Family Dinner with @BostonPizza #BPKidsCards: Perfect Teachable Moment

Food for Thought: Making a family dinner about more than food. 

We all know how important eating together as a family is, but you'll really raise the bar on the impact sharing a meal together as a family can have by purchasing a Boston Pizza Kids Card for a minimum donation of $5. starting now until October 2nd, 2016. 

With a single $5. donation you create a teachable moment, help kids in need by supporting mentorship opportunities, and get 5 free* Boston Pizza kids meals. 

As my boys head to college and university this September, I reflect on the efforts it took to get to this point, and the resources my husband and I invested to help get them here. They've benefited from close and engaged relationships with their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, and have no shortage of impressive role models and mentors in their family to choose from. I think about the importance of youth having people in their lives to teach, guide and model positive behaviour, and just how lucky my kids are. 

Sadly this isn't the case for all kids. Not everyone grows up with access to role models. mentors, mentoring programs, and financial resources to help navigate life's challenges and choices. This is why the Boston Pizza Kids Card Campaign is so important. For a minimum of a $5. donation (available now - Oct 2, 2016) you can purchase #BPKidsCards to help ensure many more kids in Canada get support and access to role models and mentoring programs. Each $5. BPKids Card purchased provides an hour with a role model for a child in need. 

Plus your Boston Pizza Kids Card gets you 5 free* meals. That's a $35. value! If you register your BP Kids Card with a MyBP account you'll get another free kids meal, making it 6 free* meals for $5.

By involving your child in the process of purchasing a BP Kids Card you have an opportunity to teach them how this donation helps the Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects to provide more than 200, 000 hours of mentorship to Canadian children and youth. It's an opportunity to teach them about giving back, charity and about the incredible organizations who partner with Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects and together provide support, role models and mentorship programs to kids who would otherwise have none.

For more than 25 years Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects has raised more than $22 million and partnered with organizations and charities such as: 

• Big Brother Big Sister Canada: Helps 1000's of youth with mentoring programs and the funds raised help them "extend and expand mentoring services to new communities and youth who do not currently have access to mentoring programs".
• JDRF Canada: BP Kids Cards help to fund "youth ambassador programs which provide mentorship to young people living with T1D (Type 1 diabetes).
• Kids Help Phone: Donations help to fund their "national professional counselling services" to youth as well as "adult tools and resources and online content on their website".
• Live Different: Funds help Live Different to deliver high school motivational presentations to inspire youth to "embrace a lifestyle that cares about people not stuff".
• Rick Hansen Foundation: The Boston Pizza Foundation helps the Rick Hansen Foundation spread the message of inclusion and reach more than 500,000 kids across Canada each year with its Rick Hansen School Programs. 

All this for just a $5 donation! So while you and your family gather for a delicious meal at Boston Pizza think of all this meal means to you, your kids, your community and the kids you've helped to reach their goals for a bright future. 

Bon appetit!

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Boston Pizza Kids Cards.

For more information about the Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects and BP Kids Cards follow Boston Pizza on twitter and facebook, and Boston Pizza Foundation on twitter and facebook. 

*Some conditions apply
Note: I have been compensated for my time creating this post. All opinions are my own and on a personal note I have in the past and will continue to support Boston Pizza and Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects in their efforts to give back to the community. I consider it an honour to participate in this campaign.

Until Oct 11th A $5 Donation Will Get You A #BPKidsCard at @BostonPizza Instore or Online ($35 value)

Do the Math! It's a Simple Case of 

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

I'm a parent of teens and apparently I'm too old to understand the "new" math taught these days, but I understand that more than ever kids need support and mentors and that the Boston Pizza Kids Card adds up to a great deal! 

In an ideal world all kids would have equal access to the tools and support needed to reach their full potential, and variables like finances, location, or accessibility would not factor into the equation. 

