ThankYou!

((and yes, i really should have posted this on Monday, but it was a busy week))

In the Friendly Friday Spotlight!

Today is FRIENDLY FRIDAY! and i am so lucky to have been chosen to have my blog in the spotlight at Thanks Mail Carrier! Thankyou SO SO SO much!!
Here are the kind words Christi said about me:

"OrangeHeroMama is, in her words, a "far from 32" (I'm guessing that means she's still in her 20's, don't you think?) Canadian mom to two girls. Home of OHM hosts giveaways and reviews, but also shares a lot more than that. When you visit her blog you feel like you get to know her and her family through her posts and photos - you'll feel like you've known her forever!"

omg. i won.

Tonight i got the most amazing of news. I won a $250 gift card for OldNavy from the wonderful BoredMommyBlog! Please go check her out. She is fantastic!

The second that i found out i had tears in my eyes. This was such a blessing!! I also had tears in my eyes because i know how much i HATE shopping for myself, and i'm at another high point with my weight, which makes it all the more torturous.
But i also have like ZERO for clothes, and my man has been encouraging me to go out and buy some clothes for myself already!(obviously if the man is saying to go out and shop, it's gotta be BAD!!)
He's also told me that i better not buy anything for the kids with the money, that i NEED to treat MYSELF.

So if any of my local buddies/tweeps wanna come and encourage me, and/or teach me how to dress myself and look like a normal part of society that would be GREATLY appreciated! I think i might even video/photo this experience, because wow baby this is AWESOME.(and going to be slightly scary!)

And i also need to be stopped from buying these...

or any more of these...

Versatile Award!

This is awesome! I've been trying so hard lately to branch out and meet new bloggers, etc...and I've had 2 bloggers honour me with the same award! :D

I received the award from:
Ashera at Someone Special with Autism
Stacie at Love You Always Forever

THANKYOU so much ladies! This is my first award! It means a lot to me! :D


The rules of the Versatile Blogger Award are as follows:
· Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.
· Tell us seven things about yourself
· Award fifteen recently discovered new bloggers


Soooooo...7 things about myself...

1) I love all types of music(well pretty much!), on any given day you can catch me listening to country, 80's, popera, standards, etc etc(i am a BIG fan of satellite radio)

2) I am a newbie knitter, started in January, but seemed to have picked it up quite nicely! (with help from my saturday morning crew!)

*do you know HOW HARD this is? i am seriously struggling here trying to come up with 7 interesting things..eek.

3) I am ADDICTED to the candles from Bath & Body Works..it's a sickness i tell ya.

4) I love boardgames! (but don't play them nearly enough)

5) I have a weakness for Dr.Pepper, chips and chocolate.

6) I am 31, i WAS married for 8.5 yrs, i have 2 wonderful kids from said marriage..and we now have Mr.OHM who is awesome and rocks our socks off! :)

7) and now because i'm crazy to admit this, but i just don't care...again, I am 31, in Canada you can vote at 16..i have NEVER voted. I know nothing about it. I just don't understand it at all. *throw tomatoes all ya want!*

And there you have it..so now i am supposed to bestow this award upon 15 other bloggers..this was an INSANE task..I found 12 people that have something special about them that i wanted to share it with..

01) The Things We Find Inside
02) Cara Quilts
03) DRAGONFLY SWEETNEST
04) I Heart My Glue Gun
05) The Imperfect Home
06) Jewels for Hope
07) Katie Cupcake Boutique
08) Linus & Lulu
09) Not Yet a Yummy Mummy
10) Ramblings of a Simple Girl
11) Time Well Spent
12) PlainLJayne

CONGRATULATIONS to you wonderful bloggers!

Please go and check them out!

Winners of Multibionta

The 3 winners are:

* LJ

* loriag

* Katrina

Ladies i am gonna hit send on the winners emails and you have 48 hours to reply with addresses!

THANKYOU SO MUCH for entering! :D

to the park!

I love that i got to spend an extra day with my girls today, recovering from the chaotic weekend. 3/4's of us slept in! SOOOO NICE!
Then off to to the park we went for the morning! Had to enjoy it quick because we knew the rain was headed in.
We had a great time! Orangie's been working on riding her bike, and Hero's been working on Ripstik'ing. But of course looking through the photos those aren't what i took pics of..duh..just cute shots here! (which isn't normally what i go for! i generally like those 'not looking/candid' shots!)
Anywho..here they are!



