SpongeBob Viking-Sized Adventures! Let SpongeBob Squeeze into your Hearts!

Spongebob squeezes his way into hearts young and old once again with Viking-Sized Adventures. My children are great fans and I admit to a few chuckles and grins myself. There is something terribly endearing and lovable about this naïve, friendly, squishy, little dude.

SpongeBob Squarepants Viking-sized Adventures is an 8 episode DVD packed with humour filled crazy escapades. Including a favourite of my children’s: “Grandpappy the Pirate” . Who knew Mr. Krabs was born of feisty and fierce pirate stock? Even swarthy, swashbuckling pirates admirably follow family tradition. But Mr. Krabs, a Krusty Krabs restaurant owner has to follow his dreams despite being divergent from the family business. Mr. Krabs can’t bring himself to reveal the truth to grand pappy however and attempts to pull the seaweed over grand pappy’s eyes by pretending to be a pirate Grandpappy can be proud of. But isn’t it better to just be yourself?

Spongebob discovers more about the infamous Vikings in Dear Vikings, and Mr.Krabs is not the only one posing as something he is not as Squidward impersonates a music professor in Professor Squidward, and SpongeBob and Patrick imitate their admired super heroes Mermaidman and Barnacleboy in Shuffleboarding!

Storms, super heroes, Vikings, and pirates add up to Viking-Sized Adventures SpongeBob fans will be unable to resist! Features the guest star voices of Ian McShane and Dennis Quaid . Special features include an Animation Art Gallery with storyboards and character art! Released January 26th, purchase SpongeBob Viking-Sized Adventures on DVD today!

POM Wonderful ~ The Elixir of Good Health

The pomegranate is a fruit of passion! It is pregnant with the seeds of fertility but also with the seeds of health. Pomegranates are filled with the antioxidants our bodies require to regenerate, refuel, and protect from the toxic environment in which we now live. POM Wonderful has squeezed the virtues of this miraculous fruit into a juice which is authentically 100% pomegranate with no additives! No added sugars, preservatives, colours or fillers, POM preserves the natural healing properties of the pomegranate in their amazing beverages!

The healing properties of the pomegranate have been known for centuries! One of the earliest cultivated fruits, the pomegranate is thought to be the apple from the garden of Eden. Planted first sometime between 4000 and 3000 B.C. many cultures have believed in the profound and mystical healing powers of this fertile fruit! Today’s research has furthered this belief and has discovered that in the areas of prostate and cardiovascular health as well as erectile function drinking 8 ounces of POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice daily will reap health benefits. Yes, the pomegranate is truly a miracle of fertility and health!

I received POM juice for review and love the rich and full bodied flavour of this fabulous pomegranate nectar! I have had pomegranate juice in the past and enjoy both the heavy flavour and the energizing effects but knowing POM is free of all other additives also ensures peace of mind over other brands. POM Wonderful contains 40% more antioxidants than any other beverage including that recommended daily glass of red wine! It tops even Acai and Blueberry juices for their polyphenol antioxidant powers! POM also does not import their pomegranates but grows them in their very own orchards in California. They have a tree-to-bottle philosophy that ensures quality control to the highest extent possible!

Though I have not been drinking POM for an extended duration I am already passionate about the benefits of this all-natural juice. Perhaps it is only my perception or a coincident but when I drink POM daily I feel my energy levels lift and my over-all health rejuvenate…perhaps it is just the high of knowing I am taking care of me! Even my picky children will drink it and of course for hubby the benefits are important for his future health! With a variety of fruit flavour combinations you are bound to find your favourite! I am also particularly looking forward to trying some of the amazing recipes and cocktails created using POM Wonderful which are featured on the POM website.
POM is so passionate about their product that they have invested $32 million to fund world-class research into their product’s benefits. The results of clinical trials are substantial. To read the full details of the scientific studies visit POM Wonderful. Though POM is not a cure all it is one more important element to add to your health conscious lifestyle and one of the best ways to receive antioxidants crucial to your whole body health!
Drinking POM Wonderful’s crimson juice leaves you with the experience of superior taste, the superpower effects of high antioxidants, and the enjoyment of a true elixir of the gods! One lucky Canadian Northern Mama reader will enjoy two delicious free bottles of POM Wonderful!
To Enter:

• Visit POM Wonderful and tell me something you learned about pomegranates or POM {Required}
• non-bloggers remember to leave me your email address.

