Get Ghoulishly Glamified with Glama Gals for Halloween (& a Giveaway!)

Hello lovelies!

Many of you already know how much I adore Glama Gals. This fantastic spa for tweens inspires girls to be confident, positive and unique. Although it is geared towards girls, it also caters to females of all ages for bachelorette parties, wedding parties, birthdays, and fun day spa experiences. If this spa was around when I was younger, I would have begged my mom to let me be pampered by the lovely ladies at Glama Gals for every birthday! It's an incredible place for girlies of any age to be pampered and glammed up. 

 



I am so excited to share a few of the exciting events that are coming up this month at Glama Gals:
 

Glama Gal Tween Spa Presents: Hallow'Tween Party
(for Tweens)

• Date: Thursday, October 30
• Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
• Cost: $40 per Tween

 



Make sure to join Glama Gals for their annual Hallow'Tween Party! This exciting event includes:

• A Witches Brew Dinner with Spider Web Pizza, Spider Cider, and Eyeball Cupcakes
• Magic Potion Lip Gloss Creation Station
• Witches Cauldron Manicure Station with Halloween Nail Art
• Monster Mash Dance Party
• Creepy Crawler Swamp Bath Bomb to Take Home
• Best Costume Contest

You can find ticket and location information here.

Glama Gal Tween Spa Presents: Little Munsters Bash

• Date: Friday, October 31
• Time: 10:00 - 11:30 AM
• Cost: $35 per Lil' Munster and Mummy

Don't miss the Glama Gals Little Munsters Bash - another annual tradition! This bewitching event includes:

• Decorate Your Own Mini Pumpkin
• Handprint Bat Bag Creations
• Decorate Your Own Mummy Cupcakes
• Ghoulish Snacks - Banana Ghosts, Witch Carrots and Tangerine Pumpkins
• Glow in the Dark Mini Manis

Click here for ticket information, and make sure to bring your Little Munsters for some ghoulish fun!

 



If you can't make it out for the parties, Glama Gals also has a wonderful Halloween Spa Special this month! For the amazing price of $35, your little Ghouls can enjoy the following spa treats:

• Pumpkin Spice Mani and Pedi
• Spider Web Nail Designs
• Trick or Treat Gummy Worm Mist Facial
• Witches Brew Bath Bomb To Take Home

I'm happy to announce that I can give one lucky person the chance to attend the Glama Gals Hallow'Tween party through a special giveaway! To enter, tweet the message "I want to get glamafied with Glama Gals at the Hallo'tween Party! #‎gghallowtween2014". You will be able to choose from one of the following locations: Vaughan, Ajax, Oakville, Newmarket, Toronto, Markham, or Sudbury (Glama Gals newest location!)

Good luck, and Happy Halloween! I hope it's glamtastic!



Disclaimer: As a Glambassador, I have been compensated for this post, but the opinions expressed are all my own!

Back to Driving School with #CAARoadTest!





Last week, I was incredibly fortunate to attend a fun event with several of my fellow CAA South Central Ontario Brand Ambassadors that reminded me of my driver training days! The CAA Road Test Revival, which took place in the parking lot of Woodbine Racetrack, included a written quiz and three driving stations. These were Parallel Parking, Reverse Lot Parking, and a Three Point Turn.

Parallel Parking 

I am one of those people who drives around looking for 'slider' parking spots for my car, as I'm not great at parallel parking! My anxiety was high as we arrived at the first station. Fortunately, we had an incredibly helpful and patient instructor who walked us through the process. Using tips provided to me by my car mate and fellow Brand Ambassador Mara Shapiro (who would make an excellent instructor herself!), I nailed the Parallel Parking portion on the first attempt! Usually, when I have to parallel park, I do it in my little Mazda 3 Hatchback. Imagine my surprise when I had to get into a minivan! Thankfully, it all worked out.

For those of you who need a refresher on parallel parking, here are a few tips to remember:

• Ensure the space is large enough to accommodate 1 1/2 times the length of your vehicle
• Signal early to help the driver behind understand your intention
• Do not start reversing until the way is clear of traffic has stopped to let you begin parking

Three-Point Turns

We've all been here. Blushing as it takes 50 turns, reverses and forward moves to get out of a tight jam. I can honestly say I have completed tons of three-point turns in my driving lifetime, but it's nerve wracking to have an instructor tell you he's going to score yours like he would during a driving test. Boris, our instructor, was incredibly sweet and informative, and helped put me at ease. He said my three point turn was almost perfect, which made my day!

