Stay on Track with The Healthy Grail Health + Fitness Planner! #TheHealthyGrail

Stay on Track with The Healthy Grail Health + Fitness Planner!

Hey, Readers!

Working out and eating better have been two of the goals I set for myself to make myself into a better me last year. This is how I felt on the following days:

Day 1: Revved and ready for a challenging workout and super-duper careful about snacking on healthier foods.

Yogurt cup with dried cranberries and glass of water

Day 16: Reluctantly got through a workout and devouring a chunk of leftover chocolate cake by the end of the night.

Spoon full of chocolate cake

Can you relate? Do you ever have trouble staying on track when you are trying to get fit and eat healthier? Yes, there are days I let loose a bit and indulge, but then I have trouble figuring out how many calories I have consumed, or the types of workouts I have done over the past few days. I have been looking for a way to sort out all of these issues when I found out about to The Healthy Grail: Health + Fitness Planner! It launched on March 6, 2017, and I was excited to check it out!

The Healthy Grail logo; courtesy of https://thebewitchinkitchen.com/the-healthy-grail

Randa Derkson, the creative mind behind The Bewitchin’ Kitchen, created this health and fitness planner because she was having the same issues, too. She found it difficult to keep track of her health goals because she was putting too much stock on her weight.

Randa Derkson, Creator of The Bewitchin’ Kitchen and The Healthy Grail. Photo courtesy of https://www.thebewitchinkitchen.com.

With The Healthy Grail, Randa wants users to focus more on attaining health goals than by worrying about the numbers on the scale. This planner has other functions as well. It also helps users with the following:

• Write out their grocery lists
• Plan out their meals
• List goals to achieve
• Follow your habits with a habit tracker.

The Healthy Grail planner with a cup of granola, workout items, and a water bottle.

Here are some of the features I believe make The Healthy Grail a fabulous tool to use for health and fitness planning.

“About Me” Page

This is a great page because it is as though you are introducing yourself to, well, you! It lets users see where you are at the beginning of your goals. Measurements of various parts of the body and sections about positive self-image and goals being achieved are there for users to get a picture of who you are, while not focusing on the nit-picky aspects of yourself. It lets users feel that they are only improving on the person on the page before them.

“Goal Planner” Page

Users are able to make their goals more attainable by establishing what they want to accomplish. There are boxes to list goal and to detail the steps you will take to achieve them. This page keeps you accountable for your actions. Having these steps written out also allows them to be real and not a wish in your head.

“Daily Food Log” Page

Each day, users can plan out their meals, keep track of their caloric intake and see the other proteins, carbs, fats and other nutrients are being consumed.  I love this page because meals can be thought of ahead of time so the guess work is taken away from you. You are also able to see what you are putting into your body and to switch things up to make planning meals more fun! Randa also suggests laminating this page, as well as a few of the “Weekly Health Log” pages. This makes it easier for users to wipe and reuse these pages.

Pages in The Healthy Grail – Top Left: “About Me”, Top Right: “Daily Workout Log”; Bottom: “Daily Food Log.”

The Healthy Grail is designed for all types of lifestyles. I can use this planner to continue my health and fitness goals. I would also have my eldest use this planner for herself as she plays basketball for a club team and she needs to weight train and eat in order to become stronger and perform better on the court.

I am a huge fan of The Healthy Grail!  Getting started with this planner makes me feel as though I am embarking on a journey where I am in control of the destination. I also love that users have the option of using it digitally or printing and binding it to have a hard copy at hand. This planner also focuses on becoming a better you by seeing your achievements and keeping you accountable for keeping up with your goals.

So what are you waiting for? Check out The Healthy Grail for yourself and start achieving your health and fitness goals today!

Want to learn more about Randa Derkson? You can find her at The Bewitchin’ Kitchen as well as at her Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest pages!

Dish with me: How would The Healthy Grail come in handy to help you achieve your health and fitness goals?

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of The Healthy Grail in order to write this post. The views I shared are my own.

Until my next post, Readers!

Reese.

