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Volkswagen Tiguan Redesign

My First Auto Show Was A Smashing Success Thanks To Volkswagen Canada!

I attended my 1st ever auto show this past weekend as I made my way to Toronto for the Canadian International AutoShow at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. As someone currently in the market for a new family vehicle, the timing couldn’t have been better. Frankly, I was shocked by the sheer size of the show and how they managed to get all those cars in there but that’s a story for another time.

I was invited to the show by Volkswagen Canada for a sneak peek at their lineup of cars for both family and fun, and they certainly did not disappoint. Before I get to the cars though, VW had set up a very cool virtual reality experience for all the attendees and having never tried it before I was very excited to give it a go. Because I love you all so much, here is an embarrassing look at me in the VR simulation, throwing invisible snowballs at a tree.

Now that we have gotten that out of the way, let’s talk about cars! Realizing that all car buyers are not created equal, Volkswagen created an event to appeal to all different lifestyles. They also had some amazing speakers lined up to discuss topics such as Tech (Amber Mac), Travel (Heather Greenwood Davis) and Style (Afiya Francisco) as it relates to their line of vehicles. Without further ado, here are my thoughts on Volkswagen Canada’s offerings from the Canadian International AutoShow.

2017 Volkswagen e-Golf

Volkswagen Canada eGolf

The Volkswagen e-Golf is 100% electric and, according to Amber Mac, by 2040 electric vehicles will make up 40% of all vehicles, so consider the e-Golf an opportunity to hop on the trend early on. The cockpit of the e-Golf is fully digital which means the Active Info Display presents data and information about the vehicle directly in the cockpit. With its energy-saving technology, this car will be very popular among people who love both technology and sustainability.

From a dad’s standpoint, while the e-Golf would certainly be sufficient for getting a 4 person family from point A to point B, it’s wouldn’t be the most practical for parents who have children in sports. That said, the inside of the car was surprisingly roomy and very comfortable, so if you are not a sporting family and want to help out with the environment, the e-Golf could be a great addition to the family.

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Redesign

Volkswagen Tiguan Redesign

Based on the constant crowds around the redesigned VW Tiguan, this seemed like the star of the show on Friday. With a new sleek design and features such as Pedestrian Monitoring System, 4MOTION Active Control, Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and Available 3rd Row, the Tiguan Redesign is versatile and capable as it is reliable and safe.

We actually looked at the Tiguan a couple years ago but decided it wasn’t quite large enough to suit our growing family’s needs. That said, with the new increased space and comfort we are going to have a serious look at it next week as we begin our car shopping. We would probably skip the 3rd row option as I’d worry about leg room back there but other than that, the 2018 Tiguan Redesign has everything I would want in a vehicle and just looks fantastic.

2018 Volkswagen Atlas

Volkswagen Atlas

In the spirit of saving the best for last, I present to you the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas! From the minute I hit the showroom floor I could not take my eyes off the Atlas. This is the first 7 seater offered by Volkswagen and it looks like it’s going to be a homerun. Just check out these notable features:

• Variable seating concept
• Available second row Captain Chairs
• Pedestrian Monitoring System
• Driving Profile Selection with 4MOTION Active Control
• Volkswagen Digital Cockpit
• MIB Infotainment system
• Volkswagen Media Control

Honestly, from the minute I set foot in this vehicle I knew I had to have it. As a family with multiple extra-curricular activities which require us to bring sports bags, lawn chairs, coolers and more on a regular basis, the 2018 Atlas covered everything on our checklists for in-town events and out of town travel. As far as leg room in the 3rd row, I was able to sit comfortably, meaning my kids would be more than comfortable, however, I would not recommend sitting back there if you are in the 6 foot range. Still, everyone knows that the tall people always get the front seat anyway. Trust me.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Volkswagen Canada for giving me a sneak peek at their new lineup of vehicles and for giving me my first AutoShow experience! It was definitely a day to remember and I can’t wait to start taking test drives in the weeks to come! For more information on these or any other Volkswagen products you can visit www.VW.ca or head into your local dealership today!

