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All Kids Shine at Starr Gymnastics (Psst! This post includes an amazing giveaway!)

Birthday party at Starr Gymnastics

Our family loves Ottawa's Starr Gymnastics. Both Stella and Max have taken classes there and I'll tell you why: because it's fun and it's positive. For Stella, she appreciated the friendly environment and that she could wear shorts and a t-shirt, since a bodysuit is not required. For Max, we initially enrolled him to help strengthen his core and increase his gross motor coordination, but we stayed on because he was really enjoying the music … [Read more...]

Cutting the Cable Brought Us Closer Together

#UnwindTogether

So, I don't think I've told you yet that we cut our cable. Yep, we did it. It actually felt a bit uncomfortable to do it since the last time I didn't have cable television was when I was a broke student. But the monthly bill for cable adds up, and we weren't really watching that much. A few people we know had already taken the plunge and assured us we wouldn't regret it. And we certainly haven't. We cancelled our cable service in June (it made … [Read more...]

It’s Monday. You’re not in Florida for March Break. Would a giveaway help? Tickets to the Ottawa premiere of Dreamworks HOME!

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My kids tell me that *everyone* in their class is going on a trip to Florida for the March Break. Naturally, since I am typing this up while looking out at a ton of snow still on the ground, it goes without saying that we are not in this *everyone* crowd. But we're not crying in our hot chocolate (okay, maybe just a little ;)) ... we've got some fun things planned for the kids, including a night ski on Gatineau's cross-country ski trails. And … [Read more...]

Why is it still Monday? This calls for a giveaway! How about LEGOLAND Discovery Centre passes?

legoland

We are likely some of the only people I know who have yet to visit LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, just outside of Toronto. It's really quite inexcusable considering how cray-cray my whole family (including the Hubby) is about Lego. In fact, you might recall that we took the kids to New York City and the Empire State Building and Central Park didn't make their list of Top 5 NYC Highlights -- but the LEGO store sure did! But perhaps we'll … [Read more...]

It’s Monday. Time for a giveaway! Family passes to see #Ottawa movie premiere of The Penguins of Madagascar

Penguins-of-Madagascar-letmewatchmovies.in_

Monday's are always such a good day to give something back to my friends who come by and spend time here at Coffee with Julie! Especially when Ottawa is so grey and gloomy right now. Today, I have -- thanks to Sara at Allied Integrated Marketing -- two family passes (each pass admits two adults and two children) to the upcoming Ottawa premier of The Penguins of Madagascar movie. Here's the movie synopsis:  “Super spy teams aren't … [Read more...]

Does your child need an eye exam?

eye_exams

This is a sponsored post. Thank you so much for supporting Coffee with Julie! Before my eldest started school, I remember that my doctor recommended an eye exam. Not because she thought there was any problem with Stella's vision, but because it was a standard health test that she recommended. Well, Stella is 12 years old now. I still haven't taken her for that eye exam. I assumed that if there was a problem with one of my kids' sight, I'd be … [Read more...]

It’s Monday. Let’s Do a Giveaway, Shall We? Today’s Theme: Little Luxuries!

candles

I don't think it will come as any surprise to hear that our family has been on a tight budget for a long time. Why? Well, that's the only way we could manage to take the family to Australia for six weeks this past summer. Like most people, I find the constant monitoring of pennies to be tedious. Enough to make you want to buy a lotto ticket, even. Sometimes, even though you know it not to be true, it feels like you are being deprived. I mean, … [Read more...]

It’s Monday. Let’s Do a Giveaway, Shall We? How about a Back-to-School Gift Certificate for Sears! #RockTheHalls

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As a kid, I loved back-to-school shopping sooo much. (Okay, I loved shopping with my Mom in general, but back-to-school meant I was guaranteed to get some goodies!) Picking out new outfits, cute shoes, and getting excited for the year ahead. Yep, I loved it all! I tried to indoctrinate Stella into this consumerism blitz, but to no avail. She really can't stand shopping and has zero interest in fashion. But, alas, fear not ... this mother … [Read more...]

A Catalogue Launch with a Twist #IKEAtimetravel

Ikea calls their catalogue "The Most Helpful Book in the World." And I certainly can't argue with that. I love (love!) a good catalogue and IKEA always does a top-notch job. A catalogue that you want to keep as a reference in your home all year long? Yeah, that's a good catalogue! And if I'm going to keep a catalogue around my house it needs more than just a dull listing of products ... it's got to have some editorial value and some great … [Read more...]

What Makes Me The Savvy Spender? #UsedHelps

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Okay, so it’s not a huge secret. Everyone who knows me, knows that I like a good deal. My mama taught me how to shop! I simply cannot buy anything at full price; it goes against every fiber of my being. It needs to be on sale. And 10% off is *not* a sale! I like a good 40-60% off, thank you very much. Better yet, how about 80% off? Yes, it’s possible. If you’re willing to hunt. And everyone knows the hunt is the fun part! Where to Find the … [Read more...]

