Recently, I freaked out on my bf after he cracked open a plastic water bottle…at my house. Yes, I did purchase the case, but it was solely meant for a road trip AND other “emergencies”.

Suffice to say, I hate the idea of bottled water. When did drinking tap water become uncool or unsafe for that matter? I grew up drinking tap water and the last I checked, I didn’t sprout an extra limb! So how did bottled water become the latest rage??

(If this post was about exploring how bottled water became popularised, the quick answers would be FEAR and CONVENIENCE. Instead, I want to talk about the alternatives.)

To steer away from bottled water, I try to drink water that has been previously boiled from a kettle. On the go, I’ll use a stainless steel canteen, filled with boiled water OR cooler water at work. <– I hope that’s filtered!

Lately though, I’ve gotten lazy to wash/air-dry the canteen. In addition, I’ve dropped it a few times, so it’s all dented, and doesn’t stand up properly. Furthermore, the plastic around the lid has cracked, so it’s not going to last much longer.

Recently, I discovered a relatively inexpensive solution, the water bobble! Designed by a Canadian, and probably one of the most famous industrial designers, Karim Rashid, the water bobble looks like a plastic water bottle, but it comes with a colourful spout that doubles as a carbon filter.

I’ve been using the bobble for about 2 weeks now and here’s my pro/con list:

PRO
– Unlike boiling water, the bobble can be used instantly…just fill it with water straight from the tap. Yeah, I can finally drink cold water without hours of refrigeration!
– Makes me drink more water
– Cheaper, more green than bottled water
– 1 filter = 300 water bottles
– BPA-free
– Lightweight
– Doesn’t leak
– Great for travelling, especially at the airport. Arrive with it empty, fill at the water fountain after customs

CON
– Probably not a good idea to use hot water or water enhancers such as slices of fruit, green tea with this product
– 3 sucks = 1 gulp for me. The suction system doesn’t dispense enough water…without a lot of effort!
– The packaging states, “Do not use where water is microbiologically unsafe or of unknown quality”, so it’s no miracle worker!
– Uncertainty of when to replace filter. Do I just guestimate how many times it’s been used before buying a new one?
– Bottle and filter (~$7) do eventually have to be replaced at a cost

The pros definitely outweigh the cons, so the bobble is a good addition to any lifestyle!

How do you drink your water?

A new months means  a new member of the month! Congratulations Mia001!  You were nominated and were randomly drawn to be July’s member of the month. 

Look for a post later in the month spotlighting Mia001.

Want to be member of the month or nominate someone? Email me at Sally@smartcanucks . ca (omit space) Want further info on this promotion? Click here.

Heres whats in this weekends Smart Source Coupon Flyers:

$2 any finish quantum
$1 any finish detergent product
$1 any finish jetdry
$1 any finish dishwasher cleaner
MiR Lysol no-touch hand soap system
$2.50 any size / variety purina one
.50 cents any campbells condensed soup, goldfish crackers or V8 product
$1 any bag of purina busy brand dog treat, any variety
$3 any glade plugins scented oil holder
$1.50 any Glade plugins scented oil refill
$2 any glade Premium aerosol 275 g room spray
.50 cents wub 2 glade solids
$2 any 2 packages of kotex pads
$2 any 2 packages of kotex liners
$1 any rubbermaid refill reuse or filterfresh bottle
$1.50 any Package Huggies
$3 any package Huggies (60 count or larger)
$1 any Huggies wipes (64 count or larger)
$1.50 any package pull-ups training pants (jumbo pack or larger)

Thanks so much Sharpie for posting this list.

Woah, great offer if you can actually find stock in your nearby store.

Buy 2  get one free of  K-Cup or T Disc pack.  Limited stock, if you order online shipping is free on orders over $20.  Click here to check out the stock online.

Thanks so much Templeton Peck over at DC for this great find.

The Shopping Channel is offering another beauty bag but this time they list what you get in the bag and instead of money back they are donating $10 from the sale of each bag  to the Canadian Women’s Foundation.

Included in the summer bag:

• Beauty bag
• Korres Deluxe Size Body Butter 50ml
• Sibu Sea Buckthorn Body Cream Packette or Hydrating Serum Sample Size Packette
• Ojon Damage Reverse Shampoo or Conditioner 30ml
• Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation 7.5ml
• Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel 7ml
• Skinn Waterproof Smudgestick Full Size
• TanTowel Classic Self-Tan Towelette
• Serious Skin Care V.Q.C.C. Intense Coconut Concentrate 11ml
• Elysee Fountain of Youth Wrinkle Intervention Creme Sample Size Packette
• Skinn Luxe Premier Fiber Optic Mascara Full Size
• Skyn Iceland Icelandic Relief Eye Cream Sample Size Packette
• StriVectin Overnight Facial Resurfacing Serum 3.5ml
• Doris Dalton Lipstick Full Size
• IT Cosmetics Deluxe Mini Brow Power Eyebrow Pencil
• Elizabeth Grant Graceful Angel Body Lotion Full Size 240ml
• Prai Beauty Pure Prai Creme Royale Packette or Prai Beauty Pure Prai Intensive Serum 1ml
• Pur Minerals Pout Plumping Lipgloss Full Size
• Dr. Dennis Gross Extra Strength Alpha Beta Peel Sample Size Packette
• Nail Tek Intensive Therapy II Strengthener Full Size
• Proactiv Green Tea Moisturizer 10ml

On sale for $35 and shipping is $6.96.  Click here to view to beauty bag.

