The Bengali Five Spice Chronicles Cookbook Giveaway, WW, 12/12

Winter has set in.

When that happens The Zoo hungers for a taste of something exotic, something filled with spice and wonder. It makes the sub-zero temperatures and shovelling that awaits us melt away.

In turn, I couldn't have been more excited to see my copy of "The Bengali Five Spice Chronicles" cookbook in my mailbox!

This book is more than just a cookbook. It takes you on a journey into the life of a Bengali kitchen, the tools and spice blends used, and the different cooking methods that make Bengali cuisine unique.

The author, Rinku Bhattacharya has added a touching glimpse into her life by sharing tidbits from her own history including a photo of her late father. The book's dedication; to the past, present and future really resonates with me.

With additional excerpts within each chapter such as "Widowhood and Influences on Bengali Cooking" and "Fishing for Love" you will always have something extra to read about while the inviting aromas fill your home with warmth.

There are so many great receipes that I've just touched the surface. The ones I have perused have me intrigued for sure. With over 20 recipes in the Rice and Bread chapter alone (over 180 recipes in the book overall), there are sure to be many to choose from.

I'm looking forward to cooking up something delicious in the coming days, which I'll share with all of you. Just the photos and story, not the food, unfortunately! In the meantime,

Enter to WIN a copy of Your Own!

What's Under The Zoo’s Non-Existent Christmas Tree?

It's been a while since we told you what's in The Zoo's mailbox. Seeing as Christmas is only three-ish weeks away, we thought we'd share with you some of the unique and affordable gifts ideas for Mom and Kids that we've found.

Before we go any farther, I should let you know that Journeys of The Zoo doesn't actually have a Christmas tree. Well, we do but it's in a box in the basement and it hasn't seen the light of day since I took it down March 23, 2003 in preparation for my move. Up until that point, it had been a permanent fixture in my living room since November 2000.

Yes, you read that correctly.

I was known as "The lady with the Christmas tree". I would turn the lights on every quarter December, March, June, September and the neighbours would come over for a chat.

If you're surprized then you need to read my blog more.

Here are some of the goodies that will be under our tree, if we had one.

Not on #Facebook? See What You've Been Missing #humor

In case you didn't know,
not everyone is on Facebook.

Gasp.
Impossible.
Say it isn't so.
The next thing you know, I'll be telling you that Santa Claus doesn't exist.

Well, it's true (the part about Facebook).

In fact, I'm pretty sure that I know all of the eight non-Facebookers (verb?) and that they follow this blog. No, they don't follow via Twitter either. I'll go easy on you and leave that for another post.

Here's what they've been missing...

Buy, Sell & Earn Rewards on GC Giveaway @CardSwap, CAN, 12/11

I don't know about you but I'm not hard to buy for.

Everyone else, well, that's another story.

When in doubt, I buy gift cards. The list of companies are endless and you can't go wrong.

Well you could, until CardSwap came along.

Read all about my experience and enter the giveaway for one of two $25 store credits!

CardSwap is rewarding Canadians with gift cards and cash back savings on everyday purchases -- dining, shopping, grocery, and even gas. And CardSwap is still Canada's #1 site to buy gift cards and sell gift cards. You can buy gift cards and earn rewards redeemable for gift cards, or sell us your unused gift cards for up to 92% of the face value in cash. As Canada's #1 gift card exchange, we have created Canada's largest and fastest growing market place for gift cards.

Why I Buy From CardSwap.

1. Convenience. I don't have to leave the house and with two three-year olds, that's saying a lot. As well as many of the stores that I want to buy gift cards from aren't in my town and would require me to drive at least one hour to get there.
2. Ease of Use and Support. It only took me a few minutes to register, select and purchase the card. I had one question about whether the card's expire (they don't) and was able to contact the company via online form or live chat.
3. 100% Guarantee. CardSwap guarantees that your card will have the correct value and mine did!
4. Speed. If you're a procrasinator (like someone I know), you need the gift to arrive, FAST. I ordered mine on Tuesday evening and it was in my mailbox on Friday. Very Impressive.
5. Wish List. If you don't see the card you want, add it to your wish list and CardSwap will let you know when one becomes available.
6. Free Stuff. Such as shipping, an extra $10 (the next time I sell cards with them, minimum amount required) and my favourite, I personally earn rewards for buying something that I would anyways.

