Disney on Ice Ottawa Frozen

Disney on Ice Brings Frozen to Ottawa! {Plus Giveaway!}

Disney on Ice Ottawa Frozen

Over the years I have been fortunate enough to get a first-hand look at what goes on behind the scenes at Disney on Ice and those experiences have given me a new appreciation for the show. Hearing from the skaters how much work they put in and how much they love making the kids smile is exactly the reason why we continue to attend the show year after year.

Admittedly, we are a bit more excited for this year’s Disney on Ice show because for the first time, Ottawa will get the chance to see Anna, Elsa and Olaf from Frozen take to the ice at Canadian Tire Centre! We haven’t actually told the kids yet because we think it’ll be a cool surprise when they come flying out from behind the curtain. And yes, I am probably just as excited as the kids will be. So what?!

Well, what are you waiting for? Grab your Mickey ears and get ready for the ultimate Disney experience as Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic! Besides seeing their favourite Frozen characters, your kids will also get to enjoy a cast of more than 50 characters, with Mouse-ter of Ceremonies Mickey Mouse, sweetheart Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and Disney Princesses including Cinderella, Rapunzel, Ariel, Snow White and Tiana!

Show Dates and Times

Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic will perform nine shows at Canadian Tire Centre over the course of five days from Wednesday, Feb. 24, to Sunday, Feb. 28, as follows:

Wednesday, Feb. 24 – 7 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 25 – 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 26 – 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 27 – 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 28 – 11 a.m. and a 3 p.m. French performance

Ticket information

Tickets for Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic can be purchased by visiting www.CapitalTickets.ca, by phone at 613-599-FANS (3267) or 1-877-788-FANS (3267); in person at each of the 10 participating Canadian Tire stores in Ottawa as well as the store in Perth, The Sens Store at Carlingwood Mall and Place d’Orléans, any Ottawa Sports Experts location, Les Galeries de Hull and at the Canadian Tire Centre box office.

Tickets are $15, $23, $32, $52 and $72 (rinkside seats) for all shows. All children’s tickets (age 2-12; limit of four per full-price adult ticket) for the 7 p.m. show on Wednesday, Feb. 24, Thursday, Feb. 25, and Saturday, Feb. 27, are only $12 (excluding rinkside and VIP seats; additional restrictions may apply).

Giveaway

Okay Ottawa, I’m going to send one lucky reader off to the show by giving away four (4) 100-level tickets for the Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. show! All you have to do to win is leave a comment on this post letting me know which character you or your child is most excited to see at Disney on Ice and I’ll select a winner on February 14th. Good Luck!!

SDM Flu Shot

Did You Get Caught By The Flu This Season? {Plus A Giveaway!}

Well, we’re almost at the finish line and, knock on wood, we haven’t had any major sickness in our house to date this flu season. Is it just around the corner? Maybe, but I’m staying confident in my belief that this year’s flu shot is going to do its job and keep us from missing out on hockey, ballet, skating, sledding, baseball and everything else in between.

The truth is that I got so sick last year that I completely changed my lackadaisical behaviour when it comes to flu prevention. Getting the shot was one step but I have become obsessive about things such as hand washing, cleaning my workstation and germs in general. Besides, it’s hard to teach your children the importance of clean living when you yourself don’t follow your own advice. One thing I will caution you against, however, is using google to look up how many germs are out there and where they like to hang out the most… No, seriously, don’t do it!

Throughout this Shoppers Drug Mart flu shot campaign, I have received a number of comments on both sides of the fence about whether or not you should get the flu shot for you and your family but there is only one fact that matters to me. As I discussed in the post about Flu Shot Myths, getting the flu shot will not make you sick and even if it only gives you a slight advantage of not getting sick this winter, I am going to take any advantage I can get.

That said, there is still time to get out to your local Shoppers Drug Mart to get your flu vaccination. If you think reaching February means you are safe, you need to think again!

