Thirsty Thursday: Rickard's Shandy ( @RickardsBeer Review & Giveaway)

There's nothing like a nice glass of lemonade or a cold beer on a hot day, especially after doing yard work. With the warm weather we've been having the hubby, kids and I have been enjoying the outside weather like crazy and while doing so getting our backyard together so we can enjoy our Summer.

That's why this week's Thirsty Thursday drink is Rickard's Shandy. This delicious drink combines both beer with a hint of lemonade. PERFECT for our hot Summers we always have here in Canada. I was super excited to try it since it seems Shandy's are becoming the drink to have this Summer. I've seen a lot of DIY ones on Pinterest and you know I plan on trying this Summer.

 I remember trying a different brand last Summer while visiting family in Ohio and thought it was good, but you could barely taste the lemonade. Now with Rickard's Shandy you can taste both beer and lemonade and I love that the beer doesn't power over the lemonade and vice verse. A great combination.

This is even a great drink to have to all you out there who don't like beer, I definitely recommend giving this a try, it's delightfully refreshing. With the long weekend coming up I'm definitely having the hubby pick up a pack of these so I can not only enjoy this smooth drink, but I'm going to be sharing it with family and friends, you should too!

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received a 6 pack of Rickard's Shandy at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. A big thank you to the PR company for providing the giveaway prize!

GIVEAWAY TIME!

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Blog Tour: Wonder Light: Unicorns of the Mist (Book Review)

Title: Wonder Light: Unicorns of the Mist 

By: R.R. Russell

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky 

Publication Date: Mmay 7, 2013

ISBN: 9781402279898

Pages: 248

Deep in the heart of a mist-shrouded island, an impossible secret is about to be discovered.
Twig is used to feeling unwanted. Sent to live on a pony ranch for "troubled" girls on a misty, haunted island, Twig is about to discover the impossible — someone who needs her.Jolted awake from a bad dream, Twig follows the desperate whinny of a terrified horse out to the stables. There in the straw is a bleating little scrap of moonbeam. A silver-white filly with cloven hooves and a tiny, spiraling horn.
A baby unicorn.
Now Twig knows what secret is hiding in the island's mist: the last free unicorn herd. And a mysterious boy named Ben who insists that this impossible creature is now Twig's to care for. That she needs Twig's love and protection. Because there's something out there in the deep, dense shadows that's hunting for them...

MY REVIEW

I was thrilled to be a part of the book tour for Wonder Light: Unicorns of the Mist. The first book in the Wonder Light series did not disappoint. This was a quick read and it was really good. It's recommended for kids nine and up, but my seven year old is reading this right now and she's loving every bit of it. I love that she has a passion for reading. I also love that we get to share our opinions and  have a great story to talk about with each other. 

I love how the story explores unicorns which makes us readers see them in a whole new way, definitely a great read for a variety of different readers. Not only do we have a story that explores the world of unicorns/ponies, but we also have some drama going on too. Don't worry, this story was written very smooth and with ease so even though there's a few different plots going on, it's very easy to follow and to understand. The beginning shares Twigs past and how she got to the ranch in the first place. 

I absolutely love the main character, Twig, her courage and will power to help save the unicorns along with the other girls and trying to keep the entire island safe just amazes me. She's exactly what a lead female character needs to be, loyal, brave and kind-hearted. I'm excited to see what book two has in store for us. 

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Wonder Light: Unicorns of the Mist at no cost for the purpose of this review and book tour. No other compensation was received.  

Have You Chilled with @TimHortons? #chillwithTims #Giveaway

The weather has been getting better and better. I'm so excited for Summer to get here. One of the things that I love to do with a couple of my girlfriends once a week is have a Timmies together. Either we go in or one of us will order and we'll hangout at someone's house. It gives us a time to relax, catch up and drink from one of our favorite places, Tim Hortons.

Right now Timmies has a contest going on where you can Chill To Win . With Chill to Win, customers of Tim Hortons who purchase any sized Iced Capp has the chance to win thousands of hourly prizes, including digital cameras, Coleman beach kits, daily prizes of $1,000 and one of ten $10,000 MasterCard® Prepaid card grand prizes. Winning is super easy – just peel the tab on the side of the cup to find a PIN code and enter this code at www.chilltowin.com for the chance to win.

