NetFlix Canada {review}
The selection of documentaries is fantastic. I am a huge documentary fan and I have a list as long as my arm that I’m excited to watch on Netflix. It also has quite a wide and varied collection of TV shows. There are certainly some gems in there. Off-the-wall British comedies and yes, the whole Mad Men series. There are a reasonable amount of family friendly movies and a big collection of kids shows too. Some of the big names are on there as well as the gentle classics such as Thomas the Tank Engine. No commercials! Everything is categorized well and it’s easy and enjoyable to browse.
The ratings system is genius.
Netflix rates movies according to your own personal preferences and develops a sense of what you’ll like. It actually works very well too. Once you’ve rated around 50 films it has a pretty good idea of what you’re into and rates everything accordingly. I actually enjoyed rating the films (a little geeky I know), and watching what Netflix suggested for me next. Much like a good friend it has even surprised me with a few films that I normally wouldn’t have watched.
If you own an iPhone you will probably love the Netflix App. It’s incredibly easy to use, the picture quality is great and you can watch wide screen or full screen. You can also lie in bed eating leftover Valentine’s chocolate while watching a film that no-one else in your home wants to see (I would never do this).
One of the first things I noticed about Netflix is that it doesn’t have every film. If you’re a person who likes to see every blockbuster when it’s released, you’re probably not going to be satisfied with Netflix as your only movie source. If like me, you have a little one at home and haven’t been to the movies in ages, this isn’t going to be too much of an issue. I can browse through Netflix and always find something I’d like to see but if I start searching for films that I’ve heard of then I often come up empty handed.
Another downside is the lag. At peak times, for example 9 pm, my movie can sometimes stop and restart as it “catches up” . Our internet connection is not perfect but I carried out some research online and this seems to be an issue for others too. If I was paying out huge money for the service I would be upset. Whether this is a big problem or not also depends on your tolerance for these things. It doesn’t bother me too much.
I like Netflix a lot. It’s not perfect but to be honest it’s an absolute bargain for $7.99 a month. I would definitely recommend it. Also Netflix gives you one month free trial so you can make up your own mind and let us know what you think.
We would like to thank Netflix Canada for sending us a free 6 month trial so we could check it out!
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Cute as a Button {review & giveaway}
Miss Button gave the Big Style Headband, Cutie Clip 4cm Elastic and Cutie Clip Barrette a test run and we couldn’t be happier. Each and every product we tried was of an extremely high quality. The hand stitching is divine, the colours are striking and the finishing is perfect.
The Big Style Headband really is “big style”. It is just lovely! Miss Button is 3 and you can see how generous the size is on her. We received several compliments on our first outing with it and I know there will be more. A picture really does not do it justice. We also tested the Cutie Clip 4cm Elastic with the pink and black flower design and it’s perfect! I love the little buttons used as spots on the Ladybug Barrette; such attention to detail. Gina incorporates buttons into a lot of her designs and they’re simply adorable.
Miss Button has the fine, wispy hair that many of you will be familiar with and
Almost all Cute as a Button designs can be ordered as matching headbands, elastics and barrettes. A set would make a beautiful gift or finish off that special outfit. Also, all Cute as a Button designs can be made into a pin. Which is a really neat idea if you’re looking for an extra accessory. With the felt, hand stitching and button details, there is definitely something more luxurious about Cute as a Button accessories!
You can check out Cute as a button on Facebook! Save 15% on your order of any headbands, clips, elastics, and hats with code ‘WESTCOAST’ until March 7, 2011.
The Giveaway
Cute as a Button is giving a headband and clip of the winner’s choice to a West Coast Mama reader!
Mandatory Entry
Check out Cute as a Button’s pictures on Facebook and come back and tell us which design you would love to win.
Submit one comment for the mandatory and one for each extra entry you complete.
Extra Entries
- Join the West Coast Mama Google Friend Connect.
- Become a fan of West Coast Mama on Facebook.
- Become a fan of Cute as a Button on Facebook.
- Follow @westcoastmama on Twitter and retweet this giveaway (once per day): Win a headband and clip set from @westcoastmama http://bit.ly/gIbAnh 03/07 (Can/US) #giveaways
- Blog about this giveaway and leave the link.
- Comment on any one of my non-giveaway reviews, let me know which one you commented on.
- Subscribe via email.
- Subsribe via RSS.
- Grab my Button.
Winners will be chosen using Random Number Generator. Winners will have 48 hours to confirm your win by email or a new winner will be chosen.
We would like to thank Cute as a Button for sending us these great hair accessories. We were not compensated for our review.