We all believe that we're decent drivers and have great skills, but it was amazing at how many little things I picked up from my session with Boris. Everyone should have a refresher course in these important skills!

Here are a few helpful reminders to think about when making a three-point turn:

• Be aware of U-turn restrictions
• Be 360° aware throughout the entire manoeuvre, check all mirrors and blind spots
• Avoid using a driveway or private property

Reverse Lot Parking

This is another manoeuver that I admittedly try to avoid at all costs, but is so important to master. If you park downtown Toronto in one of the many underground garages or lots, it's much easier to reverse park in a lot, so you can have a quick exit and are able to see other cars driving by. Our instructor was hilarious, and told us that even though it seems easier to go nose first into a spot, it's safer to simply back into the spot. Taking his advice to heart, I was able to back into the spot on the first try! Clearly, I'm better at these skills that I gave myself credit for, but still appreciate these helpful tips:

• Visibility around your vehicle is better while backing in
• Easier for drivers to see if the way is clear when exiting the parking spot
• Mechanical problems are easier to diagnose, and vehicle is easier to tow or boost.



Here are some important tips to remember while driving:

• Do not depend on backup cameras when reversing. Drivers only see what's already in view of the camera, and not what's approaching the car
• Driving forward or reversing, looking in the direction of where you want your car to go will help you steer your car more accurately
• Avoid dry steering. Your vehicle should always be moving slowly when turning the steering wheel

CAA How to Drive Beginner Driver Education

Did you know that CAA has over 50 years of experience in driver education?  Their flagship driving school, located in North York, offers beginner driver education, senior driving seminars, and corporate driving seminars.

The CAA How to Drive Beginner Driver Education course is MTO-approved, and only taught at CAA Approved Driving School Network (ADSN) locations across Ontario. There are currently 37 ADSN locations teaching the CAA How to Drive Course. You can find all of the locations at

caasco.com/drivertraining.

Some of the benefits of the CAA How to Drive Course include:

• Graduates can take their G2 road test 4 month earlier than G1 license holders who do not take an MTO-approved course (this group must wait a full 12 months!)
• Graduates may be eligible for a reduced auto insurance premium
• Graduates can redeem a free 1-year CAA Basic Membership 

Tear-up-the-Tuition Contest

Students who register for the CAA How to Drive course at any ADSN location can enter the Tear-up-the-Tuition contest by visiting Caasco.com/learndrivewin. Contest prizes include 2 x $200 Apple Store® gift cards, 3 x choice of $75 CAA Rewards Partner gift card, 39 x Cineplex Great Escape Packages, and 2 x Grand Prize of CAA How to Drive Course tuition reimbursement! This contest runs until November 30, 2014. Good luck, and drive safe!

I had such a great time at the #CAARoadTest event! It was fun to spend time with everyone, refresh my driving skills, and boost my confidence while practising the manoeuvers that we should all use on a regular basis. The best part was I didn't need to be towed away by this friendly face: 

 

CAA is known for being the most trusted name in Roadside Assistance. With a full range of products, CAA Members have access to not only Roadside Assistance, but also life, home and auto insurance; travel packages and insurance; and exclusive access to savings and rewards at more than 164,000 retail locations and services worldwide.
 

Disclosure: I am a CAA Brand Ambassador and although this post was sponsored by CAA South Central Ontario, the opinions expressed here are my own, and in no way do they reflect CAA South Central Ontario.

 

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THE GAME OF LIFE - CAA Edition: Play The Amazing CAA Contest!

When I was younger, I loved playing THE GAME OF LIFE. I’m very competitive, and loved to spin the wheel, move my family car around the board, and complete life challenges to earn money and rewards while racing to the finish line. Being old school at heart, I prefer playing board games over PS3 and Wii, and still break out THE GAME OF LIFE, Monopoly and Payday on a regular basis!

Sometimes, I see life as a game filled with challenges and opportunities. When I was laid off from my job during a company merger in 2002, I was offered the option to either start my own business, or go back to school as part of my severance package. As in THE GAME OF LIFE, I spun my own personal wheel, and decided to go back to school to study Public Relations. It wasn’t easy to return to school after a 10 year break, but it’s a decision I have never regretted, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity. Life may take you down some difficult paths, but it’s the opportunities you create for yourself as a result that can open your world to incredible possibilities.