Now off to bed! Back to school tomorrow!

OH!! and just a note..if you are Canadian, don't forget to enter my Multibionta Probiotic Multivitamins giveaway! Ends Tues night at 8pm est! 3 winners! Enter HERE!

more easter pics!

Hey everyone! I hope that you've all had a wonderful weekend. I know that i have! Possibly too good of a weekend, i have a tummy ache tonight and i'm thoroughly EXHAUSTED! so I'm gonna keep it short!
First up, here is a shot of my girlies yesterday at the 'kinda sister in laws' house, just before they were about to go hunting! Love this cute shot!

Then we have Hero, who is obviously VERY happy to have received the Webkinz Something-or-other-monkey(lol) from the easter bunny!(side note: i can't believe the amount of shot i got of Hero smiling recently! this is new and exciting!)

Then we have a rather poor shot of Mama and Orangie trying to get a chocolate down! (but none-the-less it's still a pic and it proves i exist! lol)

And lastly here is a pic of the resurrection buns that just didn't want to turn out this year(only 1 of the 8 are still puffy)..but regardless all 8 were still MIGHTY tasty!

And that is all for now. I am off to bed for some much needed sleep! Good night!

weekend so far..

So yesterday was a BIG day for us visiting family for Easter..we left around 8:45am and didn't get home until almost 10. We were WIPED.
We started out visiting Mr.OHM's sister(about an hour away), who throws crazy Easter hunts every year..i am very curious to see how she tops herself next year..her facebook says 'new cars for everyone!'..i wish! :)
Here's my loot, i LOVE it!

We stayed to have a nice lunch and some yummy cakepops(holy cow, i am sooo in love with cakepops now!!) and then we headed off for another 2.5 hour drive to my cousins house. The drive was fantastic, very scenic! We were there to visit my extended family that i hadn't seen in almost 3 years(at my grama's funeral). I wasn't sure what to expect because the last time i'd seen them my husband hadn't left and my aunt wasn't dying of cancer, and they hadn't met Mr.OHM yet, and it was also back when my sister and i were speaking... But it all went VERY well and i was glad i got to see them all. Here's the candle i decorated for my aunt(i also made one for my mom):


Now onto today! I was really sad that i had to pass up my advance passes to Hoodwinked 2..But it was really nice to make it out to see some friends at the market for knitting, coffee/tea, and dutch fritters. Here's a shot of the table, specifically in front of me..NOM! (in case you knit or wonder..i am making a 'lacy baktus'(a neat shawl) out of alpaca wool)


After that, i decided to go and check out 2 of the local thrift shops..and here are some really cute sheets i grabbed for my daughters..yes the one is Paul Frank(Hero is gonna FLIP!)


I did get a couple other cool things, but alas no pics..sorry!

Well, that's it for now. Hope you all are having a fantastic Easter weekend! Please feel free to share what you're up to in the comment section! :)

i did it.

so the story continues..
The morning didn't start off so well, i had one HECK of a headache(don't even get me started on the frequency of these HORRID things!), it was one of those headaches that comes with dizziness and nausea. So i spent just over an hour on the couch, with lots of migraine meds in me, and a hot magicbag going back and forth every few mins between my forehead/eyes, and the nape of my neck, drifting in and out of sleep..
But it passed. THANK GOD!!
I was able to then get ready, yes i got dressed today! :) and i went and figured out the Easter shopping! So now my children will NOT be horribly disappointed! woot!

and now i just wish to share a pic of my cute little Orangie on her new bike(yes, i did take the pic on my phone, my real camera was ALLLL the way in the house!-aka 15 ft away!):


Wow, that's really all i have for you today, i'm really rather stressed about the whole weekend. I have a crazy 'easter hunt extravaganza' to go to at the kinda sister in laws house, and i'm also seeing an aunt who is dying of cancer(sadly i haven't seen her since almost 3 yrs ago), and then there is the fun of shuffling the girls back and forth(because i have an ex-husband *sigh*)..but for now i'm off to go and try and whip together a couple of Easter cards..because procrastination is how i roll apparently! ;)

Would love to know what you have planned for the weekend!