VW Canada Event

Disclosure: I was invited to attend this event on behalf of Volkswagen Canada and the opinions I shared are based on my interactions with the vehicles. I have not test driven any of the vehicles listed above.

Heart Health

Matters Of The Heart

**This post was written as part of my partnership with BAYER, however it’s as open as I’ve been in awhile.**

In the last week I have eaten ribs, cheeseburgers, fried chicken, chips, soda, more chips and pizza. This is not the path I had set out for myself a year ago when I decided to start taking my health more seriously. That venture had actually started out pretty well, too, as I had been going to the gym regularly and started eating healthier at work.

So what happened? The truth is that I have no idea. While I was doing those things I was feeling great about it. I was enjoying competing in the Fitbit challenges with my friends, my running was bringing me a lot of joy and confidence, and I even hired a personal trainer for a little while. I can’t even remember why I stopped. Usually it’s either because I get sick and derail very quickly or get too busy with work and then get complacent afterward. You can’t deny that it feels good to curl up on the couch to binge watch through your favourite series. I just happen to take that to the ultimate extreme and give up on fitness altogether.

The reason I keep coming back to it though, is that now I have a family to raise and who look to me for a positive example of how you are supposed to live. I should mention at this point that most of the eating of junk I mentioned of the top is done either at work of when the kids are in school as I try not to let them see that side of their dad’s behaviour. Yeah, I know, that’s kind of sad in itself but I share it with you only so you know that through all the happy photos and moments I share, there is also a deep struggle.

I recently had my yearly physical and let’s just say that, outside of this week’s debacle, I have been slowly taking steps to try to reverse the damage I have caused over the last couple years. The aches and pains have started to creep up on me and as a closet hypochondriac, it’s only a matter of time before the anxiety starts kicking in again. With February being Heart Month in Canada, and due to the aforementioned hypochondria, I spent some time reading about the heart.

I found this very cool infographic that showed 11 Fascinating Facts About The Human Heart that’s worth taking a look at. Also, while you may not like to think about it, but it’s also important to be able to recognize a heart attack, which is what happens when a part of the heart muscle isn’t getting enough blood flow. Symptoms vary by individual; common ones include:

• Chest discomfort
• Upper body discomfort (including discomfort in the arms, jaw, neck and back)
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating and nausea
• Light-headedness

Aspirin 81mg Tablets

Another interesting thing I read is that in the case of a heart attack, the longer you wait, the more damage to the heart muscle can occur, so you should make sure you seek immediate treatment. If you think you are having a heart attack, call 911 then crush or chew two ASPIRIN® 81mg tablets – it could save your life. ASPIRIN® 81mg is approved in Canada for emergency use during a heart attack. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label.

So here I sit, tired and overweight, realizing that I’m googling “symptoms of heart attack” and wondering if this will be the wake-up call I need to get my butt in gear. Time will tell but I have a good feeling about it.

**Disclosure. I was compensated for my participation in the Bayer Bloggers program.**

Best Buy Toshiba 55 4K TV

Home Entertainment Essentials From Best Buy {Plus $100 Giveaway!}

Last week I shared some home entertainment system tips that were provided to me by a Best Buy blue shirt associate. Today I’m going one step further by recommending specific products that caught my eye while also sending one of you off to Best Buy with a $100 gift card burning a hole in your pocket! Let’s get started then, shall we? Here is my list of Best Gifts from Best Buy!

Toshiba 55″ 4K UHD LED TV

Best Buy Toshiba 55 4K TV

 

It all starts with the TV and after having used the 49″ version of this TV for the past week, I can say that I am extremely impressed. My family’s favourite feature so far is the ability to stream our YouTube and Facebook videos directly to the TV with the push of a button.

Check out all the features here!

