Page 41 – Ottawa Mommy Club

Gentle Cleaning at Home with Babyganics – Review

Home and Garden

Pieces of Me

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June 20, 2019

Cleaning. It is necessary to do around your home, especially when you have little ones. Finding products that clean well without the chemicals is what my family is always on the lookout for to care for our home and our skin. Babyganics see this struggle and creates products that parents can feel good about using all over their home. We were curious to see what they had in store for us to try! Gentle Cleaning at Home with Babyganics skin and cleaning products! We reviewed their collection and was not disappointed!

Gentle Cleaning at Home with Babyganics

Here are the items we received to review:

3x Laundry Detergent Fragrance-Free
Dryer Sheets, Fragrance-Free
All-Purpose Surface Wipes
Foaming Dish & Bottle Soap, Fragrance-Free
Face, Hand & Baby Wipes, Fragrance-Free
Bubble Bath, Chamomile Verbena
Bubble Bath, Fragrance-Free
Shampoo + Body Wash, Chamomile Verbena
Shampoo + Body Wash, Fragrance-Free

Gentle Cleaning at Home with Babyganics — Babyganics home and skin care products.

Laundry room duo

Laundry is a task we are not fans of doing, but always seems to build up as soon as they are cleaned. Making sure our family’s clothes are clean is so important, especially when our kids have sensitive skin.

The fragrance-free 3x Laundry Detergent and Dryer Sheets from Babyganics is a dynamic duo for laundry rooms to have. The detergent is made from plant-derived formula that gently cleans clothing, cloth diapers. The dryer sheets help to soften clothes and reduce static without using parabens, synthetic fragrances, or dyes.

Shiny surfaces

Dirt and muck can be found everywhere, especially when kids and pets are at home. Sticky fingers and yucky paws are the cause for most of these messes.

Babyganics has fragrant-free All-Purpose Surface Wipes that will help clean surfaces quickly so playtime can continue without skipping a beat. Created with plant-driven cleaning power, these wipes make cleaning tabletops, toys, and floors simple to do!

My workstation is where crafts are created and where our cat likes to survey his boundaries. There is always a mess of some sort left behind once they leave this space. It is great to just have to pop the top, pull out a sheet, and wipe the surface clean. I am so happy I don’t have to think about what chemicals may be left behind after this spot is cleaned. My kids and cat can be here all day and enjoy their time here!

Dish duty done

A sink full of dishes is something my other half and I loath looking at. Cleaning them well without harsh chemicals is an added bonus. The Foaming Dish & Bottle Soap Babyganics formulated does both of these things! It instantly foams and leaves no residue behind. It also works on breast pump accessories.

It was really nice to get through Dish Duty in my kitchen with this dish soap on hand. The soap pumped easily out from the bottle to help cut through the grime on our dishes. I liked that this dish soap is fragrance-free. There are times that scents make me feel a bit queasy. The foaming soap also makes for a more fun experience while plowing through this task.

Kiddie cleanup

As I mentioned before, kids seem to have a knack for attracting dirt. Keeping them clean can be a daunting task, but Babyganics can give you a hand. They have a collection of products to help keep littles clean while being gentle on their skin.

Wiping away muck

It always amazes me when I see my children’s hands after they have had fun. Glue, markers, and dirt can be found on their hands, arms, and faces, yet they never know how these messes happen. Babyganics Hand, Face & Baby Wipes gives me some peace of mind knowing they can get cleaned up easier.

Girl cleaning her hands with Babyganic Hands, Face & Body Wipes.

These wipes help to hydrate and nourish while removing dirt off of skin. Thick and durable, these wipes are tough enough to hold up against how rough my kids need to take muck off of their skin.

Bath time bubble fun

Bath time is a negotiation for my kids. They try to talk their way out of getting cleaned up after a day of fun. The Bubble Bath and Shampoo + Body Wash Babyganics created make this time for day for my littles a fun affair.

Suds of fun

Formulated with plant-derived and certified organic ingredients, this bubble bath was welcomed by my kids! It took only a few squeezes to get our bath full of suds. They loved the calming chamomile verbena scent, but it is also nice to have the fragrance-free version on hand should we have other kids visiting with very sensitive skin.

Babyganis Bubble Bath being poured into tub.

Foaming soap = easy bath time

When it came time to get down to business, the Shampoo + Body Wash was fun for them to use. A few pumps onto a cloth or a puff makes this foamy soap easy to use for younger users.

Hands pumping Babyganics Shampoo + Body Wash on a puff.

My littles worry about getting shampoo in their eyes. Do you blame them? It stings and takes a while to rinse out. This shampoo and body wash is a tear-free formula, so when it came into contact with their eyes, it did not hurt them.

It took a bit of negotiating for me to get them out of the tub after using this dynamo combo! Both kids wanted to splash and clean after they were clean for longer in the tub. They now enjoy this part of their routine!

Gentle cleaning around your home

Our family really enjoyed using products from Babyganics! It is great that they are created with plant-derived ingredients and that they make caring for our home and skin simple and fun. We liked that there are so many products to choose from that can give us a helping hand. From our main floor and kitchen, to our laundry room and bathroom, gentle cleaning is easy with Babyganics products! We are so happy to have them as part of our cleaning crew!

Would you like to find more products from Babyganics? We found out about them by checking out their website and by following them on their Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest pages!

Disclaimer: I received products from Babyganics in order to write this review. The views I shared are my own.

How To Pack For A Disney Trip

Travel

Christelle

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June 19, 2019

16

If you’re planning a trip to Disney World, there are a lot of things you need to plan for before departing! Most importantly, knowing how to pack is key to get the most out of your magical stay without any mishaps! You’re going to be doing a lot of walking and no one wants to have to carry around more stuff than they need! Nevertheless, because you’re likely to be there all day without any breaks to go back to your hotel, you also want to be sure you’re prepared for anything!

How to Pack for a Trip to Walt Disney World

Here are 8 helpful tips on how to pack for a trip to Disney World!

1. Backpack

Bring a backpack for your days at Disney, in addition to your suitcase(s) of clothing and other items. This will allow you to carry any bigger or large items that don’t fit in your pockets, plus some of the day’s purchases if you decide to shop around the parks!

2. Healthy Snacks

This is where having a backpack comes in handy! You can pack some healthy snacks with you for your day at the park! Not only will it help you save some money, but you’ll also be saving a lot of time by not waiting in line depending on the time of day! Bring along these healthy treats for your morning or afternoon snacks such as these Homemade Granola Bars‏.

3. Wipes and Hand Sanitizer

Bring small packs of wet wipes and hand sanitizer. You’ll be amazed at how often you need to do a quick wash-up and having these on you will save so much time!

4. Pack Ponchos

Bring a poncho in case it rains! You don’t want to take up valuable space with a big raincoat, so use a small, foldable poncho that can easily fit in your backpack. They roll up very small and you can just pull it out if you need it!

5. Walking Shoes

Having fantastic walking shoes at Disney creates a lifetime of a difference! This is not the time for getting fancy with your footwear. Remember, you’re going to be walking a lot! It’s important to wear nice, comfortable walking shoes or sneakers. Your feet will thank you and you’ll get more enjoyment out of your time at the park, minus any sores, aches, or painful blisters!

6. Toiletries

You will naturally want to pack the essential items such as toiletries. While most hotels offer them for free, it’s still nice to have a weekend bag for anything you may need, especially if you have specific preferences. All you need are a few travel size items of your favourite shampoo/conditioner, body wash, toothpaste and deodorant and don’t forget the toothbrushes.

7. The Hot Weather Essentials

In fact, if you are the type of person that likes to take spontaneous trips, it may be a good idea to have a small bag packed with these things at all times. In the summertime when you’re going to be out in the sun for a long period, you will also need sunscreen, and it is a good idea to use a clinical strength deodorant, even if you normally use the regular strength. It is a good idea to bring some bottled water, preferably frozen the night before you leave so that it stays cold. To keep cool, you may want to also bring a personal fan or spray bottle.

8. Clothing And Shoes

For clothing in the summertime you will want to keep things lightweight and comfortable. Packing a t-shirt or nice tank top with a pair of shorts for each day is usually the best way to go. If you prefer to keep your shoulders covered, a light coloured cotton button down shirt is also a good way to go.

Even in the summertime, sandals are not a good idea, unless you have a pair that is comfortable enough to wear all day and all night. Running shoes will usually not give you blisters like sandals. You will also need to have a sweatshirt or lightweight jacket for the evening as the fall and winter evenings are cooler.

Now, All you have to do is to go off and enjoy your stay at the “Happiest place on earth.” With these tips in mind, you’re fully prepared for packing for your trip. Remember, planning ahead and packing properly will help you make the most of your trip and have a wonderful time at Disney!

8 Car Cleaning Hacks For Moms With Messy Kids

Family

Lyne Proulx

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June 18, 2019

21

Is your family vehicle covered in crumbs? Does it seem like every nook and cranny is stuffed full of trash? It’s enough to drive any mom crazy! Is it really too much to ask to have a clean car?! Let’s look at some car cleaning hacks for moms with messy kids!

Car Cleaning Hacks for Moms with Messy Kids — Family Washing Car Together

1. Remove Stains Using Totally Awesome Cleaner

Totally Awesome all-purpose spray cleaner is truly awesome. If you have stains on your car upholstery, spray it with Totally Awesome cleaner and let it set. Come back a few minutes later and the stains will be all gone. You won’t believe how easy it is to remove stains with this cleaner.

2. Use Compressed Air to Dust Difficult Areas

Does it seem like dust is always trapped in your vents, around your emergency brake, and other small areas? Use a can of compressed air to get these spots clean. The small tube of the compressed air can fit anywhere in your car and will help you get your car spotless.

3. Break Out the Magic Erasers

Do you have stubborn dirty spots on the inside of your doors or dashboard? What about on your rims? Use a Magic Eraser and a bit of elbow grease. You can also get the off-brand kind. Just dampen the eraser and scrub the areas. These work so well at getting stuck on dirt off once and for all.

4. Turn a Cereal Container Into a Trash Can

A cereal storage container that has a flip top lid is the perfect trash can for your car. Line the container with a plastic bag and pop in your car. You can keep the lid closed to prevent the trash from spilling. Now, your kids will always have somewhere to stick their empty wrappers, gum, and used tissues.

5. Keep Cupholders Clean with Cupcake Liners

Cupcake liners fit perfectly into standard car cupholders. Just pop them into all your cupholders and change them out as needed. This will also help cut down on dust that gathers in the bottom of the cupholders.

6. Cover the Backseat

Want to help keep your backseat clean? Cover it. You can use anything from a blanket to a cover meant to keep dog hair off your seats. This allows you to easily gather up the cover and get rid of crumbs. You can also easily throw it in the washing machine.

7. Corral Clutter

Instead of letting all your car essentials ride around loose in the truck, use a car organizer or even a cardboard box to keep everything corralled. This prevents a big mess from forming in your trunk.

