It's A Joy To Share The News...Kinder® & The Children's Miracle Network Continue A Wonderful Partnership! #KINDERMom

 

 

Both my boys have been patients at Toronto's Sick Kids Hospital, both for different reasons, each visit as scary and sad as the other.  Scary because our children were sick and injured.  Sad because we knew that while we would walk out of that hospital with our children safe and sound, many other families would not.  There is such a need for support at all Canadian children's hospitals, and Children's Miracle Network, along with Kinder® Canada's A Joy To Share program, are huge supporters.  Each year, the children's hospitals supported by Children's Miracle Network provide comfort, treatment and hope to millions of sick children. Yes, I said MILLIONS!

 

 

 

 

Children's Miracle Network has been raising funds for children's hospitals since 1983, and as of 2011 has raised over $4.3 billion, mostly donated a dollar or two at a time.  Through monetary donations, fundraising or volunteering, you can help this amazing organization and in turn, support your local children's hospital and the sick children being treated.

 

 

 

 

Every dollar earned and donated by Children's Miracle Network means hope for a sick child and their family.  Show your support by making your way to the Kinder® Canada Facebook Page, click on the A Joy To Share tab, and share a precious video with your Facebook friends, featuring a family who has relied on a children's hospital.

 

The current video featuring a little girl named Leah who was treated at McMaster Children's Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario will hit home with a lot of parents.  A normally healthy child who was rushed to the hospital with a life-threatening illness.  A parent's worst nightmare, but a serious reality that anyone may face at any time.  With each share of this video, Kinder® Canada will donate $1 to Children's Miracle Network.  Share and help Kinder® Canada to reach their goal of $5000 in support of Children's Miracle Network.  It's really that easy!

 

Along with supporting our local children's hospital this year, we will also be donating gently used toys from Big-A & Lil-J's toy bin and clothes from our closets to our local women's shelter.  There are so many people in your own community who are in need, especially at this time of year.  Any little bit helps, and nothing beats the feeling of knowing you've helped to make a difference in someone's life!

 

 

 

As a proud #KINDERMom, I'll also be showing some love to Kinder® Canada this Christmas by stuffing the boys stockings with delicious nut-free Kinder treats.  My personal favourite are the Kinder Mini Eggs, so good!!  Check out the large selection of Kinder treats at your local grocery store and treat your kids to a wonderful surprise!

 

 

I’m part of the KINDER® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group.

As with every post that I write, the opinions on this blog are my own.

Pillsbury Crescents Offer Simple, Delicious Treats Guaranteed To Please Unexpected Guests! #LMDConnector

Christmas is almost here...less than a month away!  Eeeeek!  Gifts to buy, baking to start, a house to decorate, so much to do for a busy #LMDConnector!  And guaranteed to fall smack dab in the middle of the holiday chaos?  Unexpected guests!  I can easily tidy the house and quickly clean (hidden storage and baby wipes are my go-to for quick cleanups in every room of the house!).  And when it comes to deciding what to serve with beer, wine or tea, my refrigerator and pantry are always prepared!

Quick nacho dips or hummus served with tortillas are perfect for visits from friends.  Visits from family usually means tea and something sweet.  When I'm short on time, I do have to fight the temptation to bake something from scratch, and being prepared helps!  One easy way to be prepared is by having Pillsbury products in the refrigerator.  Using your creativity (or the awesome Life Made Delicious website), you can transform a simple crescent roll into a real treat for guests.

Seriously...the cutest little kitchen helper EVER!

A few months ago, Pillsbury released new Chocolatey Crescents and they've been a huge hit in stores since!  I like to keep a box in my refrigerator for last-minute treats, especially during this time of year.  I bake them as per the instructions on the box, but instead of drizzling the tops with chocolate, I like to dust the tops with icing sugar.  This makes them extra special, and they look really nice when served.  I also like to arrange them in a pretty dish.  A little extra effort really pays off!




Make small figure 8's with the chocolate filling.

Rolled up and ready for the oven.

Warm and fluffy, so good!

I always have a bag of icing sugar in my pantry!  Sprinkle on baked goods using a mini sifter.

Chocolate Crescents dusted with icing sugar.

