floral Grey Scarf, available at a special price of $9.95.

Hallmark Marjolein Bastin Bird, Butterfly and Floral Tea Towel, Accessory Bag and Garden Bag #LoveHallmarkCA

For my mother-in-law's birthday, we gifted her a pretty Marjolein Bastin Garden Bag ($34.94), which she plans to use as a tote. It has two outer pockets and a larger centre storage section that includes a zip pocket. The burlap-style canvas design creates a natural backdrop to the classic Marjolein Bastin garden scene of colourful flowers and bees, and it matches perfectly with the Bird Tea Towel ($9.95) I gave her for Mother's Day. And the Bird, Butterfly and Floral Accessory Bag ($16.95) is just as pretty! End-of-year teacher gift, anyone?

Hallmark Floral Print Snoopy Stuffed Animal - Happy Go Luckys Springtime #LoveHallmarkCA

For the littles celebrating springtime birthdays or kindergarten graduation, check out these new Happy Go Luckys mini plush toys ($12.95). The Springtime collection includes Twirp, the adorable chick, who is as mighty as he is little, his friend, Boe Kay the flower, who loves to brighten everyone's day and the street-smart gray bunny, Hip Hop, who bounces through the day with a style all his own. And of course, I can't forget Floral Print Floppy Snoopy ($12.95). This stuffed animal screams "spring" and is just begging for little hugs!

Hallmark Mother's Day Cards #LoveHallmarkCA

Of course, Hallmark is the perfect place to find the perfect greeting card. You can never go wrong with any of their Signature cards, decked with beautifully crafted embellishments. How do you pick just one?

Hallmark Just Chill Slippers - Crafters & Co Lavender Comfort Wrap - Glamour Water Bottle - Mark & Hall Gray Expanding Tote with Pouch Wristlet #LoveHallmarkCA

Finally, whether you're going away for the weekend or planning a staycation filled with yoga and meditation, don't forget to spoil yourself. Hallmark's Hot + Cold aromatherapy Lavender Comfort Wrap ($34.95) soothes, relaxes and rejuvenates achy shoulders, sore spots on lower and upper back or the tummy area for relief of uncomfortable cramps. It features a blend of aromatic herbs known and selected for their qualities to calm, soothe, and release stress, including flax seed, lavender, chamomile, peppermint, spearmint, lemon grass, rosemary, cinnamon and other natural ingredients. While you let the wrap do its thing, chill on the sofa in a pair of "Just Chill" lotus flower slippers. These fun and casual slippers are soft and cozy, and retail for $29.95. And remember to rehydrate and remind yourself that glamour has no age limit with a sassy 17-ounce water bottle, featuring a double-wall construction and a screw-top lid. Need somewhere to store them all while on your mini getaway? Check out their classic faux-leather Mark & Hall zippered tote. It features two decorative tassels, gold-tone expansion zippers and a bright floral-lined interior that makes it easy to find what you're looking for. It also includes a zippered interior pocket and a detachable zippered wristlet.

Giveaway

Want the perfect excuse to just chill? Enter for a chance to win a pair of "Just Chill" slippers, valued at $29.95. This giveaway is open to Canadian residents only, excluding Quebec, who have reached the age of majority. Please complete the Rafflecopter form below to be eligible to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Tuesday, June 05, 2018
19 Comments

Multi-Functional Gifts for Mom from Epson

Gift Guide

Epson EcoTank ET-2750 All-In-One Printer

If there's one factor that motivates my hunt for the perfect Mother's Day gift, practicality rules about 90 percent of the time. I often look for a gift that serves a purpose and won't otherwise collect dust or end up in storage after just one use. No, the pragmatic side of me cannot justify pulling out my digital wallet just for the sake of spending money. I would much rather give a sentimental gift, such as a handmade card or a photo album with pictures of the family. And if I can print my photos from home, all the better. As luck would have it, I have been testing out the Epson EcoTank ET-2750 All-In-One Printer for the past couple of weeks and, if you're looking for the ultimate tech gift for your multi-tasking mom, check out this practical gift idea.

One of the best features of the Epson EcoTank 2750 is the size of the unit. Unlike the Epson Expression EcoTank ET-3600, this smaller model takes up less desk space and features a minimalist design. It has a small colour LCD display on an adjustable front panel and you can see the ink levels from the front, as opposed to the side of the printer. It has a paper capacity of 100 sheets and loads from the top, making it more convenient to switch from printer paper to photo paper. This also makes it easier to see when you need to reload.