8. Get Rid of Bug Guts

During the warmer months, you’re going to get a lot of bug guts on the bumper of your car. Ick. Instead of trying to scrub this off with elbow grease, spray a bit of cooking spray on the area and allow it to set for a few minutes. The cooking spray will loosen the grim and allow you to easily wash it off with a sponge.

What are you waiting for? Use these car cleaning hacks to get the clean car you’ve always wanted.

Replacing Cleaning Products with Essential Oils

Home and Garden

Lyne Proulx

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June 17, 2019

16

Replacing Cleaning Products with Essential Oils

While we all love a clean and fresh smelling home, the store bought cleaning products we use are generally filled with chemicals and possibly harmful to our health. When you want to clean your home naturally, you can create essential oil cleaning products that do everything from removing grease to disinfecting and leaving behind a clean scent. Here are some tips on replacing cleaning products with essential oils!

Take a look at just some of the ways you can make this work for you in your own home. This is great for people striving to go chemical-free in their homes!

Don’t Bleach Your Bathroom

Rather than using harsh bleach cleaners in the bathroom, you can use Tea Tree Oil, Oregano, and Eucalyptus to clean the tub, shower, toilet, and sink thoroughly killing germs and bacteria.

Freshen Your Mattress

Mattresses are known to harbour foul odours, mustiness, and germs. Make an essential oil mattress spray that includes Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Siberian Fir and Lavender, and water. Spray all over your mattress and allow it to air dry.

Kitchen Cleaning

The kitchen is a room that often has many food odours, grease, and, of course, the drain disposal. An all purpose kitchen cleaning spray including citrus oils, black pepper oil, and peppermint oil can be used to clean and freshen everything from the dishwasher to the sink drain, and even clean the floor!

Carpet Freshening

Much like the mattress spray, there are a few oils you can use to spray your carpet, pet bedding, and furniture to kill germs and leave a fresh clean scent. Lavender, citrus oils, and Tea Tree Oil are a wonderful combination. Be sure to test in an inconspicuous area to avoid staining.

Skip the chemical cleaners from the store and whip up your own natural essential oil cleaning products; you’ll be glad you did!

14 No Bake Cookie Recipes

Recipes

Lyne Proulx

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June 14, 2019

19

Do you want to make sweet treats for your family but aren’t exactly good at baking? Or, maybe you’re just short on time? Either way, there are so many awesome treats you can make that require zero baking. These no bake cookie recipes are quick and easy to make and are perfect for kids to help out with. Best of all though is that you can find a no bake recipe for every taste. If you love chocolate, though, you’re going to find a lot of easy recipes that you’ll absolutely love.

Whether you need a recipe for a quick get together or your kids just let you know that they need something for a school party tomorrow, no bake recipes are awesome. These are even perfect to make for a bake sale. After all, no one said you had to bake in order to make treats that will fly off the table at the sale.

No bake cookies can be everything from candy to bars to clusters. If you need to make a lot of desserts for a function, you are going to love these recipes. You could create several different recipes in one afternoon without even breaking a sweat.

If you love to make treats for your family, but don’t always have a lot of time to bake, try one of the recipes below. There are so many different ones to choose from. Try making a new recipe each weekend and see which one your family likes best. Any of these cookie recipes would be perfect to make as gifts around the holidays. Just put them in decorative bags or boxes and you’ve got an inexpensive gift that is great for neighbours, coworkers, or even the mailman. Either way, you’ll be happy to know that you can give gifts that don’t cost a fortune.

14 No Bake Cookie Recipes

How to Make Personalized Stepping Stones with your Kids

Crafts

Lyne Proulx

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June 12, 2019

23

How to Make Personalized Stepping Stones with your Kids

After a long winter of being cooped up in the house, children are ready to shed those extra layers of clothes and get outside for some much needed sunshine. In addition to scampering up and down the backyard, youngsters can enjoy structured activities like spring gardening and crafts. Making homemade personalized stepping stones and planting gardens are perfect outdoor activities for children to welcome the warm weather! You will find below how to make personalized stepping stones with your kids!

Making Personalized Stepping Stones for the Spring Garden

Benefits of Planting Spring Gardens

Aside from the obvious physical benefits of spring gardening, this activity offers a wealth of learning opportunities for children.

To make a child’s spring gardening experience as safe as possible, Pounders offers these important safety tips.

Avoid planting plants with poisonous parts and sharp thorns.
Take the normal precautions of outdoor sun exposure such as sun screen, hats, and plenty of water.
Insect repellent may be appropriate if mosquitoes are a big problem.
Use safe and appropriately sized tools. Also, instruct children on how to properly use and store the tools when they are not being used to avoid tripping hazards.

Making Personalized Stepping Stones for the Spring Garden

Arts and crafts are not only fun for children! These types of activities build confidence, improve hand-eye coordination, encourage creativity, and help youngsters learn to listen and follow instructions. Making a DIY stepping stone is a fantastic craft activity, and a special way for a child to add a personal touch to his spring garden.

Here are the materials needed to make DIY personalized stepping stones:

bag of concrete
water (amount listed on the bag of concrete)
sturdy mixing bucket
rubber gloves
protective glasses for each child
concrete molds (takeout containers and pie tins work nicely)
newspaper or a vinyl tablecloth
large mixing spoon
screen cut slightly smaller than the stepping stone (one piece for each stone)
decorations (rhinestones, buttons, charms, etc)

How to Make Personalized Stepping Stones

1. Put on protective glasses and cover the work area with newspaper or a vinyl tablecloth.
2. Mix the concrete according to the package directions. Kids can help measure and pour the water, but concrete mixing should be done by an adult.
3. Spoon the mixed concrete into the mold until it is half full. Smooth the concrete out and then lay the piece of wire on top of it. The wire will reinforce the stepping stone so that it is more durable.
4. Finish filling the concrete mold to the top. Spread the mixture out and remove the air bubbles by lightly tapping the sides of the mold.
5. After the concrete is firm (takes about 45-minutes), kids can decorate the stones with rhinestones, buttons, handprints and other trinkets.
6. Let the decorated stepping stones sit in the molds undisturbed for three days before removing them.

There is no better way to celebrate the arrival of spring than by letting kids roll up their sleeves and get a little messy with outdoor spring activities like crafts and gardening.

Happy Spring Gardening!

Five Surprising Facts of a Watermelon

Wellness

Lyne Proulx

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June 11, 2019

17

Five surprising facts of a watermelon

You probably have seen that big oval-shaped watermelon sitting graciously on the shelves of your local grocery store or on sale in a grocery store flyer while surfing the internet. Maybe, you are even not aware of the surprising health benefits of watermelon. Health experts have singled out the watermelon as a valuable fruit that should be on the dining table of every household. You will find below Five surprising facts of a watermelon!

1. The watermelon has more Lycopene than raw tomatoes

Raw tomatoes have been a natural fruit in our menu due to the high amount of Lycopene. Scientists describe Lycopene as a powerful carotenoid antioxidant that is responsible for the pink or red color in fruits and vegetables. Surprisingly, watermelons have been identified as having a higher concentration of the antioxidant than a raw tomato. While a sizeable fresh tomato has 4 mg of Lycopene, one cup of watermelon 1.5 more times of Lycopene concentration than the raw tomato.

2. Watermelon juice is an excellent reliever of muscle soreness

If you are fond of taking natural juice, try juicing around a third of fresh watermelon and drink it before the next work out. A glass of watermelon juice is believed to contain an estimated two grams of l-citrulline, an amino acid that normally protects one from muscle pain. A case study indicated that men who reported taking fresh watermelon juice before work out sessions experienced a reduction of muscle soreness 30 hours later compared to those who took a placebo.

Notably, one needs not to be wary of taking large amounts of watermelon juice since it contains a significant amount of fructose. It is probably better to eat the whole fruit in one seating rather than eat small pieces and throw away the rest after some time due to its delicate nature regarding freshness.

3. Watermelon is both a fruit and a vegetable

As a rare case, the watermelon is partly a fruit and slightly a vegetable. While it is related to the pumpkin, cucumbers, and squash, it is also sweet and seed producing plant.

4. Watermelon Rind and Seeds are edible

Most people throw away the watermelon’s rind and eat the fleshy inner part only. However, scientists believe that the watermelon rind contains more health-promoting and blood-building chlorophyll and a high concentration of amino acid citrulline than the pink flesh. The amino acid citrulline is converted to arginine in the kidneys, and it promotes the health of the heart. Also, the amino acid maintains the body’s immune system.

Moreover, most people prefer seedless watermelons to the black watermelon that has seeds. However, watermelon seeds are edible and very healthy since they contain zinc, iron, fiber, and protein. Next time you buy a watermelon, slice it into pieces, and blend or juice everything.

5. Watermelon contains a large amount of water

Believe it or not, 91% of the watermelon is water. It means that eating watermelon during hot summers is a healthy and tasty way of keeping your body well hydrated. However, note that it can never be a substitute for water as a hydrant, but it complements water well.

Marvel Studios’ Marvellous Captain Marvel Review!

Family

Christelle

-

June 10, 2019

8

Following the widely successful release of DC’s Wonder Woman in 2017, it has since paved a heroic path for more (super) women-led films to dominate the blockbuster forefront. Marvel Studios’ Captain Marvel was no exception! Now, you can bring that barrier-blasting, intergalactic origin story as it launches on Digital May 28th and lands everywhere on Blu-Ray and 4K Ultra HD June 11th!

This marvellous movie has set a plethora of new records. Not only for being Marvel’s first woman-led movie after 11 years and 20 movies, but for crossing the $1 billion mark in worldwide revenue. It’s an incredulous victory for women everywhere! We can only hope that it will inspire more Hollywood filmmakers to keep creating movies with a widely diverse leading cast in the years to come.

The audiences have spoken, and it is time for movies to keep going higher, further, faster, baby!

Marvel Studios’ Marvellous Captain Marvel Review!

What is Captain Marvel about?

New to Captain Marvel or Marvel’s Cinematic Universe? No problem! Based on the beloved comic book series initially published in 1967, this is an all-new adventure produced by Kevin Feige and directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.

The film is set in the rad 1990’s when it introduces the MCU’s first stand-alone origin story, female-franchise title character—Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), aka Captain Marvel! Carol (now known as Vers) has no recollection of her human life prior to her Kree training. Now a valued member of the intergalactic elite Kree military team called Starforce, led by a notorious commander called Yon-Rogg (Jude Law), Vers finds herself back on Earth after quite the Blockbuster crash, and with new questions about her mysterious earthly past.

After making a crashing superhero entrance, she quickly lands on the radar of S.H.I.E.L.D Agent Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), and together they must unite to work together against a formidable enemy: the dangerous, shape-shifting Skrulls. Their leader, Talos (Ben Mendelsohn), is spearheading a Skrull invasion of Earth, and now it is up to Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel), her furry companion Goose, and Nick Fury to put an end to this ongoing war once and for all.

