Damn Too Cold In #YYC

We'll suffer out another long week with -30C temps....

Can't.Do.It.For.Much.Longer!


ps- Sorry about the singing.

Book Meme

I was tagged in a Book Meme awhile back by Canadian Mama and while i admit to being a 'reader', i seriously haven't finished a book in a dogs age. ;(  Just saying that out loud makes me disappointed in myself!  Especially since Rosemary has loaded me up with plenty of good books over the last few months.  At least i'll have some when i get to them.

So here are the rules:

1.Take a picture of the books you are reading currently and add to your post.

2.Describe the books and if you are enjoying them or not. Why?

3.For every book you are reading you have to tag one person.

4.Leave the person a comment letting them know you tagged them.

1/ Done.

2/ Describe:

~Sophie Kinsella- Twenties Girl- i picked this book up cheaply (maybe $3/4 bucks) and thought, well hey- all her other books are a quick read and i loved each and every one!  I think i've read the first 25 pages a few times now.  Sheesh.  Not sure if i'll get into this book EVER or if it'll just perpetually stare me in the face until i finish it.

~Abigail Gehring - Homesteading- i live on an acreage.  I have this handy dandy homesteading book to help me with the homestead.  It is sorta like a bible these days.  It has chicken coop plans in it cuz darnit, i'm gonna raise chickens.  Someday.  Lots of other useful tips, including a million and one ways to get rid of Aphids.

~Canadian Gardening- Great Gardening Guide- since most gardening books suck (because they all pertain to much warmer climates where things actually grow!), i have a subscription to Canadian Gardening.  Even it, talks much too much about Ontario for my liking (where things actually grow, sigh).  I like to stare at its pretty pictures and dream of spring.  Double sigh.  Have i mentioned it is -37C with wind chill here today?

~Life & Style- Trashy Drivel- as i said prior, life with little kids (except the nursing kind who actually give you a chance to read, lol) has not left much time for consistent reading.  I finish a page, get interrupted, forget every single thing i just read, and then start the page again.  Two steps forward, one back.  Not much to say about this magazine, except it contains absolutely nothing useful.  I will only buy drivel that costs $2.99 and only if the hubster will be out of town.  For some reason, this little gossip mag really gets me all worked up.  If someone (let's say hubster), picks it up and starts reading it....then tells me about ANY of the gossipy drivel BEFORE i have had a chance to read it myself, i get super angry!  The only way to properly explain it is...on par with someone reading the last page of your book and then telling you what it said before you get there.  HATE that!

I know Canadian Mama promised you all that because i am an English Literature Major, i most likely am reading something really, really good.  However, i've already read all that.  Classics is my middle name!  Well no, not really, but i do own the Complete Works of William Shakespeare and have read the works in their entirety at least 20 times.  Have you?

3/ Name  suckers  other bloggy buds to astound us with their current reading! (One for each piece of reading-- can't call them all books, lol!)

1. Rosemary - because she is in the Bahamas RIGHT NOW, enjoying warmth and sunshine and fishing and all the good that life has to offer (including Rum).

2. Kerry- because she is newish to blogging and everyone needs to be tortured with at least one meme in the beginning.  Plus, her boy C has Type 1 Diabetes- so i know she is always reading up on that stuff!  Might be useful to some.

3. Casey- because i know her to be a book person and i think she would have some interesting choices.

4. Rebecca- because she writes very often on her blog and i wonder if she reads much??  Guess i'll know soon enough!

5. ONE extra for good measure! Merry- because she is a new 'friend' to me and i'd like to introduce you all to her blog!  Merry With Children.

Happy Reading Everyone!



Charismatic Canadian of the Week

Wow! This morning i woke up to a tweet that said:

TheCharismatic Canadian of the week is @MixtressSamiJoe! http://su.pr/8VVTd0


Thanks so much Canadian Moms!




What a wonderful way to kick off the day!

PS- If you haven't popped over to the Canadian Moms Online Community

 and you are a Canadian, what the heck are you waiting for??

Winner~ Doritos $150 Giveaway

Giveaway

Prize pack includes -

• Doritos Buffalo Wild Wings N'Ranch chips and Onion Rings N'Ketchup

• 4 bags (2 of each flavour)

• Black Bowl & White Bowl

• 3 DVDs • Memento • Pulp Fiction • Inception

• Director Merchandise: a Mug • a T-shirt • a Clapper • a Megaphone

Total retail value per prize pack: $150.00*

And the winner is....(thanks to Random.Org)

Comment #39
Donna @trowbdon

"I would have to pick buffalo wild wings and ranch"

February 19, 2011 3:46 PM

Congratulations Donna! 

