As part of the Finish Revolution Blogger Program, I have blogged about my deep appreciation for Finish products and how well they work with my dishwasher.

Yes, I loved them even before becoming a part of this blogger program.

I have also been asked to test the Finish Quantum tabs product to see if they could effectively clean some of the toughest stains that I encounter while cooking for my lovely family. Usually, the dishes that give us the most grief are those used to bake casseroles in the oven, and those that I’ve left out for a couple of days and haven’t bothered to deal with (I call these lazy pots). Don’t judge.

For this post, we decided to go with a lazy pot of cheesy pasta.

Here is the lovely before:

Please note the caked on, dried out mess that I was almost certain my beloved dishwasher could handle – thanks to Finish!

And here is the after, following a regular wash and no rinsing or scrubbing beforehand.

Hello clean pot. I’m not sure if it translates to the photograph, but the pot was spotless and squeaky clean.

Thanks Finish.

“Disclosure: I am part of the Finish Blogger Program by Mom Central. I received compensation as part of my affiliation with this group.  The opinions on this blog are my own.”

As a Swiss Natural Ambassador, I’ve blogged about kid’s vitamins and probiotics in the past, and today we’re talking calcium.

I’m talking about the importance of calcium, because it is essential in one’s health. As someone who has watched my mom be ravaged by arthritis and osteoporosis, I have seen what a lack of proper calcium can do. According to fightosteoporosis.ca, “Almost every cell in your body needs calcium to function properly. Your bones act as a storage site for the body’s calcium, but they also need calcium to maintain their strength. When there’s not enough calcium in your diet, your body takes what it needs from your bones.” 

Adults require about 1200 mg of calcium per day (a child’s requirement really depends on their age – the older they are, the more they will need, but will range from 200-1300 mg), and that can be very difficult to do with diet alone. Sources of calcium include milk and dairy products, beans, almonds, broccoli, calcium fortified tofu, sardines, salmon and orange juice. Equally as important are avoiding certain foods that can leech calcium from your bones. These include caffeine, salt, and soft drinks – cooking without salt, avoiding processed and fast foods, avoiding soft drinks altogether and opting for decaffeinated beverages is crucial.

Supplements can also be a great way to ensure you get all the calcium you need to keep your bones strong. Swiss Natural have a new product – Chocolate Fudge Brownie calcium supplements. They contain 600 mg Calcium and 400 IU Vitamin D, are very easy to chew and just happen to be delicious. Adults and children 6 years and older take 2 soft chews daily. They come in packages of 60 soft chews (one month supply), are individually wrapped and are 15 calories each.

You can find Swiss Natural on Facebook. Right now, they’re also running a fab Oh Canada photo contest – you could win a Canon camera (worth $750) among other prizes!

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Do you take calcium supplements? What do you do to protect yourself and your family from a insufficient calcium?

*Disclaimer: This is my third post as a Swiss Naturals Ambassador and was compensated for this post, however my opinions are my own. Also, I’m not a doctor, so feel free to talk to one for more info on whether calcium supplements will work for you.*

Horses 3D is a fun, simulation game that allows the player to care for horses. The game begins by asking you a series of questions such as what your favorite equestrian dream sport is, favorite music and favorite colour. You then get to personalize your character and horse, which then help to create your Horses 3D profile.

Again there is a lot of reading in this game, so that is something to consider when purchasing this game. The game gives you a series of tasks that you need to complete to continue with the game, however it is very good at helping you along to the next task. There are fun challenges and game throughout as well, like racing others and competing in competing in horse events. You learn to take care of your horse and can run a stable of up to 15 horses. My five year old LOVES this game. She is a big fan of animals and horses, and loved “taking care of her horse”. Horses 3D is a definite hit in our house!

Horses 3D is rated E for everyone and please remember that Nintendo suggests that the 3D mode be used by children seven and up – the game can be enjoyed in both modes.

Thank you to Ubisoft for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about Ubisoft. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own. #UbiChamps

Funky Barn 3D by Ubisoft is a “farm simulation game” that allows the player to set up an entire farm, while choosing which animals and equipment they would like to include. The game begins with a step-by-step walkthrough to get you started and familiarize yourself with the controls. It also makes suggestions throughout, to help guide you as you set up your farm. You can set up your farm on one of three lots, depending on the level of difficulty you want to play (easy, medium and hard). You can also play challenge scenarios, but those are only available once you’ve completed your first farm.

