This time of year can be especially hard for those who are less fortunate - but, thanks to Amazon, we’re adding a new tradition in our home to help spread holiday cheer this season! We’ll now be donating to a new charity every holiday season thanks to Amazon.
Read MoreWith COVID-19 still very much present but so much of our lives slowly returning to normal, how can you properly equip yourself to protect your family? For us, it starts with a FORA IR42 Non-Contact Forehead Thermometer! We have one by our front door and we check the temperature of everyone that comes into our home. We loved our FORA IR42 Non-Contact Forehead Thermometer before COVID-19 because of how easy it is to use with our kids but have really come to appreciate it even more now.
The FORA IR42 Non-Contact Forehead Thermometer can be used on babies, kids, toddlers and adults! You simply point the thermometer at your (or your child’s forehead) and you press a button. Within seconds you have a reading. Because it never needs to touch their forehead, it’s so easy to use with kids and babies and it’s also hygienic and coronavirus safe.
It excelled in clinical accuracy tests and has a highly precise sensor that gives a reading in 1 second, which I find is so important to look into because many other thermometers that we researched at did not. What I love as well is that it has specific modes for infants, adults and even surface temperatures! It has a memory feature too so you don’t have to worry about remembering the temperature you took before.
The FORA IR42 Thermometer is not only helping us feel better about having people in our home, but it’s going to be such a game changer during cold and flu season this fall. It’s always a wrestling match trying to take my kids’ temperatures when I think they’re sick. With our FORA IR42, I can literally take their temperature anywhere, including in front of the TV, while they eat, while they brush their teeth and they don’t even know that I’ve done it! Click here for more info and to shop.
Use Code FORAXTOVAH for 10% off of your FORA IR42 Non-Contact Forehead Thermometer!
This post was sponsored by the makers of ibi as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. We were sent a complimentary unit so we could share our real opinions with our readers.
Staying connected with family is more important than ever now that we aren’t able to see them as much as we usually do. But not surprisingly, being home with 2 kids all day has left me with less time to stay connected with friends and family. I’m so thankful to have discovered ibi TM by SanDisk, an amazing photo and video sharing option that allows me to quickly and easily stay in touch with friends and family!
ibi is a smart photo manager that not only backs up your favorite photos and videos in 1 place, but also allows you to easily share life’s most important memories with friends and family. During a time of social distancing, it’s allowed us to feel as connected as ever to the people that matter the most! While I love social media, not everyone in my family uses it and I don’t always share the super personal moments there. ibi allows me to share the important and not so picture perfect moments with my family so that they don’t feel as though they’re missing out on our best moments (like Boston’s first steps or Zane’s potty training).
Using it to share photos and videos is super simple. All you have to do is plug in your ibi, download the app, invite your friends and family to join (they can each have their own private storage area) and you start choosing which pictures you want to share with each person or group! I love how easy it is and how all my friends and family are in the same place. They can easily see all the pictures I’ve shared with them, get notifications (if they want) when I upload new pictures or videos and we can even comment on pictures right through the app!
One of my favorite features is how simple it is to start sharing memories by setting up your inner circle! Below are some screen shots from the set up so you can see how easy it really is:
My ibi also allows me to have peace of mind knowing that my pictures and videos are backed up in my home. All I did was turn on the automatic upload feature and ibi handles the rest! It will make sure all my memories are kept in one place without me needing to remember to upload them. Through the ibi app, you can also group your pictures into folders, so if you’re someone who loves organization, then this is the product for you!
So stop feeling guilty for not sending your grandparents, parents and family members as many pictures of your kids as you should and start using ibi! The smart photo manager that allows you to feel more connected than ever with the ones you love the most. Click here to learn more!
This post was sponsored by Reebok as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed are my own.
Mother’s Day this year may look a little different for some people, but it doesn’t mean that it needs to be any less special! Whether you’re lucky enough to get to spend the day with the mama in your life or not, why not make this mother’s day extra special for her by surprising her with the ultimate gift delivered right to her door: a pair of Reebok Women's Harman Run shoes from Kohl’s? If you’re like me and love to drop hints to your husband about what to surprise you with, these shoes won’t disappoint!
