Dare Cheddar Cheese Bear Paws Review

I was sent a box of Dare Cheddar Cheese Bear Paws for my son to try out.  He's a fan of the Goldfish crackers so I was pretty sure he'd love these too.  I thought they tasted better than the Goldfish crackers.  They seem to have a cheesier flavour and taste less salty.  My son doesn't seem to have any preference to one over the other.

Dare Cheddar Cheese Bear Paws are made in a peanut-free facility so they're safe for your children to take to school, daycare or anywhere they may encounter other children with peanut allergies.  They are also made with real cheddar, low in trans fat and a good source of folate.

Thank you to Mom Central Canada for providing me with the box of crackers!  

Contest winners!

All winners have been contacted for the Chicken Soup for the Soul giveaway, the Stanley Cup giveaway and the  Lays giveaway.  You know who you are and congrats!!  Normally I would post the winners but due to renovations I've misplaced where I kept track!

Congrats again and thanks all for entering!

Home Renovations

For some crazy reason our home renovations usually happen at very busy times in our lives.  I painted when my son was a newborn which wasn't that difficult then I tackled the kitchen (painting all the walls and cabinets) when he was about 5-10 months old.  I did take me the full 5 months because I could only paint during naps or after he went to bed and I for sure didn't want to spend all my "free" time painting!  Recently over a 2 week period I did the hallway and will soon be tackling the living room, dining room, master bedroom and what will soon be, a "big boy" room.  All this while being pregnant with a 16 month old!

Lights are probably one of the easiest and quickest little renovations a person can do.  The lighting in our house is original (18 years old) and looking quite out-dated and most of it doesn't match, bulbs don't match or they are missing covers which makes it look very unsightly.  Who has long fluorescent tube lighting in their kitchens these days?!?!  We do!  Oh and the hollywood lights in the bathrooms, yuck!  That will be done one by one when we have time.

Next week we're ripping out the carpet and laying laminate!  Should be interesting with a toddler.

Pepsi Bring Home A Stanley Cup Champion and Giveaway!

Mark Messier, Guy Carbonneau and Doug Gilmour teamed up with PepsiCo to make a Canadian hockey fan's dream come true.  All Canadians have to do is share their favourite Stanley Cup Playoffs moment  and collect votes from fellow Canadians.  With three regional finalists (West, Ontario and East) one fan will with the Ultimate Playoffs Party with the Stanley Cup Champion from their region as well as the Stanley Cup itself!  The two runner ups will also get parties with the Stanley Cup Champion from their region.  For more details and to enter visit the website.

I had the opportunity for one of the Stanley Cup Champions to be asked a few questions on my behalf then this interview was taped and sent to me which I though was very exciting!  Doug Gilmour was the champ interviewed and he even gave a shout out to my blog!  The video can be seen here.  My husband is a huge hockey fan and wants to get our son into hockey so he thought this was great! 

I also get to have a giveaway including $50 in product from Gatorade, Pepsi Max and Lays!  Who doesn't love getting a surprise in the mail.  For the main entry just tell me who your favourite hockey team is.  Contest is open to Canadians only and ends on Mar 21,2011.  Make sure each comment includes a way for me to contact you.  

I have been approached by Fleishman-Hillard Canada to participate in an online campaign involving PepsiCo.   This post is my own personal thoughts and ideas and do not represent those of the named brand.  I was given the opportunity to ask a Stanley Cup Champion a few questions to do this post.

For bonus entries:

1. Follow with GFC and comment

2. Follow my blog on facebook and comment

3. Follow with networked blogs and comment 

4. Subscribe to my blog by email and comment

Lay's New Kettle Chips - Review and Giveaway!

Lay's just came out with new kettle chips in classic Canadian  flavours including Ketchup, Dill Pickle, BBQ and Jalapeno Cheddar.  I love kettle chips and was lucky to get to try all 4 flavours.  Ketchup was definitely my favourite and my husband was partial to the dill pickle though for sure all 4 bags were devoured!

I like the extra crunch that kettle chips offer and this variety by Lays are made with the highest quality homegrown potatoes, all natural flavours and simple ingrediants.  They are available in most grocery and convenience stores in 180g bags and the BBQ and Jalapeno Cheddar also come in 40g bags.

The giveaway is a $150 prize pack from Lays including all the chip flavours, a bamboo serving bowl, a bbq set, an apron, a fresh herb garden and a portable picnic basket.  Contest is for Canada only and ends on Mar 15, 2011.  For the main entry just comment what flavour you can't wait to try.

I have been approached by Fleishman-Hillard Canada to participate in an online campaign involving Lays.   This post is my own personal thoughts and ideas and do not represent those of the named brand.  I was given a bag of each flavour in order to do this post.    

Bonus entries:

1. Like my blog facebook page and comment that you did
2. Follow with GFC and comment that you did
3. Follow with networked blogs and comment that you did

Chicken Soup For The Soul - Shaping The New You Review and Giveaway!

Shaping the New You, another Chicken Soup for the Soul book, is filled with inspiring stories about dieting, fitness and getting the right body for you.  I received this book to read at a good time of year, just after Christmas when the biggest thing on people's minds is dieting and exercise.  Being pregnant though, dieting isn't at the top of my list but there's nothing wrong with a little exercise.

The book is divided into different sections and each little story is only a few pages long so it's easy to read a story or two when you have a few moments.  I think when it comes to the whole diet and exercise it's helpful to hear success stories from others.  It motivates me to want the same for myself.  Some of the people in this book have made the same mistakes that I am making now in trying to have a healthy lifestyle and I can use their stories as an example to learn from my mistakes.

Books can be purchased from the Chicken Soup website and from most major book stores.  The wonderful people from Chicken Soup are allowing me to give away 3 of these books!  Contest is open to Canada and the US and ends on March 14, 2011.  For the main entry just leave a comment why you want to win this book.

For bonus entries:
1. Follow with GFC and comment that you did.
2. Subscribe with email and comment that you did.
3. Like my blog facebook page and comment that you did.
4. Follow Chicken Soup on facebook and comment that you did.

Doritos Write The End Winner!!

Using random.org the winner was comment #22 Glogirl.

Thanks to all the entries and I have another chip contest coming very soon!