Author: cvegnad

September 27, 2019

Bringing Communities Together: Pokémon GO #SafariZone

How many of you grew up as a fan of Pokémon?

In my childhood home, my siblings and I were huge fans of Pokémon. We loved watching the shows, purchasing our favourite keepsakes (still have our giant Pikachu pillow from twenty years ago!). Pokemon was a huge part of our childhood but as we grew older, the craze died down a bit and it became more of a fond childhood memory.

That was until the Pokémon GO app was released and we were able to rediscover the world of Pokémon all over again. But this time it was an enhanced experience where we could connect with others in real life.

Not familiar with the game? In the app (can be downloaded on either the Apple Store or Google Play), users create an avatar and explore the world of Pokémon by moving through their everyday routines. The app shows your world on the screen and intertwines the Pokémon world within it (gyms, PokeStops, Pokémon, etc). You can capture new Pokémon, make friends, battle in raids and complete challenges for rewards.

What makes this game even more special for us?

That we can participate as a family – my kids LOVE the world of Pokémon! It has brought us closer as a family, as we spend several hours a week going for walks, going to parks, hiking and playing the game together. We have discovered new locations in our community and even at my work on campus (I found new sculptures on campus that I never knew even existed). It not only gets us active but learning about our community and each other. As a parent, there is no greater feeling then seeing the smile on your child’s face as they speak about something they love.

The second best part? The amazing trainer community. The trainers in our area are a special group of people that support, laugh and encourage us. At the last community day, we headed out to the Bay Front and my kids were giving high fives and receiving congratulations on their captures. The feeling was so special and so difficult to put into words. There is such a strong sense of community and inclusiveness in this global community. The game brings together people of all ages, genders and backgrounds.

Pokémon GO Safari Zone at Montreal

This past weekend my family and I had the privilege of attending Pokémon GO Safari Zone in Montreal. To say my son was excited was an understatement – he had a countdown and could barely sleep! We packed up our car at 1:30 in the morning and made the long trek to Montreal.

The event was held in the beautiful Circuit Gilles Villeneuve at Parc Jean-Drapeau. The location was stunning with beautiful views of the water, gorgeous beach and stunning pathways through greenery. There were so many spots to relax – we ended up walking close to 25 km on the Saturday!

Our youngest was in Pokémon glory. He was bouncing around, dancing to the theme music playing and talking to other trainers. He loved catching his shiny characters and showing off his finds to those around him. We caught so many new characters and my husband (new to the game) leveled up quite quickly.

The group was huge (we later found out over 39,000 people attended the three day event) and spanned all ages and genders. I loved watching the young toddlers dressed up as their favourite Pokémon characters and helping their parents capture those shinys (talk about complete heart melting moments).

My favourite photo of the day is this one:

It is everything that this game means to us – that no matter how many years separate us and how busy are days are, this brings us together. We laugh, joke, support and play together. When we play, it is our time to come together as a family.

This event was an incredible experience from start to finish – hats off to all of those individuals who came together to make it a magical experience for all. Fingers and toes crossed for another event in Canada soon!

Make sure to connect with them on Twitter and Facebook. You can also find some great groups on Facebook that will connect you locally with other trainers to complete challenges and raids together.

Disclosure: I received Early Passes to the Pokemon GO Safari Zone. All opinions expressed are my own.

September 24, 2019

Sesame Street: 50 Years and Counting

Spanning the beloved show’s 50-year history, the DVD collection offers five-and-a-half hours of songs, celebrity appearances, new and classic segments with the Sesame Street Muppets, and never-before-seen outtakes.

About Sesame Street: 50 Years and Counting

From the five boroughs of New York City to the beaches of LA and every town in between, Sesame Street has been teaching children for 50 years! Now on October 1, 2019 Shout Kids and Sesame Workshop present a birthday bash for this most beloved and famous brand in 50 Years and Counting.

The first disc in this very special 2-disc set features some of the greatest Sesame Street moments from yesterday and today: fan-favorite animations like “Ladybug Picnic” and “Pinball Number Count”; new and classic songs from Kermit the Frog’s soulful “It’s Not Easy Being Green” to will.i.am’s empowering anthem, “What I Am”; and timeless interactions between children and the Sesame Street Muppets. 50 Years and Counting will also let fans revisit Sesame Street’s many unforgettable celebrity appearances: Patti LaBelle putting a glamorous spin on the alphabet song; Amy Poehler teaching the gang new vocabulary words; R.E.M.’s joyful rendition of “Furry Happy Monsters”; Ricky Gervais trying — and failing — to sing Elmo to sleep; and other guest appearances made pop culture headlines while embodying Sesame Street’s inclusive lessons and values.