 

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Sonos PLAY:5 Wireless Speaker

Best Buy Sonos Play 5

 

Having great sound is what will set you apart from the rest of your friends when it come to home entertainment systems. The thing that caught my eye about the Sonos sound system was not only the ability to buy separate pieces as you can afford them but also the fact that you can connect your devices to this system via wifi.

You can learn more about Sonos here!

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Bose SoundTouch 120 Home Theatre System

Best Buy Bose Home Theatre
 

Looking for the ultimate home theatre experience? Let me introduce you to the Bose SoundTouch 120 Home Theatre System. This system almost blew me out of my local Best Buy and in the best way possible. 

Check out the specs here but bring a paper towel for your drool!

 

 

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PlayStation 4 500 GB NHL 17 Bundle

Best Buy Playstation 4 NHL

For the gamer in your life, which in my house happens to be me, the Playstation 4 NHL bundle has served me well for months now and I highly recommend you give it a try. Guys, you may want to check with your wife before hooking this up to your main system but that’s where it belongs!

Check out the PS4 Bundles Here!

 

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PlayStation VR Launch Bundle

Best Buy Playstation 4 VR

If you’re going to get a PS4 anyway, you may as well look into grabbing the #1 item on my Christmas list year in the PlayStation VR headset! I’ve seen enough videos on YouTube to know that this device will provide hours of fun on your big screen TV.

Here are all the details on the PS4 VR Headset

 

 

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Google Chromecast Ultra

Best Buy Chromecast Ultra

 

Let’s say you went against my recommendation and bought a TV without Chromecast built in, the Google Chromecast Ultra is a simple way to use your mobile device to stream your favourite TV shows, movies and more to the TV. And while streaming, you can still text or call without interrupting what’s playing or draining your battery.

Check out what else the Chromecast Ultra can do!

 

 

 

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Now, I believe I mentioned something about a giveaway, didn’t I?? To get you started on your way to a new home entertainment system from Best Buy, I am giving one lucky reader a $100 Best Buy gift card! All you have to do to enter in fill out the Rafflecopter form below and cross your fingers! Happy Shopping!!!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was compensated for my participation in this program, which involved playing with all sorts of cool electronics!

Best Buy Home Entertainment Toshiba

How To Create The Ultimate Home Theatre Experience

One of the top items on our holiday list this year was a new TV for our living room as our current model is about 6 years old and the advancements in home entertainment in that time have been beyond anything I could have imagined. Not wanting to make the wrong decision, we worked with Best Buy to set up an appointment with one of their Blue Shirt associates and home entertainment experts, Ryan, and he helped us throughout the process.

I wanted to share some of his tips with you because it was all new to me so I figured there were more of us, less technology savvy, people out there… Honestly, had I not asked for Ryan’s help, we would have walked out of Best Buy with a mishmash of things that don’t belong together. That said, here are some of his top tips for outfitting your home entertainment system!

Good Sound Is Key!

As great as TV technology is these days, if you want a true home theatre experience, you need to up the ante when it comes to sound. I always used to walk right by the sound aisle because I knew I’d be spotted for the fraud I was while pretending to look impressed by it all. Ryan taught me all about the differences and importance of the various components of sound, pointing out that the sound bar was where the magic happens, while the sub woofer played in important role in the projection of bass. I admitted to him that I had received a surround sound set a few years earlier and had no idea what the sub woofer did, so I just left it unplugged next to the TV… Shame.

Obviously, the sound set from Bose was incredible but it was the Sonos system that caught my eye. I liked the ability to purchase pieces as I had money for them as opposed to having to shell out all the money at once. I also liked that you could connect your mobile devices to any of the pieces through wifi so you could play your music from anywhere in the house.

To Make It Great, You Must Calibrate!

That’s right, I said calibration. Let’s just be honest here, I had no idea what this meant as Ryan talked about it until he showed me the difference. You see, when most people see a TV with bright, vibrant colours, they are immediately drawn to it. In most cases, however, you are not watching with the colours or clarity you were intended to see. Best Buy offers a service where the Geek Squad will come to your house, with all their fancy equipment, and calibrate your new TV for you in the room that you are going to place it in.