*From August 31st until October 11th, 2015 with a minimum donation (feel free to donate more) you can get yourself a BP Kids Card at any Boston Pizza location or at BostonPizza.com. Not only does your donation raise funds for the Boston Pizza Foundation, it gets you 5 free kids meals, a $35 value for only $5!

Plus when you register your #BPKidsCard with your free MyBP account you get a 6th kids meal free.

Now according to my kids' textbooks BEDMAS must be applied to all equations, but I'm applying my own version of BEDMAS to the problem. 
(WARNING: Not Recommended for High School Math homework)

B - Brackets to group people and organizations together in a common cause. 

E - Exponents the power of amplifying the message and reach of programs. 

D - Division of the funds raised between partners that provide valuable programs.

M - Multiplication of the funds raised and the programs made available to youth.

A - Addition of new programs and expansion of existing ones.

S - Subtraction of barriers to youth in pursuing their dreams. 

Since 1990 the Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects' donations and fundraising efforts have been assisting its partners in developing, and delivering, programs to youth that provide access to tools, support and mentorship. Over the past 25 years the Boston Pizza Foundation has donated and raised over $20 million for programs to help Canadian youth be the best they can be. 

This year's goal is to raise $730,000!

Partners like Big Brother Big Sister Canada, JDRF Canada, Kids Help Phone, Live Different and the Rick Hansen Foundation will use those funds to continue to provide information, role models, mentors, ambassadorships, and programs to thousands of Canadian youth.

• Big Brother Big Sister Canada: Helps 1000's of youth with mentoring programs and the funds raised help them "extend and expand mentoring services to new communities and youth who do not currently have access to mentoring programs".
• JDRF Canada: BP Kids Cards help to fund "youth ambassador programs which provide mentorship to young people living with T1D (Type 1 diabetes).
• Kids Help Phone: Donations help to fund their "national professional counselling services" to youth as well as "adult tools and resources and online content on their website".
• Live Different: Funds help Live Different to deliver high school motivational presentations to inspire youth to "embrace a lifestyle that cares about people not stuff".
• Rick Hansen Foundation: The Boston Pizza Foundation helps the Rick Hansen Foundation spread the message of inclusion and reach more than 500,000 kids across Canada each year with its Rick Hansen School Programs. 

By investing a minimum $5 donation for a #BPKidsCard you have the power to multiply the number of youth impacted and the range of programs available to youth in Canada. That adds up to an impressive rate of return: healthy and happier kids, which makes for a better Canada, AND free kids meals.

Do the math! It's a WIN WIN! 

For more information about the Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects and BP Kids Cards follow Boston Pizza on twitter and facebook, and Boston Pizza Foundation on twitter and facebook. 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Boston Pizza Kids Cards.

*Some conditions apply

Note: I have been compensated for my time creating this post. All opinions are my own and on a personal note I have in the past and will continue to support Boston Pizza and Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects in their efforts to give back to the community. I consider it an honour to participate in this campaign.

Let The Grinch Have Roast Beast I'm Having @BostonPizza #UltimateHolidayFeast #PrixFixe

Boston Pizza's #UltimateHolidayFeast

Black Friday today, CyberMonday to follow,

You're all shopped out, and your stomach is hollow. 

The crazy countdown to December 25th has begun,

You feel like The Grinch and have stopped being fun.

But what's the point without time for the ones on your list,

Without family and friends the true meaning is missed.

The Whos down in Whoville understood this and knew,

and lucky for us Boston Pizza does too!  

They created a menu to help spread some good cheer, 

With our family and friends that we all hold so dear.

So while The Grinch has his Roast Beast! 

Boston Pizza has "The Ultimate Holiday Feast"! 

Their Holiday Menu Prix Fixe is a three course meal for one price, starting at $24.99.

Prix Fixe: 3 courses for 1 fixed price! 

There is the threesome I picked especially for me,

The Prix Fixe makes your meal what YOU want it to be!

With options like these you're sure to have a perfect meal,

With a price starting at just $24.99, it makes a great deal!

It's easy as pie to give these nom noms as a gift!

