Glow Baby

Monster Jam Giveaway Winner!

2012-01-19T20:07:00.001-05:00

And the winner is......

Jocelyne Alldrick!!!

Congratulations Jocelyne! Please email us at info@glowbaby.ca so we can arrange your tickets. You have 24 hours to respond or we will have to choose another winner.

Giveaway: Monster Jam Tickets!!!

2012-01-12T09:00:00.001-05:00

The Maple Leaf Monster Jam Tour is coming to Rogers Centre January 21 and 22, 2012 and we are giving away a set of Tickets to either the Jan 21st or 22nd show.

Below is some information on what to expect at the show.

What are monster trucks?

Approximately 11 feet tall and about 12 feet wide, monster trucks are custom-designed machines that sit atop 66-inch-tall tires and weigh a minimum of 9,000 pounds. Built for short, high-powered bursts of speed, monster trucks generate 1,500 to 2,000 horsepower and are capable of speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. Monster trucks can travel 125 to 130 feet (a distance greater than 14 cars side by side) and up to 25 feet in the air.

What happens at a monster truck event?

At USHRA-sanctioned events, monster trucks face off in two different forms of competition -- side-by-side racing and freestyle. Side-by-side racing is traditional bracket racing, where the first truck (with the least amount of penalties) that crosses the finish line is the winner. The freestyle competition allows drivers a limited amount of time on an open floor to show off their skills.

Who are the stars of the Monster Jam Series?
There are approximately 300 monster trucks in action in the United States. Many only make appearances at local events and don�t compete on a national basis. The USHRA selects the fastest, safest, and most modern vehicles to compete in the Monster Jam Series. The top name monster trucks, those who run in the Monster Jam Series, often have duplicate trucks for multiple appearances throughout the country. Some of the top names include: Grave Digger, Maximum Destruction, Avenger, Bounty Hunter, Blue Thunder, Monster Mutt, El Toro and Bulldozer.

Where do they get the cars to crush?
Cars, as well as vans, buses, motor homes, airplanes and ambulances, are attained from local junkyards and returned after each event. Full-size steel body cars are the vehicles typically crushed during an event. More than 3,000 cars are crushed each year

The official Web site of the Monster Jam Series features driver profiles and links, along with standings, news, schedules, ticket information, multimedia and more. In addition, a number of drivers maintain their own sites.

***Giveaway***

To Enter to Win a FAmily Four Pack:

1. Follow our blog and leave a post telling us why you would like to win tickets to this event.

Additional Entries:

2. Post on facebook "I would love to win a Family Four Pack to Monster Jam from Glow Baby"

3. Tweet "I would love to win a Family Four Pack to Monster Jam from @lindsayGlowBaby @monsterjam"

**Giveaway to end January 19th at 9pm.**

Coupon Code For Monster Jam

2012-01-11T16:31:00.003-05:00

Hey Everyone,

I have just received info on a coupon code for Monster Jam tickets!

Details:

Purchase 4 tickets for $44 (Mon.—Thurs.) or Receive $4 off (Fri—Sun.) with

Code: MAMA

You can purchase these tickets via the internet, phone or box office.

http://www.rogerscentre.com/

MAPLE LEAF MONSTER JAM TOUR ROARS INTO ROGERS CENTRE JANUARY 21 & 22nd!

2012-01-07T14:11:00.001-05:00

MAPLE LEAF MONSTER JAM TOUR ROARS INTO ROGERS CENTRE JANUARY 21 & 22nd!
Meet Northern Nightmare: Canada’s New 10,000-Pound Monster Truck!

TORONTO, ON – January 4/12 – Feld Motor Sports® has announced that the Maple Leaf Monster Jam Tour will take place January 21-22/12 at Rogers Centre in Toronto. Tickets are on sale now.

Attracting more than 4 million fans annually at the most prestigious arenas and stadiums throughout the world, Monster Jam® events showcase jaw-dropping freestyle and racing competition featuring the largest and most advanced automotive machines in the world. These custom-designed monster trucks average 12 feet tall by 12 feet wide, sit atop 66-inch-tall tires and weigh a minimum of 10,000 pounds. There’s a reason they are called “Monster.” Built for short, high-powered bursts of speed, monster trucks generate 1,500 to 2,000 horsepower and are capable of speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. Monster trucks can fly up to 125 to 130 feet (a distance greater than 14 cars side by side) and up to 35 feet in the air.