What did I think about Captain Marvel?

From start to finish, Marvel’s Captain Marvel was an enthralling, thrilling, and marvellous superhero origin film that was such an enjoyable and memorable ride to embark upon! I can attest that it was indeed worth the long wait!

But let’s start with the beginning…

Admittedly, my only minor critique is with the beginning of the film, when we’re initially introduced to Vers and the Kree. It’s a bit slow and slightly confusing to follow as we’re caught in the midst of their ongoing war with the Skrulls. We, as the viewers, are led to believe for some time that the Skrulls are the nasty bad guys and the Kree are the heroes, when in reality, and this was truly something the movie captured perfectly as a shock-factor: war is messy business, and both sides committed terrible acts. It was never about picking a side, or deciding which one is “good” or “bad”, but understanding the perspective of each, and ending this war once and for all.

We don’t realize any of this ourselves until Carol fully regains her memories of her life on Earth, and realizes herself that she’d been wrongly lied to, and used as a weapon they feared in a war she never started. This is how the character of Carol Danvers plays such an important part in the MCU. Her fantastic powers to bring back a balance for those in need across the galaxy, and Brie Larson did a brilliant job of bringing that to life. I only wish they would’ve introduced her sooner! It shouldn’t have taken Marvel this long to make this first female-led superhero movie; however, better late than ever!

Marvel Studios’ Marvellous Captain Marvel Review! ©Marvel Studios 2019

Surprise twists!

As a comics fan, it was pleasantly surprising that they chose to make Mar-Vel a woman in the MCU adaptation. But I was 100% here for it! It fits the MCU perfectly. Not to mention that the dynamic friendship that develops between (a young) Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Carol Danvers was so fun and entertaining to watch! Especially when you add Goose the Flerken, Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch), and a young Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) to the equation in the electrifying 90’s!

An important core message…

More than anything, this film is so important because sends an empowering core message to women and little girls everywhere:

“I’m kinda done with you telling me what I can’t do.”

If you’re an awesome lady yourself, how many times have you ever been told by someone that you couldn’t do something, or wouldn’t succeed at anything, simply based on your gender? Captain Marvel’s purpose was to shatter that barrier on film. Millions of little girls will grow up watching this film in the years to come. From this movie, they will learn that you can be strong, beautiful, and heroic. No one can ever stop you from knowing who you truly are or from reaching your dreams. You must know your value, stand your ground, and say: “No, this is who I am!” in the face of adversity. I left the cinema on opening night feeling higher, further, and faster, baby!

Overall, I deeply enjoyed this movie with all of my heart, and would recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat. For the moments that lacked in the beginning, this was a special way to introduce Carol Danvers into the Marvel Cinematic Universe!

To celebrate the release of Captain Marvel, below is a list of bonus features, including a few bonus clips!

Alternate Movie Versions

Movie with Intro: An introduction by directors/screenwriters Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck.
Movie with Commentary: Commentary by directors/screenwriters Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck.

Featurettes

Becoming a Super Hero: Follow Brie Larson’s journey as she joins the MCU, and see what it takes to be a Marvel Super Hero in every sense of the word.
Big Hero Moment: Explore how impactful Captain Marvel’s entrance into the MCU is, and how she inspires audiences around the world.
The Origin of Nick Fury: Witness some of the MCU’s most significant events through Nick Fury’s eyes, and how his influence helped shape the MCU.
The Dream Team: Discover why Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck are the perfect pair to direct Marvel Studios’ most powerful hero.
The Skrulls and the Kree: Take a deeper look into the Skrulls and the Kree, their ongoing conflict, and the importance of shifting perspectives in the film.
Hiss-sterical Cat-titude: The cast and crew dish on working with Goose and the raw talent it takes to portray such a complex character on-screen.

Deleted Scenes

“Who Do You Admire Above All Others?”: Kree Commander Yon-Rogg must answer to the Supreme Intelligence, who questions his leadership ability.
Starforce Recruits: Yon-Rogg lectures a roomful of students on the Kree’s mission to defend all nations from the scourge of the Skrulls.
Heading to Torfa: Vers (Danvers) and her fellow Starforce members banter as they prepare for their rescue mission to Torfa.
“What, No Smile?”: In this alternate version of a scene from the movie, Vers is consulting a map when she receives a dubious offer of assistance.
Black Box: Keller attempts to track Vers and Fury after their escape in a quadjet from the Joint USAFA Facility.
Rookie Mistake: Novice S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson helps Director Keller out of an embarrassing situation.
Gag Reel: The fate of the universe hangs in the balance as the cast battles props, flubs and Flerkens in these outtakes from the set.

KREE-Atine Smoothie!

Would you like to be just as strong as Captain Marvel? There’s no better way to start than with a healthy Kree-Atine Smoothie! Download the recipe here or by clicking the photo below and start blending!

For more fun updates and information on Captain Marvel, please follow their website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube accounts!

What was your favourite part of Captain Marvel? Share below!

Disclaimer: I received an early Blu-Ray copy of Captain Marvel in order to write this review. The views I shared are my own.

Grilling Up Flavour with Canadian Turkey Mango-Chili-Lime BBQ’d Drummettes Recipe

Recipes

Pieces of Me

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June 6, 2019

385

Canadian Turkey would like to give Canadians tasty tips and recipes, including this Mango-Chili-Lime BBQ’d Drummettes Recipe, to master the grill with their BBQ Bootcamp!

It’s time to get grilling, Canada! It is that time of the year we love barbecue season the most: summer! Do you know what kind of meat can’t be beat sizzling on your barbecue? TURKEY! Yes! It is a great protein to get your family and loved one gathered together to enjoy this season!

Turkey on the grill

Did you know you can enjoy so many different types of terrific turkey dishes on grill? You can sear, smoke, grill, roast and braise whole Canadian turkeys and a variety of turkey cuts to put together delicious and simple meals for your family and guests to enjoy.

What makes turkey so great to put on the grill is that it is low-fat and high in protein. This makes eating it even more delightful! If you increase the amount of turkey you buy to prepare, you are on your way to crating protein-packed leftovers!

Grilling Up Flavour with Canadian Turkey — Canadian Turkey Bootcamp Big Bold Barbecue Sauce ideas.

Perfect power-packed party provisions

Summer is filled with times for the gang to get together. Father’s Day, Canada Day, birthdays, or an out-of-the-blue backyard barbecue is the perfect time to celebrate. Turkey is a great protein to choose to feed the crowd. All you have to do is ask your grocer or butcher for 100% Canadian raised whole turkey and turkey cuts, in store, all year-round!

Why is turkey so good to cook on the grill?

Turkey is so fabulous to cook on the grill because it is a nutritious option and it is easy to prepare. Both white and dark cuts are lean. This allows for your family to choose their favourite cut without thinking about health or nutrition concerns. The lack of fat on turkey also reduces the number of flare-ups on the grill.

Grilling adds flavour to meals

Another great reason to add turkey to your grill this summer is how it enhances the flavour. Grilling enriches the flavour of turkey and the veggie sides you are cooking with them. This means you do not have to add butter, oil or any processed sauces while grilling.

Turkey is also a versatile protein. It compliments any flavour profile and can be prepped with your favourite marinades and rubs. Any cut of turkey can replace a protein in our favourite recipes to create a new dish your family will love!

Do you want more reasons to add Canadian turkey to your grill this summer? Here are five great ones that will get you firing up your barbecues with this amazing protein!

5 Reasons to Think Turkey on the Grill

1. EASY SUB

Canadian turkey makes everyday meals delicious and tasty. It’s packed with nutrition and satisfying flavour and can easily be substituted into ANY of your favourite grilling recipes.

2. LEAN BUT JUICY

It’s hard to believe but with turkey, both white and dark cuts are lean! That means you can enjoy any cut you prefer and feel good knowing you are choosing a healthy protein without compromising on flavour, tenderness or juiciness.

3. PACK A FLAVOUR PUNCH

Turkey plays well with other flavours. It has a hearty taste and texture that marries well

with bold profiles, making turkey the perfect partner for spices and rubs. Make recipes your way using your family’s favourite flavours and change up your everyday grilled turkey dishes using rubs, marinades and sauces.

4. SO MUCH TO CHOOSE FROM

Turkey is a versatile protein, with so many cuts of both dark and white meat to choose from including ground meat, legs, drumsticks, thighs, breast roasts, breast steaks, breast rolls, drummettes, wings, sausages, and burgers. With such a wide selection, you can turn any meal into a backyard feast, with leftovers that taste delicious the next day.

5. PERFECT FOR PENNY PINCHERS

Turkeys are generally larger than other poultry choices and deliver a lot of meat for the price. Whole turkeys can be grilled for a few dollars per pound, and are a perfect choice for batch cooking meals, or for freezing leftovers that come in handy as everyday meal starters. Cuts like drums, breasts and thighs are perfect for snacks and quick weeknight meals.

Mango-Chili-Lime BBQ’d Drummettes Recipe

Are you ready to start grilling with turkey? Have a look at this sweet and spicy Mango-Chili-Lime BBQ’d Drummettes recipe to try this summer!

Mango-Chili-Lime BBQ’d Drummettes Recipe

Lyne

Delicious sweet and spicy Mango-Chili-Lime BBQ’d Drummettes recipe to try this summer!

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Total Time 45

Course Recipes

Cuisine Canadian

Ingredients

Mango Chili Lime Sauce:

1 cup fresh mango chunks
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
2 Tbsp honey mustard
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp Sriracha sauce
1 tsp sea salt or to taste
Pepper to tast

Turkey Drummettes

8 -12 medium-sized turkey drummettes
1 Tbsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp sweet paprika
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

For mango sauce:
Blend all ingredients using a blender or food processor. Season with salt and pepper to your liking.  Season with extra Sriracha if you prefer a spicier sauce.
For drummettes:
1. Season turkey drummettes with salt and pepper to taste.  Sprinkle with garlic powder and paprika.
2. Grill over low to medium heat until cooked through, 20-25 minutes.
Cook until a meat thermometer registers
165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the meat
1. (Heat setting and cook time will depend on the power of your BBQ)3. Divide the mango sauce in half.
2. Using one half, baste the turkey every 5 minutes in the last 15 minutes of cooking, approximately 3 times.
3. Discard any remaining sauce that was used for basting.
4. Once cooked, remove the drummettes from heat and let rest for 5-10 minutes.
Once the drummettes are cooled, brush generously with the remaining mango sauce.
5. Serve with any leftover sauce on the side.

Notes

You can change up the flavour of this sauce to suit your family’s taste by adding more Sriracha for a spicier sauce, or adding some honey for a sweeter sauce. These drums make a great lunch the next day, served at room temperature with a little sauce on the side for dipping.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Want MORE turkey tips?