Their website made it very clear that if you want to gift someone a NEW card then you'll need to go into the store and buy one. All of their cards have been in the possession of others. However, the one I got, you'd hardly know.

For this one purchase alone, I earned 600 SwapPoints (equal to $6) towards my next purchase. With tons of different denominations and companies to choose from such as; Loblaws, Canadian Tire, Esso, Tim Hortons, and Walmart you can't go wrong with CardSwap!

Connect with CardSwap via their Website, Facebook or Twitter.

Win One of TWO $25 CardSwap Credits!

MGA Entertainment Prize Pack $250 #holidayshowcase US/CAN, 12/09

If you're familiar with the saying, "The Girls with a Passion for Fashion" and "Sew Magical, Sew Cute" then you're going to love this giveaway from MGA Entertainment!

MGA Entertainment is leading the revolution in family entertainment with brands and products that are sure to be on your kids wish list.

Big names such as: Little Tikes, Action Adventures, Novi Stars, Bratz and Lalaloopsy (as quote above).

If you have kids but aren't familiar with these brands, you'd best start taking notes because they're all the rage. Note that I don't know anything about them either but I'm taking my own advice.

There are enough toys here to share with the whole neighbourhood or perhaps to donate to a child in need. Don't miss out on this great chance to,

Win a Toy Prize Pack totalling over $250!

$40 GC and Kindle Fire from @DelightfullyInc, US/CAN, 12/17

The Zoo loves to read and has a library of over 2,000 books.

With all the travelling we do and the limited van space, there's usually only enough room for me to bring a book or two.

Definitely not enough.

It makes sense for me to have a Kindle Fire. It's on my Christmas Wish List and I even own some ebooks.

Except, I don't have one. Yet.

No, Ed is not being negligent. The deal that I've made with myself is that I have to win one. Note to self, change your mind.

Now's My Our Chance!

Delightfully a new virtual gift-wrap service has teamed up with Happy Mothering and Green Moms Media to bring you a giveaway for a Kindle Fire and $40 Amazon Gift Card. Just in time for Christmas!

During the Holiday season, there are tons of gifts given online for music, gift cards, subscriptions, e-books and pretty much anything. If you're anything like me, you've sent at least one online gift and likely will again before Christmas.

With Delightfully, you can create a special "unwrapping" moment for any gift occasion for friends and family who can't spend the holidays with you in person. You can check out an example of the Delightfully gift-wrap on their website. At only $3, it's a very nice way to personalize the otherwise impersonal online gift! Say goodbye to wasteful paper and tape and say hello to this, eco-friendly gift wrap alternative.

To thank you for taking the time to consider their virtual gift-wrapping service, Delightfully is offering you a chance to win a Kindle Fire and $40 Amazon.com gift card!

The Kindle Fire is thin, light and durable. It features:

• 1.2GHz processor and 1GB of RAM
• 8GB on-device storage with free unlimited cloud storage for all your Amazon content
• Apps such as Facebook, Netflix, Twitter, Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo!, HBO GO and Pandora
• Ultra-fast web browsing over built-in WiFi
• Kindle FreeTime: A free, personalized tablet experience just for kids that allows you to set daily screen limits and give access to appropriate content for each child

Enter to Win with Delightfully!

Create Family Memories with Products from Elephoto.

My love for all things personalized and Canadian are well documented. So, you can imagine my excitement when I won a $50 gift certificate from Elephoto!

Two favourites in One with Elephoto!

Elephoto is a Canadian service that "takes your digital photos and turns them into magical keepsakes". They offer canvas and poster prints, photo books, calendars and photo cards. I was already familiar with the company, even before I won, however, I was fortunate enough to get a chance to meet with two of their Social Media contacts at the ShesConnected conference.