Fan-favourite trucks slated to appear at the arena will be led by Canada’s very own and the first dedicated Canuck monster truck Northern Nightmare driven by native Cam McQueen. McQueen and the brand new North Nightmare will compete against the likes of Grave Digger®, Monster Mutt® Dalmatian, Mohawk Warrior℠, Maximum Destruction®, Avenger, Wrecking Crew, Aftershock, Krazy Train and Crushstation. Monster Jam® is sanctioned by the United States Hot Rod Association®. Trucks are subject to change without notice.

Rogers Centre Monster Jam® shows are scheduled for Saturday, January 21 at 7pm and Sunday, January 22 at 2pm. Ticket prices start at $20 for adults and $15 for Pizza Pizza kids tickets for children 12 and under, and are available at the Rogers Centre Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.ca, and by phone at (855) 985-5000. There are a limited number of TAP ($125) and Gold Circle ($50) seats available for both shows. Additional fees may apply.

The Party in the Pits will be held from 3pm to 5pm on Saturday, January 21 and 11am to noon on Sunday, January 22nd. The pre-show pit party gives fans (with a show ticket) the chance to see the monster trucks up close, meet drivers, take pictures and get autographs.

Note to Editors: Hi-res images and B-roll is available upon request. For more information, visit www.monsterjamcanada.ca.
# # #
About Feld Motor Sports®, Inc.
Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz®, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com

Disney on Ice: $1 Tickets!!!!!

2011-12-08T10:25:00.002-05:00

ON DECEMBER 14th, DISNEY ON ICE EXTENDS
A Zippa-Dee-Deal: TORONTO Tickets for only $1.00!

Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years Of Magic Rolls Back Prices for
Best Holiday Deal in Town!

Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah, Zip-a-Dee-Day, My Oh My What a Wonderful Day! On December 14th, Disney On Ice fans in Toronto may be singing this song when they take advantage of a special, once-in-a-blue moon, better than Groupon opportunity, to purchase tickets for only $1.00.
This Holiday Season, Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic glides into Rogers Centre for 15 performances from December 23-January 1/12.

Tickets for this one-time-only, Zip-A-Dee-Deal will be available starting at 11 am on Wednesday, December 14th at Rogers Centre Box Office, located at Gate 9, and are available while supplies last (100 tickets per performance will be available).

This magical moment in entertainment history combines Disney’s unforgettable stories and enthralling characters that have entertained families the world over. The captivating production features the largest cast ever of lovable Disney stars on ice – Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Pinocchio, Jiminy Cricket, Stitch, Nemo and the Incredibles – and exciting moments from Disney’s Mulan and The Lion King.

To keep warm while in line, ticket buyers will be treated to hot chocolate and entertained by the festive sounds of the Salvation Army Band. People will be invited to support the Salvation Army’s annual Christmas campaign.

PLEASE NOTE: Customers may not begin forming a line until 9:30 am on Wednesday, December 14th. Rogers Centre Box Office will open at 11 am. There is a limit of (six) 6 tickets per person for your chosen show. Offer is not valid on multiple shows, VIP and rinkside seats.
Once the Zip-A-Dee-Deal tickets are sold out, fans will be able to purchase tickets at a special one-day only $5.00 off discount rate (excluding VIP and rinkside seats).

Disney On Ice Performance Schedule:

Dec. 23 – 7pm Dec. 28 – 12pm & 4pm
Dec. 24 – 4pm Dec. 29 – 12pm & 4pm
Dec. 25 – 4pm Dec. 30 – 12pm & 4pm
Dec. 26 – 12pm & 4pm Dec. 31 – 12pm
Dec. 27 – 12pm & 4pm Jan. 1 – 4pm

12 Days of Christmas Event

2011-11-29T16:17:00.001-05:00

Disney On Ice: Giveaway Winner

2011-11-28T21:15:00.002-05:00

And the winner is.......

JENN NGUYEN!!!

Congratulations Jenn.

