My favourite amigurumi animal crochet patterns

Thanks to Shaw Communications for sponsoring this article

We’ve been long time Shaw customers and have had a PVR for a long time as well. We had been using Shaw’s Gateway system which I have liked but found the menu navigation to be a bit clunky and it had a few frustrating features (like no input button on the remote). I had heard about Shaw’s new BlueSky TV system but I wasn’t sure if I actually needed something better. When Shaw offered to let us trial BlueSky TV I was pretty excited to see if it was really as good as they say and to be able to help you decide whether it’s right for your family too.

We’ve only been using BlueSky TV for a couple of weeks, but I wanted to share our first impressions and what it’s been like to get used to using it.

Voice Commands

I’ve been really impressed by the voice commands. Setting our new recordings was super quick because I didn’t have to spend forever typing in the titles. I could just tell the remote what I wanted and up it appeared. You can also consistently use the voice commands from just about anywhere which makes using it really effortless.

I was a little wary of the voice commands, but I’ve found them to work really well. It can even understand my 5-year-old when she’s talking like a baby instead of using her big girl voice.

Speaking of kids, it’s made it way easier for my kids to access the things they want to watch. They can ask the remote for Disney Junior or Treehouse or to go to the KidsZone (more on the KidsZone below) and don’t need me to set it all up for them.

Content Integration

The voice controls are great, but the content integration is what I’ve been most impressed with. You can access your regular cable channels, recordings, Shaw On Demand, Netflix and CraveTV all from the same menu.

For example, if you searched for Grey’s Anatomy, you will find the first 13 seasons that are on Netflix, the current season On Demand as well as your PVR recordings. In the past, I would rarely use Shaw On Demand because I found it to be too much effort to find what I wanted. Now we use it all the time.

KidZone and More

We have a 3-year-old, 5-year-old and 8-year-old so the kids’ programming and access are big considerations for us. With BlueSky TV and the KidsZone, my bigger kids are now able to use the voice controls to get into the KidsZone and then access programming that’s appropriate for them. My 8-year-old mentioned how much he likes being able to access On Demand episodes of his favourite shows.

KidsZone can be customized for what you want your kids to see – you can limit it by channel, age, rating and even eliminate specific shows if you can’t stand your kids watching them (I’m looking at you Caillou).  The KidsZone is a little difficult to get out of, especially if you’re not used to it, but that helps make it so the kids don’t exit accidentally. 

You can also set all kinds of parental controls in the settings. For example, you can set a code for On Demand purchases (but still allow access to free shows) or limit how long the TV can be on.

Navigation

I was a little concerned that the non-voice control navigation would still not be very good (this was one of the things I disliked the most about our Gateway system). But I have been pleasantly surprised to find that this has vastly improved too. One of the only things I’d like to see changed is that it currently doesn’t hold your place very well when you go back to a show you’ve been binge watching, so you have to scroll down to the right episode.

Sports App

The new sports app is also a big improvement. I cannot tell you how many times we’ve been scratching our heads trying to figure out which channel the Flames game is actually playing on. Now it’s easy to find what sports are currently playing or pull up the upcoming games. You can ‘favourite’ the teams your family likes to watch to make them even easier to find.

There are a lot of other features too, like being able to see stats or game scores while keeping the game you are watching on screen at the same time. One of the new features I really love is being able to set a reminder for when a Flames game is coming on. I don’t want to record every game but we like to see them when we’re home so the reminder is perfect.

Overall, we’ve been really impressed with how easy BlueSky TV has been to get used to and are loving some of the new features. We’re looking forward to trying out BlueSky TV more over the next couple of months and will be reporting back to let you know how it goes.

I am a brand ambassador for the 2017 year with Church & Dwight. As part of this program I receive monetary compensation as well as products to review.

Sweater weather, sore throats and runny noses can only mean one thing – the start of cold and flu season! Luckily, there are easy ways to protect you and your family, and with the proper care and a lot of TLC you can say goodbye to cold and flu symptoms in as little as three days. By taking these preventative steps, you’ll fight every flu season with confidence.

Practice healthy eating: Maintaining a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables will help keep you healthy. But sometimes it’s hard to keep up and give your body all its recommended nutrients. To help keep pace with your hectic schedule, take a multivitamin to help support your immune system. If you’re like me and don’t like swallowing pills, try Men’s and Women’s Complete Multivitamin – they come in an easy-to-take gummy format and taste delicious.

Be active: Keep your body moving every day. Take a brisk walk or spend 30 minutes at the gym to keep your immune system healthy and your stress levels low.

