It is that time of year again, another school year will soon be coming to a close. Here at our house we care preparing for the end of year camp that my teen will attend with her school, and  all the other end of the year school activities. In the midst of doing this though we have been trying to get healthier and in doing so are choosing healthier snacks and cookies for our summer treats.

One of the treats we recently got to snacking on were Misura Pomegranate Biscuits. They were light and yummy and a healthy choice, which is always good right. They are imported from Italy which makes them better according to my teen after all, all the best foods come from Italy right?

Now here to celebrate the end of the school year I am giving away a Gift Basket filled with Misura goodness. Valued at $50

In the Basket

• 1 Misura apron
• 1 package of Misura No Sugar Added Oat biscuits This delicious low-fat yogurt shortbread helps kick-start your day or can boost your energy in the afternoon — without feeling tired later.
•  1 package of Misura No Sugar Added Cocoa biscuits Sweet and crispy, this low-fat shortbread contains hazelnuts, malt, and light cocoa. It is the ideal biscuit if you’re craving something sweet and still want to be mindful of your waistline.
• 1 package of Misura No Sugar Added Petit biscuits Thin and crunchy, this biscuit contains oat, wheat and malt flour. It is a great addition to a light breakfast or midday snack for kids.
•  1 package of Misura Whole Wheat Toast Tasty and crispy, this whole wheat toast contains 10 g of fiber per 100 g serving. It pairs perfectly with your favourite spread, and makes a great bread replacement any time of day.
•  1 package of Misura Six Cereal biscuits This biscuit contains the characteristic taste of cereal with 6.2% fiber per 100 g serving. It can be dipped in milk and used as part of a balanced breakfast, or taken on the go.
•  1 package of Misura No Sugar Added Pomegranate biscuits This biscuit strikes the right balance between sweet and crunchy. Infused with pomegranate, it is a great “better for you snack” for kids and adults alike.
• 1 package of Misura Whole Wheat pasta – penne rigate
• 1 package of Misura Whole Wheat pasta – fusilli
• 1 package of Misura Whole Wheat pasta – spaghettini
• 1 package of Misura Gluten Free pasta – spaghetti

A great way to start the summer right? To win fill out the form, and let me know what do you have planned for your summer?

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How will you be spending your Mother’s Day? If you are anything like me you will wake up to breakfast made by your kids. For me my teen has made this a tradition, then it is time for whatever gift she has made that year, and then we spend the day together. What better way to spend the day together especially if it is rainy, but then with a great movie and a bowl of popcorn.

We love our Netflix for this. We have been using Netflix for over a year now and love watching movies together. It is great family time.

This year there is a great line up of movies on Netflix all with a mom theme:

• Stepmom
• Erin Brockovich
• Monster-In-Law
• Georgie Rule
• Baby Mama
• Motherhood
• Mother’s Day
• Little Women
• Soccer Mom
• Mr. Mom
• Chocolat
• Riding in Cars with Boys
• Beautiful Lies
• Peace, Love & Misunderstanding

We love Baby Mama, and well I love Monster-in-Law. Which one would you pick to watch?

Now I love my Netflix account so much I am glad that Netflix Canada is letting me give you one of my readers a one year subscription and a Roku 2 Streaming device.

Leave a comment and let me know what is your favorite movie with a strong mom.

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With the weather starting to warm up and the end of the school year on the horizon, a lot of us are starting to think about our summer travel plans. But how do you make travel dreams a reality when you’re on a budget? I spoke to Dian Emery, Managing Editor of travel site GirlsGetaway about her tips for travelling on a budget.

Our chat started with our favourite vacation spots and must-see places. Dian’s include a small town in Mexico, Bangkok, Thailand, and Savannah, Georgia while mine are Carlsbad, New Mexico, Jasper National Park, and New York City.

So, how can you travel without breaking the bank? Dian and GirlsGetaway offer the following tips:

1. Use discount sites. Dian suggests checking out online discount sites next time you’re planning a trip. You can save yourself a bundle and still have a great time away. Sites like WagJag and Groupon offer some great travel options at a good price.
2. Avoid high season. By travelling in the off season to the destination of your dreams, you can often find a great deal. For example, we talked about my desire to go to Disneyworld in Florida at Christmas for my 50^th birthday next year. Dian suggested that going a month earlier in early November (when the weather is still nice) would save me a bundle. Happy Birthday to me!
3. Get rewarded for your spending – without changing your habits. Dian recently signed up for the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, and she already loves it. By using a card that rewards you for your existing spending habits, you can easily rack up points. Dian’s card offers 4x the points on everyday purchases like groceries and gasoline. In just four months, she has earned enough points to help pay for a trip to Scotland that she will be taking later this year (after all she earned 38,345 pts in just 4 months) . Her usual trips to Longo’s make her smile now that she’s earning points towards travel (and when you have a teenager in the house I can certainly understand that one).
4. Stay loyal to loyalty programs. If you’re not a frequent flier, it can take time for points to add up, but once they do, they can offset the cost of a dream trip. Dian participates in many airline loyalty programs and other plans, which all allow her to take some great trips.

