12 Days of Giveaways: Day 12 with Random House of Canada

I usually end my days with a cup of tea and a good book. After what are usually days filled with a blend of good, bad and just plain chaotic, it's always pacifying to look forward to my nights for that reason.

When we look back at our years in life, I bet you can think of a book that will instantly transport you back to a moment in time.
Take a walk down memory lane with me...

Do any of these look familiar to you?
What memories these bring just by looking at the cover of each book.

Now that I'm a mother, it's heartwarming to see my children's eyes light up as we read books together.
My wish for them is that they will continue on throughout the years with the same passion for the written word as they do now.

One of our favourites in the home, that is practically read every night is I'll Love You Forever by Robert Munsch.

"I'll love your forever. I'll like you for always. As long as you're living. My baby you'll be."

As the years progress and our literary appetites transition, one thing is for certain:
"Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience:  this is the ideal life."
  ~Mark Twain

What I'm Currently Reading/on my Reading List:
Fiction:

• Some Kind of Fairy Tale by Graham Joyce *A CAC Fave!
• The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
• The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
• And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
• The Circle by Dave Eggers

Non-Fiction:

• Book of Ages: The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin
• Lean In: women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg *This is one of my FAVOURITES right now!

I've got tons and tons in my home; a bookcase in almost every room in the house brimming with all sorts of books.
There is just something about the feel and smell of a real book that can not be replaced. Do you agree?
What are you reading?

One of the brands that represent and carry some of the best reads of all time, has always been Random House of Canada.
To learn more about them and explore their wonderful collection, please visit www.randomhouse.ca.

Courtesy of Random House of Canada, Day 12's winner will win a fantastic collection of personally selected favourites.

The books include:
1. Provence 1970 by Luke Barr
2. Perfect by Rachel Joyce
3. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
4. Longbourn by Jo Baker
5. The Butler Speaks by Charles MacPherson

To enter, leave a comment telling me What your favourite book is of all time and why below.

Open to Canadian Residents only.
Ends 12/12.

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Big Hugs Make the Perfect Gift Plus Big Hugs Elmo #Giveaway

Someone once said to me that "a hug is the universal medicine" and I couldn't agree more.
Do you remember all the times, good and bad, in your life where you received a warm and genuine embrace from someone? The feeling of receiving a hug during a time you need it most is indescribable. It's something that is only felt deep within the heart.

One of the things I teach my children every time they see someone they care about feeling sad or when they want to show their love is to give them a great big hug.
My daughter is old enough to understand the effects and meaning behind hugs, however my son is too young to fully grasp the meaning but not young enough to truly feel the effects. There's no age limit for that.
He knows how good hugs from mommy, daddy, his sister or grandparents feel when he's fallen down and hurt himself or when he takes his wobbly steps as he learns to walk and gets happy praises and big hugs in celebration.

I'm now slowly compiling my holiday gift list for all the special people in my life and there is no doubt in my mind that Big Hugs Elmo would make one of those special little people on that list VERY happy this year.

On top of being a PTPA Winner, Big Hugs Elmo has also gained the stamp of approval in my family!

My son is currently still teething and he gets bouts of tearful episodes (poor baby!) and I noticed how much more calm he gets when Elmo is around him.

He absolutely adores his furry friend and not only for his comforting embrace but because of all the amazing and fun features included!

There are so many ways to play with Sesame Street Big Hugs Elmo! When you give Elmo a great big hug, he'll hug back, say fun phrases or sing a sweet song about hugs! Press Elmo's left foot and he will invite little ones to join in on 1 of 4 imagination activities. There are 50+ animated sounds and phrases like, "Elmo loves getting hugs from you," 

"Let's pretend we're rabbits! Boing, boing, boing," and "Move to the beat!" When children lay Big Hugs Elmo down in a flat position, he'll become sleepy, sing a lullaby and make sleeping sound effects. 

I have to admit that Elmo's sweet lullaby has even put me to sleep a couple of times. So sweet! 

Features: 

• Hug Elmo and he'll move his arms to hug back 
• Pretend with Elmo: There are 4 fun imagination scenarios: astronauts, rabbits, frogs & horses 
• Dance with Elmo: Move Elmo around - he really responds 
• Sing along with Big Hugs Elmo: Plays 3 fun songs 
• Nap time: Lay Elmo down to hear a sweet lullaby and sleeping sound effects

This past Halloween, Big Hugs Elmo even tagged along as Talan's "Partner in Cuteness-Crime". :)

To learn more about Big Hugs Elmo, visit: www.hasbro.com/playskool/en_CA/sesamestreet/bighugselmo/

If you're on Social Media, PTPA is currently hosting a fun 'Spot the Seal with Hasbro' Contest that offers you many chances to win some seriously amazing prizes including Big Hugs Elmo and many other PTPA-winning Hasbro Products!
For more information, visit: ptpa.com/2013/10/10/spot-seal-hasbro/.

Thanks to Hasbro, as a BHE Brand Ambassador, one of my lucky readers will have the opportunity to win another Big Hugs Elmo of their own this month {ARV $69.99}

1) Leave me a comment below telling  me what your favourite feature is on the Big Hugs Elmo

2) Enter via rafflecopter below for additional entries

The contest will close and a winner will be selected at random on November 17, 2013.

Open to US and Canada (excluding Quebec).

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Disclosure: I am participating in the Hasbro Big Hugs Elmo Blogger Campaign by PTPA Media and received product and compensation as a thank you for participating. The opinions expressed on this blog are my very own.

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