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Roxymandy October 23, 2015

What the Heck is Pilates Reformer and Why Should You Try It?

What the heck is Pilates Reformer? I myself had absolutely no idea until I signed up for a class at my gym and gave it a try. The equipment always scared me, and I really had no idea what the class would involve, or if I could survive it! The equipment absolutely looks intimidating, but once I tried a class out I not only loved it, but I didn’t think the equipment was all that scary any more. It was actually pretty fun!

Pilates Reformer is much more dynamic then mat based Pilates because of the use of the Pilates Reformer machine. The machine adds resistance with use of the springs on the machine. Mat based Pilates also mostly focuses on core strength, while Pilates Reformer works the entire body with a repertoire of exercises that are more varied.

In my first class I started with the Pilates Cadillac machine. This machine definitely required two people to operate! So many working pieces helped me stretch and warm up. At one point I felt like I was hanging on a trapeze. It was fun apparatus to warm up with!

From there I moved to the metal Pilates Reformer machine. Both the metal one and wood one had a tower attached so additional exercises could be done. On the metal reformer machine we did some really fun exercises where I would lay down and push myself off! The resistance made it difficult, but it was a really fun exercise.

The wood Pilates Reformer machine was very similar, but the exercises seemed more intense. Weights were added for resistance, and balancing was difficult and required lots of concentration. Switching from machine to machine really mixed things up and kept my adrenalin pumping.

I found that the Pilates Reformer class made me focus on my control and form in my exercises. With the machine you just can’t cheat. The technique has to be right on because the machine forces you to follow the rules of the exercise.

In a Pilates Reformer class the instructor assists those in the class with making the adjustments on your machine. The machines may look scary at first, but then after a few exercises it’s easy to become familiar with how it works.

Overall I loved the Pilates Reformer class. My first session was one-on-one so it was an intense hour workout. I was very sore the next day because I used muscles I didn’t even know I had. I highly recommend giving it a try!

Roxymandy October 14, 2015

Sago Mini Babies Review

If you read the blog on the regular (which I hope you do!), then you know about my love and my toddler’s love for Sago Mini apps.

We have all of them on our iPad and iPhone since our son loves to play any and all of these games. The latest to launch is Sago Mini Babies, and we were lucky enough to give this app a test run just before it launched on October 8th!

All of the regular characters returned for the latest Sago Mini app including Robin, Jinja, Harvey and Jack. My son’s favourite character is Harvey, and he was excited to play with the app once I told him he needed to be the like a Mommy or Daddy and take care of Harvey the baby.

The app has eight different activities or tasks you must do with your baby – feed them, give them a bottle, play dress-up, change their diaper, dance, play with blocks, have bath time, or play in the backyard on a swing. If the baby gets tired at all there is a nap station with the super cute Yeti to watch over them.

Like the other Sago Mini apps, a star appears at each station and once the child taps on it, they can move forward with the activity. It’s easy to see the star appear, and they instinctively want to click on it.

My son noticed when the baby characters were happy and he wanted to keep them that way! Once the baby started to giggle he immediately knew that he wanted to keep the baby smiling and laughing. Once the baby was unimpressed with an outfit my son dressed them in or with a food they tried, you could see the baby nod their head no, or they would make a bored face.

Overall this is hands-down my son’s favourite app. At the ripe old age of 3 he just loved taking care of these Sago Mini Babies, and pretty much all I’ve heard (even now while I am writing this post) is “Mom, can I please play Sago Mini Babies?”.

When Jinja arrived in the mail he was so excited, but the first thing that popped out of his mouth was “why isn’t he wearing a diaper?”. He truly loved the concept of this game, and the idea of caring for all of the Sago Mini characters. I loved seeing how he would react to the characters feelings and try to change their mood.

For more information on the Sago Mini Babies app, click here. The app is available in the iTunes store, along with all of the other Sago Mini apps.

Roxymandy October 8, 2015

How I Made It Through The 21 Day Credit-Free Challenge!

Well, I made it! I am at the end of the Interac^® 21 Day Credit-Free Challenge. The challenge was to put my credit cards away and only use my Interac Debit card. For 21 days I didn’t touch my credit cards, and you know what? It actually wasn’t that hard!

My Interac Debit card was accepted everywhere I shopped! Even when I was away on my trip to Prince Edward County, I could use it at every restaurant and antique shop I visited.

When I was shopping over the 21 days, I made sure to keep my debit card in my wallet and only spent the money in my bank account by using my Interac Debit card.

It felt so good to make it to the end of the challenge. I really didn’t need my credit card at all. Interac Debit was accepted everywhere, and it felt good to not accumulate debt while shopping, on trips, and during my every day spending. I could easily keep track of everything I spent.

I had some bad habits to break, like just throwing my credit card down while on vacation and worrying about the bills later. I felt relief at the end of my trip knowing there was no credit card bill coming to haunt me later – I knew what I spent with my Interac Debit card, and I tracked my budget accordingly.

Another bad shopping habit – when I didn’t have enough money in my account for something, I would use my credit card. By not using my credit card, I only purchased the things I could afford. This made my wallet happy, and my husband happy! I made myself accountable for everything I purchased, instead of buying now and paying later.

