Harlem Globetrotters Logo

Win 4 Tickets To See The Harlem Globetrotters in Ottawa!

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The Harlem Globetrotters are coming back to Ottawa on April 12th at 3pm at the Canadian Tire Centre for their Harlem Globetrotters 2015 Washington Generals’ Revenge Tour! I’m happy to announce that I have been able to secure a 4 pack of tickets to give away to one lucky family and also have an amazing discount code for those who don’t win.

You might remember my previous experience with the Globetrotters when I challenged Buckets Blakes to a Dad-Off in which he destroyed me at every game we played… I have included to clip below and have something cool to share from this year’s visit but you’ll have to wait a few more days for that one.

GIVEAWAY & DISCOUNT CODE

On to the fun stuff! To enter to win a 4 pack of tickets to see the Harlem Globetrotters on April 12th at 3pm at the Canadian Tire Centre, simply visit the Harlem Globetrotters website comment below and tell me which Globetrotter you are most excited to see. I’ll draw a winning name on April 9th!

Also, if you want to buy tickets right now, you can VISIT HERE and enter the code DADS to save 25% off your tickets! That’s a huge savings!!

ENR_EcoAdvanced_Logo

What Do You Mean The Batteries Are Dead?!

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As parents, we’ve all been there. You’ve thought of everything for your family outing. Everything except batteries, that is, and now you’re dealing with the sinking feeling you get when you see that last bar mocking you as it flashes its final countdown.

We recently had such an experience at my son’s class performance when our camera ran out of batteries just minutes after the show began. I can still remember the sweat pouring down my face as I was faced with having to report my error to my wife as she beamed with excitement at the thought of having these memories forever.

There was a small part of me that wanted to pretend to take the pictures anyway but I knew I would eventually be found out, so I fessed up to my crime. My wife took the news well but I figure it could be years before she gets her revenge, as I would do to her. Maybe the half opened sugar lid or flushing the toilet while she showers. What, that’s totally normal, right?

The point here is that we go through a lot of batteries, as I’m sure most families do, and with March Break on the horizon, we are starting to stock up now so I don’t make the same mistake twice. This year we are trying out the new Energizer® EcoAdvanced™ batteries in hopes of getting a longer life out of our various devices.

FYI – The Energizer® EcoAdvanced™ batteries are the world’s first battery made with 4% recycled batteries and are Energizer’s longest lasting alkaline battery.

Double FYI – When you purchase Energizer® EcoAdvanced™ batteries at *participating stores between February 1st –March 16th, 2015 and go to energizerwinsmart.com to enter your product UPC, you will be entered for your chance to win a smart fortwo ($26,000 value!). There are also 10 secondary prizes of $100 President’s Choice Gift Cards are also available to be won!

Yeah, I know. Makes you want to snag some batteries next time you’re enjoying some quiet grocery time at Loblaws, doesn’t it?

Reader Giveaway!

Oh, that wasn’t enough for you? Okay, how about a giveaway just for you guys? Simply participate in any of the tasks in the Rafflecopter form below and I’ll pick a winner on … who will take home the following:
– Energizer® EcoAdvanced™,
– Energizer® flashlight
– Loblaw’s gift card valued at $25
(Insert Giveaway Form)
* Participating stores: Loblaws, Maxi, Maxi & Cie, Atlantic Superstore, Real Canadian Superstore, Zehrs and Dominion.

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Disclosure: I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, however my fear described above was very real…

GoodLife Fitness Prize Pack

Win a 3 Month GoodLife Fitness Membership & Prize Pack!

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To celebrate Heart Month and the fact that I am now officially a member at GoodLife Fitness, I am teaming up with GoodLife to give away a 3 month membership along with the prize pack shown above.

This February, GoodLife Fitness has teamed up with the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre to host the Healthy Heart Challenge to help keep your heart pumping!

Throughout the month, challenge participants will be encouraged to get CardioStrong through:

– daily cardiac stats and trends

– advice from a team of cardiologist and dieticians about preventing heart disease and stroke

– fitness tips and exercise ideas from GoodLife experts

– recipe ideas and nutrition tips to lower your risks

– suggestions for reducing stress and getting better sleep

As you complete the challenges, make sure you share your accomplishments and photos on social media using the #IHeartExercise hashtag. A lot of people won’t admit it but reading their friends journey to healthier lifestyles can be a striog motivator to get healthy themselves.

Giveaway

To get you started on the right foot, I am giving away a GoodLife Prize Pack that includes 1 GoodLife Fitness gym bag, a 3-month GoodLife Fitness membership, 1 branded water bottle and an #IHeartExercise t-shirt (various sizes available). The value of this prize pack is estimated at $250.

To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment below telling me what your biggest obstacle is on your journey to becoming a healthier you. The giveaway closes Feb 28th and is open to residents of Canada, excluding Quebec. Good Luck and don’t forget to join the Healthy Heart Challenge on Facebook!