Seeing as the holidays are just around the corner, this came at the perfect time. For me, the hardest part was deciding what product(s) to get. After wavering between calendars and photo cards, I decided on the latter. I figured that everyone knew what came after January but having a picture of my child in their mailbox...

Priceless!

Save Money & Gain Peace of Mind with @CAASCO Travel Insurance.

If you drive a vehicle and live in Ontario then you've heard of CAA Roadside Assistance. If you've travelled outside Canada for business or pleasure then you've purchased CAA Travel Insurance. Right?

Until last week, we didn't know that CAA provided this service. Given all the travelling that Journeys of The Zoo does and considering we have two trips planned for this month, we found out just in the nick of time!

First up, a business trip for Ed to San Diego. I normally purchase our personal and business travel insurance online with a Major Canadian Bank but this time I thought; "It can't hurt to compare prices. A quote costs me nothing".

The CAA Travel Insurance website was easy to find (you'd be surprized) and within minutes I had my quote.

I was both shocked and excited.

Out of This World with Space Chums Kids CD, US/CAN, 12/05

In case you're unaware, Journeys of The Zoo loves music. The kids definitely inherited that trait from Ed.

I was excited to hear about Space Chums latest CD, "Blast Off" as their website describes it as a chance to "rock the stratosphere with crazy, catchy and hilarious songs about their adventures in space and the wonders of discovering planet earth".

Out of This World!

If you're sensing an intergalatic theme then you're right. The three stars are Space Ninja Linda, Disco Cosmonaut Nikolai, GalactoFashionista Gussy and their sidekick Bleep Bloop. Not only do they have space outfits but also stickers and cut-out characters to complete the package.

With all new music, the first run through for Artemis had her standing still and listening. The only movement I saw for 21-minutes was her carassing her new stickers. Max enjoyed the short but catchy cosmic vibed tunes. "Beeble Bop" was especially repetitive and got both of them involved.

Want to hear for yourself? See them in action in this video and,

Blast into the atmosphere
with Space Chums!

Copies of the CD or MP3 can be purchased from CDBaby and you can connect with Space Chums via their Landing Site (Website) and Spacebook (Facebook).

But that's not all, Space Chums wants you blast into hyper-fun with their stellar band so they're giving away a copy of their CD and a T-shirt!

Enter the Galactic Giveaway below...

Over $125 in Free Products & Coupons Giveaway, CAN, 11/29

It's that time again at Journeys of The Zoo.

The time where we get together all our coupons that we haven't had a chance to use and give them away!

We love coupon giveaways because it reminds us of our very first giveaway!


This coupon prize pack will include SIX FPC's. One from Dempsters (we don't eat White Bread) and five from Wholly Guacamole.

Yes, we love avocados.

Yes, we love salsa.

No, we can not get these products where we live.

I have spoken with the Manager at both stores (Independent and Food Basics) and hope that they get some in soon.

Regardless, that won't happen by December 31, 2012.

Yes, I could get Ed to try and find me some in the "Big City" but he's busy.

Our loss is your gain.

I'm also including four buy one get one free (bogo) and almost $90 in coupons from companies such as; French's, Barilla, Hershey's, Speed Stick, Tenderflake, Colgate, Crest, Europe's Best, V8, Woolite, Purcell, Pedigree, Nestea, Scrubbing Bubbles, IronKids Vitamins, Air Wick, Lysol, Garnier and tons more!

Like the last time, I will continue to add coupons as I receive them. If you live in the GTA, I will also send along a coupon book that I received with hundreds of dollars in savings!

The coupons are valid in Canada Only and do not expire before December 31, 2012. Some until May 2013.

Win over $125 in FPCs and Coupons!

VH Sauce Dinner and Family Excitement [Review]

VH is hosting an "Excite Your Dinner Blog Tour" event and Journeys of The Zoo has been selected to participate.

It's like they knew that VH Sauces were just what The Zoo needed to spice things up in the kitchen department and that kids can never have enough educational and creative toys.

Fun and excitement for the Whole Family!