I will be in touch with you shortly to arrange your prize.

What To Do With the Artwork

2011-11-22T19:33:00.004-05:00

Staying organized is a constant struggle in our house. I don’t know about your kids, but mine are mass producers of artwork. When we do art projects at home, the girls go through pages and pages of drawings and paintings before they are finished. Add to that what they bring home from school and we have a major clutter situation. Some of the artwork is easy to throw in the recycling bin but a lot of it is hard to throw out.

Over the past few years of receiving art, I have come up with a few solutions:

1. Use art as art is intended: Frame it!

As we have small children and lots of expenses, when we started decorating our house we found that we had a lot of wall space and no money or inclination to purchase expensive ‘art’. When I was in Grade 4, my parents framed a pastel drawing I had done and to this day it still hangs on my wall. It’s a great keepsake and I am proud that my parents thought it was special enough to frame. When decorating Ainsley’s big girl room, I went through the pile of art we had accumulated and picked out three of her drawings and framed those using inexpensive Ikea frames. I love the look of them and Ainsley is very excited every time I remind her that she drew those pictures. I will do the same for Juliet once we have a collection to choose from. What a great way to boost self-esteem by showing them that what they have created is special.

2. Art as a Gift

To take the framing of art one step further, I have given framed pieces to my parents and in-laws. I find it very hard to shop for them as really, what do you get your parents let alone your in-laws? Whether they hang the art on their wall in the office or at home, it’s a really nice thoughtful gift that is an Original piece of artwork that is priceless. This is a great way to save the art that you don’t want to throw out but at the same time, make room in your house for new art.

3. Art as Fundraiser

This past year at Ainsley’s nursery school we did a fabulous fundraiser for the school using the children’s paintings. Both girls created a painting and it was sent to Acorn Custom Cards, a company which took the art and made cards and placemats. This was a great idea as it provided a fun art activity for the kids, earned money for the co-op school and parents were able to have cards made that showcased their child’s skills and again, the children would get a self-esteem boost by seeing their art used in a new way.

4.Art as wrapping paper and cards

Another great option is to reuse your children’s artwork as wrapping paper and as cards. I love getting home made mother’s day cards and my girls love making cards for others. This is a great use of artwork that would otherwise be thrown out and save you from buying overpriced cards and wrapping paper!

5. The Memory Book

Glow Baby has a unique new Memory Book called My Story.. A Book of Memories that has 12 gusseted pockets big enough to fit art! This album is designed to help parent store the art pieces they want to keep in a beautiful place. As there are no dates on the pages, each pocket can be used for as much as a family needs. If your children are major art producers like mine, you may have one pocket per school term. For the younger set you could use one pocket for each year. All in all, a great solution to the problem.

My New Favourite Veggie Recipe

2011-11-21T19:39:00.004-05:00

Mushrooms and Sweet Onions

I have been trying my best to eat healthier lately which means seriously increasing the amount of veggies I eat each day. At first this was fine, but to keep vegetables low cal and low fat really reduces the options when it comes to making them interesting. While, roasting carrots and parsnips is a super yummy option, it gets old.

I have been experimenting with different ways of cooking vegetables, and my current favourite recipe involves Mushrooms and sweet onions. Yum.

Here is the recipe. The quantities are not exact but really you just need to taste what you are making and adjust to your own taste buds.

1. Melt 2 tsps of butter in a large skillet (you don't need much butter and can even cut it down to 1 tsp)

2. Cut up 2 sweet onions (I wasn't kidding when I said I was upping the veggie content) and cook in melted butter for around 2-3 minutes. You want to slightly soften the onion but not too much as it will continue to cook when you add the mushrooms.

3. Cut up a bunch of mushrooms (I do around 4 cups) and these can be a mixture of white, portabello, cremini or any other type of mushroom that you want.

4. Put mushrooms in skillet and cook with onions. You want to cook the mushrooms until they have started to sweat. Add in 1 tsp of kosher salt. Continue cooking until the liquid is almost entirely evaporated. Depending on the type of mushrooms you use, this can take 5-10 minutes. The thicker the mushroom ie. portabello the longer it takes.