Want additional tips, recipes, and HOW TO’s to get grilling this summer? Visit Canadian Turkey to find more cooking inspiration! Take a look at their Get Grilling recipe section which is filled with delicious recipes to get your grill sizzling. The year-round WHOLE TURKEY HOW TO’s that shares helpful tips and techniques ,such as brining and spatchcocking, and instructional and recipe videos to easily create scrumptious meals all summer long! We hope you enjoy drumming up turkey on the grill up flavour this summer!

Disclaimer: This post is generously sponsored by Canadian Turkey.

Churro Cupcakes Recipe

Recipes

Lyne Proulx

-

June 5, 2019

19

Churro Cupcakes

National Churro Day is celebrated on June 6! Why not make a tasty treat for your family with these Churro Cupcakes! This recipe calls for store brought churros as a topper, but you can definitely make them yourself too!

For Canadians, churros are a delicious dessert or snack served with a caramel or chocolate sauce, or a mix of both. You will notice that the surface of a churro is ridged due to having been piped from a churrera, a syringe-like tool with a star shaped nozzle. Churros are fried until they become crunchy and taste so good if sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon, just like the Canadian Fried Dough Pastry! In other parts of the world, such as Spain and Latin America, churros are eaten for breakfast at many cafés or sold by street vendors.

Churro Cupcakes Recipe

Makes 12 cupcakes

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsalted sweet cream butter, softened
1 large egg, room temperature
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 plus 1/8 tsp baking soda
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 plus 1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup sour cream

Toppings for cupcakes

1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar
2 tbsp ground cinnamon

Cupcake directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cupcake pan with liners
In a standing mixer beat sugar and butter until creamed
Add egg and mix until fully incorporated
Beat in vanilla extract, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon.
Combine the heavy cream into the wet mixture
Add in flour, a little at a time.
Add in the sour cream
Spoon batter about 1/2 full.
Bake in oven for about 22 minutes or until the centre of the cupcake comes out clean with a toothpick.

Frosting ingredients

1 cup unsalted sweet cream butter
3 cup powder sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
5 TBSP heavy whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla

Frosting directions

Combine all ingredients into a standing mixer and mix on low speed until combined and stiff peaks form
Scoop frosting into a piping bag fitted with a star tip.
Melt the 1 cup of butter and set aside
Add the sugar and 2 tbsp of cinnamon into another bowl and mix
Dip the top of the cupcakes into the melted butter and then dip it into the cinnamon sugar mix
Frost the cupcakes with the cinnamon frosting and top with a churro.
Enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed my Churro Cupcakes Recipe as much as my family and myself did! If you make it, please share your cupcakes with us on Facebook or Twitter! Also, check out all of our other Recipes!

Churro Cupcakes Recipe

No ratings yet

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American, Canadian, Mexican

Servings

Ingredients

Ingredients
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsalted sweet cream butter softened
1 large egg room temperature
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 plus 1/8 tsp baking soda
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 plus 1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup sour cream
Toppings for cupcakes
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar
2 tbsp ground cinnamon
Frosting ingredients
1 cup unsalted sweet cream butter
3 cup powder sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
5 TBSP heavy whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

Cupcake directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cupcake pan with liners
In a standing mixer beat sugar and butter until creamed
Add egg and mix until fully incorporated
Beat in vanilla extract, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon.
Combine the heavy cream into the wet mixture
Add in flour, a little at a time.
Add in the sour cream
Spoon batter about 1/2 full.
Bake in oven for about 22 minutes or until the centre of the cupcake comes out clean with a toothpick.
Frosting directions
Combine all ingredients into a standing mixer and mix on low speed until combined and stiff peaks form
Scoop frosting into a piping bag fitted with a star tip.
melt the 1 cup of butter and set aside
add the sugar and 2 tbsp of cinnamon into another bowl and mix
Dip the top of the cupcakes into the melted butter and then dip it into the cinnamon sugar mix
frost the cupcakes with the cinnamon frosting and top with a churro.
Enjoy

Keyword churro, cupcakes

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Adventure with Parks Canada: Thousand Island National Park

Travel

Pieces of Me

-

June 4, 2019

15

Summer is a great time to be open to adventure. There are so many places you can travel to have a good time. Have you thought about getting out into the great outdoors to escape and go wild with Parks Canada? I was invited to go on an outdoor adventure with Parks Canada at the Thousand Islands National Park. Our Honorary Guide, Mme. Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, accompanied us and shared a few of the amazing adventures that are open to Canadians to experience in our national parks across the country. This was an invitation I could not refuse!

Interesting Facts About Thousand Island National Park

Are you not familiar with Thousand Islands National Park? I have never been to this national park, but I was looking forward to an awesome adventure with Parks Canada!

I was fascinated to find out these interesting facts:

Thousand Islands National Park was founded in 1904, making it the oldest Canadian national park east of the Rocky Mountains.
This park is made up of many ecologically important mainland properties, over twenty islands, and 88 small inlets between Kingston and Brockville.
The biodiversity found within this national park is vast! It provides habitat for rare tree species such as the Pitch Pine and Deerberry, which can only be found in this park.

Meeting Our Honorary Guide to Adventure

A great thrill for our young kindergarten companions (and our group) during our first stop of the day at Landon Bay within Thousand Island National Park was meeting Parks Canada’s Honorary Guide, Mme. Sophie Gregoire Trudeau. She greeted adventurers big and small with a huge smile and a spark of enthusiasm that was contagious. Our hiking guide talked to us about how his people took care of this land and a bit about his heritage

We hiked on Landon Bay Trails on our way to the lookout, learning about some of the animals that live in the area along the way. One of them was a musk turtle.

Our guide taught us about the plight of this animal and why their eggs are so important to protect. Turtle boxes are one way to keep turtle eggs safe and are used around the area. Sophie then assisted in building a turtle box to help support the growth of the population of this special amphibian.

Finishing up turtle boxes to keep baby turtles safe @TINationalPark. @ParksCanada #MediaExperience #GiftedExperience pic.twitter.com/2C0fv2k41O
— Ottawa Mommy Club (@OttawaMommyClub) May 21, 2019

Parks Canada’s Honourary Guide, Madame Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, completing a turtle egg box in Thousand Island National Park.

Lookout for Amazing Views

At the top of a hill on this trail is the lookout point that gives hikers a breathtaking view of Landon Bay. When you are standing out on the rock ledge, you can see so many sights stretching out beyond this point.

Water, islands, cottages, and boats come together to make a scene like no other. A great part of this trail is that it does not take adventurers long to reach this point. If I could, I would have stayed here all day.

Thousand Island National Park — Editor Lian Wright at the lookout on Landon Bay Trail.

Boat Break!

Our next short stop was at the Thousand Islands Boat Museum.

This museum houses thirty-six antique boats, as well as other boats built by students at the Gananoque Intermediate and Secondary School.

Visitors can see their collection of boats, enjoy boating experiences, learn how the boatbuilding history of the region is being preserved, support the Museum’s programs in boatbuilding, and shares stories of local boat builders through its exhibits.

Our visit to the Thousand Islands Boat Museum ended by launching from their dock to continue our day of exploration around Thousand Island National Park.

Beautiful Views on Beau Rivage Island

We landed on Beau Rivage Island, a favourite among visitors to Thousand Islands National Park. It gets its name from the granite rock on the island that rises from the river. This island provides gorgeous places to sit and enjoy its picturesque views.

Visitors are able to reserve a spot at the campgrounds for overnight visits on the island. I was able to see how well the name fits this island.

The views I took in were so beautiful and peaceful. As I explored Beau Rivage Island, I was imagining my family having learning and taking in the beauty of this park on a future visit.

Island Interview

Our group reunited with Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and was invited to have a casual sit-down lunch and interview with her. This unique opportunity was so amazing to have. We asked Sophie about her outdoor experiences.

Sophie was so fascinating to speak to. She told us about her fond memories as a child growing up around nature, taking these experiences into her adult life. She is still extremely active outdoors. Biking, hiking, and rappelling are a few of the activities she enjoys doing.

Sophie also loves being around nature to center herself, whether it is to find time to play or to find peace during a hectic day. She was expressive and genuine when we spoke with her. It was as though we were hanging out with a good friend. Having an intimate chat like this with the First Lady of Canada is an experience I will never forget.

Getting Youth Interested in the Outdoors

We also had the chance to meet Parks Canada’s 2019-20120 Youth Ambassadors on our adventure with Parks Canada! This year, Izabelle, Nathan, and Gabrielle will be sharing #ParkLife. They are encouraging and inspiring young Canadians to learn, experience and share Canada’s natural and cultural treasures. This will be done by highlighting some of the conservation initiatives, indigenous reconciliation, and showing Canadians how amazing Canada’s outdoor spaces can be to play and explore.

Kayak Adventure Time!

After enjoying a beautiful lunch, 1000 Islands Kayaking treated us to a paddling adventure around Beau Rivage Island with Sophie. Each of us were outfitted to paddle and slipped into a kayak to learn more about Beau Rivage Island.

This was a challenge for me, but one that I found to be amazing. Matt, a member of 1000 Islands Kayaking, was patient and hung back with me to keep me while on our tour. This experience made me want to get back in a kayak to master my paddling skills around these islands.

Island Boat Tour

Our time back on land was brief as Scott from 1000 Islands Kayaking whisked our group away for a tour of the Admiralty Islands within this national park. Many of these islands are owned and managed by Parks Canada.

Each island had its own unique personality and beauty. Scott shared with us some of the history these islands held. We learned a lot about the importance this region held during the American invasion of Canada, and of the homes on some of the privately-owned islands.

One island that captured my interest was McDonald Island. It is one of the most popular spots in Park to visit.

It is a beautiful island that provides critical habitat for the Eastern Musk Turtle and the Pugnose Shiner, a small fish. Both animals are at risk for extinction, and Parks Canada is working hard to recover the numbers of these species and their home.

Visitors who want to stay overnight are able to camp on this island. One interesting accommodation visitors can use while staying on McDonald Island is an oTENTik. It gives sleepers the rustic feel of a tent while providing the small luxuries of a cabin.

With spectacular views of the river, oTENTik users will have a great spot to discover the Thousand Islands during their getaway.

Photo Credit: Parks Canada. Family inside of oTENTik.

Planning to be Open to Adventure

It was sad to say goodbye to Thousand Island National Park, but it helped me to be open to planning some amazing adventures in the outdoors here. There are so many activities I would enjoy doing with my family while visiting this national park. From hiking and kayaking to camping and taking in the many beautiful views Thousand Islands National Park has to offer, the possibilities for adventure and fun are endless. I am now imagining all of the things my family will be excited to do and the memories we could make here. I can’t wait to get planning!

Are you curious to learn more about what the Thousand Island National Park has to offer? You can check them out on Parks Canada’s website. We also connected with Parks Canada on their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube pages!

What outdoor activity would get you to open up to adventure this summer?

Disclaimer: I was invited to take part in a media tour with Parks Canada in order to write this review. The views I shared are my own.

