Gift Ideas for that person who....

Here is a list of 6 gift ideas you might want to add to your Christmas or if you are contemplating what to get that special someone this holiday season. I hope this helps you with no particular bias. These are all items I personally own and have recently received for my own personal use.  All cost are denoted & averaged.

Facial Fuel $40.00Cdn plus taxes. Photo: kiehls.com

Kiehl's Facial Fuel

For the person who likes to look proper... Kiehl's Facial Fuel is amazing. And their return policy is a bonus! If their stuff doesn't work you can return and get a refund. This isn't the same stuff you buy at Shopper's Drug Mart. I like different care products at Shoppers but some are just basic moisturizers without the extras... some of Kiehl's products are serum based which basically means more intensity for skincare. I love using the Facial Fuel line. This is great for the guy or gal that needs to take their self-care to the next level. 

www.kiehls.com

Cost: $50US plus taxes (including shipping from US & customs for additional cost) Photo: amazon.com

Amazon Echo Dot

For that lazy person... Amazon Echo Dot is a small compact device. It's hands-free, voice controlled device that uses your bluetooth. Use the Amazon Echo Dot like you would use Siri on an iphone. Ask Alexa, "What is the weather like today?" or Alexa, "Where is the closest Best Buy location?" .... Alexa What is the score in today's Toronto Raptors game?" This is a great nifty gift. One caveat is that it's only available in the USA for now.  If you still want to get one, head to the US or order it online at a place like B&H Camera in NYC.

www.amazon.com

Cost: $19.99Cdn plus taxes. Photo: Belkin.com

Belkin Surge Protector

For that person that likes to travel.... Belkin Surge Protector is another small device. It's got 3 AC outlets and 2 USB slots. It also has a 360 degree rotating plug. This is perfect to position your plug properly when in hotel rooms. This is a great gift for that business or heavily mobile user who has a laptop, ipad and mobile device on the go... the perfect travel companion for power.

belkin.com

FitBit- Various styles range $99.99- $199.99Cdn. plus taxes

FitBit Activity Tracker

For that active person... Fitbit is a great for that active person who's always on the move. It tracks your activities from heart rate, breathing, steps and how much you sleep & much more. Even if you're not an active person this definitely motivates you to become active & that in itself is worth it. It will change your life quite literally because of the gamification and ease of use. The component of the mobile app and online groups makes you feel like you signed onto something more than just a fitness tracker, you've gained a motivated group of friends & family & great online support group!

fitbit.com

Remedy Bar: $60.00Cdn. plus taxes

Saje Wellness

For that mindful person... Saje Welllness is essential oils and natural products that are just great for the mind & wellness of you. They come in many different aromas but i like the "Remedy Bar" set. It emcompasses everything with mind, appetite and stress. You basically roll on your temple, forehead or neck and feel it work wonders by the scent. They also sell the oils to be used in a diffuser so it's perfect gift for the home or condo.

Saje.com

This can range from $50.00 & up depending on the race you sign up for.

Race Entry Fee

For the person that needs some motivation... Experience over gifts are always a great choice. I recommend pre-registering someone for a 5K race (Sporting Life 10K) or walk or giftcard to the popular Ninja Canada obstacle courses or Pursuit OCR. Trust me, if you know the person well, they will love you for the motivation and challenges your friend to achieve a goal. Who doesn't like friends who are motivating right?

sportinglife10k.ca


Overall, these are no-frills gifts that hopefully will help you with your gift shopping this holiday. Good luck and let me know what you think..... I'm always looking for feedback or tips on great gift ideas!

Hacking For Good with Capital One Canada.

Photos by: Ryan Emberley

Think It. Code It. Gift It!

On October 21-23rd for a whole weekend, 140 developers, designers & UI/UX took part in the inaugural Capital One Canada "Gift The Code" hackathon. There were over 24 teams who coded over 40 hours with not much sleep to create open source apps, create new websites and designs to help six local charities in Toronto. These 6 local charities do not have the manpower nor the technology to solve and create solutions to help with challenges with their respected organizations.

40 straight hours of coding with not much sleep.

Bringing over 140 participants to volunteer their time & expertise to help these charities was amazing to watch as it unfolded. I could sense a buzz of excitement from the teams as they showcased their solutions. It was even more apparent when the charitable representatives get to see actual real-life solutions presented. It was actually quite emotional for some to see solutions come to fruition. Humanity at it's best.