After opening up the package and doing a little dance, I got right down to business. I checked the labels. Ed has an allergy to nuts and I like to know what I'm feeding my family. If I can't pronounce it and/or don't understand why it's there then I'm not eating it. All three of the sauces passed my test.

Next up, I needed to find a recipe. While I consider myself an okay cook, I'm not one of those people that can throw something together from whatever's in the fridge without some guidance. It's like VH knew because they include a recipe and cooking instructions on the back of each of their sauces.

I followed the recipe except I replaced the broccoli for red peppers so that meant some extra liquid. In turn, I let the sauce cook longer to thicken up a bit. The kids ate it up so I'll be stocking up on this!

Butter Chicken with Animal Chopsticks and Playdoh.

Saturday night was another special meal which included Beef Back Rib Stirfry with Korean BBQ and Soya Sauce.

This is one of VH's new sauces so I hadn't had it before. However, from reading the label, I knew I'd love it. It's description is "tangy asian sauce with hints of sesame and ginger". Even the kids like tangy (I like to call it taste) and we put sesame seeds and ginger in everything. This dinner gives "lick the platter clean" a whole new meaning. Like the previous night, no leftovers for lunch.

I could see myself putting the Korean BBQ sauce on salads and hamburgers so I stopped by VH's Facebook site, and was pleased to see that they had tons of great recipe ideas.

Be sure to check out all the possibilities for yourself!

A big thanks to Older Mommy Still Yummy for nominating us for this event. We're pleased to announce that we are passing the torch on to Elizabeth at Frugal Mom Eh! and can't wait for her to impress with her cooking skills.

Connect with VH on Facebook or Twitter and...

Enter to WIN a $25 VH Sauce Prize Pack!

@Iams #Home4TheHolidays Pet Adoption Drive: How to Help.

Five out of eight members of Journeys of The Zoo are adopted.

While my story has a happy beginning, Reina was found starved (almost) to death and Phoenix had his throat cut. Fighters need to win...

That's why I'm honoured to be a part of Iams Family of Bloggers promoting awareness of the Home 4 The Holidays initiative.

Did you know that this is Iams 14th year focussing on raising awareness of pet adoption and ensuring proper nutrition for more homeless pets? This year, they will once again work in conjunction with founding partner Helen Woodward Animal Center, the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and more than 4,000 animal organizations Worldwide to encourage pet adoption.

As part of this initiative, seven million pets have been adopted Worldwide with over 1.2 milllion during last years holiday campaign. The program which runs from Oct. 1, 2012 through Jan. 2, 2013 has already donated 486,734 meals to rescues and shelters. Their goal... 5 million meals! Iams is putting their money where their mouth is and,

Now it's your turn!

Happy National Adoption Day Hop! November 17, 2012

Everyone has a story to tell and Journeys of The Zoo has shared a few about adoption.

Recently, I connected with Britt from Yellow Umbrella because my friend is raising money for adoption and she wanted to help.

We got to talking and it turns out that we're both adopted and guess what...

Today is National Adoption Day!

In honour of that, we decided to host a blog hop that would allow others to share their experiences and know that they are not alone. Some of them may have happy endings and others not. Please take the time to visit the blogs listed in the linky at the bottom of this post and show them your support.

My story for today is about Acceptance.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My parents were given 48-hours notice that I would be coming home.

As first-time parents, to say that they were not prepared would be an understatement. Did I mention that they were told on a Friday evening and those were the days when you couldn't shop on Sunday's.

Once I'd arrived, they called My Nanna and Grandad (Nanna's parents) to tell them the good news and invite them over for my first visit.

My parents couldn't contain their excitement. Surely my grandparents were as happy as them, right?

While they knew about my parents application for adoption, My Nanna was surprized that she'd been given so little notice. In not so many words, she wasn't ready for me yet. The jury is still out on whether she ever would have been ready.

Then, there was a mutiny of sorts.

Outset Media What? $250 Game Pack #holidayshowcase US/CAN, 12/02

Remember how I told you about how Ed was just chalk full of useless information?

Well, I've found the perfect use for all that knowledge with board games for the whole family from Outset Media.