Combat stress: Stress can affect how your immune system functions and a weakened system can lead to colds and the flu. To keep your immune system strong, get plenty of rest, and relax– not just when you’re sick!

Drink plenty of liquids: Fluids in general will help soothe a sore throat, loosen congestion and flush out any bacteria in your system. Drinking plenty of water also helps to prevent dehydration and replace fluids lost from a fever or respiratory infection.

Rest and recuperate: Unless you were one of the lucky ones this fall, and managed to avoid getting sick, you may have to spend a few weekends indoors resting. Keep plenty of tissue nearby, enjoy a movie marathon and recover with Gravol™ Multi-symptom Cold & Fever.  This natural health product is an all-in-one anti-nauseant, pain reliever and fever reducer. The medicinal ingredients that make this formula so effective are Ginger and Willow Bark extracts, traditional herbal medicines used for centuries.

Know when to see a doctor: The symptoms of different viruses and bacterial infections can be very similar and often confusing, which is why it’s important to know when to see a doctor. If you don’t start to feel better after a few days, your symptoms worsen or you’re in a high-risk group to develop flu symptoms , you should see your doctor.

Tip: Antibiotics are great at fighting the bad bacteria that makes you sick, but for some women, they can also affect good bacteria (also known as vaginal flora) making them susceptible to bacterial vaginosis (BV), which causes discomfort, discharge and itching. If you’re prone to BV when taking a prescription medication, try RepHresh™ Pro-B Probiotic. Just 1 oral capsule daily while using oral antibiotics can help treat bacterial vaginosis and help maintain vaginal flora in a normal range.

To help you stay ahead of the flu season, print out this infographic and post on your fridge for constant health tips and reminders.

I am a brand ambassador for the 2017 year with Church & Dwight. As part of this program I receive monetary compensation as well as products to review.

Having a child can be one of the most exciting times in a couple’s life. Whether it’s your first baby or you’re looking to expand your clan, once you’ve decided to have a baby, the last thing you want to do is wait!

Getting pregnant isn’t an exact science but you can put some planning behind your baby making to help better your chances:

Take a multivitamin: Start the journey well prepared. Taking a prenatal vitamin prior to pregnancy is an essential part of keeping you and your baby healthy.  The NEW FIRST RESPONSE™ Prenatal Multivitamin is a great option. It helps ensure you and your baby get the essential nutrients needed to stay healthy, maintain immune function and bone health. Two of the vitamin gummies provide the recommended folic acid intake per day to help prevent neural tube defects, which are commonly developed within the first month of pregnancy** and often before many females know they’re pregnant. As a bonus, this vitamin has a naturally sourced fruit flavor, low in sugar and gluten-free—making it easy to remember and delicious to take.

Understand your cycle: You probably don’t know your own ovulation schedules or know when you’re most fertile. But knowing when and if you’re ovulating is going to help you know when to try to conceive. Did you know that there are just two days during your cycle when you’re most likely to conceive? So how do you find these two days?  Pick up a FIRST RESPONSE™ Advanced Digital Ovulation Test. What makes it so great? It’s over 99% accurate in detecting luteinizing hormone (LH) surges in laboratory studies.  LH indicates when you’re most fertile and likely to conceive which is 24-36 hours after you detect your LH surge.

Tip: Be sure to keep a journal as well. This may be an app on your phone, a charting website, or a plain old paper one. The more you know and are in rhythm with your cycle, the more likely you are to pinpoint ovulation. There is a wealth of resources available at  www.1stresponse.ca.

Use a sperm-friendly lube: The last thing you want to do is decrease your chances of getting pregnant because of the lubricant you choose. Pre-Seed™ Fertility-Friendly Lubricant is sperm friendly. It not only enhances your comfort; it’s specially formulated to mimic your body’s fertile fluids. Other lubricants, saliva and even oil can inhibit sperm from reaching the cervical opening but Pre-Seed is pH-balanced and isotonic, allowing sperm to swim freely.

Don’t let the suspense drive you crazy: The amount of time it takes to get pregnant is different for everyone but if you’re “dying” to know, try the FIRST RESPONSE™ Early Result Pregnancy Test. It’s sensitive enough to capture scant amounts of pregnancy hormones to give you results 6 days sooner than your missed period.

Turn to others for advice: Remember, we’re all here to help you along your pregnancy journey—you’re not alone. Chances are, there is someone else out there who is going through the same—or similar—experiences, so don’t be shy about reaching out.

