If you love Shoppers Drug Mart, then this contest is for you! Enter to spin the wheel to win a variety of prizes.
http://optimumspintowin.ca/?plink=1326632236_XL105798
Contest begins today and ends on January 30, 2012. So get spinning and hope you have some luck!
http://holidaygifthunt.com/?plink=1322057039_XL66876
This is a great contest where you can win a trip, a laptop, or many other prizes like gift cards to Starbucks, etc. You can play every hour and answer the question to see if you win instantly! The contest runs until December 7, 2011. Good luck to all!
http://sobeysholiday.com/?plink=1321232216_XL14144
Sobeys has a great holiday contest with lots of prizes to be won. You could win one of 92 Instant Win Sobeys gift card prizes, two $500 prizes, ten $100 prizes, forty $50 and forty $25 prizes. It has a daily spin to win. The contest is a daily contest and you can enter once daily until January 3, 2012. Good luck to all!
Halloween is a fun time for the kids. They get to pretend to be someone or something that they always wanted to be or whatever type of creature they want. They can be a witch, a goblin, a doctor, a farmer, an animal such as a cat or dog, a creepy ghost or whatever their heart desires. It is fun to watch them and see what they will be this year. My daughter decided she wanted to be a witch this year (originally wanted to be a cat but then changed her mind like a girl can do). My boys are into Star Wars so they want to be one of their characters again, Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader. Harry Potter is a popular choice or such “cool” characters. Our traditions of Halloween begin with choosing what outfit they want to become and then goes the search for finding the costume (and at a good price too). They have parties at school and have a great time wearing their outfits there.
Then of course comes Halloween. We like to decorate our place with the jack-o-lantern with a candle inside, decorate the windows with pumpkins etc, and have spooky music, etc.. for when the kids come knocking on the door. And candy is a must for all those trick-or-treaters out there. This year we are giving out Allan Candy when the kids come knocking on our door. All the products are made in Canada (as they are a Canadian company) and all their products are peanut free ! Their Halloween candy this year includes Allan Intense Jubes & Jellies, Allan Chewy Rascalz and Allan Fruit Buddies. You’ll find these selections at key retailers, including Wal-Mart and Loblaws. Kids will love them!
I also love to see what new costumes all the kids in the neighbourhood are going to wear this year and from year to year, and I always keep track of how many kids end up at our door. Even though we may not have as many kids as some other houses, we enjoy seeing them and having a great time!
Before my kids go trick-or-treating, I always have a chat with them about staying safe at Halloween and not eating the candy until we check it etc. Wear something so cars can see you whether it be glow bracelets etc. but watching yourself too, etc… It is very important to be safe! We have fun and look forward to each year as it comes.
So Happy Halloween everyone, stay safe outdoors!
Disclosure – I am participating in the Allan Candy Company program by Mom Central Canada. I received compensation for my participation in this campaign. The opinions on this blog are my own.
When I was a new parent, I wanted lots of advice from friends, family, or wherever I could find information. For lots of parents, especially new parents, there is a need to find information about questions you may have. And being a new parent the list may be endless on what to do including getting your child to sleep, feeding, changing your baby, what brands to use, etc.. What do I feed my child and when do I introduce new foods? You are not alone. Lots of new parents need a place to go to have discussions or learn about new products, etc. and now there is one.
There is a facebook page called Baby and You where you can learn about all sorts of topics about baby and mom. There is a baby chat and also there is a place where you can have a mom chat, so it’s not just about the baby. It’s about taking care of you as well. And we all need some “me time” as it is healthy not only for you, but for your baby. It is a great community for you to learn and help your baby grow at the same time!
Periodically they also will have exclusive coupons or promotions so you can save money on different baby products for your family. This is great as every family could use some savings since a lot of baby items are so expensive. If you check back on their website in early September, there may be something about Joe Fresh. Do you like Joe Fresh??? I know I do.
There are also featured bloggers on their website that you can go to their web pages or blogs and find out their tips on being a mother and all things baby related. Just look to the left-hand side for the list of people/websites to visit!
I think it is worth it to check out their website. Like them today!
Disclosure – I am participating in the Baby and You program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of Loblaw Companies. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.
http://www.exploresaskatchewan.com/
Here is a contest with great prizes within Saskatchewan.