Outset Media has been around since 1996 and is 100% Canadian! Not only that but much of their product is manufactured in Canada and the USA.

I'm the type of consumer that votes with their wallet and that fact makes me really happy and proud.

When I visited their website, a bunch of games jumped out at me and after watching some of their brilliant YouTube videos, I know what I'm taking over to my neighbours for Christmas; Canadian Trivia Family Edition.

Not only because I'd love to learn even more about Canada but because I think that I could actually get a few questions right for once.

Make sure you don't have any milk in your mouth while watching this video. It hurts when it comes out your nose.

So, how many did you get right?

I dare you to check out some of their other games like; American Trivia Family Edition, What? party game, Professor Noggin's, What Bird Am I? and Cobble Hill Puzzles. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Connect with Outset Media on Facebook and Twitter and don't forget to enter to,

Win a $250 Outset Media Prize Pack!

iPod Touch 16GB 4th Gen. #Giveaway $199, US/CAN, 12/17

Thank you for joining us for the iPod Touch Giveaway event, hosted by Happy Mothering and Green Moms Media and sponsored by LampsUSA.com

If you're looking for new home lighting, check out LampsUSA.com. They have been selling quality discount lighting online since 1998 and in brick and mortar stores since 1994. They guarantee the lowest price on everything they sell and offer free shipping on orders over $79! Plus you pay no tax if you're outside of California or Wisconsin!

About LampsUSA

They offer 30,000+ lamps and lighting fixtures at prices up to 90% off, including:

• Table lamps
• Outdoor lighting
• Pendant lighting
• Wall lighting
• Floor lamps
• Desk lamps
• Lampshades
• Bathroom lighting
• Home décor

Famous Brand Lamps | Dillan Bronze Elephant Set Lamp

Check out some of LampsUSA.com's most popular products.

Murray Feiss Trinity 5 Pendant Chandelier Astral Bronze

Grandrich Lamps | Full Spectrum EZ Reader Desk Lamp Energy Star

And now for the iPod Touch Giveaway!

Fun for Kids & Eco-Friendly! My Pretty Playhouse, US/CAN, 11/29

There's never a dull moment at Journeys of The Zoo, especially when the courier arrives. The kids rush to the window in anticipation of things in pretty packages with new and exciting experiences inside. This weeks surprise received tons of squeals when a colourful cardboard box complete with handle arrived. It was...

My Pretty Playhouse from Cascades!

Cascades is a Canadian company based out of Quebec. Not only is this product sustainable as it's made from 100% recycled cardboard but the packaging is attractive as well.

All the writing was in both official languages of Canada; English and French. It highlighted three key components of the product and I noticed right away that the little boy was drawing with his left hand.

Lefties notice things like that.


Luckily Ed was home so that we could set it up right away. Knowing what I know now, I could have set it up myself, however, the instructions clearly stated: "It is preferable to have two people for assembly". First of all, yes, we read the instructions and secondly, they should have mentioned that neither of the two people should be under the age of three. Regardless, it took us just under 15 minutes to complete.

The Zoo's Week in Review. A Visual Memoir.

  Besos, The Zoo

Pain Relief for your Feet with Footminders.

Ed doesn't like it when I post pictures of him on the blog. In fact, he told me that if I must, he prefers that I post pictures of his feet.

When I had an opportunity to review Footminders orthotics, I knew that I had to step up (couldn't resist) because Ed was recently diagnosed with plantar fasciitis and given a prescription for expensive orthotics.

When I visited Footminders website and saw what they had to say about their product, I knew that we were onto something.

Born at 30 Weeks. The Zoo's NICU Story #Prematurity {Loss}

When I was 7.5 weeks pregnant, I knew with 100% certainty that my pregnancy would not go to term.

That my offspring would be born premature.

Impossible to know you say.

Not when you're pregnant with Triplets!


Actual ultrasound: 7.5 weeks gestation.

November is Prematurity Awareness Month. My peers and I have created a blog hop to support all those that have travelled this road and all those that unfortunately will. Be sure to check out the other blog posts listed at the bottom of this post.