GIVEAWAY

Now, because you are all so amazing, I am going to be giving away a Cold & Flu Prize Pack which includes a $100 gift card from Shoppers Drug Mart! This should get you through any sniffles you may come across during flu season and prevent you from having to reuse tissues… This giveaway is open to residents of Canada, excluding Quebec.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hockey Dad Fitbit

Fitbitting: It’s All The Rage

Seriously, if I had to hear one more thing about Fitbit and how everyone has one of these things, I was going to lose it! As if I had the time to wear a clunky man bracelet all day long so I can care about how many steps I was taking. If I wanted to count steps I could just guesstimate based on what I had accomplished that day.

This was me about 2 months ago before I got my first Fitbit Activity Tracker. I started with the Fitbit Charge and, well, you guys know what happened there… What I didn’t share in my last story is that I only lasted 2 days without a Fitbit before I went back to Best Buy and purchased the more expensive Fitbit Charge HR, which comes with a watch wristband that makes it practically unlosable.

For anyone who doesn’t understand the fuss over the Fitbit, let me try to explain it. Imagine everywhere you go there is a giant scoreboard in the sky with all your friends listed on it and the scores posted are how many steps you have taken that day. Even the least competitive person will have a hard time looking at the scores without feeling the need to move around a little, so you can imagine what it does to someone like me who has played competitive sports his whole life.

As my wife will corroborate I have gone from lazy, sleeping in all the time couch potato, to annoying “Let’s go for a walk!” guy. Where I used to lie on the couch to play video games, now I stand and march while I play, which is tough at first but you get the hang of it. The funny thing about it is that while I love competing in the weekly challenges against my friends, the need to do physical activity has actually overtaken my desire to win, which is just the best. That said, I still get miserable when I forget my Fitbit on the charger for the day… Baby steps, people.

Being open to, and loving, the Fitbit hype has allowed me to open my mind to the other fitness aid options out there. When Best Buy reached out to me about their fitness options, I was surprised at how much they had to offer in both tech and non-tech gear. They have asked me to go through their online fitness catalogue and share a few items that caught my eye, so here are just a few things I would love to work with.

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Fitbit Charge HR Fitness Tracker

1. Fitbit Charge HR Fitness Tracker

I had to lead off with the star of today’s show, the Fitbit Charge HR. I have now tried the Flex and the Charge and recommend this particular Fitbit solely for the watch band that it comes with. I found the other versions easy to knock off my wrist and feel safer knowing this one is staying put.

Check out the Fitbit Charge HR for yourself on the Best Buy website.
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Breville Juice Fountain Plus Centrifugal Juicer 2. Breville Juice Fountain Plus Centrifugal Juicer

Ever since I discovered Booster Juice a few weeks ago I have been fascinated with the idea of creating my own healthy concoctions from the comfort of my own home. While I haven’t tried this juicer yet, Breville is a company I trust to make a quality product.

Here is a link to check out the Breville Juice Fountain Plus Centrifugal Juicer over at Best Buy.
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JayBird X2 In-Ear Sound Isolating Bluetooth Headphones

3. JayBird X2 In-Ear Bluetooth Headphones

If you’ve been reading my blog for any reasonable amount of time you will know that I am a headphones junkie. Seriously, I love headphones, mostly because they provide my ears with the gift of music, but also because I love the different feel and designs they offer. These look like they would be perfect for running with.

Here is more info on the JayBird X2 In-Ear Bluetooth Headphones!
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Weider Pro Power Cage

4. Weider Pro Power Cage

While this purchase seems a little out of character for me, I have recebtly started weight training and I love how compact this system is. That and the fact that compared to some others I have seen, this one is way more affordable for the average person.

Here is a little more info on the Weider Pro Power Cage.

Netflix Logo

5 Reasons Why Netflix Is Crushing It Right Now {Plus a Giveaway!}

As I have recently come to find out, there are many things to love about Netflix. So many, in fact, that I had to narrow down my list to the top 5 or run the risk of writing a 300 page novel.

