Did you know Canada is one of the world's largest producer of lentils? And that lentils are full of vitamins and minerals that are great for a healthy diet? To bring awareness to the benefits of lentils, Canadian Lentils is hosting The FunDeLentil Tour, a cross-Canada lentil restaurant competition on right now! 24 restuarants from seven cities have created signature dishes, using Canadian grown lentils, that will be available for diners to taste throughout the month of June.

Four well known restaurants in Vancouver are participating in the tour: Fable, Campagnolo, Forage, and Café Medina. Each have added a special dish showcasing lentils to their menu. Below are photos of the dishes. Don't they look delicious? To view behind-the-scenes videos showing the chefs and their inspiration for their signature lentils dishes and to vote for your favourite, visit fundelentil.ca.

Chorizo and Lentil Ragout by Chef Trevor Bird, Fable

Lentil and Foie Gras Croquette by Chef Nathan Lowey, Campagnolo

Lentil and Spring Vegetable "Biryana," Sprouted Lentils, Wild Greens, Raitha and Pickled Mustard Seed  by Chef Chris Whittaker, Forage

Mercimekli" - Turkish Lentil Cassoulet with Roasted Free-range Chicken Thigh and Soft Poached Egg by Chef Jonathan Chovancek, Café Medina.

The FunDeLentil Tour Contest Details

Visit fundelentil.ca to view short videos about each restaurant and to vote for your favourite for a chance to win airfare for two and three nights accommodations in the choice of city (from cities with participating restaurants) with gift cards to each of the participating restaurants in that city.

You don't need to try the dishes in order to enter the contest but it is highly encouraged!

Calling all superheroes (and supervillians)! On Wednesday, June 10th, 2015, Marvel fans are invited to attend the largest gathering of Marvel costumed characters Vancouver has ever seen to celebrate the Vancouver Premiere of Marvel Universe LIVE!,

WHEN: Wednesday, June 10th, 2015 starting at 5:00pm

WHERE: Pacific Coliseum Plaza - 100 North Renfrew Street, Vancouver BC, V5K 3N7

The first 300 people to arrived in costume will receive a ticket to opening night performance of Marvel Universe LIVE! in Vancouver. Prizes will also be given out for best costumes and there will be other chances to win cool prizes like VIP tickets to the show and Marvel swag!

During the event, fans will have the opportunity to meet the Marvel Universe LIVE! performers and have their pictures taken at the Marvel Super Hero Selfie Station.

See you there!



Press Release:


WHAT: The Pacific Coliseum Plaza will be packed full with some of Marvel’s most iconic Super Heroes – and most treacherous Super Villains – for the largest gathering of Marvel costumed characters Vancouver has ever seen on Wednesday, June 10^th.  The special event marks the B.C. premiere of the all-new action stunt spectacular Marvel Universe LIVE! playing in Victoria and Vancouver.

The first 300 people to arrive dressed in full Marvel character costume will receive one free ticket to the opening night performance of Marvel Universe LIVE! in Vancouver. Marvel fans will also have the chance to meet Marvel Universe LIVE! performers, take pictures at the Marvel Super Hero Selfie Station, and test their skills at Super Hero-themed challenges.

With prizes being given out for the best costumes, there’s also the chance to win VIP tickets to the show and super cool Marvel swag!

WHEN: Wednesday, June 10^th starting at 5:00 PM

WHERE: Pacific Coliseum Plaza – 100 North Renfrew Street, Vancouver BC, V5K 3N7

ABOUT: Marvel Universe LIVE! is taking the live entertainment experience to a whole new groundbreaking level, with a mind-blowing stunt show unlike anything experienced before! Watch your favourite Marvel Super Heroes including Spider-Man and The Avengers (Iron Man, Black Widow, Hulk, and more), plus menacing Super Villains, come to life in an action-packed arena extravaganza. Marvel Universe LIVE! will captivate audiences with an authentic and original story that brings more than 25 Marvel icons together on one awesome quest to save the universe!

Marvel Universe LIVE! will debut in Victoria, playing June 11^th – 14^th at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, followed by the Vancouver performances at the Pacific Coliseum at the PNE from June 18^th – 21^st.

