Centuries - Epoque Espresso Gift Set 4 pieces from KAHLA ( + Giveaway!) 3/31 ( CAN only)

 I had featured the Touch! line from Kahla last Christmas and it is holding up to it's word on quality. 

KAHLA has many beautiful collections that have their own names. I got to review the Epoque Espresso Set from the Centuries collection.

Barbara Schmidt on the concept for Centuries:"I have loved porcelain ever since I was a child. It is a wonderful material, which is shaped into objects that are part of our daily lives. To rediscover it time and again is a pleasure. The idea of Centuries was to reinterpret trusted motifs and textures and to integrate them into KAHLA porcelain concepts for the present day. This isn‘t your standard dinner service; it‘s a colorful selection of beautiful objects that enrich their users with endless possible combinations."
Four design lines are part of Centuries: Thuringia, Mirasol, Feston and Époque.

Époque:Historical handles meet porcelain of the present day. Rich dynamic ornamentation marries reduced design. From the KAHLA design books we chose a handle each from the Classicism, Neo-Baroque and Art Nouveau era. With playfully ironic ease, these handles add a little lustre of bygone times to 21st century cups and jugs.

As much as I love colorful packing paper, I am not particularly fond of the task itself. This white espresso set comes neatly and colorfully packed in this box. No cutting and sticking work for me. Zilch. Just tie a ribbon if you want to gift it.

What I loved the most about this set was the unique design of the saucer. It definitely stands out. There is a little spot to place the cup and that extra space on the side can be for a sweet cookie to go with your beverage! That is indeed a SWEET idea!  This set has awesome functionality and the design is really wonderful and well thought of. Kudos to designer Barbara!

 The contents of the box are 2 cups and 2 saucers. You can buy this set for $37 from 2mi.ca .

The cups have very comfortable handles and sometimes my little son likes to drink his milk in this cup, all feeling like a grown up. I would highly recommend this set for its class and quality as a gift or just yourself.

Thanks to Kahla and 2mi.ca , one lucky Canadian reader will have the chance to win this Centuries - Epoque Espresso Gift Set 4 pieces from KAHLA.

2012 Hasbro''s Easter Specials for children!

Hasbro has some sweet toys for kids this Easter! 

Easter is a joyous occasion and we celebrate Easter not just as a tradition but in true spirit. So be it Easter or Christmas, I ensure that I talk to my son about why we celebrate these days. 

Toys, books and fun activities are always a part of the understanding I try to imbibe. This year as I help my son understand the true meaning of Easter, we will play and hunt for some eggs at home! Thanks to Hasbro, I can do it all amazingly well within a budget sans candies.

We were sent a pack of fun toys and you can see them in action!

PLAYSKOOL MR. POTATO HEAD SPUD BUNNY Figure

Potato figure comes with 1 pair of eyes, 1 nose, 1 mouth, 1 pair of bunny ears, 2 arms, 1 pair of pants with feet and basket of eggs. 

 

Who doesn''t love this man? Sorry Mrs.Potato Head but we just have to admit that we love Mr more as he looks terribly cute with bunny years! My little boy has a lot of ideas for Mr. He has made a lot of combination emotions and it was a great conversation starter to talk about " feelings". Nice toy and good quality that will withstand tough play.

Make silly faces and don''t forget to capture the pose!  

Camera + Mr.Potato Head = Winning combo!

PLAY-DOH Box of Eggs

This will a great addition for an Easter Basket. My son understands more now and we have started to talk about the real meaning of Easter during our story time. We have many colorfully illustrated Bibles at home to read to him and he enjoys reading time with Mommy. These eggs will be a fantastic fun element to add to the theme. The 4 eggs pack are a neat treat for a child! My son will be giving one egg each for his friends at his preschool! 

Play-Doh Stampers

Two stampers each come with two ounces of PLAY-DOH Modeling Compound. There are infinite things to do with Play-Doh. Now you can stamp fun shapes with these Bunny & Chick Stampers. Nice activity for Easter themed party.

PLAY-DOH TREAT WITHOUT THE SWEET Spring Eggs

These pastel-coloured egg containers hold a special surprise inside: each one is filled with PLAY-DOH Modeling Compound. Perfect for egg hunts, these fun egg containers and their PLAY-DOH Modeling Compound let you shape, mold and create anything you can imagine!

