Enjoying This Long Weekend with Some Cold Ones

TGIF! It's the start of the long weekend. I'm pretty excited as my youngest just turned six yesterday and my husband will be turning 36 tomorrow, so although we aren't going away, we will be having a few family members over to celebrate both birthdays and to just get together because it's been a while.


One of the things that's a must for me when having people over to enjoy the long weekend, is nice cold drinks to offer my guests, especially in this heat. I don't know if it's been the same where you're at, but for me, the weather has been crazy hot and humid. I want to soak up as much sun as I can before we're back to cold months here in Canada, but I also want to make sure I don't overheat while doing so. I was recently sent a package with some delicious drinks that would be perfect to quench your thirst during the long weekend.



 Up first is Aquarelle, a light vodka soda and vodka water beverage made with natural ingredients. Every can of Aquarelle includes a light, revitalizing sip with a hint of refreshing flavour. With no added sugar and just the right amount of bubbly or water, it’s the perfect 100 calorie, 0 carb go-to beverage to enjoy all summer long. I got to try both Passion Fruit and Pomegranate and I loved both. I am a huge fan of sparkling water and I enjoy drinking vodka soda water, so this was so good and not only cooled me down, but I also love that it has zero carbs in this drink. I am currently watching my carb intake, not fully back to Keto, but having delicious drinks like this, especially during the long weekend, helps me enjoy my drink and feel like I'm not missing out on having a cocktail that has tons of sugar and carbs in it.


Next I got to try AriZona Hard Green Tea. I love drinking AriZona Tea and I had no idea that they had a vodka version of their tea. The AriZona Hard Green Tea is a vodka-based drink that is a new take on an old classic, giving you the same great taste you remember, with a new twist - 5% alcohol. Made from 100% Real Brewed Green Tea with Ginseng Extract & a touch of honey, AriZona Hard Green Tea is the perfect excuse to give the same old seltzers you’ve been drinking a break this summer. If you're a gree tea lover, this is the perfect drink for you if you want a little kick to it. It's delicious, smooth and taste great, especially chilled and with ice. This would be a hit at a get together.


We were also sent a can of Coors Slice Lime. A brand we are very familair with in our home and one that my husband and I both enjoy, especially on a hot summer day. My husband absolutely loves Coors. The original is his favorite, but he defintiely enjoys mixing it up a bit, especially with the Coors Slice. We got to try some last year and he was excited to try the Coors Slice Lime that he was sent. Stepping into the limelight again to bring you a piece of summer with the launch of Coors Slice Lime, the refreshing taste of Coors with just enough lime flavour that it doesn't overpower the beer, but gives you a nice refreshing drink you can enjoy in this heat.


Lastly, we were sent Vyne, a new specially crafted sparkling water infused with premium hops and a blend of botanicals, completely alcohol free. What a great way to hydrate and a great drink to end the long weekend with. As I mentioned beofre, I am a huge fan of sparkling water and this new sparkling water comes in three unique flavours, Citrus, Herbal, Floral. I absolutely enjoyed all three flavours and I love that the drinks are calorie-free with zero sugar, vegan friendly, non GMO and has natural flavours. Each drink was refreshing and great to have chilled or in a glass with ice. I definitely recommend Vyne if you're looking for a new sparkling water to try.

What are you plans for the long weekend? We'd love to know! With Covid-19 still here, whatever you do, make sure you're staying safe and enjoy the long weekend, we all deserve it!
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received the above mentioned drinks at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

Castle Rock: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray Review


Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the blu-ray I reviewed in this blog post. The opinions I share are my own.


Stephen King’s multiverse, “Castle Rock,” is a place which combines the mythological scale and intimate character storytelling of the best-selling author’s best-loved works. In season two, a feud between warring clans comes to a boil when budding psychopath Annie Wilkes (Lizzie Caplan, “Masters of Sex”), Stephen King’s nurse from hell, gets waylaid in the small town of Castle Rock. Local businessman Reginald “Pop” Merrill (played by Academy Award-winning actor Tim Robbins – “Mystic River”) is dragged into the fight when Pop’s nephew, legendary bully John “Ace” Merrill (Paul Sparks, “House of Cards”), stirs up trouble. It’s another eerily unforgettable season of “Castle Rock,” as the mysterious town’s ongoing epic saga continues to unfold.