Extra Entries:

• Follow Northern Mama {Google Friends Connect}
• Be a Northern Mama Facebook Fan
• Subscribe to Northern Mama via email
• Follow me on Twitter @Northernmama35 and (RT 1xdaily) Tweet about this giveaway
• Grab my Button
• Blog about this giveaway with a link back here {Please leave me a link to your post}
  

Giveaway open to Canadian residents only! Giveaway closes February 15th, 2010, 10:00pm CT. Please read Giveaway Rules for further details.

Kideo Personalized Videos ~ Make Your Child a Star!

Do you believe your child is a star? Of course you do! And young children instinctively hold the seed of knowledge that they are special! They are stars in life, make them stars on the screen with Kideo personalized DVDs! Your child could be the next Spiderman, Dora and Diego’s adventurous sidekick, or learn life lessons with Arthur all with the use of one simple photo!

My daughter is adventurous and wanted to give Dora and Diego a hand! Children often hold an affinity with the television characters they grow up with. My daughters have been Dora and Diego fans for years and I recall how impressed I was when my eldest daughter first discovered Dora the Explorer. The interactive nature of the new series was groundbreaking and it has become the new model of children’s programming for the many interactive shows to follow.

Kideo can take the precedent setting interactive experience to a whole new level with DVDs like Dora, Diego, and Me! Now not only can your children respond to Dora and Diego as they watch the ensuing action but they can be a part of the on-screen excitement by appearing in the movie along side their favourite characters! Using a photo of your child Kideo can personalize an animated series your child enjoys. A star is born! And in our household Bronwynn is the latest star!

My 5 year old daughter Bronwynn stars in our free review copy of Dora, Diego and Me! Dora, Diego, and Boots must “run, jump, swing, and zip” to Baby Jaguar’s rescue but they can’t do it without the help of one very special explorer, my little action hero, Bronwynn! In this exciting animal adventure Bronwynn rides a zip line through the rainforest, water-skis a river, and forges other obstacles using her problem-solving, auditory/listening, and Kinesthetic skills--and of course a little Spanish!

How does it work? Just send Kideo the name and a head shot of your child with your requested choice of DVD. Kideo takes care of the rest! Voila, your child appears in a feature film role just like that. I am thinking of purchasing for my nieces as birthday or Christmas gifts. At $29.95 they are only moderately more than purchasing brand new popular releases and it's worth the little extra when your child has a starring role! Watch a trailer at Kideo.
The most exciting aspect for us watching Dora, Diego, and Me! was the brilliant glimmer shimmering in my daughter’s eyes and the prominence of the dimples which appeared miraculously upon her cheeks as a truly thrilled smile emerged! Bronwynn was blown away by seeing her face and hearing her name. She participated in the program with even greater zeal and enthusiasm. I laughed when she observed at one point, “Hey, I don’t talk in this.” and I had to explain that it was because it was made from just a photo superimposed onto an animated body. Regardless, it was an amazing experience for her!

Kideo personalized videos are a fabulous gift for preschool and early school aged children and one Northern Mama winner will have the opportunity to create one for a special child in her/his life!

To Enter:

• Visit Kideo and tell me which personalized video you would like and who you would get it for {Required}
• non-bloggers remember to leave me your email address.

Extra Entries:

• Follow Northern Mama {Google Friends Connect}
• Be a Northern Mama Facebook Fan
• Subscribe to Northern Mama via email
• Follow me on Twitter @Northernmama35 and (RT 1xdaily) Tweet about this giveaway
• Grab my Button
• Blog about this giveaway with a link back here {Please leave me a link to your post}
  

Giveaway open to Canadian and US residents! Giveaway closes February 14th, 2010, 10:00pm CT. Please read Giveaway Rules for further details.

Go Diego Go!: Lion Cub Rescue ~ Interactive Adventure and Fun for Young Viewers!

It is amazing how seriously many children take their television viewing! Yes, children know what they like and what they don’t. They are critical and critique the shows available to them with surprising adeptness. My 5 year old daughter Bronwynn knows what she likes and she had high praise for Nick Junior’s Go Diego Go!: Lion Cub Rescue DVD featuring four exciting Diego adventures: "Welcome Home, Lion Cub", "Diego’s Ringed Seal Rescue", "Diego Reunites Hippo and Oxpecker", "Diego’s Orangutan Rescue", available on shelves January 26th!