Disney On Ice Worlds Of Fantasy

Win 4 Tickets To Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy {Ottawa}

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Disney on Ice has been a staple event in our house since we’ve had kids. I have to admit that while the skaters are all extremely talented and the show quality is second to none, I get the most joy out of watching my children’s faces throughout the show. You can see the “Disney magic” in their eyes as they shout out the names of the characters as they pour out onto the ice.

Disney on Ice’s Worlds of Fantasy show will be hitting the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa from February 25th to March 1st and I want your family to be there! With the help of Canadian Tire Centre and Feld Entertainment, I am giving away a 4 pack of tickets to the February 25th show, so you can experience the magic yourself. All you have to do is enter using the form below and a winner will be chosen on February 15th. Easy as that!

Don’t want to wait to win tickets? No worries, you can buy your tickets by visiting www.CapitalTickets.ca, by phone at 613-599-FANS (3267) or 1-877-788-FANS (3267). Here is a little more info on the show:

Rev up for non-stop fun Wednesday, Feb. 25, through Sunday, March 1, at Canadian Tire Centre with four of your favourite Disney stories at Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy. Thrill to high-speed stunts as Lightning McQueen, Mater and the crew of Disney/Pixar’s Cars race across the ice. Dive into The Little Mermaid’s enchanting undersea kingdom and enter the mystical world of Pixie Hollow with Tinker Bell and the Disney Fairies as they reveal the magic that lies within. The toys are back in town with heroic action when Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the Toy Story gang escape from the rambunctious tots of Sunnyside Daycare and race for home, in their most daring adventure ever!

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H&R Block Family Tax Cut

I Admit It! I Don’t Know How To Do Taxes

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As I’m sure you can attest, nobody likes to admit their weaknesses. Don’t get me wrong, we all have them. There’s something about saying them out loud, however, that is unsettling to me. Today’s admission comes at the hands of a yearly event that I dread, tax season!

I know a lot of people who do their own taxes and have no issues whatsoever. I, however, am NOT one of those people. As soon as I get the forms and log in to figure it out, my brain decides that it’s time for a nap and completely abandons me.

Truth be told, I have actually muddled through it a few times and no matter how right I think I am, we would always end up getting an adjustment letter, letting me know how wrong I was. It always felt like the teacher bringing back your test with a big “F” on it and a “Come see me” note. Embarrassing…

With the implementation of the Family Tax Cut this year, I am not going to be taking any chances. Families with children under the age of 18 will be able to claim a non-refundable tax credit equal to the amount of tax savings that would be realized by transferring up to $50,000 worth of income from the higher-earning to the lower-earning spouse or common-law partner.

With my wife being a stay at home mom, the family tax cut is geared specifically for families like mine and there is no way I am touching this one. Thankfully, the fine folks at H&R Block are completely up to speed on the new rules and promised me that they are going to take care of me and my family so I don’t mess it up. Again. For the price they are charging to do basic returns, I honestly don’t know why anyone would waste their time trying to figure it out on their own.

I’ll tell you what, because I like you all, I am going to give away a gift certificate good for one regular return (T4) that can be used at a retail H&R Block location. Sound good? Just fill out the form below and have a great day!!!

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Disclosure: I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, however I really am terrible at doing my own taxes…

Keurig 2.0 K400 Brewing System

Win A Keurig 2.0 K400 Brewing System!

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I thought there would no better way to spread some holiday cheer than to give away a brand new Keurig 2.0 K400 Brewing System! We have been using the Keurig 2.0 since it came out and have been loving the ability to brew a full pot of coffee with it. We also just picked up the new heated carafe and I’ve been highly caffeinated ever since.

Now it’s your turn to try out the new Keurig 2.0 K400 Brewing System! All you have to do is fill out the rafflecopter form below and I’ll notify the winner via email. Giveaway is open to residents of Canada, excluding Quebec. Good luck and have an amazing holidays!!

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Also, don’t forget to sign up for my mailing list so you don’t miss out on subscriber only contests and promotions!

Kinder Surprise Advent Pack

How Would You Like A Kinder Surprise For The Holidays?

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You may remember back in September that I talked about my role as a Kinder Dad. In that post I talked about how much I enjoyed “borrowing” my children’s Kinder Surprise Eggs. Well, now instead of borrowing their chocolate, I am passing it on to you guys!

That’s right, after my children fell asleep last night, I stole all of their Kinder Surprise Eggs, their Kinder Advent Calendar and some other goodies, packaged them up and got them ready to be shipped to one of you! Here is a detailed list of the things you will be receiving from my children if you are chosen as the winner.