5 Tips for Managing Anxiety

Wellness

Lyne Proulx

-

June 3, 2019

13

If you suffer with anxiety, day to day tasks can seem like an impossible mission. If you’re struggling to function daily, there are plenty of tips that you can use to your advantage to help you get through the day. Here are a few ways on managing anxiety, and helping to give you a more positive mindset.

Tips for Managing Anxiety

These tips on managing anxiety are helpful if you want to know how to manage anxiety without medication.

Take a Time Out

When things get too much, it can be all too easy to bury your head in the sand. When you’re feeling anxious and stressed, taking some time out to focus on yourself can be hugely beneficial. Whether it be listening to your favorite music, practicing yoga, or learning relaxation techniques, having some time away from the hustle and bustle of daily life can help clear your mind and leave you feeling more positive.

Create a Routine

If you haven’t got any structure to your day, your anxiety can be all over the place. Setting up a routine can help to get you through your daily tasks, as well as minimizing the risk of unexpected triggers that your anxiety can bring. When you note down what you need to do each day, you will feel a sense of accomplishment once you’ve crossed off each task. You should also incorporate healthy meals into your routine which can not only benefit your physical health but improve your mental health too. Make sure to outline each part of your day and reward yourself when you have completed tasks.

Challenge Negative Thinking

For those who suffer with anxiety, it can be hard to think about the positive aspects of your life. When your mind is filled with negative worries and fears, they can take over your life and leave you unable to complete the most basic of tasks. When you feel worry or fear creeping into your mind, try and turn this around and think of positive outcomes in your situation.

Get Some Exercise

Daily exercise can be hugely beneficial and help you to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Trying to factor in some exercise when your day is filled with work and social activities can be a challenge. However, spending just 30 minutes each day to participate in various exercise activities can help to clear your mind and remove any negative thoughts and feelings. If you don’t feel confident exercising alone, why not ask a friend to join in? Having someone with you, whether it be when going for a run around the block or going to a fitness class, can help you feel more confident and relaxed. Exercise can also help to lower cortisol levels. You can get an in-depth look on things you can do to lower cortisol levels by visiting online resources.

Have Some Therapy

If things get too much, you may want to consider going for some therapy. Speaking to a therapist can help you identify your triggers which can help you stop any negative thoughts and feelings in their tracks. Your therapist will be able to come up with effective strategies that can get you back to living a healthy and fulfilled life. Don’t be afraid to seek out help. Many people go to see a therapist to help them with their anxiety.

Gaining control of your anxiety can make all the difference and help you feel more positive and optimistic for the future. Whether it be taking some time out to have some me time, creating a routine to give you more structure, or doing regular exercise to boost your physical and mental health, be sure to take all the tips listed onboard. If you are still struggling and need some help, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with your doctor.

Caramel Pecan Cheesecake Dip Recipe

Recipes

Lyne Proulx

-

May 31, 2019

15

This Caramel Pecan Cheesecake Dip recipe, perfect for any occasion, is packed with caramel and pecans. It takes minimal effort to prepare and can be served with more than fruits!

Recipes like this fruit dip are great to take to holiday events, when you need a dessert or dish to pass. I can almost guarantee that you’ll bring home an empty bowl.

How To Store Pecans

It’s no secret that pecans are expensive. Save money by buying them in bulk before the holidays and freezing them until you need them. Out of the shell and frozen properly, these nuts have a freezer life of approximately two years. Any airtight container will do.

Quick Tips

Just a couple of quick tips, before you put this cheesecake fruit dip recipe together. Allow the cream cheese to warm to room temperature and use a refrigerated stainless-steel bowl to prepare the whipping cream. Doing both of these things makes the entire process a whole lot easier and your dip as smooth as it can possibly be.

Apples are probably the best choice to serve with this cheesecake fruit dip. Other possibilities include pears, strawberries and bananas. Honestly, it’s really just a matter of taste. Consider peeling the apples if you’re serving this to younger children. This eliminates the possibility of choking on the skin.

You can easily substitute the vanilla for another flavouring such as almond. Even half and half would work well. This is one of those fruit dips where you have a little bit of “wiggle room” when it comes to creativity in the kitchen.

That being said, it’s easy to switch out plain cream cheese with the pineapple or strawberry version that many grocery stores carry. Another fun (and yummy) idea is to drizzle chocolate or hot fudge sauce on top of the caramel layer.

The next time you’re craving something gooey and sweet, why not whip up this recipe for fruit dip with cream cheese? Your family and your stomach will thank you for it!

Caramel Pecan Cheesecake Dip

Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

1- 250 grams (8 oz) package cream cheese
2 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup whipping cream, whipped
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup caramel sauce

How to make a fruit dip with cream cheese

1. In a large bowl, whipped cream with a hand mixer or stand mixer until it has a nice whipped texture, set aside.

2. In another bowl, mix cream cheese and vanilla until smooth.

3. Add powdered sugar and mix well.

4. Gently stir in whipped cream.

5. Top with chopped pecans and drizzle with caramel sauce.

I hope you enjoyed this Caramel Pecan Cheesecake Dip. If you make it, make sure to share with us on Facebook or Twitter. Also, check out all of our other recipes to try!

Caramel Pecan Cheesecake Fruit Dip Recipe

Lyne Proulx

This caramel pecan cheesecake dip is is perfect for any occasion. The fruit dip is easy to prepare and can be served with more than fruits!

No ratings yet

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Total Time 10

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American, Canadian

Servings servings

Calories 320 kcal

Equipment

2 bowls
1 hand mixer or stand mixer

Ingredients

1- 250 grams cream cheese 8 oz
2 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup whipping cream whipped
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup caramel sauce

Instructions

In a large bowl, whipped cream with a hand mixer or stand mixer until it has a nice whipped texture, set aside.
In another bowl, mix cream cheese and vanilla until smooth.
Add powdered sugar and mix well.
Gently stir in whipped cream.
Top with chopped pecans and drizzle with caramel sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 320kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 3gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 132mgPotassium: 76mgFiber: 1gSugar: 31gVitamin A: 648IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 47mgIron: 1mg

Keyword caramel pecan cheesecake dip, cheesecake dip, dip recipe, fruit dip

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Bubble Fun With Funrise Toys – Review

Family

Pieces of Me

-

May 30, 2019

161

Bubble fun can make any day bright for kids. They are round, shiny and float, making kids laugh and smile. GAZILLION Bubbles from Funrise Toys loves sharing toys that bring fun to playtime! They asked us if we wanted to try out two of their toys to get summer off to a fun start. We were excited to see how much fun they would have playing with them! Let’s see how we found to have Bubble Fun With Funrise Toys!

Below are the items we received to get ready for summer:

A GAZILLION Bubblecycle
A GAZILLION Bubble Rush machine.

Bubble Fun for Summer with Funrise Toys

Bubble Fun for Summer with GAZILLION Bubbles — GAZILLION Bubbles toys.

Revving up for bubble fun

My kids have a need for speed. They love hearing the rev of an engine and to speed away into fun. The GAZILLION Bubblecycle gives kids a sense of speed as they create bubbles to chase after and enjoy. The Bubblecycle can ride over grass, sidewalks, or the driveway. Its motor spins and the engine rolls like a real motorcycle. It is lightweight, so it is easy for young users to pick up and push. It also has a no-leak bubble chamber to help prevent messy spillovers.

My kids rumbling with excitement to try this toy. Though they may be too tall to stand up straight to use this toy properly, they had a lot of fun pushing it across our backyard. The bubble chamber was really easy to load with bobble solution.

Hand filling bubble solution into GAZILLION Bubblecycle.

They LOVED hearing the revving sound of the engine whenever they pushed it. What we did not find was the amount of bubbles that were released from this toy. We had to really get this cycle going in order to see a slight stream of bubbles come out.

Playing in a bubble rush

Young kids can’t get enough of bubble play. Playing in a cloud of bubbles is an experience they love having. The GAZILLION Bubble Rush machine wants to give kids this experience. It is a 3-tiered high-powered bubble machine that is designed to provide a bubble explosion in seconds. The three-sectioned no-spill modual design includes a removable washable top, solution recycling tray, and a sealed battery/motor base. Just pour the solution into the reservoir and push the button to get the bubble-ution started! This set requires 6 AA batteries and is recommended for kids ages 3+.

My daughter really enjoyed playing with this toy. She loves how easy it is to get the pour the bubble solution into the reservoir and to start the bubble fun. I really like how simple it is to take this machine apart to reuse the extra solution.

Girl pouring solution out of reservoir of GAZILLION Bubble Rush machine.

We were able to get a lot of bubbles blowing out of this machine. She enjoyed watching them fly and have all sorts of imaginative fun while the bubbles soared into the air.

Bubble fun all summer long

Both toys from GAILLION Bubbles are helping my kids get a great start to having fun this summer. Though we did get a lot of bubbles out of the GAZILLION Bubblecycle, they love running it around to pretend they are riding on their own motorcycle. The GAZILLION Bubble Rush machine gives my daughter endless fun as she gets to play in bubbles in a snap. Summer can seem to stretch on, but these toys from GAZILLION will be helping to give them bubble fun all summer long!

Curious about other toys your kids can play with to float into fun with GAZILLION Bubbles? You can visit Funrise Toys on their website, and connect with them on their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages to find more bubbly fun to have!

Disclaimer: My family received products from Funrise Toys to write a review. The views I shared are my own.

Essential Oils for Headaches or Migraines

Wellness

Lyne Proulx

-

May 29, 2019

13

Essential Oils for Headaches or Migraines

Few things can get you down quite like a headache or a migraine. It can ruin your entire day. Some people are prone to getting them more often and if you fall into this camp, you might feel like you’ve already tried everything to treat or prevent your headaches or migraines. Have you tried essential oils?

Essential Oils for Headaches or Migraines

There are many reasons why we may suffer from headaches. Stress, illness, heat, high blood pressure just to name a few. If you find yourself suffering from headaches or migraines you probably know that you can take prescription or over the counter medications to treat them, you also know that those have their own list of side effects that may be worse than a headache. So, how can you get relief naturally? Essential oils are a great way to naturally treat your headache and migraine.

Hormonal Headaches

Whether you have a PMS headache, pregnancy headache or menopause headache lavender and rosemary essential oils are both soothing and pain relieving.

Stress Headaches

Stress is a major trigger for headaches. The best solution for stress is being able to relax enough to sleep away the headache. Lavender and peppermint oils can help relax you and relieve a stress headache quickly.

Sinus Headaches

A sinus headache can be brought on by changes in the weather, seasonal allergies or a cold or sinus infection. Eucalyptus oil is great for relieving sinus headaches.

How to Use Oils

You can add a few drops of the essential oils of choice to a bath, place them in a diffuser or apply them topically (mixed with a carrier oil) to temples, back of the neck, forehead, and wrists.

Using essential oils to treat a variety of headaches and migraines is a natural way to feel your best and head off what could be a severe headache at the first twinge without harsh side effects.

