funny things are everywhere

Planes is flying into theatres on August 9th!

2013-05-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

I was very excited when I first heard that Disney was coming out with the movie "Planes"!!

Then I heard the sound track which includes "More Human that Human" and "Danger Zone" and got more exicted! I love the movie Top Gun!

And it gets even better... Anthony Edwards and Val Kilmer (both of Top Gun fame) are the voices of "Bravo" and "Echo", respectively, in the movie.

How awesome is this movie going to be?!?!

From above the world of “Cars” comes “Disney’s Planes,” an action-packed 3D animated comedy adventure featuring Dusty (voice of Dane Cook), a plane with dreams of competing as a high-flying air racer. But Dusty’s not exactly built for racing—and he happens to be afraid of heights. So he turns to a seasoned naval aviator who helps Dusty qualify to take on the defending champ of the race circuit. Dusty’s courage is put to the ultimate test as he aims to reach heights he never dreamed possible, giving a spellbound world the inspiration to soar. “Disney’s Planes” takes off in theatres on Aug. 9, 2013.

Visit the website:

http://www.disney.com/planes

Like Disney’s PLANES on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/disneyplanes

Eight is not Enough: The 5 Step Test in Action #carseat #ncssw

2013-05-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

Rachel is 8 years old.

By law, in Ontario, she is old enough to ride without a booster.

Ontario Law states that a person can ride without a booster seat when they are:

over 8 years old
OR
over 4'9" tall
OR
weighs more than 80lbs

The Law is just a minimum!

A booster seat is required to make the vehicle's seat belt fit properly.

Why should there be any law stating when you should stop using it?

A child needs a booster until you can answer "YES" to the questions below...

Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

When we tested 8-year-old Rachel, the answer was NO to all 5 questions....

You can see in the photos that without a booster, Rachel does not fit in the seat belt.

She CANNOT sit all the way back against the auto seat.
Her knees DO NOT bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat.
The belt DOES NOT cross the shoulder between the neck and arm.
The lap belt is TOO HIGH. It sits across her stomach.
There is NO WAY that she would stay seated like this for the whole trip.

When doing the test, Rachel even commented herself how uncomfortable the seat belt was across her neck.

Educating Rachel about the safety of the seat belt and using is properly is very important. She will get questioned by her peers and now she has the confidence to say why she uses the booster!

The AAP is recommending that parents keep their children in a booster until they have hit 4'9" tall and meet the 5-step criteria. "[A] booster will make sure the vehicle’s lap-and-shoulder belt fit properly. The shoulder belt should lie across the middle of the chest and shoulder, not near the neck or face. The lap belt should fit low and snug on the hips and upper thighs, not across the belly. Most children will need a booster seat until they have reached 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between 8 and 12 years old." AAP - 3/12/2010

If you have any questions, please comment below!!

Please note: I am a certified Child Restraint Technician in Ontario, Canada. Please check your local laws about car seats and always read your vehicle owner's manual and car seat manual before installing your child seats.

This data will be updated as required.

ww: ready for the next 19 years! @drmartens forever!

2013-05-14T20:07:00.002-04:00

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National Car Seat Safety Week and a treat from @SnuggleBugz #ncssw #carseats

2013-05-13T11:23:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited!! Snuggle Bugz asked to me write a post for Car Seat Safety week!

Here's a snippit....

Car Seats and Vehicle Compatibility

"One of the most difficult things for parents to understand is that not every child car seat will fit in every car.

As a car seat technician, I will do my best to get the child seat installed into the vehicle, but there are many factors that can make this difficult."

Read more...

I love the relationship with Snuggle Bugz because they care about child passenger safety as much as I do! They have recently trained all their staff as car seat technicians so all of their customers can have peace of mind and know they are in good hands.

This week Snuggle Bugz is having some fun events!

They are having Car Seat Clinics, a Facebook party and a Twitter Party!

See all the details here -- National Car Seat Safety Week @ Snuggle Bugz

A little something for you!