You could win $5,000 towards building a Saskatchewan vacation of your dreams, one of three fabulous Saskatchewan vacation packages, electronics (including smart phones and tablets), or watersports gear. Usually these are one time entries, but could not see whether it was or not. Contest ends September 30, 2011. Good luck!
Since it is that time of year and Mother’s Day is just around the corner, I have decided to make a post to help all the moms out there, not just at Mother’s Day, but all throughout the year. I am a busy mom of 3 children, two boys and a girl, and I also work outside the home, so trying to balance life is not easy. Sometimes you are in a rush (well sometimes quite a lot) between work, all the sports activities, shopping, running around etc.. every family has to do. My very own dear mother helped me at a time in my life when I needed it due to an accident I endured, and I would like to share it with you.
A few months ago I was playing a sport with one of my children’s teams (hockey against the moms night) and I ended up breaking my wrist from a fall on the ice. I am right handed, and of course my right hand broke. I ended up having surgery and everything. So needless to say, I could not do a whole lot. Even getting dressed was a problem for a while. I needed to rely on others whereas I never needed to before. My mother had given me a recipe book a couple of months before that, and I had tried some of the recipes inside it and they were very good. It is called “The Big Cook”. It is discounted at Chapter's Indigo Book Store right now for $21.74 or you can purchase it at http://www.thebigcook.com/
I am not sure if any of you have heard of it or not, but I would highly recommend it. You can cook healthy meals for your family that do not take too long to prepare or a lot of work. Kids love it and you can make as many meals as you want at one time and then you can freeze them for later. The book recommends getting together with friends and making a lot of meals. Then you can socialize and end up with lots of meals at the same time. And it ends up saving you a lot of time in preparation. You just take it out when you need it. My family loves it too. My kids especially love the Cantonese chicken recipe and the Lazy Man’s Lasagna. Do you know of any other great recipe books for families? Let me know.
Also, when I broke my wrist, my mother came over and we made a bunch of recipes and labeled Ziploc bags (with the recipe and the page number on top of the bag so you know which recipe you have) and put them in the freezer for a later date. Then when I needed them I would just put them in the crockpot or the oven and my family and I could still eat healthy plus save time. It was a lifesaver! But it is not just for those that injure themselves. It is for the regular family. Anyone can use this book!
If you are looking for other ways to save, that’s not all. When you do your grocery shopping, there are a few tips to learn:
1. Stick to your grocery list. You can save a lot of money this way.
2. Do not impulse buy or shop when you are hungry. Then you will end up buying a lot of junk food or things you do not need.
3. Coupons also help you to save money. Sometimes the stores have them right in front of the products.
4. There are some websites that offer coupons on a regular basis: Save.ca Websaver and Brandsaver. You sign up for the coupons you want (and there are lots of brand name product coupons), and they will mail them to you within a week or two. It’s that easy. You can end up saving lots of money by using coupons when you shop.
5. If you are on Facebook sometimes companies offer free products just for “liking” them. I do this a lot!
6. I love to save money by using rewards cards! I save TONS of money over the months and years by using these cards. There are many rewards cards such as Airmiles, Shoppers Optimum, Aeroplan, Club Sobeys and I am sure there are many more. You save the points until you cash them in for rewards such as gift cards, merchandise, or even trips. I just recently cashed in some of my Shoppers Optimum points for $100 worth of free merchandise of anything I wanted in the store. It sure is wonderful.
7. See if you can sign up to be a product tester. I am a Bzzagent and sometimes get free products for buzzing about it to other people (usually there are coupons to hand out to others. There are other places you can find that look for people to try their products. Companies sometimes have “try me free” where you buy the product and send in the UPC and you will get a refund. This will save you money in the long run as well.
I have saved quite a lot of money over the years by getting freebies, entering contests (which is one of my hobbies), trying new products by product testing, etc. I hope I can help some of you to save or become better at your shopping skills. If you have any other tips to help you save money or time, I would love to hear them. Hopefully your families will appreciate all you do for them, so I wish you all a very happy Mother’s Day, and happy saving!
I would like to thank Mom Central Canada fortheir blogger grant program as I was chosen to be one of their spring recipients!