Kohl’s is the ultimate shopping destination that will make choosing the perfect pair of Reebok Harman Run shoes a breeze! They have a huge selection of Reebok Harman Run color combinations so you can find the perfect pair to match any style. Whether you love a crisp pair of white sneakers or prefer a chalk pink instead, they have it all! Their website is also super easy to navigate so you can quickly find what you’re looking for, add to cart and check out! Or, if you’re anything like me, you’ll order a pair of Reebok’s for everyone in your family! Their selection is just too good to pass up.
Reebok Harman Run shoes are the perfect addition for any lifestyle and a must have in every wardrobe this spring. Whether you’re a super active mom that loves to go for a run or jog, a mom that prefers playing tag in the back yard or simply taking your dog for a walk, these shoes will be able to keep up. They’re gorgeous, lightweight and made with comfort in mind. They have Ortholite technology that enables air flow and will keep her feet cool while inhibiting odor and fungus with an incredible and comfy cushioning!
It’s rare that I find a pair of shoes that are comfortable enough to wear on a long walk with both my kids but that are also super trendy. I never want to have to compromise comfort for style and with my Reebok Harman Run shoes, I don’t have to!
Being comfortable, being able to stay active and set a good example for my kids and also feeling confident in the way I look are all so important to me so I decided to spoil myself ahead of Mother’s Day with a pair and my only regret is not getting a second pair. A pair of shoes that allows me to keep up with my kids while looking great is really the best gift this Mother’s Day!
Click here to check out the Reebok Harman Run shoes at Kohl’s!
Quartier DIX30, as you know, is one of my all time favourite places to spend the day. It has everything from the most delicious food, to the best shopping, to the most luxurious VIP movie theater and the most incredible and unique retail experience thanks to Le Blok, a special sector within Quartier DIX30 that is solely dedicated to experimental retail experiences; combining a mix of art, culture, and community events and giving its brands a new life.
Le Blok is absolutely captivating with the bright colours and artsy feel, and the pop-up stores will have you wishing you could shop there every day! I spent the morning shopping at Le Magasin Général, a retail experience curated by the editors of Dress to Kill Magazine. I went on the hunt for 5 timeless pieces that every woman needs in her closet. The hardest part, by far, was choosing only 5! I put together 2 different looks - one for the daytime while I’m with my kids and another for a girls night out!
In every corner of Le Magasin Général is a perfectly curated piece of artwork, experience or display. You will have a hard time deciding what to do first: explore the beautiful set up in the store or start shopping and discovering the 35+ brands that have been beautifully brought together in this pop-up. There’s an emphasis on Canadian craftsmanship and because the shop is constantly evolving, you’ll discover new timeless pieces every time you shop.
When I think of Pieces to Keep Forever, I’m immediately drawn to items that never go out of style: Hats, a good fitting pair of Denim, a tailored Blazer, a pair of Sunglasses and a pointed toe Stiletto. I was in luck because Le Magasin Général had it all, and then some. With brands like Hip and Bone, Kanuk, J Brand, Philippe Urban, Iris Setlakwe and Black Suede Studio, my look was easy to put together and and even easier to transition from day to night. If you’re looking for the ultimate shopping experience mixed with art, Canadian craftsmanship and culture, don’t miss this one of a kind pop-up shop at Quartier DIX30.
This post was sponsored by Revolution Cooking™ as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed are my own.
I’m going to be honest and say that I never thought a toaster could be exciting. I mean, it’s a toaster. Then I got my hands on the R180 High-Speed Smart Toaster from Revolution Cooking and it has quickly become our favorite small appliance in our kitchen. It’s so high tech and fun to use that even my husband is begging to help make breakfast now so he has a reason to use it.