What this does is sets the colours and clarity around the specific natural lighting that your room contains. Oh, and don’t worry about losing the calibration due to power outages or other errors because the Geek Squad saves your settings and can easily re-calibrate for you!

Miscellaneous Odds & Ends

Here are a few other tidbits of information I got out of my visit to Best Buy!

1. Make sure you measure your living space before purchasing your TV and TV stand. You don’t want to have to worry about these details while you’re in the store and then pick the wrong sized things.
2. Grab a couple extra HDMI cables and a power bar. Do you know how annoying it is to excitedly set everything up only to realize that you need one more cable??? I do…
3. Don’t be afraid of buying open box items. Not only is this one of my secret strategies, but the store clerks also emphasized that open box does not mean faulty. It is almost always because someone returned it without even trying it and you could save major dollars by taking it off their hands!

That’s all for today’s lesson! I hope it proves helpful for you when you are ready to redesign your home entertainment space. Oh, I almost forgot, here is the TV we ended up with!

It’s the Toshiba 49” 4K UHD Smart TV and we can’t wait to get it fired up! I’ve been told that 4K is the wave of the future so I’m excited to see what it brings. I also love the fact that the TV has Google Cast built in to give us easy instant access to apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Spotify!

I highly encourage those of you in the market for a new home entertainment setup to stop into your local Best Buy and ask for one of their experts to walk you through all the options. Thanks to Erin and the Best Buy team for making this such a great experience for us!

Disclosure: I was compensated for my participation in this program but my wife is loving watching The Bachelor on this giant new TV so I am definitely 100% satisfied with my experience!

The Tragically Hip

No Dress Rehearsal, This Is Our Life

I spent last night doing the same thing most of Canada was doing, gluing myself to the television to watch Gord Downie and The Tragically Hip play the biggest show of their lives. As with many of my fellow Canadians, The Hip are a staple of our upbringing in this country. They represent every cottage or camping trip we’ve ever been on, they helped us get through break-ups and for those of us who struggled through our English classes, they introduced us to poetry that we would have otherwise never known. In short, they were ours as Canadians and we loved them.

When the band announced that they would tour one last time, the rush for tickets was unlike anything I had ever seen before. The fact that Gord Downie was going to tour after being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer was inspiring but I couldn’t have imagined the overwhelming array of emotions I was about to go through. I was fortunate enough to get tickets to the show in Ottawa and can honestly say that I have never heard a louder crowd in my entire life. You could tell by watching Gord in the moments when he wasn’t singing that he was truly humbled by the response from the fans and we were in turn humbled by his passion for his craft. By the way, if you’d like to donate to Gord Downie’s Fund For Brain Cancer Research, as I have already done, you can do so by visiting the Sunnybrook Foundation Page right here!

During their final show in Kingston last night, I told myself that I would be cool in front of the kids while we watched together. As I answered my son’s question about why the concert and the band were so important to me, I uncharacteristically started to choke up and realized that this was not going to be easy to get through. I can’t really explain the emotions I was feeling but I assumed that most others were having the same reaction. I was definitely sad to be losing a Canadian music legend in Gord Downie, but that wasn’t what was hitting me. I think part of it was seeing him up there doing the thing he was most passionate about and giving it everything he had left, knowing it would likely be the last time. It would have been easy to fold up shop when he got the diagnosis but he instead chose to make sure that every ounce of life went lived.

As I watched the tweets and facebook posts stream by, I was overcome with a strong sense of pride in my Canadian heritage and realized that we were taking part in one of the greatest send-offs of all-time. I was proud that Gord decided to unselfishly use his platform to speak for our indigenous community, who have been overlooked for far too long. I laughed as Gord talked about how hard he worked to finally get women to come to the shows, I cried as he let out all of his pain and anger in a stirring rendition of “Grace, Too”, I went through some deep self reflection and I became more inspired than I’ve been in a long time. All this in a span of 3 hours and all thanks to a band. Who knew?