5. Just before all the liquid has evaporated, add in approximately 2 tbsp of Balsamic Vinegar. You can add more or less depending on your preference. Continue cooking until all the liquid has evaporated.

And then voila! Yummy veggies.

Bon Appetite!

Disney On Ice: Giveaway!

2011-11-14T10:31:00.007-05:00

It's that time of year again when our Disney friends come to town. This year their Christmas show is 100 Years of Magic.

A century of classic and new Disney stars are taking to the ice to share memories, laughs and excitement in Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic. This holiday season, the magnificent celebration is coming to Rogers Centre in Toronto, December 23/11-January 1/12 for 15 performances. Tickets are now on sale. See details at the end of this post for a special discount for our readers.

This magical moment in entertainment history combines Disney’s unforgettable stories and enthralling characters that have entertained families the world over. The captivating production features the largest cast ever of lovable Disney stars on ice – Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Pinocchio, Jiminy Cricket, Stitch, Nemo and the Incredibles – and exciting moments from Disney’s Mulan and The Lion King.

Audiences will not want to miss this ice spectacular that features beautifully choreographed figure skating to Academy Award®-winning songs “When You Wish Upon a Star,” “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Under the Sea,” “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and many more. Dazzling sets, memorable characters, beautiful costumes and exciting special effects will transport audiences through decades of beloved Disney stories.

Tickets for Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic are available at www.disneyonice.com, www.ticketmaster.ca, Ticketmaster retail outlets, Rogers Centre Box Office, or by calling 1-855-985-5000.

To learn more about Disney On Ice, go to http://www.disneyonice.com/

***Giveaway***

We will be giving away 4 Tickets for one lucky winner to 100 Years of Magic for any of the 15 performances in Toronto from December 23rd to January 1st.

To Enter:

1 entry - Follow our Blog and leave a comment on the blog letting us know what your all time favourite Disney movie.

1 entry - Leave a comment on our facebook page letting us know which Disney character your child(ren) will most like to see

Contest ends Monday November 28th, 2011.

To purchase tickets visit http://www.ticketmaster.ca/venueartist/131114/830558 and receive 4 tickets for weekday (Monday through Thursday) performances for just $44 or save $4 per ticket on weekend (Friday through Sunday) performances with code MAMA. (Restrictions: MAMA code valid October 3, 2012, through end of performance schedule. Not valid on Front Row, VIP, TP and Gold Circle tickets. May not be combined with any other discount.)

It's a Small World

2011-11-01T20:12:00.002-04:00

Today was an exciting day over here at Glow Baby. Our Baby's First Journal was featured on The Marilyn Denis show in Maureen Denis' Baby Must-Haves segment. It is always very exciting when our journals are in the spotlight!

On a side note, Marilyn had some guests talking about whether cheating was good for a relationship. While I was not too impressed with this topic (is it ever good to advocate cheating? I think not), one of panel members was an old friend from high school! What are the odds that she would be on the same show as my journals?

To be honest, I don't usually watch TV during the day so watching this episode was an anomoly and only because of our feature. So I never would have seen her if not for our appearance :).

The Best Princess Party EVER!

2011-10-31T09:00:00.000-04:00

Last week the girls and I were invited to a Princess Party by Feld Entertainment, the folks who run the Disney Live and Disney on Ice Shows. As experts in everything princess, the girls are tough customers when it comes to princess parties. This event was wonderful and more than met expectations.

The girls dressed up as their favourite characters. Juliet was dressed as Sleeping Beauty and Ainsley dressed as the evil witch. They were greeted at the door and were given their Princess name tags and their Princess Tiaras (a big hit).

The evening started off with munchies to energize the kids for the evening's activities. While we ate, we got to watch some clips from Disney's upcoming Disney Live show. The girls were mesmorized as they watched their favourite princess act out and sing their favourite songs. I have to say that I was getting excited about taking them to the show.

After dinner, the girls went off to get their princess hair done. I was amazed that Juliet, who usually does not sit still, sat perfectly for at least five minutes while her hair was styled and she got a pink hair extension.

After getting their hair done, we went off to decorate our pumpkins. This was a great activity for the girls and kept them busy for quite some time. This would be a perfect activity for a birthday party, especially if it falls near Hallowe'en.