Here is an excerpt of The Zoo's NICU Story.

My three doctors informed me that if everything went according to plan, I would deliver at 36 weeks (something to do with placental deterioration). If I didn't make it that far then surely I would make it to the average gestation for Triplets: 32w4d. Christmas Day was 32w4d. We'd call them Rudolph, Donner and Blitzen.

They tried to talk to me about the risk of delivering earlier (amongst other things) but I would hear nothing of it. Perhaps it was for the better. There was nothing I could do anyways.

Mama Bargains $20GC Giveaway, US/CAN, 11/26

Welcome to the Celebrating Baby Gift Giveaway Hop!

This Giveaway Hop is hosted by Fun On a Dime and Journeys of The Zoo is pleased to be a participating with such a great group of blogs.

The prizes will vary in that they may be for your newest bundle of joy, or mom, dad, brother, or sister. Regardless, it will be just in time for Christmas and,

All the prizes are valued at $20 or more!

Journeys of The Zoo is giving away a $20 gift certificate to Mama Bargains. If you're unfamiliar with the site, you won't be for long as it's addictive! New deals appear almost every day but when they're sold out, they're gone. They ship to the USA and Canada (check the FAQ for exceptions).

Just this week, they had an offer on Lansinoh products that was almost 60% off the regular price! At the time of this posting, they had Envirosax's starting as low as $3.60. what a great opportunity to get stocked up for the Holidays.

After you have entered this giveaway (below), be sure to check out the linky (below the Rafflecopter form) and enter to win on all my friends blogs as well.

Ready to WIN!

Peace of Mind with Snuza Baby Monitor $99, US/CAN, 11/30

Journeys of The Zoo is pleased to be a part of this group giveaway for a Baby Movement Monitor hosted by S.O.S. Mom and generously sponsored by Snuza.

The best part, there will be TWO winners that will have that added peace of mind.

We all have to sleep sometime.

Before I brought the kids home from the hospital, I looked into getting an "infant apnea monitor". I was told that the pads had high rates of false positives, especially if they rolled right off (a friend has since confirmed this fact) so I didn't get one. I was apprehensive and lost a lot sleep but didn't know about the availability of the Snuza line of products.

The Snuza go! is different because it clips over the waistband of the babies diaper and senses tummy movement no matter where they sleep. It is extremely portable and perfect for at home, when travelling or when visiting friends and family. The Snuza go! has an audible alarm that can be set to alarm after 15, 18 or 20 seconds from last movement sensed. Snuza's are made with hypo-allergenic, medical grade plastics; and importantly, does not send or receive radio frequency signals.

Their website states the following key features:

• Slips over the waistband of the diaper, where tummy movement is best sensed,


• Ergonomically designed to fit comfortably on babies diaper,


• Placement next to babies abdomen means more accurate detection,


• Battery operated (nothing to get tangled or cause harm),


• Portability means it offers protection everywhere,


• Smallest, lightest monitor on market (weighs only 1 ounce and fits in your palm).

If you're interested in hearing more about this product and their other lines which include; Snuza Video, Snuza Hero and Snuza Trio, I suggest that you watch this video as it contains a lot of useful information and facts.

Connect with Snuza via their:
Website (https://www.snuza.info/),
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/SnuzaUSA) and
Twitter (https://twitter.com/PeacefulBaby).

Enter to WIN some Peace of Mind!

National Adoption Day is November 17. Link up and Share your Story.

I am Adopted.

I make no secret about it.

In fact, I've blogged about it before for Random Fact Friday and provided a Glimpse into the Life of Being Adopted.



Since sharing excerpts of my story, I have received messages from supporters; adoptees, adopteers and everyone inbetween. Many wanting to share their story with me or learn more about mine.

In turn, in honour of "National Adoption Day" on November 17 (in the USA, Canada celebrates the entire month), Yellow Umbrella (who incidently is also adopted) and I are hosting a blog hop in honour of this special day.

Want to Share Your Story?

Note that "your story" might be about a child, friend, brother, sister that is adopted. It does not have to be YOU that was.