I’d like to say a special thank you to the CBC for setting aside the Olympics and the commercials and the money you could have otherwise made to air this concert for the people and for a band that brought this country together for a night of love and reflection.

And, of course, Thank You to Gord Downie and The Tragically Hip for the music, the years of hard work, for teaching me about perseverance and the importance of nurturing your passion.

Dad 2.0 Summit

A Brief History of the 2016 Dad 2.0 Summit (Now With 10% More Canadians!)

I spent this past week in Washington, DC taking part in the 5th Dad 2.0 Summit. This being the first Dad 2.0 that I wasn’t speaking at, the first thing I noticed is that my anxiety level had dropped dramatically. Don’t get me wrong, I love speaking at this conference but I get myself so worked up for imminent failure that I can’t let myself relax until I am off the stage, so it was nice to have that calm feeling the whole time. Of note, imminent failure has yet to happen…

The hotel for this year’s event, Mandarin Oriental, was the classiest one to date and this fact became evident to me after my first night there. I drew the short straw on night one and slept on the floor, however the Mandarin provided me with a ton of pillows and comforters to make a bed with. When I entered the room after the cleaners had been by, I noticed that they had remade my makeshift floor bed for me, left me some slippers and folded my previously worn clothes for me. The only thing missing was the towel swan! On top of that, they had what can only be described as the “greatest promo video ever” playing on the television sets in each room. Check the link and I promise you’ll be amazed.

Oddly, one of the highlights of the Dad 2.0 Summit over the years for me has been the unrelated karaoke night that usually happens. Last year in San Francisco was a very light, yet extremely fun, group of people and so I expected this year to be about the same. Imagine my surprise after a couple of us planned the outing to find about 40 people waiting in the lobby, all excited to join us for a night of fun. We laughed, sang and danced, and I’m thankful to everyone who showed up!

There were also a record number of Canadians at the event this year and it was great to see so many of my countrymen and women representing what they do. If you are looking for great Canadian content, here are some links to these fine people! Mike & Andrea Reynolds, Mike Vardy, Justin Connors (also my roommate extraordinaire), Buzz Bishop, Dai “the Moose” Manuel, Andrea Nair, Mike Granek, Matt Clarke, Stewart Reynolds! I’m still buzzing and apologize if I’ve missed anyone. I promise you will be added!

Dad 2 Canadians

Just a few of the Canadians in attendance at Dad 2.0!

Finally, it isn’t lost on me that the reason I get to attend Dad 2.0 every year is because of the sponsors. I am now going to take a minute to show them some deserved love in the hopes that they continue to want to support fathers from around the globe by sponsoring future conferences. I can’t mention everyone but there were a few that really stood out to me so I’ll give you the bullet points on them.

  • Not to play favourites but I look forward to the Lee Jeans booth every year and they certainly didn’t disappoint. More than just being able to walk out of the room in a brand new pair of jeans, Lee creates an amazing experience by offering couches, beer, basketball and an amazing staff who take the time to connect with the attendees. Relaxing in the Lee Lounge has become a Dad 2.0 staple.
  • A new sponsor to the event this year was photo app company, Memory Web. They were so new in fact, that they launched their business just before the summit began. We deal with a lot of PR firms, which is great, but I really thought it was great that the actual owners of the company were there running the booth and their pride in their company shone through in my discussions with them.
  • I couldn’t talk about Dad 2.0 Summit without giving a great deal of credit to the people at Dove Men+Care. These guys have been title sponsor of the event as long as I’ve been attending and they bring it to a new level each and every year! Outside of the amazing barbershop they set up each year, they sponsor meals, speakers and create a mad rush for the tons of product they bring each year. On top of all that, they truly respect and understand the importance of good fathers and that is evident not just at the conference but also in the work they do with the dad community throughout the year.
  • Best Buy took us out on a wicked drone experience in the Virginia countryside and the laughs on the bus ride alone would have been worth the trip.
  • The LEGO night out at the Smithsonian was outstanding and the interactive games they had planned at the event made it a night to remember! You are looking at one third of the LEGO Duplo Bridge Building Competition champions, baby! Getting the whole room to belt out “Oh Canada” was a career highlight for me, too! They also have some great stuff coming down the pipe for dads so keep your eye out for that!
  • KIA added a new wrinkle to their test drives this year by offering professional headshots and the lineup was 6-7 deep at all times, proving that we all want to be made to look pretty!
  • Meta Wellness brought Michael Strahan to the event. Enough said! (They also had an awesome snack bar that I frequented on a “regular” basis. Get it??)
  • In the “memorable moments” category, the folks at Kidde Fire Safety had one of the more interactive displays as they allowed us to compete in a firefighter challenge to see who could get geared up from head to toe the fastest. If you want to see me struggle with this challenge you can head over to the HowToBeADad Facebook video