Epson EcoTank ET-2750 All-In-One Printer ink tank

The ET-2750 would make an ideal for Mother's Day because it's the gift that keeps on giving. It has an automatic double-sided feature to help save paper, making it a great gift for the eco-conscious mom. And I cannot tell you how much I love cartridge-free printing. It comes with up to two years of ink so mom won't have to worry about buying additional ink for quite some time. The specifications indicate that, with the ink provided in the box, the ET-2750 can print up to 6,500 pages in black or 5,200 in Colour, which is roughly the equivalent of 30 ink cartridge sets.

Epson EcoTank ET-2750 All-In-One Printer ink

Filling your EcoTank 2750 is easy, especially when you find the handy notch near the top of the plastic packaging. Simply tear and voilà! No need for scissors.

To fill the ink tank, you need to lift the scanner unit and follow the instructions on the "Start Here" guide. After you remove the bottle cap, you will notice that the top of the bottle fits the filling port of ink tank reservoir perfectly, like a puzzle piece.

Once positioned according the instructions, you can sit back and wait while the ink flows into the tank. It stops automatically when the ink is filled to the upper line. How smart is that! The bottles even come with a little of extra ink so you can top off the ink after running the initial print tests to calibrate and reset ink levels.

For the multi-tasking mom who juggles it all, the Epson Expression ET-2750 EcoTank All-in-One Supertank Printer can help lighten the load, one print, fax and scan at a time. And from virtually anywhere, too, thanks to the convenience of wireless printing. It is currently listed at $379.99, which is much more affordable than the ET-3600, but if you're looking for a more budget-friendly Mother's Day gift, have a look at the following printers by Epson.

Epson Expression XP-6000 Small-in-One Printer - $149.99
For the Crafternoon Mom

Crafty moms will love the printer’s superior photo quality, fast prints speeds and a sleek design. The Expression XP-6000 can print a 4” x 6” photo in as fast as 15 seconds and its auto-photo correction and red-eye removal ensures perfect photos every time. This reminds me of the Epson Expression Premium XP-630 that printed amazing photos.

Epson WorkForce Pro WF-2860 All-In-One Printer - $129.99

For the Boss Mom

Powered by PrecisionCore printing technology, the space-saving WF-2860 delivers laser-quality prints and features a 150-sheet paper capacity and a 30-page Auto Document Feeder. Its network-free wireless printing allows mom to print directly from her laptop, tablet or phone. Whether preparing a brochure, a client report or an invite for a family party, the WorkForce Pro WF-2860 will help mom get the job done.

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

Tuesday, May 08, 2018
7 Comments

Hallmark Knows Moms

Gift Guide

With Mother's Day approaching, I am really looking forward to celebrating this special day with my family. The kids usually bring home a creative craft or a one-of-a-kind card that they made at school and spoil me with hugs and kisses. It's also the perfect reason to visit their nonna and then make the drive to Hamilton to spend some time with my parents and the rest of my family. We don't travel to Hamilton nearly enough so these special occasions are extra precious because, well... I miss my mom. And my dad, of course. It is also when we celebrate my son's birthday since it falls so close to Mother's Day, making it even more special. Plus, my mom makes the best barbecue - pork chops, homemade sausage, chicken. I can't wait!

As much as I love spending a Mother's Day barbecue with my family, I do feel guilty that my mom spends all morning preparing for the barbecue, even though she is used to hosting. She isn't getting any younger and her arthritis is only getting worse. So when I received an invitation to attend a special Mother's Day wrapping party hosted by Hallmark Canada and Rick Campanelli, I didn't even bat an eye. There were so many beautiful gifts on display and guests were invited to pick out a gift for mom. It turned out to be harder than I thought, since Hallmark managed to throw together an incredible collection of Mother's Day gift ideas. Did you know they carry jewelry? Check out the gorgeous set of rose gold plated filigree heart bracelets above.

For my mom, I ended up picking out a set of super comfy "Just Chill" slippers, which are perfect for her since she is always on her feet and really needs to learn to relax and let someone pamper her for a change. They pair nicely with this pretty Marjolein Bastin Bird Butterfly and Floral Zip Pouch.

When it came to wrapping up our gifts, there were so many options from which to choose. Thankfully, we had a wall full of ideas to inspire us. And Rick, of course, who was on hand and ready to roll up his sleeves to help out with the wrapping. Did you know he is originally from Hamilton, like moi? It was so fun chatting with him about our hometown while putting final touches on our Mother's Day gifts. Stay tuned as I share more of my #LoveHallmarkCA Mother's Day gift ideas and a giveaway, too!

Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by Hallmark Canada. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Monday, May 07, 2018
4 Comments

There are a Million Reasons to Celebrate Mom #LoveHallmarkCA

Gift Guide

Mother's Day Gift Ideas from Hallmark #LoveHallmarkCA

"There are a million reasons to celebrate you. Mother's Day is a million and one."

To be honest, I don't think we should celebrate moms on Mother's Day. We should celebrate them every day. For this reason, I tend not to make a big fuss over what to get for my mother for Mother's Day. The one thing I will guarantee is that I take the family to pay her a visit. Sometimes I buy flowers. Sometimes I buy a card. Sometimes I buy nothing at all. You see, my mother and I are close enough to know that we love each other and will do anything for each other no matter what. And we don't wait for that one day of the year to prove it. But then sometimes, you come across a really sweet gift at Hallmark that you just can't resist, whether it's a pretty picture frame, a tea towel or a sentimental card that perfectly captures your feelings. So whether I buy it for her for Mother's Day or for no reason it all, it makes very little difference.

This Mother's Day, Hallmark has rounded up some gifts and Signature cards to help show mom you care. Featured above is their Blue Ceramic Mug with Tea Infuser that has a removable lid and a ceramic infuser basket that can be used with bagged or loose tea. This mug, which is dishwasher safe, is listed at $24.95. Also above is the "Never Tell a Mom" Framed Print on gold foil paper background inside of a gold frame. It features an easel back for tabletop display and retails for $14.95.

Mother's Day Gift Ideas from Hallmark - Catalina Estrada - #LoveHallmarkCA

To brighten up mom's day, check out Hallmark's new Catalina Estrada collection. Featuring exotic floral accents, bright colours and exotic designs inspired by nature, there are so many gifts ideas in this collection, from cosmetic bags and cuff bracelets to scented candles and tote bags. My personal favourite is the Catalina Estrada Hummingbird Haven Umbrella that includes a sleeve for storage. The ceramic picture frame seen above is also really pretty and retails for $19.95.

Looking for a simple and creative way to wrap up mom's gift? Check out this nifty video tutorial:

Enter to Win a Catalina Estrada Bundle!

One lucky reader will win a Catalina Estrada bundle from Hallmark Canada. It includes:

1x Catalina Estrada Umbrella ($24.95)
1x Catalina Estrada Candle ($22.95)
1x Catalina Estrada Cuff Bracelet ($14.95)

This giveaway is open to residents of Canada, excluding Quebec. For a chance to win, please complete the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was sent product from Hallmark Canada as part of their Hallmark Blogger Panel to help facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Saturday, May 13, 2017
44 Comments

A Mom Cave Makeover With Twistos

Giveaway

Alright, moms! Raise your hands if you have ever longed for your own space strictly dedicated to winding down after a long day.

That's what I thought.

We love our families and our role as a mother but let's face it. Sometimes we need to get a little selfish and reward ourselves with some me-time. Yet, where do we escape to find some solitude and relaxation? Have you thought of creating your very own Mom Cave? It's something I've been dreaming about for a while, a personal oasis where I can indulge in peace while recouping my sanity. Right now, all I have is a corner in this room, or a corner in that room, but no place to call my own. It gets a little frustrating, too, knowing that I have to keep changing my hiding place for those special snacks or treats that I turn to after a difficult day at work.

I have thought about storing my personal snacks in a box labeled "cleaning supplies" because we all know no one in my family would ever go near those. But then, I find I'm inhaling my snacks when no one is looking instead of savouring them at leisure, snacks such as my coveted granola bars or my favourite flavour of Twistos® Baked Snack Crackers - Parmesan & Garlic. The savoury flavour combined with the crispy texture makes Twistos® an ideal snack to enjoy while lounging in the Mom Cave.

Since Twistos® brand believes that moms should have the time at the end of the day to escape and unwind, Twistos® brand has rewarded one hard-working mother with a mom cave makeover. Because if anyone deserves to indulge in an oasis of relaxation, it’s moms.

Here is Monique's Mom Cave Makeover story:

If you enjoy savouring delicious Twistos® while you escape from the everyday, you will delight in knowing that Twistos® has introduced TWO new delicious flavours: ‘Toasted Garlic and Rosemary’ and ‘Garden Dill & Cream Cheese’. These new flavours are available wherever Twistos® Baked Snack Cracker products are sold.