Place crescents in a pretty dish and serve tea in your best china - this will make any guest feel extra special!



Yum!!!

I also like to keep original Pillsbury Crescents in my refrigerator to make savoury snacks.  I have made the Crescent Wrapped Brie and it is to-die-for!  I love brie, especially wrapped in a flaky crust!  Next on my list are Crescent Bacon-Cheese Tartlets - I think I'll serve them before dinner on Christmas Eve this year.  They would also be perfect for brunch!

Make life easier on yourself by being prepared for unexpected guests during the holiday season.  Keeping a few cans of Pillsbury Crescents in your refrigerator, and the Life Made Delicious website in your Internet Favourites will provide you with quick, easy, scrumptious recipes perfect for a get-together.

I’m part of the Life Made Delicious blogger program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. As with every post that I write, the opinions on this blog are my own.

Can't Live Without...Liberté Méditerranée Yogurt

Canada's Food Guide Servings:

1 Milk & Alternatives (3/4 cup yogurt)
 

I have an addiction.  An obsession.  A total fixation.  And I don't see myself getting over it anytime soon.  What is the subject of this fatal attraction, you may ask?  One word - Liberté!  I am a lifelong yogurt lover.  I eat it with granola for breakfast, straight from the snack-sized container at work, topped with fresh berries and drizzled with honey for dessert.  And my boys love the stuff too, happily eating it in place of junky snack and dessert options.  Although I love yogurt any time of day, I am still fairly picky and only eat specific brands.  I was pretty set on one brand for years, until one day I got curious while walking through the dairy section of my local Longo's store.

I have been buying Liberté Organic and Greek Yogurt for years for the boys, adding a squeeze of honey to the plain yogurt for a touch of sweetness.  I've also used it in baking, smoothies and for marinating chicken. And then one day I spotted something that I just had to try - Liberté Méditerranée Coconut Yogurt.  I could hardly wait to get home to try this yogurt.  Coconut is one of my favourite fruits, and my mouth watered the entire drive home.

When I first scooped out the creamy yogurt, I didn't realize that it's fruit-on-the-bottom. I tasted the plain yogurt it and it had a slight coconut flavour, delicious!  And then I found the fruit, small pieces of real coconut in a sweet coconut liquid.  I ate the entire container (500g!!!) in a single night.  I just couldn't stop until it was gone.  I now have to limit my purchase of this yogurt to once every two weeks, otherwise I would be eating it every single day.

After tasting and falling in love with Liberté Méditerranée Coconut Yogurt, I just had to try more flavours.  Next came Liberté Méditerranée Lemon Yogurt, which tastes like a lemon meringue pie with real pieces of lemon.  So refreshing, so darn good!  Liberté Méditerranée Strawberry Yogurt is the most recent one I've tried, and it's strawberries and cream flavour is addictive!  I have yet to try them all, but I will in due time.

If you like coconut, you'll LOVE this yogurt.  There are slivers of real coconut in this yogurt,
so good you'll happily skip dessert for this decadent treat!

This yogurt has real bits of lemon.  It's not too tart, not too sweet, absolutely perfect!  I love to eat it as a snack.
It was refreshing on warm summer days and I also have it in my fridge at work.

 

 

I'm actually not a fan of strawberry yogurt - I have never been.  But I LOVE this yogurt.  It's exactly what you would think strawberries & cream would taste like.  Rich and creamy, it's perfect to add to a morning meal.

Liberté Méditerranée Yogurt is made with both milk and cream - it's not low-fat.  It does not contain gelatine or sugar substitutes (artificial sweeteners).  It is also probiotic, promoting digestive health.  And Liberté is a Canadian company, always a bonus for me!  I highly recommend that you give this yogurt a try, just make sure to practice self-control when indulging!

#CypherKidsClub i3D App & Cards For Kids ~ A Perfect Christmas Gift Idea!

Of all of the gadgets that we have at home, the iPod is one of the favourites of the boys.  They watch movies on long trips to the cottage, and love playing games like Angry Birds and LEGO.  While the apps are fun for the entire family, I rarely find educational apps that actually teach the boys.