What makes the R180 High-Speed Smart Toaster better than the rest (besides its sleek gorgeous design)? For starters, it has a touch screen. No more turning a dial and choosing a number and pushing down a button to lower your toast. Everything is controlled from the touch screen. You choose what you’re making (Waffle, toaster pastries, toast, bagel or English muffin), you choose whether it's fresh, frozen or whether you’re just reheating it. With a setting for everything, your toast, waffle and toaster pastries will always come out exactly how you want them, which means that even your pickiest eaters will have a smile on their face!
My favorite part, however, it that you can actually choose how toasted you want your food! And not like other toasters where you’re turning a dial to different numbers without knowing what your toast will come out looking like! What’s so unique about the R180 High-Speed Smart Toaster from Revolution Cooking, is that as you choose a darker setting, you actually see a picture of what your toast, for example, will come out looking like! That means perfect and delicious food every single time.
The frozen toaster pastry toasting option is actually one of my faves because I love making homemade toaster strudel and freezing it for quick and easy weekday breakfasts! I’m going to share my easy strudel recipe below and you can freeze them and enjoy them on even your busiest weekday mornings thanks to the R180 High-Speed Smart Toaster that toasts toaster pastries perfectly every single time! I’m sharing the recipe with you below!
1 sheet of puff pastry , thawed
Jam of your choice for the filling
1 tsp cornstarch
1 large eggs
1/2 tsp salted butter , melted
1 tbs of powdered sugar
dash of vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Place 1 sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and cut into 6 equal rectangles. You can also cut them into triangles if you want to make triangular shaped strudel!
In 1 bowl, whisk together the jam of your choice and the cornstarch and spoon 1 heaping tbs of jam into the centre of the rectangles. Do not overstuff or else you’ll have jam leaking out and it’s not pretty!
In another small bowl whisk together egg. Lightly brush rim (section around edges not covered with jam) with egg mixture. Layer remaining puff pastry rectangles over jam coated puff pastry and press edges to seal with a fork!
Brush tops of each strudel lightly with egg wash. Bake about 10 minutes, or until they are very lightly browned. If you’re going to eat them right away, then toast them until they are golden brown!
Let your pastry completely cool and put in ziplock bag or reusable freezer safe container.
When you’re ready to enjoy on a busy weekday morning, take directly out of freezer and place in your R180 High-Speed Smart Toaster. Select the Pastry setting and choose the Frozen option! They will come out toasted to perfect each and every time.
THAT’S IT!
For the icing, whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl and spread over the strudel when it’s warm out of the toaster.
Whether you’re making waffles, toast or toaster pastries, fresh, frozen or simply reheating, your food will come out exactly how you want it to thanks to the R180 High-Speed Smart Toaster from Revolution Cooking. Click here to learn more about the most revolutionary smart toaster on the market!
Use the promo code REVCOOK20 for 20% off from 12/1 – 12/31
And while you're there, sign up for the email newsletter so you won't miss any of Revolution Cooking's biggestnews!
The holidays are a chaotic and crazy and wonderful time of the year! How do you stay on top of it all? I stay organized all year round thanks to Bloom Daily Planners! With their array of planners, stickers, notebooks, grocery lists and todo lists, nothing gets forgotten and nothing gets overlooked! They make amazing gifts too and with their assortment of accessories and other organizational gifts, you can totally customize it to fit anyone’s style! They even have products for brides-to-be! I’ve linked my top products below and totally recommend them for stocking stuffers or as part of a larger gift by choosing a few!
HARD COVER DAILY PLANNER & CALENDAR: They have planners for 2019/2020 or for just 2020. Whether you’re looking for monthly planners, weekly planners or desk planners, they have it all in every color and print you can imagine! No matter how you like to stay organized, they have a planner for you.
PLANNER BANDS: A must have accessory for any planner! They keep your planner closed when your on the go, bookmark your page and hold a pen! They have a few other styles too so you can pick the perfect ones to match the planner you choose!
