Life on Manitoulin

So Happy Together ~ @flyerland #itsbettertogether Contest

2013-06-19T13:34:00.000-04:00

When my friend (and co-worker), @Dogpaddling told me about the @flyerland #itsbettertogether contest, I couldn't get this song out of my head...

So happy together

When I think of things that go well together, I immediately think:

Toast and jam
Honey and cheese (don't know why!)
Apple and pie
Hugs and kisses
You and I
Sand and surf
Chocolate and cake (or chocolate cake!)
Simon and Garfunkel
ET and Elliot
Romeo and Juliet
Gin and tonic
Malibu and pineapple

Do you really want me to go on? I totally can.

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of things that go better together?

Fellow English teachers, please don't chastise me for using the word "thing" (and twice in the same sentence)! It's been a busy week and my brain is fried!

To enter, simply upload any two things you think of that are better together and you will be entered to win a Canon Camera and Camcorder from Shop.ca PLUS a $2500 shopping spree from Well.ca!

I can't resist a fun contest, so this is what I submitted:

Check out @Dogpaddling's post here.

Go on and check out the challenge. I'd love to hear what things you think go better together! Enter here. Contest ends July 16th, 2013.

What Little Girls Are Made Of ~ Not So #WordlessWednesday w/ Linky

2013-06-18T19:00:00.000-04:00

Little One is a veritable girlie girl. She loves all things blingy, sparkly and pink. She goes to the barn to feed the bull in her puffy tutu and rubber boots.

If you recall, I boycotted pink when Little One was born because I didn't want her to be under the whole notion that girls are all about princess, frilly things, and pink.

Despite my protests and not introducing her to all that is girlie, she somehow embraced all of those things anyway. She loves Disney princesses, fairies, ballerinas, and PINK!

She also loves digging in the dirt and playing with snails and whatever other bugs she finds in the garden.

Little girls and little boys can do anything and everything they want to do when it comes to establishing their preferences in toys, activities or sports. I think it's great for boys to play house and play with dolls, just like I think it's fabulous for girls to play with dirt or play with toy tools. I think it's wonderful for boys to do ballet and girls to play hockey.

What do you think?

Link up your Wordless Wednesday posts here. Sorry mine is a little "wordy"! We'd love to check your posts out!

Plan & Organize the Perfect Summer Wedding + Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 Giveaway #LoveNote8

2013-06-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

Seven years ago today, I had my dream wedding on the beach at Carter Bay. Yes, it's true! Today is our 7 Year Wedding Anniversary!

The white sand beach, the turquoise water, all our closest family and friends, and the perfect sunny day just made our special day a fairy tale come true.

I remember the planning and organizing too. I felt fortunate that technology like the internet enabled me to do most of my drafting of ideas online and on my computer. I researched everything from bridesmaids' dresses, motifs, bombonieres, to the perfect wedding cake.

When I saw this video of Mindy Weiss talking about planning weddings, I was in awe. I won't lie. The video made me think, "Wow. If we ever renew our wedding vows, I want Mindy and that Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0!"

Wishful thinking. I know. Not only is Mindy Weiss a celebrity event planner for the stars, but she is just a fabulous event planner in general. See for yourself in this video:

Mindy explains that what makes a person's event different from other people's is truly personalizing it. Every detail can be visualized with the use of the Galaxy Note 8.0.

The SamsungGalaxy Note 8.0 features:

· Large 8” screen that is still small enough to toss into a purse.

· Wifi capable for connecting at home or while out and about.

· Bluetooth

· 5.0 MP Rear-facing Camera and 1.3 MP Front-facing Camera with Flash. Capture those big and small moments that make each wedding unique.

· Light weight, at just 340 g it won’t weigh you down.

· Decent battery life will get you through an event without having to worry about recharging. (depending on which apps are in use).

· S Pen for precision sketching, quick navigation and easy handwriting. The S Pen is the perfect tool for taking notes, personalizing emails, making last minute changes to invitations, or just doodling. And with the convenience of Air View, you can preview content without actually having to open it. Save everything to Dropbox and/or Evernote and have access to everything in the cloud.

· Keep on track and on schedule with Awesome Note, calendar and even sync it with Google’s calendar to seamlessly track everything across devices. With Multi Window, you can use two apps on the same screen, at the same time.

· Take your notes with you wherever you go with preloaded Polaris Office. View, edit and create documents, spreadsheets and guest lists without having to download anything.

· Expandable memory to take your documents from your Note to your desktop and back again with ease.

· Meeting up with the girls for a last minute farewell to singledom? No worries. Coordinate your event through social media (Facebook, Twitter and more) with any one of the many apps available for free in the Google Play store.

· Share photos with a roomful of people with AllShare Play™. With a simple click your images are beamed wirelessly. It’s seriously cool.

· If you are more artistically inclined take your photos to the next level before sending them to family and friends with the Note 8.0‘s powerful and mobile photo editing option.

· Catch up with the latest novel or magazine while waiting to get your hair or nails done. The Note’s compact size makes it easy to bring your library with you wherever you go.

The Samsung Galaxy Note is available for purchase at major retailers including Staples, Futureshop, Best Buy, Visions and NCIX for around $430 CDN.

One lucky Canadian will get to take this beautiful tablet to events with them this summer thanks to the generous people at Samsung. To enter please fill out the form below. All entries will be verified.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Good luck!

Blue Jay Creek Art Farm #ManitoulinSpotlight

2013-06-16T23:00:00.000-04:00

On Manitoulin Island, there is a place where friendly faces greet you as you stop off to pick up your eggs and vegetables. You'll likely find people working in the garden and cultivating produce -- food that nourishes the body. Real food...straight from the garden to your table. You'll no doubt hear singing coming from the garden too. It's a magical place.

This place is Blue Jay Creek Art Farm.

"Blue Jay Creek Art Farm grows and sells tomatoes, potatoes and other art! We are a work in progress, a living art-meets-survival experiment in organic community-building. In the 'High Season' our roadside stand carries honey, organic Loon Song oats and flours, delicious jams and jellies, and seasonal fruit and vegetables from our gardens. Throughout the year we produce or host unique and original events based in wonder and reverence for All Our Relations. The Blue Jay Creek runs through the farm and brings sheer magic to this farm experience."

Blue Jay Creek Art Farm is a beautiful 100 acre farm with a pristine creek that runs through it. Aside from their roadside stand, you can find outdoor galleries and a performance venue. You'll also find dogs, cats and chickens at Blue Jay Creek Art Farm. The one thing you will note upon your first visit is how positive and welcoming the energy is at the art farm.

If you're planning a visit to Manitoulin Island (or if you are a resident of Manitoulin), make sure to visit Blue Jay Creek Art Farm! The fabulous produce will draw you in, but the friendly people will keep you coming back!

For more information, visit Blue Jay Creek Art Farm's Facebook page or their link on the Manitoulin Chamber of Commerce website here.

*Photos are property of Blue Jay Creek Art Farm

Celebrating Dad on Father's Day #PGMom

2013-06-16T06:00:00.000-04:00

I remember when I was in elementary school, saving up my allowance and being excited to bike to our local Jean-Coutu (a pharmacy in Quebec) and "splurge" on a Father's Day gift and card for Dad. Back then, a tie or some kind of item that had "Best Dad" or "Dad of the Year" were things I thought were amazing gift ideas for Dad!

Funny how Dad never complained about not wanting yet another tie, coffee mug or pair of socks. The purchase that made me the proudest was when I got Dad a bottle of Old Spice. It seemed like all the dads wore it and it was in my price range. Plus, my grandfather always wore Old Spice.

