Ricky Shetty's Blog, page 16
December 18, 2014
Personalized Gift Ideas – London Drugs Photolab
With Christmas right out around the corner and the malls packed with last-minute shoppers, massive line-ups, and super busy parking lots, why not order a personalized gift from the comfort of your home?
That’s what we did for our kids thanks to the London Drugs Photolab.
We recently did a Photo Shoot with Vancouver-based photographer Edward Lai in Stanley Park and wanted to print out some of our favourite images. Instead of just leaving them in digital form on iPhoto, Social Media, and/or on a Facebook Album, we decided to print out our favourite picture as a Canvas Wrap! When browsing through the Photolab Website, I had no idea what massive a selection they have!! I have taken a few screen shots so you get a glimpse into the incredible variety of customized gifts you can order from Photo Books, to Canvas Wraps, to Mugs, to Cards, to Calendars, to much more!
Here are some of the popular items:
1) Photo Books – we were debating between a Photo Book and a Canvas Gallery. After tossing the pros and cons, we finally opted to go for the Canvas Gallery as we needed more stuff for our kids’ room walls
2) Speciality Items - really unique gifts from Mouse Pads, to Thermoses, to Photo Tiles & Plaques, to Photo Pet Bowls, and more!
3) Gallery Wraps – we opted for a 12 X 36 Gallery Wrap (based on the layout and dimensions of the picture we wanted to print out)
4) Crystals - these are creative and hot new items on the market! We will most likely order a crystal when we do our next London Drugs Photolob order!
So, once you have chosen your item and uploaded your photos, here are the next steps!
1) Select Pick Up Store or Delivery – we chose to pick it up from Brentwood Town Centre as it is only a few minutes drive away from us!
2) Select the Payment Method - you can either pay online in advance or simply pay at the store when you pick up!
After placing the order, we immediately got an email saying the Photolab had received my order and I can click on the big green “Track My Order Status” button!
This was our first time ever ordering online using the London Drugs Photolab. I’ve ordered a Canvas Print in store once for our Wedding Anniversary and found that very easy as someone was on-hand to answer any questions I had about the pictures I had chosen, the dimensions, and how the final product would look like. This year, our order was very straight-forward so we decided to try out the online system fully. The entire process only took 5 minutes – we even made a video below to show you how easy the process was!
To order your own customized Christmas Gift from the London Drugs Photolab, check out their website below:
London Drugs Photolab
The post Personalized Gift Ideas – London Drugs Photolab appeared first on Daddy Blogger.
BioChem Whey Protein
Our family is always on the hunt for the latest healthy products for us to try and review for our readers! When Country Life offered to send us some of their re-formulated BioChem 100% Whey Protein now made from grass-fed cows and Non-GMO ingredients, we had to try it out! Being non-GMO, gluten-free, soy-free, and sourced from grass-fed cows ensures that this is some of the best Whey Protein on the market! It comes in three flavours (chocolate, vanilla and natural) with no artificial colours, flavours and sweeteners.
Wow – not only are they healthy for you…they taste amazing too!!
They even offered our readers a couple of holiday recipes:
a) Whey Better Pumpkin Pie Natural Autumn Smoothie
2 scoops BioChem 100% Whey Protein, Natural
6 oz Almond milk (or a low-calorie lactose-free option)
½ teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
½ cup Canned Pumpkin
1 tablespoon Light Agave Nectar
7 oz Fat-Free Plain Greek Yogurt
5 ice cubes
b) Whey Better Chocolate with Peppermint
2 scoops BioChem 100% Whey Protein, Chocolate
8 oz coconut milk (or a low-calorie lactose-free option)
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
3 ice cubes
Add 1 banana (cut into four pieces)
The post BioChem Whey Protein appeared first on Daddy Blogger.
[CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY] $100 Gift Card
With Christmas just around the corner, it’s always hard to decide what to get for the loved ones in your life. And, if you are like me, you don’t like long line-ups, crowded malls, or busy parking lots…does anyone like these things? Rather than buy a gift you are not quite sure about (both from your perspective and from the recipient’s point of view), perhaps, you may consider Gift Cards this holiday season. I now that I certainly love getting Gift Cards as then I can choose exactly what I want to buy!