With a 7-year old who loves teaching his little bro, and a 3-year old learning about letters and numbers, I was thrilled to learn of the opportunity to test Cypher Kids Club i3D Interactive Cards!  The first thing that I did was check out the Cypher Kids Club website to see what the company was all about.

Cypher Kids Club makes learning come to life!  Children, along with their parents, can Play, Discover and Learn with the free app and 3D flashcards.  The app and cards are compatible with iPads, iPhones and iPods and are available in three categories: Numbers Adventures, Letters Adventures and Wild Animal Adventures.




My local Walmart in Oakville, ON.



I found Cypher i3D Cards in Letters, Numbers and Animals in the
Apple Accessories section of the Electronics Department at Walmart.

Check out my shopping experience at Walmart Canada on my Google+ page!

Here is what the cards and 3D images look like...


Numbers Adventures

• Watch and count along as numbers dance, march and run across the screen
• Helps children to practice counting different objects, learn number words and numerals 1-20, and recognize numerical order

Number Card 7




#7 in action!

Letter Adventures

• Upper and lower-case letters come to life with sounds!
• Helps children to identify upper and lower-case letters, learn the sounds that each letter makes,and recognize letters within words

Letter Card I




Letter I in action!  Check out the hop-scotch :)

Wild Animal Adventures

• A 3D expedition into the animal kingdom, where you can watch animals eat, drink and make sounds in the wild
• Helps children identify different animals, learn the sounds that animals make, and learn about their habitats and characteristics

Animals Tiger Card

 

3D Tiger in action!

On the back of each card is a 3D marker.  The camera on your Apple device (iPod, iPhone or iPad) reads the 3D marker and an interactive 3D world appears on your screen!



The front of the card shows the letter, number or animal.  The back of the card
has a 3D marker that is read by the camera on your Apple device.

The boys had so much fun using the app and cards.  They were fairly easy to use, and I loved that Big-A was able to play with his little brother, helping him and teaching him.  The letters and numbers have adorable songs and music, and you can touch them to make them move.  The animals are awesome, making noises and moving around.  The monkey even swings off a tree, disappearing and then reappearing right before your eyes!


I recorded a video of the boys and I playing with the Letter Adventures cards:

 

And yes, my little guy has a painted thumb - I can't paint my own nails without painting one of his! LOL

After a bit of trial and error, we figured out how to easily get a true 3D picture on the iPod:

I am thankful to have been given the opportunity to test out the Cypher Kids Club app and cards.  My boys have been asking to play with them daily since we first purchased them, and I think that they will help Lil-J to prepare for preschool in the new year.  With Christmas around the corner, these cards would be a perfect addition to any child's Santa list!

Cypher Kids Club cards are available at select Walmart Canada stores.  Check out the cards and information about the app on the Cypher Kids Club website at http://www.cypherkidsclub.com/.  You can also follow Cypher Kids Club and Cypher Entertainment on Twitter and on Facebook.

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This content has been compensated

as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Cypher Kids Club #CBias #SocialFabric.

As with every post that I write, all opinions on this blog are honest and solely my own.

3rd Time's A Charm As A #KinderMOM ~ Introducing Kinder® Canada's 2013 Toy Collection!

 

Yippee!  I'm a #KinderMOM again...for the third time!  I had a blast on the first two campaigns, and am thrilled to be a part of the fun yet again.  And there are certainly no complaints from my boys - they just LOVED Kinder Surprise!  First on the list of Kinder® things to get excited is the new 2013 toy lineup!!!

 

 

 

 

Bouncing Monsters, Flying Jelly, Fuzzy Animals and Merry Twisters (see below) are just some of the toys that Kinder® is offering inside their delicious nut-free chocolate eggs.  And they are as much fun for parents to play with, as they are for kids.

 

As a child, I loved making spiral patterns with my Spirograph toy.  I remember being mesmerized by the different patterns I could make in under a minute.  When Big-A cracked his first Kinder® Egg from the #kinderMOM box, I was thrilled to find this spiral toy!  He quickly got to work making simple spirals and creative pictures using spirals. 

 

 

This toy reminded me of a spiral toy I played with as a child.
Being an artistic family, this has been one of our favourite
Kinder toys so far!

 

Big-A creeated a bird with his first spiral :)

A perfect spiral!  This toy kept Big-A busy for about an hour!

