EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS KIT for BOREDOM! #Ad #Streamteam @Netflix_CA

Channel your inner Boy Scout and Be Prepared!
Starting with an Emergency Preparedness Kit for Boredom.

As a Netflix Streamteam member I receive special perks for my participation. Opinions are all mine.

School is out for the winter break, no more schedules, homework or early mornings. No more making lunches, and rushing for the bus. Woo Hoo!

The holidays start out... 

And quickly turn to ...

But no need to worry because Netflix has you covered ...

Just in time for the holiday hustle and bustle: Netflix-To-Go. Netflix members can download and watch select shows and movies to watch off-line on Android and iOS phones and tablets at no extra cost. The kids can watch some of their favourite shows while you take care of your To Do List, during holiday travel, or recover from your turkey coma. 

AND

December 23rd starts your adventure access with 13 hours of a new Netflix series called Tr0llhunters.

AND

A plethora of Holiday movies and shows for the whole family, 10 Netflix's New Year Eve Early Countdowns for the kids Countdowns, and some classic  New Year's Eve Shows and Movies for the adults once the kids are tucked away in bed. Who has time to be bored with all this fun going on.

All that's left for you to do ...
Is to add your favourite snacks and drinks, and you're all set for a stress and bored-free holiday season. 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking about a boredom-free holiday.

Disclosure: As a member of the Netflix Streamteam I receive special perks for my Streamteam participation, posts and sharing. All opinions are my own.

Streaming Ideas for #NewYearsEve: #WhatToWatch #What2Watch #W2WW

Time to Decide: 
What To Watch on New Year's Eve? 

(Please Note: My What To Watch posts are not sponsored, nor am I compensated for them.)

For me New Year's Eve means hats, noise makers, a glass of bubbly and counting down to the kiss at midnight. Whether you're celebrating New Year's Eve out on the town, or quietly at home it's all about sharing it with family and friends. For those staying in, why not stream into the new year sharing a movie or two with classic New Year's Eve scenes, some fun New Year's Eve episodes of you're favourite shows, or one of the recently added binge worthy series listed below. 

Movies: with New Year's Eve Scenes:

• An Affair to Remember
• Are We There Yet?
• Ghostbusters 2
• Out of Africa
• Sex in the City: The Movie (2008)
• Survivor 
• The Fabulous Baker Boys
• The Waterboy

Shows: New Year's Eve Episodes:

• Family Guy: Season 2, Episode 3 "Da Boom"
• Friends: Season 5, Episode 11 "The One with the Resolution" and Season 6 Episode 10 "The One with the Routine"
• Full House: Season 4, Episode 13 "Happy New Year"
• How I Met Your Mother: Season 1 Episode 11 "The Lime"
• Mad Men: Season 4, Episode 3 "The Good News"
• That 70's Show: Season 8, Episode 22 "The 70's Finale"
• The Office (US): Season 7, Episode 12 "Ultimatum"

Recently Added Binge Worthy New Year's Eve Streaming Ideas:

• Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency 
• Glitch
• Halt and Catch Fire
• Jane the Virgin 
• Minority Report 
• Paranoid 

Happy New Year and Best Wishes for 2017!

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about What to Watch New Year's Eve.

NOTE: My What To Watch posts are not sponsored, nor do I receive compensation in any form for these posts. The purpose of these posts is merely to share something I believe interests my readers. They are separate and unrelated to my participation with the Netflix Streamteam. 

My @Netflix_CA 1,2,3 Binge Routine: #SeriesMovieSeriesRepeat #Ad #Streamteam

Like more than 30 million Netflix members, I too have adopted a Binge Routine of:

Series, Movie, Series, Repeat.

First things first ...

Disclaimer: As a Netflix Streamteam member I receive special perks for my streamteam participation, posts and sharing. Of course all opinions are my own. But, the truth is I was a Netflix member and writing my What To Watch Wednesday posts long before I became part of the Netflix Streamteam. 

Series - Movie - Series, or what I like to call a Netflix Binge Sandwich ... 
The series being the bread with a delicious filling of movies. Alone they're good, but together they compliment each other and become something great. My taste in binge sandwiches tends to be eclectic, especially this time of year with the added flavour of cheesy Holiday shows. 

It all started here ...
It was while doing some streaming "research" for my #WhatToWatch posts I developed my current series-movie-series, repeat pairing and binge routine (some would say addiction), which I believe differs slightly from the majority. In fact for ages I knew of only one other person with the same pairing and binge sandwich tastes. The binge bond was immediate! (Fighting!)