Details UI/UX comping and layouts for digital. (Photo: Ryan Emberley)

It was nice to see collaborative groups of participants work together in their respective teams to reach a common goal. It's a great experience to learn more about yourself and working with teams and in some cases strangers. 

Participants enjoy a food break. (Photo: Ryan Emberley)

The best part about all of the solutions created for the charities is that they are open-sourced which means organizations and other charitable causes can utilize the code to help benefit their own respective charities. Here is the list of open sourced code Github 

Every participant received a cool hoodie from Capital One Canada. (Photo: Ryan Emberley)

Lounge area at Brainstation. (Photo: Ryan Emberley)

Charities supported at this Capital One Canada hackathon: Blake Boultbee, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Prosper Canada, Second Harvest, Toronto Pflag and Women's Habitat

The feedback from one of the charitable organizers helps explain the weekend success!

"Participating in Gift the Code had just been incredible on so many levels. In 40 short hours, we have gone from an organization without much of a digital presence to one who can now, with enthusiasm, point potential donors and those in need of our services in the direction of our brand new website. We are blown away." - Rod Cohen, Director & Operator, Blake Boultbee Youth Outreach Services.

Thanks to Brainstation, HackWorks Inc and Capital One Canada for a great weekend to help our local charities & communities. I hope Gift The Code comes back next year!

This post was sponsored by Capital One Canada, as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.

Get Inspired, Get Connected!

Get Inspired. Get Connected. George Brown College has launched a series of 4 events featuring George Brown alumni detailing their career journey & lessons learned. This will be the 2nd event in a series of 4 which will be featuring Jennifer Cohen. Jennifer is a George Brown Alumna, celebrity trainer and fitness entrepreneur. She has had televised appearances as seen on NBC's Today Show, Good Morning America, Dr. Oz, and Extra! Jennifer is also a contributor to forbes.com & health.com.

Manulife Financial is a proud partner of #GBConnect

If you are a George Brown graduate or just looking to build your personal brand, or make a career out of what you love to do, this event will surely invigorate & inspire you to reach your career or personal goals.  It's going to be a great evening to learn from Jennifer Cohen & also great to establish a network with fellow George Brown Alumni. In today's changing workplace & careers this is an important event to stay current & updated.

Event Details:

Get Inspired! Get Connected! #GBconnect

When: Thursday November 3, 6pm-9:30pm

Who: Jennifer Cohen - Celebrity Trainer & George Brown Alumna

What: Fireside Chat & networking before & after event.

Where: One King West

Cost: $15 - This event is open to anyone. Buy Tickets


Thanks to George Brown Alumni Relations & Manulife Financial I will give away a Fitbit Charge Fitness Tracker(Value: $169.99) to one lucky person! It's free to enter. Prize has been provided by Manulife Financial. Just tweet the following to share the #GBConnect event.

Tweet (Copy & Paste) : Love fitness? Come to #GBConnect Nov 3rd. Hear @therealjencohen talk about her career. http://bit.ly/2dOUxqU

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Disclosure: This post is in partnership with George Brown Alumni & Manulife Financial. All opinions expressed are my own.

Get moving with Fitbit Charge 2 & Flex 2

Fitbit is an activity tracker that is designed to help you track your physical activity, record your eating habits, track your sleep; igniting that need to become a healthier person. I have been a Fitbit enthusiast with the original Fitbit Charge since December 2015. I originally received it as a gift from my family for Christmas and it has definitely pushed my fitness or lack of to a different level. I'm am proud to say that Fitbit has definitely changed my outlook on health & enabled me to live a more active lifestyle & I'm a big fan of it! If you're new to Fitbit, they have recently released two NEW Fitbit trackers - Fitbit Charge 2 & Fitbit Flex 2.

New Fitbit Charge 2 & Fitbit Flex 2.

The NEW Fitbit Charge 2 & Fitbit Flex 2 offers additional options to optimize one's performance. I recently had the opportunity to see these products firsthand and love the new added functionality & features.

Swim-Proof Fitbit Flex 2 - Track your swimming.

Fitbit Flex 2 new features include:

Minimalistic design

Swim proof wristband

Removable tracker that fits in bands, bangles and pendants.

Learn more about:  Fitbit Flex 2

NEW Fitbit Charge 2

Fitbit Charge 2 new features include:

Heart Rate

Workout mode features

Guided Breathing Sessions.