The second disc is an exclusive collection of the most iconic “Street Story” segments from Sesame Street. With help from the kids’ favorite characters, the early childhood experts behind Sesame Street helped generations of families tackle big conversations through little moments like these: the neighborhood’s poignant farewell to Mr.Hooper; the dramatic reveal of Big Bird’s not-so-imaginary friend, Mr. Snuffleupagus; and the debut of Julia, the first Sesame Street Muppet with autism.

50 Years and Counting also lets fans revisit the lighter side of the show: Super Grover’s many crash-landings, Bert and Ernie’s classic comedy-duo antics, moments with human friends like Bob, Maria, Luis, Susan, and Gordon, and much more. There are even a few never-before-seen outtakes with Jim Henson and other original performers! With over five-and-a-half hours of content from all five decades of the beloved show, 50 Years and Counting offers something for everyone – from the very young to the young at heart.

Customers who buy the set at select retailers will also receive an exclusive Sesame Street frame, while supplies last. The frame features fan-favorite characters and is the perfect place to house a 2”x 3” photo of a special Sesame Street fan.

You can learn more and purchase a copy of this DVD here.

Looking to do Sesame Street activities with your child? Print out this Draw Elmo printable. Or this 50 Years and Counting activity.

DVD Trailer

The Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a copy of this DVD in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

September 24, 2019

Highland Jewel Book Review

Highland Jewel is the second book in the new lush Scottish historical series from USA Today bestselling author, May McGoldrick.

About Highland Jewel

Maisie Murray’s sweet, docile exterior masks the courageous spirit of a firebrand determined to champion women’s suffrage with like-minded friends. But fighting for her principles has swept her directly into harm’s way—and into the arms of a man she cannot resist.

A trained officer with the Royal Highland Regiment, Niall Campbell has spent his life serving the Crown. Battle-weary and searching for peace, he nothing to do with trouble—until he meets Maisie. But unless Niall and Maisie can find a way to stand up to the destructive forces that threaten to divide them, long-buried secrets and political schemes are destined to stand in the way of the glorious love they’ve found.

My Thoughts

This is a powerful novel from start to finish with strong characters and an excellent plot that leaves you on the edge of your seat right to the very end.

Maisie is an amazing woman that almost leads a double life. With her family, they have always viewed her as a sweet, quiet girl and as a future wife with no thoughts or opinions. This is in the backdrop of a family that hides some political secrets that could destroy them. When she is away from her family, she is actually a champion of women’s rights and the average Scottish person. She hands out pamphlets, organizes rallies – in fact we even see her almost captured at one! She is one incredible female in a time when women were not allowed to behave and think like this. She is fearless in her fight to champion for those would could not fight.

Enter Niall, an officer with the Royal Highland Regiment with quite the fierce history. He has seen and done things that he would like to forget. He has returned home for peace but finds more then he bargains for. His sister is close friends with Maisie and her partner in championing for women’s rights. Niall would do anything to protect both his sister and Maisie, whom he finds himself attracted to instantly (and the feeling is mutual). They have excellent chemistry throughout the novel and are very well suited.

Throw in a kidnapping, blackmailing and we have so many twists that you will not want to put this book down. It had me guessing right to the very end.

The novel is well written, with a great pace to the story. You never feel overwhelmed or lost but it also never feels too slow. I love how she ties in secondary characters from this series, and while you can read this novel on its own, I do recommend reading book one.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

USA Today bestselling authors Nikoo and Jim wrote their first MAY MCGOLDRICK romance using historical figures that Jim researched while earning a PhD in sixteenth-century Scottish and English literature. Nikoo, a mechanical engineer, is a born storyteller. She is all about characters and feeling. Jim is about action and sense of place. Together, they have crafted over forty fast-paced, conflict-filled historical and contemporary novels and two works of nonfiction under the pseudonyms May McGoldrick and Jan Coffey.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

September 19, 2019

Princess Emmy DVD and Giveaway

Princess Emmy will reign supreme on October 15th!

About Princess Emmy

It’s a gift fit for a queen when Princess Emmy arrives on DVD on October 15th. The new animated feature is voiced by Ruby Barnhill (The BFG, Mary and the Witch’s Flower), Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones, Netflix’s Hilda), Franka Potente (Run Lola Run, Bourne Identity), and John Hannah (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The Mummy), and directed by Piet de Rycker (Laura’s Star, Little Polar Bear).

Princess Emmy is a young girl with a secret and special gift – she is the only one in the Kingdom of Kandis who can speak to horses! Amazing, right?

Up until now, life for Emmy has been wonderful. She spends her time exploring and hanging out with her best friends – a stable full of horses; as well as spending time with her family at the castle and not having a care in the world.

That is, until her jealous, scheming cousin Gizana appears, challenging her at every turn and threatens Emmy’s chances of becoming an officially inaugurated princess and generally making her life miserable.

On top of all that, Emmy must undergo the ultimate test to earn the right to keep her gift. If she fails, she loses the gift and her best friends forever.