After pumpking decorating, we headed of to get some Tattoos. This was also a huge hit!

The absolute highlight of the evening was the arrival of Cinderella and Snow White. The girls were so excited to see two of their favourite princesses and were even more excited that they got to have their pictures taken with them.

A big thank you to Feld Entertainment for hosting this fun filled event. Not only did the girls and I have a great time together, but it gave me some great ideas for our next Princess party!

We cannot wait to go and see the Disney Live show which runs from January 13 - 15 2012. Tickets are available at Tickets available at www.ticketmaster.ca or 1-855-985-5000.

Who is your child's favourite Disney character?

I'm Baaaackkk!!!

2011-10-28T14:52:00.003-04:00

It's been two months since my last blog post. Sounds a bit like an AA confession. The Glow Baby blog has been sorely neglected due to a number of crazy happenings both as a business and as a family. The blog has taken a back seat to a busy life. But now that things are finally settling down (knock on wood), I am focusing once again on sharing my journey both as a business owner and as a mom.

Over the past two months, Glow Baby has grown and I have done amazing things that I never dreamed possible. I was the organizational expert in article about Back-To-School organization in both The Globe and Mail and The Toronto Star! I attended my first trade show in Kentucky and had many other smaller but just as exciting accomplishments keeping me very busy.

On the homefront, Ainsley started JK!!! I can't believe that my baby is in real school now. It is amazing how much she is learning and everyday when she comes home she's learned a new letter or song that I can't wait to hear about. Juliet is almost three and in the process of dropping her nap (which had directly affected my work time). She is getting bigger and more vocal everyday and when we had her first playdate a few weeks ago, I felt that little tinge in my chest that made me a bit sad that my youngest is no longer a baby. I feel truly blessed that I am here to experience these moments with my girls even though some areas of my worklife have suffered.

I look forward to once again sharing my stories, ideas and tips. We've had a busy few months but this means I have LOTS to share.

Thanks for staying with us and get ready for some fun!

Surviving Summer: Barely

2011-08-22T09:00:00.000-04:00

Summer is almost over and I have survived, but just barely. I can only thank my own organizational skills for helping me juggle the summer schedule (or lack thereof) of my girls along with Glow Baby.

This summer was particularly challenging for a number of reasons. We have just launched two new products: My Story and The Organized Family Menu Planner and with a product launch comes what seems like a never ending list of things to do. Add to that my Husband getting a well-deserved promotion that reduces his flex-time and the beginning prep of getting ready to sell our house and it is a bit chaotic over here.

What is getting me through these many changes are sticking to what schedules we have and embracing them. I am continuing to menu plan which for a mere 20 minutes each week, I think about what I am feeding the family and then I don't think about it for the rest of the week. I have called in reinforcements and thankfully have extended family who can come in an pinch hit when I need them. It's tough but I am also needing to schedule small things like accounting and bill paying on my calendar to make sure it gets done. By taking a bit of time to plan out what needs to be done during the week for running out household and Glow Baby, I am able to make sure I am using my time wisely.

I am definitely missing some down time right now, but when school starts in the fall and we have a definite schedule each week, I am hoping things feel a bit more manageable. I know right now that I am doing what I can so I've let myself off the hook for all those things that aren't getting done as often as I'd like. Like gardening and tidying. An overgrown garden isn't that bad is it?

I Am Guilty Of Neglecting My Blog

2011-07-16T08:47:00.002-04:00

With all of the other things that I have to do to run Glow Baby on a daily basis, I have been neglecting the blog. I feel guilty, everyday, but in terms of priorities the blog always seems to come last on my list. When you add the summer into the mix, there is just not enough hours in the day!

The summer is causing some problems as I definitley do not have as much time to dedicate to the business as I usually do during the school year. I wish I had more time to devote to all aspects of my business including this blog but sometimes, something has to give.

I wish I had more time to write. There are often discussions and events that when I hear of them, I think "Oh, that would be great to share on the blog" and then life happens and the idea is gone.

I will do my best to continue to update this blog, but this summer my posts may be sporadic at best. Come the fall, when we are in a solid routine, I am sure that I will be back on track.

Thanks for sticking with me.

