Thanks to everyone who entered our giveaway for the pet gift basket.
I loved reading all the stories of how your pets became a part of your lives.
Image via Wikipedia
As for the winner of the Iams basket, I'm going to let the Random Integer Generator decide that one.
And our winner is:
Congratulations, Penny! I'll be in touch with more details.
Thanks again to everyone who entered.
Since 1999 the Iams Home 4 the Holidays campaign has helped
5.8 million orphaned animals in 21 countries.
The goal this year has been to help 1.5 million homeless animals find homes from October 11, 2011, through January 3, 2012.
If you've been thinking of adding a four-legged member to your family, check out Facebook.com/Iams to search for adoptable animals near you. (In Canada, there are as many as 250,000 orphaned animals.)
Even if you already have a litter – or are unable to adopt a pet – you can still help our furry friends out by donating a bowl of food to an animal shelter; find out how here.
Iams is how happy to offer a gift basket (value: $100) to one pet-loving reader. In it, you'll find:
For your chance to win this pet gift basket, please leave a comment on this post by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, January 3, 2012, telling me how your pet became a part of your family. One comment per person, please; this contest is open to residents of Canada only. Not open to any TC Media employees or the people they live with. I'll randonly select and announce the winner on Wednesday, January 4, 2012.
An Ottawa radio station is hosting a contest where women have the chance to win three IVF treatments. The prize, valued at over $35,000, could help boost the winner's chance of conceiving a baby.
A dream come true?
According to the Hot 89.9 web site:
"It is some people’s lifelong dream to conceive a baby, but not everyone can. If you’re in that situation The New Hot 89-9 is swooping in like a big beautiful stork to make your dreams of changing diapers a reality."
Controversial contest
The contest has been gaining international attention, which has not always been positive. In the U.K., the Daily Mail reports:
"Hot 89.9's Morning Hot Tub show, which is running the competition, has been unapologetic and brags on its website that it is the 'first in history' to be making such an offer.
Its disturbing advert features a baby staring out at the camera holding up a sign saying: 'Win me!' although with the caveat underneath that 'Baby may not be exactly as shown'.
Listeners complained that the contest was sending out the wrong message, not least to the child whose parents will have to explain the story of how he was born."
Here at home, Andrew Lovesey has this to say in the National Post:
"Having children is not a frivolous decision. And the blessing of a new child shouldn’t be treated in the same way as a free breakfast at a pancake house, or a week-long holiday at a Cuban resort. But you wouldn’t know that from listening to an Ottawa radio station that is using a prize of in-vitro fertilization treatments as a contest promotion…
…The very premise of the contest insults the sanctity of life. The idea of “winning” a child is itself offensive in the extreme, belittling life, making childbirth into a marketing gimmick. It also has the effect of making an object (a prize) out of a human being."
In an interview with CBC News, Jan Silverman, a member of Ontario's expert panel on infertility, had this to say:
"I certainly dislike the commodification of babies, turning babies into products ... However, I am pleased that it brings attention to the plight, to the expense that infertile couples that require IVF must go through to have a baby."
What do you think? Does this contest leave a bad taste in your mouth? Or are you glad it's drawing attention to the struggles some couples have conceiving? Leave a comment and let me know.
On Thursday, I invited you to post a comment to let us know what you're most proud of mothering for a chance to win this incredibly trendy SAS handbag by Bod & Christensen.
This big, beautiful bag is made of Gucci nylon in cream with cognac trim. It features a satiny leopard lining and has lots of interior pockets for your cell phone, keys and all your goodies. It retails for $90.
And the winner is . . .
apavlovsky, who wrote:
"I try to be a good mother, but it is not always easy, lol! I work part time away from home, but when I am home I try to have some homemade goodies ready for the kidlets when they get home from school. We also have storytime. At the end of the day we snuggle in my bed and read the books they picked out for me. It helps us to stay connected. I sure hope this stage lasts a long time because I will miss our special time when they get older."
Congratulations! And a big thanks to all who entered. apavlovsky, I'll be emailing you for your address so I can send you this super-fab prize.
Here's a chance for you to win a beautiful prize for yourself (or to give to your favourite Mom) just in time for Mother's Day.
The incredibly trendy SAS handbags, by Bod & Christensen, range from $50-$150, but you can WIN this one for free.
