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Prodigy game makes math enjoyable!

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 17:14:00 +0000

Prodigy Home Screen

Do you love math? I was never good at math growing up. I remember going up to the chalkboard in front of the whole class to fumble the chalk and cry when I had to solve a simple math question. It was an embarrassing and nerve racking moment back in my youth.

Today with the abundance of technology such as mobile devices and tablets and ipads, kids can learn in an environment outside of the classroom and in the comfort of their own home.

I had the opportunity over my family visits to watch my nephews and nieces play a lot of video games. To incorporate math learning, my nephew Jairen's Grade 4 class uses "Prodigy Game." It allows Jairen to play the game at school and at home. Jairen would play Prodigy Game on his ipad with his younger sister and brother too! Not only do they get the benefit of learning math, they also build social skills through in-game interactions with classmates and siblings who also play the game. As a parent you are able to track and review reports that show your child's progress and where they need help. It's all free too! It's a great way to use video games and learning math together. Don't you wish we had this when we were kids?

I asked my nephew Jairen what he likes most about the Prodigy Game? In his own words he said, "It's a math game and it's challenging. It's fun when I battle my friends." Being allowed to play video games and learn was something I didn't have growing up. With the advancement of technology, kids are now empowered to take their math education in their own hands and it makes it easier to learn anywhere, anytime.

Prodigy Game Home Screen graphics on ipad

As a cofounder of a large/tech meetup community in Toronto, one of the great things I love about Prodigy Game is that it was created by two Burlington natives, and has become one of the top ten start-ups in Canada. It's great to support local talent and see it grow. If you or any one you know is interested in starting a career in the tech world, check out their job openings here JOB OPENING

They're looking to add more developers and designers to the team, and its a great team to be a part of. Not to mention you'll be helping make a big impact in math education around the world.

Prodigy learning from home.

For more information on Prodigy Math Game visit: prodigygame.com

Twitter: @prodigygame

This post was sponsored by Prodigy in a partnership with Joallore A. to provide you the most up to date facts, helping you make informed decisions. All opinions in this article are my own.

GreenEggplant Restaurant Media Tasting

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 20:08:00 +0000

I had the opportunity to visit the Green Eggplant Restaurant in the east end of Toronto. I took a dab of what Green Eggplant had to offer last year and came across their fresh calamari... I enjoyed it! It's my favourite spot to get calamari especially during the summer. They have an extensive menu with many options that it makes you want to come back and try them all. Did I mention that the portions are big enough to feed two or three people?!

Quesadilla

Garden Salad

The Green Eggplant is a great casual restaurant in the Beaches. It's a perfect spot to visit because it is right across from the park and beach. They've recently added a sidewalk patio so it's another reason to visit them. The fishbowl sized cocktail drinks are amazing and remind me of oversized drinks in Las Vegas. Great people watching while enjoying a cocktail at the Beaches.

Bellini Cockail

Green Eggplant has a relaxed vibe & caters to everyone from young couples to families with kids. This place will be busy during the weekends especially during the summer. The staff are informative and friendly. I've become a fan of this spot and will have to make a repeat visit. Every portion size, the extensive menu (reminds me of Cheesecake Factory menu) and close proximity to the Beaches are the perfect combination.

Salmon Cedar Plank

To learn more about Green Eggplant and their menu, visit greeneggplant.com Green Eggplant is located at 2024 Queen St East., Toronto.

Disclosure: I was invited to this Media Tasting event & received a complimentary sampling of the menu. All opinions on this blog post review are my own.

Walmart.ca Grocery Pick-Up is Fun & Easy!

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 18:41:00 +0000

Walmart.ca grocery pick up from Penguin Pickup at UPS Yorkville.

During the Holiday Season you can get bogged down with gift buying and numerous errands taking up most of your time before the year ends... Travelling in busy crowds & unpredictable Toronto weather can cause major havoc on any given day. I really try my best to avoid the crowds especially during the holiday season. Long lines and I don't mix. Thankfully walmart.ca has a new Grocery PickUp service at walmart.ca that makes everything so convenient and easy!

CLICK, CLICK, CLICK & Collect. I went on to walmart.ca website & clicked on Grocery PickUp button to begin shopping for fresh groceries & pick up at a Penguin Pick-Up or Walmart location of my choice. I basically clicked on all the products I needed in an easy & categorized navigation page. Walmart will also AdMatch prices advertised by any competitor so you're guaranteed the lowest price. Here is an example of the various categories to grocery shop.