Lindsay

Beading Buds Giveaway

2011-06-06T11:07:00.004-04:00

I recently came across Beading Buds and thought that this was a great option for Ainsley's next birthday party. She loves making jewellery and this company helps make this activity easy!

Beading Buds is a GTA based jewelry making birthday party
entertainment service that comes to your home (or venue of choice) to
help your child and their guests create beautiful one-of-a-kind
jewelry.

As the host, you relax and the party while the beading instructors
entertain the children for you. The children make beautiful pieces of
one-of-a-kind jewlery that your guests happily take home, and this
becomes an environmentally friendly loot bag alternative to replace
the generic loot bags filled with candy and plastic toys. Beading
Buds parties also include customized electronic invitations, jewelry
pouches for all the guests and free earrings and a princess tiara for
the birthday girl.

What I like about Beading Buds is that while the children are having a
fun time making beautiful jewelry, the party encourages creative
interest and helps to build on a variety of skills important for a
child’s development. It is also great fun and the children leave with an item they have
made themself.

Perfect for ages 4 and up, Beading Buds customizes each party based on
the age and amount of the children attending. They even have fun
beading activities for boys, because boys love beading too.

Beading Buds specializes in children's birthday parties but has
recently expanded their services to cater to corporate events,
bachelorette parties, bridal showers and adult birthday parties.

Visit their website (www.beadingbuds.com) or facebook page
(www.facebook.com/beadingbuds) for more information and photos
from past parties.

Beading Buds is located in Peel but travels to Hamilton, Guelph,
Georgetown, Milton, Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga, Port Credit,
Streetsville, Brampton, Etobicoke,Toronto, North York, Vaughan,
Woodbridge, Thornhill, Richmond Hill and Newmarket.

Beading Buds has donated a pair of Swarovski crystal pearl earrings
for one lucky reader. To All you have to do is visit the Beading Buds
Facebook Page www.facebook.com/beadingbuds – click LIKE! and leave a comment on this blog post.

All posts will then be entered into a draw to win the earrings. The
contest closes on Friday June 10th at 8pm EST and the winner will be announced on Saturday June 11th, right here on our blog!

I hate Silly Bandz

2011-05-25T10:43:00.003-04:00

I hate Silly Bandz. It is amazing that a small rubber band can generate such a strong emotion. Since the first time I heard about these things, I have disliked them immensley. I have not menitoned them to my daughters and am lucky that they are young enough to have not been introduced to them by their peer group. I have been dreading Ainsley's start of Kindergarten next year, in part because of her inevitable introduction to these bands.

Initially my dislike was because I could see what would happen if the girls started bringing these things home. There would be silly bandz everywhere in our house. I would find them in my bed, my purse, my drawers, on the floor, on countertops. The silly bandz would be everywhere. I envision my days spent picking up the bandz that I have stepped on and I really do not want to have to deal with these things all the time.

Yeseterday I went out for breakfast with a girl friend who told me a story that now has given me a more official and understandable reason to ban silly bandz from my house. Her daughter woke up in the middle of the night crying and complaining that her legs hurt. It turns out that she had put the silly bandz around her thigs and they were cutting off the circulation to the rest of her leg. If she had not told her mom that she was wearing silly bandz under her pyjama pants, who knows what would have happened but the implications are pretty serious.

The thought of these things potentially harming my child, in addition to being just plain annoying, has made me realize that we will not be a silly bandz household. I really hope that this craze has ended before September because for now, I have not had to fight this battle.

Menu Plan - May 23rd to May 29

2011-05-23T09:21:00.002-04:00

Below is this week's menu plan. All recipes are from Rose Reisman's cookbook "Family Favourites".

Tip: When planning your weekly meals, take note of which recipes need to be made in advance. Some recipes require refridgeration or marination before completing.

Girls Day Out

2011-05-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I got to spend the whole weekend alone with my youngest, Juliet. She is almost 2 1/2 which meant that she was finally old enough to have a girls day out with her mom. I planned a super-special day for us and we both had a wonderful time.

We started out going to music class where we got cookies afterwards (lucky girl).

