WIN! PAULA DEEN BAKEWARE November 30, 2009

When I first saw these bakeware pieces, they conjured up images of apple pie fresh out of the oven, scalloped potatoes and a hearty meatloaf. Comfort food. And just in time for Christmas. Who can’t help but fall in love with these traditional pieces from celebrity chef and TV show maven Paula Deen?

Here’s a great tip. The newest trend is to bring your potluck contribution in a stylish dish that your hostess will keep as a gift.  That’s if you can part with these lovely pieces. And yes they are safe for the oven, microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher and freezer.

$19.99 to $39.99 at Canadian Tire

HOW TO WIN: Simply become a fan of Shinypackages on Facebook and you’re automatically entered to win. Sign up now at http://www.facebook.com/Shinypackages

FINE PRINT: Contest is open to Canadian residents only. No purchase necessary. Winners will be chosen at random. One prize will be awarded each week day beginning Dec. 1 and ending Dec. 21. Good luck!

IT STARTS MONDAY! WIN! WIN! WIN! November 27, 2009

15 FANTASTIC PRIZES

Visit https://shinypackages.wordpress.com each weekday between Nov. 30 and Dec. 18 for your chance to win an assortment of excellent prizes.

Here’s how it works: Simply become a Facebook fan of Shinypackages and you’re automatically entered to win. http://www.facebook.com/Shinypackages DO IT NOW!

Contest is open to Canadian residents only. No purchase necessary. Winners will be chosen at random. One prize will be awarded each weekday beginning Dec. 1 and ending Dec. 21. For example, a winner will be chosen on Tuesday for the prize featured on Monday. Winners cannot choose the prize they want. You get what you get but don’t fret. They are all fantastic! Good luck!

For the Hostess, Love Ben & Jerry November 26, 2009

You could bring a bottle of wine.

Or you should show off your true creativity with a hostess gift that will get more than a polite smile. Show your hosts you really care by appearing on the doorstep with their favourite Ben & Jerry’s treat. Consider these suggestions:

For your best friend, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough®

For your dead-head university pals, Half Baked®

For your sweetie, Chunky Monkey® (hmmm… maybe not?)

For the music lover, Cherry Garcia or If I Had 1,000,000 Flavours®

(If you’re coming to my place during the holidays, please bring Banana Split, New York Super Fudge Chunk and If I Had 1,000,000 Flavours. I might even share.)

If you don’t live in Winnipeg, Yellowknife or Regina and you’re worried it might be a little too warm to transport your gift, here are a few suggestions.

• Add a bag of ice to a reusable shopping bag and tuck your pint inside. After all, every party needs extra ice!

• Give the gift of thermal! Pack a thermal bag with some ice and a pint or two.

Now that’s I’ve been staring at this image on my screen for the last 10 minutes, I must run out and get some Ben & Jerry’s!

$5.50 to $7 at all major grocery, department and drug stores.

 

Look! Up on the Ceiling! November 25, 2009

Fans of high end gadgets will be pleased to know that The Sharper Image, makers of ultra cool toys for big people, is bringing their products to a wider audience. Once only available online or through The Sharper Image storefronts, now the fun stuff is available at major retailers including The Bay and The Source.

This Projection Alarm Clock projects the digital time on the ceiling in large numbers that are easy to see when your eyes are a little blurry, but the image is soft enough that won’t interrupt your slumber.  In addition to great alarm features like AM/FM radio; dual alarms; touch snooze panels and automatic reset, the time projection has adjustable angles and three settings – HI/LOW/OFF. The radio also has touch controls which is kind of cool.

$69.99 at The Bay and The Source

Join Me on Facebook November 23, 2009

I’ve just created a fan page on facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/Shinypackages

Please join my fan page and stay tuned on how you can win big next week!

Joe Fresh for Bath Time November 20, 2009

When it comes to holiday shopping, I think stocking stuffers are the most fun to buy. There is none of the hand wringing that comes with buying a big ticket item. When your budget is $5 to $10, they might love it, they might hate it, but in the end, it’s no big deal. You tried.

Picking up a few items from the new Joe Fresh bath line is probably a pretty safe bet. The candy-coloured collection will appeal to girls, tween, teens, young adults and even not so young adults. There’s a yummy scent for everyone. Take your pick from nectarine, marine, lemon, pomegranate, lime and grapefruit. The collection includes body wash, balm, polish, mist and hand soap.