You have 48hrs to contact SamiJoe with your shipping details,

at Sami@platinum.ca .

*I have been approached by Fleishman-Hillard Canada to participate in an online campaign involving [Brand name – eg: Doritos]. This post is a reflection of my own personal thoughts and ideas and does not represent those of the named brand.*

Tell Me Tuesday

Hosted by Canadian Mama

It's Tell Me Tuesday time again- and i do know it is indeed Wednesday! We had Family Day here in Alberta on Monday and i guess i got a day behind! Nonetheless, we can still have fun asking and answering anyways, right?

Okay, so last week i asked for easy tips on things one could do to make the reduce- recycle- reuse thing happen more smoothly in their home. I had one suggestion (though it does involve space)- set up your recycle centre in your kitchen or pantry so that you don't hit that 'lazy phase' before it gets to the garage.

You know, this comment is right on target.

Lots of the reason why people don't fully recycle is that it is too difficult AND very easy to be lazy. This lady also mentioned the two bag garbage limit her city has imposed (and a whopping $2.50 per bag extra!) and that certainly goes a long way for adding initiative to the whole process. However, I remember when i lived in that city with two young babies (under two), one of my bags of garbage was devoted to diapers (yes, slap me- i wasn't a full-time cloth diaperer- sheesh!). The other bag for the week, was the garbage. It was a stretch (thank God i had my trusty garbage disposal!) every week to make the limit, but paying $2.50 for an extra bag just wasn't right. I also had a mega pile of cardboard, newspaper, cans etc in my garage to boot...it really wasn't pretty. And then you know what i had to do with that pile?? I had to drive it to the other side of the city and sort it into bins myself! Yes, myself! Some stuff we were able to get our deposits back for- add in wine bottles and beer bottles to that recycle trip. Also add in- two kiddos under two and well, that recycle trip became the dreaded recycle trip of death--and took up a whole Saturday morning.

It seriously sucked. But, we did it. (Would you go to all that work? $2.50 per extra bag is now sounding like the easier thing to do, right?)

So- if you are a lucky enough soul to have curbside recycling programs, your bins had better be FULL! If you are lucky enough to have curbside compost pickups, NO EXCUSES.  Some of us out there have to do lots more work to accomplish this whole recycle thing.

Nowadays, i have more space where i live but i am much farther from any recycling centre.  I have a 15 minute drive into town first!  Since we do have the extra space to store our recyclables for longer and to make the trip less often, i do wince at the amount of beer/wine bottles that get returned all at once.  LOL  Sometimes it looks like we had a raging party, or are serious alcoholics!  Unless i go out of my way to tell people that it is 3/4mths of accumulated bottles, the looks are endless.  Oh well, all in the name of recycling, right?

Tell Me Tuesday This Week:

Do you let your child have Chocolate milk once in awhile? (Carton types and not the syrup)   Recently, a friend and i noticed that some milk companies have been playing switcheroo with our Chocolate milk.  NOT COOL.   How do milk companies totally change a milk product, but not tell you about it??  I mean, it's milk.  I expect more from milk companies i guess...

One the left, 1% Chocolate Milk Beverage.

On the right, 1% Chocolate Milk.

Hmm...they look the same??

Well, they did tell us about it apparently...more than two years ago and way before the switch ever began. 

So, knowing this and recognizing the labelling difference-- would you still allow your child (or even yourself) to have the occasional Chocolate Milk, now that it has been renamed, Chocolate Milk Beverage??  (and there is a taste difference and a nutritional difference)

I encourage you to read this link ...to see exactly what the differences are. 

I do look forward to your thoughts on this matter.  I will say, that i am not against sugar or even full fat- but lead a 'everything in moderation' type mentality.  But messing with my milk just seems unnatural and dirty.

PS- if you think Chocolate Milk Beverage sounds scary, wait till i tell you all about FRESH Orange Juice next week to complete my rant.

Thanks!

Thanks for your votes

and for helping this picture,

WIN!

Congratulations Normurai!

Discover Canada~ A RoadTrip & A Giveaway

Two CANDY/CHIP giveaways, back-to-back!

I know- holy heck Batman!

