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LEGO Boost 1

Building Just Got A Lot More Fun With LEGO Boost! {Giveaway!}

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Like almost every kid out there, my children love building with LEGO! Over the years, our building habits have evolved from simply putting together the sets from the instructions, to creating whatever pops in to our heads, but the constant is that LEGO keeps us busy and creative for hours at a time.

With my son taking part in the Coding Club at his school, something I am constantly jealous of, I was excited to hear about LEGO’s newest product, LEGO Boost! Boost is a 5-in-1 model that introduces building and coding in one super-charged LEGO set, letting children add sound, movement and personality to their LEGO creations, bringing to life anything they can imagine! The LEGO BOOST Toolkit recently arrived on our doorstep and the kids were very excited to start their #BUILDwithBOOST adventure!

LEGO Boost 3

You can choose to build any of the 5 models, including Frankie the Cat, Guitar4000 and the M.T.R.4. We choose to start with Vernie the Robot as he seemed like a ton of fun! The kids and I had different ideas about how to start our new project, with them wanting to dump all 11 bags out at once, while I wanted a more level-headed and dadly approach. Needless to say, dad won that round!

LEGO Boost 2

After that, we downloaded the free LEGO Boost app and got started on building Vernie! Before we continue, please note that a tablet running iOS 10.3 and newer/Android 5.0 or above is required to build and play with LEGO® Boost™, so make sure your device is compatible by visiting LEGO.com/DeviceCheck before purchasing.

The app was amazing and very easy for the kids to follow along with. Full disclosure here, with 832 pieces, dad helped a little with the building as the kids were so excited to start giving commands to their creation. Plus, I am a giant child, so the opportunity to build with LEGO is still an exciting prospect for me…

LEGO Boost 4

Once Vernie the Robot was complete, the real full began! First things first, the kids absolutely fought over who would get to test him out first, which was ultimately decided by a rousing game of rock, paper, scissors. I was amazed watching as my kids used the LEGO Boost app to learn how to code on the spot and they had Vernie doing all sorts of tricks within a matter of minutes.

LEGO Boost 5

For the last week now, the first thing the kids want to do when they wake up and then get home from school is to play with their new robot friend. I’m usually careful about how much screen time they are getting but I can’t complain about it when they are teaching themselves how to code while also having a blast with their LEGO. Next up for us will be checking out the incredible BOOST BOTS series on YouTube, where we’ll be able to see what is possible with LEGO BOOST for those of us who like to put away the instruction manuals!

LEGO Boost 6

I honestly can’t say enough good things about LEGO Boost and if your kids are into LEGO, or coding, this would make the perfect gift for them! And because I believe in this product so much, I want to put a LEGO Boost in your home this holiday season! Feel free to fill out as many Rafflecopter entries below as you’d like and I’ll be giving away a LEGO Boost kit to one lucky reader!! Giveaway is open to residents of Canada, excluding Quebec.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: We received a LEGO Boost kit to facilitate this post, however it really is one of the best toys we’ve ever played with!

Marks Giveaway

Mark’s Is Your One-Stop Holiday Gifts Shop! {Plus Giveaway}

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As I get older I find that I am having a harder time finding things to put on my Christmas wish list. At some point you just accumulate so much stuff that the thought of trying to fit something else into the garage becomes more of a nuisance than a gift. A funny thing happened last year as it was the first year I realized that I had made the transition from the kid who hated getting clothes for Christmas to being the guy who only wants new clothes for Christmas. Well, and a big Toblerone…

While I am still working on my fashion sense, I have never had any problem finding clothes I like at Mark’s. As someone who didn’t own a pair of jeans until his late 20’s, there is an overwhelming irony in the fact that my favourite clothing store happens to be the #1 retailer of jeans in Canada, but people change and I have learned to love representing my Canadian heritage by sporting endless denim combos. That, and the fact that Friday is jeans day at work and I didn’t want to be the only one not wearing jeans!

On top of the jeans, dress shirts and sweaters I stock up on, Mark’s is a one-stop-shop for everything else I need to get through the harsh winters we face here in Ottawa. From winter coats and boots to warm socks and toques, Mark’s covers everything on my wish list from year to year and has something to fit everyone’s budget. If you’re having trouble trying to figure out what to get for someone on your shopping list, you definitely can’t go wrong with a gift card from Mark’s.

I took the liberty of putting together my personal wish list from Mark’s, so please feel free to steal my ideas if you’d like. Unless you live near me and there is only one of these left in XL. Then you’ll have to leave it there in case I want to come in and grab it…

Marks Wish List

1. Windriver Nordic Ragg Wool Toque – I have so many toques with sports team logos on them that I think it’s time I class up my collection and this definitely fits the bill!

2. Kombi Timeless Winter Glove – Between shovelling, sledding, outdoor skating and snowball fights, my winter gloves are probably my most important winter accessory and I need something that will last the whole winter.

