{GIVEAWAY} Father's Day Extravaganza

Welcome to the Father's Day Extravaganza Giveaway!

Hosted By: Simply Southern Couponers

Sponsored By: Simply Southern Couponers, DaddyScrubs, Dimples BBQ, CafePress, StatGear Tools, Golden Island Jerky, ToiletTree Products

Co-Hosted By: Coupon WAHM, Bargain Bandit, Kelly's Thoughts On Things, Giveaway Monkey , Embracing Marriage, Love From Elle

What do you like to do for your Dad on Father's Day? Do the kids make him a special present? Do you take him our to dinner? Or even cook him a special meal? Do you get together with family? Or even give him a Gift Card to buy himself what he wants? How would you like to make this Father's Day extra special by winning one of these great gifts? We have over $300 worth of prizes that seven lucky winners will have a chance to win.

Prize Info:

DaddyScrub- DaddySwag Gift Set (DaddyScrubs in Edgy, Navy color, I’m the Daddy Tee in White Edgy, I’m the Daddy Hat in Navy, I'm the Daddy coffee mug in Blue, 3 Pens, Sunglasses and I'm the Daddy Hat!) RV $90 Dimples BBQ- Gift Basket (T-Shirt size L, XL or 2XL, Hat, Koozie, Pen and Dimples BBQ Sauce) RV $40 CafePress- $25 Gift Certificate StatGear Tools- T3 Tactical Triage & Auto Rescue Tool RV $50 Golden Island Jerky- 6 Flavor Pack of Jerky RV $40 Simply Southern Couponers- Cabela's Gift Card or E-Gift Card $25 (winners choice) Toilet Tree- Fogless Shower Mirror RV $40

Here are Simply Southern Couponers reviews on: DaddyScrubs, Dimples BBQ, StatGear Tools, Golden Island Jerky, ToiletTree.

PROMOTING BLOGGERS PLEASE ADD 2-3 SENTENCES HERE

Event Details:

May 17, 2013 - June 7, 2013

Open to US residents only!

Must be 18 years of age or older to participate.

To enter this giveaway complete the Rafflecopter form below. All entries will be verified. Good Luck!

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A special thanks to all the Sponsors for sponsoring this event, our co-host and also to a great group of blogger friends for helping Simply Southern Couponers promote this giveaway.

 

May Flowers Bento Lunch

April Showers bring May Flowers, and leftover meatballs bring simple, cute bento lunches! I was multi-meal cooking with Canadian Beef last night which resulted in more meatballs than the family could eat in one sitting, so voila, meatball flowers, rice stamens, and snap pea stems and leaves!

Best part about this lunch was that it took all of 5 minutes to make (add 5 minutes if you count the smoothie I blended). Again proving that you don't need cute cutters and picks to create a cute lunch (good photography skills would have vastly improved this photo though, but I know you wont hold that against me!)

This lunch consists of sliced strawberries and kiwi, Annie's Organic cheddar bunny crackers, mini rice cakes, homemade Canadian Beef meatballs, rice, and snap peas.

Things I used to make this lunch:

Enjoy!

{GIVEAWAY} $200 Toys R Us Gift Card

Welcome to the $200 Toys R Us Gift Card Giveaway!

Hosted by Giveaway Promote.

Sponsored by author Carole P. Roman.

Carole P. Roman recently released volume four in her award winning series, Captain No Beard!

She's celebrating the new releases by giving away a $200 Toys R Us Gift Card or $200 USD via PayPal and a copy of each book!

Captain No Beard and the crew of the Flying Dragon welcome a new crew member, when Cabin Girl Cayla joins the ship. Responsible for his little sister, Captain No Beard is not very happy because he finds his newest charge a distraction. When faced with danger, the captain must find a way to escape.

While learning valuable lessons about strangers, the crew realized not to judge somebody because they are young or small. Strength comes in all sizes! Be sure to read "Captain No Beard: Strangers on the High Seas", Book 4 of the Captain No Beard Series. It is available on Amazon! 

"If You Were Me and Lived in...France - A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World" is the second book in Carole P. Roman's remarkable series about countries all over the globe.

With each book covering a different nation, Roman opens up a world of wonder while highlighting the fact that underneath it all we are far more alike than we might have imagined. Focusing on what life would be like from a child's viewpoint, she examines the diversity of the people who make up our planet. It is also available on Amazon!

About Carole P. Roman:

Award winning author Carole P. Roman is happy to add "Strangers on the High Seas- A Captain No Beard Story vol 4" to her successful series. The first book of the series, "Captain No Beard-An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life" was named to Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012, as well as received the Star of Remarkable Merit. It was also named as one of the Best Indie Books of 2013 with the Pinnacle Award.

Roman has two other series, "If You Were Me and Lived in...", a children's non fiction book on cultures around the world and an introduction to yoga for kids. She lives on Long Island with her husband and very close to her children and grandchildren.