To this day, whenever I smell Old Spice, I think of my grandfather. It turns out, my Dad wasn't much of an aftershave or cologne guy. He wasn't really into fragrances period. My grandfather was though! It makes me smile when I think of how good my grandfather always smelled! Old Spice makes me miss my grandfather.

I was reminded of Old Spice and the memories of my grandfather and of my childhood when my four year old got hold of one of our monthly PGMom packages. I detected the scent of Old Spice and came running down from my office. Little One was sitting on the couch, putting Old Spice deodorant on. She was shocked to see me and smiled, "I'm putting deodorant on, Mama! Now I smell good!"

I immediately thought of my Dad laughing if he saw what Little One was doing. I also knew that if my grandfather were still alive today and saw Little One putting on Old Spice, he would have a good laugh too.

On Father's Day, we celebrate the men in our lives. Of course, the first man I'd like to celebrate is my Dad. To the man who sat with us as we did our homework (and helped me as I toiled over math problems), and made sure to always have time for us after work...Thank you. To the man who built ice forts with us and took us skating and tobogganing...Thank you. To the man who taught us how to tie our shoes and ride a bike...Thank you. To the man who taught us so many important life lessons and continues to do so...Thank you.

When I see the special relationship my Dad has with my four year old daughter, it makes my heart fill with joy. I'm so lucky to have my Dad around.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there, and a special Father's Day wish for my Dad!

Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom. As part of my affiliation with this group I receive products and special access to P&G events and opportunities. The opinions on this blog are my own.

What Makes Summer "All Good" For You? WIN $100 for Pinning w/ The McCain All Good Pinathon

2013-06-14T14:36:00.001-04:00

Ahhh! I can almost picture it. Gentle breeze blowing through my hair as the waves wash over my feet at the beach. Feeling the sand between my toes, and listening to the sound of the waves crashing on the shore (drowned out by the boisterous cries of glee from my four year old as she makes and destroys a sand castle). Those are but a few things that make me smile when I think of Summer.

Those last few days of school are within reach and the feeling of freedom and celebration of Summer are almost within grasp. There's also nothing like going for an ice cream cone on a hot Summer day and just "being". No worries in the world. Just good times. Ice cream and the beach? It's "All Good"!

Some other things I love the most about Summer is the fact that we can get delicious fresh produce from our gardens and farmers' markets! Picnics, BBQs, trips to the beach, and just lounging around the patio with family and friends for a meal are all part of what makes Summer so special to me.

FAMILY. FRIENDS. FUN. FOOD.

Yep! That's what Summer means to me. That's what makes Summer "All Good" for me!

McCain wants to know some of what makes Summer "All Good" for you too!

The McCain All Good Pinathon

To find out what makes Summer all good for you, McCain is hosting an All Good Pinathon and awarding $100 each to 5 pinners whose boards make them "laugh, cry, or do a conga line around the office!" For full criteria, please see rules and regulations below. Entering is fun and easy:

Create a board on Pinterest and name it “McCain All Good Pinathon.”
Pin the things that make summer all good for you. For example: a perfectly ripe peach, the smell of grass, a picnic with friends
Include one pin from McCain that makes you feel happy.
Tag each pin in your board with the keyword McCainAllGood and you’re good to go! So good luck!

This is great for all those who love Pinterest and love Pinning! I'm a self-professed Pinterest addict. I can get lost for hours Pinning recipes, DIY ideas, crafts, items for my Dream House, and more!

The contest goes from June 13th to July 11th. You can win 1 of 5 $100 Gift Cards! C'mon...Go ahead and Pin! You know you wanna!

Here are some of things that make Summer "All Good" for me!

Disclosure - I have partnered with McCain for this promotional post. All thoughts and opinions expressed on this blog are honest and my own.

Eat Locally ~ #WordlessWednesday with Linky

2013-06-11T19:12:00.000-04:00

Have you ever stopped to really look at an egg before? They're so perfect and so beautiful. Each one is so unique.

We get our eggs from Hubby's sister, who as chickens. We also get eggs from Blue Jay Creek Art Farm. For the most part, we try to grow what we can and eat and buy locally as much as we can.

Link up your Wordless Wednesday posts! We'd love to check them out!

When Blogging Was Just Blogging

2013-06-11T00:46:00.001-04:00

There was a time when I used to blog for the love of blogging. I moved to an island in the middle of one of the Great Lakes and needed an outlet to ward off isolation (though I was in love with the Island, I missed my loved ones) and to share my new life with my friends and family far away.

I blogged about my life on an island and in a small rural Northern Ontario town. Did you know that the Island is the world's largest fresh water lake island? The blog also served as a place where I planned my wedding details and asked readers for tips and advice. I asked about things like wedding etiquette, what kinds of bombonieres to give guests at our wedding, what kind of food to serve, music to play, etc. That was back in 2006. I had no idea that people other than my friends and family could read the blog until comments started filtering in.

Why would anyone other than my friends and family want to read a boring blog like mine?

All of a sudden, I had a core group of friends in the blogosphere whose blogs I frequented. We commented on each other's blogs religiously. We blogged for the love of blogging. Things were different back then. I miss the daily banter between Ms.Mamma, JellyJules, Uncivil, Wisconsin Candy Dish, and Curiosity Killer. The only one from that vintage who still corresponds via the blog regularly is CanineCologne. Though I keep in touch with my old school bloggy friends, it's outside of the blog. Canine has actually visited us with her family twice in the past few years and is a regular fixture in our loves via email, phone calls, text messages and care packages.

Where was I? Oh, right...

Then I ended up on complete bed rest for my high risk pregnancy, and to my surprise, blog friends around the world were watching, praying, giving me phone calls from California and New Zealand! It's hard to describe the amazing friendships the blog brought me. It was a ~~community~~ family that was built. Genuine interest and genuine comments.

Little One catapulted herself into existence at 28 weeks gestation. It the most difficult and the most terrifying time of my life. Our life in the NICU lasted 72 days. It was a long and challenging journey for us, yet she proved (and continues to prove) what a fighter she really is.

I had become a Mommy.

I was a Mom with a blog. I guess by default, that made the blog a "Mom blog". I blogged about life with a preemie, parenting, and everything under the sun. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

That was then

This is now

All of a sudden, the blog morphed into something else. It turned into a way I could supplement our family income. I was able to put teaching English on the back burner because I was monetizing the blog. I was shocked to see how the blog took on a life of its own.

There was a brief time a few years ago (I think Little One was two years old), when I wanted to shut down the blog. I went on a brief hiatus. It was turning into something that wasn't me. I felt like I was losing my voice and losing the reason I started blogging in the first place. Though the blog had been around since 2006, I didn't really start monetizing until 2009 and wasn't even seriously blogging until 2010. That's when all the big opportunities started coming in. The blog also became secondary to all the social media jobs I was getting as an offshoot of the blog. My main job is with PTPA as their Social Media Community Manager on Twitter. Had I not started a blog back in 2006, I wouldn't have opened up a Twitter account. Had I not opened up a Twitter account, I would not have engaged and formed relationships like I did on Twitter. Had I not done all of that, I wouldn't have been given the amazing jobs I am now happily working at. It's almost dizzying to think of how one thing led to another and how so much has changed.

A girlfriend of mine shared her new blog with me and as I read, it was bitter sweet to me. She recently moved to the Island and started her blog for pretty much the same reasons I did back in 2006. Her blog posts made me smile. Reading her posts made me wistful and nostalgic. That was me seven years ago. Holy smokes! Seven years? That's crazy!