Help spread the conversation: In the spirit of giving advice and sharing to help others in a similar situation, I’d love to hear your conception stories and especially some of your misconceptions around ovulation, birth control and tips for getting pregnant. Share your stories and engage in the conversation online using #conceptionmisconceptions

* https://sogc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/gui324CPG1505E.pdf

**Helps to reduce the risk of neural tube defects when taken daily at least three months prior to becoming pregnant and during early pregnancy.

I am a brand ambassador for the 2017 year with Church & Dwight. As part of this program I receive monetary compensation as well as products to review.

Tips to keep you happy and healthy ‘down there’ this summer

Oh, summer, how I missed you. After a long winter, there’s nothing I’m craving more than the hot sun and patio weather. What I don’t miss are the pesky issues “down there” that also come with soaking up the sun. Yes, you read that right. For many women, the warmer temperature brings an increased risk of an “itch” that nobody likes to talk about – yeast infections.

Surprisingly, yeast infections affect more women than you think! Approximately five per cent of women experience reoccurring yeast infections (3 to 4 infections in the last year)[1] and this has a lot to do with heat. The infection occurs when moisture gets trapped and yeast can overgrow, causing itching, burning and discomfort. If you’ve had one, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

The good news is that with a few simple tips, you can avoid that pesky itch.

1. Remember to dry off: Relaxing in a hot tub is the perfect way to enjoy a warm, summer evening. However, yeast grows best in a moist environment, making hot tubs a breeding ground for unwanted infections. This means it’s important to dry off well afterwards and change into dry clothes right away. Use this same approach when spending the day at the beach or pool.
2. Know your pH: Many vaginal health issues, including odour, itchiness and yeast infections stem from an unbalanced pH. RepHresh™ Gel is a gynecologist recommended product and clinically proven to be pH balanced which can help to eliminate feminine odour and relieve feminine discomfort.
3. Wear cotton undies: Unfortunately, your tight skinny jeans may not be the best option this summer. Warm, tight clothing allows for little oxygen movement making the perfect breeding ground for yeast. If you must rock the skinnies, wear cotton underwear.
4. Take healthy measures: RepHresh™ Pro-B reduces the number of urogenital pathogenic bacteria and yeast on vaginal surfaces. It’s clinically tested and works by balancing the yeast and bacteria that are naturally present in a woman’s body to help restore and maintain proper vaginal flora. Try adding one capsule to your daily routine to keep your body on track and ensure nothing slows you down this summer!

Are you ready to beat the summer heat? I would love your feedback if you’ve tried either of these products.

[1] http://bodyandhealth.canada.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/oh-no-not-another-yeast-infection

I am a brand ambassador for the 2017 year with Church & Dwight. As part of this program I receive monetary compensation as well as products to review.

I’m sure you’re all familiar with that little orange box in your fridge, freezer or baking cupboard. Arm & Hammer™ Baking Soda has been helping generations of Canadian families cook and clean for decades.

Over the years, the team at Arm & Hammer – with the help of their loyal fans – have come up with more than 100 uses for baking soda and I’m sharing some of my favourites here.

• Baby, baby, baby. Baking soda is an all-natural cleaning product that’s gentle enough for even the tiniest baby clothes, yet effective enough for big baby odours. It can be used to treat spills on carpets, clean equipment and toys, deodorize baby bottles and diaper pails as well as freshen stuffed animals to give them a new life.
• Have you tried it in the bathroom? It helps remove the dirt and grime from bathroom tiles or no-wax floors quickly and easily. It’s also effective at cleaning shower curtains, deodorizing drains and wastebaskets, surface-safe cleaning and for septic system care.
• Not just for cooking in the kitchen. Yes, Arm & Hammer Baking Soda is a staple baking ingredient as it causes dough or batter to rise, becoming light and porous when heated, but it can also be used in the kitchen to clean lunch boxes, microwave ovens, dishes, pots and pans, recyclables, drains and garbage disposals. Did I mention it removes odours from plastic containers, polishes silver, freshens sponges and stinky sinks, refreshes tea pots, cups and mugs and works great as a fruit and vegetable scrub? It’s also a common deodorizer for fridges and freezers. Changing the box regularly (every 30 days is recommended) helps ensure optimal odour elimination.
• Don’t fret about your floors. It helps remove unsightly scuff marks without unwanted scratch marks from tile and no-wax floors. It’s also great at neutralizing common household odours and freshens stale-smelling air in your home.
• Tackles the greasiest of garages. Arm & HammerBaking Soda safely cleans your car lights, chrome, windows, tires, vinyl seats and floor mats without you having to worry about unwanted scratch marks. It’s also a great deodorizer for car interiors and camper water tanks and tackles oil and grease stains on your garage floor or driveway.
• Smelly gear no more. Use Arm & Hammer baking soda to clean and deodorize smelly sports equipment like hockey or camping gear, as well as gym bags.
• Don’t forget to take it outside. It is a must-have for your next camping trip! It’s a dish and pot scrubber, hand cleanser and deodorant, just to name a few. It also cleans your plastic and vinyl pool toys as well as lawn furniture when it’s time to bring them out for the summer and works wonders on barbecue grills.

