My daughters, niece and I had an inspiring time at the launch party for Entrepreneur Barbie in downtown Toronto. At the event we had the opportunity to view some Barbie’s past careers choices, play with the latest Barbie’s & accessories, chat with Erica Diamond, Canada’s Chief Inspiration Officer and meet Alicia Moffat, the 2014 winner of The Next Star.
I found the story of Ruth Handler to be inspiring, she truly was an entrepreneur. My niece Madison, is also a young entrepreneur and was amazed at the adventures Barbie has had during her various career paths.
“It is hard to believe that Barbie has had 150 careers. Barbie has always encouraged girls that if you can dream it, you can be it. With the launch of the Entrepreneur Barbie doll, she is blazing trails along with other female leaders who are proud to be the boss. This year alone female entrepreneurs have graced the cover of Time’s Most Influential people issues.”
The very talented Alicia Moffat, who is the 2014 winner of The Next Star sang two songs including her recently recorded and her first released single, “Why Do Boys Lie”.
The guests at the launch of the entrepreneur Barbie were also introduced to the Barbie Bursary:
The Barbie Business Bursary encourages Canadians to nominate a budding entrepreneur, under the age of 18, who demonstrated true entrepreneurial spirit, from now until September 1, 2014. To enter the national competition visit the Barbie My Dreams site and share your nominee’s entrepreneurial dream.
Barbie will select ten amazing nominees and post their video profiles on Barbie My Dreams; a jury panel will then select three winners to receive a $2500 Barbie Business Bursary to fund their big ideas.
We were also able to listen to the stories of the amazing & successful women in the room and their connection to the iconic Barbie doll. Including the fabulous & inspirational Erica Diamond creator and owner of Women on the Fence. I was also able to connect, once again, with Eric Ehm, the creator and publisher at Yummy Mummy Club who has inspired me personally with her tenacity and business savvy.
I have an Entrepreneur Barbie to give one of my lucky readers. Leave me a comment & tell me what you think Barbie’s next career should be. You can enter daily. The winner will be emailed on August 6th, 2014.
For extra entries (an extra entry for each follow/like) :
1. Follow me on Twitter @SherrieMae23 & @PRMomOttawa (come back and let me know you have followed me & leave your twitter handle)
2. Follow me on Instagram @SherrieGuthrie (come back and let me know you have followed me & leave your IG handle)
3. Like the PRMomOttawa Facebook page (come back and let me know me know you have liked my Facebook page & leave your FB page)
Swimming, gymnastics, running, and kayaking…you name it and my family and I are doing it! We are a busy family and one of the problems we face is eating healthy food on the go. We already pack fresh fruits & veggies for our commute between events, but we were missing the protein needed to keep our bodies functioning efficiently. The girls and I recently tried Maple Leaf Natural Selections Protinis snacks.
The easy to open and compact Protinis gives a powerful protein punch especially when the girls are training for gymnastics events & swim meets. KT enjoyed the Oven Roasted Chicken with Mango, AndiePandie thought the Oven Roasted Chicken and Apple was the perfect snack during breaks at the club and I enjoyed the Mild Salsa Chicken as my snack of choice.
I completely feel like the parent in this commercial, running from practice to practice and consistently being late!
The new PROTINIS™ snacks are available in eight flavours including Oven Roasted Chicken, Sweet Thai Chili Chicken, Mild Salsa Chicken, Honey Garlic Chicken, Oven Roasted Chicken and Cranberry, Oven Roasted Chicken and Superfruit, Oven Roasted Chicken and Mango, and Oven Roasted Chicken and Apple. They are available at major grocery stores across Canada and retail for approximately $4.99. Each retail pack comes with two PROTINIS™ snacks.
I would love to know what you think of Protinis! I will be giving 2 of my lucky readers, 5 free product coupons to test out these tasty protein packed snacks.
Beckett even decided to try a Protinis on his last field trip. His teacher made a comment to him about how healthy his snack was, he was very proud!
Just leave a comment and tell me what is your favourite on the go snack? You can enter once per day!
For an extra entries:
1. Follow me on Instagram and leave a comment with your handle.
2. Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment with your handle.
3. Like my Facebook Fan Page and leave me a comment that you did!
Take a moment to find out more about Maple Leaf Products on their Facebook Fan Page & Twitter social media channels. You can follow along with the conversation by using the hashtag #Protinis.
Thanks for entering, the winners will be chosen on June 30th and notified by email.
