Taco Bell Canada is the latest fast-food chain to jump on the alcohol serving train. The company announced that, due to a steady growth in their Canadian retail locations, they will begin offering alcoholic beverages to legal aged customers in select locations across Canada beginning in 2017.

The move comes after several other fast-food chains have been experimenting with the idea of serving alcohol at these usually alcohol-free restaurants. A more successful example of this trend was KFC, while Starbucks has decided to halt the operations of their evening liquor sales in the US (though they will continue with expanding this program across Canada).

Taco Bell has seen a 28 percent growth in the Canadian market in just the past five years, and they plan to capitalize on this attractive market by growing their current chain of 160 stores across the country to 700.

The first location to be testing out this beer and tacos program will be none other than the Toronto Queen St. West location.

Click here to find the nearest Taco Bell Canada to you.

“Do you want to build a snowman?” If you, like me and the rest of the world, are only just getting that hit song from the animated movie “Frozen” out of your head, then you had better prepare your ears (and your temperament) as Disney has finally announced the official release date for the movie’s sequel, “Frozen 2”, along with a number of other greatly anticipated films.

As originally reported in Variety Magazine, fans of Elsa and Olaf can expect to see the whole gang reunited on November 27, 2019. The originally cast and crew will be coming back, as the studio has confirmed that both Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel will be returning as the loving singing sisters, Anna and Elsa.

In the Star Wars universe, Disney also announced when the official end to the revival trilogy would be. “Episode IX”, the series that began with “The Force Awakens”, will release the last instalment of the reboot on May 24, 2019. But continuing with a new spinoff from the Star Wars universe will be the Han Solo anthology film, which will be coming out almost exactly a year earlier on May 25, 2018.

The Han Solo movie, which is still untitled, has a star-struck cast from young Hollywood, including Donald Glover, playing Lando Calrissian, Emilia Clarke (more commonly known as Khalessi on HBO’s “Game of Thrones”), and Alden Ehrenreich as the young Han Solo.

Other honourable mentions from Disney’s list of upcoming releases included the live action “The Lion King”, which will also star Donald Glover, due out on July 19, 2019 and a live action “Mulan”, due out in November 2, 2018.

Click here to read more about the new releases from Disney and Lucasfilm.

Bebe, which models itself as a purveyor of “unique, sophisticated and timelessly sexy” clothing for women, said it plans to close the stores by the end of May 2017, according to a regulatory filing on Friday.

Last month, the California-based chain had hinted that something like this could happen. Bebe said in an SEC filing last month that it was “exploring strategic alternatives.” Earlier this month, the company said it planned to close 28 stores and was trying to figure out what to do with the rest of them. Before that announcement, Bebe had 168 stores in the United States and Canada.

Bebe Stores Inc. was founded in 1976. The company name is inspired by Shakespeare’s words, “To be, or not to be.”

They had me at free! Enjoy free coffee or any hot beverage throughout the week at 7-Eleven Canada. Just scan their 7REWARDS app to get a FREE 12oz hot beverage every day. This 7-Eleven promotion is valid from today, April 24th, until April 29th 2017.

Click here for more information on 7-Eleven Canada 7Rewards app.

Beauty lovers rejoice.  For years, Ulta had many exclusive brands and products and did not ship to Canada but now you can get your hands on all of those goodies.  While they are not opening any Ulta stores in Canada and still ship from the US you can order from their website with a number of shipping options including BorderFree where you prepay the taxes and brokerage so there are no surprises at the door.

Prices are shown in Canadian dollars so you know exactly what the item will cost you.  There are various options for shipping and you can get free USPS/Canada Post delivery when you spend $100 Canadian or more.  Just choose Postal as the option when checking out and it will reduce the shipping charge to $0.

If you want to prepay taxes or spend less than $100, shipping is very expensive.  Even for a small package, the prepaid taxes option was $22 for my order plus $20 in taxes – on a $120 order with two small items!  So well worth spending $100+ to get free shipping.  Canada Post will charge a fee of $9.95 to pay taxes for you, plus whatever duties or taxes are applied if it gets caught at the border – but I often get packages over the minimum with no taxes applied.