As I read my friend's blog, I remember a time when blogging was just blogging. I remember a time when I blogged because I loved it. I still love it, but sometimes I feel like the blogging world has turned blogs into something else. It's not a bad thing - As long as we preserve our voice and continue to write about what we love and are passionate about.

I guess I just miss the older blogs where people used to visit and read each other's posts. I mean really read and comment. Don't get me wrong. I love each and every comment I receive and I adore my friends and readers. There's a kinship I feel with those in my blogging community. I do feel people who comment on the blog are genuine in their comments. It's just that somewhere between the reviews and giveaways, and producing posts like you're a machine, I think we've lost something. We may be gaining readers and followers, but part of me just misses the old school blog.

I love the blog and all it has given me. It's an extension of me and something to keep for posterity. It has given me so many incredible opportunities from ambassadorships and conferences, to sponsored posts and making fabulous friends (many of whom are not simply online friends, but in real life friends too). Feeling a little nostalgic and wistful tonight. Kind of miss the old school blogs.

Know what I'm sayin'?

End of rant.

Please show my friend, New Country Mama Manitoulin some love. She's new around here. :)

The Great Grocery Giveaway & BBQ Time with @MarcAngeloFoods!

2013-06-10T23:03:00.004-04:00

It's a known fact that I love hosting dinner parties. With Father's Day just around the corner, I'd like to fire up the BBQ and have a meal for the two special men in my life - my husband and my Dad. This said, special occasions or no real reason at all, every day is a celebration for friends and family. Most of the time, I spend hours cooking up a storm, but there are days when it's nice to have a little help in the kitchen.

Recently, I learned that MarcAngelo carries a wide variety of both fresh and frozen items in grocery stores across Canada. You've probably seen them at your local grocery store already! Some favourite items include Souvlaki and Kabobs, Steaks and Sausages perfect for the BBQ, and they even have newer items like Turkey Burgers, Breakfast Rounds, Chicken Breast Roasts with Bacon, and more!

Some other interesting facts about MarcAngelo Foods:

With friends and family with Celiac disease and gluten intolerance, I'm always looking for great meals to serve that everyone can eat. This is why I was excited to learn that MarcAngelo is working with the Gluten-Free Certification Program. Many of the same great tasting sausages that Canadians know and love are now gluten-free* certified by the Gluten-Free Certification Program (GFCP). Many other MarcAngelo products are also safe for those with Celiac disease and other gluten intolerances. (*just look for the GFCP trademark on packages)

To help kick off BBQ season, MarcAngelo has something fun and exciting for their fans and customers. The Great Grocery Giveaway! Perfect timing, since Father's Day and BBQ go hand in hand!

The Great Grocery Giveaway

Play the Great Grocery Giveaway scratch game on Facebook for your chance to win daily and weekly prizes and be entered for a chance at the Grand Prize, Groceries for a Year valued at $10,000!

Play the scratch game for the chance to win instant prizes:

• 1 chance at a $5 MarcAngelo Coupon

• 1 chance at 10 bonus ballots into the Grand Prize Draw

• 5 chances at 3 bonus ballots into the Grand Prize Draw

Each week there is a draw for a $200 prepaid grocery card, and winners are announced on Facebook and http://www.marcangelofoods.com/.

Thousand of Prizes are still available to be won! The Contest is open to all residents of Canada who have reached the age of majority in the province or territory in which they reside.

If that weren't exciting enough, MarcAngelo and Life on Manitoulin will be giving readers a chance to win a $50 MarcAngelo Gift Card!

Enter to WIN a $50 MarcAngelo Gift Card!

To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway open to residents of Canada only. Ends 6/28.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure - I was compensated for this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed on this blog are honest and my own.

Experience Manitoulin Island - Bayside Resort Style! #ManitoulinSpotlight

2013-06-10T06:00:00.000-04:00

With the school year coming to a close, and kids ready for Summer, you'll no doubt want to look into cottage rentals and vacation plans for the family! I may be a bit biased, but if you're planning a road trip, Manitoulin Island should be on your bucket list!

Experience Manitoulin Island

With its white sand beaches, crystal clear turquoise water, incredible fishing, cycling, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, local artists and many points of interest (Bridal Veil Falls, Cup and Saucer hiking trail, the boardwalk and beach at Providence Bay, etc), there is something for everyone to enjoy on the Island.

Bayside Resort

Open year-round, Bayside Resort is a great place to stay. Bayside Resort is located close to many amenities (a short drive to the grocery store, golf course, bank, restaurants), yet tucked away enough for you to enjoy peace and quiet so you can enjoy a restful vacation.

If you want to go fishing, there are a few packages you can consider. Boating trips are available as well. There are many activities for you to enjoy and make the most out of your visit on Manitoulin Island.

Beauty and Comfort: The Cabins

Bayside Resort has three cabins available for rent. All cabins are newly structured, with comfort and beauty in mind. The log cabins are spacious and can sleep up to six people comfortably. Each cabin also comes fully equipped with all the necessities for your stay.

You can enjoy lounging around in one of the Adirondack chairs, take a walk on the sandy beach or go for a swim! You can also sit by the fire pit or use the canoes or paddle boat.

If you're thinking of visiting Manitoulin Island and are looking for a place to stay, you'll be pleased with Bayside Resort.

For more information, visit http://www.baysideresort.ca

Contact: Phone / Fax no. (705) 859-1070

* Photos courtesy of Bayside Resort

Roasted Miso Honey Glazed Carrots: A Request By My 4 Year Old

2013-06-08T18:42:00.001-04:00

I admit it. I'm a cooking show fanatic. It started when I was very young. My maternal grandparents (may they both rest in peace) used to watch cooking shows and soap operas all the time and the cooking show love was passed down to their grandchildren.

Food Network or cooking shows on CBC -- It doesn't matter. I'm hooked.

It's no surprise that my four year old is also a huge fan of food TV. When she was two years old, if there was a cooking segment on Steven and Chris, she would stop whatever she was doing and become fixated. When I was food blogging for season one of Recipe to Riches, Little One was totally involved in the experience too. She never missed an episode!

Today, she turned on the TV while I was cleaning the house and was watching In the Kitchen with Stefano Faita!

I wasn't paying too much attention, but could hear the show in the background. I did end up catching the end of the show, so when Little One said she wanted Stefano's roasted miso honey glazed carrots, I figured I could recreate the dish with what info I did hear.

What my four year old neglected to tell me was that it wasn't just roasted carrots. It was really Roasted Carrots & Brussels Sprouts in Miso Honey!

Here's Stefano's amazing Roasted Carrots & Brussels Sprouts in Miso Honey recipe, and here's what I ended up making...

Roasted Miso Honey Glazed Carrots

Ingredients:

4 large carrots, peeled and cut lengthwise down the middle (Stefano just cut his carrots in half and it made for stunning presentation)
2-3 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tbsp white miso paste

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 Tbsp local Manitoulin honey

a bit of water

Salt and pepper

garnish

Sesame seeds

Parsley, choppped

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425 F

In a bowl mix together the miso paste, honey, olive oil, garlic, water (and salt and pepper to taste).

Arrange carrots on baking sheet and pour mixture over carrots. Mix, making sure carrots are coated evenly.

Roast in oven for 20 min.

Once cooked, arrange in serving dish and garnish with parsley and sesame seeds.

