Making Time To Get My Sweat On

One of the hazards of being a full-time blogger is the amount of time spent sitting in a chair... just like any other office job. And it puts you at risk for what I like to call 'blog butt' and 'blog gut'. Yes. The lack of exercise can do that to a girl. So I recently made the decision to re-commit to daily exercise and get my sweat on. And the easiest way to do that is get my runners on and get outside for a brisk walk.

And these two little girls are my trusty companions. They are great walkers and get so excited as soon as they see me get my walking shoes on. I could not ask for more enthusiastic fitness partners.

Recently I was asked to give these two Lady Speed Sticks a try, but honestly, it took no convincing because I have used Lady Speed Stick for years. I trust Lady Speed Stick to help me stay dry and fresh all day and have for a long time. I have really sensitive skin, and Lady Speed Stick has been my go-to antiperspirant for years. And I like how it doesn't leave stains on my clothing. Lady Speed Stick Power™ offers long lasting superior protection, tough invisible 24 hour protection and is available in 4 fragrances to keep you feeling fresh from morning until night.  Here are two products I tried:

Lady Speed Stick Power in Cool Breeze 

Lady Speed Stick Gel in Fresh Fusion

And as I have been getting my sweat on recently with walks with my girls, I don't worry about Lady Speed Stick keeping me dry....I know it will and it has for years.

So, please tell me, what makes you sweat?

You know what makes me sweat beside my walks?

Getting lost when I am already late for something because I put the wrong address in my map app! 

{And it happens more often than I would like to admit!}

Don't sweat it! HANDLE IT*!

Would you like to try it for yourself? 

Visit HERE to find a downloadable coupon to use on your NEXT purchase of Lady Speed Stick™.

{Coupon expires May  25th}

See how other women wearing Lady Speed Stick* antiperspirant stay cool when faced with sweaty situations in this clip:

And how about a chance to WIN 1 of 6 Gift Baskets of assorted Lady Speed Stick products?

Visit HERE to sign up for your chance to WIN!

6 lucky winners will be chosen at random on May 31, 2013.
Good Luck!

{Disclosure~I received this product as part of a sponsored post for Colgate Canada. However, all opinions are my own and I really have used Lady Speed Stick for 25+ years.}

Italian Pasta Salad Picnic Lunch

{To celebrate Summer as part of a sponsored post for Collective Bias, I made this Italian Pasta Salad from ingredients found at the Bulk Barn Canada. #cbias}

Summer is here! And that means it's the season for one of my very favorite summer activities...picnics. Our family loves taking picnic lunches to the park,  beach or outdoor concerts & events, so I created this cool & fresh  Italian pasta salad that is a great travel trooper and will satisfy any appetite on a hot summer day.

The inspiration for this recipe came when I was browsing the aisles of Bulk Barn and I happened to see  some sun-dried tomatoes. When I opened up the bin, they smelled so good that I knew that I had to make something with them.  As I browsed the rest of the aisles, the ingredients for the rest of the salad began to take shape as I picked up some penne pasta, pine nuts, and Italian spice, among lots of other things for upcoming baking projects and Father's Day items.

If you read a few of the recipes that I shared last summer,  you might remember that our family is not a fan of gloppy, runny mayo-based salads. We like salads that hold up well with ingredients that don't become drown in runny dressings, so many of my salad recipes included olive oil, along with other seasonings, as the dressing to keep everything together.  This salad includes not only penne pasta, pine nuts, sun-roasted tomatoes and Italian spice, but also some crunchy vegetables and spicy meat that makes it satisfying for a meal.

Italian Pasta Salad 

{serves 4 main meals or 8 side dishes}

Ingredients

8-10 cups cooked penne pasta, cooled
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tbsp. dijon mustard
1-1/2 tbsp. Italian seasoning
1-2 cloves minced garlic {optional}
1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup diced red pepper
1/2 cup diced green pepper
1/2 diced red onion
4 oz. diced sopressata salami
salt & pepper to taste

Directions:
1. In large bowl, add cooked penne pasta and olive oil, dijon mustard, Italian spice garlic. Mix until pasta is coated in a light layer of olive oil. This gives it flavor, but also prevents the pasta from sticking.
2. Add pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes, diced red & green pepper, onion and salami. Mix until combined. Serve or refrigerate until serving time.