Buy a Gift Card in store or online, it just takes a jiff!

If  "sharing is caring" is the motto to your life,

Share a BP Appetizer Platter with a friend or your wife! 

Mark it down on the calendar and be sure to remember,

the Holiday Menu is only here till the 28th of December. 

Follow Boston Pizza on Facebook and Boston Pizza on Twitter  for all their news and updates.
Click here to find a Boston Pizza Location near you.

Yep, Just me Cathy thinking out loud about Boston Pizza's Holiday Menu.

Note: I was compensated for this post. All opinions are my own and reflect my personal experience with the brand and the product.

They're here for a good dine, not a long time @BostonPizza $5 donation gets you #BPKIDCard @BostonPizzaFdn

Saving money and a good meal for your kids couldn't be easier AND you look like a hero to your kids and all those that benefit from the Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects program.

Hero for almost zero is what I call it! 

For a minimum $5 donation you get a Boston Pizza Kids Card good for 5 free Kids Meals ($35 value, some conditions apply). Donations go to help the Boston Pizza Foundation raise funds and awareness for organizations in Canada that help kids by providing role models and mentoring programs. 

Organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada, Kids Help Phone, 
and Rick Hansen Foundation. 

Last year they raised over $615,000! 

That is a lots of good deeds and good feeds all because of a $5 donation and BP Kids Cards, 

but I think we can do even better this year! 

From September 22nd until November 2nd you can show your support by purchasing by way of a minimum $5 donation (feel free to donate more if you are able) a Boston Pizza Kids Card either at your local Boston Pizza location or online at Boston Pizza.com.
If you register your card you get an extra meal bonus! Yes that is 6 meals in total!

Take a minute to read what Sarah from Journeys of the Zoo had to say about her Boston Pizza experience at A Meal to Remember Thanks to Boston Pizza Orleans and Carla from Working Mommy Journal about Gluten Free options at #GlutenWise at Boston Pizza

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Boston Pizza Kids Cards.

Note: I have not been compensated for this post in any way. The purpose of this post is merely to share this campaign and an opportunity to win a BP Kids Card with my readers.

EXTRA! EXTRA! #BPTurns50 Aug 12th @BostonPizza turns the BIG 5-0! #Giveaway CAN 08/29

♪ ♫ "We are family, I got all my sisters with me. 

We are family, Get up ev'rybody and sing! 

Ev'ryone can see we're together, As we walk in by. 

Fly! and we fly just like birds of a feather, I won't tell no lie.

All! all the people around us they say, Can they be that close.

Just let me state for the record, We're giving love in a family dose." ♪♫

My siblings and I have been known to regularly channel our Sister Sledge and belt out our rendition of ♫ "We Are Family". We are all about traditions and celebrating life's important events. This is not to say we're stuck in a timewarp, we are dynamic, ever changing and evolving. We add new traditions and retire old ones, always remembering where we came from and how far we have come. 

More times than not our family traditions involve food and maybe a rewriting of the lyrics of a few of our favourite songs to fit the mood or an event, and it is that which our fondest memories are made of. As I approach my 29th birthday for the 22nd time, I realize Boston Pizza has played a part in many of those celebrations and memories over the years. On August 12th Boston Pizza is celebrating 50 years of being part of Canadians' lives and traditions, and like my family they have grown and evolved adding new menu items, and retiring others, all the while maintaining a tradition of value and service. 

It feels like they are part of the family, whether meeting my childhood friend with our kids for dinner (Oakville), or where the family gets together when I am in town for a visit - yep up to 18 of us (Oakville). Maybe it is one of the several times a year my parents and I meet at the halfway point for a quick lunch and a visit, because our schedules won't allow for a multi-day visit and the 6 hour drive each way (Kingston). It is where we go for lunch after bowling (Ottawa), where I met Sarah's (Journeys of the Zoo) kids for the first time (Barrhaven), and where my family goes for dinner (Kanata).

Cheers! Boston Pizza!