CAA is known for being the most trusted name in Roadside Assistance. With a full range of products, CAA Members have access to not only Roadside Assistance, but also life, home and auto insurance; travel packages and insurance; and exclusive access to savings and rewards at more than 164,000 retail locations and services worldwide.

I am thrilled to announce thattorld to incredible possibilities. at may take you down some strange paths, but iTHE GAME OF LIFE – CAA Edition is back for a 4^th year! Players have the chance to win over 2,600 instant prizes, and an incredible dream vacation! This amazing contest is open to residents of South Central Ontario and, by playing THE GAME OF LIFE – CAA Edition daily, you can earn entries into the grand prize draw! The more times you play, the better your chance of winning.

 incredible possibilities.

You can also earn bonus entries by sharing your game activity on social media, and by inviting your friends to play! It’s not only fun, it’s very interactive. In addition, you can earn even more bonus entries through winning mini games, and by redeeming GAME OF LIFE Dollars (G.O.L.D.)!

Want to know what you’re playing for? Here are the in-game instant prizes:

·         Petro-Canada™ Gift Cards

·         Petro-Canada™ Preferred Price Cards ($0.10 off per litre)

·         Petro-Canada™ Car Wash Cards

·         Payless ShoeSource Gift Cards

·         East Side Mario's Gift Cards

·         Cineplex Entertainment - Adult Admit One Tickets

·         Husky Energy Gift Cards

·         Options Gift Cards

·         Dulux Paints Gift Certificates

·         Kernels Popcorn Gift Cards

·         LensCrafters Gift Certificates

·         Teleflora Promo Codes

·         Starwood Pre-Paid VISAs

·         Best Western Travel Cards

·         Walmart Gift Cards

·         Sephora Gift Cards

·         The Body Shop Gift Cards

·         Tiger Direct Gift Cards

There are also three fabulous grand prizes to choose from! When players register for the game, they will have the ability to select one of the following options:

·       Florida Family Fun – An 8-day trip for 4 people to Orlando theme parks

·       Northern European Cruise – A 7-night Norwegian escape for 2 people with Holland America Line

·       Signature Argentina – 2-person, 13-day tour of the best of Argentina (Buenos Aires, El Calafate & Mendoza)

I believe this is a contest that is definitely worth playing for. Click here to register and play now! Good luck, and have fun playing THE GAME OF LIFE – CAA Edition! 

Contest open to CAA Members and non-members. Complete rules and regulations are available at www.caagol.com.

HASBRO and its logo and THE GAME OF LIFE are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission.

©2014 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.

®CAA and CAA logo trademarks owned by, and use is granted by, the Canadian Automobile Association.

Disclosure: I am a CAA Brand Ambassador and although this post was sponsored by CAA South Central Ontario, the opinions expressed here are my own, and in no way do they reflect CAA South Central Ontario.

Enjoy a Yummalicious Experience with Yummy Skin!

Like most women, I am obsessed with beauty products. I love trying different brands, textures and scents, and seeing how my skin reacts to each one. When the opportunity to test several of Yummy Skin's amazing products came up, I happily jumped at the chance! I have seen Yummy Skin products in the past at spas, and was always curious to try them. It was definitely worth the wait.

Yummy Skin is a company that is based out of Paris, Ontario. Created in 2007, the products are free of chemicals such as parabens, synthetic dyes, phthalates and harsh preservatives. Yummy Skin products can be found online, in spas, salons, and have been featured on The Shopping Channel! I love that they are from Ontario. Who doesn't love supporting local businesses? :)

When I received my package in the mail, I was instantly drawn in by the clean, attractive packaging and amazing scents! (yes, I choose products by scents and by the wonderful descriptions of the products.). Here are the products I chose, and my thoughts on each one.

Yummy Skin Premium Hand & Body Lotions ($21.50) 

I am always on the hunt for a great body lotion. For me, summertime is all about trying to be outdoors as much as possible. When I'm not wearing sunscreen, I am layering on body lotion. I have been using Yummy Skin's Citrus Energy lotion for the past few weeks, and it has left my skin feeling hydrated and nourished, which I need in the summer months. The light citrus scent is a bonus! I prefer understated scents in lotions, instead of an overpowering smell that might drive people crazy. If you are like me, and need to hydrate your skin after a day in the sun, I highly recommend trying this lotion. You won't regret it.