1. Netflix Kids – We love the Netflix Kids option in our house because while my kids are old enough to turn on the TV and set up Netflix by themselves, I feel a lot better knowing that they are going to be selecting shows that are appropriate for their ages. Some favourites in our house are H2O Mermaid Adventures, LEGO Ninjago, LEGO Friends and Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse. Also, once Fuller House is released I can promise you that my daughter will have it playing on a loop!

2. Documentaries – Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you have heard about the polarizing Netflix original documentary ‘Making a Murderer’, which follows the murder investigation of Steven Avery, who had recently been exonerated for a crime that he spent 18 years in jail for. Hopefully the popularity of this documentary will lead people to explore what else Netflix has to offer. I have already watched Happy, Forensic Files and Cosmos, and have Trophy Kids, I Am Ali and Best of TED Talks on tap!

3. Original Programming – What was once solely a streaming service has quickly turned into one of my favourite sources for television shows. In just the last year I have loved Daredevil, Bloodline, Narcos, The Last Kingdom, Jessica Jones and Wet Hot American Summer. That’s only 6 of the many shows that Netflix has produced and the list of shows for 2016, including Marvel’s Luke Cage, looks even more incredible!

4. Great TV Shows – Here is a short list of shows that my wife and I have binged watched on Netflix. Breaking Bad, Pretty Little Liars, How To Get Away With Murder, House of Lies, Dexter, Friday Night Lights, Suits and Gotham. Oh yeah, there’s also the cancelled shows they’ve revived such as The Killing and Arrested Development, which were both fantastic! You will literally never run out of great shows to watch on Netflix and it is definitely worth the investment!

5. Kung Fury – I’m not sure what to say about Kung Fury other than that it is a must watch for anyone who loved 80’s martial arts and police movies. The 30 minute short film is the closest thing you will experience to being on drugs without actually being on drugs and will blow your mind. Please go watch this, urgently!!

GIVEAWAY!

Now, who wants to win a 6 month Netflix membership so you can test out the service for yourself? Winning is easy, simply leave a comment below and let me know what your favourite television series of all-time is and I’ll pick a winner next week. Good Luck!!!

The Winner is #76, Hannah!

Random Netflix Winner

Snowman Fun

Don’t Miss Out This Winter!

It’s that time of year again where small germs seem to morph into super germs and spread through people’s homes like wildfire. For those of us lucky enough to have children in school, the flu seems to be an inevitability more than a possibility. So far this flu season I have seen friends cancel Christmas dinner with their families, watched a child get sick in the middle of his hockey game and seen my workplace decimated by people suffering from the flu.

I’m knocking on wood as I write this because to date my family has managed to escape any prolonged bouts of the flu and I’m hoping we manage to keep it that way. One of the ways I am protecting myself was by getting this year’s flu vaccine. It takes almost no time at all and if it offers any extra protection than I don’t see any reason to hesitate in getting it. In fact, you can walk into any Shoppers Drug Mart and get your flu immunization administered by an injection-certified pharmacist, no appointment necessary.

Think about all of the things you miss out on while dealing with the flu. Children’s activities, sick days from work, your own hobbies, good food! A recent Shoppers Drug Mart survey found that 54% of people admit that they are unlikely to get the flu shot this year, while 81% of people believe that washing their hands was the best way to protect against the flu. I covered some of the common myths about flu shots last month, which leaves only a fear of needles as a reason not to get the shot.

I’ll leave you with one last bit of information. Getting the flu shot doesn’t just protect you but it also helps protect those who are more susceptible to complications from getting the flu, such as young children and those aged 65 and over. Think about this, a single sneeze can travel at about 100 miles per hour and send 100,000 germs into the air! Wouldn’t you feel better knowing you have protected yourself as much as possible?

Don’t miss out on the things that are the most important to you this winter. If you’re nervous, you can always stop in to Shoppers Drug Mart for a consultation with a pharmacist before committing to the shot. I wish you all a happy and healthy 2016!

Disclosure: I was compensated for my participation in this program.

Rice Krispies Prize Pack

40,000 More Reasons Why 2015 Was A Great Year!