Dian’s tips and advice give me hope for travelling on a budget. After all, I do use my loyalty cards quite a bit and I love a great discount. It was also great to learn about her experience with the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card. I have a few friends carrying this new card in their wallet, and so far everyone is very happy with how quickly and easily they are collecting points. With no blackout dates or points expiry, imagine travelling without limitations.

How do you travel and stay on budget?

*This post is brought to you by the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card. I do receive compensation however these tips are gold. This completes a series of posts brought to you by  the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card. As always the tips and opinions are mine and those I have chatted with. 

Yesterday, I went shopping at my third Target location, I have already visited two in the city but it was time to go to the one closest to my own home. This location is at the Cloverdale Mall and it was  part of a Collective Bias Social Fabric shoppers insight survey. Before I left the house though I checked out the Target flyer and checked the Target website for coupons. Did you know that Target has their own coupons? You can access them here.

Did you know you can use coupons from Target?

The great thing about Target and coupons: you can stack them! Which means if Target has a coupon and you have a manufacturer’s coupon you can use both, and think if that item happens to be on sale that week, you are a big winner!

So after checking the flyers and coupon site it was time to head out and check this new location, The first thing I noticed at the mall entrance there is no regular checkout just self serve, so if you are going to the mall if you like having a cashier you may want to park at the other end of the store. I love how clean and new the store is even after being open for a month.

Now just as the Leafs are finally in the playoffs it was great to notice Fan Central. If you are a Jays or Leafs fan this may just be a great place to stock up on gear.

I then was wandering and all of a sudden on of my favorite musicians poster was staring straight at me. Who doesn’t love Michael Buble? Did you know that just for Target customers you can get 3 exclusive tracks of music?

I then breezed by the womens section to check out the sandals that are on for $15, and the accessories. Got to love the Kate Young ones that I noticed. I also found a super cute bracelet that is going to make a great gift for a friend who’s birthday is around the corner.

Then if was off to the office gear for an item on my list. I needed a new coupon organizer. The Organizher line has been a favorite of mine for years and I am so glad that it is now up here in Canada as it is exclusive to Target. I took a look at all the great items they have in the line that can keep a mom organized. I love the password keeper and the month at a glance both are a great help.

After that the next two things on my list were a new lipstick and a new mascara. The CoverGirl lipsticks were on sale so a got a pretty new shade for spring and everyone knows you are supposed to replace your mascara every three months so did that too.

Then it was time to hit the grocery aisles. I loved seeing so many organic, gluten free and healthy items on the shelves to keep me on my diet. I did pick up some Red Velvet cupcakes, coconut water, and a couple of bottles of Gatorade for my daughter. I was also very impressed by the price points in the grocery section and with price matching this might just be where you find this frugal mom hanging out.

So got all my shopping done, and so deserved a treat so stopped off at the in-store Starbucks for a Lemonade.

Over all I am loving this location and it is so close to home but what is even better next year there will be a Target store just a ten minute walk away, at the Stockyards.

You can always check out all the photos from my shop in my Google+ photoalbum

*I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study forrel=”nofollow” Collective Bias® #cbias #SocialFabric” and as always my opinions are my own. 

getting an oxygen facial

Last Wednesday night I was invited to a media event for SpaWeek that starts today in Toronto. Thanks to WaySpa.com I got to partake in sampling some great pampering.  Spaweek starts in Toronto today (as well across North America). What a great way to take of yourself on a budget.

Here in Toronto there are 21 spas that offering great $50 deals on several of their services. You can find the complete list of spas that are participating here. Make sure you book your appointment as early as possible as I do think with these great deals many of these spas will be super busy.

At the event last week we got to sample oxygen facials, hand massages, parrafin treatments, and manicures.

This week some of treatments that you can get for $50 include:

• oxygen facial
• hotstone manincure and pedicure
• deadsea body scrub treatment
• honey glow body polish with swedish massage
• foot massage with parrafin treatment
• microdermabrasion
• glycolic peel
• therapeutic massage

These are just a few of what are being offered so if you are in need of some pampering this week this is a great way to get your favorite treatment at a bargain price point. As for me I am headed for a hotstone manicure pedicure at the Caesar Spa downtown. What is your favorite spa treatment?

*This is not a sponsored post, just a way of sharing a great deal here in Toronto this week. 

It is April it means that it is time for the Ultimate Blog Party hosted by my friends Susan and Janice from 5 Minutes to Mom. If you are visiting from the blog party welcome to Common Cents Mom, I am Hollie the owner and creator of this blog, and I want to thank you for popping in.

Join me for a cup of Moroccan tea- it is a mix of green and mint (and my favorite that I start my days with) or perhaps a cupcake and let me share what you will find here at Common Cents Mom.