Subtitles: feel the fear and stream it anyways!
I 've never shied away from subtitles, and because of this I stumbled upon a Korean Rom-Com series. One lead to another and then another, and soon I ran out of Korean TV Dramas, and moved to other Asian TV Dramas set mostly set in Taiwan (Mandarin) or set in Japan (Japanese). But there's no need to stop there, I've found loads of other great series in other languages Club de Cuervos and Velvet in Spanish, Rita and Dicte in Danish, Deep and Witnesses in French, and a plethora of Bollywood movies. 

Ponder this and ponder that ...
Anyways ... back to my Asian TV Dramas. Lately I've been taking note of some differences and similarities between the dramas set in Korea, vs Taiwan vs Japan. And pondering things like: 

• Why Roots Canada Apparel appears in every series set in Taiwan (like I mean EVERY one!)
• Why are Koreans and Taiwanese so clumsy? They're constantly tripping or bumping into each other and accidentally kissing? Stunned they seem unable to move from the lip-locked position for ages. Yet their footing is so good while doing martial arts? Hmmm ... ponder ponder.
• Why the spoons in the Korean series are different than the ones in the Taiwanese series? 
• Why those cool slipper closets in the Taiwanese series haven't caught on in Korea (or at least not in their TV dramas).
• Why in the Korean series, do some but not all characters turn the faces away to the side or cover their mouth or both when drinking alcohol? 
• Why is there so much more tea drinking in the Taiwanese dramas? 
• Why the Japanese do not seem to have adapted the most awesome of terms "Fighting" accompanied by a fist pump?
• The rules and customs around name usage: It's clear there are rules about how and when one can shorten a name that indicate either a formal or casual relationship, I just can't figure out what the rules are. 

I had no one to talk about these observations and ponderings. The eye rolling evil offspring or Hubby weren't of any use in this area. I thought I was forever destined to ponder these things alone, until one day over breakfast, I casually mentioned my love of Korean TV Drama to a friend, and then one became two. She too craved the delicious taste of an Asian TV Drama sandwich with a Cheesy Rom-Com filing.

It's a thing. Honest!
For ages we went merrily along discussing what series had been recently added, which ones we like best, new items to add to our ponder list, and practising our "Fighting" with fist pump action moves, blissfully unaware it was "a thing". Only much later did I realized the degree of popularity Asian TV Drama had among English-speaking Caucasians. So much so they actually made a funny series about it called Drama World, which just happens to be currently available on Netflix. 

Subtitles and Multi-tasking do not go together.
Subtitles require focused streaming, and I like a break between series to watch movies in English (usually cheesy rom-coms) so I can write posts like this one at the same time. Something I can't do while reading subtitles. Lately there has been an abundance of both cheesy rom-coms and Asian TV Dramas so I've been busy trying to watch those and all the fun holiday movies and specials. 

Easy as 1, 2, 3 ...
This time of year I take on the 1, 2, 3 approach to series-movie pairing. 1 Asian TV Drama, 2 Cheesy Rom-Coms, 3 Holiday Movies or Specials.
For Example:

With so many great series and movies currently available on Netflix I hope you find your perfect series, movie, series pairings. But just in case you need some inspiration, be sure to check out these fabulous series and movies:

Series

• The Crown (2 thumbs up!)
• Minority Report
• Shetland
• ARQ
• Offspring (2 thumbs up!)
• Death in Paradise
• Uncle
• The Musketeers
• Spotless (2 thumbs up!)
• The Divider

Movies:

• Whisky Tango Foxtrot (2 thumbs up!)
•  MI-5
• RED and RED 2
• Mr Right
• The Big Short
• Ant-Man
• Eddie Eagle
• The Heat
• The Fundamentals of Caring (2 thumbs up!)
• Who's Driving Doug (2 thumbs up!)

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about my streaming routine. 

Again, full disclosure I receive perks as a Netflix streamteam member for streamteam participation, posts and sharing. My What To Watch posts are not part of my streamteam activities and I am not compensated for these posts. I write and share my What To Watch posts because I believe they are of interest to my readers. The opinions ... well those are all mine!

My Lists of #Holiday Streaming Options #streamteam @Netflix_CA #Ad #WhatToWatch

A Daily Dose of Holiday Streaming ...

So much holiday streaming ... so little time! Family Friendly, Cheesy Romances, and Comedies oh my! Below are some lists I put together of Holiday Streaming options as of Dec 5th, 2016. 
May your days and nights be filled with love, laughter and cheer!

