Merry Christmas!

I'd like to wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas! I hope you enjoy this day with your family and friends! See you in the new year!

Christmas at Canada Place (Dec 1 - 31)

If you're looking for a family friendly Christmas event to go to, look no further! Christmas at Canada Place is a free event, with plenty of activities and attractions. There will be a skating rink (!), holiday train, a trip down memory lane with the historic Woodward's Windows, Christmas trees, a chance to try curling, and much  more!

Christmas at Canada Place is open all weekends, but closed Christmas day. Click here for the schedule and to find out more details.

Free Skating at Robson Square

What better way to get into the holiday spirit than some skating in an outdoor rink? Robson Square is opening their ice rink once again, and is free if you bring your own skates! Skate rentals will be available for $4 and a concession stand will also be on site. Check their website for skating times.

Vancouver Festival of Trees 2013

The Festival of Trees is happening again in Vancouver from now until the new year. Take a moment from your Christmas shopping and pop into the hallways of the Four Seasons Hotel in Downtown Vancouver and the upper level of Pacific Centre Mall to take a look at some very creative trees! Visitors can vote for their favourite tree, with a voting prize of a trip for two with WestJet Airlines!

More details about the Vancouver Festival of Trees can be found here.

Gingerbread Lane 2013 at the Hyatt Hotel (Nov 28 - Dec 27)

Gingerbread Lane is back at the Hyatt Hotel in Downtown Vancouver. There are tons of amazing gingerbread creations, from professional pastry chefs to students from secondary schools. You can vote for your favourite display between November 28 to December 27th. I went to take a look last year, and it was surprising how extravagent and detailed some of the gingerbread creations were. I highly recommend taking a stroll through Gingerbread Lane!

 Details about Gingerbread Lane can be found here.

BOGO Lipstick or Lip Gloss @ Shoppers Drug Mart (Dec 5)

Shoppers Drug Mart has released a new coupon that is valid for 3 hours only on December 5th, from 5-8pm. Buy any participating lipstick or lip gloss and get one free! You need to print out this coupon and bring it in stores to redeem this offer.

Gear Up for Cyber Monday!

If you missed the sales from Black Friday, Cyber Monday is coming up tomorrow! There have already been great sales on Amazon.ca during the weekend, and stores are also getting in on Cyber Monday by having all their sales online as well.

Some stores/sites are starting Cyber Monday sales tonight (around 7pm PST) so make sure to check the website of your favourite stores tonight!

50% off Starbucks Drinks Today Only! (Dec 1)

To kick off the beginning of December, Starbucks is offering 50% off any handcrafted beverage! In addition, $0.10 from every beverage purchased today will be donated to the RED fund, to help fight AIDS. This offer is good for cardholders only, so check your Starbucks app for the code!

Rogers Santa Clause Parade (Dec 1)

It's the Rogers Santa Claus Parade this Sunday, December 1st starting at 1pm! The parade will start at West Georgia and Broughton and wind through Downtown, ending at Howe and Davie. Bring your family to see Santa! The Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society will also be there to collect monetary or non-perishable food donations. Click here for more details about the parade.

Black Friday Deals on Nintendo Games and Consoles

Attention gamers! There are a ton of great deals on Nintendo products starting on Black Friday and running through the weekend (some throughout the week!). It's the perfect time to Christmas shop! Here are a list of the deals being offered:

Nintendo 2DS - $99 @ Walmart

Wii U - $269.99 + $50 gift card @ Futureshop and Best Buy

Nintendo 3DS with Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon - $149.99 @ Futureshop, Best Buy and Toys R Us

3DS games: Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, Animal Crossing: New Leaf - $24.99ea @ Futureshop and Best Buy

3DS games: Mario Kart 7 $24.97; Donkey Kong Country Returns $19.97 @ Toys R Us

Disney's Frozen - A Perfect Holiday Movie!

I had the opportunity to go to an advanced screening of Frozen last week, and I absolutely loved the movie! I brought my whole family and they all immensely enjoyed it. I think it's another hit for Disney! It's a perfect movie to take your kids to this holiday season. 

Here are some details about Frozen:

Walt Disney Animation Studios, the studio behind “Tangled” and “Wreck-It Ralph,” presents “Frozen,” a stunning big-screen comedy adventure. Fearless optimist Anna (voice of Kristen Bell) sets off on an epic journey – teaming up with rugged mountain man Kristoff (voice of Jonathan Groff) and his loyal reindeer Sven – to find her sister Elsa (voice of Idina Menzel), whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls, and a hilarious snowman named Olaf, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom. 

 

The film is directed by Chris Buck (“Tarzan,” “Surf’s Up”) and Jennifer Lee (screenwriter, “Wreck-It Ralph”), and produced by Peter Del Vecho (“Winnie the Pooh,” “The Princess and the Frog”). Featuring music from Tony®-winner Robert Lopez (“The Book of Mormon,” “Avenue Q”) and Kristen Anderson-Lopez (“In Transit”), “Frozen” is in theatres in 3D on November 27, 2013.

 

In “Frozen,” fearless optimist Anna (voice of Kristen Bell) teams up with rugged mountain man Kristoff (voice of Jonathan Groff) and his loyal reindeer Sven in an epic journey, encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman named Olaf in a race to find Anna’s sister Elsa (voice of Idina Menzel), whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. 

Frozen is now out in theatres on November 27th! Make sure to go see it!

Help send me to Sochi - Vote for my video! #BringItHome

I'm a huge fan of the Olympics and would love the chance to cheer on Team Canada in Sochi Russia for the 2014 Winter Olympics! I've entered myself into a contest from Samsung, who is sending two lucky winners to experience Sochi and share their experience with the world. I think I would be perfect for the job, and I need your help! I need to get as many votes as I can for my video!