Learn more about:  Fitbit Charge 2


The main edge that Fitbit has compared to other wearable trackers  is the option of different goal challenges. You can connect with your friends & family through the Fitbit app and have different step challenges. You can create week long, weekend long or just a one day step challenge with your friends and family. It inspires competition and a great way to encourage and get the family active, alongside. There will be days were you just feel lazy to do anything but when you see the challenges or the leaderboard, it motivates you to get active and get in those steps whether it be taking the stairs or parking the car a little further. My family and friends are competitive so it's always fun! Even if you're not into the challenges it's fun to hit your daily step goal and mind changing when you see the lack of steps taken in one's 'busy' day. 

It's a great reminder to take a break once in awhile and get moving! If you ask any current Fitbit user about the 'fireworks' display and buzzing you get when you reach your goals, they'll tell you it's quite an awesome feeling. An accomplishment if you may. You will also earn badges that are great reminders of goals or successes you have achieved using the fitbit.

Achievement Badges from Fitbit.

It's a great motivator to get you up and about. For example, I will purposely park my car farther away from a shopping mall entrance just to get extra step counts for my daily step totals... The online community on fitbit.com is also another amazing resource to help fuel your active lifestyle which include many resources and tips. I highly recommend purchasing one of the Fitbit trackers to get you moving in the right direction. Your mind, body, and soul will thank me later! Stay tune for my next blog post of the Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale. I'm excited to give you feedback soon!

Disclosure: This post is in partnership with Fitbit. All opinions expressed are my own.

Think It. Code It. Gift It.

Are you a coder, designer or someone that loves to solve problems and find solutions?

Capital One Canada is kicking of a Hackathon on Friday, October 21, 2016 until Sunday, October 23rd, 2016. Join fellow coders, developers & designers as they problem solve & create solutions for six Toronto-based charities. This is a great opportunity to make a difference in a fun way! Participants will be put into teams of four to six people(or can sign up as a team) & challenged to create a technology solution for one of the charities involved. So come on out & make a difference.

It's going to be hosted by Marc Saltzman at Brainstation in downtown Toronto. This is going to be a great opportunity to meet the developer community & partners of the hackathon. Charities being supported are Blake Boultbee, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Prosper Canada, Second Harvest, Toronto Pflag and Women's Habitat.

Here is all the info you need to know for the Gift The Code Hackathon

WHEN: October 21st - October 23rd

WHERE: Brainstation, 460 King St. West (at Spadina), Toronto ON

WHY: Support accessibility for technology & innovation for the six charities!

WHAT: Hackathon - developers, designers & anyone with ideas come together to solve a problem through technology.

WHO: Capital One Canada with support from Hackworks & Brainstation.

So come out & support a great & unique hackathon experience while helping 6 charities make a difference & make an impact in your community! See you there.

Think It! Code It! Gift It!

For more information on the hackathon, or to sign up, visit http://giftthecode.ca

This post was sponsored by Capital One Canada, as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Ontario Oyster Festival 2016

Do you love oysters? This coming Sunday July 17th, Rodney's Oyster House & Ecology Action Centre present the 29th year of the Ontario Oyster Festival. It's going to be a big party in the heart of Toronto. Live music, beer and variety of food options, with the main star being oysters! It's going to be fun in the sun! Here's a glimpse of last year's shucking competition. Don't miss out this year.

Oyster Festival 2015

There will be more than just oysters at this event. You can feast on mussels, burgers, porchetta sandwiches, shrimp rolls and much more! Additional tickets for food and drinks will be $5 each.

Oysters in the half shell.

Get your tickets today to avoid disappointment. To purchase tickets: Oyster Festival

Ticket purchase gets you: 2 drink tickets, 1 food ticket(excluding lobster)

The Ontario Oyster Festival will be held at 469 King Street West - Rodney's Oyster House. Doors open at 1pm (Event ends at 10pm) Come out for a great time!


Disclosure: I receive complimentary passes for this post and all opinions are my own.

Exciting times at the 2016 Queen's Plate

Track side at Woodbine Racetrack

The 2016 Queen's Plate was a summer event to remember. If you didn't attend this year, you'll want to make sure you mark the calendar for 2017. The Queen's Plate is held every summer at Woodbine Racetrack. This is my second time attending the Queen's Plate & 2016 was bigger than the previous. Over 40,000 guests attended with record wager totals.



