Product Review: Curb Waste With Soda Stream

People always seem to dread buying pop at the grocery store, not only is the very heavy to lug around with you, but also it produces so much waste in form of plastic bottles or aluminum waste. Recently, Gerry and I had tried a more eco-friendly alternative in form of Genesis Deluxe Soda Stream. The idea behind these machines is that you can make your own carbonated beverage in flavors such as cola, fruits, iced tea and many more, through flavored syrups and a CO₂ canister.

There is a little bit of a learning curve involved in operating the machine, but once you get a hang of it there are a lot of benefits. For example you can make your own combinations of drinks by deciding how much syrup to add. Secondly, there is hardly any waste, because when the pop goes flat (as it often does) you can re boost it with another shot of CO₂. Best yet, our recycling containers are not overflowing with empty pop bottles. It tastes just like regular pop but is much more economical and healthier for your body. Gerry is a big pop drinker so he loves it. I drink alot of water but also, the lemon-lime flavor we had got has sucralose in it, something my tummy doesn't tolerate well.But I did try a bit of a glass and didn't find much of a difference from what one buys in the store. Gerry thought it was much like Walmart's Great Value drinks in taste.

Soda Stream is better for the body than traditional sodas and good for the environment, and it can be a lot of fun to use.

Lego City: A Toy That Grows With The Kids

Lego seems to have been around forever but with good reason – it can keep the kids quiet for hours and can grow with them. The Lego City series is probably the most recognizable of the franchise as it brings to life everyday goings on and offers a wealth of possibilities for your child’s imagination.

Encapsulating all of the various sets that represent what is found in a real city – a fire department, police station, train, airport, and even a mine – your kid’s Lego City can grow one step at a time into a bustling metropolis.

One of the real advantages of Lego City is that it offers kids a puzzle as well as a toy. They learn how to follow instructions to construct their kit and become absorbed for hours, learning valuable techniques and developing cognitive skills, which will be useful as they grow.

There are still hours of fun after they assemble the kit because most of the sets come with impressive movable parts that make it easy for kids to weave stories together about life in the city. For example, the mining set comes complete with a spinning drill for digging up rubble and the police station has an evidence room, sliding cell doors, and a kennel for the police pooches that are also included in the unit.

Recommended for kids over the age of six, boys and girls alike will love customizing their cities and letting their imaginations take over.

NEW -The Body Shop Scents of the World!

To kick off the year, The Body Shop is thrilled to introduce a beautiful new fragrance collection, inspired by international aromas. Spritz on a world fragrance and transport yourself to a far away place with NEW The Body Shop Scents of the World!

Experience an international voyage with five new scents including: Madagascan Vanilla Flower, Amazonian Wild Lily, Japanese Cherry Blossom, Indian Night Jasmine and Atlas Mountain Rose. This range is the first The Body Shop fragrance collection containing 100% organic alcohol and globally sourced natural extracts.

Available in-stores and online January 28, 2013 in two formats: Eau De Toilette ($25) and Perfume Oil ($16).

Surviving Blue Monday

Did you know that Monday January 21 is, according to scientists, the most depressing day of the year? The date is calculated on using many factors such as weather, debt level, failing New Year’s resolutions, low motivation levels and time since Christmas.

Let’s not let Blue Monday get us down, true we may not want to venture outside and get some vitamin D, but there are still ways to show Monday who is boss. If you are looking for something to do that still keeps you warm and toasty, check out  this post for a fun, free entertainment idea to pass the time. Alternatively, this might be a good day to buy to do a little bit of online, just because it is a depressing day, you never know if you get lucky.

Spend this day with your family, friends or if the mood suits you just enjoy it on your own doing something that you love but you never seem to have time for, such as read a good book with a glass of wine, or try a new recipe. You may even decide to brave the cold and go for a walk around the neighbourhood, who knows maybe you will even run into people whom you have not seen since the snow first hit the ground. Whatever you choose to do just be happy

Just because this is the most horrible of all Mondays do not let it get you down, remember spring is just around the corner.

Thursday- January 17

Ever heard the one where " the joke's on you?" Well, it sort of happened to me yesterday.
I was getting a microwave, ( last one on the shelf and out of the box). We had a gift card and are replacing our old one that is above the stove. The one I saw on the store shelf had a scratch by the door so I asked for a discount and got it for $10 off but the manager had the cashier write : "final sale" on the receipt. I wasn't too worried. When I got home to show Gerry the "scratch"- he rubbed it and it wasn't a scratch but a dirt mark.Well, I thought- I really did get a deal, until we plugged it in and set it up. The turntable doesn't work! 

Gerry is going to try to take the lid off today and see if any of the connectors are perhaps not connected.The service centre said it could be that or the motor itself. At this point they weren't sure. And of course we don't live near the service centre. I will be sure to update you all. Gerry thinks I should still see if the store will take it back, but I said I doubt it when it's final sale. Will see if he can find the problem later.

On another note,guess we're off to Memphis in March! Gerry has to go for a few days for work training  and I can come along as long as I pay for my plane ticket. His meals will be reimbursed, his plane ticket paid, and hotel for a few days, but we will still be staying a couple of days past his training, so we can see some sites, so that will be our own bill. Also will need to leave Jake at the kennels, and get a rental car when there. It will be close to our other trip, which will be in April, to Phili and Atlantic City. We have our timeshare visit to use, so have decided to go there for a week. Always hate leaving Jake as he is such a mommy's boy. He loves to be sitting on our laps all the time, in the bed or anywhere close.But we can't not travel because we have a pet. 

