YYZ Bambina

Chris and I purchased our first home in November 2014. We had SO many questions for our first huge purchase together and our RBC mortgage specialist helped us every step of the way.

Are you thinking of buying your first home? I bet you have a lot of questions too! You should join @RBC_Canada for the #RBCFirstHome Twitter Chat on Tuesday, March 24th from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm ET.

During the chat:

Participants can submit their home-buying questions using the hashtag #RBCFirstHome
RBC experts will be on hand to answer home buying questions
RBC has invited a Lawyer, Realtor, Design, Home Builders, Home Experts and Mortgage experts to participate as well
Participants have a chance to win 1 of 5 $100 gift cards

Tweet you on March 24th!

Disclosure – I am participating in the #RBCFirstHome blogger campaign by Influence Central. The opinions on this blog are my own.

© 2015 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

Edgar O'Bunny is one stylish rabbit. He has a gorgeous suit, a kind personality and a basket full of chocolate eggs to boot! Children can meet Edgar and get photos with him at Newmarket's Upper Canada Mall now until Saturday, April 4th.

Today Hannah was lucky enough to meet Edgar. Unlike Santa, she RAN right up to Edgar and gave him a great big hug. She smiled politely for the photographer, but the choice photo came when she was prompted to say silly things. After the photo, she gave Edgar a high five and got the gift all kids wish for from the Easter Bunny - a chocolate egg. She said her favourite part about meeting Edgar was looking in his big blue eyes.

Edgar has redesigned, brightly coloured digs this year in Centre Court and there are a variety of photo packages to choose from. All packages include a digital download.

The staff running the photo area are patient and kind. The little girl who met Edgar before Hannah was quite scared and didn't want her photo taken. The manager devised a plan for her to stand in front of her parents beside her brother, with Edgar behind her parents. Before the picture was taken, the parents quickly moved away. The resulting photo became their two happy children in front of Edgar. That's a real professional photography team if you ask me - ensuring every visitor receives a photo they'll proudly display in their home.

Easter Bunny Visiting Hours are:

Monday-Friday 10am-8pm
Saturday 10am-6pm
Sunday 12pm-5pm

Make sure you check out Edgar's Carrot Breaks so you don't miss him.

While you're at Upper Canada Mall, you can pick up Easter gifts or refresh your wardrobe with the latest spring trends.

Hannah was so excited to meet Edgar and now can't wait for Easter to come!

Will you visit Edgar this spring?

© 2015 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

One of the first things my best friend from childhood said to me after I told her I was having a girl was that she still had her Barbie dream house and all her Barbies for my daughter to play with. This past weekend during on a Mommy-Daughter date, Hannah was properly introduced to her first Barbie experience.

We were lucking enough to see Barbie's latest movie "Barbie in Princess Power" on the big screen - and she LOVED it. Barbie stars as Princess Kara, a girl who wants to make a difference in her community but her parents have other, safer plans. When she is kissed by a magic butterfly she develops super powers and starts to use them to make a difference in the kingdom under the alias of Super Sparkle.

Hannah's favourite part of the movie was Super Sparkle's cell phone. For the past few days she has run around, throwing her left arm in the air while screaming, "Super Sparkle to the rescue!"

After the movie, we had the opportunity to walk the pink carpet and meet Super Sparkle!

The year of 2015 marks the Barbie #BeSuper campaign, designed to celebrate girl empowerment in a way that only Barbie can. You can visit BeSuper.com to join the Barbie Super Squad and engage, create, imagine and share their own "super" stories.

Faith Dickinson, a 12 year-old Super Squad Leader, was also at the event. She is the founder of Cuddles for Cancer, a company that makes fleece tie blankets and donates them to cancer patients. She told the girls in the audience that they could be super too just by volunteering their time to help others.

To celebrate Being Super, there are numerous superhero-themed toys, the DVD movie, books and more.

How are you Super?