MY REVIEW
I'm a huge fan of Stephen King, I have been since I was a young kid. I have always loved his books and the movies based on his books. When I got the opportunity to review the second season of Castle Rock, I was excited, but a bit nervous because I had not seen season one. Turns out, you don't need to see season one as season two is a complete different storyline. Although there are some small ties together from the first season, which after watching season two, I'll be going back to watch season one because this was so good and such a good thriller.

When we open up to the story we are seeing a young woman running, she's bleeding, carrying what looks to be a box and running from something. I was a bit confused at first, but figured I'd just watch the first episode and see where it goes. We're fast forward to the same woman, Annie Wilkes, who is a bit older and who also has a daughter, Joy. We see her go in and out of hospitals pretending like she works there and her main goal is to steal prescription drugs and leaves, changing the plate on her vehicle and headed towards the next town to do the same. On their way to their next stop while Annie is looking for pills, she gets in a vehicle accident, which happens to be in the town of Castle Rock. A small town with lots of mystery already, Annie and Joy are stuck there for a bit as their car gets fixed. While this is happning, Annie gets a job at the local hospital, which is a hospital where only if you have seniority can you have the access key to where all the drugs/prescriptions are kept. As Annie tries to find a way inside to steal drugs things start to unravel as a house is set on fire, a man is murdered and this is only the beginning. Not only do we learn more about Annie, but we start to learn more about the town Castle Rock, the residents and the secrets the town keeps.

I absolutely loved season two of Castle Rock. It kept me on my toes trying to put the pieces of the story together before things happened and boy did I not see some things coming. The ending, just as shocking if not more, as the beginning and I for one can't wait to see what new story awakes for season three. If you are a fan of Stephen King, his books, movies, or even just have a love for thrillers, this is a must see show. It's well cast and I think the writers did an amazing job telling this story.

The Complete Second Season of Castle Rock” is now available and priced to own at $24.98 SRP ($29.98 in Canada) for the DVD and $29.98 SRP ($39.99 in Canada) for the Blu-ray which includes a Digital Code (US Only).
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received the above mentioned title on blu-ray at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

Blaze and the Monster Machines: Race for the Golden Treasure DVD Review & Giveaway


Arrrgggh you ready for high-speed, high seas, treasure hunting? Set sail with Blaze and Pegwheel the Pirate-Truck to search for three keys to unlock the golden treasure. Then, use a treasure map to find the most amazing treasure, race to The Island of Lost Treasure for more riches and speed through an ancient racetrack in search of a magical Wishing Wheel.

Blaze and the Monster Machines are speeding back onto DVD for all-new high-speed, high seas adventures in Blaze and the Monster Machines: Race for the Golden Treasure! Arriving today July 28, 2020, preschoolers can race along with Blaze and his friends as they embark on epic action-packed treasure hunts. Blaze and the Monster Machines: Race for the Golden Treasure will be available from Paramount Home Entertainment and Nickelodeon Home Entertainment for the suggested retail price of $10.99 US and $12.99 CAD.

Blaze and the Monster Machines: Race for the Golden Treasure episodes:
Race for the Golden Treasure
Treasure Track
The Island of Lost Treasure
Wishing Wheel


MY REVIEW
My little guy is such a huge fan of Blaze and the Monster Machines, so we were very excited when we got the opportunity to review Race for the Golden Treasure. Braxton is just over a year and he's at the stage where certain shows can gain his attention for more than a few minutes and I'm happy that Blaze and the Monster Machines is one of them. He gets excited whenever Blaze and AJ are on the screen, which makes me happy. While he watches the show, it gives me time to clean around the house and get a few things done, while he's being entertained and boy was he entertained. As he watched the action filled adventure of Blaze and Pegwheel try to get all keys to open up the treasure, they go through some obstacles, but get through them and do they make it to the wishing well? You have to watch to find out, no spoilers here! 

Not only does my little guy love the show, but my younger sister who is six, loves this show too. When she comes to visit they can both now watch Race for the Golden Treasure together and not only that, but the DVD includes three other episodes as well for them to enjoy over and over again. 