And now we stir it all together. This salad is perfect for a family dinner or a summer potluck.

And because you know how I love pretty, I want to share with you how I made this Italian pasta salad into a lovely little picnic lunch by placing it in a small foil container and adding a little fresh fruit and some small chocolates to make a perfectly packaged lunch for one.

 And then I thought that it needed a pretty tag, so I created this colorful tag to share with you. These packaged picnic lunches would be perfect for a gathering of friends for an outdoor concert, a birthday party or just because you want to make a picnic lunch special.

Summer Picnic Tag

So, the next time you are looking for a cool & refreshing summer salad that you can put together in under 30 minutes, you may want to give this delicious Italian pasta salad a try!


This post is linked to these parties:
Craft-O-Maniac, Uncommon Designs, Aalderberry Hill, Under The Table & Dreaming, Skip To My Lou, Lil Luna, Gingersnap Crafts, The 36th Avenue, I Gotta Create, StoneGable, Somewhat Simple,Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons, The Frugal Girls, Design, Dining & Diapers, Becoming Martha, Whipperberry, Tatertots and Jello, Cooking With Ruthie, It's Overflowing, I Heart Naptime, I Should Be Mopping The Floor,  Uncommon Designs, Aaldeberry Hill, Skip To My Lou, Cozy Little House, Sugarbee Crafts, Chef-In-Training, Time To Sparkle, Home Stories A To Z, The DIY Dreamer, Clean & Scentsible,  Not Just A Housewife,

Encouraging Kids to Eat Well & Get Active with Alberta's Healthy U 5&1 Experiment...

Here at Echoes of Laughter, I have written several posts in the past on packing healthy lunches and healthy drinks & snacks for kids, and often written how my son loves hockey and my daughter figure skated for many years. Needless to say, we are like most families and have a busy sports schedule during the week.  One way I encourage my kids to have several servings of fresh fruit & vegetables is to have them cut up and bagged in individual portions and stored in a special bin in the fridge for snacking at any time.

Recently, I was  happy to learn about the Alberta Government's latest initiative to support healthy eating and physical activity for kids with the Healthy U 5&1 Experiment. This campaign, which began on May 6, focuses on  the importance of how kids 6-12 need at least five servings of vegetables and fruit and at least one hour of physical activity each day. Developing these healthy habits will help kids improve their health, maintain a healthy weight, improve their fitness level, boost their self-confidence and help them to do better in school.

As part of the Healthy U 5&1 Experiment, the campaign has launched a fabulous website for kids that offers 42 fun & easy science experiments that will get kids ages 6-12 engaged in learning about eating healthy and staying active in a fun way. Kids live in an online world, and the program takes this into consideration by offering a website {& app}where kids can sign up and track their progress, challenge friends and family to join in, and earn awards, all  while taking part in 21 days of nifty science experiments. Also included in the website are great resources like shopping lists for foods to try, materials needed for experiments and grocery coupons to help towards the cost of healthy eating.

In help support the Healthy U5&1 Experiment, there will also be 'street teams', dubbed the 'Healthy U Crew' touring Alberta from May to September 2013. You will find the 'Healthy U Crew' at popular community events such as the Calgary Stampede and the St. Albert International Children's Festival, and everywhere in between. To see when the street teams will be in your community, please visit HERE and check out the touring schedules listed at the bottom of the page.

In addition to all of this, the Healthy U 5&1 program has also put together a pretty amazing website aimed at helping kids learn to cook with fun, interactive games while preparing healthy recipes. You can find that website by clicking here: Healthy U Jr. Chef.  I think teaching kids to learn how to cook is such an important life skill and the key to eating healthy.

Make sure to visit some of these fabulous resources to help your family make healthy eating and active living fun for your kids and the whole family.

Ps- You can also find the Healthy U 5&1 Facebook Page HERE.