© 2015 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

My ultimate favourite cereal is Kellogg's Strawberry Mini-Wheats. Chris likes Brown Sugar Mini-Wheats and Hannah is partial to the original.

Cereal is a quick, easy breakfast to prepare in the morning when the minutes are few and the rush to get out the door is looming.

This winter has been a cold one - did you ever think to warm up your milk (regular, chocolate, soy, almond - whatever you prefer!) before pouring it over your Mini-Wheats to #TryItHot? When served with warm milk, this whole-grain, high fibre, family favourite is a wholesome way to beat the winter chill.

Now it's supposed to be spring, and boy did it rain today. The dark, gloomy, LONG commute called for a quickly prepared dinner tonight. So, after warming up some milk in a pot on the stove, I tried Strawberry Mini-Wheats hot! And boy did it smell great - and it tasted like pie!

Are you ready to #TryItHot? One lucky YYZ Bambina reader will win four boxes of Kellogg's Mini-Wheats and a special microwaveable bowl! Make sure you enter by April 8th, 2015!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I am part of the Kelloggers Network. As always, all opinions on this blog are my own.

© 2015 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

Hannah has started to ask a lot of questions in effort to understand the way the world works. Sometimes she asks why she can't wear her Minnie Mouse sandals in Toronto since she lived in them in Puerto Vallarta in February. Another time, she asked me why there are no traffic lights on the 401. Sometimes when she's trying to solve a problem, she'll try a few different ways and then ask for help. A show that mimics this process is one of her new favourites - Animal Mechanicals.

Animal Mechanicals is bright and colourful and at 11 minutes per episode, has a perfect running time if you need to accomplish a quick chore - while the Animal Mechanicals entertain your preschooler while teaching them about teamwork and logic. The Animal Mechanicals consist of a team of 5, and each member has a special talent (flying, extending, etc.) to help solve whatever problem they face.

Hannah's favourite is Unicorn because she can fly.

Recently we watched Animal Mechanicals, Balloon Volcano Island. The Balloon Volcano (which, as you may have guessed, emits colourful balloons) is sad because the balloons keep popping. The team head out to find out what is causing the balloons to pop - and it turns out to be Mechana hedgehogs. Their spikes are making the balloons burst. The team decides if they can get the hedgehogs back to their hedge, the balloons won't pop and the Balloon Volcano will be happy again. Unfortunately the hedge is afraid of the noise the sound the gallons make when they are popping so it's not going to be an easy job. But when they work together, the Animal Mechanicals can do anything, so they of course figured out a solution!

Here are some other scientific titles for little kids:

1. The Magic School Bus Gains Weight
2. Fetch! with Ruff
3. Sid the Science Kid

How do your kids learn about science?

Disclosure: I am part of the Netflix #StreamTeam. As always, opinions on this blog are my own.

© 2015 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

The summer my parents separated my Mom and I moved into a condo. A couple weeks later she went away for the weekend and for the first time ever I had to sleep alone in home (save my cat). Before you get used to the noises your home makes, they can be somewhat unsettling. I may or may not have slept with the hall light on. I may or may not have slept with the biggest knife from the kitchen on my nightstand. I may or may not have been 22 at the time.

When I was pregnant with Hannah I wondered if she would be a scaredy cat like me. And for three years, she's proven she can handle just about anything - the dark, scary parts in movies, etc. But now she's openly afraid of at least one thing. And if I'm honest, I don't like this "thing" either.

I understand paper towels in washrooms not only harm the environment but also create mess. I just don't understand what's wrong with old school hand dryers and why everyone is now installing the super loud, super annoying EXTREME AIR ones. Also, I don't like looking down at my hands and seeing my skin flap.

Hannah is scared of these dryers to the point where we seek out family washrooms just so we can control if they are used or not. The whole not liking/holding her hands over her ears/having big scared eyes in a public washroom has sort of had a damper on this whole potty training thing.

Are your kids afraid of anything? Do you have any traits you worry about passing on?