An Awesome Assistant at Hand with JOBY GorillaPods!

As a blogger, one area of this industry I felt I really needed to up my photography game. It was one of the goals I set for myself last year, and I think I have started to see the difference in my photos. I love putting together sets for my blog posts, but there are times I find it difficult to hit the shutter at certain angles or to take pics of myself by myself. This is why I decided to invest a “photography assistant” by buying a tripod. Since I need to take a variety of shots, my other half steered me in the direction of buying a JOBY GorillaPod!

Out of the wide range of GorillaPod models JOBY has available, I chose their SLR-Zoom. It is specially made for the DSLR camera I use to take many of the photos I shoot for blog posts.

Below are the features and the specs of this GorillaPod:

• Height – 6 x 6 x 31.8 cm.
• Flexible legs that are able to wrap around objects while being able to hold camera equipment up to 6.6 lbs (3 kg) on almost any surface.
• Over 24 leg joints with rubberized ring and foot grips make it easy to bend and rotate it 360° to improve stability in difficult terrain.
• Being created out of durable Japanese medical-grade ABS plastic and German TPE, it allows for secure joints to stay firm and to grip on objects for years of use.
• Its lightweight and portable design make it easy to pack and take on-the-go!

I have to say that I LOVE my GorillaPod! Before I had this tripod, I would have to wait for my other half or my eldest to be at home and available to take certain shots. Now, I am able to set up the shot I want and get to work!

I have put this tripod in so many different positions when a third hand was needed. It was such a relief to not have to worry about my camera crashing onto the floor if I had it mounted and positioned in a certain way.

I have used my tripod for almost a year, and the leg joints are still as stiff as they were on the day I bought them. If I had to switch the position of my GorillaPod for a better shot, it was easy to change how I wanted the legs positioned and it stayed in place once it was in the right spot. My GorillaPod has also been bashed and dropped a few times, yet it is still intact.

When my shoot was over, it only took a few minutes to straighten the legs on my tripod and tuck it away for the day or to put in my equipment bag to take with me. It does not take up a lot of space in my bag, and I do not feel its weight when I tote it around.

I was really impressed with the ease the JOBY GorillaPod SLR-Zoom. It is lightweight, durable and stays in place where I need it. This tripod is also able to hold up my camera in various positions without tipping. Setting up photo shoots is more of a joy to do now that I have this tripod as my assistant at hand!

Until my next post, Readers,

Reese.

Note: This is not a sponsored review post. I love sharing fabulous products with you, and this is one of them!

Stepping Up to the Barre at The Dailey Method Ottawa! #30DayBloggersChallenge

Hey, Readers!

As I have previously mentioned, I have started to take steps to make myself a better me this year. Though I have begun to take these steps, I feel as though I needed something extra to add to the HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) routines I was doing to really take my workouts to the next level and to stay motivated in working out and becoming stronger. When I was asked by The Dailey Method Ottawa to take part in their #30DayBloggerChallenge, I was really excited to step up to the barre to see what it could do to improve my workouts and well-being!

Photo Credit:  http://www.thedailymethod.com

 

The Dailey Method is unlike any workout routine I have ever tried. Unlike a cardio or HITT  routines, The Dailey Method focuses on ballet barre fitness. Jill Dailey was instrumental in bringing this brand of fitness to the forefront when she opened the doors to the first Dailey Method studio in San Francisco in 2000. The Dailey Method combines dance, yoga, kinesiology and pilates to provide an efficient and effective full-body workout. Now there are 57 studios spanning three continents helping students to achieve their fitness goals.

 

Photo Credit: http://www.thedaileymethod.com

 

Before attending my first class, I did not know what to expect since I had never done any barre work. Once signed up to start my challenge, I used their handy app to get myself registered for classes week by week. This way I was making a commitment to myself not to skip it. I was also advised to come to classes 3 times a week in order to learn the moves used in this kind of workout and to start to see (and feel) results. You are also able to set up a reminder in your calendar so you do not forget about an upcoming class. I liked how I was able to learn a little bit about each of the classes and the instructor leading it on a specific day.

