2023 has come to a close…and as always I’m here to share my wins. Drum roll please…. I won 111 contests, worth over $27,000 in value! This brings my total to over $259,000 and 1,700+ wins since I first started in 2010! Here are my most memorable experiences from 2023. January: Free food, a toy, jewelry…but the…
Best of 2022
2022 has come to a close…and things are looking up! As it’s my annual tradition, I’ve documented my yearly wins. Drum roll please…. I won 109 contests, worth over $24,000 in value! This brings my total to over $232,000 and 1,600+ wins since I first started in 2010! Anyways, these were my most memorable experiences…
Experience the Pig Palace at Wishing Well Sanctuary
What is the Pig Palace? Well, it’s a trailer where the decor is all things pink! But what makes it really special is that a 2-night stay will feed their pigs for 1 week! The Wishing Well Sanctuary is a farm animal rescue that provides a safe haven for abused and neglected animals in Bradford,…
A Family Vacation to Bay Gardens Beach Resort in St Lucia
It’s been a couple of years since I’ve sat down and written a blog post that wasn’t an annual wrap-up. Of course, COVID was part of the reason and having a baby also resulted in other priorities. Well, I’m back to sharing more unique experiences due to contest wins! First up, is a family trip…
Best of 2021
2021 has come to a close…and we’re still dealing with COVID. From a contesting perspective, this meant fewer events than in the past. No luxury galas and sporting events only had fans for the last couple months of the year. As it’s my annual tradition, I’ve documented my annual wins. Drum roll please…. I won…
Best of 2020
2020 has come to a close…7 months ago! I’m very late of course because having a child takes up quite a bit of time! 2020 was always going to be a different year. But no one anticipated COVID. Of course it was an awful period for so many and it’s still ongoing (fingers crossed we’re…
Mother’s Day 2020
This was my first-ever Mother’s Day. I didn’t know what to expect, but I felt like it was my birthday with all of the kind texts and thoughtful gifts. Of course, I was all over the giveaways this year and it was memorable! First, I won the book Words of Wonder. It’s for parents to…
Best of 2019
2019 has come to a close…5 months ago! I’m a bit tardy as, in a bit of life news, I had a baby last December. This definitely impacted the types of contests I entered, and how often I went out, but it was still a solid year. As it’s a tradition for myself, I knew…
Powered by Female Fans
This year, for the first time, Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) created the Powered by Female Fans initiative. At one game in March for the Toronto Raptors, Maple Leafs and FC, they celebrated their passionate female fanbase. March is also the month of International Women’s Day which is held on the 8th. I was…
Recipe For Change with FoodShare
I was thrilled to attend the 10th anniversary of #RecipeForChange, benefiting FoodShare, held at the beautiful Globe and Mail Centre in downtown Toronto. Almost 13% of households in Toronto experience food insecurity. FoodShare is a non-profit organization that works with communities and schools to deliver healthy food and food education. In fact, it’s Canada’s largest food…
#ChicDining with Red Prince Apple
On a cold February evening, I had the pleasure of attending a whimsical wintery experience courtesy of a contest win from Chic Sophistic and Red Prince Apple. Going in, I wasn’t sure what to expect? What exactly would #ChicDining mean? I would be by myself surrounded by notable bloggers, influencers and content creators from the GTA….
Burgers and Basketball
January is typically the slowest contesting month of the year but this was one of my best ever! Two of my most notable experiences happened to occur on the same weekend! First, MasterCard Canada currently has a campaign to #StartSomethingPriceless where entrants can nominate a person who has never been to a Leafs or Raptors…
Best of 2018
2018 has come to a close so it’s time for an annual review of my contest wins….drum roll please…. I won 70 contests, worth over $27,000 in value, last year! This brings my total to over $154,000 since I first started in 2010! As 2019 begins, I thought I would reflect upon my most memorable…
The 649 Jackpot Seats Experience with the Toronto Maple Leafs!
I’ve been a Maple Leafs fan since childhood with Mats Sundin being my self-proclaimed “personal hero”. Back in the dark ages before the Internet, I would scrapbook and cut out newspaper clippings of my fav team. Of course, Mats eventually left the Leafs and retired….then the team went through a long period where they were…
The Marilyn Denis Show – 1500th Episode and 10 Days of Giveaways!
