Everyone needs Mom!

Deals February 11th, 2014

2014-02-11T06:29:00.001-08:00

e.l.f. Cosmetics Coupon Codes: Save 50% On Everything!

e.l.f Cosmetics has a new hot deal right now! Get 50% off SITE-WIDE when you spend a minimum value of $30.00 at e.l.f. Cosmetics. Enter the coupon code FB600K at checkout to get your discount. Maximum discount is $100. This e.l.f Cosmetics offer is valid online until Wednesday, February 12, 2014 only.
Also, get FREE e.l.f cosmetics shipping in Canada: Do not log into your e.l.f Cosmetics account. Use Paypal as your payment option at check out. It will show $8.00, but if you proceed to the next step it will not show the $8 in your final bill.
Click here to get this e.l.f Cosmetics offer online now.

Walmart Canada: 8 or 12 Piece Wine Glass Sets For $9.97

If you are in need of new wine glasses, there are currently a couple of good deals available from Walmart Canada. An eight piece set of Elation glasses, 16 oz/473 ml capacity, 9″ tall, is currently $9.97. Also there is a twelve piece set from Libbey available for $9.97. The Libbey glasses are 10.75oz./318mL. Check the store availability to purchase these at a Walmart near you.

If you wish to purchase these glasses online, click the links below:

Gourmandize Canada Freebie: FREE Custom Cookbook and Personalized Apron and FREE Shipping

Hurry! Only 1000 Gourmandize FREEBIES available! Gourmandize is starting off the new year with a double FREE deal!
Follow these simple steps to claim your Gourmandize Free Items:

Sign up
Add 40 of your personal recipes
Order your FREE cookbook
Once you have placed your order, send an email to contact@gourmandize.com or use their online form to provide the following information:
- Your username
- The text you would like on your personalized apron
** All of the aprons are burgundy color with white text of your choice.

You will receive your personalized apron and cookbook from Gourmandize completely free of charge, including shipping.
There are only 1000 of these available so act fast! It is confirmed that this offer is available in Canada. Sugar and spice and all good things come twice.
Click here to get your FREEBIES from Gourmandize!

Deals February 10, 2014

2014-02-10T07:45:00.000-08:00

Treat yourself or someone special with the Burt’s Bees Welcome Back Grab Bag. Spend only $25 for a Burt’ Bees Grab Bag worth $70.
This Burt’s Bees Grab Bag is a thank you for waiting for the Burt’s Bees website to be live again. The Grab Bag contains some of Burt’s Bees most popular items. They have packed it with 7 full sized items and samples.
The Burt’s Bees Welcome Back Grab Bag contains:

Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm with Kokum Butter
Cranberry and Pomegranate Replenishing Body Bar
Milk and Shea Butter Body Wash
Naturally Nourishing Milk and Honey Body Lotion
Lip Gloss (Ruby Moon)
Tinted Lip Balm (Rose)
Gud Floral Cherrynova Body Ltion
Plus samples of Burt’s Bees new Brightening Face Care

You will also enjoy FREE Standard Shipping on any order over $49 (before taxes and after discounts). Otherwise your shipping is going to be around $$7.50 for ground shipping. This offer will only be available for a limited time! Click here to purchase your Burt’s Bees Welcome Back Grab Bag for only $25.

Shop at Bench and enjoy up to 70% off selected styles! This Bench offer is valid online and in-stores excluding the Bench outlet stores. Prices will be reflected at checkout.
Some of the Bench styles on sale for up to 70% off are:

Barbeque Fairisle Geo Jacket regularly $139.00 now only $49.99
BBQ Jacket regularly $129.00 now only $99.99
Men’s Dicohound T Shirt regularly $29.00 now only $9.99
Edeneast GeniusBis Pouch regularly $29.00 now only $9.99
and more!

You will also receive FREE Standard Shipping on any order over $99 before taxes and after discounts. It took me about 5 business days to receive my order last time.
Shop at Bench and receive up to 70% off selected styles here!

Head over to Gucci’s Facebook page to request your FREE sample of Gucci Guilty Intense Fragrance for Men or Women! Simply follow the link provided below and fill out the quick and simple form to receive your Gucci Freebie.
Click here to head over to Gucci’s Facebook page. Scroll down and fill out the form to receive your FREE Sample of Gucci Guilty fragrance.

Browns Shoes Canada has a hot semi-annual sale right now! Get up to 70% off selected styles plus save an extra 20% on selected sale items. This Browns Shoes sale is valid online and in-store for a limited time only or while supplies last.
Click here to get this Browns Shoes Canada semi-annual sale online.
Click here to find Browns Shoes Canada store near you.

Review Polysporin Excema Care

2014-02-09T20:23:00.001-08:00

Well I have to admit this winter has been a harsh one. I know I live in Canada and winter is part of who we are, but seriously this one has been wicked, especially when you are a victim of Excema !

My daughter has suffered from Excema /psoriasis for many years and we have never really been able to find a product to help her. We have seen doctors and dermatologists, and tried every cream on the market, but to no avail.

Her biggest struggle has been not giving into the itch. Once she starts scratching there is no stopping it.

So when the opportunity arose for me to test and review Polysporin's new Excema care line, we were more then willing.