Delicious Chocolate & Strawberry Breakfast Pizza

Here are Echoes of Laughter, we are proud to announce the birth of a favorite new breakfast....introducing the fast, easy & delicious Chocolate & Strawberry Pizza.

Oh! How I love this fabulous treat for breakfast! And is there anything better than the flavour combo of chocolate & strawberries?

The birth of this delicious breakfast pizza began when our family spotted the new Chocolate Philly in the grocery store and it came home with us. Since Philly Cream Cheese is a regular at our house, we could not resist the temptation of a new flavour to try!

And this simple breakfast dish has become THE thing at our house.

The kids love it and as soon as they smell something in the toaster, they appear in the kitchen!

Philly Chocolate & Strawberry Breakfast Pizza

Ingredients:

Bagel

Chocolate Philly Cream Cheese

Fresh strawberries, sliced

To make: Toast bagel and then spread with Chocolate Philly & fresh sliced strawberries.

This is so easy that kids can make it for themselves!

If you haven't tried the new Chocolate Philly yet, it is ah-mazing! Our whole family loves it.

With Chocolate Philly you get the dairy goodness of Philly plus the deliciousness of pure milk chocolate-with half the sugar and calories (per 1 tbsp. serving) of the other guys.

And as a busy mom who needs an occasional break, I  have put my order in for my next 'breakfast in bed' treat to my family. {wink, wink.}

If you haven't had the chance to try the new Chocolate Philly yet,  as of May 21st, Chocolate Philly will be offering a new coupon that can be downloaded from the Philly Facebook page for a limited time.

And in addition to the coupon, you can also join in

 Chocolate Philly's FB Breakfast in Bed "Likes" Challenge.

To download the coupon and find out more about the Breakfast in Bed "Likes" Challenge,

visit the Philly Facebook Page HERE.

Now please excuse me while I go get smoochy-woochy in the corner with my Chocolate Philly and some fresh strawberries.  **SWOON**

{Disclosure: The products mentioned above are part of a sponsored post for Kraft Canada. However, all opinions expressed are my own and we love Chocolate Philly.}

This post is linked to these parties:
Tatertots and Jello, Whipperberry, It's Overflowing, I Heart Naptime, Craft-O-Maniac, Uncommon Designs,  Uncommon Designs, Aalderberry Hill, Under The Table & Dreaming, Skip To My Lou, Lil' Luna,  Gingersnap Craft, The 36th Avenue, I Gotta Create, StoneGable, Somewhat Simple, Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons,  The Frugal Girls, Design, Dining & Diapers, Becoming Martha, Cooking With Ruthie,  It's Overflowing, I Should Be Mopping The Floor,

The Journey To Motherhood

Yesterday as we celebrated Mother's Day, I couldn't help but to be keenly aware of how very lucky I am to have 2 healthy and wonderful children, and how fortunate we were to be able to conceive these children when we were ready to start our family. And although it was easy for me, I know that the journey to Motherhood is not so easy for others, as they must rely on medical science for help in creating the family that they so desperately wish to have.

I have an amazing friend who went through several years of infertility, and fertility treatments, before she finally became pregnant with twins at age 38. The miracle of all this was that when she finally got pregnant, it was during their fifth attempt at IVF. It was their last and final attempt because she & her husband had exhausted all financial means to pay for another IVF treatment, and statistically, their chances of being successful were not increasing.  The years of paying for private fertility treatments, not covered by provincially funded health care plans, had cost my friend & her husband thousands of dollars and they could no longer afford to continue to pursue their dream of having a child. My friend told me she had all but given up hope on their last try because she knew that the money had run out.

Infertility in not a choice that couples make for themselves. Infertility is a devastating medical condition. Current medical technology exists to help many infertile families to conceive the children they so desperately want, but this technology remains beyond the financial means of most couples. My heart truly breaks for these couples because I, as a young girl growing up, dreamed of having children one day, and I could not imagine having this dream taken away through no fault of my own. I believe that infertility is a medical condition that requires support...just like many other medical conditions.