Ten eggs each come filled with one ounce of PLAY-DOH Modeling Compound. 

I think these eggs are fantastic for an egg hunt. They also come in a cute little box so it can be used an Easter gift for a friend. They come in different pastel colors with play-doh inside. Definitely a creative option to me instead of filling eggs with candies. This will be my son''s first egg hunt and he won''t find candy in eggs, for sure!

All the above toys are available at leading retailers across Canada. 

The above featured toys are very affordable and children can enjoy Easter eggs without sugar!

Disclosure: I received a sample for review purpose only. No monetary compensation was received. The above post reflects my personal opinion.

I Can Read! Princess Twin series from Zonderkidz ( R+G) 3/31 ( US/CAN)

The Adorable Princess Twins Are Back in Two Enchanting, Easy-To-Read Books From the Popular I Can Read! Series

In THE PRINCESS TWINS PLAY IN THE GARDEN (Zonderkidz; January 2011; $3.99),Princess Emma gets a lesson in inner beauty when she spends a day in the castle garden with Abby and friends. While the other girls enjoy a fun-filled day of pony rides, building sand castles and playing soccer, Emma sits the games out. She fears she might dirty her beautiful dress! With a little nudge from the other children, Emma learns to embrace God's little gifts: a lovely day, ladybugs and even mud!

In THE PRINCESS TWINS AND THE PUPPY (Zonderkidz; January 2011; $3.99), Puppy flees from the garden after Emma and Abby shoo him away during teatime. But when playtime rolls around and Puppy is nowhere to be found, the princesses become worried.  They search frantically looking all over the castle. Upon hearing Puppy's helpless bark from the dark, dingy basement, Abby must confront her fear of the dark by trusting God and asking for courage to rescue her beloved furry friend.

With vibrant illustrations by award-winning artist Red Hansen and Hodgson's captivating, yet easy-to-read prose, the Princess Twins books are perfect for Sunday and home-school teachers, and of course, aspiring princesses everywhere.

 This was very interesting for my son as he likes pink and princesses only at a distance. Lol. As a boy, he had a sneak-peek into the interesting lives of 2 princesses who play and have their own sweet adventures.

For a beginner reader, this book will be wonderful as there is just one line on each page. My son tries hard to read by himself and it was a great match for him. The story has little twists which give it a chance to include small words which can help the reader to spell. We have been reading it for a while now and as a mom I feel it has been a good tool to encourage my little reader.

Thanks to Zonderkidz, one lucky reader will have the chance to win a copy of the above books for themselves!

KELLOGG CANADA RALLIES CANADIANS TO SHARE THE POWER OF THEIR BREAKFAST

I was up early today and sat down with my favorite Kellogg'' s cereal to kick start my day. As I sat there, crunching away and enjoying the feeling of " not being hungry", I thought about the people especially children who go to school without a breakfast or barely a crumb of bread. 

I am blessed and so grateful for it. In the past I have been a huge supporter of Breakfast Clubs of Canada and also volunteer from time to time in our local breakfast club. The feeling I get when I see children eating a nutritious breakfast surpasses the feeling of " not being hungry". Every child deserves it as much as my own.

   Studies show that breakfast can help kids boost their academic performance – improving behavior, reducing absences and tardiness and increasing focus and physical performance.

Thursday March 8^th is National Breakfast Day and Kellogg’s has partnered with Breakfast Clubs of Canada and Breakfast for Learning to launch the Share Your Breakfast program to encourage Canadians to help children who might otherwise go without.

As part of this movement, Canadians are invited to celebrate National Breakfast Day with Kelloggs's on Thursday, March 8.  Throughout the day and across the country Kellogg''s will be surprising Canadians with free mini-packs of Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal to raise awareness about our country's hungry children. In return, Kellogg''s will be donating to their National Breakfast Day charity partners.  In essence, a bowl for you will equal a bowl for a hungry child. 