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Enter to win a $200 Toys R Us Gift Card and a copy of Captain No Beard: Strangers on the High Seas and If you were me and lived in… France…

Complete the tasks below to earn entries into this giveaway.

Refer your friends using your unique link at the top of the Rafflecopter for even more chances to win.

One winner will be chosen at random from all valid entries.

Open Worldwide.

Ends at 11:59pm EST on May 26th, 2013.

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Bloggers, we'd love for you to join an awesome group giveaway event like this one! Sign up to be emailed about future events hosted by Giveaway Promote.

What to do with the kids: Vancouver International Children’s Festival

I am My kids are so excited to be going to this year's Vancouver International Children's Festival on Granville Island! This will be our first year attending (I know, what rock have I been hiding under?!) and with featured performers such as Bobs & Lolo (who my kids are in love with by the way), Cirque Zuma Zuma, and Charlotte Diamond and the Hug Bug Band, to name a few, this is sure to be a fun filled day for the entire family!

This year's festival is on the beautiful Granville Island from May 27th - June 2nd. Not only will there be a host of featured performances, but there are endless activities for kids of all ages (toddlers to tweens) to get creative and have fun at one of the many creative art stations. All this and more for a family of 4 for only $32!!

What's that?! Don't have $32 to spare? No worries! I've got you covered! 

The fantastic folks at the Vancouver International Children's Festival have offered up a Family 4-Pack of Activity Wristbands that can be used to access the world of art at the Granville Island activity zone!

What is the Activity Zone?

Over 15 activities on site!

This year's Activity Zones include: 

• Facepainting
• Making Music with Found Objects
• African Dance & Music
• Shadow Puppetry
• Circus Skills
• Bicycle Spin-Art
• A Kaleidoscopic Outdoor Weaving Experience
• Origami
• Magical Mystery Maze
• Sock Puppets!
• Twist & Toddle

Come down on Sat, June 1 and Sun, June 2 for an exclusive weekend activity - Me On The Map.  Make your mark on the city’s first kid-co-created multi-media installation!

It's going to be a blast! Enter below for your chance to join me!

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{REVIEW} April SNACKBOX by food.ee

As a busy mom, I'm all about convenience. This is particularly true in the summer when we're often found rushing from work/daycare to various sports, with very little time in between. If I can find a product or service that will make my life easier I'm all over it. 

Enter SNACKBOX by foodee

Snackbox by foodee is a curated box of the healthiest snack foods on the planet delivered monthly, right to your door, anywhere in Canada! 

Signing up is a simple 3 step process:

1. Choose the right box for you -- foodee boxes come in three sizes, personal, family, and bounty
2. Tell food.ee where to send it
3. Enjoy nutritious snacks & feel better!

Upon ordering, your first box will be shipped immediately, and each subsequent box will arrive around the 15th of the month depending on where in Canada you're located. I've been envious of similar programs serving the US for a while, so to discover that we can play now in Canada, awesome!

What I LOVE about SNACKBOX by foodee:

• Not only are the handpicked snacks healthy, and delicious, they're also ethically produced, and often local! 
• Gluten Free! We're not on a gluten free diet in our house, however I try to be conscious of my families gluten intake, especially as personally I'm trying to lose some baby weight (yes, I realize my youngest is 3.5) and increase my energy levels.
• All natural! Snacks with ingredients you can pronounce. No additives, no preservatives, no hormones, no manufactured ingredients. Need I say more?
• Many of the snacks are vegan and vegetarian friendly which makes sharing with my crunchy granola friends a breeze (who am I kidding, I'm one of the only vegetarians I know right now...)
• It's delivered right to my door! One less thing I have to do every month!

 What I DON'T LOVE about SNACKBOX by foodee:

•  This... I arrived home to see a pretty white box torn to shreds with a tissue paper trail leading to the couch. Naturally you would think the dog could smell tasty snacks and began to feast, but we don't have a dog... There was the small kid sitting on the couch snacking on my bag alive&radiant Kale Krunch! Not cool small kid... Not cool! I did not agree to share! So be forewarned, you may want to order your snack box to your office... But even that may not be safe!

After prying my snacks out of a pair of grubby three year old hands, I was pleasantly surprised to see the amazingly large bounty in this box! FULL bags of delicious snacks! 

This month featured alive&radiant foods Kale Krunch. This was a very timely snack as I had just recently sworn off of Kale chips after unsuccessfully making my own twice. These were amazing! I could eat a bag every single day! The flavour was "Quite Cheezy" however not made with cheese at all. Delish!

Also inside was a bar of BETA 5 75% Dark Chocolate. Amazingly good, and local to Vancouver!

The bag of Dave & Friends Asian Sesame Glazed Almonds were given to my amazing neighbour as payment for her free babysitting services (I'm allergic). She called me specifically just to tell me how good they were!