Ottawa Giveaway: Tickets to Advance Screening of Earth to Echo Movie!

et collage

It's Monday. Let's do a giveaway, shall we? Remember how excited and captivated you were as a kid to see the movie ET for the first time? I can remember clearly that my neighbours had seen ET at drive-in show (oh, those were sooo cool!)  and I was just bursting out of my skin for my parents to take me too. When we did go, I certainly wasn't disappointed! Now, in 2014, we'll be able to re-live that fun again ... and introduce it to our kids! … [Read more...]

The Thing About Bra Straps

brastrap

Bra straps have been on a lot of people's minds these days. One wouldn't think that most of us would have much to say about bra straps. But apparently, we do. As the weather has heated up, and high school kids have switched from their winter wear to summer gear, bra straps are all the rage. Showing them, that is. It's a style. You wear coloured bras, with coloured straps, and ensure that they show. Whether or not the high schools should … [Read more...]

How Old is Your Heart?

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A friend was recently telling me that her husband had had a heart attack. Her story sounded radically different from those I'd heard before or heart attacks that I'd seen on television. Rather than a sudden shooting pain in an arm or the chest, he had developed a really sore back. So sore, in fact, that he decided he needed to get a massage rather than go to work. She didn't think much about it and expected him to ease out of the pain after a day … [Read more...]

Meaningful Gifts at Christmas: Have You Ever Considered Giving a Goat? You Should! #PlanGOH

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I'm not particularly religious; so for me, Christmas is about children and the spirit of giving. That’s why I am excited to talk about Plan Canada’s Gifts of Hope program, which lets you give meaningful gifts by helping children in developing countries. Each of the Gifts of Hope are unique and bring real change to children in communities around the world. For example, one of the gifts that you can give is a goat. That’s right – a goat! The $75 … [Read more...]

Ottawa Senators Tickets (100 Level! 4 Tickets!)

giveaway for Sens Tickets

Photo Credit: Kris Krug (Creative Commons) I have a confession to make: I've never seen an NHL game live. I always figured that if I said this out loud someone might revoke my Canadian citizenship, but you won't tell anyone will you? Sure, I've been to events at the arena where the Sens play (the most recent one that comes to mind is Oprah). But I guess I'm just cheap when it comes to watching live sports. It is seriously expensive to take a … [Read more...]

$185 in Cold, Hard Cash? Yes, Please! #FallCashGiveaway

#FallCashGiveaway

I like to save giveaways for Mondays. It just seems right somehow. So it gives me great pleasure to offer you something that I'm sure every single one of you could find a use for: CASH! Yep, that's right -- cold, hard cash. Not a toy, gift certificate, or coupon code. Just the straight cash this time. How? Well, it's because I've teamed up with some fabulous blogging friends (with big thanks to the two organizers: Tales of a Ranting Ginger and … [Read more...]

Don’t Catch & Release! Catch & KEEP Your Summer Memories! (Blurb Book Giveaway. $50 CAN. Closes 09/16)

Enter the Blurb book giveaway

It's Monday. Let's do a giveaway shall we? Now that we've all survived the first week back to school, it's really starting to dawn on me that summer is over. Don't get me wrong, I love the autumn weather more than any other season, but I don't want to let all those special summer memories just fade away. My poor paper scrapbooking supplies are buried in dust these days. And I can't remember the last time I actually printed off even one of … [Read more...]

Because Miley is just not worth it.

Don't Drive Distracted

Just as we wouldn't crack open a beer and drive, we shouldn't snap open our cell phones and drive. We've all gotten into the habit of arranging a ride home before a night that will involve alcohol, but our habits around cell phone use in cars still need adjustment. I know many friends who say, “Oh, I only look at it when I’m at a red light.” But I beg them to change that behaviour. Why? Because if they are like me, the need to look at the … [Read more...]

Making Conscious Choices About My Cosmetics (+ $100 Giveaway for a Terra20 Gift Certificate! CAN, 07/16)

Choosing Healthier Cosmetics

This year, I started to be a little more conscious about my choices when it comes to what makeup I'm using (here are some of my posts about choosing safe cosmetics and body products: shampoos, winter skin cream, henna hair coloring, and makeup primer). I have not made a full switch-over to healthier cosmetics. Not even close, if I'm being honest. I am very attached, for example, to my Dior Mascara. But on the other hand, I adore using Burt's Bees … [Read more...]

Proudly Canadian Giveaway! ($485 total value *now closed*) #TGCBB

shellstar logo

Over the past couple of months, I've really been enjoying the opportunity to meet more and more Canadian bloggers. In doing so, I was introduced to a tradition that started three years ago called The Great Canadian Blog Bash. Started up by three Canadian bloggers, the idea is to showcase Canadian pride via a blog post (which I will do shortly) as well as to showcase Canadian products and services via an all-Canadian giveaway (this post!). The … [Read more...]

Summer Weddings, Past & Present (+ Giveaway for a Samsung Galaxy Note 8! *now closed*)

down the aisle

Hubby and I promised our lives to each other under a couple of century-old gum trees on one of the hottest of summer days in Australia. It was a day and a night that I will never forget, and will always be grateful for because we simply could not have done it without all of the help of our parents on both sides of the family. We were young and broke, and short on time. But so many family and friends pitched in with the planning and it somehow … [Read more...]