© 2015 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

Sorry the blog has been quiet lately, April has been a busy month. First my birthday, then Easter and then last weekend my Mom, Hannah and I went to Buffalo for a long weekend of girls shopping. Other than neglecting the blog, I've also been neglecting my cleaning which is the perfect lead-in to this post and a great giveaway!

Do you do a big spring clean every year? Today my car's winter tires got put into storage. And so did my winter jacket. I love putting away all things winter, and welcoming my spring and summer items to the front of my closet.

Like undertaking any big project, the big spring clean can be intimidating. I try to break it down by room and job. I do the things I prefer first (organizing what to keep and what to donate) before I do the things I less prefer (the big deep clean).

Some great P&G products that help include:

Tide Liquid Detergent

I use Tide to wash our winter jackets to make sure they are clean to store - and that they smell great, ready for next year.

Swiffer 360 Duster Extender Kit

Our new condo has ceiling fans in both of our bedrooms and our kitchen. I LOVE the Swiffer 360 Duster Extender - it grabs all the dust sitting on top, and nicely wipes the bottom of the fan blades.

Puffs Basic Tissue

Cleaning often includes collecting dust - which is why I need to have Puffs on hand while I clean - and sneeze.

One lucky YYZ Bambina reader will win a Spring Clean Giveaway Bundle (worth approximately $60) including:

By entering the following contest you are accepting that if you win your contact information will be shared with a P&G PR and shipping agency for the purpose of mailing your prize. Please allow 4-6 weeks from the contest closure date to receive your prize. This giveaway may appear on other blogs as part of the #PGmom program. However, to be fair, you can only win once per giveaway. If your name is chosen more than once, another winner will be selected. All winners must be from within Canada excluding Quebec. Valid entries only. Contest ends April 27th, 2015. For further contest rules, refer to the Terms and Conditions within the Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom/mamanP&G. As part of my affiliation with this group I receive products and special access to P&G events and opportunities. The opinions on this blog are my own.

© 2015 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

I can still remember the first Toronto Raptors game I attended. It was fall of 1995. I was in grade 8. My Uncle had seasons tickets in the 500 level at SkyDome so my Mom bought some and took my brother and I to quite a few games. Having my first NBA experience in a stadium built for baseball and football was interesting, but all Torontonians were just so happy our city finally had a team.

Who knew 20 years later that Loblaws and Swiffer would team up to give fans a piece of the Inaugural Court?

Last night I was lucky enough to dine at e11even with Damon Stoudamire, NBA's Rookie of the Year for 1995-1996 in which he played with the Raptors at SkyDome. You may have seen Mighty Mouse on TV today sharing with Raptors fans how they can receive their piece of inaugural court. Here we are below with the plaque fans might receive:

So you want your own piece? Simply visit a Loblaws store and purchase $15 worth of Swiffer products. Then visit showyourclean.cato download a form to fill out, and mail the form along with your receipt and bar codes.

There are only 3,400 pieces available (each plaque is numbered). Here's a picture of just the plaque:

Not only are there a limited number of pieces, but there's a time deadline too - mail must be post marked by June 30, 2015 to qualify.

As I type this, the Toronto Raptors are making history by playing their second play-off game of 2015 on Swiffer Certified Hardwood. Will you own a part of their history from 1995?

Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom/mamanP&G. As part of my affiliation with this group I receive products and special access to P&G events and opportunities. The opinions on this blog are my own.

© 2015 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

"I have 12 older brothers."

"I have a dog."

"I brushed my teeth already."

These are all lies my daughter tells to me on pretty much a daily basis (she is DEFINITELY not Prince Hans). I try really hard not to lie to her - but everyone does it.

And I won't lie to you - most weeknights I'd rather be watching Full House with her than streaming Color Crew. (I love that Blogger squiggly lined color, but it's the actual name for the show.) By the time Hannah is in dreamland most evenings I have less than 45 minutes to myself after doing household chores. Often that's not enough time to watch an episode of House of Cards (which has a LOT of lying) or any other show streaming that's considered "an hour" on television.