  You can be involved and help spread awareness.Here''s how you can be involved:

a.     Visit Kellogg’s website (www.kelloggs.ca/SYB) to view the breakfast video and share this important message with friends and family via social media.

b.     Pick-up a specially marked box of Kellogg's cereal in-store for a unique pin code to redeem for a free breakfast item and;

c.      In return, Kellogg’s will make a donation to Breakfast Clubs of Canada and Breakfast for Learning

d.     Or visit the breakfast charities directly to make your own donation and find out more about the great work they're doing to fight hunger in Canada.

                   www.breakfastclubscanada.org or www.breakfastforlearning.ca

           e.  Tweet your support using the hashtag #shareyourbreakfast

SHARP In-Car use Air Purifier worth $149 ! ( R+G) 3/30 ( CAN only)

Winter is not completely over, but on the brighter side there are signs of spring! Woo-hoo!

Since last year, along with the arrival of spring, I seem to be greeted with bad allergies which leave my nose itchy and irritated. I thought I will never have allergies and I succumbed! 

I love the fresh air and love to keep my windows open in the car. But driving and scratching my nose non-stop - bad for me and other drivers on the road!

SHARP seems to offer a solution to my spring blues and help me enjoy it. This is something really awesome to use in your car - especially if you are allergic.

IGBC2UB In‐Car use Plasmacluster®Ion Generator

The Plasmacluster Ion Generator by SHARP uses a "high density Plasmacluster" technology.

To break the term into a simpler form - it simply means that this technology when used, releases positive and negative ions into the air in the form of small clusters. The cluster ions spread and diffuse into the air in your car and surround the airborne allergens, turning the allergens into harmless substances like water.

Plasmacluster ions are released at a 20 degree upwards angle and are carried along the ceiling of the car to every part of the interior by the Coanda effect.  Coanda effect: when a jet of air or water is discharged, it tends to travel along a nearby curved surface for a considerable distance, even to the point of bending around corners)

Benefits you will love:

• The benefits of using the IGBC2UB in your car are eliminating unpleasant lingering odours like cigarette smoke, pet odours, removes musty car smells and airborne viruses.
•    Neutralizes Mould, Bacteria and Odours Using Natural Ionization 

 Easy to use!

• High and Low Mode Operation 
• Long Life Plasmacluster Ion Generating Unit (up to 19,000 hours)
• Low Power Consumption (1.3W in Low Mode)
• 12V car adapter is enclosed for easy connection
• Simple One‐touch Operation
• Stylish Design  
•  Fits into a car cup holder
• 
  
  
   When I told hubby about it, he thought that it was just another addition to the list of things that go in the car. But when it arrived, we saw that it was so compact! Just like a coffee travel mug ( no spills here!) and an adapter to go with it.
  
  
  
  Every time you want to use it, you remove the flat filter located at the back and find the plug-in. Then just plug in one end to your purifier and there is a really tiny hole or space on the right side through which you can bring the wire out and snap the filter back in place. Connect the other end to the car and the unit is all set! 
  The performance of this unit is wonderful and I can sense  freshness in the car as opposed to stale air. I am sure we will love it more and enjoy it to the fullest in spring/summer.
  
  
  The replacement of the Plasmacluster ion generating unit is recommended after 17,500 hours of operation (around 6 years when operating 8 hours a day).
  
  
  I think it will last us more than that given our frequency of usage. I am not in the car for 8 hrs a day. For people who drive a lot or have jobs that require them to drive for most part of their day, this will be a perfect match.

 Sturdy build, lasting performance, exceptional quality and stylish design and fit makes it an all-rounder! If you need some clean air in your car, I say "go for it!"

Buy it: Available at many retailers. Future Shop sells it for $149 

Win it: Thanks to SHARP, one lucky Canadian reader will have the chance to win a 

SHARP  IGBC2UB In‐Car use Plasmacluster®Ion Generator

Ascenta''s NutraSea Kids - Omega-3 Supplement - 3/15 (US/CAN) - 2 winners!

Every one in our house takes Omega-3 regularly. It has numerous health benefits.I was pretty excited to have found a Canadian brand !