Traveling usually means turning off mobile data on my phone so I won't be charged an arm and a leg for roaming fees by my phone company. That need not happen anymore - I have found a solution to keeping me connected while in the US: Roam Mobility, a prepaid wireless service for Canadians traveling to the states.

There are 3 daily plans for USA roaming starting at only $1.95 per day:

• Text+Data CA$1.95 per day
• Talk+Text CA$2.95 per day
• Talk+Text+Data CA$3.95 per day

I flew to Los Angeles in the first week of April and signed up for the Talk+Text+Data plan for 8 days, which included unlimited calls to Canada and the US. The great thing about Roam Mobility is that you get all your data up front. You get 400MB of data for each day purchased, so 3.2 GB was plenty for an 8 day trip!

To use Roam Mobility, you will need:

1. Unlocked mobile phone, and
2. Roam Mobility SIM card, which can be bought online or at many local retailers such as London Drugs, Superstore, 7 Eleven and Staples. It costs $9.95 and looks like this: 

I like how the SIM comes with an "adaptor", which allows you to use it in all type of phones!
It is very easy to set up the SIM to work with your current phone.  You just need to activate your SIM card online, which then generates a US phone number for your use. What was weird was a stranger’s name showed up in caller ID. The number must have been in use previously. This certainly confused my relatives when I called them! But this was a minor hiccup.

Prior to traveling, select the plan you want and the number of days you need service for, including the start date. When you are in the US, pop in the SIM and you will automatically be connected directly to Roam Mobility's US network thereby eliminating any roaming fees! Hurray!

When I was in Los Angeles, I was relying solely on mobile data as the Wi-Fi on my mobile device was not working at all. Roam Mobility made it easy to check email, make updates on my social media accounts and access apps like Uber and Google maps. If it weren't for Roam Mobility, I wouldn't have been able to call for an Uber and would have been stranded at Disneyland...not that being stranded at Disneyland would be so bad! I’m very dependent on data day to day, especially when traveling out of the country. How else was I supposed to find how to walk from the hotel to the nearest attraction? Roam Mobility's coverage was excellent. I was even able to get a signal when I went to Paso Robles for a wedding, farther out in California.

Roam Mobility was very easy to use and such a convenience since you can do everything yourself, without having to add upgrades to your existing phone plan. Phones are also available to buy for $49.95 if you don’t have an unlocked phone.

Are you traveling to the US soon? Want a chance to win a Roam Mobility Breeze USA Travel Phone with a SIM card and 7 days of unlimited USA talk and text? Roam Mobility is giving a prize bundle to one lucky winner each week until May 15, 2015 - so there are four Breeze Phone prize packs up for grabs. Enter for your chance to WIN now!

Roam Mobility Breeze Phone & 7 Days of Unlimited USA Roaming Giveaway


Disclosure: Roam Mobility covered the cost of the talk+text+data plan for the 8 days I was in the US. I bought SIM card myself. No other compensation was received. The opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own and have not been influenced in any other way.

Jelani Remy as “Simba” and the ensemble in “He Lives in You” from THE LION KING National Tour. ©Disney. Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

More than 75 million people around the world have experienced the phenomenon of Disney’s THE LION KING, and now you can, too, when Vancouver’s best-loved musical returns to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre for an exclusive 4 -week run beginning Thursday, June 18, 2015 and playing through Sunday, July 12, 2015.

In its 18th year, THE LION KING remains ascendant as one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, 22 global productions have been seen by more than 75 million people and, cumulatively, run a staggering 112 years. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (under the direction of Thomas Schumacher), THE LION KING is only the second show in history to generate five productions worldwide running 10 or more years.

THE LION KING won six 1998 Tony Awards®: Best Musical, Best Scenic Design (Richard Hudson), Best Costume Design (Julie Taymor), Best Lighting Design (Donald Holder), Best Choreography (Garth Fagan) and Best Direction of a Musical. THE LION KING has also earned more than 70 major arts awards including the 1998 NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy® for Best Musical Show Album, the 1999 Evening Standard Award for Theatrical Event of the Year and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design.