A few options to add some creativity to your Gift Cards:
1) Pair the Gift Card with another Gift
2) Use creativity to wrap up the Gift Card (e.g with an Ornament)
3) Put the Gift Card in a Stocking
4) Choose a Gift Card based on Personality (Best Buy Card for a Techie, iTunes Card for a Music Lover, Nordstrom Card for a Fashionista, etc).
The huge benefits of Gift Cards include it’s easy to get, easy to give, personalized as the recipient can choose whatever they like, it’s a great last minute gift idea, great for Secret Santa Gift Exchanges, and more! It’s always good to give gifts to people whose interests you might not know as well (e.g. boss, coworkers, neighbours, service providers, etc). If you are unsure of which Gift Cards to get Restaurant Gift Cards, Amazon Gift Cards, or Visa/MasterCard Gift Cards are safe, universal options which will appeal to a broad audience! Many Grocery Stores carry hundreds of Gift Cards so you are spoiled for variety and options! Also, there are “variable” Gift Card options so you can load any amount you want onto the card up to $500.
If you prefer to shop online, check out hundreds of gift cards on http://www.GiftCardMall.com
Check out this #AwesomeUncle video:
Make sure you enter to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card (contest entry deadline is Tuesday, Dec 23, 2014):
Gi
The post [CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY] $100 Gift Card appeared first on Daddy Blogger.
December 16, 2014
Vancouver Christmas Market 2014
Christmas has always been a very exciting time of the year especially now that we have children and our daughter Rianne is in her toddler years. In fact, Anne and I first start dating during Christmas of 2009 (here we are 5 years later married with 2 kids)! This year marked our third consecutive year visiting the Vancouver Christmas Market at the Queen Elizabeth Plaza! The first time we went was in 2012 when Rianne was only about 7 months old. Last year, Rianne was 1.5 years old and Ryan was a newborn so couldn’t comprehend all the amazing sights, sounds, and food all around him! This year, our daughter is 2.5 and our son is 1 year old. It was extra fun this year because both our kids can fully experience and engage with the magic of the market!
We are very lucky to live in the city of Vancouver where we celebrate so many of our different cultures & ethnicities and one of them is the German Holiday Culture that the Vancouver Christmas Market showcases! During my 20s, I backpacked around Europe and I was in Germany in December right before Christmas and I got to experience several authentic Christmas Markets. Little did I know that one day I would be taking my wife and kids to a German Market in the heart of Downtown Vancouver! Let me tell you from experience….the Vancouver version of the market is very, very, very authentic!! From food, to all the tiny trinkets and arts and crafts to the talented musicians and entertainment, it is a one stop shop! A definite must see for every family this Christmas!!
Here’s some of our highlights!
The Food
I am the adventurous type. Every time we go out (not just at the market but at festivals and restaurants too), I like to try out the new food they offer and stuff that I haven’t tried before. So, when our good friend Vincent took us to the market this year, one of my first questions was “What’s new?” and “Where can get all the new stuff?” This year we tried several new items (be warned…the following pictures will make you hungry)! I know I get hungry and want to go back to the market every time I see these pictures!
1) Turkish Pizza – made fresh by veteran Chef Ismail (who has over 30 years culinary experience around the world)!
2) Ukranian Crepes - which comes in both savoury & sweet versions 
3) Dutch Mini-Pancakes - a delicious dessert with Maple Syrup, Icing Sugar, and Whipping Cream! (I’m getting hungry just writing about them!)
Although we tried several new food items, we never forget to get a cup of their hot apple cider in their beautifully German-art inspired mugs (which you can buy as a souvenir too)! Nothing beats a flavourful hot drink in this cold season. We are still drinking out of these same cups at home!
Add here is Rianne eating some cotton candy and chocolate-covered strawberries!!
The Market
Definitely, there is lots to see and to buy! All hand made and with an authentic touch of the German culture, you will definitely want to bring some home with you! Why not have fun and do your Christmas shopping at the same time? What I liked the most are the handmade toys for kids. There is something to say with wooden handcrafted toys, they are adorable and just precious, perfect for a kid eager to learn…such as our two young kids! In addition to the artisan shops, there is entertainment, mascots, a giant Christmas Tree, a Photo Booth, and so much more!