It's time to rev it up and race into summer fun with this storybook activity pack! Click the image below and download the free Blaze and the Monster Machines activity pack that you can enjoy and print right from home!



GIVEAWAY!
 Blaze and the Monster Machines: Race for the Golden Treasure are available to purchase today on DVD and we've teamed up with Paramount Home Entertainment to host a giveaway for one lucky reader (Canada only) to win a copy of Race for the Golden Treasure on DVD! Just leave a comment below sharing who your child's favorite character from the show is.

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received the above mentioned title on DVD at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

Scoob Blu-ray Review


The first full-length animated Scooby-Doo adventure for the big screen is the never-before told stories of Scooby-Doo’s origins and the greatest mystery in the career of Mystery Inc.

“SCOOB!” reveals how lifelong friends Scooby and Shaggy first met and how they joined with young detectives Fred, Velma and Daphne to form the famous Mystery Inc. Now, with hundreds of cases solved and adventures shared, Scooby and the gang face their biggest, most challenging mystery ever: a plot to unleash the ghost dog Cerberus upon the world. As they race to stop this global “dogpocalypse,” the gang discovers that Scooby has a secret legacy and an epic destiny greater than anyone imagined.


MY REVIEW
My famliy and I are huge fans of Scooby-Doo. I remember when the hubby and I first introduced our two oldest kiddos to the Mysatery Inc. gang and how much they loved it, just as we did when we were kids. The new movie Scoob brings us back to where it all started with Shaggy and Scoob meeting at the beach and how they form a friendship with their love of food. My kids loved how Shaggy came up with Scoob's name on the spot when the police officer was trying to take him away thinking he was a stray and my youngest absolutely loved how little Scoob was and how cute he looked.

After Shaggy and Scoob are introduced to young detectives Freddy, Daphne and Velma, we see how they form their mystery solving gang after solving their first case in their neighborhood on Halloween, proving that one of the houses in the neighborhood wasn't in fact haunted. From then on we're shown scenes of the gang solving cases and are brought to the present where the gang is wanting to take on more cases and become a legit business. They meet with an investor, Simon Cowell, and he tells the gang that he won't invest if Shaggy and Scoob are involved because he doesn't see what they bring to the group.

Shaggy and Scoob leave the rest of the gang after feeling left out and go to the bowling alley where they end up getting chased by some evil robots and end up getting beamed up and saved by the Falcon Furry and his gang, a super hero that both Shaggy and Scoob love. The two are introduced to Dee Dee Skyes, pilot of the Falcon Fury, who tells them who is after them, why and we also find out what big part Scoob and his genes has to do it, but I'll let you watch the movie to see what happens.

This was such a great movie to watch with my kiddos. We laughed a lot and my kids loved every bit of it, even my fifteen year old. You're never too old for Scooby Dooby Doo!  I wish we could have seen this on the big screen as it was suppose to be shown in theartres, but due to Covid-19, families got to enjoy the movie on demand. Out today, July 21st, on 4K UHD Combo Pack, blu-ray and DVD, you can now bring a physical copy of the movie Scoob to add to your movie collection and you can also enjoy the bonus features that include bloopers, deleted scenes and a tuturial on how to draw Scooby Doo. For more information about Scoob and where to purcahse be sure to head to their website.
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Scoob on blu-ray at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 

The High Note Blu-ray Giveaway #TheHighNote


Available on demand in your home as of May 29th this year, due to Covid-19, and available on blu-ray and DVD August 11, 2020, The Hight Note is set in the dazzling world of the L.A. music scene comes the story of Grace Davis (Tracee Ellis Ross), a superstar whose talent, and ego, have reached unbelievable heights. Maggie (Dakota Johnson) is Grace's overworked personal assistant who's stuck running errands but still aspires to her dream of becoming a music producer. Things come to a head when Grace's long-time manager (Ice Cube) presents the singer with a choice that could alter the course of her career, and Grace must choose between playing it safe or listening to her heart in a decision that could change her life forever.



Showcasing brand-new original songs and soulful covers, THE HIGH NOTE on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital features breathtaking musical performances by Tracee Ellis Ross and Kelvin Harrison, Jr., and comes packed with never-before-seen exclusive bonus content including an all-new original music video, deleted scenes and featurettes with cast and crew taking audiences deeper into the alluring story of Grace Davis and her captivating music career. 