The prize pack (ARV $34) includes:

One KINDER® Advent Calendar
One KINDER® Hollow Santa with SURPRISE®
One KINDER® SURPRISE® 100g Christmas egg
One KINDER® SURPRISE® MAXI 150g egg

Shazam! That’s a lot of awesome all rolled into one! All you have to do to enter is fill out the Rafflecopter form below and promise that you will not tell my children that I gave you all their chocolate! Good Luck!!

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Disclosure: I was compensated for my participation in the #KinderDad program. Also, I did not steal my children’s KINDER eggs because I am not a monster. Okay, I have maybe ate some of their chocolate in the past but only because I felt they had too much and that it could upset their tummies. Otherwise, I do not make a habit of stealing from my kids. Often.

Sid Science Kid Centrepointe Ottawa

Win 4 Tickets To See Sid The Science Kid LIVE At The Centrepointe Theatre

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I’m just going to say it. Watching children’s television can get boring for parents at times. It always feels like the same episode is on repeat for days even if the kids don’t notice. It wasn’t until we starting getting out to some of the TV shows Live performances that I developed an appreciation for what the kids were seeing in them.

It will be no different when Jim Henson’s Sid the Science Kid LIVE! show comes to Centrepointe Theatre in Ottawa on Nov 15th! My kids have been watching Sid for a long time now and I love how it mixes education and music together. Here is a brief overview of the show, followed by a great giveaway from Centrepointe Theatre!

Sid the Science Kid comes to life in this incredible live stage experience! Kids and parents alike will be thrilled as Sid, May, Gabriela and Gerald come to town to discover the excitement and curiosities of the world around them. With wonders to discover, Sid and his friends set off on a day of excitement and adventure, as they explore their five senses through fun games and experiments and by asking curious questions and finding fascinating answers. Teacher Susie is also along to keep the music flowing as the kids explore the world around them with audience interactive activities, cooperative problem solving and plenty of laughs to go around. There is even a surprise sixth sense revealed by Teacher Susie.

Win Tickets To The Show!

If you would like to win 4 tickets to see the Sid the Science Kid LIVE show, leave a comment below and let me know what your child’s favourite TV show is. I’ll pick a winner on October 29th. Good Luck!

Quaker Chewy for Charity

I Cannot Be Trusted Around Children’s Snacks

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“Did you seriously eat all of the granola bars?”, my wife asked the question even though she already knew the answer.
“Pffwhuuht?”, I replied, mouth full of granola.

This is a regular conversation in our house and while I know that I am not supposed to eat the kid’s school snacks, I just can’t help myself. One turns into three and the next thing I know the whole package is gone. I mean, sure, my new #DadFit routine has helped me curb my appetite a bit but I still get that itch from time to time and when it happens, you can kiss the snacks goodbye!

Just when I thought I was starting to shake this habit, I found out about the Quaker “Chewy for Charity” initiative and got sucked right back in! Quaker is asking families across Canada to get creative for charity. Parents and children can get involved by creating a Canadian-inspired artwork, take a picture and turn it into a unique and personal lunch bag design at ChewyForCharity.ca.

For every lunch bag design submitted and approved, Quaker Canada will donate the equivalent of 10 pounds of food to Food Banks Canada. Food Banks Canada reports that 36 per cent of the estimated 1.7 million Canadians who turned to food banks in 2013 were children and youth.

Quaker Chewy for Charity Art Party Kit Giveaway!

While my kids and I create our submissions for charity, here is a fun giveaway for some great art supplies from Quaker Chewy! The winner will receive: Chewy Product – 2x Chocolate Chip, 2x Yogurt, Markers, Paints and brushes, Pipe Cleaners, Pencil crayons, Glue, 5 Canvases, Popsicle Sticks, Basket for storage. There is also a picture of the kit below. Good Luck and don’t forget to send in a drawing to help Food Banks Canada!

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Quaker Chewy for Charity Art Kit

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

P90X3

Project #DadFit – Week 5: A P90X3 For Me, A P90X3 For You!

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This has been an interesting week. I was flying high after running the Army Run 5K last weekend and was looking forward to carrying that forward into this week’s workouts. As fate would have it, I came down with something and was unable to do too much exercising. I still managed to skate with my son’s hockey team and squeeze in a visit to the gym but overall I was pretty laid out with the sickness and didn’t eat well at all because of it.

That said, I still feel motivated and hope to get back on track starting today! Before the sickness last week, I had been trying out the new P90X3 program from Beachbody Canada. I had tried the original P90X program last year but found it way too difficult for someone with my build and lack of flexibility and endurance. The P90X3 program is much easier for me and at only 30 minutes each, the disks are more than manageable. That’s not to say I don’t struggle at times but I have been going at my own pace and have really enjoyed the results so far.

After talking to the people at Beachbody Canada, they have agreed to let me give away one of their P90X3 programs to one of you! I’m telling you, no matter what you think about your abilities, you CAN do this program. Warning: There will be times that you swear at Tony Horton during the workout, so you’ll want to make sure the kids are out of earshot. Good Luck!

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