Snuggle Bugz amd I want your child to be safe while riding the the car. The roller shades with the metal bar and suction cups can come loose and harm your child. The cling shades are much safer! You can win a pair for you vehicle!!

Contest is open to Canadians 18+ and will end Monday, May 20th at 11:59pm EST.

Entry -Form

Please get your child's car seats checked!

Don't assume that they are installed or used correctly....80% of them aren't!

Is yours one of them??

ww: first swim in the pool {linky}

2013-05-07T23:33:00.001-04:00

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#ChickenHeartsMoms Twitter party with @ChickenFarmers ~ May 9th

2013-05-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

Join the the Chicken Farmers of Canada, ShesConnected
and the Chicken Farmers Brand Ambassadors for a

#ChickenHeartsMoms Twitter party!!

Here are all the details:

Thursday, May 9th @ 9 pm EST

Follow @chickenfarmers and @shesconnected and hashtag #ChickenHeartsMoms

You could win

Five $100 gift cards, winners choice of Target, Presidents Choice, Walmart or Molly Maid!

RSVP for the Twitter Party HERE to be eligible for prizes.

Open to Canadians 18+

Chicken Farmers of Canada Brand Ambassadors: Stacey (@ThisLilPiglet), Lynette (@myweeview), Margarita (@downshiftingPOS) and Health Ambassador (@SoberJulie).

We also tweet as @ChickendotCA!! Make sure to follow along for tips, recipes or videos from the Chicken.ca website.

how do you sum up a 35 year friendship?

2013-05-06T09:06:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, I had the honour of being a bridesmaid in my friend's wedding.

Normally it's just the maid-of-honour who gets to do a speech, but since we have been friends for so long, she asked me to say something. It was hard to know what to say since we've known each other for so long.

Here are my notes but I didn't always stay on track....

Shannon and I first met when we were 3 years old. My family moved in to the house across the street from her family.

We shared so many memories in those early years. I'll share a few with you...they won't be chronological because I'm not sure of the years, but the memories are so clear!

I don't think there were many days where Shannon and I weren't together. Before school -- My brother and I would go over to her place before school. We'd play on the Atari or she'd play us a song that she had learned in piano lessons.

At school we were together -- We were in the same class from kindergarten to, I think, grade 3. As I said, I don't quite remember what happened at what age. I want pause for a second and say how happy I am, and I know Shannon is too, that Mrs. Smith, our Grade 1 and Grade 2 teacher, is here today!

After school and on weekends we were together too!

There were days of playing Dukes of Hazard with the other kids in the neighbourhood. Or what ever other game we happened to make up that day. Our imaginations took us to so many places. I can remember riding our bikes pretending we were bus drivers. We'd ride all over the neighbourhood for hours! Until my Mom rang the bell (and I bet Shannon still remembers the number of rings) or until the lights came on.

There was a phase when we obsessed about wanting braces. We'd use the foil wrappers from the cafeteria hot dogs and pretend that we had braces. Lucky me, I actually ended up with real ones.

In grade 3 we made mail boxes out of construction paper and sat under our desks, only replying to people through the mail. That year we also choreographed a dance to Eye of the Tiger. Hey, Theo...do you have that one??

It was fun things like that that kept us close.

One Christmas, Santa brought me a Cabbage Patch kid. I was ecstatic! I had been asking (probably begging) for one but my parents kept reminding me that Santa would bring some of the gifts on my list, but not everything. See, Cabbage Patch kids were a hot item that year; sold out in every store. When I was old enough to know the truth, I learned that Dave was my Santa. He managed to get his hands on a doll, called my parents to see if they wanted one for me. Thank you Dave!

Now, Cabbage Patch kids come with a name, but you can change it when you adopt them. I would like you all to meet "Alicia Shannon". She was named that because I liked the name Alicia...and Shannon because she's my best friend. Our Cabbage Patch dolls have their own funny stories too...strange ones about utensils (completely an inside joke...but a fond memory)!

So many memories.