One of the issues has been free gifts with purchase.  The checkout page will not let you proceed without adding the free gift option but some of them are not found in the international database.  Some products from the main Ulta site are not available for shipping to Canada either, so make sure you choose Ship to Canada (found at the bottom of the page) before shopping.

Shop Ulta’s global shipping site here.

Flying nowadays has become a pricey endeavour. Between needing to pay for checked bags, extra bags or even carry-on bags, it sometimes feels like hopping in your car and driving might be the more budget friendly option – though this option won’t really get you across the Atlantic/Pacific. WestJet Canada has recently recognized that their low-cost carrier services that initially made them so popular in 1996 when they first opened have become difficult to maintain, especially with their more than a 100 worldwide destinations and state-of-the-art aircrafts.

That is why WestJet has decided to launch a new ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) at the end of 2017. This ULCC is a kind of carrier that has become more popular in the past few years with other airlines. The airline essentially strips a flight of all the additional frills to a very low price, and then with each additional ‘frill’ you add to your flight (e.g. airport check-in fee, checked baggage, etc.) you will add an additional expense to your flight.

The carriers are also more densely packed than regular airlines, but the prices are much cheaper than others making those tighter quarters more bearable. WestJet has yet to give an official name to this ULCC, but they have said that they plan to launch officially by the end of 2017, hopefully in time for you to begin booking inexpensive holiday travel.

You can learn more about the launch of the ULCC from WestJet Canada here.

Longo Brothers Fruit Markets Inc. is recalling Longo’s brand Ontario Lean Ground Veal from the marketplace due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination.The recalled product was sold from the Longo Brothers Fruit Market located at 5636 Glen Erin Drive, Mississauga, Ontario. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

What you should do

Check to see if you have recalled products in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased.

If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor.

Food contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, mild to severe abdominal cramps and watery to bloody diarrhea. In severe cases of illness, some people may have seizures or strokes, need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis or live with permanent kidney damage. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

Click here to read more information about this recall.

Miss Vickie’s Canada is recalling Miss Vickie’s brand Jalapeño Kettle Cooked Potato Chips from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

What you should do

Check to see if you have recalled products in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased.

If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor.

Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems may contract serious and sometimes deadly infections. Healthy people may experience short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

Click here to read more information about this recall.

Toys R Us Canada has a great FREE Family Events in April on Saturday including fun make and takes, product demos, giveaways and more.

Visit your local Toys“R”Us store to take part in the exciting promotions and activities your kids will love. All events are offered In-store only. While quantities last. Giveaways and make and takes are limit to one per child. Events recommended for children ages 5 years and up.

Today: Saturday, April 22, 2017  from 11am – 1pm

Play Day Event:

• Plant & Take
• Demo and Play with Little Tikes
• Come Monkey Around with Us!
• Get Artsy with Crayola!
• Giveaways!

Click here to view the Toys R Us flyer.

Cineplex Canada has released their new schedule. The Cineplex Canada Family Favourites Movies include:

• Today, Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 11am the film E.T Extra-Terrestrial. Science Fiction, Adventure, Family, is the Family Favourites for $2.99 (2h 01m).

Here’s the upcoming movie every Saturday morning at 11am for Cineplex Family Favourites at $2.99 each:

April 2017:

• Saturday, April 29, 2017: Sing

May 2017:

• Saturday, May 6, 2017: The Lego Movie
• Saturday, May 13, 2017: Heidi
• Saturday, May 20, 2017: Storks
• Saturday, May 27, 2017: Trolls

June 2017:

• Saturday, June 3, 2017: Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children
• Saturday, June 10, 2017: A Dog’s Purpose
• Saturday, June 17, 2017: Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them
• Saturday, June 24, 2017: The Muppet Movie

Click here to see a list of Cineplex participates in the Family Favourites event.

Click here to get tickets from Cineplex online

The Home Depot Canada has a new list of workshops! The Home Depot Canada today FREE workshops includes: Repair a deck. Inspection and basic repairs.