First things first. Happy New Year!!! I hope everyone had a chance to reflect on 2015 and spend some time with friends and family as we rang in 2016 last night. I didn’t have to look far into my reflection to find a happy memory, as I was told late yesterday afternoon that the Treats For Toys campaign I had been working on helped raise $40,000 for children in need this holiday season!

My family and I had a blast working with Kellogg’s Rice Krispies and the Salvation Army, creating and sharing our toy shaped treats, and I am so glad that we were able to have a small part in raising so much money for such a great cause. It is also possibly that I ate a few too many of the leftover chunks of Rice Krispies treats…

This campaign leads nicely into 2016 where my goal is going to be attempting to make the world a better place than I found it in. As much fun as I had in 2015, I still feel like it got away from me a little bit and I strayed from the original goals I had set when I started this blog. I am hoping this year to focus more on telling your inspiring stories in between sharing my own thoughts and experiences.

None of us truly know what will come with a new year but I always found having a game plan is better than having no plan at all! I wish you all the very best this year and thank you for continuing to join me on this ride!

Treats For Toys

Disclosure: I was compensated for my participation in this program.

Playstation 4 Star Wars Bundle Giveaway

Put A Limited Edition Disney Infinity 3.0 : Star Wars™ 500GB PlayStation 4 Bundle Under The Tree This Year! {Giveaway}

I’m sure you had to check that title a couple of times to ensure that you read it correctly. Well, it’s true! One lucky Canadian Dad reader is going to take home a Limited Edition Disney Infinity 3.0: Star Wars™ 500GB PlayStation®4 Bundle and I couldn’t be happier to be able to provide this gift!

I have been a gamer for as long as I can remember, spending many, many hours finishing levels, winning fictional sports championships and playing online against people from all around the world. You can imagine my excitement now that my 7 year old son wants to play video games with me. I thought it was going to be tough holding back while he learned the controls but when it comes to video games, kids seem to have a 6th sense. In no time at all he was crushing me in our favourite racing games and keeping me in check while we played our hockey games on PlayStation.

The amount of bonding we’ve done while playing PlayStation4 together is precisely the reason why I am so excited to be able to give the gift of gaming to one of your families! PlayStation Canada has a stacked lineup of great titles this holiday season at a selection of price points, from new releases, amazing franchise collections and more, so the lucky winner and their family will likely never be bored ever again!

GIVEAWAY RULES AND INFORMATION

Alright, let’s get down to it! Before you enter using the Rafflecopter form below, please carefully look over the giveaway rules and regulations document. This giveaway will run for 3 days and is open to residents of Canada, excluding Quebec. The Winner will be chosen at random via the Rafflecopter application. Winner will be contacted via email, will have 48 hours to respond and must answer a skill testing question to claim their prize. The prize is as follows:

PS4 Star Wars Bundle

Limited Edition Disney Infinity 3.0: Star Wars™ 500GB PlayStation®4 Bundle Bundle contains:

• Darth Vader inspired PlayStation®4 and DualShock®4 Wireless Controller
• Disney Infinity 3.0: Star Wars Edition Bundle Kit
• Rise Against the Empire Play Set Pack including Luke and Leia figures
• Rise Against the Empire Play Set Piece, Boba Fett
• A voucher containing four Star Wars Classics: Super Star Wars™, Star Wars™: Racer Revenge, Star Wars™: Jedi Starfighter, and Star Wars™ Bounty Hunter

MSRP: $469.96.
Fore more information on PlayStation, visit any of the following:

PlayStation Canada Website
PlayStation Canada’s Twitter
PlayStation Canada’s Facebook Page
PlayStation Canada’s Instagram

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was compensated for my participation in this program.

Disney Infinity 3.0: Star Wars™ 500GB PlayStation® 4 Bundle Giveaway Rules & Regs

OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS
NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THE PRIZE IN THIS CONTEST. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

1. CONTEST PERIOD:
The Disney Infinity 3.0: Star Wars™ Limited Edition 500GB PlayStation®4 Bundle (“Contest”) begins on December 21, 2015 at 3:00:00 p.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) and ends on December 23, 2015 at 5:00:00 p.m. ET (“Contest Period”).