Just click HERE to go to Youtube and click on the "Vote for This" button on the bottom left corner.

And viola, you're done! You can vote everyday until November 27th, when Samsung will judge the videos with the most votes. You can take a look at how the video looks like below, if you are having trouble finding it.

I would really appreciate it if you can spare a second to vote for my video! Fingers crossed I will be seeing you in Sochi!

Vancouver Christmas Market (Nov 22 - Dec 24)

The annual Vancouver Christmas Market is back at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza in Downtown Vancouver! Running from November 22 to December 24, 2013, this German Christmas Market is the perfect place to do some Christmas shopping! Bundle up and head on down with the family! There are over 45 booths to visit, with great selections of artisan crafts and delicious German foods and Christmas decorations to get you in the holiday mood! There will also be traditional European choirs and dance performances, kids activities, and a favourite – the carousel ride.

Tickets are available online, but make sure to check out the various coupon deals floating around. Many include half priced entry tickets and a carousel ride!

Free Sample Packs of Van Houtte K-Cups Coffee

One of my favourite coffee brands, Van Houtte, is giving away 20,000 free samples packs of K-Cups! You need to sign into Facebook to take advantage of this offer, but act fast as the samples usually go quickly. Get your free sample here.

Buy One Plushie, Get One for $1 @ The Disney Store

Right now the Disney  Store is running a pretty great promotion on almost all plush toys (excluding Christmas ones). Buy one plushie at full price and get a second one for $1! This includes plush toys of all sizes, even the really big ones! This offer is happening in-stores and online. I was going to buy the Peas-in-a-pod from Toy Story 3 and Kermit the Frog but decided I didn't need anymore toys. But this sale is definitely worth checking out, especially with Christmas just around the corner!

Candytown in Yaletown (Nov 23)

Get into the Christmas mood by visiting Candytown in Yaletown! Happening this Saturday, November 23, from noon to 9pm, this outdoor Christmas festival will be sure to help you kick off the holidays. Mainland Street will be transformed into a winter wonderland and local merchants and specialty markets will be selling unique gifts and treats. There will also be street performers and live music. Admission to this event is free so bring the whole family!

These are the featured activities:

•  “All I Want for Christmas” Gift Market
• Free Horse Carriage Rides
• Live Music
• Ice Carving Demo
• Visits with Santa
• Candy Making
• Yaletown Rotary Club Xmas Tree Lot
• CandyTown Cocktail Tour

For more details about the event, check out the Yaletown site here.

Cineplex $40 Gift Pack with Purchase of $40 Gift Card

It's that time of year again - the holidays are almost upon us, which means retailers are having some great offers for purchasing gift cards to their store or restaurant. The one I look forward to is from Cineplex, as I often go to the movies. This year isn't as great, but it would still be a good stocking stuff for the cinephile in your life!

Purchase a $40 Cineplex gift card at your local theatre and get a coupon pack that is worth $40. The coupons include:

• One 2-for-1 General Admission
valid from January 1, 2014-March 31, 2014 excluding Tuesdays – Redeem online

• One 2-for-1 Admission to Classic Film Series
valid from January 1, 2014-March 31, 2014 – Redeem online

• One free Upgrade to UltraAVX® (also accepted as an upgrade to 3D for theatres with no UltraAVX)
valid from January 1, 2014-March 31, 2014 – Redeem online

• One free small popcorn (upgradeable to regular for $0.50)
valid from January 1, 2014-March 31, 2014 – Redeem in theatre

• One half price nachos or poutine
valid from January 1, 2014-March 31, 2014 – Redeem in theatre

• One free 120g bag of M&M’s with the purchase of a large drink and large popcorn
valid from January 1, 2014-March 31, 2014 – Redeem in theatre

• $1 (plus tax) SD digital movie rental at cineplexstore.com (offer not valid in Quebec)
valid from January 1, 2014-March 31, 2014 – Redeem online at cineplexstore.com.

• PIN Code for 100 SCENE® points
valid from January 1, 2014-March 31, 2014 – Redeem online


You will only receive the coupon pack if you purchase a physical gift card. If you opt to do it online, you can get a bonus $5 gift card for a $50 gift card purchase. Don't wait to purchase your gift card because this is always a very popular deal and sells out fast. The offer is only good while quantities last. Details about this promotion here.

LEGO Brick Friday Promotion

"Brick Friday" is almost upon us, and LEGO will be having a 4-day promotion with an exclusive limited edition holiday set with a purchase of $99 or more. This is set 2 of 2 of the holiday series. The first one - Christmas Tree Farm - came out in October with the same minimum purchase. Make sure to head to your LEGO store early on November 29th to ensure you get your hands on this set. As well, there is a free holiday pick-a-brick box with a $75 purchase. I'm not sure if the staff will let you stack promotions, so you'll have to see at your store. As well, you will receive the chance to win an on-the-spot shopping spree of up to $1,000! I'd be in LEGO heaven for sure!

Earn More PC Points with the PC Plus Program!

Superstore has stepped up their game by introducing the PC Plus Program! You can now earn additional PC points when you shop at Loblaw owned stores, in addition to the 10 PC points per $1 you spend when you use your PC Mastercard or debit card. Offers are tailored to you that you can load onto your card for the bonus points. There are flyer offers and in-store offers as well. More PC points means more free groceries. And it's free to join! What's not to like? Find out more about the PC Points program here.