Their products include :

ECZEMA ESSENTIALS™ Daily Moisturizing Cream

ECZEMA ESSENTIALS™ Daily Body Wash

ECZEMA ESSENTIALS™ Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream

I was skeptical at first because of so many prescription creams that have never worked for us, but I have to say that after a week of using these products we really noticed an improvement!

Much less redness and itch and the patch itself has shrunk to almost half it's size!

We have now been using it for about 3 weeks and we are still very happy with the results!

This has been the first thing we have tried that has helped consistently. The three step process ensures that the Excema stays moisturized at all times.

We couldn't be happier and we just purchased our next supply of all three products!

Thank you Polysporin!

“Disclosure: I am part of the the POLYSPORIN® EczemaEssentialsTM Blogger Campaign with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

January 29th, 2014 Deals!

2014-01-29T06:03:00.000-08:00

Chapters Indigo Canada Deal: Monster DNA In-Ear Headphones For Only $50 Online + Free Shipping

Here is an online exclusive deal from Chapters Indigo! You can currently purchase the Monster DNA In-Ear Headphones for only $50. They regularly retail for $120 so you are saving about 58% on this item.
With the pure Monster DNA Sound, you won’t have to choose between deep bass or crystal clear details. The sounds are distinct and separate which makes your music listening experience more clear, fresh and rich.
These Monster DNA In-Ear headphones are compatible with iPhones and Android SmartPhones. They also claim to be tangle free.
You will also enjoy FREE Standard Shipping on any order over $25 from Chapters Indigo.

Click here to get all Chapters Indigo offers.

Dickies Canada Promotional Code: Save 40% Off Safety Footwear + Free Shipping On Any Order Over $75

Here is an awesome offer from Dickies Canada! Shop online at Dickies and receive 40% off any Safety Boots! Simply enter the promotional code BOOTS40 at check out to receive your discount.
Using this Dickies Promotional Code you can purchase a pair of Safety Boots for as low as $59.99. That’s a pretty sweet deal! It looks like this promotional code only applies to Men’s style Dickies Safety Footwear, but just a little hint for the ladies: A man size is approximately two sizes larger than a females size. So just order a pair of Men’s shoes and add pink shoe laces or something :)
You will also receive FREE Standard Shipping on any order over $75.
Shop online at Dickies and receive 40% off Safety Footwear by using the promotional code BOOTS40 here.

HitFilm 2 Express Canada Full Program for FREE

For a limited time, you can get HitFilm 2 Express for absolutely FREE! Take advantage of this offer until February 4th 2014 because the regular retail value of this HitFilm 2 Express is a whopping $149!
All you have to do is share the HitFilm 2 Express FREE Offer on Facebook or Twitter to receive your free download. You share other things like massive amounts of game invites, so why not share this! Grab your camera (or SmartPhone), add some effects, and share your movie too!
This is the full HitFilm 2 Express program, not just a limited time trial. They also offer some free video tutorials to get you started. You might as well download it just to say you have tried it.
Get your free HitFilm 2 Express here.

McDonald’s Canada Offers: 20-Piece Chicken McNuggets Fan Pack Only $13.99 HOT

Share the moment with Mcdonald’s Restaurants! Right now you can enjoy the 20-Piece Chicken McNuggets Fan Pack for only $13.99 at participating McDonald’s Restaurants. The Fan Pack includes:

20 Chicken McNuggets
2 Medium Fries
2 Medium Drinks
2 Cookies
2 Sochi 2014 Coca-Cola Pins

This offer is for a limited time only, so bring home the gold with this ultimate Mcdonalds Fan pack for only $13.99 from participating locations.
Click here for more information on this current McDonald’s promotion.

La Senza Canada Offers: All Bras Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off

La Senza Canada has good offers.

All bras buy 1 get 1 50% off. This offer is valid on selected styles of equal or lesser value.
Get cotton panties, 5 for $27.
Get Free shipping on orders of $65+, Enter the promo code VDAY14.

Click here to get La Senza online Collections.

Tuesday January 28th, 2014 Deals!

2014-01-28T09:16:00.000-08:00

Via Rail Canada Special Offer Discount Tuesday

Via Rail Canada has incredible savings offered every Tuesday – escape fares are discounted on certain routes. Big savings available for 24 hours only.
Buy your ticket before midnight today Tuesday, January 28, 2014. Travel between Wednesday, January 29 and Tuesday, February 4, 2014, inclusive.

Lovable Labels

Want to try Lovable Labels for free? Like them on Facebook and they’ll mail you a free personalized label!
Lovable labels is a family-run labeling business. They have labels that include Regular and Slimline Stickers, Shoe Labels, Iron-on and Bag Tags. They are bright colorful. The Regular and Slimline labels are microwave and dishwasher safe, the Iron-on labels stay put in the washer and dryer, the Shoe Labels have an extra strength adhesive to ensure they won’t come off and the Bag Tags are made of a durable and flexible plastic.
That’s a nice little freebie from Lovable Labels that probably won’t last for long so hurry before it sends.
Click here to get your FREE personalized Lovable Label

Toys R Us Canada (Toysrus.ca) Clearance Deals on Disney Toys, Learning, Boardgames, Outdoors & More

Toys R Us Canada has a huge clearance event on many items including:

ToysRUs.ca shipping is free on purchases of $99 or more which isn’t that great but keep in mind this clearance sale is also valid in-store at all Toys R Us stores Canada wide.