Though my four year old INHALED the roasted carrots and deemed them to be her new favourite dish, next time I am going to try Stefano's original recipe! I LOVE Brussels Sprouts, and am always looking for new ways to cook them. This will be delicious, I'm sure!

Totally missed the part of the segment where Stefano was cooking this dish and therefore missed the part about the ginger, Brussels Sprouts, and cilantro instead of parsley! It was still delish! My four year old has given her two thumbs up.She was the one who added the garnish and was very pleased with herself.

Watch Stefano's videos online here.

What's your child's favourite dish? Do your kids enjoy cooking shows?

@LifeMadeDelish has Introduced 8 New Products! #LMDConnector

2013-06-08T17:00:00.000-04:00

I am excited to announce that I have been selected as a Life Made Delicious Connector! In the past year, I have shared news, reviews and fun from General Mills Life Made Delicious. I shared some of my family's favourite recipes and have shared how I keep my family fed with a very busy schedule as well.

Since I love cooking and anything food related (I come from a Filipino family--Feeding people and hosting big dinner parties is in our culture!), I am excited to say that to be able to talk about food, recipes and other fun LMDConnector news.

Easy Recipes

For me, food is not only a way to nourish the body, but it is largely a social thing as well. Food, family, friends, laughter, memories...you get the picture!

The first piece of news I get to share with you is that General Mills/Life Made Delicious has 8 new products coming out this summer!

My husband and daughter are big fans of Honey Nut Cheerios. The regular Cheerios were Little One's first "finger food" when she was starting to eat solids. Hubby has always loved Honey Nut Cheerios and buys the Jumbo Family Sized boxes. No, I'm not kidding. I'm always amazed at how quickly he can go through boxes of cereal!

He's actually looking forward to the new cereal coming out this summer!

Cereals

Honey Nut Cheerios Hearty Oat Crunch
Fibre 1 Almond & Cluster Delight

Bars

Nature Valley Protein: Peanut Almond & Dark Chocolate
Nature Valley Protein Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate
Fibre 1 With 6g of Protein Peanut Butter
Golden Graham S’mored Treats
Fibre 1 With 7g of Protein Caramel Nut
Cinnamon Toast Crunch Treats

Since Hubby is a busy farm boy, he often carries Nature Valley or Fibre 1 bars with him.  When he is working in the field or on the tractor and needs to fuel up  his body but needs something quick, easy and portable, he grabs a bar.  It seems to keep him going until his next meal.

There are two coupons (one for the cereals and one for the snack bars).  Each coupon has a specific date for redemption and are available here on the Life Made Delicious Facebook page. Mark your calendars, because it's only a 1 day redemption period for each.

Disclosure: I am part of the Life Made Delicious. Blogger program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this

group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Being Unique + a @KinderCanada Contest! #KinderMom

2013-06-08T06:30:00.000-04:00

Ever since the beginning, Little One just had to be unique. She insisted on catapulting herself into existence at 28 weeks gestation. This was a first in our family's history. There were no preemies on either side of the family.

To this day, our four year old displays her uniqueness in the way she thinks, the way she vocalizes her opinions (Ha! So young, yet has an opinion about everything), and especially in displaying her likes and preferences.

Friends and family know that I have always been anti-pink. Even from a young age, I boycotted pink! My aunts used to always get everything in pink for me and I resisted. I always opted for blue!

When Little One was born, I wanted no pink items. We ended up with everything pink. I believe it was to spite me that everyone showered us with PINK! Despite my protests, Little One's favourite colour is pink. She is a veritable girly girl. I don't know how that happened, since we haven't raised her in an environment that teaches girls to love pink and be girly girls or play with dolls.

In fact, Hubby bought her John Deere outfits and we got her toy trucks, trains, school buses and cars. Still, she somehow gravitated to the pink and the dolls, toy kitchens, doll houses, etc. There's nothing wrong with that at all, and we encourage her to do what she enjoys. I just think it's rather interesting how given all opportunities to use tools and do science experiments (which she loves), she also loves playing house and being a princess-fairy-ballerina. I think it's great that a princess-fairy-ballerina can play in the dirt and play with Star Wars action figures with her friends. Why not?

The kid goes to the barn in her frilly tutu and rain boots!

Since Little One is an only child, we have no reference point to determine what makes her different from other children. She's without a doubt, one of a kind. She has risen over what seemed to me to be insurmountable odds of being a preemie and she is thriving. I think what makes her unique in our eyes is how tenacious she is. She's spirited and feisty...and that may not necessarily be a bad thing.

All I know is that each child is unique and special in their own ways. I like that Kinder Canada "gets" that. Kinder Canada has launched their Kinder Surprise Pink and they're celebrating with a contest.

I'm a fan of the original/classic Kinder Surprise with toys that are gender neutral. Having said this, my daughter is a fan of the Kinder Surprise Pink. She loves the cute little animals, the jewelry, and girl toys. I have to say that she also likes the cars and cool toys found in the blue Kinder Surprise too.

Kinder Canada is having a great Pink contest! Tell Kinder Canada what makes YOUR child one of a kind and you can win 1 of 3 $250 VISA gift cards! To enter, "like" Kinder Canada on Facebook and enter here telling them what makes your child unique!

Disclosure: I’m part of the KINDER Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

KanDi Jewelry ~ Because Every Girl Needs Something Sweet & Special @kandijewelry

2013-06-07T06:00:00.000-04:00

There is no doubt that we have a little girly girl on our hands. As much as I banned pink, frilly, girly, froufrou, blingy, sparkly items from the very beginning, we somehow ended up with a child who is all about the pink girly bling.

I am not kidding. The girl wears frilly tutus and rubber boots to the barn!

She does have her ears pierced, though I have never (until recently) changed her earrings. Of course I had taken them out, cleaned them, etc. I just didn't give her more than the one pair she had. She's only 4 years old. She doesn't need to have a zillion pairs of earrings...yet.

Then one day, I received an email from KanDi Jewelry filled with the most adorable jewelry for little girls. It was a veritable feast for the eyes...only with zero calories and zero cavities!

The Gummy Bear earrings, bracelets, and necklaces looked EDIBLE! They were the cutest things I had ever seen! If I weren't 37. I'd like to have some for myself!

My daughter sat with me at the computer and oooh-ed and ahhhhh-ed, trying to decide which earrings she'd like. I totally thought she'd want the pink, but chose the purple.

When the earrings arrived, Little One was over the moon!

Little One and I fell in love with the Gummy Bear earrings. She has since asked me to get her the necklace and bracelet too.

Candy heart and jawbreaker jewelry are also available and are super cute. I still love the Gummy Bears best.

I cautioned Little One that as irresistible as they may look, the earrings are NOT edible. She looked at me and laughed. "Awwww! Mommy! You're silly! Of course not! They're not REAL Gummy Bears, silly Mommy!"

Okay, then!

A Little Bit About KanDi Jewelry

"KanDi Jewelry was founded on the concept of fashion fun and candy. We create candy-inspired products specially designed for girls, tweens, and teens. From candy necklaces to gummy bears, and jawbreakers, each piece in our collection is colorful, fun, and irresistible. The jewelry is NOT edible but looks like it is!

KanDi Jewelry Inc. was founded in 2011 on the concept of fashion fun and candy. We create candy-inspired products specially designed for girls, tweens, and teens. From candy necklaces to gummy bears, and jawbreakers, each piece in our collection is colorful, fun, and irresistible. The jewelry is NOT edible but looks like it is!"