Disney's PLANES Flies Into Stores November 19!

Disney's PLANES is coming to Blu-ray and DVD on November 19 so now you can enjoy Dusty Crophopper and his friend's adventure. I really enjoyed the movie in theatres so I am very excited to add this to my collection.

“PLANES” is propelled by a star-studded voice cast that includes Dane Cook (“Louie,” “My Best Friend’s Girl,” “Dan in Real Life”) as Dusty, Stacy Keach (“The Bourne Legacy,” “Nebraska”) as Navy Corsair Skipper, Teri Hatcher (ABC’s “Desperate Housewives,” “Coraline”) as say-it-like-it-is mechanic Dottie, Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Veep,” “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” “Seinfeld”) as Rochelle, Priyanka Chopra (“Barfi!”) as Ishani, John Cleese (Monty Python, “A Fish Called Wanda”) as Bulldog, Carlos Alazraqui (James Garcia on Comedy Central’s “Reno 911”) as El Chupacabra, Roger Craig Smith (Captain America in Disney XD’s “Marvel’s Avengers Assemble,” voice of Sonic The Hedgehog in “Wreck-It Ralph”) as the world champion racer Ripslinger, Val Kilmer (“Batman Forever,” “Top Gun”) as Bravo and Anthony Edwards (TV’s “ER,” “Top Gun”) as Echo.

The Blu-ray combo pack is full of bonus features including:

- Deleted Scenes
- Exclusive - Franz's Song
- Top Ten Flyers - Count down the world's most famous aviators with host Colin Cowherd
- Meet the Racers
- Klay's Flight Plan

For any fans of the Cars franchise, Planes would be the perfect companion movie! Check out this extended sneak peek of the DVD below!

Pick up Planes in stores on November 19th!

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above was provided by the company for review. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Savvy Shopping, Deals and Reviews and have not been influenced in any other way.

LEGO Halloween Treat (Oct 31)

In celebration of Halloween, bring your kids to the LEGO store on October 31st dressed in their Halloween costume and receive a free LEGO Monster Fighters The Monster key chain, while supplies last. Looks like a neat little key chain, and I'm sure this freebie will go fast. Happy Halloween!

Delivery Man Advance Screening Passes Giveaway

DreamWorks Pictures’ “Delivery Man” stars Vince Vaughn as affable underachiever David Wozniak, whose anonymous donations to a fertility clinic 20 years earlier resulted in 533 children. David must now embark on a journey that leads him to discover not only his true self but also the father that he could become.

 

A DreamWorks Pictures and Reliance Entertainment presentation, the film is written for the screen and directed by Ken Scott, based on “Starbuck,” the original screenplay written by Ken Scott and Martin Petit, and also stars Chris Pratt and Cobie Smulders. “Delivery Man” is produced by André Rouleau and executive produced by Ray Angelic, Scott Mednick and Mark Sourian.

Delivery Man comes out in theatres on November 22 but one of my lucky readers will have the chance to attend an advanced screening on November 18th! The screening will be at 7pm at Silvercity Metropolis in Burnaby. Enter to win in the Rafflecopter form below.

* * * GIVEAWAY * * *

a Rafflecopter giveaway

50% off Select Used Games at Best Buy

From now until November 4th, Best Buy is offering 50% off select used games when you purchase online! Wow, that's a great deal! Most of the newer games have already sold out, but there might still be something you want available, so it won't hurt to check out this amazing sale!

Upcoming Disney Releases on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD

There are plenty of great Disney movies slated to come out in November on Blu-ray Combo packs and DVD. Just in time for the Christmas season! I know I wouldn't mind finding some of these in my stocking!

PLANES Blu-ray Combo Pack
Available November 19th

Disney's heartwarming family comedy, “PLANES,” revved up with high-flying action and adventure, lands in homes and mass retailers nationwide on November 19th.  This endearing underdog story about a crop dusting plane named Dusty with sky-high dreams touches down on Blu-ray, DVD, Digital HD and On-Demand featuring a cargo hold full of exciting bonus features. Guaranteeing hours of fun, “PLANES” is the perfect gift for “ladies and gentle-planes” of all ages this holiday season.

 

After spreading its wings in theaters, “PLANES” soars to glorious new heights on Blu-ray, featuring wondrous high definition picture and sound and never-before-seen bonus features, including musical number “Franz’s Song,” deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes featurette that follows Director Klay Hall’s personal journey during the making of the film, a look at the ten greatest aviators in history hosted by ESPN’s Colin Cowherd, and more.

 

The world of Cars takes flight in Planes, Disney's high-flying animated comedy revved up with action and adventure.  Join Dusty, a crop duster with sky-high dreams and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to take on the world's fastest flyers in the greatest air race ever. Dusty has a huge heart but two big problems...he's not exactly built for speed, plus he's afraid of heights.  His courage is put to the ultimate test as this unlikely hero aims higher than he ever imagined. With a little help from his friends, Dusty finds the courage to be more than he was built for—and the inspiration to soar.

 

MICKEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL: 30^th Anniversary Special Edition

Available on Blu-ray Combo Pack November 5^th  

Ring in the holidays with a new 30^th Anniversary Special Edition of Mickey’s Christmas Carol. Disney’s timeless tale sparkles like never before on Blu-ray and Digital Copy, with fully-restored classic holiday shorts, plus all-new bonus features!

 

Make the season merry as Mickey, Goofy, Donald and all their pals star in a heartwarming retelling of Dickens’ unforgettable holiday tale. Ebenezer Scrooge (Scrooge McDuck) is far too greedy to understand that Christmas is a time for kindness and generosity. But with the guidance of some wise ghosts (Goofy and Jiminy Cricket) and a bunch of newfound friends, Scrooge learns to embrace the spirit of the season. Share this wonderful holiday treat with the whole family!