Thai Express Free product coupon!!!

2014-01-27T13:40:00.002-08:00

Thai Express Quebec Canada Offers: Free Product Coupon!!

Thai Express is giving away 1000 Free Product Coupons each week. You are allowed to print one coupon per person. This is valid in Quebec only. These Free Product Coupons for Thai Express can only be used at IGA, Metro and Super C in Quebec.
Please allow around 4 to 6 weeks for delivery.
Get your Free Product Coupon for Thai Express Quebec here.

They are sold out for this week it seems! Not surprising as this is a hot one! Make sure you check back every week to snag yours!

MORE DEALS!

2014-01-27T11:49:00.000-08:00

Gap Canada has awesome online offer. Take 40% off regular price styles + 50% off sale styles. This Gap Canada offer is valid online on Monday, January 27, 2014 at 12:00 am ET to Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at 11:59 pm ET in Canada only. Enter the coupon code GAPMORE at checkout to get your discount. Additional restrictions and exclusions apply.

Best Buy Canada: Hasbro Lazer Tag Single Blaster Pack $14.99 (Reg $49.99)

Best Buy have Hasbro’s Lazer Tag Single Blaster Pack on clearance for $14.99, regular $49.99.
Experience fun, action-packed lazer tag combat with Lazer Tag Blasters. You can plug your iOS device into the laser gun to view leaderboards, vitals, and weapon information as you head out to do battle in a mighty game of laser tag.

Virtual firing range of over 250 feet
Blaster contains a ‘Heads Up Display’, or HUD, so players can keep track of their gear and remaining power,
HUD also provides a view of the targets and enemies in the area
A virtual leaderboard keeps track of each player’s profile
With every successful mission, players will gain in-game access to upgradeable attacks, missions and gear

They also have the twin pack on sale, but it is cheaper to buy two single sets. This deal is available in-store and online.

Garage Canada Offers: Get up to $30 Off Your Purchase

Garage Canada has 2 days left for the online exclusive offers. This offer is valid online only until Tuesday, January 28, 2014. at 6:00 am E.S.T.

Get $10 off $50
Get $20 off $75
Get $30 off $100

This Garage offer applies to regular priced merchandise and to sale merchandise. Discount will be automatically applied at checkout.

Monday January 27th, Well.ca deals!

2014-01-27T07:02:00.001-08:00

Good morning readers!

Here are this mornings deals! Catch them while they are hot!

Well.ca sales this week are:

Save 25% on Jamieson Vitamins & Supplements Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 25% on Philips Grooming & Sonicare Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save up to 25% on Bar Soaps Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 40% on Physicians Formula Face Makeup Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 20% on select Badger Balm Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 15% on Nuts to You Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 15% on Great Gifts for Valentine's Day Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 20% on Burt's Bees Baby Bee Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 15% on Lip Balms Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 20% on Foxy Originals Jewellery Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 20% on Aura Cacia Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 20% on Mistura Cosmetics Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 15% on Enjoy Life Snacks & Bars Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 20% on Stash Tea Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 15% on Crofter's Organic Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 20% on Traditional Medicinals Tea Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 10% on Canadian Heritage Maple Syrup Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 10% on Stonewall Kitchen Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 20% on Pamela's Gluten Free Foods Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 15% on Just Juice Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save up to 30% on Finish Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save up to 30% on Lysol Cleaning Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save up to 30% on Air Wick Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 15% on Northern Lights Light Therapy Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 20% on Sukin Skincare Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 20% on Urban Spa Bath Accessories Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 20% on Dove Men + Care Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 20% on Druide Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 25% on Clliniderm Skincare Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 20% on EO Hand Soap & Sanitizers Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 20% on Lafe's Deodorant & Dry Shampoo Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 20% on Seche Nail Polish Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 20% on Weleda Cold Cream & Lip Balm Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 25% on Durex Sale ends Feb 2, 2014*

Save 20% on BIOS Scales Sale ends Jan 31, 2014*

Save 15% on Gaiam Health & Wellness Products Sale ends Jan 31, 2014*

If you are a new well.ca customer, use coupon code every12014 at checkout to save $10 when you spend $40 or more. Shipping is free when you spend $25 or more!!

A new branch! Who likes to save money?!

2014-01-24T06:41:00.000-08:00

Who likes to save money? I know I do!

We have all read those articles and watched those TV shows where people get hundreds of dollars of things for pennies after using coupons and searching for deals. Well although I cannot promise you that, I can promise you a new list of deals and savings that I will post on my blog every morning!

I very rarely buy anything unless on sale. I cannot remember the last time I paid full price for anything to be honest.

So instead of you searching the internet for great savings, I, your honorable blogger will do the searching for you!

I think it will be fun to see how much money we can all save! Stay tuned each morning to see what I can find!

Please also feel free to post your own findings, and don't forget to tell us how much you have saved!

Is it just me?

2014-01-22T05:54:00.000-08:00

So here I am caught in this vicious circle. I swore as one of my many New Years resolutions that I would take better care of myself. My mental plan looked like this:

Wake up at 6:30 every morning and shower, get dressed, and do my hair and makeup. Maybe even throw in some Yoga if I'm feeling adventurous. Afterwards prepare my daughter and hubby some breakfast and send them off.