GIVEAWAY
We've teamed up with Universal Pictures to give one lucky reader a chance to win their own copy of The High Note on blu-ray. To enter the giveaway all you need to do is comment who your favorite female singer is. That's it! The giveaway is open to both US and CANADA residents! Not only are we giving away a copy on the blog, but we're giving a copy away on both our Facebook and Instagram page. Be sure to head there to triple your chances at winning a copy!


Clueless 25th Anniversary Blu-ray (Review & Giveaway)

While Revisit the halcyon days of high school in the ‘90s; a time filled with camaraderie, chaste dances and fervent study… AS IF. Writer/director Amy Heckerling’s whip-smart comedy CLUELESS celebrates its 25th anniversary on Blu-ray. 25 years after it was originally released on July 19, 1995, CLUELESS remains a smart, charming and hilarious classic that truly captures what it was like to be a teen in the 1990s. Alicia Silverstone shines as the 15-year-old Beverly Hills High School student who thrives on shopping, enjoys the perfect social life, and plays matchmaker to all her friends. The film features an outstanding ensemble cast including Paul Rudd, Brittany Murphy, Donald Faison, Stacey Dash, Jeremy Sisto, Breckin Meyer, and Wallace Shawn. The Blu-ray includes over an hour of previously released special features including a “Clue or False” trivia game, a fashion featurette, a look at the class of ’95, a “Suck ‘n Blow” tutorial, original theatrical trailers and more.


MY REVIEW
As If! I can't believe July 19th will mark 25 years since we first met Cher, Dionne and the rest of the gang from the movie Clueless. And just like 25 years ago, Clueless, (a film based on Jane Austen's Emma) is still one of the most popular teen movies from the ninties that's still being watched, a couple decades later, by this generation.

I remember going to the movie theatre with my older cousin and a few of my friends and leaving the theatre singing, "Rolling with the homies." That song will forever be apart of my childhood and I was very excited to receive the 25th anniversary edition on blu-ray to enjoy the movie again. I hadn't watched Clueless in a few years, so I was happy to be gifted the movie to watch again.

With us still being home due to Covid-19, I took some "me time," and got to watch this movie all by myself with a glass of wine, maybe two, and a few snacks. Cozied up in my room, I got to laugh, be embarrassed at some of the cheesy scenes and remember all things ninties while watching this film. Looking back at Paul Rudd playing, Josh, I swear that man ages like fine wine and seeing him and Alicia Silverstone on screen together again playing Cher and Josh just warmed my heart with their hate/love relationship. It's hard to believe that years later this movie, the characters and quotes from this movie, are bigger than ever. One of the things I loved about having this movie on blu-ray were the bonus features that included a trivia game, the original trailer and a few other fun features that will bring you back to the ninties.


GIVEAWAY!
With the release of Clueless 25th Anniversary blu-ray being out, we've teamed up with Paramount Home Entertainment to offer our readers a chance at winning your own copy. To enter the giveaway all you need to do is comment below your favorite character from the movie Clueless.

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Clueless at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 

Celebrating Diversity with Raincoast Books (Review & Giveaway)

The last few months have been an eye opener for me as we continue to fight for equality for all when it comes to human rights, while staying safe as best we can as Covid-19 is still here. We currently have our DK Canada Life Stories on Black History giveaway going on, but I wanted to do more for myself, my family and for you guys as well. So I contacted one of my favorite book companies to work with, Raincoast Books, to collab and showcase a few of their authors who are people of colour.

I was sent a beautiful package of four books that have not only been a joy to read, but also a joy to share with my family and add to our family library. We were sent The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones, I Am Perfectly Designed, The Undefeated and Woke. Each of these books are written by an author of colour and talk about in some way or another being comfortable in your skin as well as wanting justice and equality for all. Check out the synopsis of each book below as well as my thoughts on each book:


By: Daven McQueen
Publisher: Wattpad Books
Publication Date: May 5, 2020
ISBN: 9781989365168
Pages: 312

It’s the summer of 1955. For Ethan Harper, a biracial kid raised mostly by his white father, race has always been a distant conversation. When he’s sent to spend the summer with his aunt and uncle in small-town Alabama, his Blackness is suddenly front and center, and no one is shy about making it known he’s not welcome there. Except for Juniper Jones. The town’s resident oddball and free spirit, she’s everything the townspeople aren’t―open, kind, and full of acceptance.