OH! and on a sidenote..my goal is to try and surpass the 200 followers mark..just putting it out there..hoping that the followers gods will help me out a little ;)

lazy days

It was another one of those horribly lazy days for me. I have been in pajamas for over 24 hours now. And not even nice ones. They're the ones that you're embarrassed to answer the door wearing, even if it's only the UPS guy. They're well-loved, pink fleece old navy jingle jam pants, with an old green longsleeved old navy shirt. Not pretty. and certainly not matching! lol. That's why the pic only has my accessories in it!

But tomorrow will be a NEW day. I realized that i sure must have be in SOME slump because i haven't even Easter shopped yet *bad mommy!*!and tomorrow is the last day that i can possibly shop and throw it all together. The Mister is going to make sure that I get up on time, SHOWER, get dressed, and get out there tomorrow, even if he has to drive me there himself! * but i think he just might be in it for the coffee and the chocolate! ;)

Anyways, wish me luck, and thanks for putting up with my sluggish horrible attitude. I know that this weekend will refresh me and set me back in order!

He's a keeper!

I haven't quite been myself lately. I've been a miserable mess, and nothing has wanted to work out for me. I've torn out my knitting over and over. I've had zero energy. I've mainly just wanted to curl up and hibernate. This insane up and down weather sure isn't helping. It's even harder to force yourself to try and be smiley and happy when it's damp, cold and grey.

I spent the DAY today on the couch, just chillin' with Orangie. She stayed home from school because i knew she was either sick or getting the sick. She just was NOT herself today. So we layed around in a vegetative state all day, being boring little slugs. And that doesn't help the mood either...

But the mister went out tonight after dinner. His brother had sent him a gift card for his birthday and it was burning a hole in his pocket. So off he went to BestBuy and the mall! Here's what he came home with:


*swoon* The man decided to save his giftcard and came home with stuff to cheer ME up! So, I thought that i should blog about it so that when i feel like i am all alone against the world, i could stop and remember that there is most certainly someone there behind me to back me up, or give me squeezie hugs and wipe away my tears. This mans a keeper! :)

*and no, my cup didn't win, but his did(a free coffee), so i guess he got something out of the deal after all! :)

Easter Eggs!!

Tonight we had a great time decorating Easter eggs! The kits didn't exactly work out as they were supposed to, but we're good at improvising! :)
Check it out!

Multibionta -review/giveaway! *CLOSED*

***CONTEST ENDED! WINNERS CHOSEN!***


A winning combination of multivitamins + probiotics that:
-Provides nutrients to maintain good health
-Strengthens the immune system
-Optimizes digestive and intestinal health 1
-Reduces the duration of colds 2
-Reduces the severity of cold and flu symptoms 2
-Reduces stress and exhaustion 1
-Comes in a 3-layer, easy to swallow caplet

What else?:
-Comes in one easy-to-swallow three-layer caplet
-Available in two sizes: 30 caplets (Average retail price of $12.99 – $14.99) and 60 caplets (Average retail price of $22.99 – $25.99)
-Also available in Multibionta™ 50+, for active people over 50
-Found in most major retailers, including drug stores, mass and grocery stores with pharmacies
-Made by the Merck KGaA organization, a global company with a history dating back more than 350 years
-European-made and sold in over 25 countries worldwide — it's even the #1 selling multivitamin in France!
-Online at multibionta.ca — visit the site for coupons, other great offers, and to learn more

30 Days to Great Challenge
Join the millions around the world who trust Multibionta and try it for yourself by taking the 30 Days to Great Challenge. The experts at Multibionta™ are so confident in their product that they offer a money back guarantee — if you don't notice a difference and feel better after trying the product for 30 days, Multibionta will refund your money (just hold on to your proof of purchase)! Join the challenge at multibionta.ca.

Allergen Warning:
Multibionta contains milk proteins. People who are allergic to milk protein should avoid using this product. Multibionta is gluten and wheat free and suitable for people with Celiac disease or wheat allergies.

MY Thoughts:
I was really excited to join the Multibionta bzz campaign from BzzAgent! I HATED taking my multivitamin! I would choke on it about 4 out of 7 days! I admit that i was skeptical that this vitamin would be easier to swallow, but found out that it REALLY is! I have no problems swallowing the Multibionta! It also had better medicinal qualities than my normal multi! I've also not been sick once this month! and there is less anxiety about taking the vitamin!(no worries that i am going to choke! woot!) We've also used it for a month now and need to replenish our supply - It's now our vitamin of choice! I will admit that the Multibionta is a tad pricier than my normal multi, but i believe that the pros definitely exceed the slight cost difference!