Upon arrival to Woodbine Racetrack there is already a buzz of anticipation, everyone dressed in fancy dresses and suits added a touch of grandeur to the event. The majority of the women looked like royalty with their array of unique looking hats & fascinators. It's a great day for people watching. Here's a link to the great looks that evening provided by Toronto Life.

Racehorse in paddock area. 

I even had the chance to get close and personal with the horses and jockeys in the "walk about" paddock area. Great spot to soak in the excitement and if you're a handicapper a great way to get a read on your horses to give you any wagering advantage. Did you know that horses sweat? That will be a blog topic for another time but I'll digress for now.




If there is one thing to do at the racetrack on any given day, it's to make a bet on a horse and watch your horse race by track side level. The exhilaration and crowds cheering make up the excitement and fun, and overall atmosphere! Now imagine doing this with a few wobbly pops and friends or family and you're in for a really good time.

Hedley Concert at Woodbine Racetrack.

If it's your first time to a racetrack the Queen's Plate is filled with food trucks, drink stations and various party zones for you to enjoy. It's more than just the horse races. It's a full day of entertainment to take advantage of while there. The 2016 Queen's Plate featured Canadian headliner Hedley, Matthew Good and The Strumbellas.



Make sure to make it out to the Queen's Plate next year or just head down a given night to Woodbine Racetrack for some good times! You'll be delighted that you tried out something new and gained a whole new respect for horse racing.


Disclaimer: This post was created in partnership with Woodbine Racetrack and all opinions are my own.

The Pepsi North American Cup gets bigger every year!

Mohawk Racetrack

I recently attended the Pepsi North American Cup at Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville, Ontario. The Pepsi North American Cup is one of the biggest draws for harness racing fans. The Pepsi North American Cup is in it's 33rd year & it's my 2nd year enjoying this event. 

Have you ever been to a racetrack before? If you've never been, you'll be in for a surprise.

On this annual Pepsi North American Cup there is so much entertainment to enjoy. From the live music entertainment to the selection of food and drink; there is so much fun to be had! If it's your first time, it's great to know that they have ambassadors and staff to help you with your first complimentary bet!

Ambassadors will help you make your first complimentary bet.

This year I made it a point to get the BBQ ribs again. The BBQ ribs are so juicy and mouthwatering. You really need to get messy to enjoy these ribs.

Ribs platter to share with the group.

There were several food trucks on site for this event. I really enjoyed the Mac N Cheese with bacon. The weather was great, the food was amazing and it was generally a nice night out that was refreshing from the usual hustle and bustle of the city. It was an opportunity to relax, make a few wagers and enjoy the company in a relaxed atmosphere.

Mac N Cheese from the Food Trucks at Mohawk Racetrack.

If you're new to horse racing or just looking to have a great experience you need to visit a racetrack. If you're in the Ontario area, check out Mohawk Racetrack and Woodbine Racetrack. If you missed the Pepsi North American Cup don't worry because this weekend on July 3rd is the Queen's Plate. This is the biggest horse racing event of the year! If the description here for the NA Cup got your attention, you can only imagine how much bigger the Queen's Plate will be.

Official Queen's Plate Poster.

The Queen's Plate is full of entertainment with musical guests such as Hedley and The Strombellas. There will also be a Hats & Horseshoes Party that should bring the most fashionable looking group of people out to the track. Here's an opportunity to experience all the excitement this coming weekend. Don't miss out on all the fun!

Purchase Tickets for Queen's Plate: Queen's Plate Tickets

Disclaimer: This post was created in partnership with Woodbine Racetrack and all opinions are my own.

Fun Times at Woodbine Racetrack!

Handicapping Seminar at Woodbine Racetrack.

I've recently taken interest in horse racing in the last couple of years, and I would like to share everything I have learned so far. This past week I had the opportunity to attend a Handicapping Seminar at Woodbine Racetrack. For those of you that are new to horse racing, "Handicapping is defined as the practice of assigning advantage through scoring compensation or other advantage given to different contestants to equalize the chances of winning."



I have little experience in handicapping but listening to experts Ron Gierkink & Alex Campbell talk about different terms used in handicapping; it went over my head! It was quite overwhelming yet interesting at the same time to see & listen to the many variables for an outcome of a horse race. There is so much to factor if a horse will finish well in a race. Some contributing factors include things like if a horse is well rested between races, the conditions of track, if a horse sweats, who the jockey is and their trainers, the pedigree of the horse... so many more other factors not mentioned.  It's quite the task to factor all this when making a wager.