The Carousel
One of the must-do attractions is to take a ride on the one and only Christmas Carousel in Vancouver! The Christmas Market boasts this beautiful carousel every child and the child at heart will love. The first year we visited, Rianne was too young to ride. Last year, she got on but we sat with her in one of the carriages. This year, seeing the joy on my daughter’s face as she ran towards her favourite horse was priceless! This was the first year she decided to ride the horse by herself (without daddy holding her)…Rianne’s mixed feelings of joy, surprise, and a bit of fear is such a joy for us as parents to witness.
Last but not the least, we couldn’t leave without seeing the popular Gingerbread Mascots! A hi-5 and a family photo with our gingerbread friends was the perfect way to end such a beautiful day!
We invite you to come visit one of the city’s greatest family Christmas events!!
Check out more details on their website:
Here’s some of the Videos we took at this year’s Vancouver Christmas Market:
The post Vancouver Christmas Market 2014 appeared first on Daddy Blogger.
December 15, 2014
North Pole BC – Festival of Christmas
Over the last few years, we have developed a number of Family traditions around Christmas from the customary family home activities like putting up the Christmas Tree, decorations, and lights to the sightseeing activities like the Stanley Park Train, Van Dusen Gardens, Vancouver Christmas Market, and the Trinity Street Christmas Lights to the more off-the-beaten path, unique and creative family activities like North Pole BC. We first visited North Pole BC in 2012 when it was held at Maplewood Farm and immediately fell in love with how the North Pole BC team has brought a glimpse into the North Pole to our beautiful province. We also love how they focus on the traditional, non-commercialized version of Christmas. We knew we would be back and indeed we have each year since! In 2013, we visited again at their brand new indoor location inside Lynn Valley Mall which was a nice change as we were nice and warm indoors.
This year, North Pole BC has hit the Fraser Valley making its’ home at the Abbotsford Tradex with a much bigger space and some creative new activities and attractions for families to enjoy! The team spent almost a month just in preparation, decoration, set-up, and transforming the Convention Centre into a Christmas wonderland. We have been to the Tradex for several different events over the years, but we have never seen it transformed to this degree of detail before. If you have been before you will see some of your favourite characters back again from Santa Wayne, to Mrs Claus, to the Snow Princess, the Toy Inventor, and more! This year, the characters even walked around the North Pole to greet and interact with kids during their adventure. There are 10-15 different stations from the Post Office, the Elves School, and more.
Here are our Top 10 Favourite Activities from North Pole BC:
1) The Post Office – where you can pin where you are from on a giant world map and write Santa a letter and mail it to him in the giant mail box
2) The Toy Inventor – Professor Hazel Nutt was super friendly and was great at teaching the kids about the wonder and magic of science, creativity, and invention!
3) Elvern School of Secret Skills – The witty elves had both the kids and adults with big smiles on their faces in seconds! Each kid even got their personal Elf Name!
4) Gingerbread Bakery – what kid doesn’t like eating ginger bread cookies? It’s even more fun to make them first!!
5) Toy Workshop – it was our daughter’s first time ever making her own toy out of stuffing!
6) Christmas Sing-a-long – all the elves gather together for a fun round of Christmas carols!! This was a new addition this year!
7) Puppet Show – Christmas-themed puppet shows keep the kids entertained a couple of times each hour!
8) The Snow Princess – our daughter Rianne loves princesses so she had an awesome time connecting with the Snow Princess (look at her huge smile)!
9) Mrs Claus Story Time – since it was quieter right before closing, Rianne and Ryan got a personal story time with the jolly Mrs Claus
10) Visit with Santa Wayne – Jolly Old Saint Nick has been with North Pole for the last 5 years and remembers our family since he was one of the 100 dads I interviewed from my fatherhood book!