It's been so cold here that I dread going outdoors. Been in the high -30's with the windchill.
Hope the weather is warmer where you are! Brrrr!!!


** Update on the microwave: Gerry came home, and took it apart, to find that the electrical wires were not connected properly to the turntable.Of two wires, only one was connected.

Another Great Giveaway- Canada Only

The Ozeri Gen II Digital Bath Scale Review and Giveaway (Canada only)

Don't Let The Bed Bugs Bite

Ahhhh, after a long journey on the plane, many hours awake and one incredibly long taxi ride to the hotel, you slip between the white crisp sheets lay your head on the pillow and fall blissfully asleep….only to be awaken by itching and scratching. Bed bugs!

Lately we have heard a lot about them and how an infestation can occur from a single insect. Worse yet- you can take them with you in your luggage or clothing. Anxious about these insects, I have tried Buggy Beds- a bed bug detection system that I saw on Shark Tank. You place the monitors on the underneath of your mattress and it attracts bed bugs and other pests, which become stuck to it. Once you know there is a problem you can fix it by calling an exterminator or in case of travel switching hotel rooms. Luckily, there were no bed bugs in our bed, except maybe for our dog Jake! 

This little system will be a must have for when we travel, so that we don’t bring home any little hitchhikers. It will be interesting to use in hotels. Of course we really don't want to find anything, but this is a must for travelling.

By checking ahead you can save yourself an itch you cannot scratch.

The Future Of At Home Entertainment

In the past families have gathered around the television on a certain time and day of the week to watch their favorite television show. Many people would have their television schedule memorized and know on which day to watch which shows. On Friday night people would wander the video store looking for the newest release, only to forget to return it the following night.

Today, it seems that no one has the time to plan their schedule around a television shows. Between work obligations and family commitments, it is very difficult to be home at the same time, all of the time. This is why many people are using television services such as Rogers, to watch their favorite television shows and movies whenever they want. Streaming offers a vast array of channels featuring numerous television shows. The same shows that you get on your cable box you can now watch at your own convenience. It was certainly changed the way that people watch television. For example, now you can watch your favorite show while you are doing some household tasks. While ironing, dusting or washing dishes, I often have a show or a movie in the background, which makes my work so go by so much faster!

Many people can watch television while they work out. Best yet, the commercial time on an on demand service is minimal, your time is never wasted. There are often a few past episodes available at the same time, and there is nothing better than having a mini TV marathon from time to time catching up on television. There isn’t that panic that you have missed a show and you will have to buy the DVD to catch up, since shows are available for several weeks you can make it fit your schedule.

In the past few years I have noticed the sharp decline in the neighborhood video store. It is really difficult to rent a move “the old fashion way”, and the cost of a movie ticket these days is really prohibitive to indulge in the cinematic pursuits. Watching movies on demand appears to be the way of the future. The price is similar to the video store and best yet you can simply order the movie with your remote or computer from your own couch. No need to put on the shoes and parka to go out to shovel out the car! Priceless! After the usual two day rental period the movie returns itself, so you never get stuck with the sometimes astronomical late fees. As life gets in the way you can stop, pause and restart your movie as many times you would like within your rental period, for the ultimate convenience.

Streaming and on demand services have revolutionized at home entertainment. People can watch a film with their lap top in bed, follow a recipe with their favorite celebrity chef or catch up on their television show while working on a project. Forget the good old days; I will take convenience any day.

We're Cracking Up!

Our addition in the trailer is cracking all over.The area in which we live is very unstable as we basically live in a swamp. The area used to be swamp and then was filled in years ago. 

The addition is just my exercise room now and used to be Erika's bedroom. 

The cracks are all over the walls in there.

Gerry said the only way to correct the issue is to drive piles down to get below the frost line and have the addition sitting on piles. The area under the addition appears to be be worse than the trailer as the addition cracks more.

He has found over the years owning the property that the area from the back deck to the back yard is more stable than the area in which the addition is on. If we were going to do anything, he said he would look at moving the addition to the back of the trailer rather than where it is.

All that involves $$ though.

Next year with his company bonus we are planning on re-siding the trailer and the workshop he built a year or two ago.

Endangered Species Chocolate- Review and Giveaway

When was the last time that you felt good about what you ate?

Recently, we reviewed some great  chocolate bars from Endangered Species Chocolate.

The company buys cacao from small family-owned properties which helps the local community. The farms must meet rigorous social and environmental standards set forth by Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) which ensures that the farming practices are not harmful to the environment. 

With each chocolate bar sold, Endangered Species Chocolate donates 10% of profits to support species and habitat preservation and humanitarian efforts. Every three years the company chooses new partnerships to ensure that money is able to support a variety of efforts.

All this great work leads to some great quality chocolate. The dark chocolate we tried was very rich,dark and delicious, and a small portion was enough to satisfy the sweet tooth and keep the New Year’s resolution. The company offers chocolate bars in various sizes and fun flavors such as chocolate and orange or chocolate and peanut butter. They also offer chocolate confections with fruits, nuts and toffees drenched in chocolate. In addition there also are seasonal selections as well as some beautiful gift collections.

This was a time when we enjoyed eating our chocolate while thinking of all the good that came along with it.

Endangered Species Chocolate would love to give away an assortment of their chocolates valued at $20. Winner can be from the USA or Canada. A random draw will be held by Random.org on January 24, 2013 from all entries received.

To Enter:

Leave you email and a comment for Endangered Species Chocolate

Good luck to all!