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Unveiling New Features at the Delta Bessborough, Saskatoon

Friday, April 27, 2012

I have to travel back to Saskatoon in one week for a doctor appt., and will once again be staying at the beautiful Delta Bessborough, Saskatoon , which has announced that is undergoing major $ 6.5 million renovation of its 225 guestrooms. With anyone having to travel to the city for business, pleasure, or even doctor appts., this hotel is most welcoming the moment you walk through the door.
The hotel's redesign will make these spaces more modern, and filled with must have technology features, allowing the travellers to easily transition from home to travel to hotel, as it will feature many necessary amenities, that travels have come to rely on. 


The new room design (called ModeRoom) will feature SmartDesk™, a fully wired, multipurpose are which provides the guest with a clutter free work space yet has built-in power and connectivity dock and can link your laptop or mobile deice to a flat screen high definition TV. Of course all rooms will include free high-speed internet access which will allow you to use all the features worry free. This technological innovation is not the only thing that’s new. Since its sometimes the small things that make a big difference, the rooms will feature convenient shelving, hooks in the entry way, pinpoint reading lights on the headboard (so you don’t have to get out of bed to turn of the light or disturb your partner with light). Additionally it will have bedside plug-ins for your smartphone.


The overall goal of these renovations is to give travellers to sense of comfort, in a truly historic castle-like building. The new design will be inspired by the Canadian landscape merging fresh and modern colours and maximizing the available natural light. It will be merger of technology, and luxury, featuring feature philosophy® amenities skin care products which complement the newly opened 1,800 square foot spa.
The rooms will be featured in two categories; Mode and Mode club. Mode club will feature upgraded services such as turn down service and access to an private lounge which feature evening hors d’ oeuvres and deluxe continental breakfast.


With the renovations now complete there is no better time to stay at Delta Bessborough.

Review and Giveaway:The Pocket Calorie Counter



For those tracking their nutritional intake it may be hard to count their calories while out on the town. 

I'm trying another approach to keeping an eye on what I'm eating. Counting calories. I've had issues lately with seeing weight slowly creeping back on and thought I ate healthy and tried to be careful, but after spending a day counting calories,I can see now that the calories will and do add up.

The Pocket Calorie Counter from  Peter Pauper Press is a discreet and portable guide, with over 8000 entries, to managing your health. It even contains nutritional information from major restaurant chains. It is an easy way to figure out the calorie, carbs, fiber, sodium, fat content of the foods you eat. Best yet, it lies flat when opened and it is small enough to easily take with you when dining out. 

It's a quality pocket guide though and a great deal for the money.


The Pocket Calorie Counter is available in Canada as well through Chapter Indigo and other retailers.

Peter Pauper Press would like to give one of these calorie counter guides away to one lucky winner from Canada or the USA. A random draw will be made on May 5, 2012 by Random.org from all entries received.

To Enter:
Please tell me why you would like to win this prize.

Extra Entries:
Add me in your Google + circle
Join me on Google Friends
Sign up as an email subscriber
Tweet this Giveaway
Add me to your Blog Roll
Add my button to your site
Stumble one of my posts and tell me which one

Best of luck to all!

How To Survive A Family Camping Trip

Thursday, April 26, 2012




You’ll probably never forget where you were when you joyously announced to your clan, ‘Forget Lanzarote - let’s go camping!’ Fast-forward three months, and the horrible truth becomes apparent. None of you have camped before, so, as a result, you are woefully underprepared. There are fights over day over who has clean socks and who ate the last of the jam. Someone is sleeping in the car. However, don’t let that put you off - we’ve compiled a way of making sure that your next camping trip is an absolute success.

Firstly, make sure that a) the tent you’re taking is large enough and b) you’re confident putting it up. In terms of space, you may need to take two tents, so you and the kids can have some space - and some privacy. It’s always worth setting aside an afternoon to pitch your tent in the back garden to make sure you have all the pegs and poles that you need, and that there are no holes. Always leave plenty of time to nip to the shops to purchase a replacement.

Secondly, remember that he weather can never be depended upon, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Always prepare for rain, storms, showers and thunder. Remember that waterproof clothing is what you need - don’t be fooled into thinking that a thick jumper and pair of new trainers will survive a flash flood. Make sure that the whole family is kitted out - the best hiking socks might seem pricey, but they’ll pay for themselves many times over when you’re out and about, and the heavens open. Staying dry is the one thing that’ll keep your spirits up, so make sure that you safeguard your comfort at all costs.