Thanks to Nick Junior for this free review DVD! Bronwynn loves the Go Diego Go! Focus on animals--in particular more and more exotic animals--and the interactive quality has always been a hit with my children. What child does not want their opinions heard, does not want to participate in their viewing rather than sit back in a vegetative state? I love the interactive quality because of its educational focus but I also am thrilled by the emphasis on adventure and travel. We are a family with an adventurous spirit and having lived in the Canadian arctic "Diego’s Ringed Seal Rescue"’s arctic setting strikes a chord! From Africa to the Arctic, themes of environmental consciousness and animal conservation promote to children a healthy sense of care and responsibility for the world around them.

Travel to Africa in “Welcome Home, Lion Cub” where Baby jaguar is not the only little cat! Meet Lion Cub and learn about a lion pride and wildlife reserves. Rescue a lion cub from a hunter’s trap, save another dangling perilously from a tree branch and search for yet another hidden amongst the Savannah grasses. Follow animal tracks, creep and crawl past elephants and use your sharp lion claws to release the traps forbidden within the animal reserve!

Make your way to the high arctic with Diego to save Ringed Seals who have lost their homes to the melt while watching “Diego‘s Ringed Seal Rescue“! Past Polar Bears and through blizzards lead a lost ringed seal to safety. Use knowledge of animals, a little problem solving , and perhaps a little water skipping with a transformable skidoo to once more rescue an animal in distress {I just wonder if the polar bears may need something to eat as well}! Help the polar bear as well along the way!

Back to Africa to help a Hippo reunite with his friend and then Borneo to help an baby Orangutan. Even Birute Galdikas--famous Orangutan researcher and conservationist--could be proud! Row down a river, somersault on land, and explorer tools to save this primate baby!

Exciting adventures educating children about animals, and of course teaching a little Spanish and a lot of critical thinking! Young children like my five year old will love this DVD!
Purchase Nick Jr. “Go Diego Go!: Lion Cub Rescue” available now!

Try Some Thai ~ A Guest Post from Bewitchin Kitchen!!

Randa from The Bewithin' Kitchen has been a loyal longtime Northern Mama follower and I love her fabulous recipes and exciting blog so when Randa asked if I'd like her to write a guest post featuring a delicious recipe how could I resist?

Here is her fabulous recipe for Thai Chicken Fettuccine...Yummy!

THAI CHICKEN FETTUCCINE

~1 cup salsa
~1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
~2 tablespoons orange juice
~2 tablespoons honey
~1 teaspoon soy sauce
~8 ounces uncooked fettuccine
~3/4 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
~1 tablespoon canola oil
~1 medium sweet red pepper, julienned
~1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro

For sauce, in a microwave-safe bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Cover and microwave on high for 1 minute; stir. Set aside.

Cook fettuccine according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook chicken in oil over medium heat for 3-5 minutes or until chicken juices run clear. Add red pepper; cook and stir until crisp-tender.

Drain fettuccine; top with chicken mixture and sauce. Sprinkle with cilantro. I hope you all enjoy this! It's really good, I thought at first it was a weird combination (who would think peanut butter and salsa would go so well together).

If you like this, be sure you follow me over at The Bewitchin' Kitchen and while you are there be sure to check out Weight Loss Wednesday and Wedding Wednesday.

Thanks,
Randa

Red Snow Winners!

Congrats to Marjorie and Benita! You have both won copies of Red Snow!!

I.D. Me Labels ~ Organize and Personalize! ~ Review and Giveaway

If your children are anything like mine {and I’m taking a wild guess that they are} then I’m sure you are often pulling your hair out in frustration over lost items! I.D. Me Labels understands this frustration and the struggle to hang on to the items you have spent your hard earned money purchasing. With bright and colorful I.D. Me Labels you and your child can easily identify what is theirs and the variety of stylish designs make them fun for kids!

I have reviewed for several label companies in the past and admittedly all are very good and have some very similar products but what I find makes I.D. Me Labels unique are their exclusive Photo I.D. Me Labels which feature your child’s photo with their name. Adorable! The Binky and Bib Buttons, also exclusive to ID Me Labels, are designed to fit on the end of baby’s pacifier and will help eliminate binky confusion forever!
I.D. Me Labels are ideal for daycare, school, and camp or even at home with multiple children to help distinguish whose-is-whose! I received the All-purpose ID Me Labels for my daughter Emma and found them durable as well as cute, adorned with the fairy icon she selected. They have not worn off even after washing and maintained their colour and legibility. With dozens of icons to choose from or your own child’s photo it’s easy to find something that appeals to everyone. The choice of various fonts and colours makes the possibilities endless.