WINNIE THE POOH: A VERY MERRY POOH YEAR

Available on Blu-ray Combo Pack November 5^th  

Get ready to ring in the season with a full-length adventure straight from the heart of the Hundred Acre Wood!  Join Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Roo and the whole gang in Winnie The Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year – now on Blu-ray™ and Digital Copy for the very first time. Newly re-mastered in digital high definition, this sparkling holiday classic is an inspiring celebration of friendship.

 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but Rabbit will only discover the true spirit of the season after his pals make misguided New Year’s resolutions to change – with hilarious and heartfelt results! Featuring beloved characters, delightful songs and fun-filled bonus goodies, this special “Gift of Friendship Edition” is sure to become a shared family tradition for generations to come!

 

THE LITTLE MERMAID II & ARIEL’S BEGINNING: 2 Movie Collection

Available on Blu-ray Combo Pack November 19^th

 

 

 The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea

All of your favorite characters from The Little Mermaid continue their adventures in this enchanting sequel to one of the most celebrated animated films of all time.  Even though her parents tell her merpeople and Atlantica are just “old fish tales,” Ariel’s daughter, Melody, dreams of being part of that magical world. In an unforgettable story that will take your breath away, all the good creatures on the land and under the sea must join forces to show Melody that both her worlds can live in perfect harmony.

 

The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning

One of Disney’s most beloved characters reveals the extraordinary events that led up to her transformation into a princess!  Long before Ariel walked on land and into Prince Eric’s heart, she was one of seven beloved daughters of powerful King Triton. But times were troubled in the underwater kingdom – and music was banned! In this magical adventure, Ariel, her fun-loving sisters, and her loyal friends Sebastian and Flounder strive to bring music and friendship back to Atlantica. Featuring breathtaking animation – and some thrilling surprises – The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning is an enchanting tale you’ll share with your family again and again!

 

JAKE AND THE NEVER LAND PIRATES: JAKE’S NEVER LAND RESCUE

Available on DVD November 19^th

 

 

 

In "Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Never Land Rescue," Jake embarks on his most heroic mission ever as the magic of Never Land begins to disappear just as the ancient Forever Tree seems to be fading away.  After a mysterious figure known as "The Guardian" arrives to explain that only the pirate who truly believes in himself can save Never Land from vanishing completely, Jake must break off from the rest of his crew and go alone on a mission to save the Forever Tree, the source of magic throughout all of Never Land.  Guiding Jake on his quest is Tinker Bell, who makes her first-ever appearance in the series.

Halloween ComicFest - Free Comics! (Oct 26-27)

A Halloween version of Free Comic Book Day, visit your local comic book shop on October 26 and 27, 2013 to pick up fomr free comics and mini-comics being offered for Halloween ComicFest! There are 22 different comics to collect. Find a participating retailer near you here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

LEGO City Fire Mini Model Build (Oct 10)

Wow, another mini model build from LEGO this month! In honour of Fire Safety Week, kids ages 6-14 can learn to build a LEGO Fire Plane model and take it home for free! There are approximately 150 per store and the even begins at 5pm. Go early, as these mini model builds are always very popular!

BrickCon in Seattle, WA (Oct 5-6)

A fan of LEGO? BrickCon is coming to Seattle on October 5 and 6! Come view thousands of LEGO models built by adult LEGO hobbyists from around the world. There are always very impressive models and MOC's (My Own Creation) whenever LEGO hobbyists are involved! You can try your hand at building too in the Building Zone.

Visit the Brick Bazaar to purchase current, past and custom LEGO sets, parts and minifigures!

The author of Brick by Brick, David Robertson, will also be there in person on Saturday morning to sign copies of his book.

Purchase your tickets for $9 here.

LEGO Store Mini Model Build - Witch (Oct 1)

The LEGO store is hosting their monthly mini model build tomorrow, October 1st, where kids can learn how to build a LEGO witch model and take it home for free. The event starts at 5pm and quantities are limited to approximately 250 per store. The offer is good only while supplies last. Make sure to go early as there are always huge line ups! One model per child, ages 6-14 only.

Free Shipping with Paypal (Sept 24 - Oct 11)

Paypal is offering to pay for your shipping when you shop from any popular Canadian and US online retailers from now until October 11th! This is a great time to do some pre-Christmas shopping! For a list of participating retailers, check here. Just use promo code PPFREESHIPPING.

Interior Design Show West 2013

The Interior Design Show West happened last weekend at the Vancouver Convention Centre and I went down to check things out. It's always fun to see the new and creative designs on display!

A few of the showrooms. There were definitely some over the top designs that aren't very practical but was very cool to look at, like the forest design!

Students were asked to design a grand piano that blended in with the room. It was very cute to see these model pianos!

Some more creative artwork.

Some cute dressers, and a living wall.

The Little Mermaid Diamond Edition Coming Out on Blu-ray Combo October 1!

One of my favourite Disney movie's is being re-released as a Diamond Edition Blu-ray/DVD/Digital copy combo pack - The Little Mermaid! Coming out on October 1st, fans young and old can experience one of the most celebrated animated films of all time. Venture under the sea with Ariel, a mermaid princess and her friends Sebastian and Flounder. Ariel longs to be part of the human world but has to strike a bargain with the sneaky sea with, Ursula.