How To Work On Your Mental Health

Wellness

Lyne Proulx

-

May 28, 2019

11

Mental health illnesses such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder are increasingly common nowadays, especially amongst teens and young adults. Many believe factors such as social media, student loan debt, stress, lack of exercise, and decreased exposure to sunlight are attributed to this upsurge in mental health disorders.

Ways to Work on Your Mental Health

If you find yourself suffering from common symptoms such as hopelessness, lack of energy, low appetite, and insomnia, it’s time to get help. Consulting with a professional should always be your first line of defence; however, there are ways you can work on your mental health right at home. Lead a healthier, happier life with these tips to boost your wellbeing.

Find Your Inner Peace

The CDC states that 1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental health illness in any given year. From busy work schedules to financial stresses, it’s easy for us to forget what life is all about. Take a moment to breathe and enjoy the beauty around you by practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness is the act of focusing on the present while not thinking about the past or the future. You let your thoughts flow through your mind like a running train, then focus on the sensations around you.

How to Work on Your Mental Health in 2019

To find your inner peace, dedicate portions of your day to complete silence. What better way to find yourself than by spending time with your mind all alone? Find a quiet space, roll out a yoga mat, and take a few deep breaths to relax your body. For further analysis, hook up an aura camera to your computer that uses sensors to show you your chakras and the energy levels you give out to the world. Practicing these tips will help reduce your stress and build gray matter in your brain, which leads to better memory, improved cognition, and improved emotions.

Exercise

Getting daily exercise will improve your mental wellbeing in numerous ways. Our bodies are meant to move; however, societal pressures such as intense work schedules and tight deadlines keep us stuck inside behind a desk all day. Regularly exercising improves neural growth in the brain, reduces inflammation, and releases endorphins, the feel-good chemical that energizes you. Sticking to your workout routine will help calm you down and relieve anxiety.

If you don’t know where to get started, we’re here to help. Join a local sports team or hiking group using meetup apps to get your daily exercise and meet new people! If you prefer to work out alone, get some motivation by downloading a personal training app that will give you workouts to perform either in your home or at the gym.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Chronic sleep deprivation affects your psychological state, meaning if you don’t get enough shuteye, you’re prone to mental health issues. You may not know it, but when you sleep your body actually repairs itself. When you’re in deep sleep, your body’s temperature and heart rate drops, allowing your body to repair its immune system and tackle any illness. During REM sleep, your body strengthens your memory and learning, while also boosting your emotional health

If you’re having trouble falling asleep, there are a few ways to fix this. As already mentioned, relaxing your body through yoga and meditation will help you relieve stress and get better sleep. Additionally, investing in a white noise machine can help calm you down and allow you to drift away to your dreams.

Eat Nutritious Meals

Previously, scientists and doctors did not link diet to mental health. However, nutritional psychiatry has become a new focus for treating mental illnesses. While there is no exact evidence yet, doctors and researchers do agree that nutrition plays a vital role in mental health. Eat nutritious meals packed with vegetables, fruits, and grains high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals promote brain growth and improve mood. Not only is eating well good for your body, your brain will say “thank you”, as well!

If you want to begin eating healthy, start one step at a time by making homecooked meals for lunch or dinner. As you get into the swing of things, you’ll be able to meal prep and bring hearty and healthy foods to work or school! If you have limited time (or desire), there are numerous food delivery services that will deliver easy to cook meals and recipe cards straight to your doorstep.

Wrapping Up

With so much going on in your life, you need to take a moment to think about your wellbeing and health. Implement these easy lifestyle changes into your daily routine to enjoy the life you live!

The Old Electronics Everyone Has in Their Home

Family

Lyne Proulx

-

May 27, 2019

7

The Old Electronics Everyone Has in Their Home

It’s time to stop hoarding your old electronics. You are not using them, and all they are doing is collecting dust!

The thing is, when sent to the landfill, these devices release hazardous materials like lead, mercury, and other volatile organic chemicals into the land, water, and air. When you are ready to get rid of your old electronic devices, identify the electronic waste removal services near you to make sure they get recycled in an environmentally responsible way.

It’s worth mentioning that these products need to be appropriately recycled to retrieve their valuable materials not limited to titanium, copper, platinum, and gold.

There is no denying that there are particular devices that everyone is guilty of holding on to. With the help of a junk removal company, you will be able to purge your home of these old devices and make sure they are discarded of properly.

According to Global News, a United Nations-backed study revealed that there were over 45-million tonnes of e-waste generated around the world in 2016 alone. Needless to say, it’s time to get rid of your old electronic devices:

Computer Monitors

Computer monitors are easy to switch out, which is why so many old monitors end up sentenced to a corner of a storage room or garage to never be seen again.

It’s time to sell that monitor online, or get it taken off of your hands — all it’s doing is collecting dust.

Old Phones

It’s true, it can be fun to go through your stash of old Nokias and razor flip phones — but is there really any other reason to hold on to these old phones?

Typically, people hold on to their old phones to pass them down — which is fair — or for an emergency in case their current phone breaks down. While this is logical reasoning, what is less logical is holding on to 6 or more phones. You need one backup — not multiple.

Have your archaic phones taken away by a junk removal company that will make sure their parts are properly recycled. After all, according to The Atlantic, of the $206 billion spent on consumer electronics in 2012 in the US, only 29 percent of the resulting e-waste got recycled.

It’s time to purge that one drawer in your home where all phones go to die — and get rid of all those old chargers while you’re at it.

TV Screens

It’s great that you’ve invested in a new flat screen — but that kind of means that you need to get rid of your old TV screen. Give it to someone else, donate it, or have it taken away — just don’t leave it sitting in your home. TV screens can be big and bulky especially if they are old, so you really don’t need them wasting space.

It’s a good idea to get these screens taken away by professionals considering that tube TVs have leaded-glass and flat screens contain mercury – as mentioned, these are harmful materials that need to be removed carefully.

Chances are, you have all of these unnecessary devices stored somewhere in your home where they are sitting, collecting dust and wasting space. It’s time to get rid of them for once and for all.

Flower Dirt Sundae Cups Recipe

Recipes

Lyne Proulx

-

May 24, 2019

21

Are you looking for something interesting to serve at your child’s birthday party? Chances are you’ll remember these fun treats from your own childhood – or a similar version. These Flower Dirt Sundae Cups are not only fun to make and cute to look at, but always a hit at parties and bake sales. Best of all, they are so incredibly easy to make. Everyone will think you slaved in the kitchen making these cute treats.

Flower Dirt Sundae Cups

If you can make instant pudding, you can make this dessert. You don’t have to be a domestic goddess or the crafting queen to make these. In fact, it’s a great recipe if you’re a little intimidated by the kitchen or are teaching your kids to cook. The best part about this treat is that you can make it in so many different ways. You could do a sand version with a palm tree sticking out and use vanilla Oreo cookies and vanilla pudding and add some gummy stars to simulate starfish. Just have fun and be creative.

If you don’t mind the dirt being a little wet, you can even make these in advance, which is a lifesaver when throwing a child’s birthday party or preparing these for a bake sale. If you are making these for a bake sale, just make sure to set the cups down in a mixture of water, salt, and ice to keep them nice and cold.

Don’t limit yourself to cups. You can also make this dessert in a large pan to create a flower garden. You can easily double or triple this recipe to feed a large crowd. Just make sure your pudding is deep enough to hold up your flowers. And, remember. Don’t limit yourself to flowers you can make this in so many different ways. Another idea is to make a graveyard cake and attach ghosts to your spoons instead of flowers. It’s perfect for any Halloween party. Be creative!

Flower Dirt Sundae Cups Recipe

Makes 5 per ingredient list

Flower Dirt Sundae Recipe — Flower Dirt Sundae

Ingredients

Clear 9 oz Solo cups
1 box instant chocolate pudding
Milk
1 row chocolate Oreo cookies
Gummy worms
Plastic Ziplock bag
Green plastic spoons
Colorful flowers
Hot glue/hot glue gun

Directions

1. Carefully take the flowers off the stems, glue one flower to the top of each spoon and let dry.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine your pudding and milk per directions and mix well.

3. Place your pudding in the fridge for 5 minutes.

4. Add a row of chocolate Oreo cookies to a Ziplock bag, zip closed and crush using the bag of a spoon.

5. Scoop your pudding about 1/3 full into each clear cup, add a few spoonfuls of crushed Oreo cookies, a little more pudding and top off with another spoonful of crushed Oreo cookies.

6. Add a couple gummy worms to the top and place the spoon end of your flower spoon into the top.

I hope you enjoyed this Flower Dirt Sundae Cups Recipe. If you make it, make sure to share with us on Facebook or Twitter! Also, check out all of our other Recipes.

Flower Dirt Sundae Cups Recipe

No ratings yet

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American, Canadian

Servings

Ingredients

Clear 9 oz Solo cups
1 box instant chocolate pudding
Milk
1 row chocolate Oreo cookies
Gummy worms
Plastic Ziplock bag
Green plastic spoons
Colorful flowers
Hot glue/hot glue gun

Instructions

Carefully take the flowers off the stems, glue one flower to the top of each spoon and let dry.
In a large mixing bowl, combine your pudding and milk per directions and mix well.
Place your pudding in the fridge for 5 minutes.
Add a row of chocolate Oreo cookies to a Ziplock bag, zip closed and crush using the bag of a spoon.
Scoop your pudding about 1/3 full into each clear cup, add a few spoonfuls of crushed Oreo cookies, a little more pudding and top off with another spoonful of crushed Oreo cookies.
Add a couple gummy worms to the top and place the spoon end of your flower spoon into the top.

Keyword flower dirt, oreo cookies, pudding

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Clean Naturally with Aleva Naturals Cleaning Products (Review)

Family

Pieces of Me

-

May 23, 2019

230

We love finding products that use natural products to care for our skin and to clean our house. Aleva Nautrals provides a collection of natural and plant-based products for personal use and cleaning a home that are safe for babies and moms. We are pleased to review the Aleva Naturals products review!

Taking care of our family and our home is a priority for me and my other half. We are cautious about the products we use on ourselves and around our home. We do not have any babies in our home, but we were asked to try to see if these products would take care to clean naturally all over our home. We were up for the challenge to see how well these items would work.

Aleva Naturals Cleaning Products Review

Below are the products Aleva Naturals sent us to start cleaning our home naturally:

Taking Care to Clean Nautrally with Aleva Naturals — Aleva Naturals products.

Kid skin care

After a long day of school, I get my kids straight into the bath. We want them to feel fresh and relaxed to have them ease into the evening. Aleva Naturals sent us three items that work as a great combo to help them achieve this goal.

The Bamboo Baby Wipes has a unique formulation to care for a baby’s sensitive skin. It combines Organic Aloe Vera, Chamomile, Natura Tea Tree Oil, and Lavender Oils to gently cleanse and soothe skin to help make it feel smooth.

Hand taking Bamboo Bay Wipes from the package. — Hand taking Aleva Naturals Bamboo Bay Wipes from the package.