 

 

Here are some of the things recommended to me that I took to heart before taking my first class at The Dailey Method Ottawa that I would love to share with you:

• Go at your own pace; everyone has different strengths
• Take as many breaks as you need; it’s YOUR time
• Remember that it is not a competition; you’re surrounded by peers

This was me on my way to my first TDM Ottawa class

 

Yes, I was all business here! 😛

 

I was so excited and motivated to get going. From my first class to my last, I was not disappointed. The Ottawa studio is GORGEOUS! It was simple, bright and open. There are large windows along one wall of the workout studio and mirrors covering most of the remaining wall space. I loved the gorgeous wood floors throughout the space as well. It made each class easier to work out in.

 

Photo Credit: http://www.thedaileymethod.com

 

There are various classes the Dailey Method offers students. These are the 5 different intensity levels of classes students can take at their Ottawa location:

• Dailey Gentle (60 minutes)
• Dailey Basics (60 minutes)
• Dailey Barre (60 minutes)
• Dailey Express 45 (45 minutes)
• Dailey Interval 45 (45 minutes)

 

Photo Credit: http://www.thedaileymethod.com

 

This is all you need to take a class:

 

NOTE: The plant is just there for scenery. It would make for a very awkward weight during a class! 🙂  Mats, weights, and exercise balls are all available inside the studio for you to use.

 

That’s it, that’s all, Readers! I was advised to wear clothing that was form-fitting and comfortable so I would not have to worry about my clothing getting in the way during a class.  It is also so instructors can see whether you are executing each move correctly and to give guidance if needed.

I will not lie: Every class kicked my butt! All of the instructors I had the pleasure of meeting were extremely welcoming. They always noticed when there was a new face in their class.They went out of their way to introduce themselves, ask questions about whether I had any physical issues that may hinder my workout, and came over to anyone during the class to correct their form. They even made themselves available after each class to show me how to perform moves I was still not clear about how to do.

 

Photo Credit: http://www.thedaileymethod.com

 

Each workout focused on little movements to get the desired workout for the part of the body being focused on. At the end of my first class, I was a bit wiped, drenched in sweat, yet SO happy I had attended!

Every class was a fabulous experience. Each class was not too big.I visited the studio during the morning hours, so the class sizes were smaller and more intimate.  I did not feel as though I ever got lost in a crowd.

After a few classes, I noticed I was stronger when doing my other workouts at home. I was able to challenge myself more and want to work out longer. I would highly recommend The Dailey Method Ottawa and cannot wait to step back up to the barre once my children are back in school!

 

 

Whether you want to start working out or you are looking for a different kind of workout to start doing, I would suggest giving The Dailey Method Ottawa a try! These classes are amazing and inspiring, you get a full-body workout and your best is the goal of each class. New students signing up to try The Dailey Method Ottawa can also enjoy their $79 New Client Special for a month of unlimited classes. Trust me, it is a deal worth taking!

For more information about The Dailey Method Ottawa, you can visit their website.You also can connect with them on their Facebook , Twitter,and Instagram pages!

What is your workout of choice? Would you want to step up to the barre?

Disclaimer: I received a 30-Day Membership to The Dailey Method Ottawa in order to write this review. The views I shared are my own.

Checking Out All that Glitters at #GoldRush! – El Dorado in British Columbia!

Action. Adventure. Heartbreak. Upheaval. All of these themes are on display at GoldRush! – El Dorado in British Columbia at the Canadian Museum of History. Created by the Roya BC Museum, Gold Rush displays the transformation of a colony near the Pacific Ocean during the Gold Rush as it broke down the barriers of class and race in the pursuit of golden new beginnings. I got a chance to check o, ut all that glittered at this exhibit to share with you! Gold Rush! will be on display from April 8, 2016, until January 15, 2017.

 

Visitors can see such items as the Turnagain Nugget, the largest existing gold nugget from British Columbia, as well as more than 280 objects on display from this era! Made up of five linked galleries, Gold Rush! aims to recreate the gold rush, getting visitors up close with the real history of gold in British Columbia.