Another fun toy that the boys have found inside a Kinder® Egg is a Merry Twister top.  It's not just any old round top.  They build it themselves, snapping the pieces into place.  Once built, they started spinning and couldn't stop.  On the floor, on the kitchen counter, even on a bar stool, they had a blast with this toy.

My boys LOVE tops and any toy that spins.  They got to build this Merry Twister
themselves, and had a great time spinning it on any surface they could think of!

It took some serious coordination, but we managed to
get a shot of the spinning in action!

 

Make sure to check out Kinder® Canada on Facebook to participate in their My Kinder Moments page. Here, you can place your favourite family photos in a special Kinder frame, saving it in your own photo albums.  You are also entered for monthly draws when you create a Kinder Moment.  Here are a few recent special moments that I've created:

 

The boys posing at the cottage on Thanksgiving weekend :)

My Halloween Joker ready for a spooktacular day at school!

 

I’m part of the Kinder® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. As with every post that I write, the opinions on this blog are my own.”

A Good Ole Belly Laugh

Of all the things I love about my two boys (there really is nothing I don't love about them!), their laughs are at the top of my list.  They both have contageous laughs that exude pure joy and happiness.  And the best part?  They laugh A LOT!

At any time of day, I hear giggles during movies, chuckles during tickle fights, and belly laughs as the boys play and wrestle.  And the laughs don't only happen at home.  Playing silly games like The Silly Songs Car Game is an easy way to make long trips feel short, and keep the kids preoccupied in the car.

One of our favourite family pastimes is to watch America's Funniest Videos, guaranteed to fill the house with lose-your-breath laughter.  We've also started watching the tv show Wipeout with Big-A.  Watching a bunch of fools bounce of balls, get punched in the gut, and slip on muddy surfaces make hubby & I laugh until we're in tears.  And Big-A has the same (warped?) sense of humour.

When the seriousness of life takes over, which for us happens often, find a way to enjoy a good ole belly laugh with your kids by playing silly games, having a tickle-fest or watching a funny tv show.  I don't ever want my children to stop laughing!

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” ― E.E. Cummings

This is one of my favourite home videos of the boys, taken 2 1/2 years ago.

 

 

 

Canada's Food Guide

Have you taken a good look at Canada's Food Guide lately?  Check it out at
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/index-eng.php.

 

If you feel a bit overwhelmed trying to follow it, you're not alone.  I will admit that I don't go straight to the guide when meal-planning.  The thought of having to match my children's food intake with the numbers on the guide seem impossible on a good day!  But I do look at it occasionally for a refresher course on what my children need in their diet.

You can download a PDF version or order a free paper copy.  Health Canada has made obtaining this handy guide easy for anyone who wants it.  Also take a look at the numerous links on the site providing information from choosing the best food for your child to tips on how to have a healthy and active lifestyle.

Make sure to read both pages of the Food Guide.  The first page provides you with the 'Recommended Number of Food Guide Servings Per Day', examples of single servings for the four food groups, as well as tips on how to make healthier choices within the food groups.  The second page provides you with information on how to have a healthy lifestyle and instructions on how to read food labels.

I would suggest ordering a free paper copy on the website and hanging it inside your main food cupboard in your kitchen.  Having it easily available will make it easier to follow on a daily basis.  You can also share it with your children, show them how to read it, and discuss the importance of it.  Encourage your 5-year old to meet his 5 servings of fruit & veggies in a day, make it a fun competition!  It's our responsibility as parents to provide our children with the tools needed to live a healthy life.

Happy and healthy eating!

From Nana's Kitchen - The Easiest Oatmeal EVER...And It's Not Instant!

 

 

Canada's Food Guide Servings: 1 Grain Products (3/4 cup cooked oatmeal)

 

Oatmeal is one of those perfect foods that everyone should be eating.  As noted in my post "The 'Super' Breakfast - Oatmeal", heart-healthy oats are cholesterol free and have a low Glycemic Index.  They are an ideal food for anyone suffering from diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure.  And if that wasn't enough, 1 cup of uncooked rolled oats contains the following:

• 5 g fat (1 g saturated fat)
• 8g dietary fibre
• 10g protein
• Iron - 19% Daily Value for an adult

I grew up eating oatmeal, and it's now one of Big-A's favourite breakfasts (we're still working on Lil-J - he's not a fan of some textures).  As a child, my mother made us classic rolled oats topped with brown sugar.  Pre-children, I relied on the convenience of instant oats to get me through a busy school day or work day.  After having children, I was introduced to steel-cut oats (aka Irish oats) and that's all I eat now.  Big-A learned to love steel-cut oats thanks to my mom, and I try to make them as much as possible.