Happy 50th Anniversary!

#BPTurns50

Join in the celebration including $5 Individual Size Pizzas on August 12th, and coupons for additional discounts. Don't forget to try the Anniversary menu items available until Aug 17th, 2014.

What's an anniversary celebration without a party? 

You can enter to win one of 50! yes you heard me correctly ... I said 50 Pizza Parties for you and 29 of your favourite people! (valued at $2500) You can find #BPPizzaParty details at BPPizzaParty.com

No doubt about it 1964 is an excellent year! If I wasn't turning 29 again this year I would pick that year to be born! Be sure to check out some highlights of Boston Pizza's 50 year history at Boston Pizza's big 5-0 via Strategy . While reading I noticed the quote below and although I don't see my name specifically mentioned, I'm pretty sure it's about me, my humour and my quirky personality, since we all know I'm a celeb that should be endorsed. At least that's how I interpret it ... Yep just me thinking out loud again.  

"Its survival amongst its competition (it has a market share of 3.7% in the full-service category), is in large part due to tapping humour and building a quirky personality with celeb endorsements and unique product offerings."  

So like that wasn't enough to celebrate ... you can also enter to win 1 of 4 $20 Boston Pizza gift cards to help you start your own Boston Pizza tradition and celebrate Boston Pizza turning 50! 
Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about turning 50! 

Note: I was not compensated for this post. I have a great relationship with Boston Pizza and so pleased they have generously sponsored this giveaway for my readers. All opinions are my own and reflect my personal experience with this brand.

@BostonPizza Celebrates 50 Years #BPPizzaParty A Brand Stands the Test of Time

Sometimes I come across a brand that you actually look forward to engaging with. Not because of a contest, or giveaway but because you know the interaction will be fun, make you smile or feel good after the interaction. A brand that stands out in a crowd. Maybe it is the person behind the brand, but since the brand was smart enough to hire them, I will give them credit. 

I am not talking about the product or the service, because for me to spend my hard earned money quality and value has to be a given. In every industry there are products and services that are quality and comparable, so what sways me to buy one brand over another?

On social media there is a lot of noise. Chatter and promos, and I admit I contribute to the volume of chatter for sure. I answer tweets and questions tweeted out. Mostly it is silly chatter, but I watch and notice if brands respond, and how they respond. I notice if they reach out to people without prompting. Sure it is all about my ego, it makes me feel special, but I notice.

Another thing that I notice about brands is if and how they are involved and give back in the community, charities. If all things are equal in quality and price, then it is this that will differentiate one from another, and I notice.

That positive feeling extends to every time I use that brand's product, service or visit their establishment.

Boston Pizza  engagement has remained consistent for me. Fun interaction on social media, great service in the restaurants, and active giving back to the community. I look forward to chatting with them on twitter and facebook. I feel good about bring my friends and family there. 

So it is not surprising they have stood the test of time.

They are celebrating their 50th Anniversary this August with a special Anniversary Menu and a contest to win a Boston Pizza Party for you and 30 of your friends and family. 

#BPPizzaParty - Details

Join me in wishing Boston Pizza a Happy 50th Anniversary!

and good luck to those who enter the #BPPizzaParty Contest! 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Boston Pizza (and maybe Bacon Carrot Cake)

Note: I was not compensated for this post in any way. In fact Boston Pizza will only know I have written this post once it goes live. I merely wanted to share with my readers a great contest, and give a well deserved shout out to a great brand.

When The Moon Hits Your Eye Like A Heart Shaped Pizza Pie That's @bostonpizza and @BostonPizzaFdn Amore!

On February 14th, one dollar from every heart-shaped pizza goes to the The Boston Pizza Foundation, but the heart shape pizza goes to you! What's not to love! 

You can get more details on the Boston Pizza Facebook Page or the Boston Pizza Website. 

Yep, just Cathy thinking out loud about heart shaped pizza, and giving back!

Note: I have not been compensated for this post in anyway, and all opinions are my own.