Category: giveaway

June 2, 2015

Kika The Upside-Down Girl

It is okay to be different! Join Kika The Upside-Down Girl as she discovers how special it is to be different.

About Kika the Upside-Down Girl

Kika always seems to accomplish things differently than others and tends to get in trouble for it. Kika reminds us that it is okay to be different and finding others to share in her journey makes her heart feel huge especially when it involves flips, vaults, kips and somersaults! Join Kika, a girl who loves living upside-down in a right-side up world, on her unique journey to a fliptastic world.

My Thoughts

As children, it is normal for us to want to jump, flip and twirl. Somewhere along the line we stop doing this as we feel this is not the norm. But it is so important for children to know that being different is perfect! We are born to be different and it is important to encourage this in our children. I love how Kika The Upside-Down Girl supports the dream to follow your heart. As parents, it is so important to support our children, letting them know it is okay to be different and to go about life differently.

I loved the illustrations and so did our boys! They bring the book alive and draw you in to the story. You can feel her joy from the illustrations as she moves through her life upside-down. You laugh, are surprised and are sad when she is sad.

Many children will be able to easily relate to this story and Kika. My favourite part of the book comes when Kika asks why people don’t understand how being upside-down is so much fun. Just because something is different, does not mean it is wrong!

This is the perfect, feel good and fun story for you to enjoy with your child. You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon, Chapters Indigo and Barnes & Noble.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Jessica Tudos is an Olympic athlete turned author, motivational speaker and educator who is on a mission to empower youth, kids and adults to develop confidence and resilience to lead active, healthy and creative lives. Jessica empowers through engaging stories, reflections and insights into her own lives. You can connect with her on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

May 26, 2015

Naturally Flavoured Water Plus Giveaway!

Patio time is back!

I can not wait to sit back, enjoy the warmth and relax on the patio with a cold drink in hand. One of my favourite drinks to enjoy on a hot day is naturally flavoured water. We all know water is so important for us but it can become boring having plain water over and over again.

So why not shake it up?!

My favourite way to drink my water is with lemons, limes and oranges. I try to always start my morning with a warm lemon water as it is supposed to aid with digestion. I am not too sure if that is the truth but it definitely makes me feel better starting my day with this drink.

Another great mixture is strawberries, lemon and mint. We set up a ‘hydration station’ at work and this is a common mixture we provide for staff to enjoy.

Preparing your drink is easy; just cut up your fruit, add ice, water and chill!

To celebrate summer, I am giving you the chance to enter my giveaway to kick off summer! My Canadian residents, 18 years of age and older can enter to win a $50 Shoppers Drug Mart gift card using the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

May 26, 2015

A Big Adventure in Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants #Giveaway

Big time adventure is coming to theatres, on demand and DVD on May 26th in Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants!

After a couple leave their picnic in a hurry, a gang of hungry ants moves in to steal a most coveted treasure, a tin of sugar cubes! Before they can get away with the loot, a newly born ladybug strays from its family and becomes trapped inside the box! The ladybug is spirited away by the ants as they transport the tin to their colony. The insects embark on a journey to protect the sugar!

Minuscule is an adorable adventure that was not what I expected at all. When I first read the story line and saw the cover, I expected a fully animated adventure similar to the Antz movie. I was pleasantly surprised! Minuscule combines real landscapes with animated insects. What starts off in a forest picnic setting, changes into the tiny world of the insects. We are given a whole new view and angle of their world.

There is no dialogue in this movie but my kids still loved it. Using the landscape, cute insects and funny noises, they draw you into the adventure. There were a lot of intense adventure scenes and the lack of dialogue allowed you to focus on the scenery and battles that were occurring.

Minuscule is an epic adventure that will draw you in to the tale of this ladybug and ants.

kaboom! wants you to enter to win your very own copy of Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants. My Canadian residents, 18 years of age and older can enter via the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

May 22, 2015

A Journey of Music and Story-Telling in Peter and the Starcatcher

“When I was a boy, I wished I could fly” – Peter and the Starcatcher

The Shaw Festival is ready to take you on an exciting adventure, through battles and finally to the magical island that will become the famous, Neverland!

Peter and the Starcatcher is based on the 2004 novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson and tells the story of what happened before JM Barrie’s novel Peter and Wendy. Before he becomes Peter Pan, Peter sails out from London on a ship with an undetermined destination. He is just one of three terrified and lonely orphans. When the ship’s precious cargo, a trunk of star-dust, causes a battle between the British Empire, the pirates, the ship’s captain and a girl named Molly lead the boy into adventure. The battle ends with everyone being stuck on Mollusk Island. With the help of Molly’s nanny and the other orphans, Molly and Peter fight to keep the star-dust safe.

The play was produced in 2012 and went on to win five Tony Awards delighting audiences old and new. The play is recommended for ages eight years and up and has a total running time of two hours and thirty minutes with one intermission.

The Shaw Festival wants to give one of you the chance to witness this magical journey live on the Royal George stage! My Canadian residents can now enter to win a pair of tickets to the live show using the Rafflecopter form below. Accommodation and transportation are not provided so please keep that in mind when entering, the date will be determined (the show runs from May until November). Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a set of tickets to attend this event. All opinions expressed are my own.

May 6, 2015

Bianca’s Vineyard by Teresa Neumann

Bianca’s Vineyard is set in the beautiful Tuscany both in the present and the past.

About Bianca’s Vineyard

Bianca Corrotti’s vineyard is more than a piece of land in Tuscany. It is an inheritance, a storehouse harbouring the secrets of her Uncle Egisto, a world-class sculptor, and his troubled wife – a woman whose life converges with Mussolini’s when World War II overtakes the area. Based on a true story, Bianca’s Vineyard follows a story of the devoted men and women waging an epic battle against a gathering storm intent on destroying their lives.

My Thoughts

It is so hard to begin with this story as it was so beautifully told and woven. Even more so beautiful that it is based on a true story. The characters lived during the most difficult times before and during World War II. Many Italians were leaving their home and family to go abroad to earn money for the family. Their country was ravaged from the war and many were starving.

Bianca’s Vineyard starts off with a trip back in time from the current day, where we are able to meet the Corrotti’s and the extended family. We slowly learn the secrets that the family had left hidden for so many years. Each turn of the page brings a new development in the story and a new twist. Both the men and women in this family complement and drive each other to push further and never give up. It is also gives you a deeper appreciation for all the trials your own family must have gone through during these times. I think of my own Grandparents that left home at a young age in order to support their family back home. Bianca’s Vineyard is a deep, emotional read that has you seeing the good in others, the struggles this generation went through to persevere and their triumphs. This will be a book you will not want to miss!

You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Rating: 5+/5

About the Author

Teresa Neumann and her husband live in Oregon with their three children. As well as being an author and journalist, Teresa loves to fiddle on her violin and live the good life in Italy. You can connect with her on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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