Food is always something that raises a family’s happiness levels, and a camping trip is no mistake. Make sure that you set off with plenty of foods that are tasty, filling, provide plenty of energy and are (if possible) individually wrapped. Foods such as noodles, wholemeal pasta with sauce, cous cous with pitta breads and ketchup, and fried peppers and onions with rice cakes or boil-in-the-bag rice always go down a treat. Fruit such as apples, bananas and nectarines keep well, and don’t forget the obligatory stash of chocolate bars and cereal bars to keep you going. Long-life milk, tea, coffee and herbal teas are lifesavers, as well as double-concentrate squash and Berocca.

Don’t forget that if it’s rainy, you’ll have to amuse yourselves, so don’t forget to pack books, handheld games, puzzle books and some cards. Many a holiday has been saved by a post-lunchtime game of Uno when it’s tipping it down, so bear in mind that some mornings or afternoons rain will stop play. Come prepared, and you’ll find that you lessen the probability of arguments due to frayed nerves.

Finally - remember to choose your spot wisely. Don’t pitch up too close to anyone else, and don’t pitch up anywhere where you’ll a) be in the way or b) you’re too far from anyone else (this will encourage thieves who think your remote position is perfect for them). Ideally, you want to be somewhere sheltered that lets you still be a part of the action.




Vicky Anscombe is a freelance writer living in Norwich who occasionally enjoys the odd camping trip. The only camping disaster she has experienced was when she camped with her family in France, and a flash flood destroyed her Point Crime books.

Discover Yellowstone This Summer

Wednesday, April 25, 2012




Yellowstone National Park is on most nature lovers “to do list”- I know that it is on mine.
I'd love to go this summer so we'll have to wait and see what happens.

 There is more to this first national park in the world then the well known Old Faithful Geyser.

Yellowstone Treasures the Traveler’s Companion to the National Parkby Janet Chapple, will teach you all you need to know when exploring this magnificent landmark. The book is filled with recommended short hikes and walking tours of the geyser basins. With so much beautiful flora and fauna abound in the park; you can use this traveler’s companion as your field guide to birds, animals, trees and flowers. If after a day of hiking you want to rest your head use the guide to find the nearest lodging or campgrounds.

The guide is filled with fantastic travel tips, weather information as well as incredible historical content that make it both very practical but also a fascinating read around the campfire.

Avoiding April Showers Giveaway Event

Friday, April 20, 2012



Welcome to the Avoiding April Showers Giveaway Event. This event is hosted by Put A Little Umbrella In Your Drink, My Mommy’s World, Taking Time For Mommy and And The Little Ones Too.
This event features giveaways with a value of $25 or more at each of the blogs! Be sure to visit each
blog from the linky below and enter for your chance to win! This event will close on April 30th at 11:59pm EST with my winners being chosen by Random.org at that time.

Entry is limited to  one per household.
Entry requirement: Sign up for Google Friend, Google+ or Email subscriber.
Open to US and Canada- good luck!

I’m giving away 2 prizes of one copy of my book: "Stretching the One Income Dollar."





Review and Giveaway: Sun Cups (US only)

Thursday, April 19, 2012



In today’s world many people are seeking alternatives to somewhat conventional foods, whether it be due to allergies or lifestyle choices.


Some of these alternatives can be even better than the real thing. Sun Cups is one such alternative, they bring all the joy of chocolate but are organic, gluten and nut-free, vegetarian and kosher and come in compostable wrappers. Sun cups come in four great flavours, milk, dark, mint and caramel, all of which are so decadent that will leave you satisfied after one without resulting in an increased waistline. 


Sun Cups are reminiscent of traditional chocolate candy that most of us know and love; except they are healthier and better. This is a great solution for Halloween, holiday treats or school lunches, which as many parents know, due to school restrictions are getting hard to pack. 


Gerry and I loved our assortment of Sun Cups . I first heard of these as they were  featured in the book Unjunk Your Junk Food by Andrea Donsky and Randy Boyer, creators of Naturally Savvy.com. The book has a great summary chart of the worst ingredients in the food we buy, and Sun Cups was mentioned as a great, healthier alernative , so I had to give them a try!


Well worth it, plus good to know that if you too want to try them out, they offer a sampler pack for $1.99.Sign up for their mailing list, and they'll let you know when they start up their $1.99 special in the fall.


So snack on something of which ingredients you can easily pronounce and your taste buds will love.