Yummy Skin Classic Sugar Scrubs ($20.00)



I will admit that this is the product I was most excited about trying, and was not disappointed. Having recently been away on vacation in Cuba, I was dealing with my tan fading and wanted something to help gently exfoliate my skin. Sugar scrubs are perfect for helping to remove dry skin and making skin soft and smooth. Yummy Skin's sugar scrub contains organic coconut oil and organic Shea Butter, two things I love to use on my skin to keep it incredibly soft! The sugar scrub is something I have incorporated into my showers, and has helped keep my heels incredibly smooth.

Yummy Skin Lip Conditioners ($5.00)

I am constantly on the hunt for a great lip balm or lip conditioner! When the seasons change, my skin and lips change to fit the shifts in climate and temperature. I suffer from dryer skin and lips from November to February, and need to protect my lips while on the beach, patio or outdoors while working out in the warmer months.

I tried the Yummy Skin Lip Conditioner in Grapefruit flavor, and was pleasantly surprised at how nourished my lips felt after the first application! Each of the lip conditioners are specially formulated with 100% natural ingredients, including Shea Butter, Siberian Ginseng, Vitamins A and E. My lips feel incredibly soft and smooth, and I use this as a base on my lips before adding lipstick or gloss. It's the perfect addition to my daily routine!

Having had the chance to try these wonderful products myself, I can see why they are called Yummy Skin. I was impressed by the quality of each product, the ingredients used, the textures and how they felt on my skin. The price point for the products are affordable, and the fact that they are made in Ontario is amazing! This truly was a yummalicious experience for my skin.

I want to say a huge thank you to Yummy Skin for allowing me to try the products and share my thoughts with everyone through this review. They have kindly offered a 50% discount for anything purchased to those who are interested in trying any of the products on their website (www.yummyskin.com). Make sure to use the discount code 'sassygirl'! I am a new fan, and will be trying many more products in the future!!

Disclaimer: While I was provided with the products to try for this review, the opinions expressed here are 100% my own.

The Road Well Travelled: CAA Auto Maintenance Services

My first experience with CAA involved roadside assistance when I was a University student. For the longest time, this was how I associated the brand. Little did I know how much was behind the CAA card and symbol! Roadside assistance is only one of the auto-related services available to members. If you spend as much time on the 401 as I do, you can appreciate what CAA has to offer. From auto repairs and vehicle inspections to auto maintenance information, CAA is one-stop shopping for your auto care needs.

 

I have owned several cars, and had my share of stress in finding a reputable and trustworthy mechanic to provide great service at a fair price. Years ago, I had a horrible experience dealing with a mechanic I didn’t know. My car broke down out of town as I was preparing to leave for vacation. The car did not work properly after being serviced, despite returning several times for additional testing.
 

Two years later, the problems were uncovered while my car was serviced for another issue. The new mechanic repaired the faulty work at NO charge, and the cost was significantly less than the estimated amount. I was incredibly grateful and satisfied, and my faith was restored in mechanics. Lesson learned – I renewed my CAA membership after that disaster!

 

As a CAA member, I can utilize the CAA-Approved Auto Repair Services (AARS) program. AARS identifies auto repair facilities that meet stringent CAA standards requirements for quality service at fair prices. Members can use their memberships to receive 3% in CAA Dollars on any vehicle repair at their local AARS; 1 year/20,000 km parts and labour warranty per repair. Click here to find a local CAA-Approved Auto Repair Facility.
 

I can’t stress enough the importance of vehicle maintenance, especially if you spend time on highways. CAA offers a great auto maintenance schedule on their website, offering recommendations on scheduled maintenance for your vehicle.

 

Another feature CAA offers members is a Vehicle Inspection Service. Whether you’re buying, selling, or being proactive about car care, CAA's 139-Point Vehicle Inspection Service is a detailed and thorough method of identifying potential problems. The two-hour inspection covers everything from the engine and exhaust to the wipers and lights. Vehicles are road tested to check for unusual noises or performance issues.

 

Upon completion, each inspection comes with a full report, including comprehensive notes and comments for each point inspected. As a bonus, CAA members save $20.00 on a complete 139-point vehicle inspection! Don’t wait for the Service Engine light to come on. This can save you from stress and additional expenses down the road. Click here to learn more about CAA’s vehicle inspections.
 

As a CAA member, I have peace of mind knowing what automotive services CAA has to offer. For more information, go to www.caasco.com/Auto. Be safe and happy driving!