In case you missed it, here is the original interview with Santa Wayne:
We visited on a Sunday afternoon and stayed for over 2 hours as our kids wanted to do each and every activity at least once and return for a second dose to some of their favourite characters. This is one of the best family activities in Vancouver (trust us, we have seen almost everything as bloggers)!. The North Pole BC team has done it again with their creativity, their focus on individual kids, and bringing back that little bit of Christmas magic that is so needed in this day and age!
Since a lot of our readers have never been to North Pole BC and keep asking us what it’s like, this year, we made a short Highlights Video which gives a glimpse into all the main activities:
Here’s more info about North Pole BC:
The post North Pole BC – Festival of Christmas appeared first on Daddy Blogger.
December 8, 2014
Sesame Street Live – Let’s Dance
Sesame Street is coming back to Vancouver this December!
Last year, around the same time, we took our kids to their first Sesame Street Live Show at the UBC Thunderbird Stadium for the show “Elmo Makes Music.” This year, we’ll be seeing their brand new show called “Let’s Dance.” Rianne absolutely loved the show last year and went right up to the front to dance along with the characters. Ryan was still too young to fully understand the experience so he’ll definitely be enjoying it much more this year!
There are 4 options to see the show:
December 13, 2014 – 10:30 am
December 13, 2014 – 2:00 pm
December 14, 2014 – 1:00 pm
December 14, 2014 – 4:30 pm
We’ll be at the Sunday, Dec 14, 2014 show at 1 pm so we hope to see you there!!
Here’s some more details about the show:
Elmo’s got the moves. Have you got the moves? Get up and get moving with Elmo, Abby Cadabby and everyone’s favourite Sesame Street friends when Sesame Street Live “Let’s Dance!” visits Abbotsford Centre from Saturday, December 13, through Sunday, December 14. Tickets for all four performances are on sale Wednesday, September 17 at 10am.
Hosted by two live performers, Sesame Street Live “Let’s Dance!” offers an up-close, interactive experience that includes dance parties. Elmo uses his imagination to ‘Do the Robot,’ Cookie teaches all ‘feets’ to dance, and Ernie shares the fun of dance with the Sesame Street favourite “Shake Your Head One Time.” Favourite friends join the audience on the floor – dancing with fans, not just for them. It’s Sesame Street Live like you’ve never experienced it before!
Like television’s Sesame Street, each Sesame Street Live production features timeless tunes and lessons for all ages. The universal appeal of each Broadway-quality musical production continues long after preschool. Adults will appreciate the professional staging, cleverly written script, and music they’ll recognize and enjoy sharing with children.
Take a look at a video preview of the show:
Here’s the link to grab some tickets for your family!
Sesame Street Live – Let’s Dance
The post Sesame Street Live – Let’s Dance appeared first on Daddy Blogger.
Thuggies: Life is Short, Live it Long
“Life is short, live it long” – when I heard that creative slogan for the Vancouver-based clothing company Thuggies, I was immediately intrigued. Thuggies is a company that is ultra fun and laid back – they are serious about their mission to produce comfortable, cost-effective, and creative clothing while at the same time being true to their joyful, easy-going brand imaging. They have found this rare and important balance of being strongly functional yet highly fun at the same time!
We recently received some Thuggies for our family to wear: the original orange Thuggies hoodie for me, a neon orange Thuglet for our son Ryan, and a beautiful pinkie Thuglet for our daughter Rianne. Our kids love wearing their Thuggies, I’m not sure if it’s because of the cool name, the fact they are bright and colourful, or because they are super comfortable (I think it’s a combination of all three factors)! I also love the Thuggies hoodie for when I am chilling out at home or working on my computer!
I really love how comfortable they feel and when it’s extra chilly or if you are going out in the cold, rain, or snow, just put the hoodie on! They have a widened neck opening which keeps it nice and loose when wearing them and also the Kangaroo pouch is good for carrying keys, cell phones, and even small toys, pacifiers, or a baby bottle! I found it creative they even have special slot specifically designed to put your Smart Phone in. So, if you are one of those people who are constantly misplacing your smart phone or keys, now you have a special place so you’ll always know just where it is!