Sun Cups would love to give away to one lucky US winner, one sleeve (20 packages) of  your choice of flavor. A random draw will be held by Random.org on April 29, 2012 from all US entries received.


To Enter:

Please leave your email and a comment for Sun Cups.

Extra Entries:

Add me in your Google + circle
Join me on Google Friends

Sign up as an email subscriber
Tweet this Giveaway
Add me to your Blog Roll
Add my button to your site
Stumble one of my posts and tell me which one

Best of luck to all!



TGIF Family Nights with Pizza Hut-Canada




It only comes around once a week and most families spend the entire week waiting for it…
It’s Friday!!! And Pizza Hut wants to make sure that families across Canada are sharing special moments by providing ideas and easy solutions for maximizing family fun time.


This spring, Pizza Hut is making it easier for mom and dad to put a fun and delicious meal on the table with the new Pizza Hut Dinner Box. Available now until June 3, 2012, the Dinner Box packs an entire family friendly meal — appetizer, main course and dessert — into one convenient box!

Priced at just $19.99 the Pizza Hut Dinner Box includes: 10 signature WingStreet boneless chicken bites, ½ a PANormous Pizza and Chocolate Dunkers, a dessert kids will crave all the way from Saturday to Thursday.
“Friday is typically the night when families want to relax and enjoy each other’s company. Mom and Dad are tired from the busy week, and the kids are excited about maybe getting to stay up late and enjoy fun time with the family,” says David Vivenes, Yum! Restaurants Canada Chief Marketing Officer. “At Pizza Hut one of our main priorities is providing easy meal solutions for mom and dad so that more time can be spent enjoying special moments together. And Pizza Hut’s new Dinner Box does just that.”
Make Friday Family Fun Night!
Here are a few ideas from the family fun experts at Pizza Hut to make your Friday nights extra special:
  • Theme nights
Add a little “extra cheese” to family night by setting a theme!
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
    • Fancy Friday – everyone dresses up in their fanciest clothes
    • PJ Party
    • Lights Out Friday – see how long you can last using nothing but candlelight
    • Favourite movie or book theme
  • Phone a friend night!
Double your family for a night and let everyone invite a friend.
  • Family Story Telling
Try telling a group story at the dinner table. Have one person start a story, and then go around the table taking turns finishing it. A good story can produce countless family laughs and will be retold for years to come.
  • Family Movie Reviews
After watching a movie together, take turns pretending to be movie critics and reviewing what you thought of it. Who were your favourite characters? What was your favourite part?, etc.
  • Fun with Food – Custom Design Your Dessert
Making dessert as a family is a fun way to share a moment – cupcakes that need to be decorated or fruit kabobs are fun options.
  • Order-in Fridays
Designate one or two Fridays a month as order-in nights. Mark these on the calendar, so that everyone can look forward to them.

About Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is one of Canada’s largest pizza restaurant chains with over 320 franchised restaurants across Canada offering dine-in, delivery and online ordering experiences. With more than 12,800 locations in 100 countries, Pizza Hut is the world's largest pizza restaurant company.

Pizza Hut, Inc. is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM). Those hungry for more information can visit us at www.pizzahut.ca.

The Ultimate Mother's Day

Wednesday, April 18, 2012




Mother's Day is traditionally a time to celebrate all the wonderful things that your mom has done for you in her life. 

While it is perfectly understandable if some moms secretly wish to spend this day with themselves away from the hassle and the bustle, many moms are also very excited to spend some time partaking in family activities.

 A great way to spend time together and make some long lasting memories is to prepare Mother's Day treats. These can be challenging and involve precise measuring and calculation leading to philosophical debates on the difference between margarine and butter, or they can simply and fun. Easy Mother's Day baking recipes such as homemade cookies are a great option as they allow kids of all ages to partake and feel important, and best of all the results are eatable (hopefully!).


Some of the greatest memories of childhood are made in spilled flour and bowl licking.

“Disclosure: I am part of the Life Made Delicious Blogger program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

General Mills Cereal – Free Oasis® Juice Promotion -Canada



Cereal and juice are the perfect way to start your day!


Head to your local store and pick up specially marked packages of General Mills cereal to get your FREE**Oasis® Juice!
Here’s how to get your Free** Oasis® Juice:
  1. Purchase specially marked packages of General Mills cereal and find the coupon for your Free** Oasis® Juice inside.
  2. Cut out the coupon featured inside the package.
  3. Redeem at your local retailer for a free product of participating Oasis® Juices.