A sampling of some of the other tasty snacks in this months box was honey from Vancouver's Mellifera Bees which I'm very excited to try, a bottle of SIP natural craft soda also from Vancouver. I had the Rosemary Lime flavour which was crisp and refreshing at weighed in at only 25 calories! A bag of Popcorn Indiana all natural Kettle Corn, sweet and salty? I think so!

But wait, there's more!!

The amazing folks at food.ee are offering up all More Than Your Average Mom readers 50% off your first box!! Such an amazing deal! I promise you wont be disappointed!

I'd love to know what your go to snack food is?

Struggling with a major decision? The Audience Canada is looking for YOU!

For love, or money...

Recently, I was faced with one of the most difficult, and heart wrenching decisions I've ever had to make. Going into my decision, I was on team love, obviously. I'm a passionate, values driven, momma, who prides myself on decision making based on those values, and what my heart feels. I've listened to enough sappy love songs in my life to know that money can't buy you happiness, however the realist in me tells me that it can certainly help. 

In the end, after sleepless nights, soul searching, friend consulting, serious waffling, and family pestering, I reluctantly made my decision... I sold my soul to the devil, and went with money. Now, in reality far more factors were in play than just love and money, but that doesn't change the fact that my heart feels like it got sold out. 

Wouldn't it be great if there were an easier way to work through these major decisions?

Well, it's your lucky day! There is!

W Network is currently casting locally for The Audience, a Vancouver filmed and based new television series featuring individuals or families that have a big life decision on their plate or in their near future.

The Audience is a transformative, caring and compassionate television series. Each one-hour episode focuses on an individual or family who is struggling with a life-changing decision and is at a crossroads in their life. The inspiration for the show is the modern trend of crowd sourcing. Every day, millions of users on Twitter and Facebook consult their family, friends & followers for advice. Many of our major decisions are played out online. The Audience brings the concept of social networking to television and explores the question: Can the wisdom of the crowd change a person's life for the better? 

No counselor couch required, for one week, the individual with the impending decision is followed by 'The Audience;' 50 ordinary, insightful people from diverse backgrounds. 'The Audience' puts their heads together, debates the dilemma, and comes up with the best possible solution… the wisdom of the crowd. At the end of the week, 'The Audience' presents its considered, collective, and thoughtful advice to the individual that should help them move forward and make a positive decision regarding their dilemma.

Just what the Dr. ordered? 

Do you have a big decision in your future that would benefit from some collective assistance: Join or sell the family business? Relocate or change your career? Get married or leave him at the alter? Then this is the show for you!

If this sounds like you, or something you might want to do, apply to The Audience via email at info@theaudiencecanada.ca and in the conversations on Facebook and Twitter. If you're thinking no way! This isn't for you, I can attest, as a reality TV show participant myself, how stepping out of your comfort zone can really help to give you the push you need in life. It's not as scary as it might seem, I promise!


Who makes up your decision making support system?

What I really want for Mother's Day

Like many young girls, I vividly recall pretend playing "house" as a child. Whether it was with Barbies, or friends, there was always a constant theme - babies. I knew from a very young age that I wanted children. In fact, it wasn't uncommon to see our amazingly patient cat dressed up in doll clothes, being pushed around in a stroller. 

Having children is the most amazing thing I've ever done, full stop. And while there are definitely days I feel like throwing both children in the car and driving straight to Nebraska, those days are far less common as time passes.

Now, I swear I'm not vain, but I do love gift giving holidays...

Hear me out!

This may come as a surprise to you, but I was pretty crafty as a kid. I darned little coats for my pooch complete with removable fur collar, painted puzzle pieces and adorned them to plain picture frames to add a personal touch, and Papier-mâché'd vases filled with tissue paper flowers, like a champ. I was Queen Princess of the DIY craft gifting revolution before it was a revolution at all. Many of the homemade gifts that I gave to my family are still around to this day, proudly displayed and waiting for their story to be told. 

This is why I love gift giving holidays. Cancel that...

This is why I love DIY gift giving holidays!

 

Not only does the gift receiver have a thoughtful gift that was given truly from the heart, but the gift giver has a proud story of how the gift came to existence. 

Far too often in today's chaotic, convenience driven world we find ourselves scrambling last minute to pick up a gift, any gift just for the sake of giving something. Now, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't send back a little blue Tiffany box, but it's very important to remember that the most expensive gift doesn't always win, the priceless one does.

That's why this year for Mother's Day, I will be crafting with the kids, so that they can give the two generations of mothers above them something from the heart that will without a doubt be cherished. And this is what I hope to receive (hint hint mr.morethanyouraveragemom) 

If you're looking for some inspiration, check out my Pinterest boards (DIY Gift Ideas is a good place to start), or some of these great kid friendly ideas! 

For the Gardener in your family

For a laugh (my kids did this and it was hilarious!)

For the cook in your family

What's YOUR favorite DIY gift you've given or received?