(Not like anyone around this house is complaining!)

Canada's Best Spokescandies are at it again!  Touring across the Great White North to discover cities, landmarks and events- Help Yellow, Blue, Red, Orange and Miss Green find all the BEST that Canada has to offer!

How you ask?  Simply, tweet @mmscanada , Facebook or email the Spokescandies!  They personally pen their accounts  and are awaiting your suggestions!  Their trip will take place over the next ten months;  so start offering up advice on what to see & do-  (Canada's hidden gems need to be discovered) ! This cross-country trek following the Spokescandies (they'll be posting their photos & postcards) is sure to be fun for all!

“This is my first big trip across Canada. I’m excited, but anxious -- what if I forgot to pack something important?? And I hear that Canadians REALLY love their M&M’S® Candies, so maybe preparing for the cold should be the least of my worries!... *Gulp*”

^ Orange, M&M’S® Spokescandy

“We were a little nervous when ^Yellow asked us if he could travel across Canada but soon realized that we needed to let our Spokescandies get out into the fresh Canadian air and experience everything we have come to love about Canada! Help us map out their journey by sharing travel tips with us on Facebook and Twitter.”

- Meghan Jackson, M&M’S® Brand Director, Mars Canada Inc.

Help the M&M'S® Spokescandies discover the BEST of Canada by tweeting your recommendations to @mmscanada using the hashtag #CanadasBest, or by posting to the M&M'S®- Canada Facebook Page wall!

Here's the best part Canadians!!
(I wouldn't let you go empty handed for helping out now would i?)

GIVEAWAY
M&M’S® Prize Pack- Valued at $70!

~Filled with various sizes and flavours of delicious M&M’S® candies, rare M&M’S® swag and the hilarious book by the Ferguson brothers – How to Be a Canadian: (Even If You Already Are One).

RULES
All entries must be received by 9pm MST on Mon., March 7th, 2011. A winner will be chosen at random. The winner will be notified on Tues.,March 8, 2011 via email.  The winner will also be announced on the Giveaway/Winners page of this blog. If you do not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen. Open to Canadian Residents Only.


MANDATORY ENTRY
Find out which Spokecandy you are most alike, by taking the new M&M'S®- Canada Facebook Spokescandy Quiz.  Tell me what the result was for your 1st entry! (I'll admit to being most like *blue!)


EXTRA ENTRIES (please comment separately for each)
1) Like M&M's Canada on Facebook.

2) 1) Follow Peek Thru Our Window on Google Friends Connect

3) Follow SamiJoe on Twitter - MixtressSamiJoe

4) Tweet this giveaway! (You may do a daily tweet, provided you come back and comment the link!)

All Cdn Residents- #WIN M&M's Swag valued at $70! http://bit.ly/fbSFkx @mmscanada #CanadasBest 3/7 @MixtressSamiJoe

5) Follow M&M's Canada on Twitter.

6) Recommend a Spokescandy destination/to-do, either on Twitter or the Facebook M&M's wall and leave me the link.


Remember, you only have until 9pm MST, Monday March 7, 2011 to win the Giveaway- but 10 whole months to share your favourite things to see & do in Canada with the Spokescandies!

Good luck!

*I was approached by Fleishman-Hillard Canada to participate in an online campaign involving [Brand name – eg:M&M’S® ].   The following post is a reflection of my own personal thoughts and ideas and do not represent those of the named brand.   *

Baby-Riffic!

A great laugh...

and i've watched it too many times!

I hope everyone is enjoying their Family Day weekend?

 

*Enter the Doritos GIVEWAY, valued at $150 HERE!  Open to all Cdn residents, until Wed.Feb.23/11 @9pm MST*

Doritos~ The End is Near...& A Giveaway

I recently had the chance to personally test-drive the two Doritos flavours competing for longevity:

 

A) Onion Rings n'Ketchup versus B) Buffalo Wild Wings n'Ranch!

See, those flavours sound super yum!!

I was intrigued, very much, by the A) Onion Rings n'Ketchup flavour...

Read: Die hard Ketchup chip lover!

But in my opinion, they were not enough Ketchup.

Still good though. ;)

The B) Buffalo Wild Wings n'Ranch put up quite the fight!

Tasty- like, Frank's Red Hot Sauce- tasty.

Kept going back for more, despite my burning mouth

and the chips lacking of any Ranch taste. (???)

Which would i choose??