They have several different products including:
1) Original & Zip Thuggies
2) Funzie Onesies
3) Kids’ Thugglets
4) Sweatshirts, Teas, Tanks, & Summer Wear
5) Beanies, Hats, & Chuggies
Here’s our Video Review of Thuggies:
You can save 10% on your first order and also get free shipping and handling anywhere in North America when you spend over $100! And, if you are not sure exactly what to buy your loved one this Christmas, they also have Thuggies Gift Cards for $10 and up so you can get your loved one whatever they personally like!
Check out the Thuggies website for some of their creative, cosy, and comfortable products:
The post Thuggies: Life is Short, Live it Long appeared first on Daddy Blogger.
December 3, 2014
How to Change a Baby’s Diaper
When I first became a dad, I had no clue how to change a baby’s diaper since I was an only child and had no nieces and had no nieces or nephews. However, my wife had 6 siblings and 17 nieces and nephews.
Watch our daughter Rianne helping mommy & daddy change her diaper by lifting up her legs. This helps us so much and is cute to watch!
I wonder if ALL babies do this?
Comment below if your baby also does this!!
The post How to Change a Baby’s Diaper appeared first on Daddy Blogger.
December 1, 2014
Happy 2nd Anniversary, Daddy Blogger!!
Our website officially turns 2 years old today on Monday, Dec 1, 2014!
We first launched our website publically on Saturday, Dec 1, 2012 at midnight and here we are 2 years later still going strong!
Here are some highlights from the past 2 years! 
1) Impacting thousands of dads online through our Blog, YouTube Channel, and Social Media Platforms
2) Interviewing 100+ dads for my book Wisdom from Daddies
3) Inspiring dozens of dads through our monthly YVR Dads Group
In addition to our mission to change the world…one dad at a time, blogging has brought some incredible opportunities including Sponsored Family Trips, lots of products and services to review, thousands of dollars in contest giveaways, our Annual #10DaysOfDaddyhood Contest, and more! We have also built up a strong and active blogging community called YVR Bloggers as well as run our monthly Blog Mastery Workshops teaching people the fundamentals of blogging!
One story that really impacted me the most emotionally was when a 18 year old kid contacted me on Facebook and said, “Ricky, I see you are really passionate about this fatherhood stuff. I got my girlfriend pregnant and I’m going to be a dad. I don’t know who to turn to.” When I got the message, I invited him over and shared some of my experiences, gave him a list of great resources, and encouraged him this was going to be the best thing that has ever happened to him. Well, I’m excited to tell you, his baby was born and he’s now a dad!! It’s stories like this that give me the drive to keep going!
Thank you for reading our blog, liking our posts, sharing our links, and connecting with us online!
We are so grateful for YOU!!
The post Happy 2nd Anniversary, Daddy Blogger!! appeared first on Daddy Blogger.
November 30, 2014
Red Ginger Asian Cuisine
Sunday is family day. It’s a chance for us to go to Church, have a nice meal together, and then enjoy a family activity with the kids. Each Sunday, we are always on the hunt for a creative restaurant that is kid-friendly! Some of the things we look for are good location, delicious food, reasonable prices, booster seats and high chairs, and of course other families with kids eating there too!
This week, we decided to try out Red Ginger Asian Cuisine on Broadway and Oak! It fit all the criteria we look for in a kid-friendly restaurant. This place is a staple on the Broadway Cuisine Circuit serving delicious Asian Fusion meals with hefty portions and very affordable prices! In fact, they even have a $7.95 Lunch Special which is almost big enough for 2 people to share! We were welcomed by the friendly owner Kam and his son who helps out with waiting, taking orders, and serving food.
We opted for a variety of dishes including:
1) Attap Pork Curry
2) Chicken with Green Beans
3) Nasi Goreng Beef Fried Rice
They also have a 2 for 1 coupon in the Entertainment Book if you want to save even more money! The 3 meals we chose were all super delicious and were mild enough for our kids to enjoy too! You can see a cute video of Ryan eating with his hands below! We had quite a bit left-over so we packed some up for lunch the next day. Not only was the food plentiful and delicious, the ambience warm and welcoming, but the owner Kam is super friendly! Make sure you connect with him during your next visit!
Here’s some fun videos we made at Red Ginger:
The post Red Ginger Asian Cuisine appeared first on Daddy Blogger.