{ WIN IT }

If you have a little girl who would absolutely love a pair of Gummy Bear earrings, you're in luck! KanDi Jewelry is giving one lucky Life on Manitoulin reader a pair of Gummy Bear earrings in the colour of the winner's choice.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure - I received product to facilitate this review. All opinions and thoughts on this blog are honest and my own.

Filipino Bistek (Beef Steak) @CanadianBeef #LoveCDNBeef

2013-06-07T00:00:00.000-04:00

With May being the month my Lola (grandmother) passed away last year, I've found myself making a lot of Filipino dishes. We're now into the beginning of June and I find I'm still cooking a lot of Filipino food. This has totally been done unintentionally. I think it's perhaps because I really, really miss my grandmother right now. I've also been missing her cooking and by me cooking up some of the food that remind me of her, it also brings me back to my roots.

My husband and four year old daughter certainly don't mind. We had Filipino Bistek for supper tonight and it was a hit.

This is a family recipe that has been tweaked. I didn't have *calamansi (citrus fruit native to the Philippines - looks like a little lime/lemon). Since I can't get calamansi where I live, I use regular lemons. It doesn't taste quite the same as the Bistek in the Philippines, but it does the trick!

Filipino Bistek

Ingredients:

1 lb of beef sirloin, sliced thinly (about a quarter inch in thickness)

*the juice of 1 lemon, freshly squeezed

2 tbsp minced garlic (I like a lot of garlic, so I actually put in 4-5 cloves, minced)

2 large onions, cut into rings

1/2 c soy sauce

black pepper, freshly ground

cooking oil

Instructions:

Slice beef into thin strips. Season beef with freshly ground black pepper.
In a large bowl, mix together the garlic, soy sauce, and lemon juice.
Marinate meat in soy/garlic/lemon juice mixture. Overnight is best, but if you're short on time, at least 30 minutes.
In a skillet, heat cooking oil (enough to cover the bottom of the skillet) and stir fry the onion 'rings' until slightly soft and slightly golden. Make sure not to overcook them. Remove from skillet and set aside.
Using the same skillet you cooked the onions in, pan fry the strips of beef. It's best to cook in small batches.
Once all the meat has been cooked, return to skillet. Let cook for a few minutes in the sauce. If you need to add more soy or lemon juice, add according to your taste. I don't like my Bistek too salty and prefer it on the sour/lemony side.
Place beef slices on a serving plate with onion rings arranged on top of meat.
Pour remaining sauce over Bistek and serve with rice (and whatever vegetables you'd like on the side). In true Filipino style, spoon sauce over rice and eat!

A Little BlackBerry Love @BlackBerry #10BestOfBBQ10 #BBElite

2013-06-06T23:14:00.000-04:00

My love for BlackBerry began many years ago. First it was the Curve. Then I fell head over heels for the Bold 9900. Then there was the Z10 and now the Q10. One thing remains constant though - My love for BlackBerry is undeniable.

A Little BlackBerry Love

When I was invited by TELUS to take part in the #10BestOfBBQ10 campaign, I could rhyme off a million reasons why I love the Q10.

Favourite BB Q10 features:

QWERTY Keyboard

It's the classic BlackBerry keyboard BlackBerry users love, only re-engineered for the most effortless typing experience. I love the predictive text with the Z10, but really missed the physical keyboard that I associated with BlackBerry. Since my work in Social Media (as a Community Manager as well as in Digital Marketing) requires me to be on my smartphone for a good portion of the day, I need to be able to type documents, reply to emails, create posts, and without making mistakes. For this reason I require a physical keyboard. That's just me though. I type faster and more accurately with the QWERTY keyboard. As much as I was getting accustomed to touch typing and predictive text, I'm still more comfortable (and more efficient) with the QWERTY keyboard.

The Hub

For me, being able to peek into all my messages and conversations effortlessly and with ease is a huge bonus for me. I can just take a quick glance and see what needs to be addressed immediately and what can be left until later. This is one of my favourite BB Q10 (and Z10) features. It's brilliant! I don't have to stop what I'm doing or close windows or files to take a glance at messages. Tweets, mentions, FB wall posts, emails and more are all available to view with but a single swipe.

Remember App

Though my daughter is now four years old, I still blame my poor memory on "Momnesia". In all seriousness, Remember is my best friend. As someone who is constantly online and whose job requires her to be on social media and super organized, the BlackBerry Q10 Remember App is by far one of my best friends. I rely on Remember. It allows me to create, organize, and track all my projects and at my fingertips! It keeps all related information for my projects, planning, and interests all together and organized in one convenient place. It also syncs memos and tasks from Cloud and Evernote for me. Another thing I love is that (I am totally going to be a real geek here right now) I can colour coordinate my folders and have a different colour for each different project or task! Due dates, deadlines and timelines can be kept track of as well. This is an amazing and helpful feature if you have deadlines and projects that are time sensitive. The Remember App makes my #10BestOfBBQ10 list because it's a lifesaver for work and just keeping my life "together" and organized.

Docs To Go

I can stay productive without a laptop now. I used to lug my laptop or tablet to conferences, but never ended up pulling them out of my bag! It's just so handy to use my smartphone and now with Docs to Go, I can update spreadsheets, edit press releases all from my Q10. Latest versions of Microsoft Office sync with Cloud providers and technology that maintains 100% of the original document formatting when making edits on the go. This is perfect for working on the go!

Story Maker

Create great quality videos with Story Maker. I've used this feature many times already. On a recent trip to Niagara Falls, I created a fun video of our experience using photos taken with my phone and easily uploading them with music. The result was a beautiful video that was so simple and quick to put together!

TimeShift Mode

Taking photos of little ones, pets, or groups is often a challenge to get everyone looking great! Often with little children, they move too quickly, don't sit still, etc. With Time Shift, you can focus on a specific person on the photo and go back in time to a shot where the person's eyes are open, smile is perfect, etc. You can have a photo of your family where everyone is posing perfectly! It's pretty much like creating a moment in time that never existed! Ha! I love it! It's pretty surreal!

BBM Video

BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) has always been one of my favourite BB features. Now with BBM Video, we can chat AND see the person we are talking to (provided they also have a Q10 or Z10). This proved to be one of our favourite features when Little One was in the hospital and we were 9 hours away from Hubby. Our Little One was homesick and crying in the hospital, but when she got to see and chat with Daddy via BBM Video, it totally made her day!

Voice to Text

I won't lie. There are times I am busy doing something like typing or cooking and need to text. Voice to text comes in so handy when you need to text/write something but don't have your hands available!

Print To Go

Wirelessly print a variety of files from your BlackBerry device that is associated with your BlackBerry ID! Yet another handy feature for those who do much of their work on their BlackBerry and on the go!

Connect to Dropbox

You can use the built-in file manager to browse and open all of your Dropbox files right on your BB10 device. Files (including music, movies, documents, photos) are accessible right on your phone and can be transferred back and forth.

There are so many other features I love about the BlackBerry Q10, but I'll just leave you with my Top 10.

More exciting BlackBerry info:

As a BlackBerry Elite, I am also privy to a wealth of information when it comes to BlackBerry (new apps, features, events, updates, news, etc).

Did you know that BlackBerry was honoured for the third time in a row as the Coolest Brand Overall at the Sunday Time Generation Next Awards? BlackBerry also took home the top prize in the Coolest Cellphone category, while BBM was awarded the Coolest Cellphone App!

With the launch of the Q10, new apps are being added each week. Make sure to check out the many new apps for BlackBerry World. A few developer favourites are Stickers for BBM, FaceMix for BlackBerry 10, and Photo Crush!