There are over 3 hours of bonus features, including:

- Music Video - "Part of Your World" by Carly Rae Jepsen
- Crab-E-OKE Sing-Along
- Deleted Character - Harold the Merman
- Music In Movies
- Under the Scene
- Jodi Benson's Voyage to New Fanatasyland
- Behind the Scenes with Today's Top Disney Animators
- Plus much more!

Disney is also releasing a Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack so you can experience Ariel's underwater adventures like never before! This Combo Pack will include the Blu-ray 3D, a Blu-ray, a DVD, a Digital Copy, plus a 10 Music Track Download.

This is one of the Disney classics that I can watch over and over. The songs are fun to sing-along to (I still do!) and I'm very excited to add this movie to my collection.

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above was provided by the company for review. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Savvy Shopping, Deals and Reviews and have not been influenced in any other way.

Chill Winston Restaurant and Lounge - Kangaroo, anyone?

Located in the heart of Gastown, Chill Winston is a restaurant and lounge that serves some interesting things on the menu. It's a great place to grab dinner or a snack before heading to Guilt and Co, the pub below the restaurant, for some board games. J and I went there specifically for one item on the menu - the kangaroo. Ever since trying kangaroo tartare at the EPIC festival, J has been wanting to have more. We decided to go for a few appetizers and just share all the dishes.  

Crab cakes with peach chutney ($16). These were made with Dungeness crab and were delicious!

Bison Rillette ($12) - A cold dish, the bison is shredded to make it easier to spread onto bread. The sweet mustard seed sauce really complimented the bison.

Kangaroo ($16) - Kangaroo steak and kangaroo carpaccio underneath, with a small salad. Kangaroo has a very gamey taste, so avoid if you're not a fan. Kangaroo definitely tastes better raw!

Bone Marrow ($14.75) - Roasted beef bones served with onion relish and crispy shallots, mustard seed sauce and apricot jam.

The bone marrow was the only thing I wasn't expecting. I have had bone marrow before, but this looked just like fat. It spread out as a white fatty goop.

Everything was quite delicious, though a bit pricey. It was expected from a place in Gastown though! I was very disappointed in the bone marrow. I hope to try some of the other dishes next time I visit!

LEGO Store Grand Opening at Surrey Guildford Town Centre

With me coming out of the dark ages of LEGO collecting recently, I just had to visit the LEGO store during the grand opening weekend at the Surrey Guildford Town Centre last week. There was a different exclusive gift with purchase every day of the grand opening celebrations. Friday was a LEGO t-shirt, Saturday was the LEGO brand retail store set and Sunday was a minifigure pack.

J and I went early Saturday morning, and arrived about 30 minutes after the store opened. We were greeted with a line an hour long to get into the store, and peering in the store, there was another line winding around the store to pay for purchases. The exclusive retail store set was limited to the first 300 customers to spend $75 or more, and I was crossing my fingers that they did not run out before I got to the till!

I was able to get my hands on the exclusive set! The store was much like the one at Oakridge Mall, with all shelves packed with LEGO sets sorted by theme, and a pick-a-brick wall behind the cash. There were small stations where kids could play with LEGO, as well as a build-your-own minifigure station.

Afterwards we headed over to the atrium where a LEGO master builder was working on building a giant Hulk figure! There were trivia questions being asked with great LEGO sets as the prizes! J and I built 5 blocks each to contribute to the Hulk statue!

A miniature version of the Hulk that was being built.

Tons of green bricks!

Completed blocks.

Everyone working hard at helping out with the Hulk.

There are a lot of LEGO fans in Surrey, and from what I heard, this grand opening was a huge success! Fingers crossed that there will be a LEGO store that opens up at Metrotown? Happy building, everyone!

Lego Bricktober at Toys"R"Us

October is Bricktober month at Toys "R" Us, with tons of great Lego instore gift with purchases each week plus other exciting events!

Sept 27, 2013
Free Minifigure Vintage Collection 5 Pack (Vol 1) with a purchase of $75 or more of any Lego building sets

PLUS free Lego City Seaplane with a $30 or more purchase of Lego sets

Oct 19, 2013
Minifigure Trade In Event - bring in any Lego minifigure and trade it in for another one with a sales associate! Limit one trade per person, while supplies last.

Oct 26, 2013
Superman Make N' Take Event (11am - 1pm) - Build your very own Lego Superman Shield! Minimum of 100 per store, while supplies last.

There are other great in-store events happening all month. Check out the details and the full list of events here.

Vancouver Lego Games 50% off Admission Groupon

The Vancouver Lego Games is coming soon in October, and you can grab spectator admission passes for half off with this Groupon.

Happening October 26 at the Langley Events Centre, competitors will showcase their original designs and compete the prizes as well as a Viewer's Choice Award. There is also a Ready, Set, Build competition where participants have one hour to build a Lego model in response to a given theme. The Vancouver Lego Games is great for fans of Lego of all ages.

All proceeds from the sales of admission passes will go to The Lego Foundation and Love Global Foundation. For more information about the Vancouver Lego Games, check out their website here.

Toys R Us Playday - Free In-store Activities (Sept 14)

To kick off the start of the new school year, Toys R Us is hosting a Play Day - a fun-filled event with tons of make n' takes, games and giveaways! This will be happening in participating stores (Toys R Us Express excluded) this Saturday, September 14 from 11am to 1pm.

Some of the activities include:
• Build with Mega Bloks: Glam Style Barbie or Hot Wheels Rip Cord Racer
• Make a Mini Glitter Globe
• Moshi Monsters In-store Scavenger Hunt
• Test your skill with Hasbro’s Nerf Rebelle, B-Daman Break Bomber and Beyblade Octagon Showdown
• Crayola Extreme Coloring
• Monster High Make A Bag
• Test your skills with NHL rod hockey

Look for your closest Toys R Us here.