So, I am very excited that House of Lies is now streaming Season 3 AND the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is now streaming Season 1. I've also been quickly binging my way through 3rd Rock from the Sun, a big personal favourite from the 90s. All shows have episodes that are less than 30 minutes and both shows deal with lies (see the theme for this month?) And I'm very excited to share a post with adult streaming content since I haven't done it in a while.

House of Lies

I have a mega girl crush on Kristen Bell. Even after watching Frozen a billion times, I still have a mega girl crush on Kristen Bell. She's one of the four main actors in House of Lies - which, not surprisingly from the title, is a show where all the action is propelled by lies. The show follows Marty Kihn (Don Cheadle) as he navigates his pod (of which Kristen's character Jeannie is a part of) through top-level consulting (also know as lying) and personal life with his father, son and ex-wife who is major work competition.

These episodes can't be streamed around kids - there is nudity and swearing and just general things I don't want to explain to Hannah why certain characters are doing certain things. But it's like a nightly hour drama (work, love, friendship, drama) packed in to less than 30 minutes - and I love it!

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

I don't want to spoil anything for everyone, but less than two minutes in to the pilot episode of this new Netflix Original show I knew I was going to love it (let's just say it has the best theme song ever).

From Tina Fey and Robert Carlock (the folks behind 30 Rock) comes a story of the Ohio Mole Woman - four kidnapped ladies lied to by their doomsday cult leader.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt begins with Kimmy (Ellie Kemper) and the other ladies being discovered after Kimmy was held captive for more than 15 years. They make an appearance on the Today Show and Kimmy decides New York City is the place to begin her life again.

The show heavily relies on interesting characters and situations where Kimmy is a fish out of water to entertain. There have been many moments where I have actually laughed out loud. I can't wait for season 2!

3rd Rock from the Sun

I LOVED this show when it first aired. Watching it as a young teen versus an adult made me realize how many jokes went over my head.

3rd Rock from the Sun is a show about aliens who come to Earth to learn about humans. They have to keep their true identities secret while getting humans to trust them so they can report back to their boss - the Big Giant Head.

It has a stellar cast John Lithgow as Dick, the High Commander, Kristen Johnson as Sally, the Safety Officer, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Tommy, the oldest alien stuck in a teenager's body, the Information Officer and French Stewart as Harry...who we eventually learn has something in his head to communicate with the Big Giant Head. Dick is a professor at the local university, and is in love with fellow office mate Mary (Jane Curtain).

Since the show began airing in 1996 there are some story lines that are dated (Harry gets a job at a video store, Dick gets locked for days in a stairwell - today people would have their cellphone on them, etc.). However it is still just as funny as it was almost 20 years ago.

All six seasons of the show are available to stream and I'm trying to pace myself so I won't be upset when I reach the end.

What shows do you stream that deal with lying?

Disclosure: I am part of the Netflix #StreamTeam. As always, opinions on this blog are my own.

© 2015 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

A few weeks ago I picked up Hannah from preschool while she played with some kindergarten kids in the playground. As she sat on the ground, "camping", she pointed to me and said the following to her little group:

"That's my Mom. She's cool. She gives me chocolate."

Then, a little girl I didn't know came up to me and said:

"Can I have some chocolate?"

While it's true chocolate is my daughter's favourite treat, I don't carry it with me at all times. Chocolate can melt, and there are other snacks that can keep their form in heat. So not that I would have, but I had no chocolate to give the child I didn't know.

Hannah's favourite type of chocolate is the kind that surrounds a toy - that's right, Kinder Surprise. She often receives it as a treat when she's out with Grandma. She receives it on all holiday occasions. And sometimes, she just receives it because it makes her smile.

Earlier this month for Easter, some of the Eggs Hannah found on her hunt were of course Kinder Surprise. We are also toilet training, and a Kinder Surprise egg is often the prize for a good few days of letting us know when she needs to go and using the toilet in public. Her favourite stuffed animal got lost at preschool and a Kinder Surprise egg made her feel better.