**I received a free Multibionta bzz kit in exchange for my honest review because i am a BzzAgent! Find out more about BzzAgent here!**

GIVEAWAY TIME!!
I want to share my love for Multibionta with others! 3 of my Canadian readers will win!
What will you win? A coupon for a free 30 caplet box of Multibionta or Multibionta 50+, and 2 coupons to save $15 of your next 60 caplet bottles!(coupons valid in canada only and expire Dec 31, 2011).

Mandatory Entry:
*Leave me a comment telling me why you'd like to win this!(don't forget to leave me your email address!)

Bonus Entries:
1.Follow me via Google Friend Connect!(leave me a comment telling me you do, and your GFC name please)
2.Follow me on Twitter!(leave me a comment telling me you do, and your twitter name!)
3.Tweet about the giveaway!(1/day, and leave me the tweet link please)

Contest closes Tues Apr 26th, 2011 at 8pm EST! 3 lucky winners will be chosen thanks to Random.org! Winner will be notified via email and have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck! :)

Max & Ruby Bunny Party!

On Sunday, we all went to see Max & Ruby's Bunny Party at Centre in the Square in Kitchener. I had won a family pack of tickets on Tales of a Ranting Ginger!
It was so nice to be able to enjoy something different together as a family!

This is Orangie excited for the show to begin!


This is Hero playing her Nintendo DS(she looked like this before, during and after the show!)BUT i did catch her a couple of times watching the show! ;)


And of course here are some shot of the actual show!





Thanks again Ginger for a wonderful day!

McCain Purely Potatoes (review)

"Good food starts from the ground up. That’s why our McCain Purely Potatoes® varieties are made with the goodness of 100% real, specially selected potatoes. McCain Purely Potatoes® varieties are washed, peeled and cut potatoes, so you can quickly prepare your favourite, delicious potato recipes. Simply steam in the microwave ready bag for easy and delicious mashed potatoes or roast in the oven. McCain It’s all good™"

I was recently invited to try out new McCain Purely Potatoes for free thanks to BzzAgent! I was really excited to try this product out because truth be had i absolutely HATE peeling and cutting potatoes! I will admit that I am afraid of potato peelers *cringe*. I always delegate that task out or turn to packaged potato products! There are two different types of potatoes available, white potatoes and sweet potatoes. I chose to go with the white potatoes. Preparation was SO EASY. Just take the bag out of the freezer and pop it in the microwave(right side up) for 12 minutes, carefully open, dump into bowl, season as you like or follow the milk and butter instructions on the bag. Serve. We followed the instructions on the bag for adding milk and butter. They turned out fantastic! I even convinced the Mr that on days where i am cooking and potatoes will be involved that we will keep some of this awesome product in our freezer for me to serve up! They're so easy and taste fantastic!

Here is a photo of the potatoes fresh out of the microwave:

And here is the bowl after dinner..we devoured them!

Kids 1st Day

Today, here in London, was a PD day for the kids..it was also a yearly fun day called Kids 1st day! A wonderful day where many places across the city put on special crafts/event/activities for kids! We've been participating for several years!
We started out heading downtown to the market for 10am where we got to decorate cupcakes and plant beans!


Then we drove back to the north end to go to Chapters for their activity at 11am. (unfortunately they were rather unorganized and weren't even set up until 11:15..then there were so many kids that we didn't get to start making our craft until about 11:30ish..we only made 1 of the 2 crafts they were offering!) SO, i decided to treat the girls to kiddie drinks at Starbucks and get on with the show!


Next up we headed across the street to check out what was going on at Scholars Choice. They had an umbrella craft(rather sad and pathetic), and then a picture scavenger hunt which landed you a little prize when you were done. The kids had fun, that's all that matters.

Then we stopped in at home to pickup Mr.OHM, to drag him along to the next few stops!
So next we headed off to Loblaws for 1pm. We were excited because they were offering 'decorate a spring treat', and we'd been to them in prior years and it was always GOOD! This year it was decorating cupcakes in spring icing and sprinkles. It was really well organized and once again was a lot of fun!