With the lack of handicapping experience, I can only hope over time that I will begin to understand the many aspects and become familiar enough to wager confidently. In the meantime, I really enjoy the simplicity of wagering & the experience at the track overall. I find myself leaning on betting on the most interesting name on the racing program or by picking by choosing colours. There's no science behind my wagers thus far but that's all a part of the fun! In a future blog post I'll explain some basic wagers and tips! There is also an exhilarating feeling for just cheering for your horse at the finish line! You have to experience it in person.



So if you are new to horse racing, I encourage you to experience something new! Jump out of your comfort zone and try something different. Bring your friends for an afternoon or evening of entertainment at Woodbine Racetrack. The wagering is minimal with wagers starting as low as 20 cents to $1. So you can really get a bang for you buck! This is a great way to experience a Girls or Guys Night. I'm already making plans to hang with my friends and family this year at North American Cup & Queen's Plate.

Perfect for a Girls/Guys Night Out!

Disclaimer: This post was created in partnership with Woodbine Racetrack and all opinions are my own.

Let's Get Crackin!

Who doesn't like eggs? Eggs are on my list of favourite food items to enjoy. Some of the best ways that I enjoy eggs are as follows and in no particular order, steak & eggs, plain hard boiled with a little sprinkling of salt, palabok which is a filipino noodle dish with slices of hard boil egg. Eggs are like a staple in most recipes and it's simple to use and cook with.

To share the love of eggs and support local business, Egg Farmers of Ontario & Egg Man Food Truck are running a contest until the end of this month. Diners who order the Crispy Breakfast Quesadilla & "selfie" their experience will be in the running for a weekly gift basket worth $150.00.

To find out where Egg Man Food Truck will be located & selling the Crispy Breakfast Quesadillas around Toronto just follow their twitter stream for details: @Eggmancanada

Now if you don't have a chance to make it to @eggmancanada food truck, you can always make the
recipe at home, just make sure to support your local Ontario farmers & use local eggs! So get cracking and clicking or whatever floats your boat. Good Luck everyone! Winners will be announced each Monday on Twitter.

Here is the recipe of the Crispy Breakfast Quesadillas You can print out the recipe from this link or follow along online. Total preparation from start to finish is about half an hour. Below is the list of ingredients needed. For more recipes with eggs, check out getcracking.ca Enjoy!

Disclaimer: This post was created in partnership with Egg Farmers of Ontario and I received compensation for this post.

WIN tickets to Spring Sessions this weekend

Thanks to the Toronto Beer Festival they have given me a pair of tickets to giveaway for the Spring Sessions being held this coming Sunday, May 22nd (Event runs all weekend May 21-22nd) at Sherbourne Common outdoor space. To purchase tickets to the Spring Sessions: Tickets

There will be great food and lots of beer at this event. This is the 3rd year of this event and it gains popularity every year! It's been sold out every year. So come out to this downtown location and have a great time this May 24 weekend. Celebrate the cottage life in the city.

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Disclosure: I have been given tickets for promoting this event in exchange.

Niagara Food & Wine Expo Giveaway

The Niagara Food & Wine Expo is a premier international tastng event featuring wines, beers and spirits from around the globe and stunning regional wines direct from neighbouring vineyards. These delectable samples will be served alongside fresh, local cuisine prepared by top area restaurants.

I recently visited the Niagara Food & Wine Expo website since I have never attended this event before. I'm hoping to visit and enjoy what the Niagara region has to offer. It's nice to get out of the city to explore different sights and taste. Thanks to the Niagara Food & Wine Expo Organizers, they have offered me a couple of pairs of tickets to give out to my audience. If you're interested in winning tickets please enter below. Good Luck!

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Disclosure: I received complimentary tickets for this post.

WIN tickets to Snoop Dog & 2Chainz Celebrity Charity Basketball Game

It's NBA All Star Week in Toronto & Snoop Dog & 2Chainz are hosting a charity basketball game this coming Saturday, February 13th from 2pm-6pm. This basketball game is in partnership with Youth Motivational Speaker Peter Tolias & ICanWeCan.ca

Peter will speak & engage with all in attendance & specifically to the youth about setting goals, creating opportunities and the value of giving back. There will be special celebrity appearances throughout the event. Thanks to the organizers, I'm going to be giving away a pair of tickets to this event. Good luck to everyone! To purchase tickets go to Ticketmaster

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