During my visit to Gold Rush!, there was so much to discover! I was able to learn about this era from the first shouts of excitement over finding gold to it has impacted the histories of many nations all over the world.

 

 

There are also gold pieces on display from distant lands where gold had been discovered years before that began to spur the search for golden riches in Canada.

 

 

I then ventured to look at the tools of the trade during the gold rush. It was fun to see that an actual stagecoach that is on loan for this exhibit from the Historic O’Keefe Ranch up close, and all of the items a treasure seeker would use to try and strike it rich.

 

I thought that Gold Rush! did an excellent job of sharing various integrating interactive methods for its visitors to learn more about this era.  There are screening areas, tablets with added information about certain aspects of the exhibit, and stations where visitors can learn hands-on about this time period and about gold. They were all interesting to take in and to try.

I could not leave out the fashion of this era out this post! I know these pieces were designed over 150 years ago, but to see them in such great condition and still vibrant with colour was a sight to see! I especially loved the dress and parasol outfit. It was hard to shoot, but it was fun to have a snapshot of the time through fashion.

 

 

A favourite part of the exhibit was seeing how much I was worth in gold. Based on the price of an ounce of gold, it converts your weight into a dollar amount. Based on my weight that day, I could go on a holiday somewhere or on a fun shopping spree!

 

 

There was so much to take in at Gold Rush! Learning how this period shaped Canadian history was a great way to spend a visit at the Canadian Museum of History. Having so many artefacts from this time also brought what I learned more to life. An added bonus was seeing everything that glittered and made out of this precious metal! Gold Rush! is a fantastic exhibit for visitors to experience!

 

 

For more information about GoldRush! – El Dorado in British Columbia, you can connect with the Canadian Museum of History on their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram pages!

Disclaimer: I received admission to the Canadian Museum of History to visit GoldRush! – El Dorado in British Columbia exhibit in order to write this review. The views expressed are my own.

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Make #HorsePower: The Paul Bienvenu Carriage Collection a Mane Exhibit to Attend!

As a history buff, I love being able to visit exhibits where I can be taken back in time to see how people lived. It is also amazing to see how people traveled short and long distances without the aid of an engine. This is why I was excited to take in Horse Power: The Paul Bienvenu Carriage Collection at The Canadian Museum of History . This exhibit will be showing from March 23, 2016, to January 7, 2018, for visitors to view and make it a mane part of their visit!

 

Paul Bienvenu has been collecting horse-drawn vehicles that have been made or used in Quebec for over 50 years. Bienvenu has extensive experience in the world of Canadian horses, and it has allowed him to gain an in-depth knowledge in this area of collecting. He has traveled all over Quebec and North America to cultivate his collection.

Developed by the Musée de la civilisation in Québec City, Horse Power is a collection of 18 of the 213+ horse-drawn vehicles Bienvenu has in his collection that illustrates what land transportation was like in Québec spanning a period of almost 200 years, from 1770 to 1950. These vehicles let visitors take a look back at what land travel was like for those who were able to travel by carriage.

It was such a treat to have been invited to view this exhibit. Some of these carriages helped to bring to life some of the Canadian history and culture I learned about in my studies.

One of my favourite carriages on display is the first one on display within the exhibit. The Park Ride Drag Coach was used in the late 1800s by Rothschild & fils. It was used for country and racetrack outings.

 

When brought to race meets, the coaches would be grouped together on the infield. Owners and guests would have a bird’s eye view of the action while seated on top of the carriage while enjoying the food they brought to feast on in comfort. There is also a second trunk at the back of the coach to hold metal ice boxes to keep food and drinks cool. It is so gorgeous! The craftsmanship can really be seen in the doors, the wheel and the other features found all over this vehicle.

The Three-Seat Phaeton was considered a “station wagon” for the affluent crowd as they were used to carry travelers and their luggage to and from the railway station. It was built by The Ledoux Carriage Co. (Bruno Ledoux) in Montréal, QC in the late 1800s. I like how there are vis-à-vis seats (seats that face each other) so travelers can talk and have fun while beginning or ending their journey. And that it the natural wood is visible.