Even after my family moved, we did our best to stay in contact. But as we made new friends, we just didn't have as much time for each other. Our lives took different paths, but we would still come back together every once in a while and we'd share more good times. It didn't matter how much time had passed since we last saw each other...we just seemed to pick up where we left off. I cherish this bond that we have...friends...no matter what. Her family is my family, and mine hers.

When Shannon and I were little, my mom and dad would be invited over for "cookies"! They kept calling it that even when we got old enough to know that they were actually being invited over for a cold beer. Shannon, I'm sure your mom and my dad are are celebrating this amazing day sharing some "cookies".

And it truly has been an amazing day! Shannon, I'm so happy that you and Jake found each other! I can see how happy you are to be with Jake. Thank you Jake, for making Shannon so happy...keep it up!

I would like to propose a toast to Shannon and Jake and to their new lives together! Cheers!

The day was amazing! The ceremony had some great personal touches -- he's a cowboy and just before they kissed, he lassoed her. Very cute! We got to get the photos done outside since the weather was beautiful. The day ended with dinner and dancing until we ran out of steam.

Congrats to Shannon and Jake!! I'm so excited for them both as they start this new chapter in their lives!

ww: dance like no one is watching {linky}

2013-04-30T21:58:00.001-04:00

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Wordless Wednesday: A girl and her dog {linky}

2013-04-23T20:51:00.002-04:00

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Enter the #SpringCash Giveaway today!! {ends April 29th}

2013-04-22T00:01:00.000-04:00

Need some extra cash to get your garden started?

Need to freshen up your spring wardrobe?

New shoe caught your eye?

I think this could help!

The prize is $115 into your PayPal account

Open worldwide.

Runs from 12:01am on April 22 to 12:01am on April 29th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to This Lil Piglet and Tales of a Ranting Ginger for organizing this event.

Being a StrongMom is what my girls need #StrongMomsEmpower

2013-04-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

"Ain't nobody happy unless mom is happy."

This saying is all well and good, but without confidence, many moms end up second guessing themselves

At a twitter party a few weeks ago, one of the questions was "What is the best advice you give a new mom?"

My answer: "Don't listen to all the advice!"

For me, being a StrongMom, means

"Make the choice that is best your your family."

And there are so many choices you can make:
Disposables or Clothdiapers
Breastfeed or Formula
Crib or co-sleep
Ferberize or Baby Whisperer

I could go on and on.

But in the end, it is you and your loved ones. Whatever the outside world is doing, doesn't matter. Whatever the current trend is doesn't matter. Whatever celebrities are doing, doesn't matter. Whatever the opinionated blogger/neighbour/friend/family member says, doesn't matter.

If you know in your heart, that what you are doing is right for you, your partner, your family, then THAT what matters.

It took me a very long time to figure all of that out.

I read the books...lots of them. I subscribed to the parenting websites...lots of them. I was on pregnancy forums and later mom's forums online. So many places for me to find out what "the right thing" is.

But all I found was noise. Battles. Wars.

Then I stopped worrying about what everyone else was going to think. I stopped waiting for someone else to tell me what to do.

With fresh eyes, I went back to the books, websites and forums. I went back looking for information about the topics that I wanted to know about. I was doing research on my terms.

I was also aware of how I gave my opinion to others. I had to be informative without being pushy or overbearing. I knew how those other new moms were feeling. I didn't want to come off as a bully. I just explained what was working for us and hoped that what I shared was helpful.

This same mindset is important for my girls to understand. They are going to have to make many choices in their lives. They will be faced with many challenges where they have to do what is right for them. I can only hope that the example that I set will be a strong enough foundation for them.

So moms out there...the next time you spout off your opinion, don't do it as if what you say is the be all and end all. Share your information with others as encouragement and as one piece in a very large parenting puzzle.

Have you taken the pledge??

It’s time for moms to feel good about the decisions they make for their children and their families. The StrongMoms Empower campaign is a call-to-action to create a more supportive and less judgmental environment, online and off."

Take the pledge today!

http://strongmomsempower.com

Breaking news! I'm a @PTPA Blogaholic!!