GROCERY LIST PLANNING PAD: This pad has been a lifesaver! It comes with 60 tear off sheets, organizes everything into categories so that your shopping trip is efficient and even has blank spaces for the extras that aren’t there. We keep this in our kitchen and simply check off items as we run out! This would make an amazing stocking stuffer for any family!
TIMED DAILY TO-DO PAD: A million things to do and no time to get them done! At least nothing will be forgotten with this to-do pad! It has a column for time sensitive items, a column for the extras and a box for the day’s top priorities! You can easily rip off the sheet from the pad and take it on the go!
PRODUCTIVITY PLANNER STICKERS: I am all about stickers! They make staying organized fun and make the important items stand out in my planner! These productivity stickers are amazing for the every day items like bill payments, doctors appointments, phone calls, to-do lists and important reminders! These would pair great with one of the planners from Bloom Daily Planners!
CLASSIC PLANNER STICKERS: These classic stickers remind you to take coffee breaks, stay motivated, enjoy a margarita and never forget anyone’s birthday!
HOLIDAY PLANNER STICKERS V2: This set of stickers takes your planner to the next level! They’re themed and seasonal stickers to spruce up any holiday and totally make your planner come to life! No holiday is left out and they’re just so cute!
MOUSE PAD, POPPY PICNIC: This fun and vibrant mouse pad is perfect for even the most monochrome office! Let it be the pop of color you need at the office or the vibrant piece that pulls all your other colours together! It’s so soft, anti-slip and the beautiful shape makes it so unique!
INSPIRATIONAL PERPETUAL DESK EASEL: We all could use a little inspiration to start the day and this is the perfect way to do it! it comes with 365+ inspirational quotes, positive affirmations or scriptures. There are no years written on the pages so you can reuse it year after year! This would make a great gift for anyone! A teacher, best friend, favorite barista or even a grandparent. It sits beautifully on a desk but can also be put in your kitchen or on your night stand.
What’s your favorite item from Bloom Daily Planners? Comment below or send me a message! I love hearing from you!
With a million and 1 things to do before the baby arrives, I’ve been sneaking in some “me” time as often as I can. Thankfully, every moment feels like a pamper session thanks to my new slippers from Dearfoams! My Ashley Cable Quilt Bound Clog style slippers are made with Dearfoams’ StepFoam, their famous memory foam! You read that right, MEMORY FOAM SLIPPERS. Does it really get any better than that?
With my new Dearfoam slippers, even folding laundry can be fun!
Mom life at its finest: laundry and donuts LOL. But at least I’m comfy in my new slippers!
With Mother’s Day just around the corner, I can’t think of a better gift idea than a pair of gorgeous, comfy slippers from Dearfoams! They have styles and colors to please any mom… no matter what her style is! Check out my faves below! They have moccasins, slipper socks, booties and ballerina slippers! They even have amazing styles for men and kids!
Spoil your mom, sister or bestie with an amazing pair of slippers from Dearfoams. You won’t regret it! I already have a Wishlist ready for my hubby this Mother’s Day, and since I’ll then be a mom of two, I think I deserve more than 1 pair (or at least that’s what I’m telling my husband). And make sure to tag me in a picture so I can see which style you chose!!! Click here to visit the Dearfoams website to see all their gorgeous styles!
This blog is sponsored by AfterShokz and PTPA Media. As always, all opinions and views that I have expressed are my own.
AfterShokz Trekz Air wireless bone conduction headphones are the MUST have accessory for every parent and fitness enthusiast! They’re light, wireless… but here’s the part that will blow you away: they use bone conduction technology so you can listen to your music while still being able to hear exactly what is happening around you. It means you can go to the park with your kids and listen to your fave podcast or song without jeopardizing their safety - you can bike ride down the street while still being able to hear the cars that are around you, and my personal favourite, you can do a quick nap time work out routine while blasting your favourite beats but still be able to hear your baby cry when they wake up!