You can select from all the same products available in store at a Walmart location. From canned goods to fresh produce, you can even order your pet food too! A $3 service fee will be applied and orders are to be a minimum of $50. Walmart.ca currently has condo delivery locations as well. Imagine shopping for groceries & having them deliver to your condo. They have this service now for 3 locations in the Toronto area. *additional $10 applies for this service.

Refridgerator for delivery of walmart.ca orders.

Overall, my experience using the walmart.ca Grocery PickUp was quick and hassle free. I placed an order on a Tuesday afternoon & scheduled my pick-up the next day at a UPS/Penguin location with no product quality issues. My vegetable and meat orders were properly refrigerated upon pick up as shown above. This experience saved me on gas expenses as I was able to select a location close to home for pick-up. I had no line-ups & experienced a one on one customer experience at my UPS location. This was such a time saver for me. Overall, I'm going to use this Walmart Grocery Pick-Up service again!

UPS Store - Penguin Pick Up location in Yorkville.

This post is sponsored by Walmart Canada as part of the Walmart Grocery Pick-Up program. In exchange for this post, I have received perks in the form of products and/or compensation. All opinions on this blog are my own.

Gift Ideas for that person who....

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 02:50:00 +0000

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.

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 20:02:00 +0000

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!

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 14:52:00 +0000

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 17:44:00 +0000

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.

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 19:07:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 17:23:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 20:39:00 +0000

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!

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 18:22:00 +0000

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!

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 19:43:00 +0000

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!

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 13:33:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Tue, 17 May 2016 20:29:00 +0000

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.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Niagara Food & Wine Expo Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 18:14:00 +0000

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!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received complimentary tickets for this post.

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

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 21:40:00 +0000

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Public Transit is the Way to Go!

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 18:37:00 +0000

Toronto Hustle. Taken simply with @HTC RE Cam #HTC #toronto #TO2015 #union #Hustle #streetsoftoronto #timelapse #rushhour

A video posted by Joallore (@clickflick) on Jul 10, 2015 at 8:41am PDT

Being a car owner and living in the city my frustration has been growing over the years. I don't think anyone is a fan of traffic or gridlock, not to mention, the cost of fuel and rising insurance premiums; make it more favourable to take public transit. Thankfully, Toronto is one of the most transit accessible cities in North America. The transit is made accessible and easy enough so that you can navigate your way throughout the city thanks to Metrolinx. Metrolinx is an agency under the Ontario government that was created to plan, build and deliver an integrated transportation network in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Region. With the merging of Metrolinx and GO transit, GO buses and GO trains are capable of moving more people in a single day. Surely, this contributes to an easier and reliable way of commuting in and around the city. It is a dependable way to link people to the GTA and to the surrounding areas by delivering mobility solutions that are seamless in integration.

Metrolinx is making it very easy for individuals like me to forget about the car. It's basically another option. You can live downtown and travel outside of the GTA comfortably with an option such as Presto that is becoming more prevalent at TTC stations now. Transit has the accessibility and convenience which makes living downtown manageable. It helps alleviate the gridlock and frustration experienced living within the GTA. It's faster, reliable, and more convenient. It's exciting to explore outside of the city and see the urban sprawl. Some of the best-kept secrets are on the outskirts when it comes to food and dining. Expansion of public transportation by Metrolinx will help alleviate congestion and make us all move better! Exciting times are just around the corner quite literally!

TTC streetcar on Bathurst line.

Improvements and upgrades to our public transit systems with Metrolinx makes for the better way in my opinion. For example the TTC has one of the most simplified grid systems for travel and it's seeing improved growth. The new UP Express and Presto systems makes it even easier to travel beyond Toronto. I can get across the city much faster via transit than on our highways in rush hours. Buses and subways makes distracted driving much less of a factor and safer way to travel. Core subway stations have built in Free WiFi which is nice & comfortable addition. Living in the city has made me really change the way I think of how I use my car and transit. It's more economical for me to use public transit especially within the city than ever before. Having that peace of mind in travel is also important. Public transit is the way to go!

Disclosure: I received compensation for this post. However, all opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Excitement & Fun Times at Woodbine Racetrack!

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 19:55:00 +0000

Breeders Crown at Woodbine Racetrack

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Breeders Crown at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. The Breeders Crown is one of the top harness events in North America. On the evening of the Breeders Crown it rained but that didn't stop the fun at all. Rain or shine, the races must go on!

Woodbine Racetrack interior concourse.

Grandstand watching the races.