The game can be played in both 3D and 2D – but it is suggested that children younger than seven should avoid the 3D altogether. My son, who’s eight, tends to use 2D for all his games and enjoys it much better – he tends to experience the eye strain that 3D can create. The game can be fun and silly, but if your child doesn’t enjoy simulation games, then this one isn’t for them. You definitely need to be able to read to play this game, and I did find the controls required to move items and play, would be easier to manipulate by an older child. My five year old daughter who doesn’t have the patience for this type of game wasn’t interested in playing at all, while my son was willing to give it a go and has been playing it.

For me personally, I didn’t love this game – I found the interface a bit difficult to follow (perhaps I have giant fingers?) althought in fairness, simulation games are not my thing at all.

Funky Barn 3D is not an educational or learning game, so you need to keep that in mind if that’s what you’re looking for. However, it is rated E for everyone (with comic mischief).

Thank you to Ubisoft for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about Ubisoft. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own. #UbiChamps

I am beyond honoured to be a Miracle Mom and a part of this wonderful campaign.

Over the next month, I will be posting additional posts that will introduce you to Parker and his family, and the wonderful children’s hospital in Halifax, IWK Health Care Foundation.

Parker is a 10 year old boy who was diagnosed with Leukemia in July 2010. He has made 70+ trips to IWK, and I’ll have a chance to get to know him a little better thanks to his mom, Brenda. I’ll be sharing more about Parker in my next #MiracleMoms post.

I will also be blogging about the IWK Health Care Foundation. The IWK is a “a tertiary care facility serving children, youth, and women in the Maritime region of Canada. The IWK Health Care Foundation inspires and celebrates giving to support excellence in specialized care for Maritime Families.”

Another aspect of this wonderful campaign is fundraising, and I have a personal goal to raise $1000 for the IWK Health Care Foundation. I can’t make this happen without your help and support. All contributions will benefit the IWK Foundation in Halifax through the Children’s Miracle Network. Please consider making a LARGE (ahem) contribution to this wonderful cause. I would appreciate anything you can donate towards my goal, and I would love to be able to surpass it!

You can go HERE to make a donation – any donation over $20 will come with a tax receipt. You can also click on the IWK Foundation badge on the right to donate.

You can also support me by passing on this post and/or by sharing my donation page via Twitter, Facebook and email. You can do this directly from the donation page as well.

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You can find the IWK Health Centre on Twitter and Facebook.

You can find the Children’s Miracle Network on Twitter here and here, and Facebook.

You can follow the Miracle Moms campaign, by following the #MiracleMoms hashtag on Twitter.

Thanks so much for reading and supporting me as one of the #MiracleMoms – I appreciate it so much.

Disclaimer: I am part of the MiracleMoms program and receive compensation for my participation in this program.  All thoughts and opinions reflected in this post are my own.

I watched SNL on the weekend and sure enough Weekend Update was one of the funniest segments of the show.

Not surprisingly, Seth Meyers brought up the Time magazine cover that everyone is talking about right now, during his “Really?!?” segment.

Thanks to my Tivo, here’s what was said (I would have loved to add the video but I was blocked by YouTube. If you’re in the U.S., you can find it on Hulu).

This week Time Magazine created a controversy with a cover story of attachment parenting that used this photo (shows cover), which brings us to a segment we like to call, REALLY!?!

Really, Time Magazine? THIS is the image you went with for Mother’s Day? Look I have nothing against breastfeeding, but there are more appropriate places to breastfeed your kid than the cover of Time magazine. For example, page three of Time Magazine, or you know, not in a magazine at all, I mean really. And look, it’s not the act that bothers me, it’s this photo. When I first glanced at the cover I didn’t think, oh it’s a mom breastfeeding her kid, I thought, did the kid from Modern Family sexually assault his yoga instructor. Really, this photo doesn’t say I’m a loving mother feeding my son, it says I’m the crazy queen from Game of Thrones, I mean really.