Baby shows are a chance for parents to see the latest toddler gear, check out the information sessions and get up to date on the latest baby trends. Lucky for families in Ottawa, The Baby Show is coming back on May 3rd & 4th, 2014.
This time around, it will be held at the Ottawa Convention Centre located in the heart of Ottawa on the banks of the Rideau Canal.
This show is perfect for those expecting a new family member or for those with children under five. The Baby Show is the largest pregnancy and early parenting show in our capital city. I have found important information about community groups, fitness activities and safety issues that are relevant to my lifestyle and needs at The Baby Show.
This year’s highlights include:
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Massage Area
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VIP Lounge
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The CReATe Photo Booth
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SavvyMom Seminar Series
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The Heath & Wellness Mat
and of course Contests & Giveaways!
Did I mention there are 3000 grab bags available at the door with a value of over $30 dollars each?
There will also be a bouncy castle, visits from Barney and Angelina Ballerina and many other kid friendly activities.
Adult tickets cost $12 each, children under 12 are admitted to the show for free.
I am giving away two pairs of tickets for The Baby Show. It is simple to enter, tell me your favorite baby item to give as a gift at a baby shower. The contest runs from April 15th until April 28th, you can enter once per day.
Good Luck and we will see you at The Baby Show!
I cannot wait to support the “Shop for Hope” campaign at my local Winners & HomeSense stores between Saturday April 12 and Sunday May 11, 2014. As Mother’s Day & Easter are quickly approaching I will purchasing specially marked Canadian Women’s Foundation products as the perfect gift for my loved ones. 
The net proceeds from the Shop for Hope collection, including t-shirts, pillows, jewellery boxes and mugs will help raise hope for women and children in local communities across Canada.
“With 50% of women in Canada experiencing physical or sexual abuse, violence against women is a critical issue. Through this annual campaign, we want to raise hope for women who have experienced abuse as well as build awareness about the issue of violence against women in Canada,” says Mina Mawani, President and CEO, Canadian Women’s Foundation. “Supporting and investing in emergency shelters and violence prevention programs helps provide women who have experienced abuse access to a safe place and opportunities to learn the skills they need to rebuild their lives and live free from violence.”
Shoppers can also purchase Hope decals for $2, $5 or $10 with all proceeds going directly to the Canadian Women’s Foundation’s 10th annual campaign to end violence against women.
I will feel good about purchasing these items to help support the Shop for Hope campaign. My favourite items are the decorative elephant, classic mugs and inspirational sports towels.
“WINNERS and HomeSense are committed to helping the Canadian Women’s Foundation raise hope and end violence against women. Together, along with other campaign partners, we are proud to have collectively raised more than $12 million over the past nine years to support women who have experienced abuse,” said Shannon Johnson, WINNERS HomeSense spokesperson. “Our carefully created beautiful Shop for Hope products inspire people to join this cause and help women in Canada who have experienced violence to rebuild their lives.”
I am giving away a Shop for Hope gift pack to one of my readers. The giveaway will begin on April 13th and end on April 28th.
It is easy to enter, just tell me what is your favourite Shop for Hope item. You can enter once per day!
For bonus entries:
1. Follow me on Instagram (SherrieGuthrie) then come back and tell me your handle so I can follow you.
3. Follow me on Twitter @SherrieMae23 and/or @PRMomOttawa then come back and tell me our handle so I can follow you.
This weekend I am attending the B Connected Conference in Ottawa. I am working with Active for Life to bring awareness to their site and social media channels.
” Experts agree that physical literacy is just as important as reading, writing, and arithmetic.”
This simple statement made me want to work with the Active for life team. Really, that is it. They capture my values as a parent, educator and community coach.
As well, I hope to help parents, community members and coaches develop an understanding of physical literacy.
“Physical literacy comes from developing a wide variety of fundamental movement skills such as hopping, skipping, throwing, catching and jumping. Kids have a lot more fun being active when they are physically literate. Physically active kids get higher grades in school, have better social skills and are happier and more confident.”
Is there really anything else we want for our kids then for them to be happy?
This weekend, I will be asking questions, tweeting pictures and generally engaging my community to connect with the #AfLKids community.
RT my tweets or ask me questions on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest using the #AfLKids hashtag this weekend, and each impression will enter you into a draw to win an Active for Life Spring Kit. My friends at Active for Life headquarters will pick a winner Sunday night.
Good Luck to all my readers and active families across Canada. If you are at the B Connected Conference come over and ask me Physical Literacy.