Also on right now is 14 days of beauty buys! Everyday there is a new deal.

Sorry for the delay,

Without further adieu, the winnners of Koala’s makeover swag bags are:

MHK

and

Abby1

Pleae check your emails for instructions and skill testing question to claim your prizes.

Thanks everyone for entering, and Koala for offering this great contest.

Sirens has released their monthly coupon.  For the month of July save $5 off your purchase of $25 or more. The coupon is valid for the month of July.

Click here to print off your coupon.  I wish they would offer a more printer friendly version.

Old Navy is offering a $5 off $25 printable coupon via Facebook.  This is a great coupon if had your eye on a pair of jeans but are too cheap to pay full price.

Click here to access your coupon. Unfortunately I do not have a Facebook free link.

There’s a new sale at Forever 21.  You can save up to 90% on summer styles and get shipping free when you spend at least $15.  The sale is available both in store and online.  Sizes and styles will go fast so shop while you still can.

Click here to shop the Mega Summer Sale online.

Thanks to annedaugherty for posting this sale for us.

Addition-Elle stores are hosting a huge lingerie clearance event for the entire month of July in store and online.

Click here to shop online for styles such as:

Thanks annedougherty!

La Vie En Rose online is having an amazing sale with up to 50% off Spring and Summer items. I don’t know about you but I’ve been dreading buying a bathing suit for an excessive amount of money so I may just check out the deals… as I see one bikini right off the bat for only $14.99!

Click here to shop the sale

Thanks annedougherty!

To launch their new U By Kotex Designer Series, they are giving away free Gelaskins inspired by the new designs. During the ordering process when it asks you to pick your design, the first dot will correspond to the first design, and so on. I picked the fourth dot, which is the pink and purple one, super cute!

Click here to order your freebie.

Thanks to luxor69 for posting this awesome freebie!

Thanks so much Oddduck!

Canadian Tire
Save 30% on Safety Gates and Other Infant Security Devices

Extra Foods
Aveeno Baby Toiletries $6.49
Nestle Good Start Infant Formula Concentrate with Omega 12x385mL $39.99
Huggies Mega Size Wipes Refill (184-216s) $5.99
Teddy’s Choice Junior Pack Diapers Size 3-6 (60-96s) $15.99
Gerber Cereal with Probiotics 227mL 3/$9.99 or $3.99 each
Gerber Graduates Fruits Twists or Cereal Twists 3/$9.99 or $3.99 each

Foodland
Compliments Mega Pack Diapers (40-84s) $14.49

IGA
Heinz Baby Cereal 227g $3.79 & 3 Bonus Air Miles WUB 2

Independent
Teddy’s Choice Diapers Club Pack Size 3-6 (88-148s) $22.99
Enfamil A+ Infant Formula Concentrate with Omega 12x385mL $39.99
Enfamil A+ Ready to Feed Infant Formula with Omega 16x235mL $39.99
Huggies Little Swimmers (10-12s) $8.99
PC Green Diapers Mega Pack Size 1-6 (34-66s) $12.99
Hot Kid Mum-Mum Rice Rusks or Biscuits 50-60g $2.99
Pampers Club Size Baby Wipes (420-476s) $13.99
PC Infant Formula Powder 900g $11.99
PC Organics 1 L toddler juice or tetra pack juice 6×125 mL $1.99

Loblaws (Ontario)
Teddy’s Choice Diapers Club Pack Size 3-6 (88-148s) $22.99
Enfamil A+ Infant Formula Concentrate with Omega 12x385mL $39.99
Enfamil A+ Ready to Feed Infant Formula with Omega 16x235mL $39.99
Huggies Little Swimmers (10-12s) $8.99
PC Green Diapers Mega Pack Size 1-6 (34-66s) $12.99
Hot Kid Mum-Mum Rice Rusks or Biscuits 50-60g $2.99
Pampers Club Size Baby Wipes (420-476s) $13.99
PC Infant Fomula Powder 900g $11.99

No Frills
Huggies Pull-ups or GoodNites Mega Training Pants (21-44s) $14.97

Real Canadian Superstore (Ontario)
Aveeno Baby Toiletries (166-354mL) $8.99
Nestle Good Start Infant Formula Concentrate with Omega 12x385mL $39.99
Huggies Mega Size Wipes Refill (184-216s) $5.99
Teddy’s Choice Junior Pack Diapers Size 3-6 (60-96s) $15.99
Gerber Cereal with Probiotics 227mL 3/$9.99 or $3.99 each
Gerber Graduates Fruits Twists or Cereal Twists 3/$9.99 or $3.99 each