2. ELIGIBILITY:
The Contest is open to all residents of Canada, excluding residents of Quebec, who are the age of majority in their province or territory of residence at the time of entry. Employees, officers, directors, representatives or agents, as well as those with whom such persons reside, whether related or not, and members of the immediate family (mother, father, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters and spouse, regardless of where they reside) of Sony Computer Entertainment Canada Inc. (“Sponsor”), its advertising/promotion/web design agencies, the prize suppliers and any entity involved in the development, production, implementation, administration or fulfillment of the Contest, and each of their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates (including, with respect to the Sponsor, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC) (collectively, the “Contest Parties”) are not eligible to enter or win a prize in this Contest.

3. ENTRY:
No purchase necessary. To participate in this Contest, entrants must complete the mandatory entry via Rafflecopter, of commenting on the giveaway post at CanadianDad.com. More Rafflecopter entry options are available once the entrant has completed the mandatory entry.

Each entrant will receive the corresponding number of entries (each an “Entry”, collectively “Entries”) when the entrant enters the Contest using one of the methods offered and in accordance with these Official Rules and Regulations (“Rules”). Any Entry that does not follow the above format as determined by Sponsor will be ineligible for entry in this Contest. Entries must not infringe, misappropriate or violate any third party’s rights, including, without limitation, copyright, trademark, right of publicity, right of privacy or trade secret and not contain any content that is offensive, illegal, obscene or that is otherwise objectionable to Sponsor, in its sole discretion. By submitting an Entry in this Contest, each entrant certifies that the Entry submitted constitutes the entrant’s own unpublished work, and agrees to transfer all copyright to the Sponsor, and to waive all moral rights in and to such work. Further, the entrant confirms by submitting an Entry that no other person has any intellectual property rights or other interest in the Entry submitted and, further, confirms that in the event the entrant is a winner in the Contest, acceptance of the Prize will not result in the winner breaching the terms of any other agreement with a third party. For greater certainty, each entrant shall indemnify the Released Parties (as hereinafter defined) against any liability for any claims and associated costs that may be brought against them by any third parties with respect to any intellectual or other property rights in the submitted Entry.

Standard data usage rates may apply to entrants who submit an Entry via a wireless mobile device. Wireless service providers may charge for airtime for each standard text message sent and received. Contact your service provider for pricing and service plan information and rates before mobile device participation.

4. ENTRY SUBMISSION:
There is a limit of one (1) Entry per person permitted during the Contest Period. All Entries are subject to verification at any time and for any reason. The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to require proof of identity and/or eligibility (in a form acceptable to the Sponsor – including, without limitation, government issued photo identification): (a) for the purposes of verifying an individual’s eligibility to participate in this Contest; (b) for the purposes of verifying the eligibility and/or legitimacy of an Entry entered (or purportedly entered) for the purposes of this Contest; and/or (c) for any other reason the Sponsor deems necessary, in its sole and absolute discretion, for the purposes of administering this Contest in accordance with these Rules. Failure to provide such proof to the satisfaction of the Sponsor in a timely manner may result in disqualification in the sole and absolute discretion of the Sponsor. The sole determinant of the time for the purposes of a valid Entry in this Contest will be the Contest server machine(s).

5. PRIZES:
There is one (1) prize available to be won in the contest. The prize consists of one (1) Disney Infinity 3.0: Star Wars™ Limited Edition 500GB PlayStation®4 Bundle (approximate retail value of the prize is CAD$469.96)
Prize must be accepted as awarded and is not transferable, assignable or convertible to cash (except as may be specifically permitted by Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion). No substitutions except at Sponsor’s option. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to substitute the grand prize or any secondary prize or portion thereof with a prize or portion thereof of equal or greater value without liability.