Carriages were also built to travel through the snowy Québec winters as well! I was able to hear the Christmas carols playing in my head as I viewed this Carriole. It was built by Wilbrod Jacob around 1935.

It was used to carry travelers to events through the snow-covered Richelieu Valley. The details and artwork are visible from front to back on this vehicle. The carvings and the curled runners are gorgeous, and the seats looked so comfortable. I can only imagine how much fun winter revelers had when traveling in this sleigh.

There were also interactive tablets throughout the exhibit to help educate visitors about the various carriages. It was great to be able to learn different bits and pieces about the history of these vehicles.

There was so much to see and learn at Horse Power: The Paul Bienvenu Carriage Collection. It was fascinating to discover all of the different types of carriages used by Canadians and to learn all about the history behind them. It was also amazing to see the craftsmanship put into these vehicles. It was a beautiful exhibit to visit! Plan a visit with your family to take in all that Horse Power has in store!

For more information about Horse Power you can connect with The Canadian Museum of History on their Facebook , Twitter and Instagram pages!

Disclaimer: I received admission to the Canadian Museum of History to view Horse Power: The Paul Bienvenu Carriage Collection exhibit in order to write this review. The views expressed are my own.

Getting Interactive with #UltimateDinos

Dino love. My younger kids have it bad. They are fascinated by the thought of these larger than life creatures once roaming the earth. They love how these prehistoric creatures could come in all different sizes and that they had once roamed the earth. I jumped at the invitation to visit the Canadian Museum of Nature to take in their newest exhibit Ultimate Dinosaurs. I could not wait to see their faces when they came face to face with their skeletons and fossils and were able to interact this exhibit!

 

 

Ultimate Dinosaurs showcases dinosaurs from the ancient southern hemisphere supercontinent of Gondwana (a huge land mass that existed about 180 million years ago which incorporated what is now known as South America, Africa, India, Antarctica, Australia, New Guinea and the Arabian Peninsula).  16 fully-articulated skeletons are on display, including a 12-metre-long Giganotosaurus, one of the largest carnivores that ever lived. What is so exciting about this exhibit is that it displays types of dinosaurs are not found in North America. This exhibit was created by the Royal Ontario Museum and is presented by the Science Museum of Minnesota.

 

As we exited the elevator for our visit to this exhibit, we were welcomed and guided by a set of dino footprints to the exhibit.

Our first steps into the exhibit introduced us with a trio of dinosaurs my kids spent a good 10 minutes visiting with. They especially liked the Eoraptor because it was so small and cute. I loved how I was able to learn about these dinos from the podium in front of the display as well as the video background.

 

 

If there is one word I would use to describe Ultimate Dinosaurs, it would be interactive. There are so many areas and ways for visitors to learn hands-on about the dinos of Gondwana. My son got to learn about different types of fossils by actually getting to touch them! He was able to hold and touch ceratopsian horns, and his favourite, dino poop fossils!

 

 

Throughout the exhibit, there are stations visitors can learn about the different dinosaurs on display. Once each station has been completed, you can stamp an impression of the dino featured onto a card. My daughter had fun learning about each of these dinosaurs and then collecting all of the stamps. She was so proud when she had all of the impressions and was telling me about the activities she enjoyed most.

 

 

I really liked how there play areas set up around the exhibit for visitors to be able to get away from the screens for a moment to just let loose and play. My kids spent a good amount of time at all of these stations, playing with some of the dinosaurs featured in this exhibit. They loved being able to touch, role play and eventually leave the dinos of Gondwana so they can nap while we looked through the rest of the exhibit. This is just a snippet of the fun they had.

 

 

Another fabulous feature of Ultimate Dinosaurs is how augmented reality technology is used to wow and educate visitors. With our naked eyes, we were able to see the skeletons of dinosaurs. Looking through and manoeuvring the screen allowed us to see the skeleton come to life with flesh and skin covering the skeleton before us. We were even able to learn more about this animal when pressing the buttons on the screen. I thought this was amazing!