And really, Mom, what’s with your expression? You couldn’t do a smile, you had to go with Blue Steel? Really? And really, this poor kid and the expression on his face looked like someone just flipped on the bedroom lights, “Oh Bob, you’re back from your business trip, it’s uh not what it looks like, uh, I assure you it’s not what it looks like.” And really, what’s with the camouflage pants? You do realize there’s not enough camouflage in the world to hide from the blow back this kid is going to experience. Also, I’m going to warn you now kid, when you get older, I got a feeling your mom isn’t going to like any of your girlfriends, really. And there’s still like a 95% chance you’re going to end up co-managing a motel with her skeleton. Really.

Look, we all have to deal with a little hassle on Mother’s Day, but when that lady’s your mom, every day is going to be Mother’s Day. And Time, don’t get me wrong, I understand you have to do what it takes to sell magazines and it’s a good cover, but if you wanted a great cover, you would have photoshopped out the chair. I mean, really.

Did you watch? What did you think?

Mother’s Day is this weekend and that means that I will be spoiled and pampered and regaled all day Sunday.

Probably not.

I’ve been married a LONG time (11+ years) and a mom for 8+ years, and I’ve learned that the secret to a happy (LASTING) marriage and life is to LOWER ONE’S EXPECTATIONS.

Now let me just say that I have what I really want for Mother’s Day:

However, I’m always open to helping the husband along with a list or a strategically placed catalog because he’s always so desperate to please me (insert sarcastic cackles here).

SO, I’ve decided to share a few ideas of what I would LOVE for Mother’s Day.

• I would love to sleep in. I do not exist before 9 a.m.
• I would LOVE to go out for breakfast for some Eggs Benny because, YUM.
• I would love something from the kids that they made/drew/wrote for me. (I know I’m getting this one because they both informed me NOT to look under their beds or I would “be arrested.”)
• Also, if you happen to be anywhere near a Roots store, best husband ever, I like this one:

Oh and look at the Links of London shiny things:

Oh and anything from Chuck works for me but look at him sparkle:

You are welcome, husband.

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HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL THE MOMS OUT THERE!!!

May you get the love, recognition and respect you all deserve!

TODAY ONLY!!!

I’m giving away these three books to TWO lucky winners!!!

All you have to do is LIKE my BORED MOMMY FB page, and leave a comment below saying you do/did. That’s it – just one comment.

This will be open until MIDNIGHT tonight  (MAY 11, 2012) and is open to CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY!!

Please make sure to leave a Twitter handle and/or email so that I can contact you if I win.

GOOD LUCK!

UPDATE: CONGRATS TO my winners: #45 Shannon and #8 Cindy – Thanks to everyone who entered!

When you think Kinder, you probably just think chocolate and their fun little toys that go along with every chocolate egg.

But they are so much more, and you just have to check out their site to see that.

Kinder has a great family friendly website that you need to check out!

They have a family game section!

You can print out coloring sheets.

Both of these fun options are in their Magic Kinder site. You can play games, create cartoons, games and puzzles there.

The Kinder site will also be offering something called the Kinder Browser soon! This will be a safe and secure place for kids to use the internet. You will also be able to email and chat with your kids when they’re using the browser. You can enter your email on the site and they’ll let you know when the Kinder Browser is officially available.

Also, check out the Kinder Canada Facebook page to see all the latest toys your kids can find in their Kinder Surprise eggs and like your favorites!

Don’t forget to stop by the Kinder Canada Facebook page every month to check out My Kinder Moments. Each month, they feature fabulous giveaways – this month you can win 1 of 25 Mabel’s Labels Camp Kits!!

“Disclosure: I’m part of the Kinder® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

Here’s a confession …. I’m obsessed with watching Britain’s Got Talent audition videos on YouTube.

Here are my favs from this year’s auditions so far.

Sam Kelly – his voice will make you sob.

Only Boys Allowed – boys choir that will make you …. sob.

Ashleigh & Pudsey – cutest thing ever

Malakai Paul – the sweetest little voice you’ve ever heard

Strictly Wheels – I LOVE their spirit. LOVE.

The Sugar Dandies – I ADORE this clip. I can’t help but smile the entire time.

Face Team – Crazy basketball tricks – very fun