Sit down and enjoy my coffee and breakfast ( which I also resolved to eat every morning) in peace until 8 am when I wake up my son.

This way I am ready and refreshed to face the day head on!

Well......

Let's just say the only time I have seen 6:30 am is when I am turning over and pulling up the covers in bed.....

Even though every day I regret not getting up and starting my day early, I just cannot seem to do it....

I am then forced to feel tired and icky all day until nap time when I can finally take a shower.

Everywhere I look, people are talking about the importance of moms having ME time...well here is how I see it:

When we are not taking care of kids, or husbands, or cleaning, we need to worry about if our legs, pits and other areas are too hairy, we need to make sure we pluck our eyebrows so they don't look like caterpillars... are my roots showing? Oh I need to blow dry my hair before it frizzes. Do I need to bleach my upper lip? Do I have a stray chin hair that somebody could mistaken for a beard? Am I using enough moisturizer? Oh no I used too much now I'm breaking out....Did I put on deodorant today?

Honestly with that kind of to do list who has time to relax? When we finally get those precious minutes to ourselves this is the checklist that runs through our heads.

And the men??

hmm.....

5 minute shower, rinse shampoo out, get dressed....leave...

So I am trying to find a way to balance it all out....kill this vicious circle I am in, and also writing up a petition that it should now be socially acceptable for women to have hairy legs, caterpillar eyebrows, mustaches, beards, chin hairs, and frizzy hair!

Anyone have any ideas?

Anyone wanna sign my petition ;)

Imagination!

2013-11-27T07:12:00.000-08:00

Every now and then I will be doing the dishes or cleaning up and I will hear my son in the playroom playing with his action figures. It always amazes me how much they actually absorb from the world around them. I can hear him sending the Daddy off to work, telling the little ones that he will be back home soon and that he will miss them.
He knows the firemen protect the families and are always quick to arrive and save cats from trees.
He knows that the Mommy works hard and really loves her babies, and sings them songs before bed.

It is truly amazing to see the world through a child's eyes.
So when I was asked to review the Imaginext Rescue City Centre, I jumped at the chance! What a great way for kids to use their imagination.

As soon as we received it I knew he would have a blast!

This was a refreshing toy, that steered away from the fighting and shooting action figures and really lets the kids engage in innocent imagination.

I have to say he plays with this Rescue City Center for a few hours a day, as we know sometimes the toys our kids have get played with for 5 minutes and they move onto the next. But this one has really captured his interest. There are interactive sounds and lights, and so many possibilities!

It comes with two action figures, a firetruck and lots of accessories. I think his favorite part is locking up the bad guys in the jail cell!

This toy is a definite winner in our house and if you are looking for a gift for your kids for Christmas this one certainly makes it into my top 10. #ImaginextAdventures

You can also have the chance to win 1 of 5 300$ Imaginext Prize packs including:

Imaginext Rescue City Centre
Imaginext Mega Apatasaurus
Imaginext Eagle Talon Castle
Imaginext Batcave

Just head over to this page http://www.fisher-price.com/en_CA/brands/Imaginext/index.html www.imaginextadventure.com

Good luck to everyone and stay tuned for more Christmas gift ideas for the whole family coming up all month!

“Disclosure: I am part of the Fisher-Price Imaginext Blogger Campaign with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

It's almost that time!

2013-11-26T06:29:00.000-08:00

Does anyone else out there feel like every year passes faster and faster then the last? I swear I feel like we were just swimming in our pool having a BBQ and with a blink of an eye we are a month away from Christmas.

The snow will be arriving this week with our first storm of the season predicted for tomorrow and before we know it, we will be celebrating the New Year.

Each year we try to instill old traditions and new ones as well into our Christmas time fun. This year we went to see the CP Rail Holiday train and even though it was really cold we had such a great time!

They collect donations for the food bank in whichever city they have stopped and the fully lit up train opens up into a wonderful musical party for about a half hour!

Santa comes out of the train and visits with the children for pictures and hands out Candy canes, there are real live firetrucks and firemen for the kids to see. It really is an amazing event and I cannot wait to continue this tradition every year! Even my 14 year old had fun!

This is a picture of one of the cars that were lit up, but there were so many gorgeous ones!

Look at the look on P's face! It really shows the magic of Christmas through a child's eyes! He is so happy here!

As we start the month of December I will be reviewing some of the latest and greatest toys that made it on our Christmas lists this year and years past as well so stay tuned we have lots of holiday fun and tradition coming your way! Contests and giveaways too!

Mom Guilt.......

2013-10-02T07:11:00.000-07:00

We all had the moments before we had kids, when we would judge parents, a crying baby in a restaurant or a 3 year old having a tantrum in a store.....my kids will never act like that we would say....why is that mother giving in to him? I would never....

Well time for a reality check.....

Truth is, we do the best we can. That is all we can do. I try to understand why we all judge each other, even after we have kids about who is doing what wrong.

I am sure my friends and family are sick of hearing me say "do what works for you" but I just cannot say it enough.

We criticize each other on everything we do, whether we breast feed or bottle feed, whether we co-sleep or not, whether that baby is walking or talking when they are "supposed" to. It's ridiculous. If we spent as much time supporting each other as we do criticizing, the world would be a fantastic place.