Over the past few years, increasing research has shown that essential fatty acids (EFAs) play an important role in the development of the brain, eyes and nerves in children. But getting kids to eat fish 2-3 times a week is no easy task! Fish oils supplements are an effective way of getting those EFAs, but the often accompanying fishy taste and questions of purity often prevent kids from taking them on a regular basis and leave us uncertain of their safety. With Ascenta’s new NutraSea Kids supplement, Moms can provide EFAs to their kids with a great Very Berry taste and Pure Check quality assurance. And, because many kids have difficulty swallowing soft gels or capsules, NutraSea Kids great tasting liquid format is not only easy to take on its own, but also proves easy to add into smoothies, milkshakes, yogurt and other food favourites.

The liquid form is definitely easy to get in than a capsule. My son has no problems chewing on a gel like capsule but hey, how about some of this healthy stuff in a smoothie? Never thought of that! I definitely will not grind an omega 3 capsule in my blender. But now I can simply add them to any of our cold drinks and watch it go down! I do not know the effects of omega 3 in hot foods, so I will stay away from doing that.

The taste of the NutraSea Omega-3 is not so much like a fruit nor so much like eating fish. It is a bit viscous but tastes neutral. My 3 yr old gets a spoonful of it every day.

Though we try our best to eat a balanced diet which includes sources of omega -3 like salmon, nuts etc there are days when we just don't like to eat such foods. My son loves salmon but not much into nuts.So offering a supplement was the only option.

Just one daily teaspoon (5ml) of NutraSea Kids provides children omega-3 and vitamin D for their development. And since every NutraSea product undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and quality, you can feel good about adding it to your children’s diet.  Recommended for children aged 2-13, the Pure Check logo featured on all NutraSea products guarantees that they have been independently tested and certified for quality, purity and potency — a level of quality that sets Ascenta apart from its competitors.

 Compared to the other brand we were using, the daily value of NutraSea's EPA, DHA and GLA is high. So there is more of the healthy nutrient that our bodies benefit from in 1 tsp when compared to a capsule.

My son loves that Nutra Sea Omega 3 and I am happy that he is getting the essentials for his brain development.

You can read about why you need omega -3 here. It is quite informative and won't take much of your time!

 Buy it:

You can shop directly from Ascenta's website. The kids NutraSea 200 ml bottle sells for  $19.99 . Free shipping on orders over $40.

Giveaway:

Thanks to Ascenta, two lucky readers will have the chance to win their own bottle of NutraSea Kids 

Omega -3 worth $20 each!

2012 Spring Trends at La Vie en Rose

In my previous review about La Vie en Rose, I shared with you about how comfy those darling pyjamas  were. I picked up one more pair and would love the chance to stay in them all day! But spring is around the corner and soon it will be time for those warm pyjamas to go into hibernation for a few months. 

( Tip: If you want a good deal on those pjs checkout those smashing prices on their website NOW!)

Let's Spring forward to new yet comfortable styles! 

I had the chance to do an in-store visit to check out the latest trends. I was greeted in beautiful colors of orange, pink, blue, white and black. They were vibrant, feminine, strong yet conveying  a subtle sweet persona.

This is not IT. Many styles and colors to suit your tastes. One piece or a two piece suit, you will find something that you might like.The bathing suits / swim sets are very stylish and I found them to be of good quality as I tried them on. The store personnel are always there to answer questions or offer suggestions.

The first set of pyjamas were something I coveted the moment I stepped into the shop. Not only do they look beautiful but they are equally high in comfort and quality. And that black bow in the pants, my favorite! The black roses against a pale pink background has made me fall in love with it.There are a lot of varieties to choose from. 

I find shopping for basic essentials to be a bit more difficult than it used to be.Post-pregnancy my body has undergone tremendous changes and this is one thing I dread spending time on shopping. But I knew it was time I spiced up my "basics" with some  colors. La Vie en Rose has a HUGE collection to choose from. Plain black and whites, skin tones, pinks, oranges, zebra prints and you can find matching basics to go with it. I am happy with what I chose and a bunch of thanks to the store manager for making this a pleasant shopping experience.I only wish that they include an anti-slip or slip resistant straps in their collection.

While you breeze through the spring collection , see what's on sale and take advantage of it!