Sometimes the act of her receiving a Kinder egg isn't a surprise, but the toy inside always is. She loves opening the little yellow plastic container and finding out what new toy is there, whether or not it needs to be built and if she already has toys in that collection. Her new favourite is a little pink pony.

Is Kinder Surprise a surprise for your kids?

Disclosure – I’m part of the Kinder Canada #KinderMom program. As part of my affiliation with KINDER® Canada, I am provided with special perks and products. All thoughts on this blog are honest and 100% my own.

© 2015 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

Having relatives in England, one of my very first stuffed animals was a Paddington Bear. I'm always excited to share things from my childhood with Hannah and this movie is no exception. I even learned a few things about this loveable bear with "a worrying marmalade habit".

The official synopsis:

From the beloved novels by Michael Bond and producer David Heyman (HARRY POTTER), PADDINGTON tells the story of the comic misadventures of a young Peruvian bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) who travels to the city in search of a home. Finding himself lost and alone, he begins to realize that city life is not all he had imagined - until he meets the kindly Brown family who read the label around his neck that says “Please look after this bear. Thank you,” and offer him a temporary haven. It looks as though his luck has changed until this rarest of bears catches the eye of a museum taxidermist (Nicole Kidman).

Watch the trailer below:

I loved hearing Paddington's "bear name" and seeing him explore the city after living in a forest in Peru his whole life. There are definitely adult jokes to keep caregivers entertained.

Hannah loved seeing Paddington explore a bathroom for the first time - especially when he used a toothbrush as an ear brush.

The movie is 95 minutes long. Special features include Meet the Characters, When a Bear Comes to Stay, From Page to Screen, "Shine" Lyric Music Video and The Making of "Shine" with Gwen Stefani & Pharrell.

After watching the movie, I need to find my Paddington. I think he's about to become yet another person's favourite bear.

Enter to win:

One lucky YYZ Bambina reader will win their own Paddington Combo Blu-ray + DVD pack! Enter using the Rafflecopter below by May 14th, 2015.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a copy of the DVD for the purpose of this review. As always, opinions on my blog are my own.

© 2015 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

One of Hannah's favourite things is to go to shows. I was once told by another mom that watching Hannah dance in the aisle was worth the price of admission for her alone. So I knew she would be a fan of Mystic Drumz.

Mystic Drumz has been performing shows, delivering programs, and facilitating workshops for over 15 years. With over 5,000 events and counting, their one of a kind “World Music Safari Adventures” are a sensation in music education.

Mystic Drumz presents “The Legend of Marshmallow Island” on DVD

This 55-minute world music safari adventure features music from around the globe takes viewers from the giant gongs of China to the talking drums of Africa and even into outer space. The show features high tech screen projections, incredible sound effects and unique instruments from around the world.

We got to review a sneak peak of the DVD and Hannah LOVED it. She stood up and followed the action just like she was at the show herself.

To see what the show is like, check out this promo:

DVD Release Party - Sunday, May 31st, 2015 at 11:15 am
Al Green Theatre - Miles Nadal JCC (Spadina and Bloor)
Toronto, ON
You can purchase tickets online.

Come join the fun on this fabulous musical adventure to find Marshmallow Island. Meet all the hilarious characters who colour the show with a splash of silly.

Win a DVD and Tickets to the Release Party

One lucky YYZ Bambina reader will win a family pack of tickets to the Release Party as well as a copy of the DVD (please note, transportation is not included). Enter using the Rafflecopter below by May 19th, 2015.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a copy of the DVD for the purpose of this review. As always, opinions on my blog are my own.

© 2015 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

You know when you enter certain places and just need to take a deep breath? For me, it's my Mom's house at Christmas time. There's just a lovely smell in the air and I completely feel at home.