Now I'm not suggesting we don't give each other advice about things that have worked for us,I strongly believe that parenting is about trial and error. We learn as we go, there is no manual to how this works. We just do what we can to the best of our abilities.

When my son was born I was very lucky that he was a good sleeper, but some nights weren't so easy, in fact some weeks weren't easy. There were nights that he co-slept with us because it was the only way we could sleep at all. Does that mean I am doing it wrong?

He used a pacifier at bedtime up until last week and he is 3, am I wrong to have "Allowed" that to happen?

If there is one thing I have learned being a parent, is that every child is different, they all have their own time line for milestones and eventually they all will start school with no pacifier, no diaper and will be walking and talking.

By the time they hit high school, they will no longer be breastfeeding and will be sleeping in their beds through the night. So let's stop trying to do things the "right" way, let's stop worrying about what other people think and let's just enjoy our kids.

When you see that Mom in the store giving into a tantrum, smile at her. Let her know that sometimes its OK to just want to finish a shopping trip in peace. When that baby in the restaurant is crying and screaming, send the parents a cup of coffee, it is probably the first time in awhile they have gotten out of the house.

It is ok to not do things the same way as the Mom next door, or even the way your very own Mom did it.

Just do what works for you, at the end of the day it is you and your family that matter. Be happy and enjoy the ride, these kids grow up way too fast to not embrace every moment!

Testing Tuesday

2013-10-01T06:43:00.000-07:00

So I know I was doing posts call Pin-Thursdays, where I would test a pin from Pinterest but doesn't Testing Tuesdays sound better? So here we go!

As I mentioned yesterday we made my husband some Birthday cookies and where else would I turn to find a delicious recipe?

Why Pinterest of course! Make sure you check out our Pins and feel free to send me any that you would like to see my try out! Here is the link to my Pinterest page:

Everyone Needs Mom Pinterest Page

I just started yesterday so please bear with me on the few pins I have up!

So back to testing!
This is the recipe that I tested:
http://www.iheartnaptime.net/pudding-cookies/

I pretty much had everything on hand with the exception of the box of Vanilla pudding mix, so it was pretty straight forward from there. I left them in the oven about 11 mins but basically watched for the browning of the bottoms for the last 2 mins.
And drumroll pls.........

These are soooooo good! You can really taste the creamy vanilla pudding. Definitely a Pin-Sucess!!

I would also like to announce the Winner of the 100 days to Christmas e-book.

Sandra Haydon

Congrats to you and keep an eye on your email inbox for your copy!

Remember folks, watch my Facebook page and my posts to catch some great giveaways!

Is it Fall already?

2013-09-30T06:35:00.001-07:00

Wow tomorrow will be October 1st! Where has the time gone?? I remember when I was younger, the days, months and years would pass so slowly. I would always hear my older family members say "The days and weeks just fly by" I would mumble under my breath " I guess you haven't just spend the WHOLE day at school with double math...."

Little did I know years down the line I would be repeating the same words they did on a weekly basis! Weeks fly by, weekends even faster. But now I am seeing the seasons fly by, with of course the exception of winter which seems to last for 10 months of the year!

I used to think that summer was my favorite season, the BBQ's, the swimming, the late setting sun. But now, I think this is the first year that I have accepted that I truly love Fall. I love the sweater weather, the late night fires, the crispy sounding leaves. I really do love it all.

I really want to take the time to appreciate fall this year, take lots of family pictures, do some cute crafts like the cute little bird feeder P and I made last week.

This afternoon we will be making some special birthday cookies for Daddy's birthday too.

I hope I keep true to that, with life so busy it is sometimes so hard to find time to step back and enjoy the moments. But if I don't do it who will! Stay tuned to see all my awesome fall stuff this month!

Oh and I will also be featuring some great reviews and hosting some fun giveaways! There is one ending today on my Facebook page! Check it out!

Now that I have you thinking, what is your favorite season and why?

Busy! Busy! Busy! And a Giveaway!!!

2013-09-06T04:50:00.000-07:00

With back to school in full swing, we are trying really hard to get our routine back into play.
A summer full of staying up late and sleeping in, is no longer our reality. This Mama is back to waking up at 6 am, and I have to say I am not a fan!
Although my dream of getting up at 6 to do some Yoga, shower and get ready before my little guy is up, is always in the back of my mind. It hasn't happened yet!
I usually sit here with my giant mug of coffee and yawn.....
I'll get there eventually!

We have also been potty training my 3 year old son. I really thought it was going to be a difficult task, but to my surprise he really caught on! He tells me when he has to go now and wears big boy undies all day long! We are still working on nap time and bedtime, so I am wondering if anyone out there has any suggestions for training him at night? He usually has a half a cup of milk before bed, and I am thinking I should probably try to eliminate liquids as much as possible after supper.

And last but not least, I have been starting to prep my Christmas lists! I know some of you will think I am crazy, but getting a head start is the best thing to do! I will be using the new e-book from www.listplanit.com, called 100 days to Christmas. It is a great book, with lots of tips and ideas for making your holidays organized and enjoyable! It is filled with lots of lists, in fact her site has more lists and planners then I can even tell you. It truly is a control freaks dream! The first 30 days are free to try and after that it costs only 5$ a month! I have a link to the Christmas e-book in the top right hand corner of this blog as well! Just click the picture of the book!