Giveaway

To celebrate Mother’s Day and the superhero efforts of Canadian moms, Twistos® has offered up a special Twistos® Mom Cave prize pack. It is valued at approximately $400 and includes:

Twistos® product
$100 Urban Barn gift card

Monday, May 02, 2016
125 Comments

Bonds in Bloom Mother's Day Event at Glama Gal Tween Spa

For Girls

"An empowering afternoon to celebrate the bond between us and the most important women in our lives."

Last month, I joined a glamtastic group of bloggers as part of a fun Glama Gal Tween Spa Glambassador program. I had never before been to a Glama Gal spa but really connected with their belief that inner beauty is far more important than outer beauty. Plus, I have a tween who loves to get her nails done so it was a perfect fit! For our first experience, my daughter and I were invited to participate in the Bonds in Bloom Mother's Day event at the Toronto location not far from Yorkdale Mall.

Aside from the glamorous pink, black and white décor, one of the first things I noticed upon entering was the myriad of positive messages that adorned the walls. They focused on being confident, being positive and being yourself. Soon afterwards, we were ushered to our first of five stations - the hairpiece creation station. We were able to choose a headband, a bow or a floral clip and additional bling which a station leader offered to adhere for us using a glue gun. My daughter is a craft-a-holic so this station was right up her alley.

At the next station, we were offered a lavender facial refresher - slices of cucumber for the eyes and a lavender facial spray. My daughter felt a little uncomfortable at the idea of having anything applied to her face. This is not unusual as she will often refuse to wear makeup of any sort. Thus, she politely declined. She was much more excited to get her nails done. And I must say, this next station was simply fabulous! We began by selecting our nail polish colours (yes, they carry Piggy Paint!) and then soaked our hands in a lovely scented rose petal bath. We even had pretty designs painted, too!

Next, we made our way over to an adjoining room with a beautifully set dinner table to enjoy mock-Mimosas and munch on scrumptious Belgian waffles topped with an array of fresh fruit.

The smile on my daughter's face was proof positive that this Bonds in Bloom event was a perfect way to celebrate Mother's Day together while strengthening the special bond between the two of us.

At the final station, my daughter filled a keepsake box which she intended to give to her grandmother with motivational messages, special coupons and reasons why she loves her so much. She really put a lot of thought into it.

Sunday, May 18, 2014
6 Comments

Mother's Day Gift Guide - Breville Appliances on Sale at The Bay!

Appliances

Thursday, May 08, 2014
2 Comments

Mother's Day Gift Guide - Kobo Arc eReaders

Ereader

Wednesday, May 07, 2014
10 Comments

Give Mom the Gift of a CAA Membership #CAARewards

CAA Rewards

What do you get for the mom who has pretty much everything she needs? If you're like my mom, then you buy what you need when you need it and/or when it's on sale. She has always been practical that way. This makes it especially difficult to find the perfect gift that won't end up getting stored away in the basement, like that ice cream maker we bought for her one year. A useful gift makes more sense and for moms who drive, the gift of a CAA membership couldn't be more sensible. Not only will she be protected with Roadside Assistance at any time of day but she will also benefit from exclusive shopping discounts and special offers from some of her favourite retailers. Having been a Primary CAA Member since I got married nearly ten years ago, I can speak from experience how handy it has been to have a membership. We have taken advantage of Battery Assist with at least two battery replacements and multiple battery boosting service calls. Plus, it has offered me much peace of mind while on the road, especially since I travel a lot with the kids to visit family and friends in my hometown.

Knowing that my mom has always been there for me and has made so many sacrifices to take care of her family, it only seems fitting to take of her for a change. And I am sure many of you feel the same way, too. Did you know that for every CAA gift membership you purchase, both the person who buys the gift and the person you are giving it to will each receive a gift? You will both receive a handy trunk organizer filled with goodies. (A hunky handyman to organize your trunk not included.)

Also, starting today, CAA members can enjoy special savings with some pretty awesome online deals. For example,

Save 25% off everything at Roots until April 27.
Save 20% off handbags and enjoy free shipping at Naturalizer unil April 30.
Save 25% off women's clothing at Bloomingdales until April 27.
Buy 3 get 3 free at the Body Shop until April 27.

In addition, visit caarewards.ca from May 1-7 and enjoy 15% off your Toms purchase when you use the code LOVEMOM at checkout. You will also receive 9% back in CAA Dollars!

And don't forget to save the date! CAASCO will be hosting a #CAAchat Twitter party on May 6 from 12pm to 1pm EST.

As if that isn't enough exciting news for you, CAASCO is giving away a $500 VISA gift card. The contest runs from April 24 to May 8 and you must submit your entries using the Rafflecopter form below.