There is a huge amount at stake for such a little girl in this new film from Shout Factory.

Our Thoughts

This wonderful movie is based on the books Princess Emmy and Her Horses, were a young girl who can speak to horses. Not only can she speak to horses (who are her dear friends), she is also a real princess! Talk about every young child’s dream come true?

This is a story of of courage, friendship and perseverance that young children will love. Emmy is not perfect but she is 100% lovable and someone that many children can relate to (especially with her cousin Gizana always there to make her life just downright miserable).

The total run time of this film is 75 minutes – perfect for younger children who have a harder time sitting still for longer time periods.

It is wonderfully animated and will touch the hearts of both young princesses and princes alike (although to be fair – I feel it is geared more towards a female population). And if you are already doing your Christmas planning like me, this would make a great gift under the tree or in a stocking.

You can pre-order a copy of this DVD here.

DVD Trailer

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a DVD copy of this movie in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

September 18, 2019

Be Happy, Be Active, Be Confident in Your Body with uresta

As women we should be proud of our bodies. They are remarkable and do remarkable things. As a society, we are so hard on women and on ourselves. We beat ourselves down for that extra five pound weight gain, skin that may start to sag, the cellulite on our legs, and the natural aging process (this list can go on and on).

As women, we need to stand together and say these changes are normal, lets talk openly about how a woman’s body changes throughout her life and the impact on our bodies from having children. While someone may be blessed and not experience some of these common changes, many do but are too embarrassed to come forward.

For me the most embarrassing and difficult thing to discuss when it came to my body was when I was pregnant with my second son and it all centred around urinary incontinence.

The first time I experienced urinary incontinence, I didn’t even realize it had happened and I was worried it was amniotic fluid (because lets face it, I didn’t think it could happen to me and no one forewarned me on what to expect). Then it started happening more frequently and it was taking over my pregnancy. I was so ashamed of myself and embarrassed that I could not control my body. I did not want others to make fun of me but I desperately needed someone to talk to and receive advice from.

After weeks of hiding, I finally spoke to my physician about the problem but they strongly felt that it would pass after I gave birth. I had to suck it up for a few more months and then my body would be back to normal.

Life is never quite that simple, right?

My problems actually got worse after I gave birth – I didn’t even feel it happening anymore. I tried every suggestion that I was given by my physician – lose weight, drink less caffeine, don’t drink after dinner, toilet train my body (go to the washroom every thirty minutes to relieve my bladder – this is not recommended and I later found out from another physician that this is a bad idea).

You get to this point where you feel that urinary incontinence has taken over your life. I didn’t want to go out with friends, I was embarrassed in front of my husband and I was constantly paranoid. While there are many options for women after trying the basics that I mentioned above, many want to try a non-invasive method of treatment.

uresta: A non-invasive Method of Treatment

For many women, they don’t want an invasive treatment to help with urinary incontinence. Or maybe you only have mild to moderate leaking and you can’t justify a surgical procedure to correct the problem. Or maybe you just don’t want surgery. All of this is okay and normal but there are options out there for you.

uresta is a bladder support device that helps to prevent leaks that are caused by urinary incontinence. It is a reusable device that is inserted into the vagina and provides support to the urethra (which is what helps to stop those leaks!). The device can be worn all day or only during activities that cause you to leak (high or low impact activities like running, walking, weight lifting, etc.)

The uresta device comes in a starter pack, where users start with one of the three sizes to determine which is the most appropriate for their body type and size. It is recommended that you start with size three and if it is too big, try a smaller size and if it falls out, go up a size (sizes are easily found on the handle).

I have to admit, I was quite nervous when I first tried this out. I was nervous that it would get stuck, that I would not insert it enough and it would fall out but I was pleasantly surprised on how easy it was to both insert and remove. The handle has a good grip and fits your thumb and forefinger perfectly allowing you to easily remove. Because the device is reusable, you save a lot of money over a period of time (not having to buy liners, etc..). It comes with its own discrete container to store the device in when you are not wearing it.

uresta works incredibly well at controlling the leaks but even more so at giving you your confidence back to get outside, go to the gym, go out with friends without that nagging concern about a potential leak and the embarrassment that comes with that. I had no problems with the insertion, removal, care of the device and comfort level while wearing it. The bonus part – it helped reduce leaking, a problem that I am still dealing with despite multiple interventions.

And the statistics don’t lie (statistics taken from uresta):

75% of women surveyed in a clinical study said using uresta either stopped their leaking or reduced it to a significant degree
84% of women said they felt more comfortable in public when using uresta
72% would recommend uresta to a friend

Do you suffer from urinary incontinence? What interventions have you tried up to date? Is uresta a product that you would consider as a non-invasive method of treatment?

Make sure to follow uresta on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date with the latest product news.

Disclosure: I received the above mentioned product in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.