The first day of the 100 Days to Christmas e-book starts on September 16th, and I am ready! And the best news is that by commenting below and telling me what the most hectic part of the holidays are for you and your family, you can win your very own copy of 100 days of Christmas! I will draw a name at random on September 16th! Make sure you are a follower of my blog, have "liked" my Facebook page and bonus points if you follow me on Twitter!

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Everyone-Needs-MOM/199487523408752

Twitter page: https://twitter.com/Every1needsmom

Good luck!!

Weekly Meals....Cheque please!

2013-08-20T13:29:00.001-07:00

We love to eat, like seriously love it....what I don't love is planning what to eat a week in advance! I dread it every week, I make my numbered list from 1 to 7 and tap the pen on my head.....What are we going to have this week for meals?? Probably the same things we have every other week....Tacos, chicken breast, pasta.....rinse and repeat...over and over...

It drives me insane! Throw in a couple of picky eaters and I just keep spinning in this vicious cycle!

I am a self proclaimed Pinterest addict so I do search there for recipes, but I do admit that if anything has more then 4 ingredients or has the words overnight in it, I'm out...

So how do I win this uphill battle? Any suggestions? I need quick easy meals that will please everyone...is there even such a thing?

And the winner is........

2013-08-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all of you who left me comments about your DIY projects! I drew a name at noon using http://www.miniwebtool.com/random-name-picker/ and our winner is........

A.Grey! Congrats! Pls email me your mailing address to jhoward9@hotmail.com!

Thank you to everyone who participated and keep an eye open for another giveaway coming up soon!

Pinsday- DIY Color Mason Jars

2013-08-14T09:12:00.000-07:00

Every Wednesday I will post about a pin from Pinterest that I have tested! We will see which ones are successful and which ones are fails! They could be recipes, cleaning tricks, or crafts.Feel free to send me some suggestions as well!

Here is my Pin-test for this week!

DIY Color Mason Jars

Here is what you will need:

Pint Mason Jars
Mod Podge Gloss
Water
Liquid Food Coloring
Plastic Spoons and Knives (or Popsicle Sticks)
Cookie Sheet
Parchment Paper
Measuring Spoon (tbsp)
Oven (Pre-heated to 225 degrees)
Something to protect your workspace (Newspaper, Paper Bags, Cardboard)

1.Wash out your mason jars and remove and stickers or labels on them, ) I use Goo Gone and all the adhesive comes right off!)

2.Pour 1 Tablespoon of Mod Podge Gloss into an empty Mason Jar. Add 1/2 Tablespoon of water and 9 drop of food coloring. If mixing primary colors to create a secondary color like orange, make sure your drops do not exceed 9 drops combined (example: for orange use 6 drops of yellow and 3 drops of red, totaling 9 drops). If you add too much food coloring, the mixture will be too thin and will cause streaking.

3. Stir the materials in the mason jar together with a plastic spoon or popsicle stick until the color is uniform and you don’t see any white Mod Podge. Be sure to mix well around the inside edges and the bottom of the mason jar.
*I still had white in the edges so next time ill mix more thoroughly...

4.Swirl the Mod Podge around the inside of the jar until it is completely covered.

*You can see on the bottom edge there is some white still there, next time I will mix it much more thoroughly..it still turned out fine though!

5. Once the inside of the mason jars is completely covered, including the inside rim, set the jars upside down on top of plastic knives (or Popsicle sticks) on your protected work surface to let the excess Mod Podge run out of the jars. Placing the jars on sticks will allow the Mod Podge to run out without it pooling around the inside of the rim.
Let the mason jars drain in this position for 1 hour.

6. Repeat as necessary for as many colored mason jars you need.
The colors of the mason jars will look pastel because you mixed the food coloring with white Mod Podge.
*Once the Mod Podge dries clear, your color will dry the same color as the food coloring you chose.

7. Preheat your oven to 225 degrees.

8. After 1 hour, carefully lift the jars and gently wipe any Mod Podge from the outside rim of the jar (if there is any).

9. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and place the mason jars right side up on the lined cookie sheet. Place the cookie sheet and jars into a preheated over for 1 hour until the Mod Podge is completely dry and the glass is transparent.

10. Remove the jars from the oven and set aside to cool. Once cool, sit back and admire your new gorgeous DIY Color Mason Jars!

Really happy with the way it turned out for my first try! I will be making 2 more in this color and using them in my bathroom for q-tips, cotton balls, and makeup remover pads!

Comment below and let me know how you would use yours!

Super Saturdays!

2013-08-11T06:56:00.001-07:00

With a husband who works long hours, 5 days a week, we always countdown the days until weekend! Even though they fly by in a flash we still try to enjoy every minute of them...
Yesterday was a really fun day for us. Our 3 year old loves planes, every time he hears one flying by over our house he has to run to the nearest window and check it out.
So yesterday morning my husband suggested we go over to an area by the airport and watch them land!
When we arrived, there were planes landing every 5 minutes! So exciting!

It was a little loud for P's liking but we sat in the car instead and watched quite a few land and he liked it better. Every time one would pass he would cover his head thinking it was going to touch him! HA!

Next we went over to Toys R Us because who can resist the toy store right? P loves it so much there, that as soon as he sees the sign he cheers for joy! We made the rounds and got out with only a 7$ purchase! A new record for us!