Armed with two bikes and an unlimited supply of root beer floats, Ethan and Juniper set out to find their place in a town that’s bent on rejecting them. As Ethan is confronted for the first time by what it means to be Black in America, Juniper tries to help him see the beauty in even the ugliest reality, and that even the darkest days can give rise to an invincible summer.



By: Kwame Alexander & Illustrated by: Kadir Nelson
Publisher: Versify
Publication Date: April 2, 2019
ISBN: 9781328780966
Pages: 40

This poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes. The text is also peppered with references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present.


By: Karamo Borwn & Illustrated by: Anoosha Syed
Publisher: Henry Holt
Publication Date: November 5, 2019
ISBN: 9781250232212
Pages: 40

I Am Perfectly Designed is an exuberant celebration of loving who you are, exactly as you are, from Karamo Brown, the Culture Expert of Netflix's hit series Queer Eye. In this empowering ode to modern families, a boy and his father take a joyful walk through the city, discovering all the ways in which they are perfectly designed for each other.


By: Mahogany L. Browne & Illustrated by: Theodore Taylor III
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Publication Date: March 10, 2020
ISBN: 9781250311207
Pages: 56

Historically poets have been on the forefront of social movements. Woke is a collection of poems by women that reflects the joy and passion in the fight for social justice, tackling topics from discrimination to empathy, and acceptance to speaking out.

With Theodore Taylor's bright, emotional art, and writing from Mahogany L. Browne, Elizabeth Acevedo and Olivia Gatwood, kids will be inspired to create their own art and poems to express how they see justice and injustice.
MY REVIEW
What I loved about receiving all four books is that everyone in my house had a book they could read and enjoy. From my six year old loving I Am Perfectly Designed to my fifteen year old loving The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones, there was something for all five of us to read and enjoy.


The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones was a story I loved. My kids are biracial, so this story felt close to home as I do have family that are from Alabama. My mom was born there as were her parents. We actually went to visit our family in Alabama two summers back with the kids and it was such a great time to not only learn some of my family history, but to see where my grandma lived and to hear some of the stories about her childhood. This is a great story to get your family having conversations that need to happen in order to move forward. I thought this was well written and the character development in this story was great to see as well as Ethan's friendship with Juniper Jones, I smiled, laughed and cried throughout this story, I definitely recommed this book for everyone.

The Undefeated was a book that my twelve year old son really loved. The poem and the pictures in this book are stunning. I loved that after the poem is done, the last few pages are dedicated to sharing information on historical figures and events that have happened. They give you a quick summary and then you can take it from there to look up more information on each one.

I Am Perfectly Designed was such a beautiful and fun story to read with my five year old. I loved seeing how diversed this story was, with characters in the background of all race and different families. I also loved the moral behind this story and how at the end of the book my five year old looked at me and said, "I Am Perfectly Designed too, mama."

Lastly, Woke: A Young Poet's Call To Justice is filled with so many beautifully writtrn poems about equality and justice and would be a great book to add to your library as well as a great book to introduce kids to take a stand for equal human rights. From loving your body, to equality, gender, immigration, justice, to privilage, this book has a poem that can relate to so much of what's going on in the world right now. Never sleep at what's at stake, equality for all.

A huge thank you to our friends over at Raincoast for senmding us these amazing books that I plan on keeping in my library and handing off to my grandchildren when that day comes. For more information on each book, be sure to head to Raincoast Books.