There were so many more great sponsors, which you can find on the Dad 2.0 Sponsor Page, but these are the moments that stuck with me.

KIA Headshots

My Professional Shots from KIA

I’ve decided to split my recap into two posts so that I can talk about my personal takeaways, and there were many, separately. For those of you reading this who were or are on the fence about attending the Dad 2.0 Summit, not only is it excellent for meeting the people in the dad community and also for personal growth and development, but the connections you make here are invaluable.

Thank you to Doug French, John Pacini and the rest of the Dad 2.0 team for another excellent event!

Osteoporosis Shoppers Drug Mart

How Much Do You Know About Osteoporosis?

I’ll go first. Prior to working on this campaign, I knew absolutely nothing about osteoporosis. That’s not entirely true, I guess, because I had always assumed that it was a disease that only affected older people. While I was technically correct in my assumption that osteoporosis has a stronger effect on the 50+ crowd, I was unaware that taking small preventative measures in my 30’s could help me avoid this disease down the road.

Why Should You Care?

Did you know that one in three Canadian women and one in five Canadian men will break a bone because of osteoporosis? Each year in Canada, broken bones caused by osteoporosis are more common than heart attack, stroke and breast cancer combined for women over the age of 50 years of age. Despite the severity and prevalence of osteoporosis, a recent survey from Osteoporosis Canada, in partnership with Shoppers Drug Mart, reveals startling gaps in Canadians’ knowledge and understanding of the disease. The survey results show that half of those in their 30s don’t know the facts about osteoporosis and how to reduce their risk of developing this disease.

Additional results and statistics include:
• By 2035, it is estimated that almost 42,000 individuals will experience a broken hip per year, meaning that those in their 30s and 40s now are at risk
• 1.4 million Canadians have osteoporosis however, only five per cent of respondents rated themselves as knowledgeable about the disease.
• When asked about key facts of the disease, the majority of Canadians admitted they are not aware of seven of the eight key facts about osteoporosis and complications that are related to the disease
• Although guidelines recommend consumption of 1000-1200 mg of calcium per day, most women fail to reach this level with their dietary intake – many only getting 300 mg/day.
• In Canada, among people over 50 years old, 80 per cent of broken bones are caused by osteoporosis, while 80 per cent of Canadians who break a bone as a result of osteoporosis are never diagnosed with osteoporosis.
• As of 2010, the overall yearly cost to the Canadian healthcare system for treating osteoporosis and the fractures it causes was over $2.3 billion.

What Can You Do About It?

I promise that I’m not trying to scare you. I was just as surprised as anyone else to know how common osteoporosis becomes later in life and as someone who already lives with back and hip pain; this is something I am taking very seriously. It is highly recommended that everyone over 30 speak to a health care professional about osteoporosis and the steps they can take to protect themselves.