I.D. Me Labels produce All-Purpose Icon Labels, Binky & Bib Buttons, Photo ID Me Labels, Streamline Labels featuring a name only, Clothing Labels and Sole Mate Labels for shoes, Bag Tags, and even Allergy Labels to alert or remind others of your child’s specific dietary issues! I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a complete selection of labels from one company and like other label company’s ID Me Labels offers Combo Packs for Daycare, school, and camp that provide the consumer with variety and savings! Also, if you are an organizationally insane mommy like me, you will love I.D. Me Labels' assortment of Household Labels which will make even your garage look meticulous and orderly!

No longer experience the frustration of lost items and the “whose is whose” confusion which can stress your day to day life. Purchase ID Me Labels or win a package of ID Me All Purpose Icon Labels here at Northern Mama!

To Enter:

• Visit ID Me Labels and tell me which labels you like most. {Required}
• non-bloggers remember to leave your email address with your comment

Extra Entries:

• Be a Northern Mama follower {Google Friends Connect}
• Be a Northern Mama Facebook Fan
• Become a ID Me Labels Facebook Fan
• Subscribe to Northern Mama via email
• Follow me on Twitter @Northernmama35 and Tweet (RT 1xdaily) about this giveaway
• Grab my button
• Blog about this giveaway with a link back here {please leave me a link to your post}

Giveaway open to US and Canadian residents. Giveaway closes February 8th, 2010, 10:00pm CT. Please read Giveaway Rules for further information.

Glade Valentine's Giveaway!

Candles are the quintessential homage to any romantic rendezvous. The ambiance of candle light has never failed to evoke romance, passion, beauty, and relaxation! Glade wants to share the allure of candle light and the romance of Valentine’s Day with Northern Mama readers by offering a Valentine Giveaway complete with all the accoutrements for the occasion!

Write a note of love on stationary by Jonesy.ca ; Enjoy a bottle of Copper Moon wine, basking in the glory of Glade Fragrance Collection soy candlelight; and Delight and indulge in a sweet Mookie cookie treat from Jinja ninja!
Glade's Fragrance collection are affordable boutique quality soy candles in the indulgent scent of Currents and Acai and the clean, fresh scent of Sheer White Cotton. Appealing and romantic, Glade wants Valentine's to be special for all so has partnered with Jonesy Charismatic Stationary who are also commited to the environment benefits of soy products. Jonesy uses only FSC certified recycled paper and soy based inks to create their all Canadian designs. One of the included designs benefits the Sick Kids Foundation!

A quick overview of this fabulous Glade Valentine's Giveaway Package for One Lucky Canadian Northern Mama Reader:
~ 1 Glade Multi wick Fragrance Collection Soy Candle
~1 Single Glade Candle
~1 Glade Reed Diffuser
~1 Bottle of Copper Moon Wine
~1 Box of Jonesy.ca Valentine Cards
~1 Valentine Mookie

To Enter:

• Tell me your ideal Valentine's Day experience!

Extra Entries:

• Follow Northern Mama {Google Friends Connect}
• Be a Northern Mama Facebook Fan
• Become a Glade Facebook Fan
• Become a Jonesy Facebook Fan
• Become a Jinja Ninja Facebook Fan
• Subscribe to Northern Mama via email
• Follow me on Twitter @Northernmama35 and (RT 1xdaily) Tweet about this giveaway
• Grab my Button
• Blog about this giveaway with a link back here {Please leave me a link to your post}
  
  Giveaway open to Canadian residents only! Giveaway closes February 7th, 2010, 10:00pm CT. Please read Giveaway Rules for further details.

Hopscotch Tees ~ Personalized Fun!

Recall the carefree childhood joys of hopscotch? Chalk scraped across driveways to create patterns of connecting boxes, a tossed pebble skidding across the tarmac, the sheer delight of jumping--first balanced on one leg then two. Hopscotch Tees captures the essence of this childhood game, fun, delight, and self assured joy!