Family and Kid Friendly Holiday Movies & Shows:

Cheesy Holiday Romances:

Comedies (check rating for suitability):

Happy Holiday Streaming! 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about holiday streaming.

Note: As a Netflix Streamteam member I receive special perks for streamteam participation, posts and sharing. All opinions are my own. 

Hunt for Best Italian Sandwiches in #Ottawa #BucketListOtt #FordEscape @FordCanada

There's nothing more satisfying than the perfect sandwich, but one must know where to find such a sandwich. Thus began my Ford Escape #BucketListOtt adventure, and my hunt for the best Italian Sandwiches in Ottawa. 

Having Italian born In-Laws, holding the position of "mangia-cake" daughter-in-law for almost 25 years and spending nearly 2 months in Italy, I feel I've gained the necessary expertise required for my quest for Ottawa's best Italian "sangwiches". 

In my opinion a truly great Italian sandwich comes down to three things.

• Fresh, high quality ingredients. 
• Getting that perfect balance of tastes, flavours and toppings. (including the meat being sliced paper thin, or as my father-in-law would say "almost see through")
• Pride of workmanship and a desire on the part of the maker to create the best sandwich "experience" possible. 

Not really that different than Ford Canada's approach to the Ford Escape: fresh and innovative technology and features, a good balance of design, functionality and options, and pride of product and a desire to create the best driving experience possible. I was surprised how many of the Ford Escape's features came in handy in my efforts to secure the best Italian sandwiches in Ottawa. 

So with some very helpful hints from Lesley at Campbell Ford and a Ford Escape Titanium Model, I narrowed my search down to five sandwich experiences, one for each weekday of my adventure. Each location came with it's own set of challenges made easier by features available on the Ford Escape. 

Monday: Pesto's Italian Delicatessen (Hazealdean Rd. - Kanata)

Pesto's instantly brought back memories of Italy and the type and taste of sandwiches I had there. 
Pesto's is tucked away in a strip mall so SYNC3 and the voice activated navigation system in the Ford Escape I had came in very handy.

Tuesday: Di Rienzo Grocery & Deli (Little Italy - Ottawa)

At Di Rienzo's you'll get the classic Italian-Canadian sandwich; Crusty fresh bun meat and cheese. Simple, but oh so good.
I wouldn't believe the parking challenges at Di Rienzo's had I not lived it. Even without people just parking their car behind mine, blocking me in while they went to order their sandwich (which no sensing system in the world can help with), reversing out of this spot required the rear view camera, rear sensing system, BLIS with cross traffic alert and my husband's help. I wouldn't have even attempted to park here without reverse and side sensing assistance. Comical really ... I was channelling my inner Italian and talking with my hands. My Italian father-in-law would have been impressed ... with the hand talking not what I was thinking. 

Wednesday: Frank's Baked Goods & Catering (Greenbank at Hunt Club - Ottawa)

Frank's offers a very large list of delicious sandwiches for $5. I've never been there when there wasn't a long lineup of fans waiting to order their favourite sandwich. For me it is #26.
Frank's is located in a busy strip mall with a small parking lot. The Ford Escape's voice activated navigation system and the rear sensing system make for easy and safe sandwich retrieval.

Thursday: Misto Fine Food Shop (Hampton Park Plaza, Carling Ave. - Ottawa)

If made to order sandwiches on a fresh bun is your thing you'll be a fan of Misto. 
The day I went to Misto it was raining, and the parking lot is busy. The front variable intermittent wipers are a great standard feature on a rainy day, as was the the rear sensing system. 

Friday: Cafe Postino (Almonte - 30 min drive west of Ottawa)

Our final sandwich destination was Cafe Postino in Almonte, Ontario. This was the only sit down restaurant on our 5 day sandwich hunt so the price point was higher, but the ambiance and the meal was very nice. It is a beautiful 30 minute drive which makes a perfect date or afternoon adventure. 
Our Ford Escape took us through both highway and city driving, and we not only used the navigation system to get us there, but also enjoyed eighties tunes on SiriusXM radio. The small town of Almonte was very busy with cars and pedestrians due to a craft show, so an eagle eye and the ability to turn on a dime and parallel park without hitting moving targets (did I mention it was really busy!) were absolutely imperative. It also happened to be a chilly day so I appreciated the heated steering wheel, Dual Zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control and the km to empty indicator.

Honourable Mentions: going to La Bottega which although not on this adventure's itinerary, I have visited many times in the past.  