3. Sorel Men’s Bear XT Winter Boot – I got a pair of these boots last year and it was like walking on clouds when I put them on. If you spend any amount of time outside during the winter, whether it be ice fishing, tobagganing or just chasing kids around, these are the boots for you.

4. Denver Hayes Jaquard Quarter Zip Sweater – I was drawn to this sweater and with a number of holiday parties to go to and how cold it gets here, this looks so warm that there’s no way I could leave it off the list.

5. Silver “Zac” Relaxed Fit Straight Leg Jeans – Hey, after 20+ years of not wearing jeans, I am now addicted to buying them and am definitely a dark jeans kind of guy.

6. Ripzone Color Block Winter Board Jacket – This is a straight up vanity selection. I love the colour and just kept coming back to this coat time after time.

GIVEAWAY!

To get you started on your holiday shopping at Mark’s, I am giving away a $50 Mark’s gift card! All you have to do is enter using the Rafflecopter form below and I’ll notify the winner as soon as time is up! Good Luck and Happy Shopping!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Mothers Day Mom

Best Gifts For Mother’s Day {Plus, Win A $100 Best Buy Card!}

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It’s that time of year again where we husbands and children get a chance to celebrate the special mothers in our lives. That’s not to say we don’t celebrate them all year round but it’s so much fun taking the kids out to the store to pick out something special for mommy. This year our kids have decided that they have such a great mommy that they want to spend their own money to but a special gift for her. They have been saving up their allowance money for the last couple months and with a little help from daddy’s wallet have picked out something from Best Buy that we think mommy will really love.

We can’t reveal to you what we ended up buying for her but I am going to share some of the other items from Best Buy that ended up on our short list. Did I also buy something for myself for Mother’s Day? Perhaps, but nobody needs to know about that… Alright, here are a few of the items from Best Buy that the kids and I had to ponder. As we do, we started looking online and then narrowed down our choices before heading to the store. We’ll do the big reveal on Mother’s Day after mommy opens her gift!

Fitbit Alta Fitness Tracker

Fitbit Alta Fitness Tracker

Anyone who has tried out a Fitbit and competed against their friends knows how addicting it can be to try to one up each other. As each new Fitbit is released they look more like accessories and less like giant wrist bands. Pro-tip: A lot of people prefer wearing them on their ankles as opposed to their writs, so consider going for the larger band when you purchase.

You can check out all the Fitbit models at Best Buy by clicking here!!

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Kobo Glo HD Digital eBook Reader

Kobo Glo HD 6″ Digital eBook Reader with Touchscreen

If you have yet to experience the joys of eReading I highly recommend that you try it out. 4 million books at your fingertips can never be a bad thing, right? Also, think of all the free space on your bookshelves for your kids to put their toys all over…

Check out the Kobo Glo HD 6″ Digital eBook Reader with Touchscreen for yourself!
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Gaiam Yoga Essentials Bundle Gaiam Yoga Essentials Bundle

Although I have never personally attempted yoga, my wife has taken a liking to it but was lacking in proper equipment. This looks like the perfect starter kit for anyone looking to dip their toes in the yoga waters. I’m going to be honest and say that I’m not sure I could handle the pain that would follow yoga classes…

Here is the link for more information on the Gaiam Yoga Essentials Bundle!
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Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 Android Tablet

As any good parenting manual will tell you, letting your kids play with your tablets, smartphones and computers is an excellent way to get 5 minutes of peace and quiet. Unfortunately what that means is there are plenty of times when these devices are not available to us as parents. That’s why we recently decided that the kids were ready to inherit our old tablets which means we get to shop for new ones!

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 pairs nicely with the Galaxy S7 phones we just bought, too!!
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Marathon LED Digital Alarm Clock with USB Charging Station

Marathon LED Digital Alarm Clock with USB Charging Station

One of my biggest complaints as an android device owner is the fact that there aren’t very many good options for nighttime docking whereas iPhone users have all kinds of cool devices. As soon as I saw this clock with charging station I ordered it from Best Buy online. No, this isn’t our Mother’s Day gift. I was a Mother’s Day for me. Dad.

Here are more details on the Marathon LED Digital Alarm Clock with USB Charging Station.
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Classic 10K Gold Heart Pendant & Earrings Set

Classic 10K Gold Heart Pendant & Earrings Set

What is it about kids and gift buying that for moms they instinctively want to buy them jewelry and for dads they go to the tie section? In any case, as soon as the kids saw this heart pendant and earring set, they both looked at each with excitement. Again, not what we went with but it is definitely in our saved folder for future gift purchasing!

If your wife or mother loves bling, maybe the Classic 10K Gold Heart Pendant & Earrings Set is for you!
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Giveaway!

To help you on your way to the best Mother’s Day ever I am giving away a $100 Best Buy gift card and will announce the winner on Mother’s Day! Just fill out as many of the Rafflecopter options below as you’d like and you’re in! 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 #BestMomBestBuy program.