I’ve been a fan of Marilyn Denis for years. She’s been on TV and radio for as long as I can remember! When I heard that you could apply to be an audience member for the 1500th episode of The Marilyn Denis Show, I knew I had to enter! My friend Nicole and I shot a…
Mother Daughter Weekend in Stratford
I nominated my hard working mom to Mother Daughter Date. Created by Jennifer Valentyne and her daughter Georgia, they share their weekly experiences, such as car chats or visiting local attractions, on social media. It’s a great idea and they already have a loyal following! I was thrilled to be chosen from over 500 entries…
Sprinkling the Joy with Windsor Salt
Last week, I had the pleasure of attending Windsor Salt’s 125 Anniversary Party where they celebrated 10 special individuals who are making a difference in their community and named them members of the #WindsorJoySquad! My nominee was International Paws Toronto which was started by my friend Nicole. She has always had a kind heart for…
Cuvée 2018
I was fortunate to experience a fabulous time in the Niagara area courtesy of a contest win from Wine Country Ontario. The Cuvée weekend kicked off at the Marriott on the Falls (which offers an awesome view). From there, we made our way to the Scotiabank Convention Centre. During the Cuvée Grand Tasting, we had…
Best of 2017
2017 has come to a close so it’s time for an annual review of my contest wins….drum roll please…. I won 86 contests, worth close to $14,000 in value, last year! This brings my total to over $127,000 since I first started in 2010! As 2018 begins, I thought I would reflect upon my most…
TIFF17
TIFF is one of my favourite times of the year in Toronto and this September it was actually sunny! (past years of TIFF have been known for the rainy and dreary weather). I was fortunate enough to win an awesome contest from Uniqlo Canada. To enter, I had to take a picture wearing Uniqlo clothing,…
Scrubs in the City – Marrakesh Style!
I was fortunate enough to attend the annual Scrubs in the City gala, which has raised millions since its inception, thanks to LadiesFund. It’s an initiative from the Dawood Global Foundation and promotes women entrepreneurship and financial security This year, over 1,000 guests attended #SKScrubs at the Evergreen Brickworks for a Marrakesh-inspired theme! I was living…
Girls Night In with Cityline
Back in April, Cityline had a call out for sharing stories about your best friend for its annual “Girls Night In” episode. I wrote a quick spiel about how my friend Karen and I celebrated our 30th birthday by going to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (because what could be more magical than that!?!) I…
Sweet Escape to Casino Rama
I was fortunate enough to win the Sweet Escape to Casino Rama from CHUM FM! Casino Rama is less than 2 hours from Toronto. Yet, it felt like a “real” getaway escaping the bustling city for scenic lakes and small town life. Entering the hotel, I was impressed at how beautiful the lobby was and…
Best of 2016
2016 has come to a close so it’s time for an annual review of my contest wins….drum roll please…. I won 74 contests, worth close to $17,000 in value, last year! This brings my total to over $113,000 since I first started in 2010! As 2017 begins, I thought I would reflect upon my most…
Sports in the City – Summer Season
The Raptors season may have finished before making the NBA Finals, but there was still plenty to do this summer sportwise in the GTA. First stop, the RBC Canadian Open at the Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario. I had never seen PGA golf before and had no idea what to expect…but it was…
Powering Performance with Team BMW and Mark de Jonge!
I’m a big sports fan and when the Olympics come around I’m always excited to see how Canadian athletes perform! BMW Canada recently held a contest for a VIP experience with one of the athletes they sponsor and I was fortunate enough to win the prize featuring kayaker Mark de Jonge! What did it include?…
One Night: Two Glamourous Galas – Scrubs in the City vs. Power Ball
Having read British Hello magazines since elementary school, it’s no surprise that dressing up to attend charity galas is of interest. I’m always on top of the Toronto socialite scene to see how I can get in to the most notable events. Early June always seems to schedule Scrubs in the City which benefits the…
Sports in the City
My latest VIP contest win experiences included a Raptors playoff game and Tunnel Club Access for Toronto FC.
A night at the symphony with David Garrett
Have you heard of David Garrett? Neither had I! But I entered a recent contest from Global Morning TV because it involved 2 tickets to a show at Roy Thomson Hall which I thought would be a fun night out. Imagine my surprise when I realized they were front row seats! Furthermore, it wasn’t your…
TIFF15
I’m late to the game, but I did attend TIFF15. I suppose my tardy post was related to not having an exceptional festival experience. Although, it would be hard to compete with 2014 when I met Dan Stevens, who played Matthew Crawley on my favourite show Downton Abbey! This year, my one and only world premiere…
TO2015 – The Pan Am Games
Toronto was in the sport spotlight recently as it hosted the Pan Am Games earlier this month. With 41 nations participating, it’s the third largest international multi-sport Games (bigger than the Winter Olympics!) and is held every 4 years. Although much attention was focused on the infamous HOV lanes, the magnitude of this 16-day event…
Queen4Day with West Queen West
For Mother’s Day, the West Queen West Business Improvement Area association held a contest to win a shopping spree! I was fortunate enough to be the grand prize winner of $1000 to spend at some of Toronto’s finest shops with my mom! For those that aren’t aware, West Queen West is a 2km stretch that runs…
Power Ball Toronto
Excess was in at this year’s version of Power Ball! This is an annual event held to benefit The Power Plant ; a contemporary art gallery in Toronto. Edible art installations, giant gymnastics costumes, pictures of dogs and inflatable pools with balls were just a few of the random sights to see (and this is…