 

I thought the interactive tablets set into displays around Ultimate Dinosaurs was a brilliant idea! Visitors are able to learn how to pronounce names of some of the dinos in the exhibit, as well as the meaning of their names, their relative size, and other fun tidbits about these awesome creatures. Take a look at my daughter’s favourite dino!

 

 

It was hard to want to call it a day at Ultimate Dinosaurs! They loved seeing the skeletons and fossils of dinosaurs that they have not seen before, learning is accomplished in so many different formats, and it is such a fun exhibit to visit! We really did not want to leave. We can’t wait to bring my other half to see it. He would have as much fun visiting this exhibit as we did.

Ultimate Dinosaurs runs from June 11 – September 5, 2016.

Want more dino fun? Visitors are also able to do the follow activities while on a visit to the Canadian Museum of Nature:

• Make replicas of a fossil tooth or claw in the Fossil Lab;
• Take a breather in the Dino Zone;
• Find out about 450-million-year-old local fossils in the Nature Live gallery;
• Fossil excavation; and
• Take in the 3D film Walking with Dinosaurs: Prehistoric Planet (a separate fee applies for this feature).

For more information about Ultimate Dinosaurs (http://nature.ca/en/plan-your-visit/what-see-do/our-exhibitions/ultimate-dinosaurs), you can connect with the Canadian Museum of Nature on their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages!

Disclaimer: I was invited to visit this exhibit in order to write this review. The views expressed are my own.

So Fulla Love for FullaBeanies Beanies!

 

 

Hats. I have had a love-hate relationship with them since I was little. Since my head is small and odd-shaped, most hats tend to sit on my head as though they are trying to balance on the top of an egg. While perusing Twitter, I saw these simply adorable crochet hats by FullaBeanies. After letting them know how cute I thought their hats were, I was asked if I would like to have one in order to review it. I was so touched and excited, of course, I said yes!

 

Photo Credit: fullabeaniespatterns.com/home.htm

 

Here is a bit of background about the heart of FullaBeanies.

Photo Credit: fullabeaniespatterns.com/about.htm

 

Janet Fullalove-Jones lives in a small village in Kent, S.E. England (UK) with her husband Mike, two daughters and two dogs. She started crocheting five years ago because she needed a distraction while giving up smoking. Since her great grandmother crocheted she wondered whether this talent was in her genes as well. After doing some  research on crocheting , she soon picked up the technique quickly. Janet soon found she had a knack for hats and started making them for presents for friends and family. Her beanies were soon admired and she starting to get request and building her product range brand. FullaBeanies is now steadily growing! FullaBeanies next step is to be found in retail outlets as well as to find new patterns to develop to sell alongside the hats!

Currently, there are two different patterns to choose from for a FullaBeanie beanie:

• Puff Stitch Slouchy Pattern
• Star Puff Slouchy Pattern

 

Photo Credit: fullabeaniespatterns.com/home.html

 

I instantly fell in love with the Star Puff Slouchy Pattern. I also gave Janet a few colours to choose from to ship. It was really hard to wait for my hat to arrive in the mail. I let out a huge squeal of delight when I saw it! I received this beauty.

 

The burgundy colour is so rich and vibrant! The Star Puff Slouchy Pattern is even more gorgeous in person. It is also thick and soft. These beanies are made of 80% wool and 20% acrylic, making them perfect for some of the chilly spring days we have had in Canada’s capital over the past few weeks. The stitch work is really well done and looks chic.

 

 

Another fun feature of this hat is the fashionable button that adorns the side of each hat. It is the perfect detail that finishes the look of this hat.

 

 

I could not wait to wear my hat! My little ones tried to sport my hat before I did, but I wanted to have the honour of donning this hat first. I was sooooooo happy with my hat! I felt as though I had a sort of updated 20’s look happening when I wore it the first time.