Did you know that 1 in 6 Albertans struggle with infertility? We also know that 67% of Albertans believe the province should fund IVF treatments for families. Currently, Quebec is the only province in Canada that funds IVF treatment plans, along with many other countries around the world. It is my hope that we can change this so that couples can realize their dreams of starting a family without financial status being the determining factor.

Current evidence shows that funding IVF will reduce the number of multiple births and make infertility treatments safer for mothers and their children. Couples who seek IVF treatment on their own often have multiple embryos implanted to increase their chances of conceiving because they may only be able to afford one  IVF treatment.In light of this, it would make sense  to save taxpayer dollars by funding IVF {three rounds of single embryo transfer} for infertile couples to help them realize their dream of having a family. Anyone who has gone through the pain & suffering of infertility, or who has watched loved ones journey through this pain, will agree that it is the right choice...for many reasons. All families are beautiful....no matter how they are created.

To learn more, please visit:  Generations of Hope

Feel free to follow the conversation by following @gensofhope or searching #ABHC4IVF and #abpoli on Twitter.

{Disclosure: I am a valued member of the Generations of Hope #ABHC4IVF blog team. As such, I received compensation for sharing this message, but my opinion is my own.}

Make a Pretty Table Runner + Sears Sewing Machine Giveaway!

It's Spring and I am craving beautiful, glorious colour! Lately, I have been putting into action some plans for a fun makeover for our dining/living room area. I have lots to share in upcoming posts {wink} but for now, I want to share with you one small project I finished for our dining area.

As part of my re-decorating plan, I was on the search for a colourful table runner to tie-in with some of the other changes I made in the living room. The few table runners I found were either the wrong colour, or way outside my budget...at $60 and $80 each. So I decided to make a table runner with some beautiful fabric that I found at a fabric store, and as luck would have it, Sears contacted me around the same time to see if I would like to try their Sears Kenmore 50 Stitch Sewing Machine. I was thrilled at the opportunity to be able to create my sewing project with a brand new machine.

So let's get to work on that easy table runner first, shall we?

I chose to make a very simple rectangular runner so that the fabric could shine on it's own.

And can I tell you that I created this table runner for just $12? Yay!

Table Runner

{Finished size approx. 13" x 40"}

Materials Needed:

1/2 metre of fabric {I used a fabric by Valori Wells}

Thread in coordinating colour

Rotary cutter and cutting mat, or scissors

Directions:

1. Iron fabric.

2. Using rotary cutter and cutting mat, cut fabric to 13~1/4 by 40~1/2". 

3. Using an iron, press a 1/4" seam allowance around entire edge of rectangle. Then fold again and press another 1/4" seam allowance so that the rough edges are tucked in. Then pin baste the pressed edges every 3" to 5" inches, as shown, to hold in place.

4. Take the runner to the sewing machine and carefully sew around all 4 sides of runner using a straight stitch, turning fabric 90 degrees to stitch around corners. Cut threads when done. Finished size is approx. 13" x 40".
5. Press the table runner to remove all wrinkles.

Now stand back and admire the new table runner. 

 I am so happy with my fabulous new budget-friendly $12 table runner.

And let me share some of the wonderful features of my new Sears Kenmore 50 Stitch Computerized Sewing Machine.

This sewing machine was so easy to thread! The machine came with a full-size instruction booklet complete with pictures detailing each step. I had the machine ready for sewing in about 15 minutes.

As I began sewing my project, I found the needle & feed moved the fabric with a very smooth flow and created beautiful stitching to make my project look perfect.

I also love the clear see-thru plate that covers the bobbin which makes it so easy to see how the bobbin thread is doing and when it might need a refill.

 This sewing machine has a computerized panel which makes it easy to make adjustments to stitch length and stitch width, and to access all of the other stitches that this model offers. 

Changing stitches is as easy as gently pressing a few buttons!

This model also offers these options in addition to straight stitch:

Zigszag stitch sewing, utility and decorative stitches, stretch stitches and a one step buttonhole function.

Basically, this Kenmore machine could handle any sewing project that your heart desires.