A few months ago, after struggling to make steel-cut oats for weekday morning breakfasts (who really has 30 mins to stir oats??), my mother gave me a handy tip on making overnight steel-cut oats.  This is the only way that I make them now, and it's so easy that there are no excuses not to be eating them every day of the week.

Nana's Easiest Oatmeal EVER

Ingredients:
1 cup steel-cut oats (I love Bob's Red Mill Organic Steel Cut Oats and President's Choice Blue Menu Steel Cut Oats)
3 cups water
pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Add water, oats and salt to a medium pot.  Bring to a boil over high heat then immediately turn off the heat and cover with the pot lid.  Leave overnight.  Reheat the following morning and serve.

And that's it!  It's seriously that easy.  No stirring, no risk of a messy, starchy boil over.  No waiting.  In the morning, you will find the most perfect steel-cut oats waiting for you.  They will be cooked through, but will still have a crunchy texture.  And you can have them this easy, every morning of the week.

If you have any concerns with leaving the oatmeal out at room temperature overnight, place the pot in the refrigerator (after boiling).  The oats will be a bit watery, and they will be crunchier.  Give them a quick re-heat on the stove or in the microwave and they'll be ready to eat.

Our current favourite way to eat these oats is with a small sprinkle of brown sugar, a generous sprinkle of cinnamon, and cold milk.  I pack mine in a container with the toppings and milk, and heat it at work.  Big-A loves eating a bowl of oats before school, and I love knowing that this healthy breakfast gives him the fuel needed for a busy day ahead.

Give it a try, you'll love them!

Yoplait Yogurt Tubes ~ A Fun & Healthy Snack Perfect For Any Lunchbag! #LMDConnector

 

Yoplait yogurt can always be found in my refrigerator.  I like the classic Yoplait Creamy, the boys ate Minigo daily when they were younger, and our refrigerator is always full of Yop (for Big-A's school snack).  Yogurt has always been our snack of choice, but we also eat it for breakfast (topped with granola) and dessert (topped with fresh berries).  I even add it to my favourite baked goods when I can.
 
Yoplait is an ideal yogurt for kids, as it does not contain gelatin, artificial flavours or artificial sweeteners.  I find way too many yogurts containing one or all of these items, and they never make it in my grocery cart!  Yoplait yogurt is also a great source of Vitamin D, Calcium, and Protein (Yop contains 5g of Protein per serving, 1/5 of Big-A's daily requirement).  The fact that Yoplait yogurt tastes delicious and is fun to eat are just added extras that any parent would love.
 
Another awesome fact about Yoplait yogurt is that it's been made in Canada since 1971!  Canadian-made foods are preferred in our home.
 
When Big-A started school in JK, I started sending him with yogurt in a reusable plastic container.  This proved to be a messy way to eat a healthy snack, and I started buying Minigo instead.  As soon as he started Grade 1, it became 'uncool' for kids to eat yogurt from a container (the horror!!) and drinking it was the only acceptable method.  I really expected these things to happen when it came to clothes and accessories, but food?  How times have changed...
 
When I first placed a Yop in his lunchbag, he was beyond thrilled!  Now we go to the grocery store and he gets to pick out his own flavours.  I think it's important to allow children to have a say on the food choices a family makes, as this will encourage healthy eating habits in adulthood.
 
This year, Big-A started asking for yogurt Tubes.  It was a product that I was unfamiliar with, but I decided to check them out.  Although they don't contain the same nutritional punch as Yop (less Calcium, Protein and Vitamins), they are very low in calories and sugar.  I never count on a single food product to give my children the nutrition that they need in a day, so with a balanced diet Yoplait Tubes can be added as a school snack.  I purchased two boxes in various flavours, and surprised him with them.  As you can see from the photos below, he was VERY excited to see them!