Pirates Cove at Ripley’s Aquarium
ProAction Cops & Kids is a fabulous initiative which partners officers with youth in the community. Founded in 1991, it provides programs such as sports, camping, arts and life skills. Mentoring between cops and kids is also encouraged. Today, there are chapters across Toronto, Durham, Niagara and Hamilton. I had the opportunity to recently attend…
WMCFW – Fall 2015
For once, it would be nice if it wasn’t freezing cold during World MasterCard Fashion Week. Alas, as it’s held in March and October in Toronto, it’s usually unlikely. However, it’s still a fabulous change of scenery to mingle with the city’s glitterati and see the latest trends (plus score some great freebies!) MasterCard had…
#IndigoTweetNGreet at Lisa Marie
Indigo Events, an active social media presence via Twitter @indigogreenroom, recently began its #IndigoTweetNGreet. The idea: A social experiment with 10 randomly selected winners attending a dinner (no plus 1!) at a trendy city location. What happens when strangers meet over a 3-hour dinner? It’s not an episode of The Bachelor, but plenty of laughter…
The Luxe Life: Monte Carlo Inn Review
The R.I.D.E. Checks Program: That time of year police officers brave the bitter cold to search for impaired drivers and make sure our roads are safe. Lucky for me, they also had a contest involved. Through a simple Rafflecopter form, I followed Ride Check on Twitter and entered the giveaway. They also had a Twitter…
Glitz and Glam – Toronto’s Charity Gala Scene
Over the past couple of weeks, I have had the privilege of attending some of Toronto’s hottest events…for free of course! Think of it as Canada’s very own version of Gossip Girl. Glamourous, fashionable and full of (wannabe) socialites. First, Cocktail by Design. Eleven dining settings were created by notable Canadian designers such as Sarah…
Best of 2014
2014 has come to a close so it’s time for an annual review of my contest wins….drum roll please…. I won 107 contests, worth over $13,000 in value, last year! This brings my total to greater than $80,000 since I first started in 2010! As 2015 begins, I thought I would reflect upon my most…
Priceless Surprises with the Toronto Raptors
I am a huge Toronto Raptors fan! Even through all of those losing years, I’ve still supported. In the past, I’ve been fortunate enough to win season’s tickets (the lockout season) and last year I won seats in the 2nd row (right after the Rudy Gay trade where they got blown out but it was…
Tour and Lunch with the Brampton Fire Department
Of course it’s fun to win the “big” prizes, but sometimes it’s all about the “experience”…something that money can’t necessarily buy. I recently had the opportunity to spend the day with the Brampton Fire department. Bright and early, we met at the Fire/Life Safety Education Centre. Numerous school groups visit throughout the year learning about…
Canadian Collections – WMCFW
World MasterCard Fashion Week: My second favourite time of year in Toronto after TIFF. When else can you feel like a celebrity as you watch fabulous runway shows?!? This year’s WMCFW version was another notable time! On Tuesday, I saw Melissa Nepton’s collection. First, I did a run through at the vendors to find the…
Ontario Wine Awards Tour
On a crisp fall day, I had the pleasure of attending the Ontario Wine Awards VIP winery tour. Hosted by one of Canada’s most notable wine writer’s, Tony Aspler, the day included a private tasting and luncheon! Our first stop was the Mike Weir Winery. For those who aren’t aware, Mike Weir is one of…
#TIFF14
Ohhh TIFF. That magical time of year when Toronto thrives in the spotlight and mass excitement is caused due to the presence of an abundance of celebrities. It’s gotten increasingly difficult to dominate TIFF as I have in the past. There are more users on Twitter that know to follow the hashtag with the words…
The Close of SkyRider at Canada’s Wonderland
Visiting Canada’s Wonderland is a ritual each summer for many families in the GTA. I hadn’t been since last year, so I thought I was due, and entered after seeing an online giveaway. After almost 30 years, the infamous stand-up roller coaster SkyRider was set to close on September 1st. The prize: Two tickets to…
Zip Line at the CNE!
I’ve been a fan of the CNE ever since I was an Official Blogger a couple years ago. This year, I obviously entered a few contests to win my entry and was pleasantly surprised with the result! First, I won 2 general admission passes and 2 zip line passes from President’s Choice on Twitter. At…
Open Roof Festival
I’ve had the pleasure of attending the Open Roof Festival the past 2 weeks and just had to write about it! Located at 99 Sudbury Street, in Liberty Village, it’s a fantastic way to watch a film! Not only do you get to see a movie, there’s music beforehand as well! Beer and wine can…
Smashfest
On a beautiful Thursday night, I made the trek to Toronto for a fabulous event called Smashfest. Started by Dominic Moore, it’s an annual fundraiser that raises money for concussion and rare cancer research. Why the name? Well, attendees get the chance to mingle with current and former NHL players….and watch them aspire for ping-pong…
Tweet for Meat with Longo’s
A couple of months ago, I scheduled a family BBQ for 20+ guests. Never one to to be in the kitchen, I figured I would hope for the best and wing it. Several weeks after sending the invite, I found out that I had won a #tweetformeat contest from Longo’s. Amazing! I was overwhelmed with…
Summerlicious
Summerlicious: that glorious time of year where you can dine at some of Toronto’s top restaurants at a discount. With over 200 places to choose from, every culinary option is available to satisfy your craving. Lunches are priced from $15-$25 and dinners are $25-$45 per person for a three-course meal. Notable.ca has a fabulous contest right…
Winning! A Free and Fabulous Life! 