Save the date! We will also be hosting a Facebook party on April 26th, 2014 at 8:00 pm. There will be interesting questions, fun ideas to keep your kids active and of course prizes. There will be more information to come!
January 31 to February 17, 2014
Get set for the 36th Winterlude, the Capital’s winter celebration! This family-friendly festival transforms Canada’s Capital Region into the ideal destination to celebrate Canadian traditions in wintertime.
The Department of Canadian Heritage is busy planning an exciting line-up of events with something for everyone. Winterlude 2014 activities will take place at Crystal Garden in Confederation Park, at Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques-Cartier Park, on the Rideau Canal Skateway, and at various partner sites.
Family Fun!
Crystal Garden in Confederation Park, Ottawa
“Memories” carved in ice!
Witness a fusion of art and ice at Crystal Garden and discover a world of memories. Located in Confederation Park, this spectacular display of crystalline ice sculptures will take your breath away. Come admire this icy world of wonder at night, and discover an outdoor urban dance scene like no other. Some of the highlights include:
- Opening Ceremony: Winterlude’s Great Winter Ball;
- 27th International Ice-Carving Competition;
- Winter Memories: Wooden Cabin Village public art exhibition;
- Stand-Up to Bullying Comedy Hour with Rick Mercer, Mary Walsh and Patrick McKenna; and
- Sub-Zero DJ Nights, including an East Coast kitchen party!
Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques-Cartier Park, Gatineau
Winter sports and games — with the Ice Hog Family!
Presented by the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Ville de Gatineau, Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau is the site of North America’s biggest snow playground, and the home-away-from-home of the Ice Hog family, Winterlude’s furry mascots. Outfitted with larger-than-life snow slides, Snowflake Kingdom provides enjoyment for the young and the young at heart. Here are a few highlights:
- Super Slides: snow and tube slides
- voices of Yukon performers and Team Yukon-Canada snow carvers
- Aboriginal Village interactive exhibit
- XTREME Zone: zip line, pedal go-carts, bungee trampoline and giant maze
The Rideau Canal Skateway
Celebrating 44 seasons of skating!
This winter kicks off the 44th skating season on the Rideau Canal Skateway. Set in a UNESCO world heritage site, the world’s largest skating rink will host a variety of activities, so sharpen your blades for a unique Canadian outdoor winter experience. During Winterlude, the Rideau Canal Skateway will be centre stage for several events, including:
- 31st Annual Winterlude Triathlon;
- 34th Annual Accora Village Bed Race;
- Giant Tiger Interactive Hockey Zone.
Programming Partners
More partners, more diversity, more fun!
For the 36th Winterlude, more than 90 programming partners have come together to offer visitors a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities aimed at animating the Capital like never before. Here is just a sampling:
- Ottawa Winter Jazz Festival;
- Cracking Up the Capital Comedy Festival;
- Northern Lights 2014: Business and Cultural Showcase;
- Ottawa Fashion Week;
- Gatineau Winter BeerFest
- Winterman Marathon and Marathon Relays;
- Ski and Snowboard Rail Jam Competition;
- Snow’Art – Snow Sculptures in the ByWard Market;
- German-Canadian Graffiti Jam;
- Downtown Rideau BIA’s CHILL FACTOR;
- Cool Science Saturday;
- and much, much more including a series of culinary experiences!
The Department of Canadian Heritage is proud to present Winterlude with the support of the following official site sponsors and partners: Ville de Gatineau, City of Ottawa, National Capital Commission, Government of Yukon, Veterans Affairs Canada, Parks Canada, Royal Norwegian Embassy, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Embassy of Mexico in Canada, National Defence and the Canadian Forces, Canadian Museum of Nature, Société de transport de l’Outaouais, OC Transpo, OLG – Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, Enbridge Gas Distribution, Giant Tiger, and many others, including support of the Region’s hospitality industry. Special thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who contribute their time, talent, and energy during the Capital’s winter celebration.
Follow Winterlude on Twitter @Winterlude (#Winterlude) and Facebook.
There is so much to see and do during Winterlude in the nation’s capital, but I think Rick Mercer gives an insiders view!
See you there!
Sherrie-Mae 🙂
My friends at GoFer Productions are looking for some youthful actors to cast in very cool adventure detective web series. They are looking for children ages 8, 10 and 12 to cast in the four roles that need to be filled.