2013-04-18T09:30:00.000-04:00

I've been following PTPA for a very long time

and have been registered as a PTPA Evaluator since June 2009.

Now, I'm stepping it up a notch, and I get to blog for PTPA! Woohoo!!

Read my my intro post here!

Twistos Baked Snack Bites and Crackers make snacking fun! {review}

2013-04-17T20:52:00.000-04:00

When PepsiCo asked me to try a new snack, I couldn't wait! They sent me a case of Twistos!!

Twistos Baked Snack Bites and Baked Snack Crackers come in 6 different flavours -- something for everyone.

The Baked Snack Bites are like little crispy croutons with amazing flavour! And newest flavour is great -- Balsamic Vinegar & Olive Oil.

The other flavours are Asiago, Bruschetta and Parmesan & Garlic

The Baked Snack Crackers are a nice light snack. My neighbour and I enjoyed the Cheese & Chive flavour with a glass of red; it made a nice combination! The Parmesan & Oregano is also very yummy.

Both Baked Snack Bites and Baked Snack Crackers can be prepared in a multitude of different ways and are less than 100 calories per 20g serving. Dip them, add a spreadable topper, cut them up and add them to salads, or eat them on their own– the possibilities are endless!

Enter to win a big box of Twistos Baked Snack Bites and Baked Snack Crackers for you and your family to enjoy!

Contest is ~~open until April 26th 11:59pm EST~~ now closed
Open to Canadians only
Use GiveawayTools form below to enter

>> Click to read the full article >>

wordless wednesday: my ride for the week #FordFlex

2013-04-16T22:49:00.003-04:00

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My blog is Pink today to support #DayOfPink

2013-04-10T08:45:00.000-04:00

DayofPink is the International Day against Bullying, Discrimination, Homophobia and Transphobia in schools and communities. We invite everyone to celebrate diversity by wearing a pink shirt and by organizing activities in their workplaces, organizations, communities and schools.

http://www.dayofpink.org/

In our house, everyday has the spirit of DayOfPink.
There is no place for bullying and discrimination.

We teach the girls to love everyone and treat everyone as they would want to be treated...no matter what!

What are you doing doing to support DAYofPINK?

wordless wednesday: the #Pizzaburger at @BostonPizza is yummy! {linky}

2013-04-09T13:00:00.000-04:00

Craig is giving away 2 $50 gift cards to Boston Pizza on his blog -- click here!

Have you tried it yet??

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2013 Ultimate Blog Party #UBP13

2013-04-05T08:35:00.000-04:00

Thanks for stopping by!

I've always wanted to participate in the Ultimate Blog Party, but I always seemed to miss the deadline. Not this year!!

Let me introduce myself....

I'm Wendy...aka @mapsgirl

married to @bigdaddykreativ (aka @FordCraigSilva )
mom to 2 amazing girls
cartographer
Youth Group co-coordinator
car seat technician
lover of life

What's my blog all about??

The first post -- In the beginning...

9 years ago when I started this blog I was just posting about being pregnant and then about being a mom. There are a lot of cute stories about the girls.

In June, 2008, I became a Certified Car Seat Technician and started to include information about car seat safety. I'm very passionate about this so if you have any questions, please read my "Car Seat Info" page. If your question doesn't get answered there, please contact me and I'll try to help.

I'm a stickler about grammar -- i'd like to buy a "LY", please

Sometimes I worry -- mustering up strength

I love to share photos -- hard to believe it's November

In November 2009, I did my first sponsored post -- Disney on Ice is coming to Toronto

Since then I've worked with some amazing brands and pr companies!

I recently posted my first auto review -- 2013 Ford Edge SEL

My favorite part about blogging is that over the years, I have met and become friends with so many amazing bloggers!

Through the Ultimate Blog Party, I hope to meet many new bloggers (and maybe even some new brands to work with too)!!

Thanks again for stopping by! If you're participating in the Ultimate Blog Party please leave a comment and I'll be sure to visit your blog!

