AVEDA Institute Hair School Scholarship Video Contest

Aveda Institute is having a hair school video contest to win a scholarship to Aveda Institute. There are 5 scholarship being awarded, one in each of the following cities - Winnipeg, Toronto, Calgary, Victoria and Vancouver. The Submissions for the videos are close and now the judging will take place. The winners will be announced in May 2012!

Haven't heard of a AVEDA Institute?  Aveda Institute is a top hair school that takes creative and talented individuals and turns out a a rock star hair stylists. They are not your average run of the mill hairdressers or barbers they are pros that will work with the best that grace the covers and editorial pages of the world's biggest and best fashion magazines!

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April 22, 2012 is Earth Day!

How are you talking to your children about Earth Day and what we can do to help the environment? We will be making some fun recycled crafts - I think I will try to make a tin can robot with the kids to hang on the patio. We have tons of cans of all sizes in the bin and also other odds and ends that would be fun.

We will also be working on making a few Tin Can Herb Pots, I found this one site that has some great directions on making them. I will post them after we make them. I am also looking into composting to throw out less and be more green.

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MIA - Where was I?

Last week I was MIA, not sure if anyone noticed the lack of posts around here but I wanted to let you know that I am alive and kicking a cold. I will be posting tons of new reviews and articles over the next couple weeks before my trip to Washington DC for the Eat, Write, Retreat conference I am attending! You can read more about it over on Marvelous Mommy  Meals.

The last week was crazy busy with work and training at work. I really didn't have a day off all week until Monday morning. Of course with all the lack of sleep and people sick I picked up a nice head cold for myself.

I hope everyone is having a great Tuesday!

 
~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Canadian Coupon Mom. This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Marvelous Menu Monday Week of April 16-22,2012

Sorry for the late Marvelous Menu post last week was super busy with work, sleep and training. Of course with all the stress, work and lack of sleep I have picked up someones cold :( So now being sick I am trying to relax on my day off and catch up on blogging for Marvelous Mommy Meals and Canadian Coupon Mom (check out the newest reviews and giveaways!)

This week I am still reviewing the same book as last week and hope to have the review post up later this week! It is a fantastic book so far but I love to try many recipes before posting. If you are a publisher of cookbooks or author of a book you would like reviewed and promoted please email me marvelousmommymeals (at) gmail.com

Now on to this weeks Marvelous Menu:

Monday - Left over Bean Salad from weekend, rice and All You Need is Loaf (TLC pg 235)

Tuesday - Miss American Thigh (TLC pg 145 will substitute chicken breast as we don't have thighs on hand) with mashed garlic potatoes and salad

Wednesday - Unrolled Cabbage Rolls (TLC pg 238)


Thursday - Tube Beef or Not Tube Beef (TLC pg 114) Slow Cooker!

Friday - Thigh Master (TLC pg 138 again using Chicken Breast instead of thighs), over a bed of Rice with salad.

Saturday - It's Only Brocc'n' Bowl (TLC pg 78)

Sunday -Pasta Point of No Return (TLC pg 135) (if hubby is home early he can cook BBQ porkchops or steak)

Dessert - none got baked last week as it was so busy. This week we will look back to last and maybe add a few things. The kids want to have a bake sale/yard sale on the weekend and sell goodies and old toys so if the weather is nice we will be outside all morning.

~*Jennifer 

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Marvelous Mommy Meals. This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Teethease Review & G!veaway!

Becoming a new mom brings tons of joy and also some challenges. Right away it seems like babies love to grab anything shiny and dangling from our necks. This doesn't mean we can't wear fun jewelry once we have children it just means we need to choose wisely what we wear. 

Recently I have been introduced to Teethease jewelry. I really wish this was available when my children were babies for more than one reason. These are great child and budget friendly fun jewelry.

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Iams Senior Plus Pet Food

For as long as I can remember we have always have had pets from kittens and puppies to rabbits and hamsters. We were always very lucky that most of our pets lived long healthy lives into their elder years. Caring for our pets and giving them the right food during each stage of their life is very important for optimal health.

Right now we have two cats and a rabbit, our cats are still very young with one just getting out of the kitten stage. I am very happy to hear about all the wonderful pet foods from Iams that will be available for them when they are in their Senior Plus years.

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Howard B Wiggle bottom Learns About Sportsmanship + G!veaway

If you having been reading Canadian Coupon Mom for awhile you will likely know how much we enjoy this white little bunny named Howard B. Wigglebottom. We have seen Howard learn about Bullies, Telling the Truth and now Howard learns about Sportsmanship.

With summer fast approaching and soccer starting in May this book came at a great time to talk to my children about being a good sport and playing as a team. My daughter had a hard time with losing when she was smaller but that is pretty normal for a 3 year old. She is getting better and we are finding that reading books like this and playing online games really is helping both kids learn to to be good sports.

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Rascal Flatts CHANGED Review

April 3rd marked the release of Rascal Flatts newest album CHANGED! If you are a Rascal Flatts fan like myself you will want to get your hands on a copy of this great album. If you have never heard of them you really should take a quick listen and tell me what you think.