Griddly Games {review & giveaway}
Now that mr. bean is getting a bit older and I have a bunch of nieces and nephews between 6-19, family board game night at the grandparents is a lot of fun. After every family dinner, we typically pull out a game or two and play away. When we go camping, we play games all day long. When I had the opportunity to try out some new games, designed by a local mom, I was pretty excited. Griddly Games Inc. was founded in 2007 by a mom from Vancouver, BC, Canada. She took it upon herself to fill the void for quality products that inspired laughter and fun, while promoting healthy and active lifestyles.
We received three great Griddly Games to try out: Wise Alec (a family trivia game), Chronicles of the Mind (an ice-breaker game) and Words of the Wise (a brain teaser). During our latest family get together, I pulled out Wise Alec for us to play. Wise Alec is family trivia game designed for ages 8+ and 2-6 players. It was easy to figure out, the rules were not overly complicated and it was so fun to play! Most trivia games aren’t really suited to different ages, but Wise Alec is.
This game has over 1000 questions that cover a wide range of topics in History, Science, Spelling and more. Plus, each card features both easy and hard questions – perfect for any family get together. Both my nephew at 10 and my niece at 18 enjoyed playing this game. Because of the different question options, the little ones didn’t get frustrated and the older kids weren’t bored. And us adults who had been out of school for a while, still had a lot of fun. Overall, I give Wise Alec a huge thumbs up for a great family game. We often give board games as family gifts, and this one will be on my must purchase list.
I saved Chronicles of the Mind for when we had a few friends over one evening. This game is designed for ages 10+ and as it states on the box, it is perfect for parties or an ice-breaker. While we sat around chit chatting and enjoying some wine, we played this game. The premise behind this one is that one person is given a card with a word on it, then that person has to either make up a story or tell the truth incorporating that word. The other players then have to guess if the story is true or false. Needless to say, we had a blast and learned quite a lot about each other that evening! This is a game that can be played absolutely anywhere. There are no small pieces to keep track of, you don’t need a table to play it on. In the car, on a plane, camping, you name it, you can play this there.
For the ultimate brain teaser, Words of the Wise is the game for you. It is similar to Chronicles of the Mind in the sense that you are given a word, but instead of making up a story, you have to answer it by using the alphabet for each answer. For example, you get “girls names”, so going around the table, you would say “Anne”, the next person “Barb”, “Carol” and so on. When one person gets stumped, they are out. With this one, you can keep going as long as you like or set a time limit, it’s completely up to you.
Want to buy one of these games? You can find them at these retailers.
The Giveaway
Griddly Games is giving three West Coast Mama readers one of the games we reviewed!
Mandatory Entry
Check out Griddly Games and come back and tell us which game you would love to win and who you would play it with.
Submit one comment for the mandatory and one for each extra entry you complete.
Extra Entries
- Join the West Coast Mama Google Friend Connect.
- Become a fan of West Coast Mama on Facebook.
- Become a fan of Griddly Games on Facebook.
- Follow @westcoastmama on Twitter and retweet this giveaway (once per day): Win a @griddlygames board game from @westcoastmama http://bit.ly/gKpFxb 03/04 (Can/US) #giveaways
- Blog about this giveaway and leave the link.
- Comment on any one of my non-giveaway reviews, let me know which one you commented on.
- Subscribe via email.
- Subsribe via RSS.
- Grab my Button.
Winners will be chosen using Random Number Generator. Winners will have 48 hours to confirm your win by email or a new winner will be chosen.
We would like to thank Griddly Games for sending us these three games to try out. We were not compensated for our review.
Bella & Charlie Designs {review & giveaway}
Bella and Charlie Designs track down fabric that they love and it really shows. Their flannel blankets are just adorable and as for the cotton blankets? Well the patterns are seriously over the top cute. I could not pick one favourite; I want them all…for Miss Button of course. Miss Button’s favourite was, unsurprisingly,”Cupcakes and Hearts” but I just had to post a picture of the Owls and Apples blanket. I could soft furnish a whole room with this fabric. Gorgeous, and there’s a bib to match!
Bella and Charlie blankets are sized larger than an average baby blanket, fleece backed and with a satin trim, they can provide full coziness to the toes in a stroller and a comfortable swaddle for babies. I love this. I can vividly remember struggling with teeny blankets when Miss Button was a tiny button. A baby with cold toes in a Canadian winter is not something any of us want to deal with.