Scandal - The Complete 2nd Season Now Out on DVD

Scandal, the complete second season is now available on DVD!

Scandal is created by Shonda Rhimes (the creator of Grey's Anatomy) and is a political thriller television series starring Kerry Washington. It's a fast-paced show that will have you hooked after the first episode. Season 1 debuted on ABC in April 2012, with an 8-episode arc.

Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) is a "fixer", and runs a crisis management firm, Pope & Associates, and focuses on their staff as well as staff at the White House.

Season 2 picks up a few months after the end of season 1. Quinn's identity is exposed, Huck's dark past is delved into and Olivia's secrets are uncovered. Relive all 22 episodes of this explosive second season of Scandal, including exclusive, never-before-seen bonus features in this 5-disc set, that includes deleted scenes, outtakes, an extended finale, featurettes and more.

Watch as Olivia's "Gladiators in suits" heat up the boardroom and the bedroom in season 2 of Scandal!

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above was provided by the company for review. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Savvy Shopping, Deals and Reviews and have not been influenced in any other way.

Disney's Super Buddies Blu-Ray & DVD Review

Disney's adorable Buddies are back in an all-new action packed movie, Super Buddies. Their newest adventure takes the group of adorable talking puppies - Budderball, B-Dawg, Rosebud, Mudbed and Buddha on a quest to save the earth from aliens. On a ordinary day at Fernfield Fams, the puppies discover mysterious rings that grant them each a unique super power. The buddies then become caped crusaders, using their amazing abilities to rescue the planet from a shape-shifting bully, all the while trying to maintain their secret identities.

A great movie for the whole family, Super Buddies is action packed and filled with hilarious moments, with great new characters. It's a must have for fans of the "Buddies" series! Super Buddies is out in stores now on Blu-ray and DVD combo pack.

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above was provided by the company for review. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Savvy Shopping, Deals and Reviews and have not been influenced in any other way.

Purex Plus Oxi Review and Giveaway

I was invited to be a Purex Insider and was given a bottle of Purex plus Oxi to test out. I have used Purex in the past, but not regularly, and now that I work in a lab, my clothes get dirty quite often, so I was pleased to find out that this particular bottle of laundry detergent contained both Oxi and Zout, which are stain removers. My mum swears by Zout, and basically every time there is a stain on my clothes, she tells me to put a little Zout on it before throwing it in the wash. Purex plus Oxi is the most powerful Purex detergent available, specially formulated to fight over 101 different stains. Instead of buying seperate bottles of stain removers, you can now use Purex plus Oxi to pretreat tough stains! Just pour a little Purex plus Oxi onto the stain, rub the stained fabric together using your fingers, wait five minutes and then add your clothes into the wash as you would normally do.

Purex plus Oxi has been formulated to work in both regular and high efficiency washing machines. I really liked the light and fresh scent, which wasn't too overpowering. It also has a hypoallergenic formula and is perfect for everyday laundry or heavily soiled loads of clothing.

Please visit Purex Laundry for more information on Purex plus Oxi and other Purex products.

* * * GIVEAWAY * * * 

Want to try Purex plus Oxi for yourself? 2 lucky readers will win 1 coupon for a free full sized bottle of Purex plus Oxi laundry detergent (up to $8 value). Giveaway is open to Canadian residents only. Enter in the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above has been given free of charge from Purex for review. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Savvy Shopping, Deals and Reviews and have not been influenced in any other way.

Free Admission to the PNE - August 20

The Fair at the PNE is back, and they are once again offering free admission tomorrow, Tuesday, August 20th, from 11am to 1pm. It's a great time to bring the family down to check out what the Fair has to offer! Make sure to go early - it is always very busy on the free admission day, and there will be definitely be crowds and long line ups.

Crest Pro-Health - BzzAgent Product Review

BzzAgent has given me the opportunity to review a few of the Crest Pro-Health products. I have been using their toothbrushes and toothpaste for several years now, ever since the line was introduced, so I was quick to accept. I did have to pay $1 for the products, though the money was donated.

 
I received a Oral-B CrossAction Pro-Health toothbrush, Crest Pro-Health toothpaste and Crest Pro-Health multi-protection mouthwash.  Because I currently use these products, it was a no-brainer to write up a review.

The Oral-B toothbrush is one of my favourite toothbrushes I have used. I buy the ones with the soft bristles, and it has a large enough head that I feel really cleans my teeth as I brush. There are soft rubbery bristles on the sides of the toothbrush that also helps with the cleaning. As an added bonus, there are grooves on the back of the toothbrush head that you can use as a tongue scraper!

I received the Crest Pro-Health toothpaste in cool peppermint. I'm not a big fan of peppermint, and the toothpaste I currently use is Clean Mint flavour. The peppermint flavour is labelled ProFresh, and fights bad breath for hours. That sounds good to me! Crest Pro-Health toothpastes are a little grittier than I like, but it does leave a nice fresh and clean feeling after I brush.

Lastly, I tried out the Crest Pro-Health mouthwash. I rarely use mouthwash, and when I do, it's Listerine, but because Crest Pro-Health is an alcohol-free rinse, there is no burning sensation. It's definitely a lot more pleasant to use!

I think the three Crest Pro-Health products combined really leaves my mouth and teeth feeling clean and refreshed and I'll definitely continuing using this line. It's always great when I get to share my experience on products I already use! Have you tried any of the Crest Pro-Health products? Let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above has been given at a discount from BzzAgent for review. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Savvy Shopping, Deals and Reviews and have not been influenced in any other way.