I am a mom in my 40′s who has been blogging for over 10 years now and it basically started as an online journal, and then I started doing the occasional review and giveaway. I now do a few giveaways each and every month. I live a frugal and fun life, and enjoy sharing it with my readers. I am also the host of the #cdnmoney chat on Twitter each Wednesday night from 7-8 pm EST where we talk about all kinds of money topics.

I am a solo flying single momma with one teen daughter and our passions are music, being creative, cooking and me while I am trying to get healthier and kick some old bad habits but aren’t we all?

You will find I write about frugal living, family life, money, blogging and social media, and even an opinion post every once in awhile. What do you write about?

Now for years I was an avid scrapbooker and well since we have gone to the days of Instagram and SLR’s I found that I love to create books and well since you stopped by to visit I am hosting a special giveaway for my readers this week that even comes with a discount you can all use this weekend.

We love Blurb Books in our family and well one reader well they win a $40 credit to Blurb Books.

Blurb books has a wonderful new designer collection that if you like to take photos you will really want to check them out. Now for my readers I have a very special discount you can use but just for the week so if you want to check out Blurb this is the weekend to do it.

Promo code for 25% off: BLOG414

Just to let you know I will be having another give away early next week and it involves Toronto’s favorite team the Blue Jays and it is a pretty big give away so if you live in or near Toronto you will want to make sure you come back to visit again.

To win the Blurb Books giveaway fill out the Rafflecopter.

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Fine Print:* Offer valid through April 14, 2013 (11:59 p.m. local time). A 25% discount is applied toward your product total. Maximum discount is CAD $100 off product total. Valid for printed books only. This offer is good for one-time use, and cannot be combined with volume discounts, other promotional codes, gift cards, or used for adjustments on previous orders.

**Giveaway is only open to Canadian residents and will end at the end of the Ultimate Blog Party on Friday April 12th at midnight. 

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Shopping for kids I found super easy but as my daughter gets older I actually had to think about what I would be buying for my teen for Easter. What gifts do you buy for a 15 year old girl for Easter? What are some great gift ideas for teens at Easter?

My teen daughter has some favorite stores so I hit them up to get some ideas.

First she loves Lindt chocolate so a small Lindt bunny and a bag of eggs had to be part of her basket as well as some Kinder because well she still loves the toys.

Then my daughter would live in the Lush stores if I let her. So I headed there and well they had some lovely Easter soap and bath creations.

Lush for Easter

Then I headed over to Old Navy and picked her up a sweet t-shirt in her favorite color. Then I headed to Ardene where I rounded out her basket with some colorful knee high socks and some earrings. I then hit Dollorama just for some bubbles, cause at 15 well she still likes bubbles.

So this is her basket when all is said and done.

My teen’s Easter Basket

If you have teen daughter’s in your house what are you putting in their Easter baskets? By the way the basket I am using is thanks to being a #Kindermom ( yes I am reusing because well I am frugal).

*This is not a sponsored post, just wrote about ideas and suggestions that we love here using brands and stores we use and wear on a regular basis. 

Entire price of basket basket of goodies $50.00 right on budget.

Target Canada has arrived in Canada and they have been doing several soft launches of the new stores but the real Grand Opening with celebrities and all was last night at the Danforth Store.

Let’s just say this Target Canada has done road tours, and many events leading up to the launch and I had seen a few via their Twitter and Facebook feeds but to get an invite to the launch was more then a nice treat. I took my 15 year old daughter along for her first Target experience.

I thought that was only fitting as the very first outfit my daughter ever wore in her life was from Target( We lived in New Mexico, and I loved the Ruidoso store)..so only fitting she was there as the brand was brand new in Canada.

Target definitely knew how to throw a launch with celebrities and all. Who can say they shopped the same aisles as Elisha Cuthbert, Sarah Jessica Parker and Blake Lively. Me. I think Blake adored the Nate Berkus line. She spent a bit of time in Housewares.

There were so many food stations and bars all throughout the store and the cake pop bar and candy bar scored big with my daughter as did the man making smoothies by riding a bike. My daughter after shopping for her new Easter outfit spent much of night dancing. With Just Dance set up she was guaranteed to have fun.

My teen loved Just Dance at the Target Launch

We also loved getting our pictures taken with Bullseye the mascot of Target and boy is that dog ever well behaved and trained. Our pictures are already on the fridge.

Us with Bullseye

So after 3 hours of shopping and fun what did we come home with? 5 bags full of new things for my teen and my house. My only disappointing moment was that I could not shop for me, as Target Canada decided not to bring the full plus line north of the border. I was actually very jealous of my teen who tried on cute item after cute item. If you are a plus woman you won’t be shopping at Target in Canada for yourself anytime soon unless you wear a XXL ( a size 18) or smaller. Guess I will have to save my money for my next road trip south of the border. Wishing Target.com shipped to Canada.