Toronto Teacher Mom

Gerry Dee and the Live #MrD Twitter Chat

2012-01-28T09:52:00.000-05:00

Good morning, boys and girls.

For today's lesson, we are going to learn about one of the most important figures in Scarborough history - Gerry Dee. Be sure to take notes. There will be a quiz at the end.

Born long ago, on the eve of 1969, Gerry Dee grew up in the wonderful city of Toronto where he decided to become a high school phys-ed teacher. After ten years, he realized that teaching wasn't quite his calling so he took up comedy full-time. He now plays the lead role in the CBC sitcom Mr. D, which premiered earlier this month.

In true Mr. D style, we are now going to play a game, the Get to Know Each Other Game. Only, with a twist. We will just play one round of Get to Know Gerry Dee. I will give you three sentences, two of which are true and one of which is false. You have to guess which one is false.

1. Gerry Dee has received many accolades (accolade /ˈakəˌlād Noun - an award or privilege granted as a special honor or as an acknowledgment of merit) which includes being named Toronto's Funniest New Comic, being nominated for the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Male Comic in Canada and winning the prestigious San Francisco International Comedy Competition.

2. Gerry Dee conducted an investigative report on the Vancouver Riot of 2011 on "The Score".

3. Gerry Dee's last name really is Dee.

Zax's Bruise Cream - Giveaway

2012-01-25T01:00:00.000-05:00

Last night, the whole family loaded into the car and headed over to the local arena for what has become our weekly family skate. Having only been ice skating about a half dozen times in my life, I'm a little worried about falling down and bruising my ego. But when it comes to my kids, I'm more concerned about them getting hurt. My son started skating once a week with his daycare class a couple of months ago and my daughter has only ever been skating about five times in total. Still, they have come a long way.

This winter has proven to be busier than winters past. With skating, gymnastics and tennis on our weekly schedule, the kids have been getting their fair share of physical activity. We also take great care where safety is concerned, especially with skating. Our kids both wear helmets to protect them from head injury but in general, we can't always protect them from bumps and bruises. Not unless someone designs a body suit made of bubble wrap.

At the Ski Lodge - Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-24T20:12:00.000-05:00

I was rummaging through some old photos and found this one of my daughter taken six years ago. It was the first time we went skiing at Blue Mountain and we rented a huge ski lodge with a bunch of people.

That's when we actually had snow.

Here's a thumbnail linky to share your WW posts:

FYI: Coupon Zone Offers Gr-r-reat Savings on Kellogg's Cereals

2012-01-23T22:57:00.000-05:00

While at Valu-Mart tonight, I happened across some coupons that were posted on the Coupon Zone board right near the entrance. I always scan the available coupons for products that I use and so I decided I should share with you some gr-r-reat savings on Kellogg's cereal. The coupon will save you $3.00 when you purchase any 3 Kellogg's cereals or Vector Meal Replacement at Loblaw retail stores located in Canada. They're valid until this Friday, January 27, so if you go through a lot of cereal, you might want to visit a Loblaw store near you over the next few days.

As a member of the Kelloggers Network, I was sent a whole whack of yummy cereals and NutriGrain bars for the family to enjoy. My kids went to town with the Frosted Flakes. I can totally relate sine I remember loving that cereal as a kid. But now, I found it way too sugary. Me, I'm more of a simple Corn Flakes kind of gal in my elder years. I also enjoy Special K as well. And Snap, Crackle and Pop... well, they will always have a special place in my heart. They will forever remind me of the fond memories I have of my mother and I making Rice Krispies squares many, many moons ago. Ah, those were the days!

A working mom on the go, I have found that the newest variety of NutriGrain bars have been great for tying myself over until the next meal. They also keep nicely in my desk drawer at work. For emergencies, of course.

What about you? Do you have a favourite cereal? What was your favourite when you were a kid?

Disclosure: Kelloggs brand sent me a variety of their new cereal sand snacks through the Kelloggers Network programs in the hopes that I may share my experience. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

La Crème Cow Spreadable Cheese - Giveaway

2012-01-22T23:09:00.000-05:00

Each week where I work, staff members enjoy Friday treat days. We sign up with other staff to bring in a selection of goodies for all to share and it makes morning recess fly by so quickly since there's rarely enough time to savour the tasty treats. This month, I decided to bring in a sampling of La Crème Cow cheese along with some crackers that I had been sent to try out.