Honourable Mentions: go to these Ford Escape features and options:
(Note: Some of these available options may have additional costs associated with them)

Cool Colour that matches my highlights! 

Heated Steering Wheel

Foot-Activated Hands-free Power Liftgate

KM to Empty indicator

SYNC3 with voice activated navigation system

Sirius XM Radio

Enhanced Park Assist
Adaptive Cruise Control
Auto Start-Stop Technology: This feature generated much conversation between Thing 2 and my Hubby. They both speak the mystical language of tech. What I heard was bla bla bla ... very cool bla bla 

Sadly my BucketListOtt hunt for the best Italian Sandwiches in Ottawa, and my time with the Ford Escape has come to an end, but I hope I've inspired you to explore your Ottawa and go beyond the Diefenbunker. 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Italian "sang-wiches".

Note: I received the use of a Ford Escape for one week, and compensation to cover my #FordEscape #BucketListOtt Adventure expenses, which I chose to be My Hunt for Ottawa's Best Italian Sandwiches. I was not compensated by the sandwich makers in any way. All opinions are my own.

Because I refuse to compromise on style or functionality: @BesideU_Canada Bags

I refuse to compromise. Why should I? 

I think I deserve both great style and superb functionality. 

The Fontana bag from the Beside U Canada Nutopia Leather Trim Travel Bag Collection gives me the quality and features I want without the need to compromise on style.

Perfect for all my work, play and travel needs.
The Fontana bag is loaded with security and convenience features making it perfect whether travelling, for use going to and from work, or just out and about. Like all the Beside U Canada products, you'll find both the inside and the outside of the Fontana bag has the same attention to detail and styling. 

• Available in 3 colour options. For me it's almost always classic black but the jester red and ocean blue options would add a great pop of colour. 
• Made from easy care and tear resistant Nylon that is lightweight and water resistant.
• Detachable strap makes carrying it crossbody or over the shoulder easy. 
• Zip-top closure keeps contents private and safe. An important security feature in my opinion.
• Convenient Outer Compartments make accessing frequently used items fast and easy. 
• Detachable Security Whistle and Keychain

•  The Fontana inner design and detailing includes a fun stripped fabric lining, several pockets to help keep all your items organized and easily accessible, a RFID guarded pocket, as well as separate sleeves for a laptop (13 inch) and a tablet. 

• RFID guarded pocket: Credit cards, bank cards, and even Canadian passports have RFID chips. The RFID guarded pocket helps protect your private information by blocking RFID signals from being unknowingly scanned. Another important safety and travel feature in my opinion. 

• Measuring 37 cm L x 31 cm H x 13 cm D making it well within the Personal Item size regulations of airlines.

The Fontana bag makes a great holiday gift. Whether for a snowbird senior, a career girl, a student, a travel enthusiast, a blogger, or someone who is like most of us are combination of all of these, a great bag is a must have. I suggest you trim your tree with something from the Forever Young Trim collection. I'm particularly fond of the Felix backpack and the Ottawa cross-body bag. Now until December 31st you can use my exclusive code (CTOL15) to get a 15% discount any Beside U Canada bag including the entire Forever Young Trim collection.

Image courtesy of Beside U Canada

You'll also find a few of my other favourite designs like the Kaylee, the Indianapolis and the Isabel are currently part of the Holiday Specials Collection and 25% off until the end of December. Use the CTOL15 discount code to get an additional 15% off the Holiday Specials Collection. Shipping is fast and free on orders over $99. making your holiday shopping easy and stress-free. 

Get social with Beside U Canada on twitter, and facebook. 

And take a take a look at both My Take and Thing 2's Take on the Beside U Canada Minneapolis Backpack and how it works for both Mother and Son. 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about how with so many fabulous Beside U Canada bags one is never going to be enough!

Note: I received the Fontana bag from Beside U Canada free of charge for the purpose of this review and post. All opinions are my own. 

Letter from Cathy of Now to the Cathy of Then @Netflix_CA #Streamteam

Hindsight is 20-20.

In that case what would I tell my younger self about life and what it is to be a woman? What bits of wisdom and advice would I share with Cathy of the Then, and would she listen and take that advice? Probably not. Some things need to be experienced to understand and grow, and all those life experiences have made me into the person I am now. 