Sponsor connect:

Get friendly with La Vie en Rose on Facebook

Follow La Vie en Rose on Twitter

Disclosure: I received a few samples  for review purpose only. No monetary compensation  was received. The above post reflects my personal opinion.

An All-Time Favorite! MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC: THE FRIENDSHIP EXPRESS DVD!

February 28th release of MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC: THE FRIENDSHIP EXPRESS on DVD.

Here's a sneak-peek!

I grew up watching these and look forward to THE FRIENDSHIP EXPRESS on DVD!

Review:LADY AND THE TRAMP DIAMOND EDITION on Blu-ray on Feb 7!

LADY AND THE TRAMP: DIAMOND EDITION

Synopsis: A classic love story unfolds in the best Disney tradition as a lovely young pedigreed 

cocker spaniel named Lady, who lives a pampered life, finds herself falling romantically 

for Tramp, an amorous street-smart pooch without prospects. Although they have fun 

together on several dates, including a sentimental spaghetti dinner by moonlight at 

Tony’s restaurant, their relationship is strained not only by Lady’s loyalty to her human 

family and their newborn baby, but by Tramp’s devil-may-care attitude that eventually 

gets Lady in trouble and tossed into the dog pound. However, good-hearted Tramp 

redeems himself by saving the baby from potential harm and thus wins Lady’s love and 

the affection of her human family. 

Blu-ray Bonus:  Disney Second Screen: Inside Walt’s Story Meetings* 

Audio Commentary: Inside Walt’s Story Meetings 

Diane Disney Miller: Remembering Dad 

Three Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes 

Never Recorded Song: “I’m Free as the Breeze” 

Classic DVD Bonus: 

 Lady’s Pedigree: The Making of Lady and the Tramp 

 Finding Lady: The Art of the Storyboard 

 Original 1943 Storyboard Version of the Film 

 PuppyPedia: Going to the Dogs 

 “The Siamese Cat Song,” Finding a Voice for the Cats 

 “Bella Notte” Music Video 

 Trailers 

 Excerpts from “Disneyland” TV Shows 

DVD Bonus:  Diane Disney Miller: Remembering Dad 

PuppyPedia: Going to the Dogs 

Digital Bonus:  Diane Disney Miller: Remembering Dad 

Three Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes 

PuppyPedia: Going to the Dogs 

We are so glad to have watched this classic come to life on Blu-ray! It was such a joy to enjoy this heart warming love story. When it comes to cute dogs, they just melt my heart! You can only imagine when they can talk, get into trouble, save each other, fall in love and even share a romantic spaghetti dinner! One of the best movies we have watched.

LADY AND THE TRAMP  was named number 95 out of the "100 Greatest Love Stories of All Time" by the American Film Institute in their 100 Years...100 Passions special, as one of only two animated films to appear on the list, along with Disney's Beauty and the Beast (which ranked 34th).

The spaghetti dinner has become such a hit that even people are enacting the scene.We also thought that the Siamese Cat song was hilarious. 




Love the way the movie has been produced.

Suggested Retail Prices 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) = $44.99 U.S./$51.99 Canada  and Product 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) = $39.99 U.S./$46.99 Canada 

This is a great choice for a family movie night or even for a play date. My family enjoyed the charming animation against a classical backdrop. Songs keep ringing in our minds...totally enjoyable and my 3 yr old has watched it many times and still admires a different scene every time.

Thanks Disney for this fantastic release!

Disclosure: I received a sample for review purpose only. No monetary compensation  was received. The above post reflects my personal opinion.

Winners!

Congratulations! I am emailing you now.

Fusion Brands - Stacey Dempsey

Chuck and Friends DVD - Patricia Wojnar Crowley

I have been quiet for a while. My home computer is under repair, so will have to wait till we get it working again. So you might see some sporadic posts till I am all well-equipped technically. Till then will have to share hubby''s laptop and I hate to type from a laptop! So bear with me and appreciate your patience. 

Will have some fun giveaways soon! 

Winners !

Orb Factory -Patricia Wojnar Crowley

   

VIOlight - Terri Tarrant

Far Flutterby Book - Jen Michouris

Body Shop Gift Pack - belinda mcnabb

Congratulations winners! I will be emailing you soon.