Does your home have a Scent Decor? If you are looking for one, Unstopables is a superior option.

Unstopables is a new, crave-worthy collection of home and fabric care products with sophisticated scents that deliver rich, long-lasting and enveloping sensorial experiences to elevate the everyday. Featuring a fabric refresher, air refresher, scented oil warmer, candle and in-wash scent booster beads, Unstopables lets you style and upscale your environment and wardrobe with sophisticated and fragrant Scent Décor reflective of your signature style.

Iconic interior designer, Nate Berkus says, "Scent is key to elevating your decor. It builds an association to you and your home."

Unstopables come in three scents - Fresh, Lush and Shimmer. I was lucky enough to receive the Fresh line - and I love it!

I was already a huge fan of the Unstopables In-Wash Scent Booster - I love the way my towels and bedding smell after using it! It is also great for masking smells in particularly dirty clothes (hello potty training!)

Speaking of potty training, the Unstopables Air Effects help our washroom stay fresh after it's been used.

I also love the Unstopables Fabric Refresher - I love using it on my couch. And the Unstopables Candle looks chic on my coffee table and when in use, adds to the room's scent.

The Unstopables Scented Oil Warmer is easy to use - just plug it in. We have ours in a central area on low, and it still scents three rooms!

I like using all the products together to create a continuous scent throughout my home - and you can too! One lucky YYZ Bambina reader will win:

By entering the following contest you are accepting that if you win your contact information will be shared with a P&G PR and shipping agency for the purpose of mailing your prize. Please allow 4-6 weeks from the contest closure date to receive your prize. This giveaway may appear on other blogs as part of the #PGmom program. However, to be fair, you can only win once per giveaway. If your name is chosen more than once, another winner will be selected. All winners must be from within Canada excluding Quebec. Valid entries only. Contest ends May 20th, 2015. For further contest rules, refer to the Terms and Conditions within the Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom/mamanP&G. As part of my affiliation with this group I receive products and special access to P&G events and opportunities. The opinions on this blog are my own.

© 2015 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

Hannah has liked TinkerBell since she first opened one of her friends in a Kinder Surprise egg. So she was really excited to watch TinkerBell's latest movie - TinkerBell and the Legend of the NeverBeast.

About the Movie:

The new story explores an ancient myth of a fabled creature whose distant roar sparks the curiosity of Tinker Bell’s good friend Fawn (voice of Ginnifer Goodwin), an animal fairy who’s not afraid to break the rules to help an animal in need. But this animal—massive and strange with glowing green eyes—is not really welcome in Pixie Hollow, and the scout fairies are determined to capture the mysterious beast before it destroys their home. Fawn, who sees a tender heart beneath his gruff exterior, must convince Tink (voice of Mae Whitman) and the girls to risk everything to rescue the NeverBeast before time runs out. Watch the trailer below:

The movie begins with Fawn rescuing a baby hawk named Hannah...so we immediately paid attention and were brought in to the movie. When Fawn first meets the NeverBeast Hannah was a little scared, but she quickly learned the NeverBeast had a good heart and was rooting for him until the very end.

Our favourite special feature was "Tink'n about Animals" a fun song Fawn sings about a variety of of animals and the name of their groupings.

Have you watched TinkerBell and the Legend of the NeverBeast?

Disclosure: I received a copy of the DVD for the purpose of this review. As always, opinions on my blog are my own.

© 2015 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

When I was little, one of my favourite things about breakfast time was eating cereal to get to the toy. Sometimes my brother and I were vying for the same toy and it was an anxious experience waiting to see if the coveted toy landed in one of our bowls.

This spring, Canadian families will experience that delight again as they open specially-marked, family-size boxes of Kellogg’s cereal with one of five collectable Cereal & Milk Spoon Straws inside!

I was sent a box of Froot Loops (winning the cereal lottery) and all five spoons. Clearly the spoon with Toucan Sam is my favourite.