We also stopped at Globo shoes and accessories. As you all know the back to school vibe is in full swing and my teen needs to look her best! She has been researching school bags for the last two weeks in order to find the right one! We knew she wanted a Jansport brand one, but the color decision was a difficult one..(oh to be young again!)

We went in and were so surprised that they had all the colors she was debating on, so after trying them all on her back and making sure all was just right we came out with this beauty:

And these suckers aren't cheap! 35$ for a school bag? Dear lord! I think the most expensive bag I ever had when I was in school cost 10$...oh well! Whatever I can do to make her enjoy school I will do!
Between bags, uniforms, supplies and shoes, its almost as expensive as Christmas time!

What are your tips and tricks to getting your kids ready for school on a budget? Is it possible to make both your kids and your wallet happy?

It's that time of year again!

2013-08-06T05:58:00.001-07:00

God how I love the easy mornings of summer....no alarm clocks, no rushing around, no cranky kids...
But alas! All good things must come to an end! With my teenage daughter waking up at 11 every day all summer, it is going to take a miracle to get her up in the mornings!
It usually takes a good solid month before our routine is down pat.
We try about 2 weeks earlier to wake up a half hour earlier every two days, to try to re-set her internal clock.
Maybe easier said then done but we try!
One of our biggest struggles is getting her to eat breakfast before she leaves.
When she eats that early she doesn't feel well, but if she doesn't eat, it makes for a long wait until lunch.
I need something portable that I can send off with her to eat once she gets to school.
I usually opt for cereal bars, drinkable yogurt and fruit.
She has always really liked YOP drinkable yogurt. It's easy, portable and she can pretty much eat it anywhere.
And I am happy to send her off with something healthier then a pop tart or a bag of sugary cereal.
As moms we want whats best for our kids, although it's not always easy we are lucky to have those available products to make our mornings a little easier on everyone!

If you would like to try YOP out for yourselves, head on over to the Life made Delicious Facebook page for your free coupon on August 7th, while supplies last so make sure you get there bright and early!

https://www.facebook.com/LifeMadeDelicious

Leave me some comments and let me know how you guys get your kids out the door in the morning, awake, dressed and fed!

“Disclosure – I am participating in the Help YOP Help You Blogger Campaign by Mom Central Canada. I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

Review : Instep Quick 'n EZ Bike Trailer

2013-07-30T06:10:00.000-07:00

So as a mom of 2 I always say that I want to get in shape, but I can never find the time to get to a gym. Arranging for childcare is a hassle and since I don't drive getting there is also a hassle!
I have tried working out at home with workout DVD's and video game workouts, but alas the couch always gets the better of me and I never keep it up.
Before I met my husband I used to walk everywhere, not out of choice but out of need! I had no car or license and I needed to get places, so after my daughter was born it was easy to get back in shape.
But once my prince charming came along 12 years ago with his four wheeled steed, getting everywhere I needed to be became A LOT easier! And as it got easier I got lazier!
So needless to say after my son was born 3 years ago my body never got the same opportunities as it did after my daughter...
When we moved into this house last year I swore that I would get out and jog every morning since our neighborhood was so quiet and had so little traffic.
Get up at 6 a.m while everyone was still asleep and jog my butt off for 30 minutes! That was my plan!
Well its been a year and not once have I woken up at 6 a.m!
I needed a solution, to be able to jog anytime of day that I felt up to it, without having it be too early or too late at night.

Meet my solution:

This beauty has solved all my problems! I can now jog any time of day, I just strap my little guy in there and run! I can also use it as a bike trailer which is something I would like to do this fall as well!

This jogging stroller / bike trailer can hold two children with five point harness and has lots of other fun features such as:

- A bug screen
- A rain shield
- It folds down flat for storage in 2 minutes
- comes with the conversion for the stroller ( something you usually have to buy extra)
- parking break for stroller mode
- 80-100 lbs weight limit
- Storage area behind the child seat

My only con to this jogger is that in stroller mode the front wheel can be a little wobbly when you are on a bumpy road. Otherwise this thing is a dream.

They sell for about 150-200$ in stores, or you can maybe catch a great deal like I did and grab it at a garage sale for 50$!

I give this one a A+!

Home Sweet Home.....right?

2013-07-29T06:01:00.003-07:00

My topic today is home ownership. We purchased our first home last summer and were so excited to get moved in and settled! My mother in law was moving in with us as well, since we had renovated the basement to be a bachelor apartment for her. So basically a toddler, a tween, and two moves.....maybe we weren't excited about that part?

Thankfully for my sisters and brother in law, who without we still would be moving to this day. We were also lucky to only be moving a few streets over, which made the back and forth trips with loads of boxes a little easier for us ( easier yes....but not more fun.....). Anyway we got it done and are still alive to talk about it, so I chalk it up as a success!

Now comes the real hidden topic! Nobody really tells you how hard home ownership really is! There is always so much to do! Fix things that have broken, upkeep things so they don't break, check to see which items need upkeep....its a never ending battle! I know it will get easier in the coming years as our yearly maintenance become routine and our knowledge base of the ins and outs of what makes our house tick become second nature, but boy! oh boy! I have to say this year was full of learning!