Recently, Parmalat Canada launched La Crème Cow, a new line of spreadable snack cheese. It is available in three flavours: Original, Light and Parmesan and Peppercorn. The cheese has a very smooth and creamy texture, and is individually wrapped so you can take it with you on the go.

My lovely La Crème Cow package arrived the night before my scheduled treat day and oh, là, là! Was it ever lovely!

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Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees Now Playing at the Shoppers Drugmart® OMNIMAX® Theatre

2012-01-21T00:57:00.001-05:00

Dr. Goodall's remarkable study of the Gombe chimpanzees forever changed the relationship between humans and the animal kingdom.

Today, I will be a guest at a special Gold Members’ screening of Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees at the Shoppers Drugmart® OMNIMAX® Theatre at the Ontario Science Centre. Narrated by Dr. Goodall herself, the film takes viewers on a journey into the world of the wild chimpanzee. The film chronicles more than 40 years of Dr. Goodall’s work in Africa and focuses on one population in the forest of Gombe, Tanzania. In addition to the film, we will have the opportunity learn how to talk like a chimpanzee and participate in a discussion with a special guest from the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, an organization that supports wildlife research, education and conservation. I should probably start practising... ooo, ooo, eee, eee, ah!

Flyer Friday: Minute Maid and Coca-Cola

2012-01-20T23:55:00.000-05:00

Last week, I never received our bundle of flyers. I suspect my husband threw them in the recycling bin before I could get my frugal hands on them. More on that in another post.

In this week's edition of Flyer Friday, I only came across one decent deal and it was on Minute Maid juice boxes. I also noticed a sweet deal on Coca-Cola products. These prices are effective January 20-January 26, 2012.

Minute Maid Drinks, Selected Varieties - 2 for $5/10x200 mL (25 cents per box) @ Valu-Mart
Coca-Cola or Canada Dry, Selected Varieties - $2.88/12x355 mL or /10x355 mL(24 cents or 28.8 cents per can) @ Food Basics (Limit of 4)

As always, feel free to leave a comment if you come across any better deals this week. Cheers!

Connecting Your Blogger and Google+ Accounts

2012-01-20T23:15:00.000-05:00

Having used Blogger for about six years now, I have become quite used to the old Blogger interface. It has only been in recent days that I have been using the new interface and I am really starting to like it. Not only can you easily look up total view counts on your posts, you can now connect your Blogger account with your Google+ account.

When doing so, you will replace your Blogger profile with your public Google+ profile. This will allow you to:

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Hasbro Annual Fun & Game Event

2012-01-19T15:34:00.001-05:00

Do you love hosting a family game night? Then you'll love Hasbro's Annual Fun and Game Event which is going on right now! I wanted to share this with my US readers since I am sure most of you love boardgames as much as I do. I'm hoping they will have an event like this soon for Canada because it sounds great. You can register for Hasbro's Annual Fun and Game Event for a chance to print over $125 in coupons (quantities are limited) and get access to incredible daily deals. All daily deals include free shipping.

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Allan Hawco... Enough Said - Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-17T18:52:00.003-05:00

Photo courtesy of Racheal McCaig Photography

As if my iPhone capture of Allan Hawco and myself wasn't enough, here I am sharing an awesome photo taken by the beautiful and talented @RachealMc of Racheal McCaig Photography at the CBC premieres of Mr. D and Republic of Doyle last week. Mmm hmm, he's even cuter in person...

Here is this week's Wordless Wednesday linky:

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Jamieson All Natural Probiotic Sticks - Review

2012-01-16T22:56:00.001-05:00

Did you know that your gut could be affecting your mood? I have read that there are studies which show that "keeping the microflora in your gut healthy can reduce symptoms of stress." Since there are hundreds of billions of bacteria in our bodies that are good and bad, it makes sense that adding good bacteria by taking probiotics can help make us feel better. I have heard on many occasion that we should take probiotics while using antibiotics but it wasn't until I had seen a naturopath that I learned about adding probiotics to my daily diet. So of course, I jumped at the opportunity to try out Jamieson All Natural Probiotic Sticks.