The facilities at Woodbine Racetrack have changed, since the last time I visited, when I was much younger. There are more amenities & options at Woodbine Racetrack. On this visit I had the chance to visit the Champions Bar and Patio (on the top floor). It's a great spot to dine and watch other sports at the same time as you wager. I can't wait to comeback later this month and especially next summer. The vista from the grandstand is amazing to absorb even on a wet soggy evening.

Woodbine Racetrack Main Entrance at night.

If you've never been to Woodbine Racetrack, I highly recommend that you visit. If you don't know how to bet, don't worry because Woodbine Racetrack has simple instructions on how to bet. They actually have a mini brochure you can pick up for free from Customer Service Kiosk that explains the basics of wagering.

Grandstand at Woodbine Racetrack.

Part of the fun is learning how to bet since you can bet as low as 20 cents. I plan to go back with family and a guys night out this year since races continue until November. It's really a great value and so much fun when you go with a group of people. You can realistically spend less than $20 for a night of fun at Woodbine making a couple bets, eating some food, and just enjoying the night! Not to mention it's always free parking & admission. That's great value in my opinion.

At the @Breeders_Crown at @WoodbineRacing #Crown15 #OffToTheRaces pic.twitter.com/YE5IHqwUtz
— Joallore (@clickflickca) October 25, 2015

Where: Woodbine Racetrack - 555 Rexdale Blvd.

Follow #Crown15 and @WoodbineRacing for more details and updates!

Disclosure: This post was created in partnership with Woodbine Racetrack however, all opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Boomerang from Instagram is now available for download.

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 16:20:00 +0000

Instagram introduced Boomerang as a stand alone app that creates looping videos. On first try it is very simple to use. Just look for a moving object and hold the button down. You can post to Instagram or Facebook or create a quick video clip that can be repurposed through email or even youtube. I'm still playing around with it but it seems very simple to use. Video automatically downloads to your Gallery/Videos folder on your mobile device. The clips remind me of Vine videos and Flixel. Let me know what you think of the App? Do you like it or not? Will you use it? I think it's going to be another outlet for creativity. Are we over burden with too much on Social already? Let me know what you think.

Get Ready for Excitement at the Breeders Crown - Oct 24

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 14:02:00 +0000

This coming weekend on Saturday October 24th the Breeders Crown comes to Woodbine Racetrack. The Breeders Crown is hosted by the Hambletonian Society and is one of the top harness events in North America.

The excitement begins with over $10,000 in instant cash giveaways. Wager through a self-serve betting machine for 100 chances to WIN $100 instantly on that evening. Make your first bet and get a Free Breeders Crown toque too! Not bad right? To top it off, parking and admission is always free at Woodbine Racetrack. It's a great opportunity to experience excitement and fun especially if you're new to horse racing.

Make sure to visit the horse races track side for the up close excitement and experience. Snap a selfie at the racetrack and post to Twitter or Instagram using hashtag #OffToTheRaces & you could WIN a $1,000 Woodbine Racetrack Gift Card!

Breeders Crown Details:

Where: Woodbine Racetrack - 555 Rexdale Blvd.

When: Saturday October 24, 2015

Post Time: 6:30pm

Follow #Crown15 and @WoodbineRacing for more details and updates!

Golden Moments with KD Golden Noodle.

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 20:06:00 +0000

If you live in Toronto & the greater GTA area, I'm sure you know about the Toronto Blue Jays. If you've been living under a rock or a golden noodle, let me jog your memory. The Toronto Blue Jays are on verge to capture the American League East Title in the East Division. To give you a better perspective we haven't won our division in over 22 years! That's a long time, right?

Luckily, I had the opportunity to take a Golden Noodle from KD with me to a recent Blue Jays game with friends, @Movernie & @1goatroti. I bluntly told my friends that I would be bringing something golden with me to the game and hope they didn't mind it. It looks like they enjoyed the Golden Noodle.

Follow @Movernie for his own exclusive golden moments.

The Golden Noodle has paid dividends because the Blue Jays WON the game. I'm not a superstitious guy but the Golden Noodle is a good luck charm! I do not know where the Golden Noodle is right now but you can follow @KraftDinner for all the golden fun! I really think the Golden Noodle moment will be tonight when the Toronto Blue Jays clinch!

Everything is golden with the Golden Noodle.

I still enjoy KD Macaroni & Cheese from time to time and it always has a special place in my college days. It was the quickest and easiest thing to make for dinner. I would like to add bacon bits to my macaroni & cheese! To make it healthier I try and add a few broccoli florets in there as well. Try it and see what variation you can come up with! Thanks to KD they have a contest that is ongoing right now & you could instantly WIN big!