The Time Everyone Wished a Me Happy Birthday (But It Wasn’t).

I've always wanted to attend an event that I wasn't invited to. Be a "Wedding Crasher" of sorts. I don't want to ruin the event but just fake it for a night. Note that I've never actually seen the movie but I can only imagine the plot.

I have been to an awards ceremony uninvited and brought along our hitchhiker. Yes, you read that correctly, our hitchhiker. His name was Felix and he was from Germany on his way to Belize to meet his Swedish girlfriend.

But that doesn't really count as being a "crash" because we did know one person there.

Did I mention that we were in Mexico and kind of stood out like a sore thumb?


But, I won't go into that story because then I'd have to tell you about the woman at the event that wanted to breed Phoenix with her Mutt Boxer. We told her he was neutered but she didn't believe us and asked to see his scar. Trust me, I couldn't make this up if I wanted to.

The ceremony reminded me of that other time in Mexico...

WIN Tickets to #Woofstock from @IAMS #toronto, 11/12

Woofstock started in 2003 as a weekend outdoor summer festival. The event has proven so popular that while the weekend is still for the dogs it also includes activities such as: Breakfast with Santa, Fashion Show, Canine Pageant, Best Costume Contest and much more.

This event wouldn't be so successful without support and this year, for the first time, Iams is excited to be a Winter Woofstock Sponsor. So much so that they want to give you and your dog the chance to win tickets!

Chicco Cortina Double Stroller Giveaway $395, CAN, #canwin, 11/20

Welcome to the Canadian Double Stroller Giveaway.

This special giveaway is for our Canadian fans, shared by Canadian bloggers, hosted by Baby Giveaways Galore and sponsored by the ultimate online store, Canada's Baby Store.

And you have a chance to...

WIN a Chicco® Cortina® Together™
Double Tandem Stroller!

The Zoo has a double stroller, the Zoo-mobile. It's so famous that it has it's own post. There are so many advantages to a double stroller and although I haven't seen the Chicco Cortina in person, it appears to have a lot of similarities to my stroller such as it's lightweight, fits through standard doors and has a one-hand fold. You can read and watch a video review at Baby Giveaways Galore.

Canada's Baby Store sells a huge selection of baby products: car seats, strollers, travel systems, playpens, yards, highchairs, swings, jumpers, nursery items, home safety, health products and toys.

They have free shipping on all orders over $50 (note they only ship within Canada) and have an online store that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! To top it off, they have a FREE 90-day product warranty on ALL products and 30-day money back guarantee.

From now until December 28, you can use the coupon code "Mummy15" to get 15% off anything in the store (including sale items). Did I mention that the Chicco Cortina is currently on sale for only $229.69!?

Enter to WIN a Double Stroller!

Your Vote Needed! Final Round 2012 Canadian Blog Award [Humour].

In October, Journeys of The Zoo was nominated for a 2012 Canadian Blog Award in the Humour Category.

We were humbled by the nomination and confident in our decision to leave the voting in your capable hands. We were not disappointed.

The fact that I mentioned something about birthdays and unicorns was in no way intended to sway your vote.

Note that this offer still applies. In case you didn't know, this is currently high-season for unicorns, however, we have been placed on their cancellation list.

And here we are. October 31st has come and gone. The votes have been tallied and you've made your decision very clear, Journeys of The Zoo has...

Made it to the FINAL ROUND!

Thank you so much for all your support. We are so fortunate to have you along for the ride and it wouldn't be half as much fun without you.
Note that I may or may not have spoken to myself for two years before you came along.

Without you, Journeys of The Zoo would not be in this position and that's why we're asking for you to take the lead once again. This is your last kick at the can to decide who will win the 2012 Canadian Blog Award for the Humour Category. Where will you cast your one-time vote (per category)?

Anyone can vote and you have until November 30 to click the little button and...

Vote for Journeys of The Zoo!

(Click any of the links or Go to --> http://www.jkleiman.com/small-claims/vote/ --> "Best Humour Blog (left-hand column, 6th one down) --> Journeys of The Zoo.

  Besos, The Zoo