AfterShokz Trekz Air headphones not only make sure that you can hear your favourite songs and podcasts, but they also boast dual noise canceling microphones which exclude surrounding noise - so you can pick up that quick business call and have your colleagues hear you perfectly even when you're in the middle of a playground! They basically allow you to be handsfree to play with your kids and stay on top of “mom duties” at the park, while being able to answer calls and listen to music!
I tested out the AfterShokz Trekz Air headphones this weekend and can't say enough good things about them! For starters, I'm a total sucker for beautiful products, and these headphones are STUNNING. Mine are in a deep matte red called Canyon Red, they feel so lightweight on my ears and it's almost unbelievable that I can put them on and hear everything that is happening in the world around me! They come equipped with a charger and super sleek and gorgeous carrying case too so that they can stay protected when you aren't using them.
I put them to the test while Zane was napping. Normally, I try to be as quiet as possible while he sleeps because a tired and cranky toddler is no fun at all! So I usually end up doing my stretches and yoga in complete silence... which for some may be great, but I looooove listening to my music. I don't like traditional headphones for a few reasons: 1. I get caught in the cord while moving from pose to pose and 2. I can't hear when Zane wakes up if I have my headphones in! With the AfterShokz Trekz Air, I was able to blast my music, really feel relaxed and "in the zone" while doing my quick workout and the moment Zane woke up, I heard him crying as clear as day. It's really incredible how I managed to survive motherhood this long without having a pair of AfterShokz Trekz Air headphones! My only issue now is going to be convincing my husband that they are mine and he needs to get his own!
I am so excited for this summer when we take our walks to the park with my son and soon to be arriving new baby. It will be such a change to be able to relax and listen to a podcast outside while Zane plays, but still be able to hear him call me if he needs help or wants my attention.
If you want more information on these must-have wireless bone conduction headphones, CLICK HERE. They make a great gift for anyone in your life and an even better gift for yourself :).
#ShokzSquadCAN
Every year I go on the hunt for a new planner. Not because it’s a task I particularly enjoy… but more so because I haven’t found one that has it all. Durable enough to last an entire year, equipped with enough tools but not overwhelming, a great layout, and gorgeous. This year I stumbled upon Lake and Loft, and they will now have a customer in me for the rest of my planner days!
USE CODE MNMM35 for 35% OFF at Lake and Loft
Finding the right planner for me, is the difference between feeling overwhelmed with my life and feeling like I’m in control. It’s the difference between missing deadlines and being on top of all that I have to do. I’m going share my fave features of my new planner from Lake and Loft! For a limited time, you can use code MNMM35 to save 35% off yours! Click here to see it and the other colors available.
First off, the details. The gold corner accents and gold binding rings tug at my heart. This planner is such a piece, that it can sit on a desk as decor and doesn’t need to be tucked away when I’m cleaning up.
It comes equipped with pockets at the front and back so store loose papers and the fun stickers that come included!
The first section is Dream - pages filled with “Big Ideas” and “Minor Details” so that you can map out how to conquer the year and every idea, thought and inspiration that comes to mind. Whether it’s inspirational quotes, the next great business venture, or just some room decor inspiration, this section is where I would put everything that wanted to keep track of, but didn’t need to access on the daily.
The second section is Plan - self explanatory! It has gorgeous tabs that separate the months. Each month begins with the most important thing: DREAM, GOALS and PLAN OF ACTION. I love writing down my goals for the month. It helps keep me focused, on track, and when I feel discouraged, I can quickly look back and remember why I’m doing what I’m doing.
Each month also has a budget section where you can write down bills to pay and keep track of your money coming in and out. There’s even a section to write down what you’re saving up for!
A necessity for me is a monthly calendar view - I like to be able to see what’s coming up at a glance.
Finally, each monthly section is broken down by weeks, making it super easy to write down daily tasks, write weekly to-do lists and there’s even a little section for Weekly Wins. Not every week will be huge… nor super successful, but this weekly win section will help you focus on the positive and keep your drive going for the weeks to come.