((insert big sugar high here! lol. 2 cupcakes each in less than 3 hrs!))

Then we thought that we'd pop in at the library near our house..but their activity was board games, and i'm sorry but we have board games at our place, we don't need to play them in the library..we were kinda disappointed, but c'est la vie. So we picked some books to borrow from the library instead.

Then we decided to take a 10 min drive and head over to the Museum of Archaeology for what would be our last stop of the day. This activity was a LONG one. We made clay pots, and little bead bracelets, and did a big educational scavenger hunt. We were rather exhausted by the end, and it was 4pm.


All in all, it was another fantastic Kids 1st day! :)

Dare Bear Paws Crackers (review)

Recently I was contacted my Mom Central Canada with the opportunity to try out the Dare Foods Bear Paws Crunchy Crackers. I gotta say that i was very excited! We're always on the hunt for yummy peanut-free snacks for the girls to take to school!
Everyone in our house found these crackers to be yummy tasting, and rather addictive! :) They also have a great cheese flavour to them! The box only lasted 2 days(we took them on a day trip with us!) and they've been requested on the grocery list! We give them 2 thumbs up!

Good For You Facts
• Peanut Free
• Low in Saturated Fat
• No Trans Fat
• Source of Calcium
• Source of Thiamine
• Source of Niacin
• Good Source of Folate
• No Artificial Flavours
• Made with Real Old Cheddar Cheese


Allergy Information
Contains: Wheat, Soya and Milk.
May contain sesame seeds.
Baked in a nut free / peanut free facility.


** I received 1 box of Dare Bear Paws crackers for free in exchange for my honest review of the product! Thankyou Mom Central Canada! **

(review) 'The Uncoupling'

About the Book:
From the New York Times-bestselling author of The Ten-Year Nap, a funny, provocative, revealing novel about female desire.

When the elliptical new drama teacher at Stellar Plains High School chooses for the school play Lysistrata-the comedy by Aristophanes in which women stop having sex with men in order to end a war-a strange spell seems to be cast over the school. Or, at least, over the women. One by one throughout the high school community, perfectly healthy, normal women and teenage girls turn away from their husbands and boyfriends in the bedroom, for reasons they don't really understand. As the women worry over their loss of passion, and the men become by turns unhappy, offended, and above all, confused, both sides are forced to look at their shared history, and at their sexual selves in a new light.

As she did to such acclaim with the New York Times bestseller The Ten-Year Nap, Wolitzer tackles an issue that has deep ramifications for women's lives, in a way that makes it funny, riveting, and totally fresh-allowing us to see our own lives through her insightful lens.


My Thoughts:
When I received the email from Penguin Group regarding this book, i was excited. This sounded exactly like my type of book. I'm a big fan of chick lit type books!
I wasn't familiar with either Meg Wolitzer's work or of the Aristophanes comedy Lysistrata, but the description of the book is what grabbed me, this book deals with an sensitive issue that strikes so many women, both married and not, and unfortunately it hit home for me personally.
When I finally cracked this hot little book, i was quickly immersed in it. It's a very engaging and easy read. I literally wanted to keep reading it(but i did have to put it down!) and had it read in just over a 24 hours period.
I'm not really sure what to say about the actual writing itself. I think that i loved it. I know that even though i spent most of the time just trying to follow what what was going on, possibly due to the whirlwind of which character was 'speaking'. I do know that while i pass on most of the books that i read, i plan on keeping this book. In fact i can foresee doing something that i rarely do; i see myself reading this book again! It's just one of those books that sing to your heart, or at least MY heart, and i know that i need to keep this one around!

vroooom!

Another week has passed again..but it was an awesome busy week! I GOT A NEW CAR!!!
There was a lot of researching and looking but we found a deal we couldn't refuse! YIPPPEEE!
Both the Mr and I have never had a NEW car before, so it is SUCH a wonderful feeling! My van started giving us a headache. We knew that it wasn't going to last much longer(as in days) without having to put in major moolah. So rather than get the new car closer to summer, we ended up getting it NOW. And let me tell you, it is soooo nice going from a big gas guzzling van to a small little zippy car! :)

Vroom Vroom! Beep Beep!

The old:



The NEW!:


So tell me..have you had a new car? when did you get your first new car? what was it? or any interesting car stories?