Bella and Charlie also create handmade 100% cotton and flannel bibs and again much more squee-inducing cuteness and more fabulous patterns. Bibs can be made with either snaps or closures which is a really nice choice to have since I know lots of mamas (and little misters and misses) have a preference. Well I couldn’t let Julie and Mr Bean down by not featuring the “Mr Sock Monkey”. It is perfect though, don’t you think? A little piece of affordable awesome for your life. Yes, there is a matching blanket and it is also wonderful.
Last but certainly not least, take a look at Bella and Charlie’s yummy Newborn Gift Sets. Each set includes two small receiving blankets, two bibs and a burp cloth. Sounds like a perfect gift for your own little one and with names like “Doggies Barking” you would definitely be a baby shower star. Sets are made of cozy flannelette and contemporary fresh patterns.
Bella and Charlie Designs can be delivered right to your door in a super quick turnaround time (only 2 days + shipping for a bib or newborn gift set). Or even delivered as a gift, directly to the recipient (an option I personally love). Bella and Charlie even do custom orders. You can also find out what they are up to on their blog.
The Giveaway
Bella and Charlie Designs is giving a West Coast Mama reader a Newborn Gift Set!
Mandatory Entry
Check out Bella and Charlie and come back and tell us what your favourite item is!
Submit one comment for the mandatory and one for each extra entry you complete.
Extra Entries
- Join the West Coast Mama Google Friend Connect.
- Become a fan of West Coast Mama on Facebook.
- Become a fan of Bella and Charlie on Facebook.
- Follow @westcoastmama on Twitter and retweet this giveaway (once per day): Win a Newborn Gift Set from @bellaandcharlie & @westcoastmama http://bit.ly/feDot5 ends 02/27 (Can/US) #giveaways
- Blog about this giveaway and leave the link.
- Comment on any one of my non-giveaway reviews, let me know which one you commented on.
- Subscribe via email.
- Subsribe via RSS.
- Grab my Button.
Winners will be chosen using Random Number Generator. Winners will have 48 hours to confirm your win by email or a new winner will be chosen.
MumMe Socks {review & giveaway}
As an adult woman I was more excited than I should have been about wearing these to Miss Button’s playgroup. No shoes, no problem! The reaction was pretty much as I expected. Miss Button proudly showed off her socks to much oohing and aahing and then I called attention to my matching feet and well..the place erupted and everyone started talking at once and demanding to know where they could get some. They carried on much like I did when I first opened the box, and playgroup was derailed for 10 minutes.
I love showing them to people. Not in a show-off way but just to see their amazed, jaw-dropping reaction. Mr Button is, shall we say, a very practical dresser so when he first heard about the sneaker socks he wasn’t as excited as me. However, when Miss Button and I stepped out wearing them, he was in awe. I knew he would be. They are undeniably awesome.
They come packaged in a high quality boutique style box. Perfect for gifting. The socks themselves are extremely high quality. They have that nice sock feel and are made from 80% organic cotton. The anti-slip grips are made with safe silicon and are shaped as the words “MumMe” (cute). Wow, they work. Our playgroup is held in a gymnasium with a wood floor, and Miss Button had no problems running around for hours. No slip-ups. The toe seams are also made for babies comfort. Miss Button is a toddler now but I can remember when this was a huge issue.
Just out this month are these brand new Mummy Sets. Good for you and your teen/adult daughter, you and a friend, or just a gift to yourself. You can also buy MumMe socks in kids sets for for little boys and girls only. However, it might be safer to get everyone some shoe socks because chances are everyone’s going to want a pair. Miss Button now wants Mr Button to have some!
MumMe designer shoe socks can be delivered right to your door.
The Giveaway
MumMe is giving a West Coast Mama reader a MumMe Classic High Tops set of socks for you and your little one!
Mandatory Entry
Check out MumMe and come back and tell us which pair of socks you would love to try! Let us know your favourite Classic High Tops colour and size too please.
Submit one comment for the mandatory and one for each extra entry you complete.
Extra Entries
- Join the West Coast Mama Google Friend Connect.
- Become a fan of West Coast Mama on Facebook.
- Become a fan of MumMe on Facebook.
- Follow @westcoastmama on Twitter and retweet this giveaway (once per day): Win a set of MumMe Classic Hightop socks from @mummewear & @westcoastmama http://bit.ly/i5Cqnz ends 02/25 (Can/US) #giveaways
- Blog about this giveaway and leave the link.
- Comment on any one of my non-giveaway reviews, let me know which one you commented on.
- Subscribe via email.
- Subsribe via RSS.
- Grab my Button.
Winners will be chosen using Random Number Generator. Winners will have 48 hours to confirm your win by email or a new winner will be chosen.
Thank you to MumMe for sending us the really cool sock sets! We were not compensated for reviewing this product and our opinions are our own.
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