The spoon can be used as a spoon to eat the cereal, and then as a straw to drink the leftover milk. (I tend to like a bit of cereal with a lot of milk, so this is great for me).

The Cereal & Milk Spoon Straws are in specially-marked family-size boxes of Froot Loops, Krave, Rice Krispies, Corn Pops and Frosted Flakes for a limited time - so pick yours up at the grocery store soon!

Do you have a cereal surprise story?

Disclosure: I am part of the Kelloggers Network. As always, all opinions on this blog are my own.

© 2015 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

Warmer temperatures have officially arrived, and with it our skin and hair rejoices (at least mine do - my hands HATE the combination of cold weather, dry heat and scratchy paper towels in my work restroom).

P&G Beauty products will help take your hair, skin and teeth from winter blah to summer gorgeous. Some of the amazing products include:

Pantene Velvet Creme Infusion:

During the winter, I blow dry my hair a lot. And again with the dry heat in my home and office, my hair can get rather dry. When using this product my hair is unbelievably smooth - I'm already addicted!

Olay Fresh Outlast Body Wash:

I got sent the Soothing Orchid & Black Current scent. And I love it. Some mornings it's a battle to wake up and get in the shower, but once I open the bottle I'm immediately in a better mood. The best part though is that my skin is smooth and hydrated all day.

Crest 3D Brilliance Boost Polishing Treatment:

This is a product you use in combination with your toothpaste in order to smooth and refine teeth for a smile that shines.

To prepare for summer, one lucky YYZ Bambina reader will win:

By entering the following contest you are accepting that if you win your contact information will be shared with a P&G PR and shipping agency for the purpose of mailing your prize. Please allow 4-6 weeks from the contest closure date to receive your prize. This giveaway may appear on other blogs as part of the #PGmom program. However, to be fair, you can only win once per giveaway. If your name is chosen more than once, another winner will be selected. All winners must be from within Canada excluding Quebec. Valid entries only. Contest ends May 27th, 2015. For further contest rules, refer to the Terms and Conditions within the Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom/mamanP&G. As part of my affiliation with this group I receive products and special access to P&G events and opportunities. The opinions on this blog are my own.

© 2015 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

There was one show as a child that I watched religiously with the rest of my family. In fact, on Friday nights my Mom and my Godmother would usually take us out for dinner or to shop and we made sure we would always be home in time for TGIF. I was (am) the same age as Stephanie Tanner. I always wondered what it would be like to grow up with a big sister...and a little sister (I have a little brother). Or in a house without a Mom, but with a Dad, an Uncle Jesse and a Joey. And later an Aunt Becky, and a bit after that two cousins.

The show I am referring to, of course, is Full House. I'm definitely having some Nineties Newstalgia as the entire show is streaming now on Netflix and I watch with Hannah (it's still considered a "Mommy" show by her - although her favourite episodes include dancing and singing - she LOVED "Our Very First Telethon" and we've watched the dancing and singing portions more than once).

I am BEYOND excited about Fuller House, and can't wait to catch up with the Tanner family - especially now that DJ has kids of her own!

Two other "Mommy" shows I really enjoyed this month were Frankie and Grace and Schitt's Creek. I write "enjoyed" as I have had to spend some time off work due to a bad back since my car was rear-ended a couple of weeks ago...and I binge watched both seasons because I just couldn't get enough.

Grace and Frankie

This will be the show that makes my Mom finally figure out how to work Netflix. A Netflix Original Series, Grace and Frankie stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as frenemies who must come together to overcome the fact that their husbands are gay - and about to marry each other.

For me, it was interesting to see the way things played out with the couples, their kids and their friends. There were funny points, sad points, but through it all the series felt so real and was engaging to watch.

Schitt's Creek

Full disclosure: I was a big fan of MTV's The Hills and an even bigger fan of Dan Levy of the Aftershow. So when I found out he had partnered with his Dad, Eugene Levy, to create a show I had to watch it. And watch it I did. In one day.