This yearly planner is filled with such cute extras, such as Thank You and Happy Birthday Post Cards at the end, making it super easy to send a beautiful note to someone special while you’re on the go and busy running the world! Click here to check out my planner along with all the other styles!
USE CODE MNMM35 for 35% OFF at Lake and Loft
Lake and Loft has so much else to offer besides planners! I also got my hands on the big ta-do™ weekly checklist! These tear off sheets have beautiful gold edges, tear apart by day so that you can bring one list at a time with you and are on thick cardboard, making it oh so luxurious to write. Writing to-do lists has never been so fun!!!
Lake and Loft also has note pads, greeting cards, coasters, recipe cards and so much more! Click here to visit their site and don’t forget to use MNMM35 to get 35% off your order!
Every year I go on the hunt for a new planner. Not because it’s a task I particularly enjoy… but more so because I haven’t found one that has it all. Durable enough to last an entire year, equipped with enough tools but not overwhelming, a great layout, and gorgeous. This year I stumbled upon Lake and Loft, and they will now have a customer in me for the rest of my planner days!
USE CODE MNMM35 for 35% OFF at Lake and Loft
Finding the right planner for me, is the difference between feeling overwhelmed with my life and feeling like I’m in control. It’s the difference between missing deadlines and being on top of all that I have to do. I’m going share my fave features of my new planner from Lake and Loft! For a limited time, you can use code MNMM35 to save 35% off yours! Click here to see it and the other colors available.
First off, the details. The gold corner accents and gold binding rings tug at my heart. This planner is such a piece, that it can sit on a desk as decor and doesn’t need to be tucked away when I’m cleaning up.
It comes equipped with pockets at the front and back so store loose papers and the fun stickers that come included!
The first section is Dream - pages filled with “Big Ideas” and “Minor Details” so that you can map out how to conquer the year and every idea, thought and inspiration that comes to mind. Whether it’s inspirational quotes, the next great business venture, or just some room decor inspiration, this section is where I would put everything that wanted to keep track of, but didn’t need to access on the daily.
The second section is Plan - self explanatory! It has gorgeous tabs that separate the months. Each month begins with the most important thing: DREAM, GOALS and PLAN OF ACTION. I love writing down my goals for the month. It helps keep me focused, on track, and when I feel discouraged, I can quickly look back and remember why I’m doing what I’m doing.
Each month also has a budget section where you can write down bills to pay and keep track of your money coming in and out. There’s even a section to write down what you’re saving up for!
A necessity for me is a monthly calendar view - I like to be able to see what’s coming up at a glance.
Finally, each monthly section is broken down by weeks, making it super easy to write down daily tasks, write weekly to-do lists and there’s even a little section for Weekly Wins. Not every week will be huge… nor super successful, but this weekly win section will help you focus on the positive and keep your drive going for the weeks to come.
This yearly planner is filled with such cute extras, such as Thank You and Happy Birthday Post Cards at the end, making it super easy to send a beautiful note to someone special while you’re on the go and busy running the world! Click here to check out my planner along with all the other styles!
USE CODE MNMM35 for 35% OFF at Lake and Loft
Lake and Loft has so much else to offer besides planners! I also got my hands on the big ta-do™ weekly checklist! These tear off sheets have beautiful gold edges, tear apart by day so that you can bring one list at a time with you and are on thick cardboard, making it oh so luxurious to write. Writing to-do lists has never been so fun!!!
Lake and Loft also has note pads, greeting cards, coasters, recipe cards and so much more! Click here to visit their site and don’t forget to use MNMM35 to get 35% off your order!
Disclosure: I have partnered with YMC and Armor All and have received compensation for this post. All opinions are my own.
Between daycare pick up and drop offs, my daily commute to work and all the errands we run on the weekends, my car often feels like my second home. A second home that doesn’t get cleaned daily (unfortunately). No one warned me how chaotic driving around a 2 year old would be… and throw my snack stealing Boston Terrier into the back seat mix, and I have a guaranteed headache. I wouldn’t say that driving with both of them is relaxing and our daily commutes never used to be something I looked forward to... until now!
