Tuesday

Prodigy game makes math enjoyable!

Prodigy Home Screen


Do you love math? I was never good at math growing up. I remember going up to the chalkboard in front of the whole class to fumble the chalk and cry when I had to solve a simple math question. It was an embarrassing and nerve racking moment back in my youth.

Today with the abundance of technology such as mobile devices and tablets and ipads, kids can learn in an environment outside of the classroom and in the comfort of their own home.

 I had the opportunity over my family visits to watch my nephews and nieces play a lot of video games. To incorporate math learning, my nephew Jairen's Grade 4 class uses "Prodigy Game." It allows Jairen to play the game at school and at home. Jairen would play Prodigy Game on his ipad with his younger sister and brother too! Not only do they get the benefit of learning math, they also build social skills through in-game interactions with classmates and siblings who also play the game. As a parent you are able to track and review reports that show your child's progress and where they need help. It's all free too! It's a great way to use video games and learning math together. Don't you wish we had this when we were kids?



I asked my nephew Jairen what he likes most about the Prodigy Game? In his own words he said, "It's a math game and it's challenging. It's fun when I battle my friends." Being allowed to play video games and learn was something I didn't have growing up. With the advancement of technology,  kids are now empowered to take their math education in their own hands and it makes it easier  to learn anywhere, anytime.


Prodigy Game Home Screen graphics on ipad
As a cofounder of a large/tech meetup community in Toronto, one of the great things I love about Prodigy Game is that it was created by two Burlington natives, and has become one of the top ten start-ups in Canada. It's great to support local talent and see it grow. If you or any one you know is interested in starting a career in the tech world, check out their job openings here JOB OPENING
They're looking to add more developers and designers to the team, and its a great team to be a part of. Not to mention you'll be helping make a big impact in math education around the world.

Prodigy learning from home.
For more information on Prodigy Math Game visit: prodigygame.com
Twitter: @prodigygame

This post was sponsored by Prodigy in a partnership with Joallore A. to provide you the most up to date facts, helping you make informed decisions. All opinions in this article are my own.

Friday

GreenEggplant Restaurant Media Tasting



I had the opportunity to visit the Green Eggplant Restaurant in the east end of Toronto. I took a dab of what Green Eggplant had to offer last year and came across their fresh calamari... I enjoyed it! It's my favourite spot to get calamari especially during the summer. They have an extensive menu with many options that it makes you want to come back and try them all. Did I mention that the portions are big enough to feed two or three people?!


Quesadilla

Garden Salad

The Green Eggplant is a great casual restaurant in the Beaches. It's a perfect spot to visit because it is right across from the park and beach. They've recently added a sidewalk patio so it's another reason to visit them. The fishbowl sized cocktail drinks are amazing and remind me of oversized drinks in Las Vegas. Great people watching while enjoying a cocktail at the Beaches.
Bellini Cockail

Green Eggplant has a relaxed vibe & caters to everyone from young couples to families with kids. This place will be busy during the weekends especially during the summer. The staff are informative and friendly. I've become a fan of this spot and will have to make a repeat visit. Every portion size, the extensive menu (reminds me of Cheesecake Factory menu) and close proximity to the Beaches are the perfect combination.
Salmon Cedar Plank
To learn more about Green Eggplant and their menu, visit greeneggplant.com Green Eggplant is located at 2024 Queen St East., Toronto.

Disclosure: I was invited to this Media Tasting event & received a complimentary sampling of the menu. All opinions on this blog post review are my own. 

Monday

Walmart.ca Grocery Pick-Up is Fun & Easy!

Walmart.ca grocery pick up from Penguin Pickup at UPS Yorkville.
During the Holiday Season you can get bogged down with gift buying and numerous errands taking up most of your time before the year ends... Travelling in busy crowds & unpredictable Toronto weather can cause major havoc on any given day. I really try my best to avoid the crowds especially during the holiday season. Long lines and I don't mix. Thankfully walmart.ca has a new Grocery PickUp service at walmart.ca that makes everything so convenient and easy!



CLICK, CLICK, CLICK & Collect. I went on to walmart.ca website & clicked on Grocery PickUp button to begin shopping for fresh groceries & pick up at a Penguin Pick-Up or Walmart location of my choice. I basically clicked on all the products I needed in an easy & categorized navigation page. Walmart will also AdMatch prices advertised by any competitor so you're guaranteed the lowest price. Here is an example of the various categories to grocery shop.



You can select from all the same products available in store at a Walmart location. From canned goods to fresh produce, you can even order your pet food too! A $3 service fee will be applied and orders are to be a minimum of $50. Walmart.ca currently has condo delivery locations as well. Imagine shopping for groceries & having them deliver to your condo. They have this service now for 3 locations in the Toronto area. *additional $10 applies for this service.


Refridgerator for delivery of walmart.ca orders.

Overall, my experience using the walmart.ca Grocery PickUp was quick and hassle free. I placed an order on a Tuesday afternoon & scheduled my pick-up the next day at a UPS/Penguin location with no product quality issues. My vegetable and meat orders were properly refrigerated upon pick up as shown above. This experience saved me on gas expenses as I was able to select a location close to home for pick-up. I had no line-ups & experienced a one on one customer experience at my UPS location. This was such a time saver for me. Overall, I'm going to use this Walmart Grocery Pick-Up service again!

UPS Store - Penguin Pick Up location in Yorkville.



This post is sponsored by Walmart Canada as part of the Walmart Grocery Pick-Up program. In exchange for this post, I have received perks in the form of products and/or compensation. All opinions on this blog are my own.