I think B wins.  If you are a Doritos fan, you likely will like the hot, hot taste!! 

So what if it isn't ranchier, it has that signature Doritos flare!

A, just wasn't Ketchupy enough to convince me.

Giveaway:

Prize pack includes -

• Doritos Buffalo Wild Wings N'Ranch chips and Onion Rings N'Ketchup

   • 4 bags (2 of each flavour)

• Black Bowl & White Bowl

• 3 DVDs • Memento • Pulp Fiction • Inception

• Director Merchandise: a Mug • a T-shirt • a Clapper • a Megaphone

Total retail value per prize pack: $150.00*

OPEN to All Canadian Residents over the age of 18!

Giveaway closes Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011 at 9pm MST.

To Enter:

~Tell Me which Doritos Chip flavour you think you'd like best!  (1 entry)

~ Follow Peek Thru Our Window with Google Friends Connect. (1 entry)

~ Follow MixtressSamiJoe on Twitter. (1 entry)

~ Tweet the following, up to once per day and leave me the link in the comments. (1 entry each day tweeted!)

" Win $150 @DoritosCanada prize pack! http://peekthruourwindow.blogspot.com/2011/02/doritos-end-is-near-giveaway.html @MixtressSamiJoe "

Winner will be chosen at random (using Random.Org) &  contacted on Thur. Feb. 24/11 by email.
(48hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen)

Good Luck!

*I have been approached by Fleishman-Hillard Canada to participate in an online campaign involving [Brand name – eg: Doritos]. This post is a reflection of my own personal thoughts and ideas and does not represent those of the named brand.*

Doritos- The End is Coming

Which one stays, which one goes?

The End is Coming...

Giveaway details coming soon!

*I have been approached by Fleishman-Hillard Canada to participate in an online campaign involving [Brand name – eg: Doritos].   This post is a reflection of my own personal thoughts and ideas and does not represent those of the named brand.

Wordless Wednesday- Part Two

Something...

has been licking...

the vehicles.

?????

See, Wordless Wednesday- Part One

(for the other mystery???)

Wordless Wednesday~ Part One

Something...

has been sleeping...

here.

?????

See- Wordless Wednesday Part- Two
(for the other mystery??)

Tell Me Tuesday

Hosted by Canadian Mama

Last week, i fessed up to my high-price beauty secret. I really, really wish i had fallen in love with some cheaper product, but every time i try something new, i inevitably go back to my Clinique. The surprise? LOTS of you share in this indulgence. LOTS of you bow down to the Clinique Gods. Thank heaven...i don't feel so alone!

Tell Me Tuesday this week:

I try to live fairly 'green' these days... but sometimes life just gets in the way. We could all use some reminders on easy things we can do to live a greener existence. Do you have an easy, useful tip on saving/reusing/reducing??

I bet you do- so Tell Me!

We Gave CSN Stores A Whirl!

We had a chance to try out the CSN website and pick something to review.  Since my old popcorn maker bit the dust and i was having trouble locating a new one (does everyone seriously only eat microwave popcorn  these days??), i decided to do it through CSN.

I had quite the choice!  Many brands at my fingertips!

We chose the Cuisinart Easy-Pop Popcorn maker.  It arrived ON my doorstep in only a few short days and we've been in popping heaven ever since!  This particular popcorn maker is NOT an air popper;  however, i am glad for that as i was getting annoyed at how many kernels were appearing at the bottom of the bowl with our old popper.  You place just 1 tsp of canola oil or vegetable oil on the plate with the kernels, put the top on and watch it fill with popcorn. (Every last kernel pops!)

Oh yeah, the best thing about this popper is the top doubles as a dish.  Simply unclick the hot plate from the base and flip the whole unit over!  Easy Peasy!

As you can see by our video, we do enjoy this product.  The ooh's and aah's of delighted kiddos is enough for me!

*Peek Thru Our Window received a $60 CSN Gift Certificate,

to help with the cost/duties involved.*

It's Friday- Yeehaw!

You know...i actually made it through a whole week without complaining!  I think that is a new record for me -- pretty sad, eh?

Happy Friday Everyone!

Too Funny!

Name Something You Pass Around

Please click on the above link,

for a quick laugh.

Too funny!

Wordless Wednesday

My Chucklebutts!

Beebo & Xman

Tell Me Tuesday~ Beauty Edition

Hosted by Canadian Mama

~It's Tell Me Tuesday time again!~

I am not a very 'makeup' wearing type person.