Up close with the Golden Noodle.

Canadians have a chance to WIN a one pound 24K gold Golden Noodle which is worth approximately $30,000. Crazy right? The Golden noodle can be WON by entering the pin code on the cheese packets. Just enter the codes online or on your mobile and you could WIN instantly. You could also WIN over 100 other instant prizes such as sunglasses, flip flops or cuff links.

To enter just buy specially marked 4 or 12 pack bundles of KD Macaroni & Cheese at your local retailer. Visit kdgold.ca and enter your codes. Good Luck!

Twitter: @KraftDinner

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kraftdinner

Website: http://www.kdgold.ca http://www.kdgold.ca

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

Why do you love driving?

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 17:15:00 +0000

Long winding road. #Toronto

A photo posted by Joallore (@clickflick) on Jun 15, 2015 at 2:39pm PDT

Why do you love driving? It's a pretty simple question. I actually had to pause and reflect on the many reasons why I love driving. Everyday most people commute and drive to work. When you think about it we spend most of our times sitting or stuck in traffic especially if you live in Toronto like me. Many times it's hard when frustration gets the better of you when it comes to driving in these conditions. Detours, accidents and road closures are part and partial to driving but overall it has been a positive experience for me.

Driving gives you the opportunity to be free! It enables you to travel wherever you want from various distances and locations. It opens the opportunity to explore areas you may have never visited before or knew existed. I really enjoy road trips.... it conjures up old memories with friends & family in the car and playing "Punch Buggy No PunchBacks!" Do you remember this car game?

Ground level. #Toronto #bridge #instapic #inst #picoftheday #streetsoftoronto #road #street

A photo posted by Joallore (@clickflick) on Jul 6, 2015 at 12:54pm PDT

Another reason why I love driving is being in control. Hence the term being in the "driver's seat." Having control of a car is an empowering feeling. The joys and comfort of steering through hairpin turns on the road and listening to your favourite tunes on the radio is just one of them. One of my favourite times to drive is by myself...no backseat noise or someone directing me to turn this way or that way. I'm able to be at peace, enjoying the car windows open, a nice breeze, and feeling relaxed until I reach my destination. It can't be more relaxing and liberating than that! Thanks to the folks at Schick, they have a cool contest & opportunity to drive free for a year! Another cool reason to drive!?!

Enter this cool contest! The Schick Drive Free Contest. Purchase any specially marked Schick product ( look for a yellow Drive Free for a Year sticker ) & register for the contest online or on your smartphone at www.wesetyoufree.ca. Two ways to enter. Schick will also be doing weekly giveaways from Twitter @freeyourskinCA throughout the duration of the contest until September 2015.

1- With purchase. Once you've registered, enter your unique PIN code. You could WIN instantly! Also every entry automatically enters you for a chance to Drive Free for a Year.

Look for the specially marked Schick products with Yellow Drive Free for a Year sticker.

2 - Without a purchase: Write a 50 word essay on "Why Schick" is your favourite brand and mail it to: Schick Drive Free for a Year Grand Prize Draw & Instant Win Promotion (Request for No Purchase unique PIN number), Dept 3112, Box 9500 Lakeshore West PO, Oakville ON L6K 0G4. You'll receive a unique code and you could visit www.wesetyoufree.ca for your chance to WIN instantly!

Over 2,450 instant prizes that include GPS systems, pre-paid gas cards and sunglasses! The Grand Prize winner will have Schick pay your gas, insurance & depreciation for a year! Good Luck everyone!

Follow online:

Twitter: @freeyourskinCA

Hashtag: #DriveFree

Instagram: freeyourskinca

Contest site: wesetyourfree.ca

Disclaimer: This post was created in partnership with Schick and I received compensation for this post. All opinions are expressed are my own.

Mohawk Summer Nights are fun & exciting. I'll be back!

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 14:36:00 +0000

Mohawk Racetrack in Cambelville.

When I was a little kid my dad would take my siblings and I to the races. We were exposed to this environment at an early age. We didn't have a clue about what went on at a racetrack, we only knew that we were going to see a lot of horses. We were excited to see the horses!! I remember our dad asking which names we liked not knowing that later on (in one of my earlier blogs) that I would continue my dad's way of betting...by picking the names that I liked and the names that sounded like a winner. In a way it was nostalgic that many years later I would find myself at a racetrack. I can now understand how one can be enticed to place a bet and feel the excitement.