Big-A's initial reaction to the Yoplait Yogurt Tubes that I surprised him with!

This is one excited kid!!

I grew up eating yogurt, and my children have done the same.  It is an ideal Calcium and Protein source, and they are perfect for a healthy school or on-the-go snack.  Check out the Yoplait Canada website for a list of all of their products, and you will find one that suits the needs of each member of your family!  Make sure to also check out their Recipes using your favourite Yoplait yogurts.  I'm definitely going to have to give the Low-Fat Cheesecake Delight a try!

 

 

I am participating in the Life Made Delicious Ambassador Program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of General Mills.  I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion.  As with every post that I write, the opinions on this blog are my own.

A Heart Healthy Breakfast Fruit Pizza ~ #LMDConnector

September is almost over and (most) kids have already been in school for three weeks.  Parents are back to rushed mornings making lunches, and rushed evenings getting kids fed, bathed and in bed early.  With all the things to plan for and think about, healthy eating can sometimes fall by the wayside.

 

While I like preparing big breakfasts for Big-A on school mornings (pancakes, cinnamon oatmeal, boiled eggs and toast), some mornings the time just slips away so fast I hardly have time to give him a bowl of cold cereal!  I'm always looking online and through my favourite family-friendly magazines for quick, healthy breakfast recipes to fill Big-A's tummy and brain for a busy day ahead.

 

 

As a proud #LMDConnector, I was pleased to find out that General Mills has partnered up with the Heart And Stroke Foundation, promoting Get Smart With Your Kid’s Heart!  On the Heart And Stroke website you will find information on Healthy Eating and Activities, being Healthy At School and in your Community, as well as helpful publications and links.  General Mills is working with the Heart And Stroke Foundation to ensure that kids have a healthy start to each day, encouraging heart-healthy habits in your family.

 

On the Healthy Eating tab, I found some fun and delicous looking breakfast recipes that any child would love, like Sunshine French Toast, Quinoa Cranberry Muffins, Peek-A-Boo Eggs, and many more.  I was immediately drawn to a recipe called Breakfast Fruit Pizza, as it contained refrigerator and pantry staples in my home that Big-A eats each week.  I changed the recipe slightly (the original recipe can be found here), and they were a huge hit in my home!

 

 

Breakfast Fruit Pizza

Serves 1

 

Ingredients:

1 small whole wheat pita (or 3 mini whole wheat pitas)

1 1/2 tbsp spreadable cream cheese (plain or flavoured)

1/4 cup chopped fresh fruit (I used berries only)

honey

 

Directions:

1. Lightly toast the pitas in a toaster or toaster oven.
2. Spread with cream cheese.
3. Top with fresh fruit and lightly drizzle with honey.  If you used a large pita, cut into pieces and serve.  Mini pitas can be served whole.

Calories: 147

Protein: 5.4g

Fat: 5g

Dietary Fibre: 5g

Sodium: 216mg

Potassium: 113mg

 

Use a spreadable cream cheese to avoid tearing the pitas.

Always rinse and dry fresh berries before using in recipes.

The finished product - delish!

Big-A taking a big bite (with Lil-J watching closely)!

 

A balanced breakfast high in protein and fibre is ideal for keeping your kids moving through the day, and keeping them full until snack or lunch time.  I send Big-A to school with mini whole wheat pitas at least once a week, either in pizza form or topped with cream cheese and his favourite jam.  And fresh berries are eaten in our house every single day.  This easy breakfast (it really doesn't get easier than this!) is a perfect one for busy weekday mornings, and I will definitely make these on Sunday's when Big-A has early soccer games.

 

Check out the Health And Stroke Foundation's Healthy Kids site at http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/c.ikIQLcMWJtE/b.3479025/k.802B/Healthy_Kids.htm for recipes and ideas for keeping your kids heart healthy.  And make sure to check out the General Mills website at https://lifemadedelicious.ca/ for more delicious recipes that your family will love.

 

 

My little "movie star in the making" made his own video review:

 

 

 

 

 

I’m part of the Life Made Delicious blogger program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. As with every post that I write, the opinions on this blog are my own.