6. WINNER SELECTION:
On or about December 23, 2015 (“Selection Date”) at the offices of Canadian Dad at approximately 5:00 p.m. ET a random drawing will be held via Rafflecopter.com to select the potential winner from among all eligible Entries received. Odds of winning will depend upon the number of eligible Entries received.

Canadian Dad or its designated representative will make a minimum of five (5) attempts to contact the selected entrants within five (5) business days of the Selection Date. If a selected entrant cannot be contacted within five (5) business days of the Selection Date, or if there is a return of any notification as undeliverable; then said selected entrant may, in the sole and absolute discretion of the Sponsor, be disqualified (and, if disqualified, will forfeit all rights to the grand prize or secondary prize, as applicable) and the Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion and time permitting, to randomly select an alternate eligible entrant from among the remaining eligible Entries (in which case the foregoing provisions of this section shall apply to such newly selected entrant).

Before being declared A CONFIRMED PRIZE winner, each selected entrant will be required to: (a) have completed the entry method as selected by the Rafflecopter randomizer. (b) correctly answer a mathematical skill-testing question without mechanical or other aid.

7. GENERAL CONDITIONS:
No royalties, guarantees or advances (monetary or other) will be awarded for use by the Sponsor of the Entries of the winners or any entrant in this Contest. All Entries become the property of the Sponsor. This Contest is subject to all applicable federal, provincial and municipal laws. The decisions of the Sponsor with respect to all aspects of this Contest are final and binding on all entrants without right of appeal, including, without limitation, any decisions regarding the eligibility/disqualification of Entries and/or entrants. By participating in this Contest, entrants agree to be legally bound by the terms and conditions of these Rules. ANYONE DETERMINED TO BE IN VIOLATION OF THESE RULES FOR ANY REASON IS SUBJECT TO DISQUALIFICATION IN THE SOLE AND ABSOLUTE DISCRETION OF THE SPONSOR AT ANY TIME.

The Released Parties will not be liable for: (i) any failure of the Websites during the Contest; (ii) any technical malfunction or other problems relating to the telephone network or lines, computer on-line systems, servers, access providers, computer equipment or software; (iii) the failure of any Entry to be received, captured or recorded for any reason, including, but not limited to, technical problems or traffic congestion on the internet or at any website; (iv) any injury or damage to an entrant’s or any other person’s computer or other device related to or resulting from participating in the Contest; and/or (v) any combination of the above.

The Sponsor reserves the right to withdraw, amend or suspend this Contest (or to amend these Rules) in any way, in the event of an error, technical problem, computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failure or any other cause beyond the reasonable control of the Sponsor that interferes with the proper conduct of this Contest as contemplated by these Rules. Any attempt to deliberately damage any website or to undermine the legitimate operation of this Contest in any way (as determined by Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion) is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, the Sponsor reserves the right to seek remedies and damages to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, amend or suspend this Contest, or to amend these Rules, in any way without prior notice or obligation, in the event of any accident, printing, administrative, or other error of any kind, or for any other reason whatsoever.

By entering this Contest, each entrant expressly authorizes the Sponsor and its agents and/or representatives, to store, share and use the personal information submitted with his/her Contest Entry for the purpose of administering the Contest, unless the entrant otherwise agrees. Visit http://www.playstation.com/en-us/legal/privacy-policy for Sponsor’s Privacy Policy regarding collection, use and disclosure of personal information.

Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, and without prior notice to adjust any of the dates and/or timeframes stipulated in these Rules, to the extent necessary, for purposes of verifying compliance by any entrant or Entry with these Rules, or as a result of any technical or other problems, or in light of any other circumstances which, in the opinion of the Sponsor, in its sole and absolute discretion, affect the proper administration of the Contest as contemplated in these Rules, or for any other reason. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between the terms and conditions of these Rules and disclosures or other statements contained in any Contest-related materials; the terms and conditions of these Rules shall prevail, govern and control to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Fitbit Charge

Lost Fitbits and the Mysteries of the Mind

The mind is a strange thing, isn’t it? For instance, I know that McDonald’s is extremely unhealthy yet I will still stop in for a Happy Meal whenever the mood strikes. I’ve been finding my battle with exercise to be equally as mystifying even though it should be pretty straight forward. It seems I get bursts of motivation and then slowly watch it fade away.