Rexall Pharma Plus
Huggies Snug & Dry, GoodNites, Little Movers or Pull-Ups Mega Diapers $12.99 (Friday July 1st to Sunday July 3rd), $14.99 Rest of the Week
Pampers Baby Dry, Cruisers, Easy Ups or Swaddlers Mega Diapers $12.99 (Friday July 1st to Sunday July 3rd), $14.99 Rest of the Week
Centrum Materna Prenatal Vitamins (100s) $16.99
Rexall Brand Prenatal Vitamins (100s) $8.99
L’Oreal Kids Shampoo or Detangler 265mL $3.49
Rexall Brand Kids Shampoo or Detangler 265mL $2.49 each
Pampers Swaddlers Jumbo Diapers (30-36s) $12.99
Huggies or Pampers Baby Wipes Refills (180’s-216s) $7.99\
Rexall Brand Baby Wipes Tubs (80s) $2.99
Rexall Cotton Swabs (400s) $2.99
Rexall Petroleum Jelly 375g $2.99
Zincofax Cream (100-130g) $6.99
Aveeno Baby Toiletries $5.99
Burts Bees Baby Bee $1.00 Off
Rexall Brand Baby Toiletries 2/$6
Playtex or Gerber Baby Accessories 20% Off
Nestle or Milupa Baby Cereal 227g 2/$6.99
Nestle Good Start Powder with Omega Step 1 or Step 2 730g $28.99
Vichy Capital Soleil Sun Care for Kids 20% Off
Disney, NBA, Bugs Bunny, Iron Kids, Winnie the Pooh or Jamieson Natural Sources Vim Kids Children’s Multivitamins $6.99
Poly, Tri, D-VI-SOL Drops 50mL$14.99
Baby D Drops 90mL $14.99
Lansinoh or Medela Breast Pumps or Accessories 15% Off Regular Price
Purex Baby Soft 2X Liquid Laundry Detergent 32 Load $5.99

Shoppers Drug Mart
Baby Life Feeding Accessories 15% off
Baby Life Wipes (64-72s) $2.99
Huggies GoodNites (21-27s) or Pull-Ups (33-44s) Mega Training Pants $15.99
Huggies Little Movers Jean Diapers (21- 29s) $10.00
Pampers or Huggies Baby Wipes (320-360s) $10.00
Huggies Natural Care Baby Wipes 64s 2/$6 or 3.49 each
Nativa Organics Infant Formula with Omega 3 & 6 with Iron 730g $24.99
Life Brand Infant Formula 730-900g $16.99
Nativa Organics Strained Baby Food 128mL $0.79

Sobeys
Heinz Baby Cereal 227g $3.29
Baby Mum Mums 50-60g $2.79
Heinz Baby Food Jars or Bowls 128mL $0.69
Similac Baby Formula 728g $24.99

Walmart
Aveeno Baby Toiletries $7.96
Safety 1st Onside Air Car Seat $99.97
Huggies LIttle Swimmers 2/$18 or $9.93
Parents Choice Infant Formula Concentrate with Omega 3 & 6 12x385mL $19.97
Parents Choice Infant Formula with Omega 3 & 6 Club Can 1.3kg $19.9
Parents Choice Infant Formula with Omega 3 & 6 Non-DHA Club Can 1.3kg $14.97
3-Pack Gerber Graduates Lil’Crunchies 3x42g $5.97
Parent Choice Giant Box Diapers $19.97

Walmart Superstore
Huggies Snug & Dry or Little Movers Giant Pack Diapers Size 3-6 (80-156s) $25.77
Huggies Pull-Ups or GoodNites Big Pack $23.97
Pampers Baby Dry or Cruisers Big Pack Diapers (48-96s) $18.97
Pampers Wipes (420-576s) $12.97

Valu-Mart
Enfamil A+ Infant Formula Concentrate with Omega 12x385mL $39.99
Enfamil A+ Infant Formula Ready to Feed with Omega 16x235mL $39.99
Pampers Club Size Baby Wipes (420-476s) $13.99
Teddy’s Choice Mega Pack Diapers Size 1-6 (40-84s) $9.99
Hot Kid Mum-Mum Rice Rusks or Biscuits 50-60g $2.99
PC Infant Formula Powder 900g $11.99
Huggies Little Swimmers (10-12s) $8.99

Zellers
Cosco Scenera Car Seat $69.97
The First Years True Fit Car Seat $119.97
Safety 1st Enspira Car Seat $119.97
Pampers or Huggies Boxed Diapers $24.99
Truly Wipes (240s) $6.99
Advil Pediatric Drops or Children’s Suspensions $6.97
Nestle or Milupa Cereal 227g 2/$6

Good news for us HBC Rewards points collectors! Here are some printable coupons to boost your points balance. All coupons expire on July 31, 2011.

Get 15000 HBC points when you spend $30 or more at The Bay, Zellers, or Home Outfitters.

Get 20000 points when you spend $40 OR get 50000 points when you spend $80 at The Bay, Zellers, or Home Outfitters.

Get 10000 points when you spend $20 OR get 25000 points when you spend $40 at Zellers.

Thank you to Frugal for sharing these coupons with us!