If you don’t feel like making a doctor’s appointment, as part of an effort to promote better bone health for Canadians, Osteoporosis Canada has partnered with Shoppers Drug Mart/PharmaPrix, whose pharmacists are equipped to provide education and advice to patients about osteoporosis management and reducing the risk. All you have to do is stop by your local Shoppers Drug Mart and ask any questions you may have.

I’m telling you, it’s never too early to start thinking about bone health and there are easy steps that you can take, at every age, to help prevent osteoporosis. Ensuring your diet is rich with calcium and vitamin D and adding regular exercise to your daily or weekly routine will help build bone strength and can make a difference in prevention of osteoporosis and fractures. I mean, if something this bad can be prevented, don’t you think we should put in the work?

Visit your Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacist today or visit www.osteoporosis.ca for more information about osteoporosis prevention and maintenance for better bone health!

Disclosure: I was compensated for my participation in this program but that doesn’t change the fact that osteoporosis is a very real and very dangerous disease that you should take seriously.

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.

#BestGiftsBestBuy

Best Holiday Gifts From Best Buy! {Plus Giveaway!}

It should come as no surprise that Best Buy is first place I visit when I start to put together my wish list for Christmas each year. Between the video games, headphones and cameras, I could spend an entire day in one of their stores and never get bored. Knowing how much time I spend there, Best Buy has asked me to share my wish list with all of you and to find out what gifts you are drooling over this holiday season! So, here is my super amazing, ultra fantastical Christmas Wish List!

Call of Duty: Black Ops III

Call of Duty: Black Ops III

I have been playing and loving the Call of Duty series since the very first edition. In fact, I used to be the guy with the bluetooth earpiece that would be playing against other folks online and trash talking like there is no tomorrow! Unfortunately my skills have been in decline over the last few releases but I still love the campaign portion of the game and always leave it set to super easy!

Here is the link to Call of Duty: Black Ops III!!

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Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Camera Kit

Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Camera Kit

We had the opportunity to play around with one of these cameras last summer and my children loved that the pictures came out right after they took them. In the age of digital, this blast from the past has grabbed my children’s attention and made its way onto their lists!

Check out the Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Camera Kit for yourself!
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GoPro HERO4 Waterproof HD Sports & Helmet Camera GoPro HERO4 Waterproof HD Sports & Helmet Camera

A GoPro has been at the top of my list ever since I had the opportunity to see what it could do about a year ago. I can’t stop thinking about how cool it will be to attach it to my daughter’s bike or my son’s hockey helmet to get a glimpse of what life looks like through their eyes.

Here is the link for more information on the GoPro HERO4 and other GoPro products!
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Guitar Hero Live Bundle

Guitar Hero Live Bundle

Guitar Hero used to be one of my favourite games, so I was sad when they decided to take a little break. It’s more than just smashing on a guitar for a few minutes at a time because we like to involve the whole family with multiple guitars and singing along with all the songs. Furthermore, the song selection is out of this world!

Don’t believe me? Check it out for yourself over at Best Buy’s website!
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Disney Frozen Karaoke Machine with Lights

Disney Frozen Karaoke Machine with Lights

For those days where don’t feel like playing a guitar but also want to sing the entire soundtrack to Disney’s Frozen, there is this awesome Frozen themed karaoke machine that my daughter flipped out about upon entering Best Buy.

Ummm, what are you waiting for?? Go get this Frozen Karaoke Machine right now!
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Power Wheels Disney Frozen Jeep Wrangler

Power Wheels Disney Frozen Jeep Wrangler

While we are on the subject of both my daughter freaking out and Disney’s Frozen movie, I present to you something I would like to buy for her solely for the fact that I am jealous this wasn’t around when I was a kid. I’m sure if we put this under the tree on Christmas Day she would give me a ride, right??

I’m not going to lie, the Power Wheels Disney Frozen Jeep Wrangler isn’t cheap but think of the smiles and the new level of parental coolness!!
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Star Wars Darth Vader Cool Wall Toaster

Star Wars Darth Vader Cool Wall Toaster

Was this on my list before I went to Best Buy? The truth is no, it was not. Does that mean I can’t want to add a little bit more awesome into my life, especially on the heels of one of the biggest movie releases of all time? I think not! I’m not sure what else I can say about this product other than STAR WARS TOAST!!