As an example, earlier this year I partnered with GoodLife Fitness and they even brought a camera crew to my house so I could share the story of my fitness issues. After that I started going to my local GoodLife on a regular basis but in recent months have seen that slip down to about once every couple of weeks. What happened, you ask? The truth is that I have no earthly idea. I loved going to the gym, with my music blasting and sweat pouring down my face. It gave me a new confidence that I had been sorely lacking but now I’ve let that feeling slip away for no good reason.

Then last week I purchased a Fitbit Charge in hopes of giving myself a boost and lo and behold I was exercising more than I ever had before. I joined a bunch of step challenges with my friends and the motivation to out-step everyone had me outside or at the gym walking at every free moment. What is that about? Does my brain really need competition in order to convince me to get off the couch? Is being healthy for my family not enough?

Just when I had finally convinced myself to stop beating myself up over matters of the brain that I could not comprehend, the unthinkable happened. My precious new Fitbit fell right off my wrist while I was out, never to be found again. I was definitely disappointed but wasn’t prepared for what came next. For the next two days I barely lifted a finger and was feeling really depressed about my loss. I’m admitting this to you all because even I found it completely ridiculous that a tiny black band that simply told me how many steps I did that day could cause such an emotional roller coaster in my brain.

I tried to contact support to see if anything could be done but apparently their warranty doesn’t cover stupidity so I did they only thing I could think of to do. I dropped $170 on a brand new Fitbit with a watch band this time instead of the band with the snaps, which, had I researched first, I would have seen a number of people having the same issue with them falling off. Oh yeah, because I was so emotionally distraught, I also got irrationally upset that Fitbit wouldn’t replace the band that “I” lost. Oh brain, you crazy kat!

The lesson here, people, is that the brain is a powerful thing and sometimes you need to give in to its craziness in order to get yourself on the right path. Am I happy to have wasted almost $150? Absolutely not. Am I going to walk, instead of drive, my butt all the way to GoodLife this afternoon to get a workout in? You bet your ass I am!!

Lily and Snowman

Cineplex Wants You To ‘See The Big Picture’

Cineplex Entertainment today announced the launch of a new integrated brand platform that asks Canadians to ‘See The Big Picture’ and rediscover the importance of entertainment in their lives. Much more than a new slogan, the strategy was crafted around the insight that Canadians wear their busy schedules like badges of honour and that the need for entertainment and enjoyment is important now more than ever before.

To help launch the new strategy, Cineplex released a new animated short film entitled Lily and the Snowman, which gave me goosebumps not only as a father but also as a son and husband. The story follows Lily and her animated snowman through childhood but also shows what happens as we get older and life tends to get in the way of fun. This is the first of many short films Cineplex is planning on launching but if Lily and the Snowman is any indication, I can’t wait to see what’s next! I’ll let you be the judge of Lily and the Snowman but I will warn you that you may want to get a tissue handy…

Lily & the Snowman

Lily & the Snowman features Genesis’ “Follow You Follow Me” performed by Canadian singer Adaline. Watch the Making Of video: http://cinplx.co/1YaC39H Every winter, a magical snowman puts on a show for a little girl. But over time, life pulls them apart. Will she remember to take the time for what she loved?

I told you it was powerful so don’t blame me because you didn’t get tissues! Recognize that song? It was a new take on Genesis’ ‘Follow you’, which will be available for purchase in January 2016. Lily and the Snowman will be promoted across Cineplex’s social channels as well as shown to guests as part of the December and January Pre-Shows featured at 162 theatres across Canada.

Canadians are encouraged to engage and share over social media using the hashtag #SeeTheBigPicture, as well on Cineplex’s Facebook, Twitter @CineplexMovies or Instagram @CineplexMovies channels.