Free T-Shirts at Canadian Pacing Derby-Metro Pace

I ended my summer by attending the Metro Pace at Mohawk Racetrack. The Metro Pace is one of the main final races of the summer at Mohawk. Although the final race, I will definitely make it a point to return to Mohawk Racetrack for more betting excitement. This was my 3rd visit at Mohawk and each time I had so much fun. You can read about my previous visits here: Visit 1 Visit 2

Greetings from Mohawk Racetrack

I recommend you visit Mohawk Racetrack if you want to try something different from the usual day or night trip. If you live in Toronto, plan a day with your family or friends...bring the kids!! I'm sure they'll love the horses :-) I'm definitely going back with my buddies to have a day of indulging in the food at the Terrace Buffet and enjoying some beer at the trackside patio, and a bonus if we win some cash at the same time!

Terrace/Grandstand at Mohawk Racetrack

Bet on races around the world & watch other sports.

This might sound weird but placing bets with friends and being able to watch multiple sports on screen at the same time was very relaxing. This is the kind of multi-tasking I enjoy!

Parking & Admission is free at Mohawk Racetrack. I made a few bets as low as $2 so it made for an enjoyable evening that didn't break the bank. One tip I recommend for new visitors to Mohawk is to place your bets and watch the horses race trackside on the rails. It's ultimate excitement when you cheer your horse to WIN with the crowd in attendance. I'm already looking forward to returning with my friends very shortly. See you at Mohawk soon again!

More Info on Mohawk Racetrack

Are you a Self Maker?

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 04:09:00 +0000

Be a #SelfMaker

*** Updated September 5th***

**** Last night I attended a Blue Jays game with 3 random people I did not really know. I randomly invited 3 strangers via Social Media-Twitter specific. I have met 3 new friends & everything went well. Thanks to @NadiaPR @GavinGraham & @andreaLG for a great evening & I look forward to continuing the friendship with all of them. Be a Self Maker & challenge assumptions. Your confidence and well being will benefit! :-) ****

Guys, have you ever done something really odd or unusual? Are you the type that can take chances and have the courage to just do it? If you're afraid to do something, shake it off and have the confidence to just go for it. Tonight I'll be attending the Blue Jays game with 3 people I hardly know. I'm sure they're all great people but I'm taking a chance with these folks who might not be as sociable or might be total worlds apart-it's all good.

The BlueJays are the hottest ticket in town. I could invite my friends & family but I've decided to just invite 3 randoms. Why invite 3 randoms? I say F!@# it & have fun! There will be 40,000+ fans who will be cheering with enthusiasm. Meeting 3 new people that eventually become new friends is worth it and I love learning from other people about life in general. If you always stay in your comfort zone, you don't progress. I want to find out what the world has to offer!! Maybe I think differently but I'm not too worried.. I want to experience life to the fullest and meet different people. Life is too short!! Sometime you need the motivation go do something out of your comfort zone. It's all about confidence! Watch this Thugli video below for some inspiration. Maybe you have what it takes to be a Self Maker! Stay tune to this post for an update on my evening at the Jays game. Wish me luck! #SelfMaker

Disclosure: This post is created in partnership with Axe Canada, however all opinions expressed are 100% my own. #SelfMaker

Canadian Pacing Derby & Metro Pace - Summer Night's at Mohawk. Sat. Sept 5th!

noreply@blogger.com (clickflick) — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 18:58:00 +0000

Do you have plans for this coming weekend? Join me this Saturday September 5th at Mohawk RaceTrack for the Canadian Pacing Derby & Metro Pace. It's going to be a fun filled day at Mohawk. The party starts at 5pm and goes throughout the evening. It's free parking and admission to Mohawk Racetrack. The first 2,000 guests will also receive a FREE T-Shirt with their First Bet On Us!

Canadian Pacing Derby 2015 T-Shirt-Free to 1st 2,000 with their First Bet Offer from Mohawk.

What to expect on Metro Pace September 5th:

- Life performances on stage.

- BBQ, Poutine, Corn on the Cob and much more.

- Strolling Entertainment for the carnival atmosphere.

- The Canadian Pacing Derby and great races to bet on!

Don't forget to Enter & WIN by taking a selfie by the track!

WIN $1,000 at Mohawk Racetrack Contest

Take a selfie at Mohawk & tag @MohawkRacing #OffToTheRaces and you could WIN $1,000

When you visit Mohawk Racetrack this summer, make sure to enter the selfie contest to WIN $1,000. Contest info below.

Details here: Mohawk Contest