Thanks to Armor All’s new Essential Blends air fresheners, I can escape my commute and imagine that I’m in a spa, doing yoga, or just sitting in silence at home (yeah right, I’m a mom… I don’t get silence at home :) ).
Made with essential oil blends, their air fresheners can help you leave the traffic behind, with blends such as: Energize, Awaken, Focus, Calm and Refresh. The fragrances come as either a hanging diffuser style or as a vent clip! I used both :). The first one I tried is REFRESH which has a gentle but awakening Eucalyptus Mint scent. The vent clips make it easy to put the air fresheners in the back seat (which in my case is necessary!) and the incredible and unique scents will help you escape your commute! The scents include: Citrus Pomegranate, Pink Grapefruit, Eucalyptus Mint, Lemon Bergamot and Vanilla Lavender!
Armor All is encouraging Canadians to take time off from the stress of daily traffic and try their Essential Blends air fresheners! They’re even making it a bit easier to get a head start by offering an Escape Your Commute Contest! Prizes include 25 Grand Prizes of WaySpa Gift Cards (valued at $150 each), 10 Instant Prizes of Armor All Product (valued at $100 each) and Frequency Essential Blends air freshener prizing. Enter the contest by visiting the essentialblends.ca website!
Disclosure: I have partnered with YMC and Armor All and have received compensation for this post. All opinions are my own.
Between daycare pick up and drop offs, my daily commute to work and all the errands we run on the weekends, my car often feels like my second home. A second home that doesn’t get cleaned daily (unfortunately). No one warned me how chaotic driving around a 2 year old would be… and throw my snack stealing Boston Terrier into the back seat mix, and I have a guaranteed headache. I wouldn’t say that driving with both of them is relaxing and our daily commutes never used to be something I looked forward to... until now!
Thanks to Armor All’s new Essential Blends air fresheners, I can escape my commute and imagine that I’m in a spa, doing yoga, or just sitting in silence at home (yeah right, I’m a mom… I don’t get silence at home :) ).
Made with essential oil blends, their air fresheners can help you leave the traffic behind, with blends such as: Energize, Awaken, Focus, Calm and Refresh. The fragrances come as either a hanging diffuser style or as a vent clip! I used both :). The first one I tried is REFRESH which has a gentle but awakening Eucalyptus Mint scent. The vent clips make it easy to put the air fresheners in the back seat (which in my case is necessary!) and the incredible and unique scents will help you escape your commute! The scents include: Citrus Pomegranate, Pink Grapefruit, Eucalyptus Mint, Lemon Bergamot and Vanilla Lavender!
Armor All is encouraging Canadians to take time off from the stress of daily traffic and try their Essential Blends air fresheners! They’re even making it a bit easier to get a head start by offering an Escape Your Commute Contest! Prizes include 25 Grand Prizes of WaySpa Gift Cards (valued at $150 each), 10 Instant Prizes of Armor All Product (valued at $100 each) and Frequency Essential Blends air freshener prizing. Enter the contest by visiting the essentialblends.ca website!
If you're in the Toronto area, Ripley's Aquarium is a MUST SEE attraction. I wasn't sure what to expect and went in just hoping that I could keep Zane entertained for a few hours. It turned out, we could have spent the entire day there!
From the second you walk in the Ripley's Aquarium, you're surrounded by gorgeous colours, illuminated aquariums that span from floor to ceiling and EVERY type of underwater fish you can imagine. It was such a nice experience to see Zane fascinated by the lights and swimming fish. I went with a friend of mine who has 2 older children and they were just as enthralled by the breath taking views.
The aquarium is divided into exhibits such as the Canadian Waters, Rainbow Reef, Ray Bay and Curious Creatures (to name a few) but besides the exhibits, they have so many other things to offer! They have interactive stops along the way for older kids, they have caves that kids can crawl though, educational games and puzzles, and there was even a teaching session happening where someone from the Ripley's Aquarium was giving a lesson about fish!