Uniquely personalized Hopscotch Tees adorably cute designs are a perfect way for your child’s personality to shine through. Because each tee is individually created you can request virtually anything!

My beautiful 7 year old daughter who is recently discovering the womanly world of “shopping” loves her new Hopscotch Tee featuring rhinestone bedazzled shoes, just enough pink to satisfy, and the words “Emma Shoe Girl shopping Yellowknife since 2002”! Yes, not only are Hopscotch Tees adorable they are also a keepsake complete with your child’s birth place and year of birth presented with subtle panache!

Packaged beautifully and complete with a surprise lollipop treat for your little one when you request gift-wrapping owner/creator Shana Perrina has thought of every last detail! It is this attention to detail, this knowledge of the delights of children that makes Hopscotch Tees special. Made from soft cotton American Apparel shirts Hopscotch Tees are quality garments. The washing instructions are displayed on an enclosed card enabling you to keep your child’s tee looking it’s best for years to come.

For my daughter the reminder of where she comes from is something I can’t even begin to apply a price to and you will find each design choice at Hopscotch Tees truly precious and delightful--so delightful in fact you may want one in your size, which can also be arranged! Hopscotch is a new business started by a Seattle mommy of two, a mommy who knows how meaningful customized gifts can be! Give a brilliant gift unlike any other!
Mention Northern Mama when you order and you will receive Free Crystals on your Tees and Free Gift Wrapping for your order!

Kitty's House of Horrors Review and Giveaway

Title: Kitty's House of Horrors (Kitty Norville, book 7)
Author: Carrie Vaughn

Format: Mass Market Paperback

Publisher:Grand Central Publishing
Pages: 304
List Price: $7.99/cdn$9.99

Published: 01/01/2010
Genre: Fantasy

Here is a book that will keep you up all night! I should have read this book during the day, because every strange or odd sound in my house, the night I was reading this book, made me jumpy and skittish. Who's kidding who? This book managed to frighten me into a sleepless night. If you are like me and enjoy a good fantasy novel about the supernatural, then you will love this book too. The author pulls you into Kitty Norville's world from the very beginning of the book, making it hard to put the book down for even a short moment. Action packed, and loaded with wooden stakes, silver bullets, arrows and explosions, it kept me thoroughly entertained, and on edge, wondering what would happen next!

Kitty Norville is a talk show radio host, werewolf, and spokesperson for the supernatural, who is approached by producers for a production company that specializes in reality television. Reluctantly, Kitty agrees to appear on an all supernatural reality show because she is duped into believing that she will be helping to educate the public by debunking myths about the supernatural.

Kitty and several other supernaturals (vampires, lycanthropes, a magician, psychics...) arrive at the secluded mountain lodge in Montana, where the show is to be filmed. Instead of the expected retreat with interviews, and games typical of a reality show, the housemate soon get more then they bargained for.

This is not the game they thought they would be playing! A battle erupts, and conspiracies theories are abound, as people start dying. The cameras have stopped filming, the satellite phone has disappeared and with no way to contact the outside world for help, this group of supernaturals must find a way to work together to figure out how to get out of this alive. Who is doing this to them? And why? Kitty and her housemates must figure this out and defeat the unknown evil before it picks them off one at a time.

If you want to be scared into a sleepless night, thanks to Hachette you can , by entering to win one of 5 copies of Kitty's House of Horrors here at Northern Mama.

To Enter:

• Be a Northern Mama follower or Facebook Fan {Required}

Extra Entries:

• Subscribe via email
• Follow on Twitter @Northernmama35 and RT Tweet {daily} about this giveaway
• Grab my Button
• Blog about this giveaway with a link back here {please leave a link to your post}
  

Giveaway open to US and Canadian residents. Giveaway closes February 5, 2010 10:00pm CT. Read Giveaway Rules for details.
Review By Nichole

Canada for Haiti Fundraiser ~ Tune in Tomorrow Night!

George Stroumboulopoulos, along with Ben Mulroney and Cheryl Hickey, announced Canada's "Canada for Haiti" network collabrated fundraising event to be held and televised Friday January 22!! Canadian networks CBC, CTV, and Global are joining forces to bring you a star studded Telethon supporting Haitian relief efforts. Broadcast on all Canadian networks and video streamed online. The Canadian Fundraiser will include Canadian musicians as The Tragically Hip, The Bare Naked Ladies, Nellie Furtado, Céline Dion, Sarah McLachlan, just to name a few! Canadian actors, sports greats, directors and television personalities will also be appearing in support of this charitable event. Rick Mercer, Ryan Renolds, Norman Jewison, Wayne Gretzky, and even Pamela Anderson are just some of the stars you will hear from tomorrow night. This Canadian Telethon preceeds George Clooney's American Telethon also being held tomorrow night!