Schitt's Creek focuses on a rich family who loses everything, except for the town the father (Eugene Levy) bought his son (Dan Levy) as a joke for his 16th birthday. How the Rose family adjusts to life in a small town, living in a motel and having no money is quite comical (as are the town folk they encounter) and I can't wait for Season 2.

Of course, this post wouldn't be complete without further input from my daughter. Her favourite show right now is Dinosaur Train, which focuses on a unique Pteranodon family, who adopt a Tyrannosaurus Rex. It often comes up that Buddy the T-Rex is different than his brother, sisters and parents, but that his differences make him special and they all love each other just the same. (Also, the show is about time travelling dinosaurs, how can one NOT be a fan?)

Which television families are your favourite?

Disclosure: I am part of the Netflix #StreamTeam. As always, opinions on this blog are my own.

© 2015 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

There are kids who don't like to get dirty. And then there are kids who "swim" in the sandbox at preschool and bring half of it home with them inside their shoes. My daughter is definitely the latter. She's into dirt, bugs and reptiles - a lot of things that would make an adult (namely me) squirm.

So when we were given the opportunity to review the latest movie title from kaboom! Entertainment, Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants, it was right up Hannah's alley.

Synopsis:

After a couple leaves their picnic in a hurry, a gang of hungry ants moves in to steal what could be their most coveted treasure: a tin box filled with sugar cubes. But before they can get away with the loot, a newly-born ladybug strays from its own family and gets trapped inside the box! The ladybug is soon spirited away by the ants as they try to transport their prize across the woods toward their colony. Together, the insects embark on an epic journey to protect their sugar.

The movie takes real-life backgrounds of a national park in France as their set and makes the computer generated insects look very much at home. There is no dialogue for the 90-minute film - save the two sentences Richard Dreyfuss says to open up the movie.

The insects do "talk" to each other, and often their communication and working together is what gets them out of sticky situations - whether the black ants and ladybug are fighting against animals who see them as prey or fighting their direct enemies, the red ants. With all the action, breathtaking scenery and great soundtrack, one doesn't really miss English dialogue as the story quickly moves along.

Bonus features include a Set Tour of the national parks, Behind the Scenes and The Making of Minuscule.

Make sure to like the kaboom! Entertainment Facebook page and follow them on Twitter to learn about more upcoming releases.

One lucky YYZ Bambina reader will win Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants. Make sure to enter by June 9th, 2015.

June is the month to celebrate Dads and Grads all across Canada. Apparently it's also the month my family comes down with a summer cold and hence the quietness of my blog lately. But let me make it up to you by sharing some amazing gifts Hallmark Canada has in store now for both occasions.

Father's Day is Sunday, June 21st this year.

Chris is an amazing Dad. He jumped right into fatherhood without ever looking back. He's the man in charge of bedtime and usually bath time too. And he's a great cook to boot. Hannah loves watching the Blue Jays with him and forever talks about their daddy-daughter trips to the Park.

Hallmark has a variety of gifts for the father figures in your life such as golf balls ($9.99 for set of 3), frames ($16.95), mugs ($14.95 each), and BBQ supplies.

Hallmark has Gifts for Grads

True story - I have had six graduations. And to my great disappointment, I didn't get to wear a cap for ANY of them. (The photo below is when I received my degree - exactly a decade ago.)

Whether you are attending a kindergarten graduation or a ceremony for someone receiving their PhD, Hallmark has you covered with unique gifts commemorating the graduation year of 2015. I had an Autograph Graduation Dog when I graduated from high school, this year's graduates can have an Autograph Graduation Bear ($16.95). There are also great Graduation cards and an awesome Grad Hat Card Keeper ($19.95) will definitely come in handy. Frames ($12.95) and a Grad Hat Gift Card Holder ($9.95) congratulate graduates for all their hard work.

How will you celebrate the Dads and Grads in your life?

Would you like to win a Hallmark Dad Frame? Enter using the Rafflecopter below by June 14th, 2015.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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