Have you checked out the Q10 or Z10 yet? If yes, what do you think? What's your favourite feature?

I missed Dine & Dish with Dawn. but have a Bacon Seafood Chowder Poutine #Recipe for you! #PGMom

2013-06-06T00:35:00.000-04:00

My husband likes to joke that I'm a veritable snob when it comes to food. Why? Well, he thinks it's funny that I like my food authentic and the way it was meant to be enjoyed. Case in point: I went to Singapore for a real Singapore Sling and some Singapore Noodles, Philadelphia for a real Philly Cheese Steak, Bali for some authentic Nasi Goreng, Japan for real sushi...You get the point.

Having grown up in Montreal, I simply cannot eat certain Quebecois foods that are made in places other than Quebec. It's just not the same. Though I have been living in Ontario for a while now, I still cannot eat poutine, bagels or smoked meat if they're not Montreal style. I know, I know. Awful! I just can't!

I know it's just poutine! I realize it seems silly to be so fussy about the way it is prepared, but I was horrified when I saw places serving grated cheddar or Mozzarella cheese instead of the squeaky cheese curds (also known as "poutine cheese"). If it doesn't squeak, it's not the right cheese!

In the past few years, I've seen variations of poutine recipes. Gourmet poutine like poutine avec foie gras or poutine with Montreal smoked meat are common now. I've had poutine with spicy chili and pulled pork. I have no objections when it comes to being adventurous with poutine recipes. Just please don't put grated cheese and overly salty, lumpy gravy from a packet on some fries and call it poutine.

On Wednesday, June 5th, Food Network’s John Catucci hosted Dine & Dish with Dawn - a pop-up poutinerie at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto, where the poutine was free if you cleaned your own dish with Dawn Ultra. That’s right; if you eat it – you clean it! P&GMom bloggers were invited to join the grease-cutting, poutine party.

Friends and family know that I'm addicted to Food Network and absolutely love John Catucci! I wish I had been able to attend the event. Living six hours north of Toronto makes it a challenge to attend all the events I would love to be at.

Instead, I made a Bacon Seafood Chowder Poutine (because I'm wacky like that). This is something I just came up with because A) I was craving chowder and B) I was craving carbs. Because I cannot eat poutine in Ontario, I just don't eat it. This time, however, I had a hankering for some! We normally do not eat food so rich and full of...potato!

Please excuse the poor quality photo taken with my 4 year old's iPod. I couldn't find my camera!

Bacon Seafood Chowder Poutine

Ingredients:

Seafood chowder

2 tbsp butter

Instead of butter, I used 4 strips of bacon, chopped

1 stalk celery, chopped

1 onion, chopped

1 tsp thyme

salt and pepper

2 large potatoes, washed, peeled, and diced

2 c water (or fish stock or vegetable stock--whichever you prefer)

2 c milk

1/3 c flour

1 c fresh fish, chopped and with skin removed (I use whatever fish my Dad has caught for us fresh from the lake)

2 c cooked seafood combination

-lobster

-scallop {seafood in bite sized pieces, amount depends on your taste/preference}

-shrimp

-crab

-oyster

Cheese curds for poutine. I had a package from my friend brought me back from Quebec. It's not real poutine cheese if it doesn't squeak!

Fries for poutine

potatoes, washed, peeled and cut into fries. In our house we generally cook "1 potato per person and 1 for the pot". If you don't want to make your own fries, just use frozen french fries and follow cooking instructions on the package.

Instructions for chowder:

In large stock pot, saute with butter (or in this recipe, chopped bacon) the celery, onion, thyme, salt and pepper. When onion starts to turn golden, add potatoes and saute them for a few minutes.

Stir in water and increase heat to boil. Cover pot and reduce heat. Let potatoes cook until slightly tender.

In a measuring cup or bowl, whisk flour into milk to act as thickener for your chowder. Add to pot and simmer, making sure to stir and not scald.

Add fish and seafood and stir often. Cook until fish is no longer translucent or until it becomes flaky.

Arrange fries in a bowl or dish and generously ladle seafood chowder and add cheese curds onto fries.

Enjoy!

Since I wasn't able to be at the Dine & Dish event, I dined and dished at home with Dawn by taking the Dawn Ultra grease-fighting challenge. Let me tell you that Dawn really cut the grease and cleaned those dishes pretty much effortlessly!

Disclaimer: I am a P&G Mom. As part of my affiliation with this group, I receive products and special access to P&G events and opportunities. The opinions on this blog are always my own, are never influenced by brand relationships, and are not paid unless otherwise stated (“sponsored post”).

@LittlePassports Teaches Kids About Travel & Culture { @PTPA Award Winner } Giveaway

2013-06-05T23:30:00.000-04:00

Growing up, my parents taught us that travel and exposure to the world around us and different cultures were very important. They encouraged exploration and whetted our curiosity by taking us on trips to my Dad's homeland of Trinidad and Tobago and to other points of interest. Long road trips from Montreal to Florida or camping trips in New Brunswick or Gatineau were things we were no strangers to.

Travel has always been a large part of my life and before I settled down and got married, I made sure to travel a lot. Barbados, the Philippines, Singapore, Japan, Bali, and over thirteen U.S. states and (only) four Canadian provinces were among the places I marked off on my map.

It is my hope and dream that Little One gets the same opportunities to travel as I did. She embarked on her first international trip last year when we went to the Philippines.

The experience for my then three year old was amazing. It opened her eyes to a new lifestyle, language, culture, and a new life in general!

When PTPA introduced me to Little Passports, I thought it was a brilliant idea and a great way to foster the importance of travel and culture in children.

Little Passports is a great way to teach children about other countries and cultures through the adventures and world travels of Sam and Sofia.

With Little Passports, parents can inspire a love and understanding of the world as your child learns about geography, history, culture, and more through monthly packages delivered to your door (starting at $10.95/month).

Simply sign up, select your monthly subscription, and get set to learn about the world with Sam and Sofia! My daughter, though only four years old, absolutely LOVES Little Passports! She was so excited to see the postcards, stickers, letters, souvenirs, etc. Best of all, it was mail for her! What kid doesn't love receiving mail?!

Little One can't read on her own yet (she's in Junior Kindergarten), so I helped her with reading the postcards and letters from Sam and Sofia. I was surprised at how "into" the whole experience she was! It was almost magical seeing her go on the adventure with them (so to speak). She really seemed to feel like she was part of their adventures!

I thought it was neat that when Little One opened up the envelope from Japan, she found origami paper. We had a layover in Tokyo on our way to the Philippines last year and Little One totally made the connection between the origami paper and what I had told her about Japan. Incidentally, she loved Narita Airport! I lived and worked in Japan from 1998 to 2000 and absolutely fell in love with the culture. Little One somehow remembered hearing that and took a keen interest in what she was learning from Sam and Sofia's trip to Japan.

Did you know that Little Passports is a PTPA Award Winner?

Yes, it's true! Little World Edition and USA Edition Subscription won the PTPA Award! Parents tested and parents approved!

I really love learning activities like Little Passports. They teach kids valuable lessons in an interactive and creative way.

Thanks to PTPA and Little Passports, we are giving one lucky reader a 3 month Little Passports subscription!

To enter, simply complete the Rafflecopter form below. Contest open to residents of Canada and the US. Ends June 21, 2013 at 12:00AM EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure- I received the above product for testing purposes. We tested and approved! Thrilled that Little Passports is a PTPA Award Winner. All opinions expressed on this blog are honest and my own.