Donations accepted during the broadcast will go towards a coalition of Canadian NGOs, including Canadian Red Cross Society, Care Canada, Free the Children, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam Quebec, Plan Canada, Save the Children Canada, UNICEF Canada and World Vision Canada.

Plan to watch, plan to donate! "Canada for Haiti" Friday Night at 7:00 Eastern and 9:00 Central on CBC, CTV, and Global stations!

Canadians Donate! Reputable Charities for Haitian Relief!

We often question our luck. However did we as Canadians has luck befell us? We live in a country of bountiful resources, with a governmental and political system which--though we often find fault and complain--is essentially concerned with the welfare of its citizens and maintains our security and confidence. While natural disasters can occur anywhere in the world we have few to report. We are rich in blessings and the understanding that not all in this world are so lucky puzzles us! Disasters such as the devastation of the Earthquake in Haiti reinforces for us the knowledge of our cushioned lives and urges us to share our bounty with those suffering and in need!

I never feel comfortable donating to unknown charities or charities that seem to materialize out of the dust of disasters. My husband and I decided to seek out reputable Canadian organizations to forward donations in support of Haitian Relief and I thought I would share:

Action Against Hunger Canada
· Adventist Development and Relief Agency
· Aid to the Church in Need Canada
· Arms of Jesus Children's Mission
· B'nai Brith Canada
· CanadaHelps
· Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace
· Canadian Foodgrains Bank
· Canadian Friends of Hôpital Albert Schweitzer
· Canadian Jesuits International
· Canadian Lutheran World Relief
· Canadian Red Cross
· CARE Canada
· CBM Canada
· Chalice
· CHF Partners in Rural Development
· Christian Children's Fund of Canada
· Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
· Compassion Canada
· Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada
· Emmanuel International Canada
· Federation CJA
· Free the Children
· Gems of Hope International
· GlobalMedic
· Habitat for Humanity Canada Foundation
· Haiti Lutheran Ministry and Mission Fund
· Healing Hands for Haiti International
· Health Partners International of Canada
· HOPE International Development Agency
· Human Concern International
· The Humanitarian Coalition
· Humanity First
· Intercede International
· International Development and Relief Foundation
· L'Arche Canada Foundation
· Lifewater Canada
· Mattercareinternational
· Médecins Sans Frontières Canada
· Mennonite Central Committee
· Mission Aviation Fellowship of Canada
· North West Haiti Christian Mission Canada
· ONExONE
· Oxfam Canada
· Oxfam-Québec
· The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund
· Plan Canada
· Salvation Army in Canada
· Samaritan's Purse
· Save the Children
· ShelterBox Canada
· SOS Children's Villages
· Spiritans
· Starthrower Foundation
· Sunnybrook Foundation
· Team Canada Healing Hands
· Tzu Chi Canada
· UNICEF Canada
· United Church of Canada
· United Jewish Appeal-Federation of Greater Toronto
· United Nations World Food Programme
· Ve'ahavta
· World Vision

Our favoured charities:

~Médecins Sans Frontières Canada

~World Vision {whom we've supported for a decade now}

~Red Cross

~United nations World Food Programme

To search registered charities and to learn more about secure donations visit the CRA website

Please remember your gratious lifestyle, your luck and your abounding blessings and donate to the organization of your choice! Small or large any donation can culminate into aid for those who require it!

GreenSmart ~ Green and Smart Lunch Totes ~ Review and Giveaway!

I am not a site that touts itself as eco-chic! I have an interest in fashion, I think this stems from the “creative” me and I am a lover of nature and the environment so I do all I can to ensure our stewardship and care for the earth through eco-friendly family practices but sometimes being green is earthy and practical…smart really. Extraordinarily in GreenSmart I’ve found products which are chic and sophisticated as well as green and practical!

GreenSmart products are sophisticated in their streamline and simple design and now their new trendy colours add to their chic factor. Most important though is the green factor. Made from an eco-friendly version of neoprene GreenSmart has fabricated fantastic neogreene products including the sleek Javan lunch tote I received to review.