We had 2 favourite parts of the aquarium. The first was the Dangerous Lagoon - which is a long and beautiful aquarium tunnel that allows you to walk under swimming fish, sharks, sea turtles and so much more! There is moving belt so you can relax and be transported on what feels like a magical underwater journey.
Our second favourite was in the Planet Jellies exhibit. There was this HUGE wall filled with what seemed like hundreds of jelly fish. As the wall changed colours, so did the jelly fish! It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen!
We had such a blast at the Aquarium and I can't wait to go back with Zane the next time we are in Toronto. It's a place we could visit over and over again and always find something else to love.
A sleeping baby means a happy mama!!! This is the the right place to tire out your mini :)
Having a baby changes your life and also the relationships that you have with the people around you. It makes you sympathize and bond with your fellow moms over how it's possible to survive on so little sleep and it unfortunately, can also distance you from your friends who don't have children. I can't say that I blame my friends... I once upon a time didn't have a baby and found it really hard to relate to what my mom friends were going through. I would try to have a conversion with my bestie M. and every 10 seconds was interrupted by: L put that down, L stop jumping, L stop running in the house! Fast forward a few years and our conversations now go something like this:
-Hey M! How are y - Zane don't eat the dog food! - what was I saying?
-I'm good... tired, busy the usua - L put that down! Leave your sister alone! - what was I saying?
-You were telling me I think about your day yesterday? I don't really remem - Zane stop french kissing the dog! Omg M gotta go. Zane is playing in the toilet.
Mom life changes EVERYTHING. I've teamed up, once again, with my mom friends and we've come up with a list of apologies for our friends that don't have children! Feel free to add your own in the comments below:
1 - I'm sorry I was an hour late to your birthday party - to be honest.. my son threw up all over as I was heading out the door and you're lucky that I showed up at all. You should in fact be buying me a gift. Have you ever tried to wake a baby up from a nap and then show up at a party smiling? Why is your party at 9am anyways? Don't you know this is NAP TIME.
2 - I'm sorry that every time we go out I'm always wearing black yoga pants - it's really because no other pants fit me and the black really camouflages all the food stains from my child throwing his dinner at me. Tonight we ate cheerios for dinner because i just couldn't deal.
3 - I'm sorry that my child bit you/hit you/threw something at you - I really am trying to teach him. Listen - if you think you can do better, take him for a day and try. Actually maybe a week. I could use some sleep. Please?
4 - I'm sorry I forgot your birthday/anniversary/first day of work etc. - I run on 4 hours of sleep a day and I can't even remember my own name most of the time, so just be thankful I remember who you are. You really are important to me and I promise one day I will get my shit together and start checking my reminders on my phone... if I can only find it... my son was playing with it somewhere. Speaking of which... were is my son?
5 - I'm sorry I had to cancel our plans last minute because the baby was sick - I promise this isn't an excuse. They put everything in their mouth and are sick every week. I would much rather be sitting and having a glass of wine instead of sucking out boogers from my baby's nose (for those who don't have kids - yes this is a thing... and yes you will have to do it. Have kids they said... it'll be great they said.)
6 - I'm sorry I left your party early - I know I said it was because the baby was going to have a melt down, but I was the one who was ready to snap and felt it would be frowned upon if I started crying in the middle of a crowd of strangers.
7 - I'm sorry I can never make it to dinner with my kid unless we eat at 5pm - Kids are assholes sometimes. Especially tired ones. If you want to have dinner at 7pm and want me to bring my son, that's fine. But know that there WILL be a melt down. And my son's screaming is comparable in volume and pitch to a beluga whale so EVERYONE will stare. We might even end up on YouTube when he starts catapulting the food across the restaurant. I'm down if you are... I've been through it all and have no shame anymore.
All in all, my life has changed... but I promise I'll find that balance again... or a really good babysitter that's always available. I love you and miss you and still treasure our friendship so please wait for me to find my way. :)