GIVEAWAY
We are teaming up with Raincoast Books to give one lucky Canadian reader a chance at winning all four books mentioned above! All you need to do is comment below with which book you would dive into first. 
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received the above mentioned books at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received


A Few Tips Will Help You Enjoy The Great Taste Of Coffee

Did you know that experienced barista who know how to properly prepare coffee, do not bring it to a boil, that is, do not heat it to one hundred degrees. Maximum 98. Boiling kills the taste of coffee! In order to prepare aromatic coffee in accordance with all the rules, you will need a conical shape of a Turk or a small cezve. The narrow neck of the dishes contributes to the formation of airy foam, which is a sign of good, finely ground coffee. There should be a little foam, as its large amount can reduce the aroma.

choose best ground coffee

There are a large number of ways to make coffee. Let's consider in more detail the most popular.

In Turk 

For brewing coffee it is best to use cupronickel or copper Turks.

Recipe for making coffee in a Turk: 


  • Calcify the Turk on fire;
  • Pour ground coffee into it, counting 1-2 teaspoons per cup;
  • Then we add sugar to your taste;
  • Pour cold water into future coffee. Do not forget that the quality of the water will determine the taste of coffee. Therefore, it is better to use purified water to brew coffee. For a richer taste, water should reach only the narrow neck of the turk;
  • Then we put the Turk on a small fire. With a catastrophic lack of time, you can put more on the fire, but you just need to prevent the drink from boiling.




Probably the most difficult thing in making coffee is not to let the coffee run away. And for this, he needs constant monitoring, and as soon as foam forms on the surface and bubbles appear on the edges, we can safely say that the coffee is ready. But if you, after the foam appears, hold the coffee on the fire for several minutes, not allowing it to boil, then this will be called the art of making coffee. In order for the drink to be clear without impurities, it is necessary to use a sieve.

Features of making coffee in Turk 


  • It is important not to miss the moment of maximum heating of water, since coffee should not boil. Focus fully on making the drink.
  • Pour ground coffee into the Turk, add sugar and put on fire. You can also add a pinch of cocoa or cinnamon, they definitely will not spoil the drink, but will give strength and taste.
  • Usually one teaspoon is filled up per cup, but there are coffee lovers stronger. They brew 3-4 tablespoons of coffee, but they should think about the nervous system and heart.
  • If you want to save money, then do not mix expensive coffee with cheap coffee. All the same, the taste of the drink will not improve, and you will not get part of the aroma and pleasure from expensive coffee. In this case, it is better to add cocoa or cinnamon.
  • Real coffee connoisseurs do not brew it in an ordinary enameled coffee machine, but in a copper one. They also do not have an ordinary stove, they make coffee on a special hot stove with sand. But these conditions for making a good drink are not necessary.
  • If you are too lazy to stand above the stove and wait for the preparation, you can simply pour the right dose of coffee in a mug, and pour boiling water over it like tea. Wait ten minutes until it brews, and enjoy a cup of coffee.
  • If there is absolutely not enough time, then you can use instant coffee. At work, everyone drinks such a powder that greatly simplifies the cooking process, but it costs less than regular coffee. But the taste of such a drink will not always meet the expected

In The French Press

Coffee brewing in a French press is a popular way to make this drink. This method is used when tasting several types of coffee, because it extracts all its delicate taste and aroma from coffee grains quite well. This method is popular not only because it produces a natural taste, but also because the cooking process is very easy. Consider how to brew coffee in a French press:



  • Rinse the french press with hot water to slightly warm it;
  • At the rate of 1-2 teaspoons per cup, pour ground coffee into it. To prevent the mesh from clogging, choose coarse coffee;
  • Pour coffee with water, best of all hot, but not boiling in some cases;
  • To get a more intense aroma of coffee, you need to mix everything thoroughly;
  • For better brewing coffee, leave it for a couple of minutes;
  • Pour the drink into cups, lowering the piston of the French press.


In The Cup

Ground coffee can be brewed directly in a cup. Moreover, brewing in a cup is used during professional tasting to determine the organoleptic properties of the drink. How to make coffee in a cup?




  • First of all, the cup must be heated. To do this, it can be rinsed with boiling water. Preheating is necessary to reduce the temperature loss for heating the cup itself, all the heat should go to brewing coffee.
  • Pour finely ground coffee into a cup. Coffee beans should be ground almost “to dust”.
  • Pour coffee with hot water at a temperature of 96-98C. This is the temperature taken a minute ago from the fire of boiling water.
  • Cover the coffee cup with a saucer or other coating of a suitable material and let it brew for 2-3 minutes to settle the grounds and brew the coffee.