This big, beautiful bag is made of Gucci nylon in cream with cognac trim. It features a satiny leopard lining and has lots of interior pockets for your cell phone, keys and all your goodies. It retails for $90.
And it could be yours! Just post a comment to let us know what you're most proud of mothering - it could be your children, a relative, or someone in your care. Not a mom? No problem. Tell us about how you're "mothering" and nurturing your business, your pet, even your garden. It's your call.
Let us know by this Sunday, May 8 (that's Mother's Day!). I'll announce the winner here on Monday, May 9.
Good luck!
Easter is almost here, and that means a three day weekend for some of us (yay!). I often find Easter weekend flies by and, between shuffling from house to house for family obligations, I barely get a moment to myself. It's always a fun weekend, but it can also be a little tiring. This year I vow to block off some time to do a few things I enjoy.
Here are 3 ways to enjoy your Easter weekend
1. Get outside
Ham. Frittata. Broccoli Salad. Egg Bread. Chocolate. You name it, and I'm full of it on Easter weekend. With all the eating and running around it's easy to forget to get outside and enjoy some of the beautiful spring weather. This year, be sure to fit in a walk in the park with your family, or meet up with a friend for a jog.
2. Sleep in
If you're lucky enough to get Good Friday off, be sure to sleep in. Ask you partner to mind the kids/walk the dog/clean the bathroom/go grocery shopping. Whatever you do just don't set the alarm. It's time to catch up on your beauty sleep.
3. Have an Easter egg hunt
This was once the best part of Easter, right? The Easter egg hunt doesn't have to be reserved for those under the age of 12. Challenge your spouse or siblings to an epic egg hunt, hiding treats in all sorts of fun places. The team that finds the least amount of eggs has to take the winning team out for drinks! (Tip: Do not hide chocolate Easter treats under radiators. They will melt.)
Easter giveaway
We're giving away an amazing basket of Green & Black's Easter treats to help you enjoy your Easter weekend.
This Green & Black's Organic Easter Prize Pack includes four large premium organic, Fair Trade chocolate eggs and 3 boxes of premium, organic Fair Trade mini eggs. Check out the photo and drool!
Eating lots of chocolate is another great way to enjoy Easter.
In order to win just leave a comment here telling us what your favourite thing about Easter is. We'll announce a winner on Thursday, April 21.
On Wednesday, I found myself in the Timmy's drive-thru waiting for my turn to roll up the rim while listening to Gord Downey on CBC Radio 2 and wearing a toque and my red Olympic mitts.
Pretty Canadian.
A winning rim. Sadly, not mine. Image via Wikipedia
What was your most Canadian moment of the week? Did you come face-to-face with a deer on a Banff sidewalk? Did you apologize to someone who accidentally tripped you? Did you gripe about the possibility of a spring election?
Post a comment and let us know. I have a prize for the most Canadian moment. The winner can choose the prize from a few that I have available (books, cosmetics, a variety of handsome sundry items sure to please.) You choose. Hooray for democracy!
We're giving away some incredibly terrific prizes on Twitter throughout the month of December. This is them:
Treat yourself and your fam this holiday season
There'll be treats-a-plenty if you're the lucky winner of one of these two gift packs from The President's Choice Brand.
Get out of the kitchen and into the party with this crazy-delish Holiday Survival Kit loaded with yummy treats, valued at $100, including allll this good stuff:
For a chance to WIN one of two Holiday Survival Kits from The President's Choice Brand, just follow @canadian_living on Twitter and tweet: Follow @canadian_living and RT this for a chance to win a prize pack from PC: http://cdnl.vg/ep62RU
Stay healthy over the holidays
If you're like me, getting enough veggies is the last thing on your mind during the hectic holiday stretch.
Luckily, one serving of Garden Cocktail has two full servings of veggies: it's just the thing to boost your health over the holidays. And Mott’s Garden Cocktail doesn't have that thick, tomato-y taste, so if you’ve tried vegetable cocktails before and didn’t like 'em, Mott’s Garden Cocktail might be your thing. There's also a low-sodium variety that has 78 percent less salt.