Rascal Flatts is comprised of singer Gary LeVox, bassist Jay DeMarcus and guitarist Joe Don Rooney. They have evolved after being in the spotlight as some of country music's biggest superstars. Their eighth studio album and their first with brand new material in two years is CHANGED. They found their way to the country music scene in 2000 and have sold over 21 million albums, 25 million digital downloads and have had 13 #1 singles to top the charts!

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The MOM 100 Cookbook Review

Do you find yourself cooking the same ol same ol stuff over and over again? Do you find your kids bored with meals? I have the cookbook you may just love, I love it! You don't need to be some fancy cook with fancy ingredients. I found that most of the ingredients that you need for these recipes I have in my kitchen already expect maybe some of things we don't eat on a regular basis.

I love to read recipe books, I know that sounds weird but I find more and more these days are actually books not just a cookbook with recipes. Most give tips on health, ingredients, and getting your kids to try new foods, along with how-to sections.

The MOM 100 Cookbook does all that. It is made to help moms with everyday meals. Meals that you can pronounce the ingredients and find them in the grocery store, no need to go to a specialty store. Katie Workman takes everyday meals that you and I have made and adds some flare, some pizzazz. They are regular ingredients with some spice or cooked just a bit different to get everyone enjoying dinner again.


The book includes 20 Dilemmas with 5 solutions each and there you have 100 new recipes.  The recipes are delicious, easily adaptable (we did it with a couple meals already), no-fuss, includes tips, attitude and wisdom for surviving and staying happy in the kitchen. Katie has included "Fork in the Road" sections that are variations to make the dish simple for the kids as well as spice things up for the adults.

We tried a handful of recipes already and have a whole bunch marked off to make in the near future. This book is definitely one of those books you can use over and over again and not just for one or two recipes. We have tried Cheesy Rice with Broccoli, Big Batch Turkey Meat Sauce, Homemade Chicken Nuggets, Black Beans & Rice (which we adapted - using sausage cut up and also cut the recipe down big time and it still made plenty!) and The Basic Quesadilla's. I am sad to say we haven't tried the sweets yet but believe me I have those book marked off!

All the recipes we have tried so far have been easy to make with ingredients we have had on hand. The kids loved helping out in the kitchen for the ones they could help with. My daughter loved helping with the Chicken Nuggets, she was a fantastic helper and they turned out super! Every one loved them which in turn made her very proud.

This book is great for beginners in the kitchen to the more experienced. It is a great book to have on hand especially when you feel you are falling into the rut of what to have for dinner. A quick glance through The MOM 100 Cookbook and you will be set!

You can find The MOM 100 Cookbook on Thomas Allen & Son Ltd. Follow Katie Workman on Twitter @KatieWorkman100 or "Like" Katie on Facebook.

~*Jennifer 

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Marvelous Mommy Meals on behalf of Thomas Allen & Son Ltd. We received the above cookbook for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Marvelous Menu Monday April 9 -15th,2012

This week I am working a lot and will be making some very quick, and easy meals but at the same time trying to review a new cookbook that I will be sharing with you very soon. Take a look at what we are having this week.

Monday - A Lotta Endchilada (TLC pg 336)

Tuesday - Welcome Back, 'Cotta (TLC pg 332)

Wednesday - Let It Bean (TLC pg 55) & BBQ Pork chops

Thursday - Mixed Up Meatballs, rice and salad (TLC pg 19)


Friday - The Breakfast of Champignons (TLC pg 109)

Saturday - Hubby is still debating on what to make.. will update soon

Sunday - Bye Bye Burgie (TLC pg 96)

Baking this week: The Greatful Bread (TLC pg 282), Isn't She Loafly? (TLC pg 286) and Peanut-BETTER Gingersnaps

Recently I have been reviewing some great cookbooks and I am still working my way through them. I love cookbooks that are filled with great recipes not just a few that look good. Keep a watch for my reviews on cookbooks we are trying out to help make our dinner preps easier.

~*Jennifer

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Marvelous Mommy Meals. This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Spring Cleaning with Green Works (Review & G!veaway)

With Easter and spring arriving I love to get a nice deep clean of the house and open all the windows and get some nice fresh air circulating. This spring I had the chance to try out the Clorox line called Green Works.

We received a great Green Works line up including all-purpose cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, dilutable multipurpose cleaner, glass and surface cleaner, 2 dish soaps and the cleaning wipes.

Green Works products are made with plant and mineral-based cleaning ingredients to make it 95% natural, to help give you a safe cleaning product around the house. They are also biodegradable and with us trying to be more green this was definitely a plus in my books.

Green Works products are not tested on animals and are acknowledged by the EPA's Design for the Environment program.

With all these great products on hand and eager children wanting to help spring clean we got to work tidying up toys and picking through them to see which ones they could part with.

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Conversations with my son

Yesterday was an interesting day for conversations with my son. The first one was when we were out at the store picking up a few things before Easter.

Here's the backdrop; walking around the store and people have filled carts with chocolate and Easter things.

Mom: Okay I think we have what we need, let's get going. (A few Easter treats and some groceries)

Son: (seeing all the over filled carts with chocolate) Why do they have so much chocolate? Chocolate isn't healthy for you, do they know that?

Mom: (now how do I answer this? Hmm) That's right P chocolate isn't good for you in large sizes....... Let's go.....

Hmm at least he is health conscious.  

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