Muppets Most Wanted Trailer

I am very excited for the next Muppets movie! The trailer for the sequel has just been released, and it looks pretty hilarious!

25% Off One Item at Chapters (Aug 9-18)

Just in time for back to school shopping, Chapters has released a coupon for 25% off any regular priced item in store. Print your coupon here. If shopping online, use code 25OFFONEBTS, but the code will not work for books online. This offer is only valid until August 18.

$10 Gift Certificate with Reserve and Pick Up Order over $100

Best Buy and Futureshop are promoting their Reserve and Pick up in store options by giving out a $10 gift certificate to use in the next 30 days when you place an order over $100. Reserve and Pick Up saves you time since the items you ordered will be ready for pick up in the store within 20 minutes if the items are in stock. Best Buy has recently renovated several of their stores to have a different section for customers to pick up their items. This is a good promotion for those who were planning on making a large purchase! This promotion is only running from August 1 to 2. Find out more details here.

Disney's Fall Movie Line Up

Disney has a full slate of movies being released this fall, and I'm pretty excited about them. They all look great, and I can't wait! See the movie synopsis and trailers below.

THE FIFTH ESTATE

Release date: October 18, 2013
 
Triggering our age of high-stakes secrecy, explosive news leaks and the trafficking of classified information, WikiLeaks forever changed the game. Now, in a dramatic thriller based on real events, “The Fifth Estate” reveals the quest to expose the deceptions and corruptions of power that turned an Internet upstart into the 21st century’s most fiercely debated organization. The story begins as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his colleague Daniel Domscheit-Berg (Daniel Brühl) team up to become underground watchdogs of the privileged and powerful. On a shoestring, they create a platform that allows whistleblowers to anonymously leak covert data, shining a light on the dark recesses of government secrets and corporate crimes. Soon, they are breaking more hard news than the world’s most legendary media organizations combined. But when Assange and Berg gain access to the biggest trove of confidential intelligence documents in U.S. history, they battle each other and a defining question of our time: what are the costs of keeping secrets in a free society—and what are the costs of exposing them?"
 

“The Fifth Estate” is presented by DreamWorks Pictures and Reliance Entertainment in association with Participant Media and is produced by Steve Golin and Michael Sugar, with Bill Condon directing. The screenplay is by Josh Singer, based on the book “Inside WikiLeaks” by Daniel Domscheit-Berg and the Guardian book “WikiLeaks” by David Leigh and Luke Harding. 

 

THOR: THE DARK WORLD

Release Date: November 8, 2013

Marvel’s "Thor: The Dark World" continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s "Thor" and "Marvel’s The Avengers," Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos...but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Christopher Eccleston, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano, and Jaimie Alexander with Rene Russo and Anthony Hopkins as Odin, “Thor: The Dark World” is directed by Alan Taylor, produced by Kevin Feige, p.g.a., from a story by Don Payne and Robert Rodat and screenplay by Christopher L. Yost and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, and is based on Marvel’s classic Super Hero Thor, who first appeared in the comic book “Journey into Mystery “ #83 in August, 1962. 

DELIVERY MAN

Release Date: November 22, 2013

From DreamWorks Pictures comes “Delivery Man,” the story of affable underachiever David Wozniak, whose mundane life is turned upside down when he finds out that he fathered 533 children through sperm donations he made twenty years earlier. In debt to the mob, rejected by his pregnant girlfriend, things couldn’t look worse for David when he is hit with a lawsuit from 142 of the 533 twenty-somethings who want to know the identity of the donor. As David struggles to decide whether or not he should reveal his true identity, he embarks on a journey that leads him to discover not only his true self but the father he could become as well.

FROZEN

Release Date: November 27, 2013

Walt Disney Animation Studios, the studio behind “Tangled” and “Wreck-It Ralph,” presents “Frozen,” a stunning big-screen comedy adventure. Fearless optimist Anna (voice of Kristen Bell) sets off on an epic journey – teaming up with rugged mountain man Kristoff (voice of Jonathan Groff) and his loyal reindeer Sven – to find her sister Elsa (voice of Idina Menzel), whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls, and a hilarious snowman named Olaf, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom.

SAVING MR. BANKS

Release Date: December 12, 2013 (limited), December 20, 2013 (wide)

Two-time Academy Award®–winner Emma Thompson and fellow double Oscar®-winner Tom Hanks topline Disney’s “Saving Mr. Banks,” inspired by the extraordinary, untold backstory of how Disney’s classic “Mary Poppins” made it to the screen.

When Walt Disney’s daughters begged him to make a movie of their favorite book, P.L. Travers’ “Mary Poppins,” he made them a promise—one that he didn’t realize would take 20 years to keep. In his quest to obtain the rights, Walt comes up against a curmudgeonly, uncompromising writer who has absolutely no intention of letting her beloved magical nanny get mauled by the Hollywood machine. But, as the books stop selling and money grows short, Travers reluctantly agrees to go to Los Angeles to hear Disney’s plans for the adaptation.

For those two short weeks in 1961, Walt Disney pulls out all the stops. Armed with imaginative storyboards and chirpy songs from the talented Sherman brothers, Walt launches an all-out onslaught on P.L. Travers, but the prickly author doesn’t budge. He soon begins to watch helplessly as Travers becomes increasingly immovable and the rights begin to move further away from his grasp.

It is only when he reaches into his own childhood that Walt discovers the truth about the ghosts that haunt her, and together they set Mary Poppins free to ultimately make one of the most endearing films in cinematic history. 