TIP: In these days of the almighty gift card, I always like to add a little something. Pick up an inexpensive holiday stocking, add a few stuffers and tuck the gift card inside. It’s always nice to open something other than an envelope.

Body polish, $5 and scrubbies, $2 at Superstore and Loblaws.

B.B. Begonia—The Reusuable Bag with the Funny Name November 17, 2009

About a week ago, my new friend Rebecca sent me a B.B. Begonia bag to try out. Rebecca, I have news for you. You can’t be my new best friend. That’s because my new best friend is a bag.

I’m a staunch advocate of the BYOB trend. I Bring My Own Bag wherever I go. Almost always. I really try. But sometimes there are no bags in the back seat and I’m forced to schlep into the store, head hanging low, knowing I will need a nasty plastic bag.

That’s all changed with B.B. Begonia. You see, these bags scrunch into tiny little parcels that fit into your purse, pocket or visor of your new Pontiac. They are always handy!

And did I mention they are also extremely functional? Big enough to hold almost more than you can lift. The arm hole is roomy enough to fit over my shoulder. As for style, well, you can’t really beat them. Have a look at the Website for all the good-looking options.

www.bbbegonia.com

You can find out where to get the bags through the Website or by e-mailing Rebecca at customerservice@bbbegonia.com

ONLINE: eco-handbags.ca, tweedandhickory.com, hightechonline.ca, and gardenroom.ca

Bags are $8.99 for the singles and $44.99 for the 5-pack pouch

These bags are brought to us by a Winnipeg company. In Winnipeg, get the bags at:  Artifacts, D.A Niels Kitchenware, Fort Whyte Alive –The Nature Shop, The Happy Cooker, Lacoste Garden Centre, Lola Boutique, Mach Artworks, Manitoba Children’s Museum, McNally Robinson, Organza Market, Sandstone Gift Essentials, Scoop ‘N’ Weigh, Shelmerdine Garden Centre, St Boniface Hospital Gift Shop, The Garden Room, U.N Luggage and The Winnipeg Art Gallery.

WIN BIG! HUGE GIVEAWAYS STARTING NOV. 30! November 16, 2009

I can’t tell you how excited I am about our big holiday series starting Nov. 30. It’s called 15 DAYS OF GIFTING and as you might have guessed, it will feature 15 days of the latest and greatest products, just in time for holiday gifting.

GIVEAWAYS! GIVEAWAYS! GIVEAWAYS! GIVEAWAYS! GIVEAWAYS!

While you’re doing all that shopping for OTHER PEOPLE, your really deserve a little pick-me-up just for yourself. Here’s your chance! During 15 DAYS OF GIFTING, you can enter to win some seriously excellent prizes. Let me know if any of these brand names pique your curiosity: LUSH, BLOCKBUSTER, SMASHBOX, GOSH, JOHN FRIEDA and more! We have a Lia Sophia bracelet up for grabs and it sells for $495. We also have a fantastic prize pack from VH Sauces valued at $150. More prizes are still rolling in.

Visit https://shinypackages.wordpress.com and enter often to win!

 

 

I Heart Appetizers! November 13, 2009

What’s the best think about the holiday season? In my books it’s the food. In our household, we often forgo a regular supper in favour of a spread of yummy appetizers. Cheese, dips, mini pepperonis, pickles, olives and a few hot items. For the hot items, I head to M&M Meat Shops. Our faves include the zucchini sticks, coconut shrimp and everyone’s favourite—the Oriental Party Pack.

M&M Meat Shops has over 50 appetizers and finger foods stocked in their famous one aisle. Now that the holidays are upon us, I suggest you make a trip to M&M and grab a few items. The inlaws will love you.

http://www.mmmeatshops.com

Let Your Plate Do The Talking November 12, 2009

I couldn’t help but think of my dad when I saw this plate holder. He’s the kind of guy who has programmed his car horn to play the Lone Ranger theme. I can only imagine what he might program into this scrolling message plate, you know, the one on his 1979 black Corvette with the t-tops, the one he restored and the one he and my mom cruise around in like a couple from American Graffiti.

It has a built-in memory that can hold up to five messages. Any message can be up to 250 characters. That’s almost twice the length of a Tweet! Go ahead, start thinking of all the clever messages you can create. The scrolling programmable message plate holder is from Shoppers Drug Mart and it sells for $34.99.