Giving Thanks

2013-06-05T17:11:00.000-04:00

Never in a million years would I have ever imagined what it would feel like to be on the receiving end of the kind of love and support we received over a week ago. When I think about the tremendous outpour of concern and well wishes, I get so overwhelmed and end up crying.

Giving Thanks

What I originally thought would be a quick in and out visit at the hospital for an ultrasound for my four year old turned into a "We're flying you to Ottawa for doctors at CHEO to find out what's going on with [insert Little One's real name here]".

To be honest, the whole experience was rather dizzying. For three weeks, Little One had been complaining of really bad abdominal pains, yet no one could figure out what was wrong. One minute we were at the hospital on the Island, and the next minute we were being flown to Ottawa.

A Huge Thank You to CHEO

The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario really impressed me. Everything from their patient care to even the tiniest detail like giving their littlest patients stickers for doing a great job (like letting the nurses put in their PICC line for their IV or staying still for an X-Ray or ultrasound). CHEO also makes the experience a happy one even though circumstances may not be so happy. What do I mean by this? Well, CHEO has a great play room for their patients. Computers, an air hockey table, arts and crafts, and so many other activities to keep kids busy and having fun.

My four year old was excited to do some arts and crafts. She was all over the paints and glittery stickers!

Another thing that impressed me was CHEO's library! A fully stocked library for patients to enjoy! Little One had us reading princess book after princess book!

Thank You to the Blogging Community

Through Facebook and Twitter, my online friends were watching and waiting with baited breath for news about Little One. What I didn't know was what was going on behind the scenes. Some of my friends from the CBN and Blogaholics were gathering up funds for us.

Thank you to all these amazing friends for doing something so thoughtful (and unexpected). A BIG thank you!

I was totally shocked, moved, overwhelmed, and in tears. This was something I was not expecting and couldn't even imagine why people would team up and do something like this for us. To me, it was more a question of "Why would anyone ever do this for us? Who are we to deserve something like this?"

Our friends were all parents who could imagine the costs of being away from home and in hospital for an extended period of time. This reminded me of the 72 days spent when Little One was in the NICU. As a preemie born at 28 weeks, we had to stay at Mount Sinai for 72 very long days. People don't often think of things like travel costs, food, etc.

Thank goodness I didn't have to stay in a motel or take public transportation every day to see my daughter at the hospital. I was able to sleep in a chair that pulled out into a bed (right beside Little One's hospital bed).

Having just the clothes Little One and I were wearing, I had to get my friend to run to Wal-mart and pick up some capris, t-shirts, socks, undies, and necessities for both Little One and me. Things like toothbrushes and all the little every day items were things I didn't have with me (as I wasn't expecting to be flown to Ottawa).

Thank you SO much to all our blogging friends! You have touched our hearts more than you can ever imagine. Thank you.

I think what surprised me too was that companies like TELUS and Mom Central Canada also sent us some love online. I had been offline for a bit and when I saw this tweet from TELUS, I cried.

I'm telling you, there was a lot of crying going on last week! If you think of it though, it says a lot about a company when they reach out to their fans/followers/customers/community. I'm more apt to go with (and stay with) a company that values their members and doesn't treat them as just a number. Still wowed by the gesture from TELUS. Yet another reason I love them and have been with them since 2000! The longest relationship I've had ;)

Giving Thanks to Some Very Special People

My friend, @flywithbaby has been one of my closest friends since we were 17. She also happens to live in Ottawa and came to the hospital every day when Little One was under CHEO's care. Being still in shock that we had to be sent by air ambulance and also being severely sleep deprived and worried about Little One, I was pretty useless. Kelly (aka @flywithbaby) was the extra set of ears I needed and asked the doctors questions I didn't even think of asking.

She also did a lot of running around (going to the pharmacy to get Little One's medication, picking up clothes and food, etc) while I was by Little One's bedside. She and her husband also housed us for the days following Little One's surgery.

Another VERY special person to us is @CanadianDadBlog! He and his family were such a great support while we were in Ottawa. This experience has really shown us how blessed we are to have such great friends. Canadian Dad visited Little One when she was released from hospital and then brought us back to CHEO when Little One had a fever and was ill post surgery. Not only did he drive us to the hospital, but he also stayed with us for a few hours until @flywithbaby came to join us. So thankful for such amazing friends when I was so emotional (and Hubby was 9 hours away tending the farm).

If all that wasn't enough to give thanks for, Canadian Dad also chatted with Official Princess Parties and got Little One's favourite princess to visit! That experience will not be forgotten. Belle made Little One a very happy girl!

A Fairy Tale Come True!

I was so touched when Canadian Dad told me that he had spoken to Official Princess Parties and that though they were fully booked for events that weekend, the owner put it out to her princesses who were off day to see if anyone was interested in doing this for us. Within minutes, she received three "yes" replies! That totally made me cry!

It's no wonder they are so popular! What a great company. Find out more about all the great things they do for kids' charities here.

Thank you to Team PTPA for the beautiful flowers and teddy bear for Little One. They arrived right before her surgery and totally made her day. I have to say that PTPA is a great company to work for. They're my second family!

Little One's BFF had her grandma in Ottawa bring over a Hello Kitty. Other special visits included a visit from one of my old friends (we went to kindergarten together and the last time we saw each other was maybe high school graduation or perhaps sometime in c.e.g.e.p.), may aunt, uncle, and cousin, one of my old students from when I taught in Toronto, @LilMissKateCo, my childhood friend & my parents' best friends.

Giving thanks to all the special people in our lives

We are so blessed to have all of you in our lives and we really appreciate all the love and support you have given us.

** We were going to do a special Vlog Thank You to everyone, but I couldn't bring myself to make it go "live". I was crying too much and really had the "Ugly Crying Face" thing going on! **

Personalize Your Gear with SwaggerTag! { Review & Giveaway }

2013-06-05T15:08:00.003-04:00

I'm one of those travelers who needs my bags to be tagged - not once, but twice. Even more so, I need my bags to be tagged with something that stands out. I'm paranoid about getting my luggage mixed up with someone else's and when I see my suitcase on the baggage carousel, I want to be able to see it right away.

I have been looking for a bag tag that withstands the rough bumps and knocks of traveling and of being tossed around. I also wanted something that didn't come off easily or expose my personal information on the tag (address and phone number).

Along came SwaggerTag. I was on Twitter (surprise, surprise) and it was my boss, Sharon at PTPA who was raving about SwaggerTag. If you know Sharon, you will know that she travels more than anybody I have ever met. For the many TV show segments for which she is a contributor to conferences and all kinds of work related events, Sharon is no stranger to airports.

When SwaggerTag asked me if I'd like to try out their tags, I said yes! How serendipitous since I was actually in need of something like this!

I was sent the following:

Items you can SwaggerTag:

• backpacks & lunch bags
• sport, duffle & golf bags
• bikes, scooters & strollers
• briefcases & purses
• equipment bags & electronics cases
• luggage, carry-on’s & overnight bags
• camper, camping and hiking gear
• coolers & equipment trunks
• diaper bags
• tote bags & tack bags
• instrument cases
• wheelchairs, walkers, crutches & medical equipment
• dog leash, and pet totes and crates
• anything that goes out the door!

SwaggerTag is perfect for:

• students
• kids
• families
• travelers
• sports enthusiasts
• hikers, campers & camps
• golfers
• those with other specialty sporting equipment
• musicians
• pet owners
• collectors
• schools
• businesses
• institutions & organizations
• those with special needs and equipment
• anyone who wants to keep track of their gear!