I think the hardest part is having the confidence in ourselves to say "Hey, we can fix that!" Rather then call somebody and pay them to do it. Now I am not saying I'm going to try to re-wire our house or anything major but I'm sure we are far more capable to doing things then we think! That is what Youtube is for right?

The bottom line is we LOVE our house, no matter how much we complain about the amount of work it is, if we could go back in time we would chose the same house over and over again!

Would you like to win a 25$ gift card to Home Depot for your own house? Leave me a comment letting me know what do-it-yourself projects you guys have done around the house! Remember you need to be a follower of my blog and you need to have "liked" my Facebook page!The more followers and views I have the more giveaways I can do!

I will have a random draw for the winner on August 15th!

Good luck!

Dont call it a come back!

2013-07-29T06:01:00.001-07:00

Blog family! I am officially back to blogging full time! Now that we have moved, settled in and somewhat got our routine down, I now have to the time to write you all of you lovely people everyday! I'm back with some great reviews, great giveaways and some tidbits of our life that will hopefully make you laugh, cry and shake your head.

So please follow along, tell your friends and family about it, and have fun!

Tuesday February 19th, 2013

2013-02-19T11:35:00.001-08:00

Tonight's Meal : Slow cooker Chicken Parm
Today's Chore : Main floor Bathroom
Today's Goal : Work out for 30 minutes during nap time
Product of the day: Lysol Power Free Bathroom Cleaner

Tonight's Meal : Slow cooker Chicken Parm

Tonight's dinner is slow cooker chicken Parm. Pasta is a favorite in our house with the exception of my teen daughter who loves anything chicken, so put the two together and everyone wins. On top of it all, Mom gets to use the slow cooker which, makes it an easy dinner and Ta-da we have a winner!

Here is tonight's recipe:

Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan

2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (I cut mine into strips, to make them into more reasonable serving sizes for the kids)
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 egg, beaten
4-6 slices mozzarella cheese
1 jar (28-ounces) favorite marinara sauce

Directions: Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over the bottom of the crockpot stoneware.
In a medium bowl, beat egg. In second medium bowl, mix the bread crumbs, spices, and grated Parmesan cheese all together.

Dip chicken in beaten egg and then toss into bread crumb mixture to coat completely on both sides. Place chicken breasts on bottom of crockpot. Place a layer of mozzarella slices on top of breaded chicken breasts. Cover cheese layered chicken with entire jar of sauce.

Place lid of crockpot securely on and turn heat to LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours. Serve over cooked pasta of your choice.

And here is the original link:
http://fullbellies.blogspot.ca/2011/03/slow-cooker-chicken-parmesan.html

Today's Chore : Main floor Bathroom

The chore I dread the most is cleaning the bathrooms, I think it's a mixture of the grossness of it and the fact that I have 2 to clean....
but alas it must be cleaned and it doesnt seem like I have any volunteers lining up to do it for me.

My main floor bath is the easier of the 2 bathrooms, it is smaller and the tub is only used to bath my youngest son. However, since it is on the main floor it has the most used toilet and sink...gross.....

My procedure is pretty simple, start at the door and end with the toilet. I spray everything down with cleaner, and use a toilet bowl under rim cleaner. I wear gloves which saves my mental state from touching the gross stuff and also protects my skin. My manicurist once told me " if you wouldn't put your face in it, don't put your hands in it" So I highly suggest wearing gloves every time you clean.

I mark a little "B" with permanent marker on my bathroom gloves and a "K" on my kitchen gloves. You probably don't want to mix the two up ;)

I then proceed to wipe everything down with a hot wet rag, the tub gets rinsed extra since I don't want any of the chemicals being left behind in the tub for my little guy.

Toilet is last since it is the germiest, and gets a good scrub in the bowl and a hefty wipe down with a hot wet rag.

I do a quick vacuum ( since that is where we blow dry our hair and believe me the amount of hair that gets onto our floors is insane!) a quick swiffer as well, toss the bath mats in the wash and there you have it!

Today's Goal : Work out for 30 minutes during nap time

Well my goal again today was to have a 30 minute work out session, however we were waiting to have a few things done in the house by our handyman and he became available, so I'm sure you can side with me when I say that, I probably wouldn't want the guy to catch me doing the UFC trainer on Wii...hahahaha

Proof that there were indeed workmen at my house! LOL

Product of the day: Lysol Power Free Bathroom Cleaner

This is a fairly new product on the market and there are a whole line of different products.

This is their spiel:

LYSOL® Power & Free™ Bathroom Cleaner is a powerful cleaner without the harshness of bleach. The hydrogen peroxide formula releases thousands of micro bubbles that penetrate to dissolve lime scale and rust stains.

Kills 99.9% of viruses & bacteria
No bleach harshness
No gloves, masks or protective eye wear needed
No harsh chemical residue
Leaves a fresh clean scent

I used it to clean my bathroom today and here are my thoughts:

Pros:

- Clean fresh scent
- Well priced
- Cleaned surfaces well
- No strong chemicals

Cons:

- There should be an option for a mist spray on the nozzle, it sprays in a strong stream and is not always pleasant as it goes everywhere including the walls
- Could work a little better on soap scum, but with a little elbow grease it got the job done

Im happy with this product and look forward to trying their other cleaners as well!

Happy Tuesday everyone!