These wipes help to get grime off of their hands. They also help to catch any messes they may have made while at school before hitting the showers.

The 2 in 1 Hair & Body Wash is formulated specifically to clean newborns and toddlers with sensitive skin. It contains Tea Tree Oil to help clear away Cradle Cap. Oatmeal and Chamomile extract leaves the skin soft and smooth.

Taking Care to Clean Naturally with Aleva Naturals — Child pointing to hair after using Aleva Naturals 2 in 1 Har and Body Wash.

My daughter had a lot of fun testing this product! She loves using it on her hair and skin. My daughter loves the lavender scent and it washed out of her hair easily. Her only complaint was that it was not frothier.

The Sleep Easy Calming Lotion is enriched with Shea Butter, pure Lavender and Chamomile Oils to help soothe and relax your little one to enjoy a restful slumber and have soft skin.

Boy applying Sleep Easy Calming Lotion onto skin. — Boy applying Aleva Naturals Sleep Easy Calming Lotion onto skin.

My son is a night owl. His eyes stay open way after bedtime begins. He was excited to try this lotion to see if it would make him drift off to sleep sooner at night. This cream absorbed into his skin well. He seemed calmer for the rest of the evening. This helped him to ease into sleep sooner, too.

Care for Mom

Moms need a bit of pampering, too! We go through a lot during the day, so I was happy to have a few Aleva Naturals products to try to help me stay feeling fresh and clean.

The Foaming Fem Wash is a self-foaming blend of Organic Witch Hazel and Natural Tea Tree Oil that gently soothes, cleanses, and refreshes your intimate areas.

After a good workout, it was great to try out this product. I felt clean and refreshed. I did not feel any irritation from the Witch Hazel/Tea Tree Oil combination and smells good, too.

The Bamboo Fem Wipes are soft, unbleached wipes that care for intimate areas of the body. They safe to use pre and post-natal and are especially great to have if skin is prone to sensitivity and irritation.

Hand placing Bambino's Fem Wipes into a purse. — Hand placing Aleva Naturals Bambino’s Fem Wipes into a purse.

I love carrying wipes with me when I am on-the-go. They come in handy when I want to feel fresh when not at home. They are thick and the size of the package is discreet. It makes carrying them great for large and small bags. I felt cool and fresh after using them.

Clothing care

We are very picky when it comes cleaning products. Harsh chemicals and heavy scents are things we try to avoid when choosing products to clean our home. We don’t want our kids and or cat harmed by them. Aleva Naturals has a collection of cleaning products that cover both of these issues.

Stains should be on alert when the Stain & Laundry Bar is around. Itis a natural, vegan, and baby-safe stain removing bar created to pre-treat stubborn stains and hand washing delicates. When applied to clothing, it is tough on dirt, but gentle on skin.

While enjoying a snack, I spilled yogurt on my pants. Having this stain bar on hand gave me some relief. I felt better knowing I had a way to pre-treat my pants before washing them. It was easy to use, and It helped to remove the stain.

The Gentle Baby Laundry detergent helps to remove dirt while caring for sensitive and eczema-prone skin. Its formula is plant-based and is ultra-concentrated to clean clothing.

A few members of our family have sensitive skin. We were happy to try this detergent out to see how to clean our clothes. It has a light scent and it cleaned our clothes well. I also like using this detergent to clean my delicates in our washing machine.

Care for our home

The Fragrance-Free Bottle & Dish Liquid uses a unique plant-based formula that cleans bottles, cups, breast pumps, bowls, and other feeding accessories safely. This formula is gentle on skin yet leans away dirt.

Hand washing bowl with Aleva Naturals Bottle & Dish Liquid.

This dish soap works well to cut through grime on our dishes and is easy on our sense of smell. I used it for a few days, and each time, my hands did not feel dry or irritated after this chore was done. The Water Lily scent eased my mind and made washing dishes less of a burden to tackle.

The Multi-Surface Spray has a unique and non-toxic formula that contains plant-based ingredients, making it safe to use all around your home. This spray can tackle cleaning toys, highchairs, countertops, and other items a child can come in contact with.

My work bench acts as a multipurpose space. This surface cleaner cleaned off residual marker marks, glue splotches, and cat paw prints. This cleaner also worked well on our windows, our and countertops. It is great to have this product around.

Aleva Naturals Foaming Hand Wash helps to easily help keep hands clean and soft. It uses the power of plant-based ingredients and a Waterlily scent to clean and smelling fresh.

Hand pumpin Foaming Hand Wash on to a hand. — Hand pumping Aleva Naturals Foaming Hand Wash on to a hand.

After caring for our home, our hands need some TLC as well. Our kids love cleaning grime off of their hands with this hand wash. They liked the foaming action of this soap, too. They love squishing it in their hands and watching it at work while they are removing grime off their hands.

Products that help us care for different areas of our lives

Having products to care for so many facets of our home help us feel good, especially if they are good for the environment and ourselves. Aleva Naturals uses ingredients that care for our skin and our home without being overly scented or toxic. It makes us feel secure that there is a whole line of products that is concerned about for the care of a family and their home. We really love using them!

Would you like to like to see other products Aleva Naturals has to offer? My family checked out their website, as well as their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube pages to learn more about them!

Disclaimer: I received products from Aleva Naturals to write this review. The views I share are my own.

Travel Destinations Walt Disney World

Travel

Christelle

-

May 22, 2019

9

Maybe you’ve never been to Disney before, or perhaps you haven’t had the chance to travel there in years? Fortunately, the Walt Disney World of today has something to offer for everyone! Here are a few tips for visiting the most magical place on Earth and making your travel destinations to Walt Disney World the most memorable ones!

Travel Destinations Walt Disney World

Travel Destinations Disney World — Walter Disney and Mickey Mouse in front of Cinderella’s Castle at WDW

1. Plan your trip reasonably!

First and foremost, know what you’re in for! It’s impossible to see all Walt Disney World has to offer in only one day. Truth be told, there are more than a week’s worth of vacationing to do at Walt Disney World! Fun fact: the property in Orlando is about the size of San Francisco! It includes four major theme parks, two waterparks, and miniature/regular golf courses.

As a person who has been to every park Walt Disney World has to offer, I would suggest dedicating at least one full day to each of the four major parks if you’ve never been before. Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios each have at least a full day’s worth of rides, shows, dining, and shopping. You will also need a full day dedicated to each water park if you choose to include them in your vacation. Let’s not forget a day at Disney Springs for all your shopping needs. All in all, you’re at least looking at a full week in the Orlando Florida area!

2. Disney Tickets

A seven day Disney ticket may seem like a lot, but with the way the Walt Disney Travel Company has structured their pricing, the longer your ticket, the less you end up paying per day! I would go for the longer tickets if at all possible, but you do have several choices to choose from!

The Disney Park Per Day Ticket includes entrance to one of the four major theme parks (Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Magic Kingdom) per day. Onto the base ticket you can add the option to “park-hop”; which allows you to go to more than one park per day. This is surely worth the money if you plan on seeing different attractions throughout the day, or for your dinning selections! You can also add the “Park Hopper Plus” option, which on a seven day ticket allows you a maximum of seven visits per day to all 4 Disney parks and including two water parks (Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon), ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, and Disney’s golf and Miniature golf courses. This can be a great escape for a few hours away from the theme parks!

3. Disney Resorts

When it comes to choosing a resort, you will have the option to stay on or off of property. My suggestion is to take advantage of everything that Disney has to offer and stay on a Disney property! You can use the Extra Magic Hours that are for guests staying on property to your advantage! Extra Magic Hours allow you to use the parks with just a limited number of people sharing the park with you!

When you choose to stay at a Disney resort, you’re able to book FastPass+ reservations 60 days prior to arrival for the entire duration of your stay (up to 14 days). Those staying outside of Disney can only reserve their FastPass 30 days prior to each park day.

Also, you have the benefit of using Disney’s Magical Express transportation from the airport, and Disney’s Transportation system within the property.

Additionally, by staying on property, you can take advantage of the Disney Dining packages, which not only allow you to pre-pay for your meals, but can help you save on those meals depending on the package that you choose; however, I would suggest making reservations for your dining at least 180 days in advance as places can fill up quite quickly.

4. What’s next at your travel destinations Walt Disney World?

It’s entirely up to you how you’ll decide to spend your days at Walt Disney World, but there are definitely some not to miss attractions in each park! In Animal Kingdom, if you’re into thrill rides, I would suggest going on Expedition Everest as well as Kali River Rapids. At Hollywood Studios, you can hit Tower of Terror and Rockin’ Rollercoaster. In Magic Kingdom, you can do the triple threat of Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain, and Space Mountain. Then at Epcot, you can do Test Track, Mission Space, and Soarin’. Be on the lookout for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opening August 29th at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios as well!

Hollywood Studios, you can hit Tower of Terror and Rockin’ Rollercoaster. In Magic Kingdom, you can do the triple threat of Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain, and Space Mountain. Then at Epcot, you can do Test Track, Mission Space, and Soarin’. Be on the lookout for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opening August 29th at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios as well!

No matter what you do inside the parks you will have a magical vacation knowing that everywhere you turn, from your dining to your room even your transportation will have Disney Quality. Making your travel destinations to Walt Disney World is one your family will always love!

What are some of your favourite Disney World memories? Share below!

Essential Oils for Breastfeeding Mothers

Wellness

Lyne Proulx

-

May 21, 2019

5

Essential Oils for Breastfeeding Mothers

Did you know that essential oils can be used for breastfeeding mothers? While it’s always very important to be cautious of what you use or ingest while breastfeeding, there are some benefits to essential oils when used correctly during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

While essential oils have many useful applications it is important to be careful when breastfeeding because there are some oils that are not safe or may cause issues with breastfeeding. The first rule of thumb is to never apply essential oils to your nipples, but you can still use oils in other areas, it’s just a matter of knowing which oils are good for your breastfeeding experience.

Peppermint Reduces Milk Supply

This popular oil can actually be bad for milk production. If you’re experiencing low milk supply and have been applying, diffusing or ingesting peppermint oil that should be the first thing you stop using to see if your supply increases.

Increase Milk Supply

Fennel, Clary sage, basil, and geranium mixed with carrier oil are great oils to increase your milk supply. You should not use the fennel oil for longer than 10 days at a time. You can massage this mixture to your breasts, avoiding the nipple area for soothing and milk production.

Relaxation and Rest

New moms need to take some time for relaxation. Indulge in a bath with lavender and wild orange essential oil applied to the walls of the shower or tub while baby sits close by in a carrier or even baby swing. This lets the oils diffuse into the air and will benefit both you and your baby while you relax and prepare for a nice nap.

Using essential oils can benefit both mom and baby when breastfeeding, it is just a matter of knowing which oils to use! Click on the photo above to download these tips!