Here are your random numbers:
35 32 11 13 3
Timestamp: 2011-01-09 16:50:26 UTC
I am a fan of BlueWater Seafoods. I love different types of fish and it is usually quick and easy to make. It is great for people with kids and whose families are on the go like mine. BlueWater has a website with lots of recipes on their website from appetizers to main courses. If you want some different ideas for when you are the host, this may be for you. I did not know they had recipes on their website before, and now I will have to try them. Here are a couple of different ideas for recipes:
Prep Time: 20 minutes | Servings: 3
Total Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients
1 package BlueWater Breaded Butterfly Shrimp Temptations
1 envelope package taco seasoning
2 TBSP chopped red onion
2 TBSP Monterey Jack cheese
3 TBSP salsa
2 TBSP sour cream
3 TBSP guacamole
2 TBSP canned or jarred chopped jalapeño
Preparation
Toss frozen shrimp with the taco seasoning. Tap and shake off excess seasoning and place shrimp on a shallow metal baking pan lined with aluminum foil. Bake the shrimp according to the packaging, turning shrimp after 7 minutes of cooking. Remove shrimp from oven and top with the remaining ingredients.
Here is also another recipe I would love to try:
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Servings: 2
Total Time: 18 minutes
Ingredients
1 package BlueWater Popcorn Shrimp
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
4 – 7 1/2 inch Wraps
4 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup Cocktail Sauce
Juice of one lime
6 Tsp of Tequila (optional)
Preparation
Cook BlueWater Popcorn Shrimp according to the package directions. Pour two tablespoons of olive oil into a skillet on medium-high heat for one minute. Place one wrap into skillet and pour 1/2 cup cheddar cheese onto wrap. Place half of Popcorn Shrimp onto cheese and top with another wrap. Cook for a couple of minutes until browned. Flip and cook other side until browned. Repeat process with second quesadilla. Cut each quesadilla into eight wedges. Mix cocktail sauce, lime juice and tequila. Top each wedge with a dollop of Tequila lime sauce.
If you want a main course, there are many different recipes to choose from as well. Instead of having a traditional turkey for Christmas dinner, consider having one of these recipes:
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Servings: 2
Total Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients
1 package Blue Water All Natural Salmon in Dill Sauce
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 clove garlic – minced
1 ½ cups fresh green beans – trimmed or 1 can green beans – drained
1 ½ tablespoon of butter
Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
Cook fillets according to the package. In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds. Add green beans and sauté until tender. (if using canned beans, sauté until beans are thoroughly heated. Add butter and stir until it has melted. Season with salt and pepper and serve along side the fillets.
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Servings: 2
Total Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
1 package Garlic Butter Grill Salmon
1 TBSP olive oil
1 cup canned diced tomatoes
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp dried oregano
1 tsp sugar
¼ cup finely shredded fresh basil
salt and pepper to test
Preparation
Bake fillets according to the package. In a sauté pan, heat of olive oil over medium/high heat. Add tomatoes, onion powder, oregano and sugar and cook for about 5 minutes or until bubbling. Remove tomato mixture from heat, mix in basil and season with salt and pepper. Plate grilled fillets and top with tomato basil mixture. Serve immediately.
They all sound so yummy! Now if you are interested in trying out these recipes, I have a giveaway from BlueWater Seafoods. I am going to have a giveaway for a Full product coupon and a collapsible bag for five of my readers. All you have to do is go here http://bluewater.ca/recipe_lander.php and tell me what recipe you would like to try from their website.
For extra entries, please:
1) Follow my blog.
2) Subscribe to my blog.
3) Follow me on twitter @freeshopper
4) Tweet about this giveaway with a link back here and tell me that you did. You may tweet once per day.
This contest is open to Canadian residents and will run until January 8, 2011. Good luck to all!
Who loves to smile? I think we all do. There moments in life that can make you smile, big moments, small moments, and I think it is the everyday moments that are the best. When my children smile because they have achieved their best on a test or laugh at a funny joke, those are the times when you can smile the most. When you are proud of them. There are other times where you can make someone else smile. When you see someone on the street, smile and see what reaction you get. Most people WILL smile back. Enjoy life and the pleasures it brings, no matter how small. Sometimes we do not stop and smell the flowers (or smile), but make it a part of your day from now on, and you will be happier!
Snack Pack Canada has started a campaign to do just that. They have a goal to raise $20,000 for their Share a Smile Campaign for Food Banks Canada so that in the holiday season, there will be joy and love. They do not want anyone to go hungry at this special time nor should they ever, but that is life. They want you to share your smiles. How can you help? If you go to Facebook and “like” the page Snack Pack Canada, every time you go to their “Smile Page” and share a smile they will donate $1.00 to Food Banks Canada. What a great company! They also have a contest where you could win weekly prizes. You can earn badges the more you send smiles or donate. So I hope you will all share your smiles today and see how many we can get!