National Ice Cream Day - Free Ice Cream @ Cold Stone Creamery (July 21)

It's National Ice Cream Day on Sunday, July 21st and Cold Stone Creamery is celebrating by giving away regular-size Signature Creations ice creams to the first 200 guests, starting at 2pm! There will also be a contest for free ice cream for a year that you can enter in store. Sounds like a delicious event! Check participating locations here.

$30 Credit wub 2 Nintendo 3DS Games

Nintendo fans, this is a deal for you! Purchase Shin Megami Tensei IV and Fire Emblem Awakening for the Nintendo 3DS and register both by August 31, 2013 and receive a $30 credit for the Nintendo eShop. There are tons of great games (a lot of older classics) in the eShop, so it's definitely a deal worth looking into!

$2 Beverage after 2pm with Receipt @ Starbucks

Starbucks is once again offering a discounted beverage with your morning receipt. The offer is valid for any cold grande beverage after 2pm for only $2. Remember to hang onto your receipts from the morning to get this deal! Sounds like a lot of caffeine to me. Promotion runs from July 15 to August 11.

Pay with Interact, Get 100 Scene Points

Cineplex is running a promotion from July 5th until August 5th where you can earn a bonus 100 Scene points every time you purchase an adult movie ticket with your Interact debit or flash enabled debit card! You need to register your card here before you will receive the bonus points, and points will not be awarded until up to 3 weeks following the end of the promotion.

Happy Canada Day!

International Delight Iced Coffee - BzzAgent Product Review

International Delight has introduced three flavours of their new, ready-to-drink beverage, just in time for the summer! The iced coffee comes in three flavours: Mocha, Vanilla and Caramel Macchiato. Being a mocha lover, that's the one I opted to try first. I was pretty impressed with the taste - there is a distinct flavour of coffee and the perfect amount of sweetness, very similar to the bottled Frappucino drinks you can find at Starbucks. I didn't add any ice into my tumbler, as I found the coffee was cold enough when coming straight out of the fridge.

The iced coffee comes in a 1.89L carton with a price point of between $4-5, which is a very good deal if you consider that's how much it costs to buy a comparable iced coffee drink in a coffee shop! I know I will be enjoying the rest of the flavours throughout the summer! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above has been given free of charge from BzzAgent for review. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Savvy Shopping, Deals and Reviews and have not been influenced in any other way.

Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move - $9.99

For fans of puzzle games, Nintendo is offering Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move for the bargain price of $9.99, available exclusively on the Nintendo eShop for the Nintendo 3DS. Given that most Nintendo DS games run anywhere from $24.99-$39.99, $9.99 is a great deal for hours of entertainment! I have played the previous game, Mario Vs Donkey Kong: Mini-Lan Mayhem, and it's definitely a lot of fun. This new game, released May 9, 2013, has over 180 puzzles, four unique game modes, the option of creating and sharing your own puzzles, as well as downloading new ones to play. Find out how to purchase the game here.

Free Jay-Z Magna Carta Holy Grail Album for Samsung Users

Attention Jay-Z fans and Samsung users! Samsung is giving away one million digital copies of Jay-Z's new album, Magna Carta Holy Grail, to Samsung Galaxy S3, S4 and Galaxy Note II users on July 4th, 72 hours before it is available to everyone else!

Download the "Magna Carta Holy Grail" app through the Android Google Play Store and if you are one of the one million users selected, the album will appear in your app on July 4th. There is also exclusive content available in the app, including videos and song lyrics.

Nintendo Cross-Canada Tour (Jun 8 - Sept 2)

Nintendo is taking the Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS on a cross Canada tour this summer. It's your chance to play some of Nintendo's newest games including New Super Mario Bros. U, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, LEGO City: Undercover, Animal Crossing: New Leaf and also some titles that will be released later this year (Mario and Luigi: Dream Team, Game & Wario and Pikmin 3). There will be a photo booth for you to take fun photos to share with your friends, and also even win some fun prizes including tshirts, candy and photo frames when you spin the prize wheel.



The Nintendo tour will be in Vancouver August 24-25, 31-September 2 at The Fair at the PNE from 10:30am to 11pm.  

146 Bonus Scene Points on Canada Day

In Celebration of Canada’s 146^th Birthday, Cinepelx is offering 146 bonus Scene Points when you see any movie on Canada Day!

Hidden Gems in Monsters University

Fans of Disney Pixar’s feature films love to scour the screen in search of the Hidden Gems the filmmakers sneak into each film: WALL•E’s explorations uncover a Mike Wazowski antenna ball, paying homage to Monsters, Inc., and in Up, the classic Luxo Jr. ball can be seen in the girl’s bedroom as Carl Fredricksen’s house flies by her window. Disney*Pixar’s MONSTERS UNIVERSITY features a few such gems, three of which are revealed here:

 

 

A113 – The School of Scaring classroom number is A113, which refers to the former classroom of John Lasseter, Brad Bird, Pete Docter and Andrew Stanton at CalArts. The number makes an appearance in every Pixar feature film.

 

 

Pizza Planet – The Pizza Planet truck is in the driveway of the JOX fraternity house when Mike is riding Archie the Scare Pig down Greek Row. The Pizza Planet truck, which first made an appearance in "Toy Story," has made a cameo in nearly every Pixar feature film.

 

 

Luxo – The Pixar Luxo ball is in graffiti on the wall behind Claire Wheeler and Brock Pearson during their introduction to the Scare Games’ first challenge. Pixar Animation Studio’s groundbreaking short film “Luxo Jr.” was the first computer animated short film released by Pixar during its first year as a studio in 1986.