Here is a little about the characters:
Miles Maggins: At 12 years old, Miles is the oldest of the Maggins siblings. He’s the most daring of the trio, however he always keeps a protective eye on Max and Maddie. He idolizes James Bond and always finds the most exciting and creative gadgets to help solve cases.
Max Maggins: Obsessed with science, Max attempts to concoct new experiments daily. Although they tend to blow up in his face, literally. The 10 year old stays on point and never gives up, much like his hero, Albert Einstein. He’s always the first to crack a joke, or state his opinion, and his goofy demeanor frequently gets the trio into and out of sticky situations.
Maddie Maggins: Maddie’s passion for mysteries ignites the screen as she helps her brothers stay focused. Only being 8 years old proves difficult when trying to be taken seriously. however Maddie is the bravest and most adventurous of the bunch. She is always looking for a journey. just like her hero, Amelia Earhart.
Johnny Krumbert: Johnny wants nothing more than to be included with the Maggins trio. The only problem is that he’s scared of everything! He attempts to bring them mysteries, however most of them have been solved or don’t need solving. Always wanting to help in some way, Johnny will show up on a “crime scene,” invited or not.
My three are not actors, but they could all lawyers when they explain why they cannot clean their rooms. This is an excellent opporunity for budding actors to land a role that will take them viral.
Here is a little more about the selection process:
We are accepting ages 7 to 12, boys or girls, to audition for the role of “Johnny”
MATERIAL IS ON THE PRODUCTIONS WEBSITE
Please use the audition material provided. Your first audition is done through video. All videos must begin with a parent or legal guardien stating their name and giving verbal permission. Two minutes or less per audition. You may audition for more than one character. Start your audition by stating your name and the role you are auditioning for
*Auditions are open NOW until January 24th by 11:59pm EST. Submit your electronic auditions to magginsaudition@goferproductions.com.
If you have any questions please email Nikki at nikki@goferproductions.com.
*Please note, only those chosen will be contacted for the second round of
auditions. Good Luck and have a blast!
Please visit website for audition material http://www.goferproductions.com/ – !casting/c1wak
This type of show makes me wish my kids were into acting. Let me know if you audition and, of course, when you land the role!
The Canadian Museum of Nature is launching an new video and speaker series called Nature Talk, beginning tonight, January 15, 2013. This series is running one evening each month, from January 2013 until April 2013. What appeals to me most about this style of speaker series, is the adaptability the video segments will have in the classroom. Listening to the TED Talk style videos with experts, noted journalists, and the candid discussions that follow will give students a different view of the subject matter. The notion of what if comes in to play, which gives both the participants and observers an entry point for an outside the box discussion. Once the videos are posted online at Nature.ca people vote on the scenarios proposed or give input about questions from each session. Each video segment will be posted one week after the actual taping takes place. If you are a member of the museum you have first priority in gaining admission to each 40 seat session. Tonight’s session, focused on “de-extinction” is sold out. There are two more English sessions hosted by Globe and Mail science correspondent Ivan Semeniuk. While, Journalist and TFO host Fabieene L’Abbe will host the French session on February 19th.
Below is a session topic list for the upcoming sessions:
Wednesday, January 15 (English presentation): De-Extinction: Rethinking Forever – Ivan Semeniuk speaks with palaeontologist and research scientist Dr. Jordan Mallon. (session full).
Wednesday, February 19 (French presentation): Species Hybridization: Re-Thinking Extinction – Fabienne l’Abbe speaks with biologist and curator Dr. Kamal Khidas.
Wednesday, March 18 (English presentation): Plant Intelligence: Re-Thinking Thinking – Ivan Semeniuk speaks with botanist and research assistant Paul Sokoloff.
Wednesday, April 16 (English presentation): Parasites: Re-Thinking Healthy – Ivan Semeniuk speaks with biologist and collections manager Judith Price.
This type of event inspires the participant to re- think, fundamental scientific theories such as extinction and question the notion of what if. This is a more cerebral event, somewhere my inner paleontologist can come out to play and think beyond the written word.
Thank you to Dan and Laura for the opportunity to let my inner geek out to play.
There are three sessions left and limited availability for seating, check out the link for more information.
The Canadian Museum of Nature is opening a new exhibit, on January 11th, 2014, that gives musuem patrons an oppotunity to see fish through a different lens. The exhibit is called “Beneath the Surface: X-rays of Arctic Fish” hosted a media opening this week, where I had the opportunity to see the x-rays of The Boa Dragonfish (Stomias boa), Greenland Halibut (Reinhardtius Hippoglossides) and Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus).