It was a warmer, sunny day when I snapped these shots, yet I loved this hat so much, I couldn’t take it off! l also liked how the ridge of my beanie fit the shape of my head so snuggly. My head did not take on that egg-like shape, which made me even more pleased with this hat.

 

My Fullabeanies beanie also fits well with so many pieces of my wardrobe, so I don’t have to worry about only wearing it during the winter months of the year. I would gladly sport my new chapeau any day of the year! It is also so much fun to take my beanie about town and to show it off!

 

 

I am really impressed with my beanie from FullaBeanies! It looks chic and well made, is soft and warm, and it makes me looks great! It is such a welcome addition to my wardrobe. You should check FullaBeanies out and see what you think !

For more details about Janet FullaLove-Jones and FullaBeanies, you can connect with them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

Disclaimer: I received a beanie from FullaBeanies in order to write this review. The views I shared are purely my own!

Go Back in Time with Vikings at The Canadian Museum of History!

The Vikings have been putting their mark on various different societies for centuries, and now you can learn all about it! The Museum of Canadian History is showing the exhibit Vikings to help display who this famous group of people were and to set the record straight about certain aspects of their lives while they lived. When asked to visit this exhibit, the history buff in me jumped all over this opportunity. I had studied this group of people while in high school and university because I found them so fascinating, and could not wait to see what this exhibit has in store for me.

 

 

Vikings were not the bearded barbarians with horned helmets we have come to think they were through literature and film. Vikings features a beautiful array of interactive displays and 500 amazing artifacts from The Swedish History Museum, with some of these pieces rarely being displayed outside of Sweden. In this acclaimed international exhibition, Vikings shows visitors a fabled Scandinavian culture that was refined, complex and was able to achieve much while they existed.

Once inside of the exhibit, it felt as though I had entered a mythical realm while being in a very modern space. There are prints on the walls of various Scandinavian landscapes to give visitors a feel of where the Vikings lived.

 

 

From there, you are directed towards seeing different aspects of Viking life and what the major groups of people were like with some of the artifacts in display cases found in their graves. Fun fact: women of the Viking Age were on more of an equal level to men than in later times as long as they were not slaves.

 

 

It was also fun to see what farm life was like for the Vikings. This exhibit displayed a taste of what it was like in video wall/artifact displays that I thought was done in a clever way. On the other side of this displays was a section, visitors could also touch some of the artifacts such as sheepskin and other materials. My kids really enjoyed getting to be able to sit down and feel for themselves what some of these pieces felt like. They really enjoyed this part of Vikings.

Fashion lovers, rejoice! Besides all of the lovely pieces of jewellery in this exhibit, there is a section where some Viking clothing is featured. My daughter, the mini fashionista she is, spent some time admiring some of the pieces on display.

 

 

Another part of Vikings I found interesting was their interactive touch screen showing how the Vikings believed the world was created. Visitors are able to touch the screen and see the different areas of the world the Vikings lived and the realms where the various Norse gods ruled.

 

 

I left one of the most important aspects of Viking life, and this exhibit, for last: boats! The Vikings are known for being a sea-faring people. A large part of this exhibit is dedicated to these vessels. From travel to burial, boats were at the heart of Viking life. I loved seeing the rivet display and the row boat for all to see and admire.

 

 

Whether you have a love for history, food, fashion or transportation, Vikings is an exhibit to visit. Audiences of all ages will find something to marvel on their visit back in time, and will be able to take something away from it. Vikings will be at the Canadian Museum of History until April 17, 2016.

For more details about Vikings, you can connect with The Canadian Museum of History on their Facebook and Twitter pages!

Disclaimer: I was compensated admission to the Canadian Museum of History in order to conduct this review. The opinions I shared are all my own.

Revive Your Hair with Garnier Whole Blends Green Apple & Green Tea Shampoo and Conditioner!

Hey Readers!