2013 @FordCanada Edge SEL is roomy and fun to drive! {review}

2013-04-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Ford Canada, I had the opportunity to test drive the 2013 Ford Edge SEL AWD for a week, which really allowed me to get to know this hip CUV.

The 2013 Edge SEL AWD I tested had a 3.5L V6 engine with automatic transmission, MyFord Touch, Sync voice activated system, reverse sensing system, keyless entry, drivers entry package and power liftgate. The SEL appearance package includes the 20" machine aluminum wheels. (MSRP $43,279 as tested)

At First Glance

With the key still in my pocket, I walked up to the Edge, reached for the handle and it automatically unlocked. I love not having to juggle keys, trying to find the button to unlock the door.

Once inside, I was impressed with the sleek lines and smooth surfaces.

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wordless wednesday: memories of the Old Nick {w/linky}

2013-04-02T21:00:00.000-04:00

Craig and I met here in December 1999 -- The Old Nick

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wordless wednesday: a funny flashback

2013-03-26T20:15:00.000-04:00

This was taken in the fall of 2007

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Make yourself a priority, your heart will thank you for it! #EncourageAMom #spon

2013-03-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

This post is part of YummyMummyClub.ca's and Becel’s “Encourage a Mom” program. In its role as founding sponsor of The Heart and Stroke Foundation’s The Heart Truth™ campaign, Becel wants to empower moms and encourage them to prioritize their own health and well-being as much as they do others. I received compensation for my participation. This post reflects my personal opinion about the information provided by the sponsors.

When YMC posted the opportunity to do a blog post about encouraging other moms, I knew that this was perfect for me. Perfect timing too! It had taken me awhile to figure out that I needed to focus on myself. The large number on the scale was a huge sign that something needed to change. A lot of things.

What is all of this weight doing to my body?

Extra weight puts a lot of strain on the other organs – particularly heart and lungs. Did you know that “by taking the time to take care of themselves too through healthy lifestyle choices, women can reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke (a leading cause of death for women in Canada), by as much as 80%”?

I want to be around to see my grandbabies. Death is not an option right now. I lost my dad just before that 2008 photo was taken. Rachel was only 6 months old. I weighed about 130 pounds.

Life caught up to me. Habits were formed; bad habits. For example, I take the time to make my kids a nice healthy lunch with fruits and vegetables but I end up getting drive-thru fast food for myself. In that 2013 photo, I’m more than 30 pounds heavier. My BMI is in the “overweight” category.

Reducing the Risk – Making time for me!

In order to be healthier, my doctor told me that I need to make healthy food choices and exercise. It really didn’t seem that difficult. But how? But when?

The excuse I tell myself often is "Between the 4 of us we have activities every night and finding time to exercise is tough." I need to MAKE time. And I had to start out small. I didn’t want to overwhelm myself with too much too quickly. I substituted my trip to the drive-thru with a healthy lunch and fruits and veggies for snacks. I park at the back of the parking lot and I take the stairs instead of the elevator. I started tracking what I eat and blogging about my journey.

Moms helping moms

My “Motivational Mondays” posts have led to become a part of an amazing group of women who support and encourage each other to stay focused on our goals of living a healthy life. “The majority (60%) of Canadian mothers say they don’t have enough time to take care of themselves. Over half (56%) of Canadian moms surveyed said they would be more likely to spend more time to take care of themselves if another mother encouraged them to do so,” according to a Becel commissioned survey. I’m very glad I have this group! A friendly reminder that I’m important too and that scheduling 30 minutes of exercise a day for me isn’t taking away from my kids. In the long run, it will mean more time.

My inspiration!

Is there a mom you want to encourage?

Every mom needs a little reminder that she is important too!

I’m personalizing and sending this video to a few moms who are on this journey with me, who I know would appreciate a little encouragement!

Becel made this amazing video to empower moms and encourage them to prioritize their own health and well-being as much as they do for others.

You can go to the Becel website to easily personalize and send the video to moms in your life to remind them to take care of themselves too!