Boa Dragonfish
If you look closely at the Boa Dragonfish you can see the the entire body of it’s last meal.
These fish are “schooling”, this is a good way for the herring to avoid predators.
This large Greenland Halibut is hunting for it’s next meal.
The exhibit is part of the paid admission to Canadian Museum of Nature. The exhibit is located in the Stone Wall Gallery located on the basement level of the museum. There are 16 images in the small exhibit, but what struck me most is the artistry of which the pieces are displayed. The haunting images show finite details and the hidden world of the Arctic creatures.
This is not an exhibit that will enthral the younger audience, not to say the exhibit isn’t breathtaking but might not keep the attention of a toddler. I peg this exhibit for the older child or student of ichthyologists.
Meg Becket, the museum’s president and CEO explained:
“This is the most recent show in our Stone Wall Gallery to showcase the diversity of Canada’s flora and fauna in creative and artistic ways. It draws from our expertise in Arctic research and offers visitors a rare visual treat that is hard to find elsewhere”
According to the Canadian Museum of Nature:
“Fish are the oldest and most divers group of vertebrates. They inhabit every aquatic environment on the planet and have more bones than other vertebrates. Some fish, for example have about 150 bones in their skill, much more than the 28 bones that make up a human skull”
The exhibit is open from January 11th, 2014 to January 4th 2015.
Coffee is my forte, good coffee that is. I have had a decade long love affair with @StarbucksCanada. Over a Starbucks Skinny Vanilla Latte, I have laughed, cried, shared pregnancy stories and grown closer with my girlfriends. You could say, I am loyal customer.
I also believe in the power of good karma and random acts of kindness. That is why I am happy to announce that Starbucks has an easier than ever way to send someone you love a coffee. I cannot tell you how many times on Twitter I have sent a virtual coffee or caffeine to a bleary eyed #earlyriser. My #EarlyRiser tweeps and I have at length conversations about the beauty of the coffee we are consuming. Now I can actually send them my favourite Starbucks coffee via Twitter.
Vice-President of Starbucks Canada Richard Burjaw, explains the program:
“Starbucks is a gathering place that creates moments of connection between people every day. Tweet-a-coffee is a brand new way for our customers to connect with friends and followers and share the gift of Starbucks instantly. Whether it’s to say #thank you, #congratulations or simply #justbecause we’re thrilled to enable the ability for customers to spread some kindness.”
Who will your first Tweet-a-Coffee tweet go to? Your BFF on the other side of the country, your favourite Olympic hockey player in Sochi, when she/he scores her/his first goal of the games, or the weather man when he tells you the Polar Vortex is officially over. Whomever it is, you will make their day. Thanks to the partnership between @TwitterCanada and @StarbucksCanada my gift giving experience has just become easier & a little more personal for me. Combining my love of Starbucks and my Twitter addiction into a tool for goodwill…oh yes, life is good my friends, life is good.
The fabulous head of Twitter Canada, Kirstine Stewart, explains:
“Canadians are among the world’s most active Internet users and with millions of Canadians engaging on Twitter, Tweet-a-Coffee represents an incredible opportunity for Canadians to engage, share and gift in new, simple way.”
Just a few clicks and your Tweet-a-Coffee is on its way to make someone’s day:
Beginning today, registered Starbucks account customers across Canada can now send a $5.00 Starbucks Card eGift through Twitter by following a few simple steps:
- Visit www.starbucks.ca/tweetacoffee to get started and to link your Starbucks account and your Twitter account
- Follow the instructions to send a Tweet to @tweetacoffee and to the gift recipient’s Twitter handle
- The recipient will receive a link on Twitter with details on how to claim their $5 eGift.
- You can send more eGifts directly on Twitter by sending a Tweet using @tweetacoffee
Customers can redeem the $5 Starbucks Card eGift at participating Starbucks stores in Canada either by printing out the eGift, showing it directly on their mobile device, or by loading it to their Starbucks mobile app. Customers in Canada can also send eGifts via email online at www.starbucks.ca/card.
This is just the program I have been waiting for. I cannot tell you how many times I have checked Facebook or Twitter and found out it was someone’s birthday. I usually call my Sister or Mother and ask them to send flowers, but now I can just tweet a happy birthday message & a coffee from my favourite coffee-house.
This YouTube video was released explaining how to Tweet a Coffee, basically “a new way to say, you are awesome”.
Who will you send your first Tweet-a-Coffee to?
PR Mom Ottawa 