A proprietary formulation sold in Canada exclusively as Probiotic Sticks by Jamieson Laboratories, this product uses two clinically tested bacteria, Lactobacillus Rosell-52 and Bifidobacterium Rosell-175, formulated by Institut Rosell-Lallemand. Through two placebo controlled, randomised clinical trials, it was discovered that Probiotic Sticks helped "alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms and psychological symptoms associated with stress and anxiety." I always thought eating yogurt was an easy way of replenishing the good bacteria but, according to Institut Rosell-Lallemand, the concentration of strains in a small amount may be insufficient in terms of the minimum CFU requirements. In addition, yogurt products are "not stable so the number of microbes at the time of manufacture will not reflect the number actually consumed."

While you can sprinkle a stick of probiotics onto cool foods such as yogurt, pudding ice cream or into cool beverages such as juice or milk, I find the single-serving sachets of naturally flavoured red-plum crystals have a nice flavour and dissolve fairly well in the mouth. And I also like that the sachets need not be refrigerated, making it convenient to take them wherever you go. Did they help reduce the symptoms of stress? I'm not sure. But I did enjoy the convenience of the single-serving sachets.

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

Kraft Dinner Gets Smart - Review and Giveaway

2012-01-13T16:27:00.001-05:00

Kraft Dinner has just gotten a lot Smarter. They have taken their classic macaroni & cheese and added ingredients like oats and vegetables blended right into the noodles. What's more, Kraft Dinner Smart contains no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives. And just one 50 g bowl (¾ cup prepared) of KD Smart Vegetables, for example, contains a half serving of veggies. The High Fibre variety contains Canadian oats and is a source of fibre. There is also a third variety that contains flaxseed and inulin, and is a source of Omega-3 polyunsaturates. When matched up with a serving of vegetables or fruit, you'll find yourself with a quick solution for a balanced meal..

We know the dinner table can become a daily battleground between parents and picky eaters, especially when nutritious foods are involved. So we set out to make a new KD that kids would love to eat and parents would be proud to serve. KD Smart has added ingredients, contains no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives, and has the same cheesy taste that even the pickiest eaters can't resist. With KD Smart, you can finally wave the white flag and call a dinnertime ceasefire!

Museum Secrets Season Two Premieres Tonight

2012-01-12T06:37:00.008-05:00

Tonight, tune in to History Television Canada for the Season Two premiere of the Kensington production Museum Secrets, an educational show which travels all over the world in search of the world’s greatest museums. The series is unique in that it tells of stories behind objects at museums that the history books don’t tell. From spectacular photography in the museums and their hidden spaces to experiments conducted by leading researchers and people personally connected to the objects, Museum Secrets is sure to captivate people of all ages. And I'll have you know that the show is produced by a small team right here in Toronto!

Recently nominated for 2 awards from History Makers International, Museum Secrets has previously been nominated for a Gemini and a Rocky Award for their work on the TV series and the cross-platform components. Their new website contains webisodes and previews of upcoming episodes. In this season's premiere, they travel to St. Petersburg with a young Canadian professor from Toronto as he completes his homage to ancient Scythian mummies’ body art, after reading of their discovery deep below the permafrost of Russia. Also included is an art history story about the significance of one painting and one artist who was an influencer of the modern minimalist art movement.

Our stories take us beyond the public galleries, into hidden places visitors are rarely allowed to see: a vast storeroom where millions of once-living creatures float in formaldehyde, a noisy workshop where curators in hard-hats piece bones together into skeletons of colossal dinosaurs. When a story moves outside the museum, we follow: to the grounds of a medieval French chateau to recreate a fatal jousting accident, and down into a 50 foot hole in the Egyptian desert to stand inside the tomb of Ramesses the Great.

Republic of Doyle Season Premiere - Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-10T21:30:00.005-05:00

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the premiere of Mr. D which included a pre-screening of Republic of Doyle featuring guest star Russell Crowe, set to air tomorrow night at 9 p.m. EST on CBC. Both shows were fantastic and I really enjoyed getting to meet the cast members. Here is a picture of the very handsome Allan Hawco, a.k.a. Jake Doyle. (:

Mr. D Premieres on January 9 on CBC

2012-01-09T00:08:00.003-05:00

For those of you who watch Last Comic Standing, you're probably familiar with Toronto native Gerry Dee from season 5. Like my husband, he was born in Scarborough, and like myself, he became a teacher. After nearly ten years of working as a high school phys-ed teacher, he chose a different career path and made the switch to full-time comedy.