Aqualife Swim Academy In Ottawa – Review

Family

Naomi

-

May 20, 2019

13

The first activity I did with my kids were swim lessons. I was anxious to get them into the water as soon as they could (which is recommended at 3 months). Of course, at such a young age they aren’t learning to swim, it’s like a playgroup in the water. The point is that it gets them comfortable with the water. And for me, swimming is a non-negotiable life skill that my children will be in as they grow so getting them comfortable in the water is step one! We had the pleasure of reviewing the Aqualife Swim Academy swimming program in Ottawa this summer!

Boutique Customized Experience At the Aqualife Swim Academy

When Jax was around 2, I heard about the Aqualife Swim Academy from a friend that had great results with her kids far exceeding what the city lessons were providing. I also started to notice the local Facebook mom groups saying the same thing – that their kids who kept failing in city lessons were suddenly flourishing with Aqualife. I was pretty much convinced at this point and decided that I would register Jax when he turned 3, which is the age that a parent no longer has to go in anymore.

Five Convenient Locations

Aqualife Swim Academy conveniently has 5 locations to choose from across the city of Ottawa and surrounding area. We chose the Brookstreet Hotel, Kanata location. One of the huge bonuses of this location is the free underground parking with your lessons! Let me tell you, when it’s -30 Celsius outside you’re thanking your lucky stars your swim class has underground parking!

Instructor with a boy in the pool at Aqualife Swim Academy

Top Notch Instructors

The classes are either semi-private or private, and they take them from babies to even adult swimming lessons. We were excited to get Jax started in the lessons and he started enjoying them right away. I noticed a change in him within a few short months and there were improvements every week. I saw the change when I compared our trip to Mexico last year in April versus this year in February. He was a totally different kid and didn’t even have his floaties on half the time! It’s truly amazing how much confidence he has in the water.

During the 30 minute lesson they get so much done. I couldn’t imagine having to share that amount of time with other kids in a city class. When Jax is in school this September I plan to take Hudson to the city lessons only until he turns three next February, at which point they can conveniently share the same semi-private class!

Hassle Free Registration

Also super convenient is that I’m not having to fight with all the other residents of Ottawa on city registration days for swim and other lessons. With Aqualife Swim Academy I signed up when I was ready and there is no end date, you simply have that time slot reoccurring and get billed monthly until you decide you want to switch or cancel. One less thing for this mamma to worry about! They also email you with new time slot openings which is great.

I HIGHLY recommend the Aqualife Swim Academy. We cannot wait until Hudson is old enough to be in the same class with his brother!

Would you like to keep your family safe this summer in the water? You can discover more about The Aqualife Swim Academy on their website! We also connected with them on their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages!

Disclaimer: I received swimming lessons from The Aqualife Academy to write this review. The views I share are my own.

Quick Italian Pasta Salad Recipe

Recipes

Lyne Proulx

-

May 17, 2019

17

This quick Italian pasta salad makes a great meal for lunch or dinner. You can make this pasta salad with ham ahead of time and serve at a picnic or family gathering.

There are zillions of pasta salad recipes at your disposal. It’s kind of like meatloaf, everyone makes it different. This particular recipe, which you can throw together in no time at all, is a classic… fit for any type of gathering or a simple family dinner. Many pasta salad lovers prefer to prepare their favourite recipe a day ahead of time and let the flavours “marry” in the refrigerator. Of course, it’s totally up to you!

Italian Pasta Salad Dressing

Let’s talk pasta salad Italian dressing for a minute. If you’ve never tried zesty Italian salad dressing in your pasta, I highly recommend it. It gives everything a little extra zip of flavour that I’m sure your taste buds will appreciate.

Savoury Italian Pasta Salad Recipe — Italian Pasta Salad

Quick Pasta Salad Tips

1. If chopping onions makes you cry, try this. Cut a peeled the onion in half and run each piece under cold water for approximately 30 seconds. I can almost guarantee no more tears!

2. Pasta salad ingredient options are almost endless. Possibilities include green olives, raw broccoli, pepperoni, banana peppers, your favourite cheese… honestly; the list goes on and on.

3. If you do add extra ingredients, you’ll probably need to add more Italian dressing to ensure the entire salad is completely coated in yummy goodness. There’s nothing worse than dry pasta!

4. Italian pasta salad with spaghetti: Always make sure to rinse your spaghetti thoroughly in cold water before you start making the salad. Avoiding this step means you’ll end up with gummy, starchy noodles and you certainly don’t want that. While we’re on the subject, the simplest way to tell whether or not your pasta is cooked properly is to eat a couple of pieces and go from there.

5. Obviously, if you don’t want to take a trip to the store for cherry tomatoes, any ripe tomatoes will do the trick. Dice them as small or as large as you wish. Easy-peasy!

What goes with a pasta salad

If you are looking for side dishes to serve with your pasta salad, you can try:

Italian Pasta Salad Recipe

Ingredients for Italian Pasta Salad

1 box of spaghetti noodles, cooked
1 cup of chopped honey ham lunch meat
1 cup of Italian dressing
1/2 cup of cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1/2 onion, chopped
1 can of whole black olives
8 ounces small fresh mozzarella balls (ciliegine)

How to Make Pasta Salad

Following the directions on the back of the spaghetti box, cook pasta, drain and cool
In a large bowl, combine pasta, chopped ham, cherry tomatoes, onion, black olives and Italian dressing
Serve cold and enjoy

I hope you enjoyed this quick Italian pasta salad recipe as much as I did! If you make it, please share your photos with us on Facebook or Twitter! Also, check out all of our other recipes!

Quick Italian Pasta Salad Recipe

Lyne Proulx

This quick Italian pasta salad makes a great meal for lunch or dinner. You can make this pasta salad with ham ahead of time.

No ratings yet

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 20

Total Time 40

Course Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine American, Canadian

Servings

Calories 663 kcal

Equipment

Pot
Bowl

Ingredients

1 box spaghetti noodles cooked
1 cup of chopped honey ham lunch meat
1 cup of Italian dressing
1/2 cup of cherry tomatoes cut in half
1/2 onion chopped
1 can whole black olives
8 oz small fresh mozzarella balls (ciliegine)

Instructions

Following the directions on the back of the spaghetti box, cook pasta, drain and cool
In a large bowl, combine pasta, chopped ham, cherry tomatoes, onion, black olives and Italian dressing
Serve cold and enjoy

Nutrition

Calories: 663kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 26gFat: 34gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 1901mgPotassium: 381mgFiber: 5gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 330IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 196mgIron: 2mg

Keyword BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad, Italian Pasta salad, pasta, pasta salad, quick pasta salad

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Essential Oils to Use for Babies

Wellness

Lyne Proulx

-

May 15, 2019

5

Essential Oils to Use for Babies

Essential oils can also be used on babies in a variety of ways, so long as you are applying them correctly! There are many health benefits of using essential oils; however, there are also safety measures to consider. Some oils can irritate skin; others may not be suitable for the elderly or young children. So, let’s talk about babies and essential oils!

Never Directly on Skin

Because essential oils are highly concentrated, it is important to not only choose the right oils, but also to dilute them even more for babies. Also, babies should never be given essential oils to ingest. The best way to use essential oils for babies is during bath time or for a foot massage.

Nevertheless, you don’t want these oils to be applied directly to the skin of a baby because they may cause irritation. Before adding oils to a bath or massaging into baby’s feet, dilute the oils in a water-soluble carrier like raw honey or vegetable glycerin, then add it to your bath water or by mixing with a carrier oil to massage into feet.

Watch for Reactions

You may not be aware that your baby has an allergy to a certain product. That is why you should introduce one type of oil per day and note any reactions to the oil. Avoid blends until you are aware of which oils your baby responds well to.

To calm you baby, you can use this essential oils diffuser blend and add it to a 10 ml roller bottle:

5 drops of vetiver
2 drops lavender
2 drops ylang ylang
1 drop frankincense
1 drop majoram

Before using any essential oil on your baby, please consult your paediatrician and research the oil and its uses on babies. Some oils are not advised for babies less than 6 months of age. You should make sure you are using high quality oils as well, and that they are of a grade intended for use in the way you’re using them.

When used correctly and safely, essential oils can be great for babies.

Ottawa Mommy Club

Ottawa Mommy Club

Ottawa Mommy Club

Ottawa Mommy Club

Gentle Cleaning at Home with Babyganics

Laundry room duo

Shiny surfaces

Dish duty done

Kiddie cleanup

Wiping away muck

Bath time bubble fun

Suds of fun

Foaming soap = easy bath time

Gentle cleaning around your home

How to Pack for a Trip to Walt Disney World

1. Backpack

2. Healthy Snacks

3. Wipes and Hand Sanitizer

4. Pack Ponchos

5. Walking Shoes

6. Toiletries

7. The Hot Weather Essentials

8. Clothing And Shoes

What kind of snacks do you like to bring on Disney trips? Share below!

1. Remove Stains Using Totally Awesome Cleaner

2. Use Compressed Air to Dust Difficult Areas

3. Break Out the Magic Erasers

4. Turn a Cereal Container Into a Trash Can

5. Keep Cupholders Clean with Cupcake Liners

6. Cover the Backseat

7. Corral Clutter

8. Get Rid of Bug Guts

Do you have any car cleaning hacks to share?

Replacing Cleaning Products with Essential Oils

Don’t Bleach Your Bathroom

Freshen Your Mattress

Kitchen Cleaning

Carpet Freshening

14 No Bake Cookie Recipes

Benefits of Planting Spring Gardens

Making Personalized Stepping Stones for the Spring Garden

Here are the materials needed to make DIY personalized stepping stones:

How to Make Personalized Stepping Stones

Happy Spring Gardening!

Five surprising facts of a watermelon

1. The watermelon has more Lycopene than raw tomatoes

2. Watermelon juice is an excellent reliever of muscle soreness

3. Watermelon is both a fruit and a vegetable

4. Watermelon Rind and Seeds are edible

5. Watermelon contains a large amount of water

Marvel Studios’ Marvellous Captain Marvel Review!

What is Captain Marvel about?

What did I think about Captain Marvel?

But let’s start with the beginning…

Surprise twists!

An important core message…

To celebrate the release of Captain Marvel, below is a list of bonus features, including a few bonus clips!

Alternate Movie Versions

Featurettes

Deleted Scenes

KREE-Atine Smoothie!

What was your favourite part of Captain Marvel? Share below!

Turkey on the grill

Perfect power-packed party provisions

Why is turkey so good to cook on the grill?

Grilling adds flavour to meals

5 Reasons to Think Turkey on the Grill

1. EASY SUB

2. LEAN BUT JUICY

3. PACK A FLAVOUR PUNCH

4. SO MUCH TO CHOOSE FROM

5. PERFECT FOR PENNY PINCHERS

Mango-Chili-Lime BBQ’d Drummettes Recipe

Mango-Chili-Lime BBQ’d Drummettes Recipe

Ingredients

Mango Chili Lime Sauce:

Turkey Drummettes

Instructions

Notes

Want MORE turkey tips?

Ingredients

Ingredients