I have recently added substitute teacher to my list of current duties and I am thrilled to own a lunch tote which exudes a little more sophistication and professionalism than a grocery bag or one of my children’s passe lunch kits!

The Javan lunch tote has the look of a small briefcase or netbook tote with pockets along the sides perfect for storing my utensils or perhaps a napkin and, my favourite feature, an elastic strap at the bottom of the bag for securing my stainless steel water bottle! Zippered with two sturdy handles I can feel confidence in my fashionability as well as my eco-friendly lunching! Available in eggplant, ice blue, tangerine, and licorice you will find a colour which suits your personality.

Named for the Javan Rhino Greensmart donates 10% of the profits from the sale of this lunch bag to the World Wildlife fund to help in the protection of such amazing creatures! Feeling good about GreenSmart products now? Wait until you learn the benefits of neogreene as an alternative material. Neogreene is a water-based material which allows for a much cleaner chemistry than traditional neoprene. Unlike neoprene neogreene does not require toxic binding agents and requires far less energy to produce. Better for the earth, insulated and practical, just plain Green and Smart!

Win a GreenSmart neogreene lunch bag here at Northern Mama!
To Enter:

• Visit GreenSmart and tell me your favourite product. {Required}
• non-bloggers please leave your email address with your comment.

Extra Entries:

• Be a Northern Mama Follower {Google Friends connect}
• Be a Northern Mama Facebook Fan
• Subscribe via email
• Follow on Twitter @Northernmama35 and RT Tweet {daily} about this giveaway
• Grab my Button
• Blog about this giveaway with a link back here {please leave a link to your post}

Giveaway open to US and Canadian residents. Giveaway closes February 3, 2010 10:00pm CT. Read Giveaway Rules for details.

Necessary Renos!

Our dog's nervous nature has cost us more than a few pennies over the years! From chewed up kamiks {Caribou boots from our time in the arctic} to broken door screens we've had to do the odd repairs and replacement of damaged goods but probably one of the craziest has been the broken window and our ravaged back door. Last year while I was away for the evening someone in our neighbourhood decided to set off some unexpected celebratory fireworks. You have to understand our dog's uncontrollable fear of such noises to realize the severity of the ramifications of these ill-timed festivities! I returned to blood and glass. My dog was fine--a few superficial cuts on her front paws--but I could not say the same for the outside pane of our triple paned windows.

We have put off the window replacement far too long but in order to qualify for the renovation tax breaks Harper implemented as part of Canada's economic recovery plan and because we will be putting our house on the market in the spring it was high time! $350 later we are now looking at the mess our dog also made of our back door. She has torn the vinyl siding around the door not to mention ripped the flashing off the outside door jam.

Some of you will ask why do you put up with a dog so destructive and temperamental? After 12 years despite all the insanity Aleutia has caused I love that giant fuzzy old lady...she kind of grows on you I guess you could say! While I love home remodeling I would prefer improvements to repairs but I wouldn't trade Aleutia for any of it!

*Post contains paid links. Please refer to my disclosure policy for clarification.

Perricone Cold Plasma Winner!

Congrats josiefiorda! You won the Perricone Cold Plasma giveaway!!

Rodney Carrington CD Winner!

Congrats Stephanie! You've won teh Rodney Carrington "Make It Christmas" CD!

Doors Open by Ian Rankin ~ Review and Giveaway!

Well, I have cracked the cover of a title by a new author (Ian Rankin), and am quite intrigued with what I have found. Having already learned a little about Rankin, and his main character Ransom through reading Line-up last month, yes, the name definitely suits the ‘protagonist’!

I picked-up Doors Open, not knowing really what to expect from Rankin, but recalling that the hero, Ransom is a character that has been revealed to readers in snippets throughout the 20 or so novels Rankin has written about his exploits. I must say, I learned a little about him, but have so many more questions as I understand many Rankin readers do.

In Doors Open, three friends flesh out a plan to ‘liberate’ some works of art owned by the National Gallery of Edinburgh. The friends come from an interesting mix of Edinburgh society. Once more, to pull off their plan they make the acquaintance of some strange, powerful and dangerous bed-fellows.

The character development of those involved in the heist is excellent! The writing compelling, leaving the reader to wonder will they actually get away with this!?!? With Detective Inspector Ransom lurking in the background, will he be able to fit all of the shifting pieces of this puzzle together?