Meet the Lions of THE LION KING:

©Disney. Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

Simba
Meaning: lion (Swahili)
Species: Lion
Only son of Mufasa, the King of the Pride Lands and ruler of Pride Rock, he is adventurous and mischievous and can't wait to be king!

©Disney.  Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

Nala
Meaning: gift (Swahili—dubious)
Species: Lion
Best friend of Simba and partner in crime, Nala is just as bit of adventurous and mischievous as Simba.

©Disney.  Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

Mufasa
Meaning: none
Species: Lion
The regal king of the Pride Lands and ruler of Pride Rock. He tries to teach his son Simba how to be a wise and responsible future king.

©Disney.  Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

Scar
Meaning: none
Species: Lion
Mufasa's younger brother, who resents being second. Scar secretly plots to take over the throne.

Discover your inner Lion King and win tickets to Disney's THE LION KING in Vancouver!

Broadway Across Canada is generously giving away a pair of tickets to one of my readers for the THE LION KING performance on Thursday, June 18th at 7:30pm held at Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver! Here's how you can enter:


Giveaway closes on Monday, April 27th at 5:00pm. A winner will be drawn and notified via email and have 48 hours to respond, otherwise another winner will be drawn. Good luck!

If you don't win, tickets to the THE LION KING are on sale online or by calling 1-855-985-5000. Tickets start at $35.00 (plus applicable service charges).

This is the 2nd annual Vogon Poetry Slam, which features contestants performing their awesomely horrible poems in the most outlandish ways possible in front of a panel of randomly selected judges to battle their to the ultimate awfulness!

Think your poetry can curdle milk? Send two of your worst Vogon poems to L2programs@vpl.ca and you could win one of several cash prizes! (Prizes: $100, $60, $40 Youth prize: $42.) You have until Monday, September 19th to enter! It's free to participate and all ages are welcome!



When

RSVP to the Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=277862525562975

Source: Vancouver Public Library

When & Where:

The Midway State rocked out at Robson Square earlier this evening courtesy of Samsung Mobile. It was an awesome concert and a great crowd showed up. The weather was perfect and the music was awesome; there is great acoustics at Robson Square. It was a great way to spend the evening.

This event was put on to promote the new Galaxy Tab 10.1 so there is also a chance to win one! If you showed up and captured video or photos of the band singing their hit song "Atlantic", upload them to Samsung's website and may have a chance to score your very own Galaxy Tab 10.1!











I also got a chance to meet the band backstage thanks to @SamsungMobileCA on Twitter. Follow them now because they are cool and always hosts great giveaways!



The guys were really cool and laid back. We got introduced to them and took group photos. They made silly faces in some of them! Samsung representatives also were around using the Galaxy Tab 10.1 to shoot photos and footage that no doubtingly will end up on Facebook.






Samsung Mobile and the Midway State will now make their way to Montreal. Watch for them on August 11th! It's time to Tab!

So I started contesting after my sister started winning a whole bunch of things and she got me hooked. My prize list isn't as impressive as hers but it is quite a list. My winnings total up to approximately $3446! No trip or home theatre system yet but I did manage to win an XBox and who can forget my EPIC win: floor tickets to Lady Gaga concert! Here's to another year of wins. My goal is to win a Kinect.

I didn't keep track of any wins prior to April but there probably wasn't a lot of wins anyways since I didn't really start seriously contesting.

Apr 1
-Flip Mino from ScotiaBank: $199
-$50 iTunes Gift Card
-$100 Outdoor Gift Card

Aug 17
- Zaggfolio ($69)
- Canucks Poster (never received)

Aug 20
- Lady Gaga floor tickets for Aug23 show from Samsung Mobile (2x $99 + service charge)

Aug 23
- Double Screening Pass to Going The Distance from VIA
- Double movie pass to see THE LAST EXCORCISM from Georgia Straight

Aug 24
- $10 code for Threadless.com
- 2 tickets to PNE and 2 tickets to Playland from London Drugs

Aug 25
- InvisibleShield from ZaggDaily ($39.99)

Aug 26
- Longchamp bag from AirFrance $60

Aug 27
- Pack of Duracell batteries (x2)