And that’s not all!

Because of the gentle and all natural formula of Arm & Hammer™ Baking Soda, it’s a popular personal hygiene product for many. It can be used as a body and facial scrub, hand cleanser and a refreshing bath soak. It also helps to fight bad breath and body odour and is great for washing hair.

For a full list of these 100 uses of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda and usage instructions, visit www.armandhammer.ca. You’ll find them under the ‘Solutions’ tab.

We’re offering one lucky reader the chance to win 12 boxes of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda – one for every month of the year – in celebration of Canada’s 150^th anniversary! Share your favourite baking soda secret for a chance to win!

Giveaway includes the following Arm & Hammer Baking Soda products:

• Three (3) 250g boxes of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
• Nine (9) 500g boxes of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda

Approximate value: $20

What is your favourite way to use Arm & Hammer Baking Soda? Let me know in the comments below to enter to win! 

I am a brand ambassador for the 2017 year with Church & Dwight. As part of this program I receive monetary compensation as well as products to review.

 If you’ve visited your local home and garden store in the last few weeks, you likely noticed that the seasonal aisle is stocked full of BBQs, patio furniture and oh-so-fabulous backyard lounge chairs. Tempting as it is to toss out the old stuff that’s been sitting in your garage all winter – or worse, taking a beating outdoors for the past few months – a few simple, budget-friendly tips and tricks will help to make everything old look new again.

1. Make old, new again. There’s nothing worse than removing your patio furniture cushions from storage and realizing they’re all stained. Before you think about tossing them, give them a clean. Mix OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover with water and let the cushion covers soak for 1 to 6 hours, depending on the severity of the stain. Wash as normal and your cushions should come out stain-free and looking brand new.
2. Win the weeding war. Did you know that watering your weeds makes it easier to pull them out? If it hasn’t rained in a few days, water your weeds before yanking them. Fun fact: If the soil is moist, you are also less likely to disturb any plants nearby.
3. Save with a little scrubbing. There’s a simple solution for removing dirt, grime and stains from patio furniture and even your deck. Mix OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover with water (following the instructions on the package) and apply the solution to almost anywhere. Let stand for a few minutes and scrub as needed. It will leave everything looking neat and clean again.
4. Wheel your way to wonderful. Re-arranging rather than replacing is also a good way to give new life to your backyard. Consider moving planters and patio furniture to different spots within your space to give it a wonderful new look and feel. Remember, you’re not alone when moving heavy items like lounge chairs… there are wheels to help! Wheeling your furniture around doesn’t eliminate all the hard work but will put less strain on your back.

Be prepared that after a weekend of weeding and wheeling, your back, arms, legs – yes, your whole body – may be aching with pain. Make sure you leave yourself enough time on Sunday evening for a warm bath and a few hours curled up with a good book or movie. Before going to bed, rub and soothe your sore muscles (all of them!) with Rub A535 Extra Strength Heating Cream. The best things about this product is that it works fast and is non-greasy so you can put it on right before going to bed and it won’t stain your sheets.

Have you started prepping your backyard for the summer months? Share your favourite budget-friendly tips for getting your outdoor space, garden party ready.

This post is sponsored by Pinesol – #springblossom #yesitspinesol

I’m looking out the window right now on a lovely March day. Okay, actually it’s snowing. And this morning it was -21 with windchill. I am so ready for Spring I could cry, but apparently spring is not ready for me.

While I wait for the weather to get its act together, I’ve decided to start preparing for the arrival of Spring. Here’s a list of things I’m doing this year while dreaming of the return of green grass and flowers.

1. Check the kids shoes – they won’t need shorts for a long time but when the snow clears up they are going to be pretty cranky wearing boots
2. Participate in 40 bags in 40 days – I am on a mission to declutter my house this year
3. Clean some of those neglected areas – we all have them. This year I am boosting up the spring smell by trying out Pinesol Spring Blossom. #yesitspinesol
4. Trying out a new exercise routine – I am feeling restless with the exercise routines I’ve been doing so I’m going to try something new to shake it up
5. Give myself some grace – I often start getting hard on myself when I get restless. It’s not that I end up getting more done, I just spin my wheels and feel frustrated. I am going to try to let myself just be when I need to.

What are you doing to prepare for Spring this year?