Hopefully my success in the challenge will encourage you to challenge yourself and stick to using your Interac Debit card instead of credit.

After making it to 21 days credit free, I feel like I’ve broken my credit card habit, and I can move forward sticking to using my Interac Debit card!

To learn more about the Interac 21 Day Credit-Free Challenge visit http://www.21dayscreditfree.ca to watch 21 helpful videos that will help you succeed at the challenge, and provide you with tips and encouragement to make the challenge successful.

Disclosure: This post was part of a sponsored collaboration between Interac Association and SheKnows

Interac is a registered trade-mark of Interac Inc. Used under licence.

Roxymandy October 1, 2015

Update on My Interac 21 Day Credit-Free Challenge!

I previously told you all about the Interac 21 Day Credit-Free Challenge, and how I was taking the challenge myself to put the credit cards away and only use my InteracDebit card.

Apparently it only takes 21 days to change a habit, and I have been putting that statement to the test!

It’s felt really good to get this far in the challenge and only use my InteracDebit card. Why does it feel so good? I am only using the money I have to spend – there is no credit card bill that will haunt me in 30 days to remind me of my past purchases.

I really put myself to the test recently during the challenge I went on a small trip to Prince Edward County with my family. There was shopping, food and just general touristy activities that went outside of my daily spending routine. My habits while on vacation usually include swiping my credit card for this or that along the way because I just tend to spend more when I’m on a trip then I would in my daily life. It’s like I am taking a vacation from being responsible and buying whatever I feel like in the moment because I am “on vacation” I seem to tell myself.

For me, restaurants are often the spot I need to remember debit is the best way to go! Everywhere I went it was so easy to pay with debit instead of credit because everywhere I went had wireless debit machines that went straight to our table. Usually I think it’s so easy to swipe a credit card, but in this case it was just as easy (and better for my wallet) to use my InteracDebit card!

For this trip I was determined to make sure I stayed within the challenge and only use my InteracDebit Card. You know what, it actually wasn’t that hard! Even in wine country where there we so many antique shops and rustic restaurants, InteracDebit was accepted everywhere I went! It was so funny to drive up to an antique-filled barn in the middle of nowhere and see them pull out an InteracDebit machine. I was sure there wouldn’t be one in sight, but I was able to use it everywhere we went!

Using my InteracDebit card on the trip forced me to keep within budget, but also insured a guilt-free vacation. I didn’t need to worry about spending more than I had – I spend exactly what I had, and what I planned to spend. It was much easier than I thought it would be, and it felt really good.

For me, the challenge continues! I will update you at the end of the 21 days to let you know if I made it to the end without any slip ups, and about what challenges I faced.

To learn more about the Interac21 Day Credit-Free Challenge visit https://www.21dayscreditfree.ca to watch 21 helpful video’s that will help you succeed at the challenge, and provide you with tips and encouragement to make the challenge successful.

Disclosure: This post was part of a sponsored collaboration between Interac Association and SheKnows

Interac is a registered trade-mark of Interac Inc. Used under licence.

Roxymandy September 19, 2015

What to Expect at This Weekend’s Toronto Food and Wine Festival

This morning I was lucky enough to attend the media preview for the first ever Toronto Food and Wine Festival. I ate so much amazing food at the festival, I think I’m still stuffed!

The Toronto Food and Wine Festival is on until Sunday, September 20th at Evergreen Brick Works, and it pairs two of the things I love the most – food and wine!

Curtis Stone, Tyler Florence, Gail Simmons, Chuck Hughes, Roger Mooking, Mark McEwan, Antonio Park and many more will be taking to the stages for demos, talks and workshops throughout the three-day event.

I was lucky enough to meet Roger Mooking today (he said he loved my sandals!), and Mark McEwan (I totally fan-girled him), and even took in a seminar about knives from chef Kevin Kent of Knifeware. He convinced me I need new knives. ASAP.

The show was jam-packed with all kinds of beverages from wine, cocktails and craft beers. The food selection was out of this world with some of my favourite restaurants offering some of their best dishes, to all kinds of foods from cupcakes to ice cream!

Here are a few of my favourite snaps from the day so you can preview what to expect this weekend.

I was so excited that I couldn’t actually provide a cute smile!

Anet Gesualdi Macarons – I bought large box of these!

Lily Sparkling VQA – their sparkling wine was so good!

Hawthorne Food and Drink – this Richmond Street restaurant was serving up this interesting dish with green beans and pop corn. It was made with their own smoked butter!

Split Tree Cocktail Co – created in Ottawa, they made a mean Dark and Stormy! They will be on Dragons Den in October!

Stop by the Toronto Food and Wine Festival yourself and sample, sip and savour all the flavours from 130 purveyors of premium products, fine foods and beverages from Ontario, Canada and around the world in the Grand Tasting Pavilion – presented by PC Black Label.

I had an awesome time today – if you are hungry, you must go there this weekend!

For more on the Toronto Food and Wine Festival, visit them at www.torontofoodandwine.com, and on social media here:

Facebook: /Toronto FOOD & WINE
Twitter: @TOfoodandwine
Instagram: @tofoodandwine