This machine weighs just under 12 pounds, which makes it easy to take to a sewing class or a friend's house for a project day.

 I have mentioned only a few of the many features of this lovely Kenmore sewing machine, but there are many more!

And right now, Sears has assorted Kenmore Sewing Machines at different price points on sale from now until May 12th,2013.

 just in time for Mother's Day! 

You can visit and learn more HERE.

And guess what else? The kind people at Sears Canada have provided me with a 

Sears Kenmore 50 Stitch Computerized Sewing Machine {Retail Value $349.99}

to give away to 1 lucky reader....just in time for Mother's Day!

So if you have ever dreamed of sewing fun project, now is your chance to enter this fantastic giveaway.

To Enter:

1. You must be 18 years of age and live in Canada to enter.

2. Click the link above & visit the Sears page. Have a quick look at the models for sale and then leave me a COMMENT telling me what you would like to make with a brand new sewing machine. {Please make sure that you leave or are connected to a valid email address.}

3. One winner will be chosen at random to receive a Sears Kenmore 50 Stitch Computerized Sewing Machine, to be mailed to the winner's  home.

4. Giveaway ends Friday, May 10, 2013 at midnight.  One entry per person. Good luck!

Angie

This post has been linked to:

Gingersnap Crafts, Clean & Scentsible, Savvy Southern Style, The DIY Dreamer, SNAP, I Gotta Create, The 36th Avenue, StoneGable, Tidy Mom, Designs, Dining & Diapers, Tatertots and Jello,  It's Overflowing, I Heart Naptime, Uncommon Designs, Aalderberry Hill, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, Under The Table & Dreaming, Made By You Monday, Lil Luna, Somewhat Simple,

Create A Beautiful Mother's Day with Shoppers Drug Mart

Gift baskets are my absolute favourite types of gifts to create for special people.They are both beautiful and personalized, with favourite items that make the gift recipient feel special & loved. I created this 'Pretty in Pink' Mother's Day basket for a friend who loves strawberries and the colour pink. I found everything I needed to create this unique basket at Shoppers Drug Mart, and I love the fun-looking result!  

It took no time at all to find several things in a pretty pink colour and a strawberry fragrance to create this incredible collection of all of my friend's favourite things. Shoppers Drug Mart offers an amazing shopping experience with an extensive selection in prestige beauty, nail, fragrance and accessory lines, along with a great selections in many other areas such as snacks, magazines, & seasonal items. Combine the overall shopping experience with the Optimum Points program and Shoppers Drug Mart offers the perfect combination of selection and value.  I was able to put this basket together for around $50 for my friend's husband to give to her for Mother's Day and I know that she will adore it. Just look at all it's pink loveliness....everything required for a luxurious bath, a few snacks and a magazine to relax with.

With Mother's Day just around the corner on May 12, Shoppers Drug Mart is offering a special Mother's Day Gift selection where you will find many beautiful gift sets of things such as fragrances and cosmetics, and other 'Gift With Purchase' opportunities designed to treat Mom on her very special day.

While pouring over the Shoppers Gift Guide, one of the things that caught my eye was this Chanel Gift Set which included 'hair mist'. I love great-smelling hair, so I added it to my wish list.

To make the Mother's Day shopping experience even better, Shoppers Drug Mart is also offering an Optimum Points promotion from Saturday, May 4th to Friday, May 10th, where you can collect 20X the Optimum Points when you spend $75 or more on cosmetics and fragrances.

With all of the amazing selection and value that Shoppers Drug Mart offers, along with convenient locations, it is the perfect destination to craft a beautiful Mother's Day for that special Mom in your life.

{Disclosure: The products mentioned above are  part of a sponsored post through my ad network, SheBlogs Media, for Shoppers Drug Mart. However, all opinions expressed are my own.}

This post is linked to:

Today's Creative Blog, Inside Bru Crew Life, Home Stories A To Z,  Lil Luna, The DIY Dreamer, StoneGable, Tidy Mom, Design, Dining & Diapers, Tatertots and Jello, It's Overflowing, I Heart Naptime, Uncommon Designs, Craft-O-Maniac, Aalderberry Hill, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, Under The Table & Dreaming, Somewhat Simple, 

Celebrate Earth Day: Make Your Home Energy Smart® with GE Lighting

Did you know that Earth Day is the largest and most celebrated event worldwide? And each year, over 6 million Canadians join over 1 billion people in over 170 countries to raise awareness and make positive changes in our environment to help protect our world from pollution? Almost every school child in Canada will take part in a project or activity to celebrate Earth Day!