In 2002, Gerry Dee was the first Canadian in 27 years to win the prestigious San Francisco International Comedy Competition. A year later, he made his US network debut on CBS' Star Search with Arsenio Hall. (Why do I feel like pumping my fist?) He also played "Donny" in Trailer Park Boys: The Movie in 2006. (~~Loved the show; can't believe I haven't seen the movie.~~) His success continued and in 2008, he was named "Best Male Comic” in Canada by the Canadian Comedy Awards.

Beginning Monday, January 9, 2012 at 8 p.m., you can watch Gerry as the star of CBC's newest comedy Mr. D.

MR. D is a half-hour weekly comedy that explores life in private school. Based on the stand-up comedy act of Gerry Dee, a former private school teacher for nine years, MR. D tells the story of an under-qualified teacher trying to fake his way in a teaching job, just as he fakes his way through life.

The show takes a look at the teacher’s perspective and is based on Gerry's real life experience in the profession. He even relied on teacher friends to help keep the show realistic.

Tonight, I am relying on one of my own teacher friends to accompany me to the CBC premieres of Mr. D and Republic of Doyle, hosted by Anne-Marie Mediwake and Dwight Drummond from CBC News Toronto. We get to walk the red carpet, meet the stars and maybe win some prizes. Speaking of prizes, I recently came across a Republic of Doyle contest over at Sea and be Scene where they're giving away autographed copies of the first two seasons as well as the Definitive Guide to Doyle. And don't forget to tune in on January 11 when Russell Crowe guest stars on Republic of Doyle.

Happy New Year Disney Junior Fans!

2012-01-08T09:20:00.000-05:00

The year 2012 has arrived along with the magic of being able to clear the slate and start fresh. It's the excitement of wondering what the new year will bring and what new milestones lay ahead for your little ones. For me, it's about celebrating my son's champagne birthday, watching him learn to write his own name and sending him off on his first day of kindergarten. I look forward to reading my daughter's first report card, watching her ride a bike without training wheels and patting her on the back after she puts down her first chapter book. Witnessing your children grow is truly a magical experience.

Next weekend, enjoy a big dose of magic with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Storybook Magic Weekend. Join your favourite Mickey Mouse Clubhouse characters in feature storybook, fairy tale, and fantasy-themed episodes from January 14-15 at 9-11am ET. And during the week of January 23, rock on with Jake and the Never Land Pirates as they kick off Pirate Rock Week. Watch music-themed episodes, including the NEW episode “The Pirate Pup/Pirate Rock” and sing-along versions of Never Land Pirate Band music videos which will premiere between each episode. Pirate Rock will air nightly from 6-7pm ET.

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

Flyer Friday - 100% Fruit Juice Boxes

2012-01-05T19:27:00.000-05:00

As a teacher volunteer on our school's Me to We committee, I am regularly on the lookout for the best sales and deals on 100% fruit juice boxes which our leadership group sells each week as part of our fundraising efforts. Last year, thanks to fundraisers such as our year-end hot dog fundraiser, we managed to raise enough money to Adopt a Village for Free the Children. This year, we chose to Build a School in Ecuador as part of the Brick by Brick initiative, a whopping $8,500 commitment.

Last month, we put together a number of gift baskets to raffle off just before the holidays. I had donated a number of items I had received through my blog such as this storybook from Hallmark. I am happy to report that we raised nearly $500! At this point, I'd say we are close to one-third of the way to reaching our goal. The bulk of funds raised comes from our weekly juice sales. Hence the reason I venture on a weekly hunt for specially priced juice boxes. I decided to start up a Flyer Friday feature to share my findings with you. I plan to provide a price comparison for 100% fruit juice, since I'm doing the research anyway. But I may even post other sales if I find they are a bargain worth sharing.

This week, I found four advertised sales on juice boxes:

Allen's Juice or Drinks, Selected Varieties - $1.00/8x200 mL (12.5 cents per box) @ Valu-Mart
Minute Maid Drinks, Selected Varieties - $1.97/10x200 mL (19.7 cents per box) @ No Frills
Allen's Fruit Juice and Cocktails, Assorted Varieties - $1.99/8x200 mL (24.9 cents per box) @ Highland Farms
Minute Maid, selected varieties - $2.50/10x200 mL (25 cents per box) @ Valu-Mart

Since we sell juice boxes for 50 cents each, I always try to find juice on sale for 25 cents per box or cheaper. It looks like I'll be heading to Valu-Mart and stocking up this weekend.

Please feel free to leave a comment on this post if you come across any comparable deals in your area.