The Home Depot Canada FREE workshops is valid today, Saturday, April 22, 2017 – 10:00 am to 11:00 am.

To book your slot at a workshop, contact your local Home Depot location.

Click here to get all Home Depot Canada online offers.

Click here to view The Home Depot flyers

Looking to refresh your makeup look for the warmer weather? The Shoppers Drug Mart Spring Beauty Gala will be held on Saturday 6th May across the country.

Tickets are just $10 to show yourself a little love with a makeover and skin consultation.  You will receive a $5 coupon to be used against any cosmetic purchase and the other $5 will be donated to to community-based women’s mental health programs supported by SHOPPERS LOVE. YOU. Run for Women and other prominent mental health charities.

In my experience, stores vary a lot when it comes to Galas.  In the past, they have had goodie bags if you purchased a ticket and I have received Smashbox samples at one store and what I am guessing were testers at another.  The consultations vary a lot too.  Some are done by the regular staff while others get reps from big cosmetic brands in.  So if you have multiple stores near you, ask them what they are planning.  The cosmetics manager is usually happy to get early interest.

The Galas are beauty themed and that means we have a very good chance of a beauty themed Optimum offer in the flyer for that weekend.  If beauty products are not your thing, you may want to pay extra attention to the upcoming flyers to shop ahead of the beauty-heavy flyer that usually accompanies the Galas.

What could be more Canadian than a cup of Tim Hortons coffee warming your hands while you sit on the bleachers of your kid’s minor league hockey game? I know I spent many a nights in high school using Tim Hortons hot chocolates to keep body from dropping to an unhealthy temperature, so seeing this Canada 150th anniversary cup on Tim Hortons’ Twitter, which will be released this week, really tugged at my heart strings.

The cup features a number of iconic Canadian animals and experiences, including, of course, an animation of a cup of Tim Hortons coffee. There’s also a beaver, a VIA rail train, a maple leaf, an inukshuk, as well as a box of Timbits!

This limited edition cup doesn’t have a firm deadline for when they’ll stop serving coffee in them, but I know I’m going to be saving at least one cup as a souvenir!

Click here to find the nearest Tim Hortons Canada.

The Home Depot Canada has a new list of workshops! The The Home Depot Canada today FREE workshops includes: Build a Planter Bench. Planning, cutting, assembling and finishing touches.

The Home Depot Canada FREE workshops is valid today, Wednesday, April 19, 2017 – 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

To book your slot at a workshop, contact your local Home Depot location.

Click here to get all Home Depot Canada online offers.

Click here to view The Home Depot flyers

This may be a publicity stunt to detract attention away from Subway Canada’s previous reputation with ‘transparency’, but it sure is a delicious sounding one if that be the case. Subway is introducing four new paninis to their menu, which are being described as gourmet sandwiches as they will feature the freshest vegetables, quality meats and melted cheese.

The sandwiches will include:

• Chipotle Steak & Cheese: 100 per cent Canadian steak, green peppers, red onions and cheddar cheese on the new ciabatta bread
• Triple Cheese: Cheddar, Swiss and Monterey cheeses, baby spinach, red tomatoes and crunchy red onions
• Chicken Cordon Bleu: Canadian ham, grilled white meat chicken strips, Swiss cheese, baby spinach and tomatoes drizzled with creamy honey mustard
• Italian B.M.T. Melt: Genoa salami, pepperoni, ham, cheddar cheese, spinach, tomato and red onion drizzled with house sandwich sauce

This is all part of a rebranding strategy that Subway Canada’s Senior Marketing Director described as “a declaration of our commitment to the sandwich.” She described how there are a number of “exciting” changes coming to Subway’s across Canada, including new packaging and uniforms in their sandwich shops.

The gourmet paninis will be touring across Canada in a truck called the Panini Express. Beginning in Toronto and making their way east to Charlottetown, and then back west to Vancouver, the paninis will be showcased in a one-of-its-kind transparent food truck so that customers can see how the sandwiches are prepared from start to finish.

You can follow the Panini Express tour on Subway Canada’s Twitter and Facebook pages.

Click here to learn more about the paninis from Subway Canada.