Did you, as well, know that we can pollute twice as much with our homes as with our cars? Yes. It's true. Every time we cook in the kitchen, turn on a light switch, or plug in a laptop or smart phone, we are using energy, and most energy is generated by plants which burn fossil fuels. And we know that burning fossil fuels creates greenhouse gases that are released into the air. When we make choices that reduce energy consumption, then we also reduce  the amount of greenhouse gases being put into the air.

When you make more energy efficient choices, you are helping to protect the environment. There is one simple change that you can make in your home today which will help reduce energy consumption, and therefore reduce greenhouse gases. The one simple change you can make is to change all of your light bulbs to GE energy smart® Bright From the Start® CFL Light Bulbs. Unlike other CFLs, GE energy smart® Bright from the Start® CFLs feature a capsule that provides light instantly, so no more waiting to experience full brightness. From the moment you flip the switch, you will be seeing at full brightness right away.

And not only will you be experiencing full brightness, you can rest easy knowing that you are helping the environment by reducing energy consumption.  GE energy smart® Bright From the Start® CFL Light Bulbs has these important features and benefits:

~Lasts 8 times longer than regular incandescent bulbs

~Uses 75% less energy

~Saves $39 in energy cost over the life of the bulb*

~7.3 year life at 3 hours/day usage

And, these bulbs provide a similar soft, diffuse light as an incandescent with a similar shape, great for table lamps and fixtures where you want light instantly.

In celebration of Earth Day, GE Lighting would like to encourage you to change all of your light bulbs to GE energy smart® Bright From the Start® CFL Light Bulbs to reduce energy consumption. And to help you make the switch, they have a COUPON available to help you with the purchase of  Bright From the Start® CFL Light Bulbs.

 You can find the COUPON on the GE Lighting Facebook page here.

To learn more about GE Lighting and their full range of products, be sure to visit their site, which is full of information & helpful tips,
HERE.

{Disclosure-I am writing this post on behalf of GE Lighting to celebrate Earth Day. I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion.}

Packing Lunches for Tweens & Teens

Here at Echoes of Laughter, I have written several posts on packing lunches and healthy snacks and drinks for kids. However, now that both my kids have finished their elementary school years, I find that the requirements for packing food for them has changed somewhat. And in case you don't have older kids in your house yet, here's the scoop: older kids want easy, non-messy, no spoon-required juices and snacks. 

Tweens and teens want things to eat that fit with their busy, on-the-go lifestyle. My son, in particular, does not want any messy fruit in his lunch. And he is not a fan of vegetables on most days. Enter SunRype Smoothies.

SunRype Smoothies are perfect for my kids. They are easily packable, non-messy, and require no spoon, but yet each 250 ml serving delivers two full servings of fruit, is packed with fibre and has no added sugar, no artificial flavors or colors. I can easily pack  SunRype Smoothies in my growing boy's lunch everyday and know that he is getting the benefits of two full servings of fruits, 4 grams of fibre, vitamins A and C, and minerals like potassium.

And as a mom, another reason that I love  SunRype is that they are great for busy mornings. Teens & tweens love their sleep, and sometimes they roll out of bed without leaving much time for eating breakfast before school. It's easy to just simply put out a few SunRype Smoothies for them and I can rest easy knowing that they have at least a healthy and nutrient dense drink to keep hunger at bay until lunch time. We all know that research shows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I feel better knowing my kids have at least a healthy drink in their tummies to help them boost their energy in the morning.

If you would like to learn more about SunRype Smoothies, see more fun recipe ideas, health resources, and updates on family events, please visit the SunRype Facebook page  where you can join in the conversation.