Win a Pair of Green Beaver Après-Ski Skin Products

2012-01-04T16:49:00.002-05:00

This winter, The Green Beaver Company invites you to take a walk through the Boreal Forest and experience their dry skin therapy. Their Après-Ski line of skin care products are certified organic, ultra rich, non-greasy, biodegradable and gluten-free. They are naturally rich with shea and cocoa butter, have been formulated to protect and relieve the driest and itchiest skin, and are also enriched with colloidal oatmeal and other plant extracts such as aloe.

I have been using their Après-Ski products along with their organic sunscreen for kids and bath products for the past year and love them. Now you have a chance to try two products from their Après-Ski line. Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below and good luck!

Cricut Christmas Cheer Penguin Greeting Cards - Wordless Wednesday w/linky

2012-01-03T17:16:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to share a set of Christmas cards I made using my Cricut for a co-worker. You can find more information on my craft blog Diana's Designs.

Don't forget to link up your Wordless Wednesday post below.

Happy 2012!

Is #EqualCanada Sweetener Available for McCafé Coffee Lovers? #CBias

2012-01-02T08:38:00.003-05:00

In order to answer this question, I made plans with my dear old friend of thirty years. Gosh, it's crazy to think we've known each other for that long. We first met when I moved on to her street many moons ago. And even though I now live in Toronto, we always manage to pick up right where we left off, as though distance and time had never kept us apart. It was just after Christmas so I dropped off the kids at my parents' in Hamilton and hung out at Limeridge Mall with my friend.

The main purpose of our visit to the mall was to return her gift of perfume. You see, she told her wonderful husband that she wanted Burberry London perfume when what she really wanted was the Original Burberry. Once she made the return, we went to a couple of shoe stores to check out some boots before heading across the street and checked in at McDonald's for a McCafé coffee break.

French Resources: Etienne, Canada's Favourite Children's Artist of the Year

2011-12-30T23:59:00.004-05:00

Having taught for nearly a decade, I have come to learn that teaching French as a Second Language is no easy feat. When I transferred to Toronto, I was surprised to learn that Core French begins as early as Grade 1 in our board. It's a great age because they absorb everything like a sponge. The focus is on oral communication up until Grade 3 when reading and writing are introduced. I love these early years because the students are still eager to learn and participate in French class. Once they hit the junior years, however, I've noticed that things start to change.

By the time students enter the intermediate division, they are even less likely to show any enthusiasm at all. Therein lies one of the greatest challenges of a Core French teacher. How do you gain and maintain the attention of pre-teens and teens who would much rather be listening to their iPods? The answer, I discovered, is quite simple: Introduce them to the music of one of Canada's Favourite Children's Artist - Étienne.

Green Beaver, A Natural Canadian Solution to Winter Skin Woes

2011-12-28T11:22:00.001-05:00

It's official. Winter has arrived and has finally brought a snowfall worthy of shoveling. I look outside my window and smile at how beautiful everything is all covered in the fluffy stuff. But as I smile, I can feel the tightness in my skin. My lips are also starting to feel chapped again, too. Oh, how I dread the "winter itch." Then I remind myself: Have no fear. Green Beaver is here!

The Green Beaver company, a proudly Canadian company, has developed a natural winter skin care line called Green Beaver Après-Ski. These products, naturally rich with shea and cocoa butter, have been formulated to protect and relieve the driest and itchiest skin. They are also enriched with skin soothing colloidal oatmeal and other plant extracts such as aloe.

Wordless Wednesday - Caledonia Old Mill Festival of Lights (w/linky)

2011-12-27T20:35:00.001-05:00

On Christmas Day, we drove to Caledonia with my sister and nephew to take in the light show at the Caledonia Old Mill. We really enjoyed it, except for my son. He fell asleep by the time we got there.

Hope you are all having a wonderful holiday so far.

Please feel free to link up your Wordless Wednesday post below.

Have a Beary Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T23:49:00.000-05:00

I would like to take this time to wish you and your loved ones

a beary merry Christmas!

May the holidays be filled with happiness and peace!

Here are two cards I made for a colleague of mine for her twins to give their teachers.

Beauty and the Beast in 3D - Be Our Guest! (Giveaway)

2011-12-20T22:25:00.004-05:00

Mes chers Mesdemoiselles et Messieurs, it is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that we welcome you tonight. And now we invite you to relax, let us recline in a chair as Toronto Teacher Mom proudly presents - Beauty and the Beast (In Disney Digital 3D™)!