**I am participating in the
Snack Pack program by Mom Central on behalf of Conagra Foods Canada. I received a gift card as a
thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.
https://contest.aircanada.com/wintheworld/
Here is a contest for Air Canada where you can win a trip to anywhere in the world. There are also other prizes of Aeroplan miles or a percentage off the price of a trip. For the instant win portion you may play once per day. It takes a few minutes to enter the contest as there are various options throughout the contest. Contest ends December 19, 2010. Good luck!
In October Rethink Breast Cancer had a contest where if you were the first one to correctly answer their question on Facebook that you could win a different prize each day. Well usually I was away from my computer or working etc.. when they had the contest, but one day I just happened to remember about it when I was at home. So I opened up their website so I would have it ready for when the question was posted. Luckily I was one of the first to enter. There was one person who answered before me but they got the question wrong (and I didn’t feel too bad for them because they had won from them a day earlier). But I won the prize for that day! I was quite happy!
I have never had a pair of Mary Jane shoes before, and these are the Alegria Paloma Smokey Diamond. They retail for about $120 in the store. But they have good reviews and are supposed to be comfortable and great for your feet. I only received them today by courier, and so far I love them. They indeed are very comfortable and I know they will be great for your feet, plus they are a neat looking pair of shoes. I think I will become addicted to these types of shoes only having had this pair for a short while. They definitely seem worth the money to me if you want a nice good quality pair of shoes. And they look nice to boot (no pun intended lol) with nice decorative butterflies on them. You can find them at www.alegriashoes.com. So thank you Rethink Breast Cancer for a great cause and a great pair of shoes!
http://galaxys.samsungmobile.com/
This is the phone I have been considering getting. I really would love to have a smart phone, and there has been a lot of hype about the iphone, but I looked at this phone,and it really has a lot of the same features, pretty much everything as far as I can tell. It seems good quality, and for the most part has had good reviews except for the battery not lasting super long if you are using it a lot. What do you think is the best phone to get?
Do you love to test new products that are not currently out in the market? If so then you may want to sign up to be a General Mills Insider. First you need to take a survey (it’s a bit long) and sign up, and voila you will be part of the Insiders. Here is the link:
Here is a cute video I found on the internet. If you like the Iron Man previews or the movies, you will definitely like this video. If you like Robert Downey Jr. as I do, maybe this was him when he was a kid, who knows. You make your own opinion, but I think it’s adorable.
Enter to win one of five 5-night trips to Disney! The contest ends on July 29, 2010. Limit one entry per person per day regardless of entry. Good luck!
Enter:
http://www.zellers.com/en/toystory.aspx
Rules:
http://www.zellers.com/en/PDF/Zeller...%20English.pdf
If you like to use P&G products like Tide and Downey, Charmin, Tampax, etc…. then you would love to take advantage of saving money while you shop. P&G have coupons for a limited time, so sign up and wait for them in the mail, and then you can save lots of money when you shop for those everyday needs!
Hurry and go to http://www.youtube.com/gillette to get your free razor. While supplies last.
http://www.nestle.ca/bluefreezer/
http://www.pgbrandvoice.ca/Pages/brandvoicewelcome.aspx
Copied from their website:
Do you love to try new products? How about sharing your latest finds with your friends? Then you've come to the right place - coming soon, P&G BrandVoice will be your destination to:
Get in on it now before the site launches and the secret is out!
What are you waiting for? Sign up now to be among the first to hear about products from great P&G brands. Sign up now!
http://www.icoke.ca
iCoke always has come great contests going on. I have previously won from them an Olympic coca cola jacket, as well as recently I won a year’s worth of Nestea from them!!! When you enter some of their contests, you might win some iCoke points (as well as you can get them on coca-cola bottles). If you save them up, you can get some great rewards when they are available. Today I redeemed some of my iCoke points for a soft cooler from Nestea which holds 24 cans of beverage (which I will use when I receive my free Nestea). So save your points and start entering contests! If you read the rules on their contests, they will have a no-purchase entry so you do not have to spend your points to enter the contest, but otherwise you might have to. So good luck and keep checking their site for new rewards.