Aug 28
- Pair of Vancouver Trolley Passes

Aug 31
- $100 Best Buy Gift Card (+ additional $100)

Sept 2
- Real Player Travel Mug ($5)

Sept 3
- Panasonic ZrO2 Couture Earbuds $59.99  (was supposed to be the $69.99 pair but was stolen)

Sept 8
- Killers Blu-Ray

Sept 9
- $5 Blenz Coffee Gift Card

Sept 13
- $50 PetroCanada Gift Card
- 2 tickets to Train at the Commodore Ballroom on Sept 18th : $40.00 x 2

Sept 16
- Double movie pass to see Buried
- 2 Double movie passes to see LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS: THE OWLS OF GA’HOOLE
- 2 tickets to see Artemis Rocks! show

Sept 17
-two VIFF tickets to see The Woodmans or Waste Land (includes 2 VIFF membership $2 each)

Sept 20
- 2 tickets to Hanson at the Commodore Ballroom on Sept 25th MSP: $36.50 x 2

Sept 21
- double pass to the advance screening of Never Let Me Go

Sept 22
- advanced screening for two to NOWHERE BOY

Sept 27
- advanced screening for two to The Social Network

Sept 29
- advanced screening for two to Secretariat

Sept 30
- 3x free bread coupon from Nature's Own

Oct 12
- Elixar by Hilary Duff ($17.99)

Oct 13
- advanced screening for two to Hereafter

Oct 14 
- How to Make Peace in the Middle East ($28.99)
- 2 double advanced screening passes for Conviction

Oct 15
- XBox 360 Slim 250GB ($299.99)
 
Oct 19
- Halo Reach ($59.99)

Oct 20
- Grey Kobo eReader from Chapters/Indigo ($149)

Oct 27
- Alan Wake (never received), got Halo Reach instead

Nov 1
- Exclusive Faber Drive Concert by Samsung Mobile Canada
- Millenium Prize pack (Blu-ray/DVD combo of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl who Played with Fire)

Nov 3
- Next Three Days advanced screening pass for two

Nov 4
- I Wear Your Shirt T-shirt, sticky notes, bottle holder and stickers

Nov 5
- 2 "lights on or lights out" stickers
- 30 music downloads

Nov 8
- LG Pop mobile phone from Rogers ($174.99 w/ no contract)

Nov 9
- Tangled advanced screening pass for two

Nov 10
- Rubber Duckie
- Dead Space: Ignition code for XBox $5
- BlackBerry Curve 3G + 6 months of $65 Unlimited Plan + 10$ unlimited data 

Nov 12
-127 Hours Prize Pack: screening pass, water bottle, t-shirt

Nov 17
- Tangled advanced screening pass for 4

Nov 18
- Born to Bark book

Nove 19
- House Brawl t-shirt and $10 code from Threadless

Nov 23
- Pink BlackBerry Curve 3G

Nov 26
- The Fighter Advance Screening for two

Dec 15
- 2 tix for deadmau5 in Toronto (no transportation provided unfortunately)

Dec 22
- Shapercise

Dec 23
- Room by Emma Donoghue

The Pepto-Bismol team has put together some hilarious commercials with Ken Jeong (The Hanover, Knocked Up). They say it's ok to indulge yourself; Peptol-Bismol's got you covered should you suffer any stomach problems! Mom to Bed by 8 is hosting a contest for a Peptol-Bismol party prize pack that includes a pink iPod Shuffle! It's super easy to enter so check it out here. Good luck!

I follow a few financial blogs and found this one recently. They have a lot of interesting articles that will help anyone with financial planning. They are also celebrating their 3 year anniversary and they are giving away an iPad! You can enter here: WhereDoesAllMyMoneyGo.com

Goodluck!

I'm 25 years old today. Wow time does fly. I had a good day today. The radio was playing all my favourite songs and the FlipMino HD I won from the ScotiaBank Show Your Colours contest came in the mail today! What perfect timing. =D I had a very small celebration. My parents surprised me with a mango cake from Anna's. It was very good. They also gave me a card and two Lindt white chocolate bunnies! Mmmm.