To help us start chilling the right way, Tim Horton's is offering one Just Us Girls (Canada Only)readers a gift basket which includes a yoga mat, a beach tote and a $25 Timmie's gift card.

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Do You Know The Difference Between Government and Private Auto Insurance?

 I don't know about you, but there is a lot of information about insurance out there that could put a girl on overload. For instance, did you know there is a huge difference between Government and Private Auto Insurance?

 I knew there was a difference and would prefer private over government, but I wasn't aware of all of the information out there letting me know exactly what the difference was. There's so much information out there and not just what you read, but when talking to friends and family as well. So much information from different people and perspectives can drive you crazy. Thankfully with the help of IBC I was able to better understand the difference and learn a bit more. IBC has been working to make insurance less confusing. Thank goodness! Their Time to Talk campaign is all about showing us Ontarians how insurance works and what it means.

Check out some of the myths related to government-run vs. private auto insurance systems below:

GOVERNMENT

Limited choice for customers - Government-run auto insurance provides a

“one-size-fits-all” solution for consumers (e.g., fixed deductibles, no multi-vehicle discounts).

Fewer benefits - While it is true that the government-run insurers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan have lower premiums in dollar terms, consumers in these systems have far fewer benefits. BC is a tort jurisdiction. On paper the benefits are quite rich, there is no cap. In Manitoba, for example, an accident victim who is catastrophically injured has no right to sue for economic losses – including future lost wages – that are over and above a predetermined amount. Drivers have had the choice to opt out of no fault and chose to be in a tort system since 2003, but very few drivers chose this option.

  

Huge start-up costs - Depending on where you are in Canada, the average cost to establish a government-run insurance company would be $300-$500 million.

PRIVATE

Competition works - Auto insurance is purchased competitively in almost every jurisdiction in North America.

Insurance rates reflect true cost -Premiums in a competitive environment reflect the real cost of insuring a driver. Auto insurance premiums are set based on a host of factors that affect the frequency and cost of claims.

Employment - Private auto insurance systems provide vital injections of

investments, jobs and taxes into regional economies. The private insurance industry in Canada employs almost 100,000 people, either directly or through its support of a broker workforce.

For more information about both insurance, please feel free to check out IBC online.

Disclosure: This post is compensated. Although this post has generously been sponsored by Insurance Bureau of Canada, the opinions and language are all my own, and in no way do they reflect Insurance Bureau of Canada.

Book Review: Screwed by Laurie Plissner

Title: Scrweed

By: Laurie Plissner

Publisher: Merit Press

Publication Date: Mmay 18, 2013

ISBN: 9781440557101

Pages: 300

Flattered by the attentions of Nick, the cutest guy in school, seventeen-year-old Grace Warren, captain of the math team, lets down her guard and gets pregnant the night she loses her virginity. Hopeful that Nick will drop to one knee and propose when she breaks the baby news to him, Grace is heartbroken - Nick wants nothing to do with her. Her best friend, Jennifer, thinks she should get an abortion, but Grace is certain that her morally upright parents will insist that she keep the baby. After she comes clean to her super-religious, strait-laced parents, they surprise her by insisting that she terminate the pregnancy to avoid humiliating the family. But when she sees the fetus on the ultrasound, she decides she can't get rid of it. Deciding to save the tiny life growing inside of her, Grace must face the consequences of being that girl - the good girl who got knocked up.

MY REVIEW

This was such a good story. From beginning to end I couldn't put it down. I absolutely loved how real this felt  The characters, the situation, everything felt real and made me feel like if I was in the same situation I could totally relate to this girl. I loved how real the main character, Grace, was throughout the book. To get pregnant while in high school is something that a handful of girls go through. And the fact that there is a story like this out there to let girls know that they are not alone, is definitely something that should be read by not just girls who get pregnant in high school, but by all teenage girls.  Although there may not be a millionaire neighbor willing to take you in and help you out, the point is that you are never alone. there is always someone out there that's willing to help.

The relationship between Grace and Charlie was just too cute. I love how throughout the story their relationship grows and we see that. It doesn't happen over night, but love does happen there. Like most YA love triangle book there is always a good and a bad guy. I think the only thing I didn't like about this story was Nick, but his character was kind of there for you to not like him. Definitely a page turner, you see how much Grace grows as well as the relationships around her. Definitely a book worth checking out. 

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Screwed at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.