Encourage a Mom today! #EncourageAMom

** Images are my own.

Mabel's Labels Limited Edition Camp Combo Packs on sale until April 30th #buzzmama @mabelhood

2013-03-22T09:49:00.000-04:00

I'm sure that children (and parents) are counting down the days until school is over and they're headed off to camp!

Help the summer campers in your life stay organized this camp season with Mabel's Labels.

The Limited Edition Camp Combo Packs are UV resistant, waterproof labels and tags designed especially for everything that goes to summer camp. Identify clothes, footwear, toiletries, swim gear, backpacks and more with this seasonal essential. Best of all, save $2 and receive a free gift (while supplies last) when you purchase before 4/30.

Happy Camping!

I am a happy Mabel's Labels user, an affiliate and a Buzzmama!

#ChickenChat - March 27 12pm - Getting Ready for Easter #ChickenDotCa

2013-03-22T08:01:00.002-04:00

@ZeronaCanada #FatBeGoneAThon Twitter Party - March 26th 8pm

2013-03-20T12:00:00.000-04:00

Earlier this year @SoberJule introduced her readers to Zerona Canada, the leader in non-invasive body sculpting procedure designed to remove fat and contour the body.

Zerona Canada treatments are approved by the FDA and Health Canada and far less invasive than liposuction. It's a fantastic choice for anyone who is looking for rapid inch loss yet not looking to take a surgical route.

Zerona Canada Reduces Inches

The treatment zaps fat cells with cold laser which creates a hole or pore in the fat cell. The pores allow the junk from within the fat cell to be eliminated and flushed out of the body. Essentially Zerona essentially detoxifies and flattens the fat cells.

You can read more in detail about the treatment process HERE, I actually attended a Zerona Canada location and had one session where I lost a total of 6 inches over my body in just 40 minutes!

Zerona Fat Be Gone A Thon

In April of 2012 Zerona Canada held a Fat Be Gone a Thon at all of their locations where they tracked the inches lost for the day. All of the Zerona centers across Canada participated and in the end the total inches lost was 550 inches!!

These results may seem astounding and hard to believe but if you head over to the FatBeGoneAThon website you can see actual photos of clients from the day and the amount each person lost!

For more recent testimonials you can head to the ILoveZerona website where folks are raving about their results!

Zerona truly changed my life

“For years I have always had trouble with my mid-section, and then having a child just added to the problem. After years of eating right, exercise I still did not see any improvement. It was disappointing every time I would put my clothes on. Feeling very discouraged, have I seen an ad about Zerona and contemplated going through with it… with much thought and a year’s time of trying my hardest at what I was already doing, and still seeing no result, I called Zerona specialist and I booked my treatments. After the first 3 treatments my clothes started to feel different I was amazed at the progress. It gave me confidence and motivation to keep making positive life changes. With Zerona I lost 8 1/2 inches and 9 pounds with 12 treatments and it truly has changed my life Thank you Zerona.” ~ Leslie Logan, client at Tecumseh Laser Centre in Windsor, Ontario

If you’d like to connect with Zerona you can find them on Facebook or Twitter and they have many reviews available to you on their website and blogs.

Twitter Party Alert!

When: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 – 8pm EST
Where: On Twitter using the hashtag #FatBeGoneAThon
Who: @ZeronaCanada, @SoberJulie (host), @SimplyStacienet, @MommyMatter, @ThisLilPiglet, @ChancesMommy, @mapsgirl
Why: Let’s talk about rapid inch loss, you know you want answers!

Prizes: Open to residents of Canada

Every participant will receive 1 free treatment

GRAND PRIZE:

One package of 12 Zerona Treatments
free consultation and body composition analysis,
and free nutrition consultation. Value over $3000 dollars.

RSVP: Provide your Twitter profile name and url in the link below

This is a sponsored post but all opinions are my own.

ww: #maps are fun! #gis #pinterest

2013-03-19T22:27:00.001-04:00

See more on my "maps are fun" Pinterest board!

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