I love pampering myself, and my hair is one part that need a lot of love!  I like using products that will revive my hair since my hair needs moisture to keep it strong and healthy. I was asked to try Garnier Whole Blends Green Apple & Green Tea Shampoo and Conditioner for a few washes to see if it would help to moisturize my hair and to boost its shine. Since I love trying out new products, I stepped up to the challenge!

 

 

The smell of this shampoo and conditioner crisp and clean. The smell of the green tea really blends well with that of the green apple so it is a fresh smell without being so overpowering. I was more partial to the smell of the conditioner. It was like smelling a nice apple treat.  I also liked the shape of the bottles as well. They are simple without being too complicated.

The Whole Blends Green Apple & Green Tea Shampoo did a good job of cleansing my hair. It lathered easily when it came in contact with water, and washed out well once I was finished using it so I did not have to spend too much time making sure it was all out of my hair.

 

 

The Whole Blends Green Apple & Green Tea Conditioner was a nice treat to help bring moisture back to my hair. I had to use more conditioner than I thought to completely cover my hair well, but it washed out well without too much rinsing.

 

 

With some shampoos and conditioners, my hair feels stripped of moisture. After my use, my hair felt soft and nice. After my third use, my hair felt more moisturized and it had more of a sheen than it did before using this one-tow combo. I also like the smell of my hair during and after using these products. After a long day, it is a soothing smell that helps to put my mind at ease, and puts me in the a relaxed frame of mind for the rest of the night.

I liked using Garnier Whole Blends Green Apple & Green Tea Shampoo & Conditioner. The blend of green apple and green tea are a welcoming scent, when used together, they cleanse and strengthen hair, and my hair felt softer and it had a bit more of a sheen after a few uses. I will continue to pamper my hair with both of these products so I will have hair that looks and feels great! If you would like to try a free sample, you can click here to snap one up for yourself!

What scent do you you seek out when buying a shampoo and conditioner?

Disclaimer: Even though I was compensated and provided product for this review, the opinions expressed are my own.

 

 

Children Learning to Interact with Each Other with “Words” – A Review

The VP of Cuteness began school this September, and she could not wait to start this new adventure in her life! As a parent, I was super excited for her to become more independent by starting school, but I also worry about how she will interact with her classmates since she has been at home with me and her younger brother. I do not know how she will take kids not liking her or being picked on. This is why I was thrilled to review Words by Lora Rozler to help reinforce some of the things we have been teaching her at home.

Words is a fascinating children’s book about a lonely letter, Little e, trying to find its place in its world of words. After a lot of searching, Little e has a choice to make. It had to choose between hate and love; Little e ultimately chose to love.

I like how Words used words instead of pictures to convey its message. Words were used to evoke emotions in various fonts so readers could understand what Little e was seeing all around it. Rozler had words bolded, italicized, blocked in, and were written in every way imaginable to convey the type of word it was to readers. My kids found some of them to be pretty and cute, while others were angry and loud. They liked talking about how the words made them feel.

 

The array of words used to describe what was happening throughout the story was also a highlight for me. Some of the words were a bit beyond what my child understood, but this allowed for us to help our child enhance her vocabulary. My daughter liked being able to talk about what these words meant, and we used these words in situations she would understand so she could understand them. These words also let her know that some words could hurt others if she said them to her classmates.  I enjoyed spending more time reading Words with my kids because they are picking up new words and are starting to use them when they speak to us.

I really loved Words! Rozler uses letters and words in the place of people. I like how letters, like people, can become what they want to be, and it is, in part, due to their choices that they make. It was great to see Little e make a choice about what it wanted for itself and how it wanted to act. As I previously mentioned, this book is bringing to print messages we teach our kids at home. We want for our kids to know that there are all kinds of people she will come into contact with, and we want for her to engage with her peers with love, regardless if these children are doing the same with her.

We know our child will have her ups and downs with other kids at school. Words shows children that there is more than one path they can take, and it does not have to be a violent or hateful one. I would definitely recommend Words for kids to read and to learn about how to find their place and to make decisions on how to interact in their world.

To find out about Lora Rozler and Words, you can connect with her on her website.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of Words in order to write this review. The opinions I shared are my own.