But if I was to write to the Cathy of the Then this is what I would share:

I Am Woman! Women are diverse and there is no single example of what a successful woman looks like, but instead many examples of diverse, strong, independent women and role models. Real women come in many shapes and sizes, with real issues, daily challenges, successes and strengths and weakness. I've listed some of my favourite series on Netflix that showcase some examples of strong female leads or characters. They are sure to at times make you think, laugh, cry, cheer, and redefine what being a women means. In my opinion as a woman it is my duty to teach my sons what a real woman looks like, and to share this message with younger women and support all my fellow women. Because in the words of Helen Reddy: If we have to we can face anything, we are strong, we are invincible, we are women. 

The Crown

Jessica Jones 

Gilmore Girls

• The Divide 
• Supergirl
• Bones
• Murdock Mysteries
• The Good Wife
• Offspring
• Drop Dead Diva

Don't stop there! Be sure to check out my What to Watch post and these documentaries about women. These are definitely worth watching! 

You can use the hashtag #streamteam to follow all the adventures of the Netflix Streamteam, and follow Netflix on twitter for all updates and info. 

Note: As a Netflix Streamteam member I receive special perks for #Streamteam participation, posts and sharing. All opinions are my own.

With 40+ Options @THEWORKSKANATA - Burger Lover's Paradise #Ottawa

The Works Gourmet Burger Bistro:

Burger Bliss Works for Me! 

I've been enjoying The Works burgers with my friends and family for more than a dozen years. It all started with a March Break lunch adventure with my Husband and the kids. Although my kids are taller, and have bigger appetites the fun atmosphere and constant demand for Oreo milkshakes that started on that first visit remains the same today.  

As soon as you enter the construction site themed restaurant, you notice the pun filled signage. The menu provides more pun and mischief in the burger names and description. Drinks are served in measuring cups, and onion rings are built into high-rise towers-of-tasty. 

The Works Menu is impressive with over 40+ burger options, 60+ toppings, 9 different gourmet patties, and 4 types of buns to choose from, The Works has something for everyone. A "side" from the gourmet burger options hand cut fries, sweet potato fries or spicy die-cut chips are the perfect "side"-kick for your burger. Get it ... side - side-kick ... I'm such a punny girl. You'll be thankful I've managed to control myself from sharing my a-bun-dance of  "buns" puns. Given the difficulty factor related to resisting cheeky and fresh comments about The Works buns, it's not surprising I'm bare-ly managing. Nonetheless, someone really should "patty" me on the back for this outstanding display of restraint. 

It's all about me (like duh!), so of course you'll want to know my burger of choice: 

• The Tom Green, formally known as the Sparty Cat - Notice the Bacon and Avocado with Beachhouse Sauce! I have only three words for this: So Friggin' Good!
• Son of a Beech, formally known as the MEC - Is fashionably dressed in sundried tomatoes, feta, avocado and Beachhouse Sauce. 
• Gotta Be KD Burger - I feel no explanation is needed here.

Savoury Sidekicks and Other Delicious Options ... 

• Tower-O-Rings - Thing 1 is the King of Rings. 
• Die Cut Chips - My side of choice. 
• Spicy Hand Cut Fries - A favourite of Hubby and Thing 2. 
• Sweet Potato Fries - Not gonna lie - these are good! 
• Oreo Milkshakes - They have been a big hit with my kids for years!

Gluten-Free Options ...

The Works offers a plethora of gluten-free options from bun to toppings, so you're sure to find something delicious that "works" for you.

Living Local: 
The Works is Canadian owned and operated. Over the years I've seen many examples of  The Works sourcing local, serving and promoting Canadian products, and being active members of the communities they're located in. This is not just something I like, it's something I actually look for when parting with my hard earned dollars. I will always opt to give my business to those brands and companies that aim to build relationships rather than a quick sale. You'll find a long list of charities and community events The Works has been, and continues to be involved with, including the local Ottawa locations supporting my school fund raising efforts on many occasions over the years. Burgers taste better when they're from businesses who care about and are involved in their communities. Maybe that's the secret ingredient that makes The Works burgers taste extra special. 

Because I love the colour green ... The recyclable bags and takeout containers are just another reason why I not only like The Works burgers, but also the way they do business. 

Burgers with Benefits Loyalty Program: A new loyalty program has just launched at The Works that is sure to whet your appetite. Click on the link above for more details. 

T'is the Season: Sure it's better to give than received but giving and receiving at the same time is better still. The Works Give a Gift - Get a Gift - Gift Card Promotion is an in-store only promotion that runs during the of November and December 2016. For more details visit The Works near you.

Get Social with The Works Kanata on facebook, twitter and instagram.

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about an a-bun-dance of burger options. 

Disclosure: I received Burgers for Two for the purposes of this post. All opinions are my own.