I can certainly do it up to go out for an 'event'...

but as for life,

I'm easy with some concealer (if i remember),

a touch of powder (i get shiny),

some vaseline on the lips,

and of course,

mascara.

I do perhaps, need more than i wear?

Or, in the very least,

should aspire to wear lipstick Everywhere.All.The.Time,

just like my Grandma did.

(And, truthfully, more often than not, NONE of the above happens.

Can we say 'Hat' day?)

But what is my 'can't live without it'

beauty accessory?

CLINIQUE.

A few years ago (maybe 7), i celebrated one of the joys of being employed

and fancy free with my moola!

Buying what i want!

Mowahahah.

Anyways, it began with a sample of Clinique's 7 day Scrub Cream,

(that i managed to squeeze 3 months usage out of)

where i first fell in love.

I denied it at first.

I told myself that yes, i did love the sample.

But really, $22 a tube??

I had never purchased anything makeup-wise that was THAT expensive before!

(Aside from some Eau de Parfum,

Estee Lauder,

Beautiful.

Which i still deny myself,

when the bottle is clearly,

empty.)

How long could it possibly last for?

And i did it.

Handed over the debit card,

and squealed over this monetary freedom!

Well, let me tell you,

i savoured every last drop of my

Clinique 7-day Rinse off Scrub.

I don't think i had ever even finished a

tube of toothpaste in quite this fashion.

I did not want it to end.

How long did it take to use, in its entirety?

Almost 12 months.

Other scrubs, i had used previously...

i would have bought those 2 or 3 times,

in that 12 months.

I always never want to re-buy it.
There has to be something cheaper??
I always wait for extra in the budget so it seems
like it isn't so expensive.

I wait, until Clinique has a giveaway...

(do they ever sale price their items??)

and then score some makeup with my purchase too. ;)

Can't hurt, right?

I have tried other brands that claim to be
Clinique-esque.
But they never are.
Nothing IS the same.

I currently have three products in the Clinique line,

that i buy (and I am still very thankful they last close to 1year!) :

I'd love to find cheaper alternatives.
But am always disheartened
that nothing quite compares.
(I've tried away!)

(I haven't even checked to see if they test on animals,
cuz OMG what if they do?? Eeek!)


So Tell Me,

What beauty product(s) can you not live without??

Tenderflake Love Affair

Okay, so i perhaps have kept my love affair with Tenderflake Puff Pastry on the down low...

I thought i had it under control.
To.only. Baked Brie.

But now, i've moved into desserts...

Pastries.

 

This might, very well,...

Be Dangerous!

(Btw, stuffed with cream cheese and strawberries!)

Ps~ This is not an ad for Tenderflake puff pastry.

(Though, i really like it... just sayin') 

Perhaps i'll learn to make my own...

Superbowl Sunday

Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Do you have a favourite?

Will you be watching?

Predictions anyone?

SamiJoe predicts-  Steelers by 6pts.

But really, i just like the eating and beer part!

And Since it is the Year of the Rabbit....

Hop, hop, hop!

Well, rabbits hop too right?

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Did you know...

~The Maltesers® brand has been celebrating the Chinese New Year with Canadians and chocolate-lovers around the world since 1936? 
Some say it is because of the malted-milk flavour, widely enjoyed in Chinese culture.  Others say, it is because of the bright red packaging, symbolizing good fortune and joy!

Kung Hei Fat Choy everyone!

CRUNCH!

(i'm a cruncher...not a melt-in-your-mouth type!)

The Chinese New Year is celebrated from February 3rd-18th.
Tis' the Year of the Rabbit- Hop!

*Peek Thru Our Window was given some Maltesers for our crunching enjoyment,
 on behalf of Fleishman-Hillard for Mars Canada Inc. *

Snow Bum 2- Normurai Needs Your Vote!

The other day, i introduced you to a long time friend of mine- Normurai. 

SnowBum2

This year, the contest for Sun Peaks Resort 'Snow Bum' is based on a picture.  The picture above is what has been entered.  Take a peek through the other entries- i guarantee Normurai 's picture is worthy of your vote!

Baby Gourmet

NEW! 

Find it in stores starting February 4th, 2011

All natural, organic, gluten-free-

packaging is BPA-free.

BabyGourmet

BTW, i forgot the most important part...

a Canadian Company.