With proper brewing of coffee, its taste will be rich and velvety, with a wonderful and persistent aroma.

Disclosure:  This has been a sponsored post. Compensation has been received.

DK Canada Life Stories: Black History (Review & Giveaway)

On May 25, 2020 George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit bill. Since then the last month and a half there has been a demand for justice world-wide in regards to police brutatlity and systemic racism that not only happens in the United States, but all over the world. These last few weeks have been a rollercoaster of emotions as I am a Black American who resides in Canada, but I have family in the states and it's been hard to not be able to be there with my family physically during this time with borders still closed because we are still living in a worldwide pandemic with COVID-19.

One of the things I've noticed on social media is people having uncomfortable conversations with people of colour so that we all can talk about and agree that racism is everywhere and in order for us to move forward, these conversations need to happen so that we can understand one another a bit better and agree that everyone should be treated with equality no matter the race, gender or sexual preference of a person because at the end of the day, we are all human-beings. I've been having conversations with friends and family members of different race as well, sharing my stories, my encounters with racism and trying to figure out a way I can use my voice on this platform to help share and spread information the best way I can, in a safe way.

I reached out to our amazing friends over at DK Canada and they sent me some of their DK Life Story books on a few black leaders in our history to add to my library for my kids to read and learn more about. We already had the DK Life Stories of Martin Luther King Jr. and were sent DK Life Stories on Harriet Tubman, Katherine Johnson and Nelson Mandela.


Martin Luther King Jr., will always be remembered for his famous "I have a dream" speech, which he gave during the March on Washington in 1963. But his life before and after that big event, and his other enormous contributions to the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, largely go unspoken. In this biography for kids ages 8-11, learn all about MLK - from his early family life and experiences in education, to his untimely death and the worldwide mourning and riots that followed.



Nelson Mandela became the first black president of South Africa after spending 27 years in prison.
In 1964, Nelson Mandela was sentenced to a lifetime in jail. His crime? Attempting to overthrow a government that openly discriminated against its black citizens. After spending 27 years behind bars, Mandela was released, allowing him to continue his struggle for equality in South Africa-and to become the country's first black president. In this biography book for kids ages 8-11, learn all about Mandela's incredible life, his fight against apartheid, and how he helped bring peace to his nation.


Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in c.1820 and would later run away and help scores of other African American slaves escape to freedom in the North using the "Underground Railroad." A nurse, scout, and advisor during the American Civil War, Harriet co-led the Combahee River Raid, in which 700 slaves were liberated. After the war, Harriet became involved in women's suffrage, or the right to vote, and opened a retirement home for sick and elderly African Americans. In this biography book for 8-11 year olds, learn all about Harriet Tubman's fascinating life, the hardships she endured, her visions, the people she helped and rescued, the battles she fought, and how this American icon of justice and strength continues to inspire so many people today.


Katherine Johnson, famed NASA mathematician and one of the subjects of the award-winning 2016 film Hidden Figures. It was an incredible accomplishment when the United States first put a person on the Moon - but without the incredible behind-the-scenes work of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, such a feat could not have been possible. Follow her remarkable journey from growing up in West Virginia, to becoming a teacher, to breaking barriers at NASA and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.

All four books are filled with great photographs of each of these black leaders who made history. Not only are they filled with pictures, but they also give a timeline of each person's life, as well as a quiz at the end of the book so that your child can test their knowledge of what they read. I also love that each book has a "Who's Who," section that shares information on who and what these leaders came in contact with during their lifetime. I absoutely love having all four books in my home library so that my kids can read about these amazing black leaders who made a difference in the world. Also be sure to click the link for a free Teacher's Guide to the DK Life Stories of some of history's extrodinary people. The guide includes lesson plans, discussion questions and more!


GIVEAWAY!

I'm very excited to share that our friends from DK Canada are teaming up with us to host a giveaway that includes all four books! All you need to do is comment below on which book you think your child and/or you would like to read first. That's it. The giveaway is open to our Canadian readers only. DK Canada Life Stories books are retailed $7.99 CAD ($5.99 US) For more information on the DK Life Stories be sure to head to DK Canada.

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received the above mentioned books at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received