Well……Thanks to Hachette, 5 lucky Northern Mama readers will get the chance to find out (more, if I have tweaked your curiosity enough to step into Rankin’s and Ransom’s Edinburgh!!)

To Enter:

• Be a Northern Mama follower or Facebook Fan {Required}

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Giveaway open to US and Canadian residents. Giveaway closes February 4, 2010 10:00pm CT. Read Giveaway Rules for details.

Leap Frog ~ Tag Junior Winner!

Susan Margaret is the lucky winner of the Leap Frog Tag Junior and book!

Chocolate: A Love Story by Max Brenner and illustrated by Yonatan Factor

Chocolate: A Love Story by Max Brenner and illustrated by Yonatan Factoris a sexy, avant garde chocolate desserts cookbook filled with over 65 quirkily titled recipes from the collection of the Bald Man himself, Max Brenner.

Max Brenner has spurred a Chocolate revolution and Chocolate: A Love Story is uniquely illustrated with revolutionary Art Deco-poster style! My husband is salivating over this book already and is excitedly planning our next chocolate feast. No longer is chocolate to be reserved for dessert, from twists to the conventional chocolate delights to the most unusual of delectable chocolate concoctions, chocolate is a culinary decadence for the young and old, the gourmet and the palate of the "average Joe".

I admit I do not tend to make such rich fabrications. Whole milk and cream don't grace our refrigerator regularly but I relented--all for the sake of this review--to adding such indulgent items to my shopping lists {alright my arm did not require twisting}!
A sampling of these deliriously lavish recipes:

*My Lost childhood chocolate birthday cake

*The Belgian Street Waffle

*Revolutionary Rice Pudding

*Meaningless Sweet Spaghetti

*The adult and child chocolate burger joint venture

I thought to share this excerpted recipe which I found both Delicious yet dependable:

Eco-friendly chocolate bread pudding

1 1/2 cups whole milk

2 cups heavy cream

9 ounces dark chocolate, chopped, plus 3 ounces

3 large eggs, plus 3 large egg yolks

1/2 cup sugar

12 brioche buns or 1 loaf white bread, cubed

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1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Bring the milk and cream to a boil and pour over three-quarters of the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Cover and let sit until the chocolate begins to melt, about 1 minute. Stir until smooth.

2. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, egg yolks, and sugar until well combined. Keep mixing and stir in the chocolate mixture.

3. Place the brioche cubes in a large bowl. Pour the chocolate custard mixture over the brioche. Add the remaining chopped chocolate and stir well to combine. Set aside to let the custard soak into the bread, about 10 minutes, then pour into two 8-inch loaf pans. Bake until golden brown and crusty and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes.

4. Remove from the oven and let cool 20 minutes before unmolding. Cut into 1-inch slices and serve with the vanilla cream.

Vanilla Cream

2 tablespoons cornstarch

2 1/2 cups milk, divided

1/2 cup sugar

2 large egg yolks

1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

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1. Sprinkle the cornstarch over 1/2 cup of the milk in a small bowl and whisk to dissolve. Add the sugar and egg yolks and whisk well.

2. Bring the remaining 2 cups milk and the vanilla bean just to a simmer in a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan over low heat. (If using vanilla extract, add it in step 3.) Remove the bean, scrape the vanilla seeds into the milk, and discard the bean. Gradually whisk the egg yolk mixture into the milk.

3. Cook, whisking often, until the sauce comes to a full boil, about 3 minutes. If using vanilla extract, stir it in now. Strain through a wire sieve into a bowl. Serve warm.

Yield: 16 servings

Rich and moist you will be amazed by this twist on the traditional!

Want to give a sweet and lasting Valentine's gift to that special someone? Chocolate: A Love Story is the perfect gift for the passionate chocolate lover in your life!

One Northern Mama reader will win a copy of this artistic hardcover volume filled with decadence, art, and romantic musings!

To Enter:

• Be a Northern Mama follower or Facebook Fan {Required}

Extra Entries:

• Subscribe via email
• Follow on Twitter @Northernmama35 and RT Tweet {daily} about this giveaway
• Grab my Button
• Blog about this giveaway with a link back here {please leave a link to your post}

Giveaway open to US and Canadian residents. Giveaway closes February 2, 2010 10:00pm CT. Read Giveaway Rules for details.