“Disclosure: I am part of the Life Made Delicious Blogger program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

Stretch Your Paycheck

Tuesday, April 17, 2012




In an economic downturn, people need to do all they can to ensure that they can survive. Although it can be very difficult to maintain a certain quality of life, there are a few things you can do to still do most of the things you love doing and make your paycheck go further.
One of the easiest ways to make sure that your paycheck goes further is to cut down on an expensive beverage habit. Bottled water is extremely expensive, even if you buy a generic store brand. If you can't stand the taste of your tap water, try buying a filter system. Even the most expensive filter systems will eventually help you to save money over buying bottled water. If a filter system seems a bit too expensive, try pouring tap water into a jug and then making sure the water gets extremely cold. The temperature difference can help to mask off-flavors. Likewise, if you have a Starbucks habit, try to cut back as much as you can. Brewing your own coffee at home and taking it with you in a travel coffee cup or mug can save you hundreds of dollars over the course of a year.
Another easy way to save a bit of money is to cook from scratch and buy less prepared food. Although you might feel that your busy schedule prevents you from making fresh meals on a regular basis, several delicious dinners can be cooked in under 30 minutes, and you can always make meals ahead of time and freeze them for use later. Although it might be extremely convenient and tempting to buy rotisserie chickens and other pre-made dinners from the grocery store, you'll be able to stretch your paycheck a bit further if you don't.
Speaking of grocery shopping, there are several ways that you can stretch every dollar a little further at the grocery store. Buy as many products as you can in bulk, especially the ones that you use most often and you know will be consumed. Also, be sure to clip and use coupons as often as you can. Although most coupons that are in circulars seem to be for junk food or highly processed foods, you can still find good deals for fresh, healthy foods a majority of the time. Buying generic products and foods will also help to save a bit on your grocery bill. You'll find that there are certain brand-name products that do taste a bit better than their generic counterparts, but you shouldn't be able to tell the difference most of the time.
Even though you might be tempted to cut back so much that you eliminate entertainment expenses, this is a bad idea. Everyone needs to be entertained in some way, and taking the time to do something enjoyable and relieve stress can help you live longer and be a better person. Luckily, there are a few ways to stretch your entertainment dollar. If you are the type of person who absolutely can't live without travelling and going on vacation, an easy way to get the thrill of travelling while staying on budget is to check out the wide variety of vacation deals on websites like groupon.com, livingsocial.com and travelzoo.com.
Going out less often is also a good way to cut back a bit. This doesn't mean you can't have fun with your significant other though. Instead of going out to dinner and a movie, why not stay inside instead? You can buy steaks for a fraction of the cost you'll pay at a restaurant, and you can rent a month of movies from Netflix cheap. To save even further on entertainment, you can rent movies and books from the library for free.
If you can afford it, an easy way to make sure that you're not bleeding money every month is to try to pay your bills in lump sums. If you're only making the minimum monthly payments on your credit card or on another expense, you might be charged monthly interest or monthly fees for extending the time of your full payment. Likewise, be sure that you're not bleeding money at the bank. Several checking and savings accounts issue fees if minimum monthly standards are not met, so do your best to make sure that you don't get charged extra.
If you're really going to take a hard look at your finances, see if you can increase your insurance deductible. People who pay higher deductibles on their insurance policies pay lower premiums. Although this can backfire if you're involved in an accident or an incident where you'll have to pay more out-of-pocket, raising your deductible can save you hundreds of dollars a year. Using an insurance comparison service like Kanetix can also help you scout-out the best value in coverage.
Following some of these tips can result in a significant amount of savings over time, which might allow you to or to start putting extra money in the bank or spend on things that you refuse to compromise on. It might take a bit of time to get used to doing things a different way, but you can be sure that you'll be able to do more with your paycheck.

Showing Off Our New Couch




I have to brag about our new couch that we absolutely love! It is so cozy and such great quality!The ends of the couch are two recliners.
Bought it from our local hardware store and waiting still on the recliner, which is delayed for another week.
But we were able to get a deal on this set over another furniture store because they both carried the same brand and style.
What we did was find it at one furniture store, and got a quote on the price.
We went to a local store and they carried the same brand. We said: here is the quote and can you do better, and they did- saving us at least $200.
Sold our old blue set and updated to the colors of our living room we had remodelled in over the past year or two.Got $650 for the older set and had money saved to use towards this new set. All in all were quite happy we didn't charge any of it!
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