The tags are very durable and I love that the part where you write is protected. Your address and other info won't get wet or smudged! It's safe!

Best of all, I love that we can personalize our tags! How awesome is this?

SwaggerTag customized my ID tag to match my blog! The other tag they gave me to personalize on my own. I put a photo of my daughter in it. It looks great!

For all you travelers or parents with kids in sports (or just anyone who wants to have their bags tagged), SwaggerTag is giving 2 lucky Life on Manitoulin readers a pack of 3 tags each! Winners get to choose their colours!

To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Open to residents of Canada. Ends June 19th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure - I received the above products to facilitate this honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed on this blog are honest and my own.

I'm Featured in @EatInEatOutMag!

2013-06-05T08:55:00.000-04:00

So excited to announce that I've been featured in www.eatineatout.ca! My Filipino BBQ recipe can be found here!

This is the dish that is a must serve at all our BBQ parties:

Want the recipe? Check out Eat In Eat Out Magazine's Summer Grilling Issue!

#WordlessWednesday w/ Linky: #MonthOfMom in Review

2013-06-04T21:00:00.000-04:00

I took part in (and completed) the #PGMom #MonthOfMom Photo Challenge. Here are some of our photos for the month.

May started off as a "typical" month on the farm, but ended with Little One being airlifted to the hospital. What a wild and crazy month it has been!

Link up your Wordless Wednesday posts here. We'd love to check them out!

Official Princess Parties & a BIG Surprise for a Sick Little Girlie!

2013-06-03T09:48:00.001-04:00

Over a week ago, my four year old was airlifted to Ottawa and sent to CHEO (Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario). Other than her early delivery (when I was sent by air ambulance to Mount Sinai, where Little One canon-balled her way into existence), this experience was probably one of the scariest times in my life.

After Little One's surgery, one of the first things she uttered was, "Now you really have to take me to Disney!"

I had heard of Official Princess Parties through my friend, Canadian Dad's blog posts this past year and knew my four year old would love to meet her favourite princess.

As soon as Little One was discharged from the hospital and had rested for a few days, I wanted to have a thank you BBQ for my friends @flywithbaby (and her husband and family), as well as for @CanadianDadBlog and his family. Both families were such a great support while Little One was in the hospital. Having a young child in the hospital is scary and emotionally challenging, but coupled with being away from Hubby and being 9 hours away from home, it is even more challenging.

Canadian Dad made the big BBQ party even more special by organizing a meeting with Little One's favourite princess! Little One was so excited to see Belle!

Check out the smile on Little One's face! Now, that is one very happy kid!

I was really impressed with the entire princess experience. We were staying at my friend's house and Belle popped in for a visit. She wowed all the children with sing-along tunes, dancing, story time, and cheek glitter and tattoo application!

Little One running to greet Belle. For a kid who was in a lot of pain from having surgery, she sure ran very quickly to see her favourite princess!

The cheek glitter and princess tattoos were a huge hit!

Thank you to Official Princess Parties, Belle, and Canadian Dad for making one sick little girlie very happy!

Connect with Official Princess Parties on Facebook too.

MIA for a while

2013-05-27T08:44:00.000-04:00

Due to family emergency, I will be away from the blog for a while. Hopefully, I'll be able to post again sometime next week or so. Thank you :)

Places to Stay & Things to Do on Manitoulin Island this Summer #ManitoulinSpotlight

2013-05-23T10:00:00.000-04:00

With the MS Chi Cheemaun sailing again and the everyone celebrating the unofficial start of Summer, you're now ready to plan on your amazing Manitoulin Island Summer vacation. Right?

I'm not lying when I say that Mantioulin Island is truly a magical place. I left Toronto in 2004 and fell in love with the Island. I've been living here for almost 10 years and love living here. Plus, being close to so many stunning beaches and lakes is pretty sweet (especially in the Summer)!

Places to Stay & Things to Do on Manitoulin Island this Summer

Manitoulin Island is known as an outdoor haven for those who enjoy hiking, cycling, boating, canoeing, kayaking, camping, fishing, and other outdoor activities. The Island is also fabulous for those interested in visiting museums, art galleries, farmers' markets and local shops.

Accommodations

There are many places to stay on the Island. Here are but a few of the places my friends and family have stayed at:
Manitoulin Inn
Turtle Creek
Auberge Inn
Buckhorn Motel
Gordon's Park
Big Buck Cottages
Hutchinson's Cabins
Meldrum Bay Inn
Manitoulin Resort
Timberlane Rustic Cottages
Fred's Camp
Sunset Bay Resort
Black Rock Resort
Rock Garden Terrace Resort
Southbay Guest House
Paradise Motel
Tehkummah Tipis

For a complete list of accommodations, visit the Our Manitoulin site.

Places to eat

Garden's Gate Restaurant

Garden Shed Cafe

School House Restaurant

Lake Huron Fish & Chips

Pizzeria in South Baymouth

The Roosteraunt
Ridge's

The Anchor Inn

The Musky Widow

Carol and Earl's

Mum's

Many more places to eat - Head over to ourmanitoulin.com for more eateries!

Attractions

Providence Bay beach

Bridal Veil Falls

Manitoulin Chocolate Works

Burns Wharf Theatre

Kagawong

Perivale Art Gallery

Cup and Saucer hiking trails

Gordon's Park Eco-Resort (stargazing, interpretive centre, edible wilds tour, and more)

Kicking Mule Ranch
Rainbow Ridge Golf Course

Edwards Studio

Pow Wow in Wikwemikong

Farmer's Markets

Art Tour

Debajehmujig Creation Centre/Debajehmujig Storytellers

South Baymouth

Southbay Art Gallery

Hettmann Studio

Other

You'll want to know where to get all your necessities while on vacation. You can find gas stations in Little Current, Sheguiandah, Manitowaning, South Baymouth, Tehkummah, Mindemoya, West Bay, Kagawong, Gore Bay, etc. When coming off the ferry, your first gas station is the Shell gas station/Carl's Trading Post. The gas station at the north end of the Island (not too far from the Swing Bridge) is in Little Current.

Need groceries? Little Current and Gore Bay have Valu-Mart. There's a Freshmart in Manitowaning, and Foodland in Mindemoya and Little Current. There are also smaller stores that carry basic groceries in many of the townships.

There are I.D.A. and Guardian locations if you need a stop at a pharmacy. The stores are fully stocked with everything you need from sunscreen, cosmetics, baby and feminine products, allergy meds, etc. The gift sections also have a great selection of items. Little Current, Manitowaning, Mindemoya, Gore Bay all have pharmacies should you need to purchase any necessities there.

For a complete list of Island Businesses, click here.

Websites/Resources:

My "Go-To" site for all things Manitoulin is Our Manitoulin. Local events, accommodations, business links, and everything you need to know are all listed on the website.

Other sites to peruse for planning your Manitoulin vacation are: Manitoulin Tourism, Manitoulin Island, Manitoulin Island Cottage Rentals,

If you're planning on visiting beautiful Manitoulin Island, there are many things to see and do! Be prepared to be amazed by the white sand beach at Providence Bay and the crystal clear, turquoise water of the many lakes on the Island.

Manitoulin hospitality awaits!

Ferry information can be found here.

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Places to Stay & Things to Do on Manitoulin Island this Summer #ManitoulinSpotlight

Places to Stay & Things to Do on Manitoulin Island this Summer

Accommodations

Places to eat

Attractions

Other

Websites/Resources:

Watch for my #ManitoulinSpotlight posts. I'll be featuring a different Manitoulin business every Monday beginning next week!