For a chance to WIN a Mott's Garden Cocktail Healthy Holiday Survival Kit, including a bunch of different kinds of Garden Cocktail, a $50 Loblaws gift certificate, fitness supplies, and what looks to be a very handsome basket, just follow @canadian_living on Twitter and tweet: Follow @canadian_living and RT this for a chance to win a Mott's prize pack: http://cdnl.vg/ep62RU
Stay safe on the roads over the holidays
It's no surprise that almost 7 in 10 canucks say they find driving in snowy, icy conditions stressful and more than half of us avoid driving in bad weather altogether.
You can stand up to old man winter and stay safe on the roads in all conditions with a Winter Warm Up Prize Pack, courtesy of Goodyear Canada, including:
For a chance to WIN a Winter Warm Up Prize Pack, just follow @canadian_living on Twitter and tweet: Follow @canadian_living and retweet this for your chance to win a Winter Warm Up Prize Pack: http://cdnl.vg/ep62RU
Make the kids think you're hip this holiday season
Grab-a-Scabs (icky name, cool product) are funky fabric sticker patches kids can stick on their backpack, jeans, sleeves – anything. They go on and they don't come off. The best part? There's no sewing or ironing required. And another best part? They're totally Canadian.
For a chance to WIN $25 worth of fab Grab-a-Scabs (and you get to pick which ones!), just follow @canadian_living on Twitter and tweet: Follow @canadian_living and retweet this for your chance to win a Grab-a-Scab Prize Pack: http://bit.ly/ftUhqR
Don't forget your pets this holiday!
Attention pet-lovers: We have two giant baskets (worth $300 each!) to give away, courtesy of our good friends at Iams Home for the Holidays.
Each basket is stuffed with all this good stuff for you and your furry friend:
For a chance to WIN one of these two baskets, just follow @canadian_living on Twitter and tweet: Follow @canadian_living and retweet this for your chance to win a giant Iams Prize Pack: http://cdnl.vg/ep62RU
Send your tweets by Sunday, December 19 for your chance to WIN. Tweet as often as you like! I'll announce the winners on Twitter on Monday, December 20. (We'll do our best to get the prizes to the winners by Christmas, but we can't make any promises.)
And the fine print: Here are the contest rules. (It's all the standard stuff, eh?)
Good luck and I'll see you on Twitter (@jenvillamere)!
Congrats to Lorraine and Lori N! You've both won a copy of the DVD Furry Vengeance, starring Brandon Fraser. In response to my question about favourite seasons, Lorraine said:
"My favourite season is spring, I love seeing the new sprouts and the world turn green again."
and Lori N said:
"I love spring! the promise of the season, the beginning of the plants sprouting and the warm air after a cold winter here in Winnipeg. I love all the seasons but spring is my fav."
Thanks for sharing. Please come back and let us know what you think of the film.
Have a great weekend.
There's nothing quite like a quiet paddle on a calm Canadian lake.
It's summer and, as the radio reminded me on Saturday, it's the perfect time to enjoy some of Canada's beautiful parks. There was lots of coverage of Canada's Parks Day (which took place just this past Saturday), but I was sad to learn that the number of visitors to our great many parks has been steadily dwindling over the past few years.
Have you been enjoying our parks? Though I'm embarking on 100 km (gulp!) hike for Oxfam along the Ganaraska trail this weekend, I won't be doing much park exploring this summer because we've just given up our car.
For all you folk who are able to get out of the city this summer check out the below articles for some great summer getaway ideas:
7 great Canadian canoe trips
Great Canadian Parks guide
Because I'm feeling rather generous on this Monday morning (and because it's been a while, I though I'd offer you lovely readers the chance to win a President's Choice Premium Water Filtration System. All you have to do is subscribe to my blog and leave a message here telling me which Canadian park is your favourite and why. It can be any park. I'll randomly select a winner on Friday, July 30.
We've married our sumptuous butter chicken recipe with the ease of the slow cooker to create the ultimate Slow Cooker Butter Chicken. Food director Annabelle Waugh walks you through the steps in this video for a restaurant-worthy dinner every time.
Watch how to create this tender, succulent pulled pork recipe with minimal effort and positive results every time.
Canadian Living fitness expert Pamela Mazzuca Prebeg shows you how to tone your abs with five exercises you can do at home.
© 2012 Canadian Living. All rights reserved.