Don’t pretend you don’t want a Star Wars Darth Vader Toaster in your life!
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Misfit Shine Fitness Tracker

Misfit Shine Fitness Tracker

This was the toughest decision on my list because I knew I wanted a fitness tracker but there are so many different brands out there all claiming to do the same thing. After reading reviews, comparing prices and experience one of them for myself, I think the Misfit Shine delivers the most bang for your buck and actually looks pretty stylish!

You can check out the Misfit Shine Fitness Tracker and other fitness trackers over at the Best Buy website or in store.
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Sphero BB-8 App-Enabled Droid

Sphero BB-8 App-Enabled Droid

A couple things about the Sphero BB-8 App-Enabled Droid. One, I want this for me and not for my children. I make no apologies for this. Two, I don’t want it just because it is the hottest toy of the year. It is the hottest toy of the year because so many grown men and women want it. So, people who are reading this, if you feel like sending me one of these, I am not going to complain…

Just look at this beautiful Sphero BB-8 Droid and tell me you don’t want it roaming around your home at all times!
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Giveaway!

I could truly run this list for another 50 items but these are the ones at the very top and things I thought you all would enjoy. To get you started on your way to some great gifts from Best Buy Canada, I am giving away a $200 Best Buy gift card! Giveaway is open to residents of Canada, excluding Quebec and will be emailed to the winner once confirmed. Good Luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was compensated for my participation in the #BestGiftsBestBuy programs and used that money to buy my daughter the Frozen Karaoke Machine!

Kids Minions

Celebrate The Minions Blu-ray/DVD Release In Style! {Giveaway}

As huge fans of the Despicable Me franchise, to say that my family was excited for the solo Minions movie would be a huge understatement. My kids spent weeks speaking in unintelligible Minions voices (think banana, banana) to the point where I thought I was going to have to take a course to learn a new language. Luckily this was just a phase and the kids have since returned to speaking English and the occasional French. As you can see from the pictures above, they were all in on Minions and have been anxiously awaiting their opportunity to see the movie again on Blu-ray/DVD.

Lucky for them, their wait ends on December 8th when the Minions Blu-ray and DVD hits store shelves everywhere in Canada! I want to say that I’ll be able to wait to give it to them in their Christmas stockings but we all know I’ll cave on the 8th and pop it in the first night! The Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital HD also come with three all-new mini-movies which my kids are going to flip over. Just to get your kids a little more excited, here’s the first of the 3 mini movies included with the Combo Pack!

In case you haven’t seen Minions yet, here is a brief synopsis of the movie:

Since the dawn of time, Minions have served (and accidentally eliminated) history’s most despicable villains. After their latest explosive mistake leaves them without an evil leader, the Minions fall into a deep depression. With the tribe on the brink of collapse, three unlikely heroes–Kevin, Stuart, and Bob—embark on a journey to find a new big boss. When their quest leads them to their next potential master, Scarlet Overkill (Academy Award® winner Sandra Bullock), our three heroes must face their biggest challenge yet: saving all of Minionkind…from annihilation! The film is packed with many celebrity cameos including: Jon Hamm (Herb Overkill), Michael Keaton (Walter Nelson), Allison Janney (Madge Nelson) and Steve Coogan (Professor Flux) and is a must-see this Christmas season.

Giveaway

In case that wasn’t excitement enough for you, I have 5 Minions Prize Packs to giveaway! Each prize pack includes the Minions Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, Minions beanies, Sticker sheets and Luggage tags. The giveaway is open to residents of Canada, excluding Quebec. Good Luck and don’t forget to pick up your copy of the Minions Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack on December 8th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. For any Minions out there reading this “djhdgsajhdg jhgsajhdg kjdhgsjdgaweiyur jfhgf gjfuyt”.