Then we headed home for a nap (busy day needs meant we needed a well-rested mommy and daughter). Then we went off to Vaughan Mills to Build-A-Bear. Juliet had a great time picking her bear, stuffing the bear and then choosing the outfit.

We then took a quick trip to Homesense to get hangars for her closet. A chore I know but she had a great time anyway.

We then headed over to Boston Pizza for dinner.

Juliet did not want to leave. I did not want the day to end. It was so much fun for both of us. It's always nice to have a day alone with each of my girls so they can have my undivided attention.

Menu Plan - May 16 - May 22

2011-05-18T18:54:00.002-04:00

Okay, the week is almost half way over but I will post this week's menu plan. I promise to try and post next week's sooner!

So far the recipe's from Rose Reisman's "Secrets for Permanent WEight Loss" have been wonderful. I made the mashed cauliflower tonight for us and my brother and he could not believe it was cauliflower and there was no dairy in it!

Next Week's Menu Plan

2011-05-04T15:56:00.002-04:00

Okay, it is time to bite the bullet and start eating healthy before swim suit season starts! Luckily, I have just received and advanced copy of "The Organized Family Menu Planner" and can do it right! Below is my plan for next week. Now I just have to stick with it!

Weekly Menu Plan

2011-05-03T09:00:00.000-04:00

If you've read any of my previous posts, you would know that every week I do our family menu plan. I've decided to go ahead and post what I plan each week as I've had a number of people ask me what we're having for dinner and it's always nice to see what other families are eating. I love sharing food ideas and love experimenting so I hope my posts will inspire your meal planning.

This weeks meals include:

Monday - Tomato, green onion and cheese omletes with Seafood Soup. The omelete is from scratch and the soup is a frozen President's choice meal.

Tuesday - Crunchy Cheddar Fish Strips and Seared, Steamed and Glazed Green Beans. Both recipes are from Marlene Koch's "Eat What You Love" Cookbook

Wednesday - Garlic Lime Chicken and Curried Cabbage. Both recipes are also from "Eat What You Love"

Thursday - Smothered Steak Burgers with Mushroom Gravy and Quick "Pickle" Chips. Also from "Eat What You Love"

Friday - Stir-Fried Vegetables with Udon Noodles. I like to make this from scratch and throw any left over vegetables into the wok along with the Udon noodles and soya sauce or teriyaki.

Saturday - Tuna Noodle Casserole from "Eat What You Love"

Sunday - Mother's Day. Menu is not my responsibility today.

My love for throwing Dinner Parties

2011-05-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

Now that the girls are getting older, I am much more comfortable sending them over to my parents and in-laws for a sleepover. What this means for us, in addition to a sleep in, is that we can finally start hosting dinner parties again.

Pre-motherhood, I used to love hosting dinner parties. I love the whole ritual of planning the menu and then getting flowers and other specials touches to accent the evening. What I love most about dinner parties is the adult conversation, good food and wine.

We recently hosted a dinner party for some friends, one of which I went to high-school with who I re-connected with after Ainsley was born. This particular couple had no allergies or food-dislikes so I was able to go outside of my regular cooking comfort zone and planned an Israeli themed dinner.

Bonnie Stern has put together a fabulous book called Friday Night Dinners where she maps out the perfect menu for a many number of dinners such as Israeli, Greek, Passover, etc. This book is great because it saves you the guess work if you want to try a different type of cuisine. Her menus includes everything starting with drinks, appetizers, salad, main course and ends with dessert.

For our Israeli themed dinner, we started the night with Pomtinis (Pomegranate martinis), then had lamb/beef kebobs on cinnamon sticks. We had left-overs of these and the girls loved eating their "mini-burgers" on sticks.

Our main meal consisted of a Chicken Tagine, couscous, salad and the most AMAZING grilled eggplant with Tahine. I was blown away by the recipes (especially the eggplant recipe, which I have since made three more times). The food was outstanding and the whole meal was pretty easy to cook.

I cannot wait to plan our next dinner party! In the meantime, my family will be happy as I try out more new recipes from this cookbook. Yum!

Stroller Dilemma: Solved

2011-04-20T19:39:00.002-04:00

I have finally found the time to sit down and write the conclusion to last week's post about trying to find a double stroller. The day after I wrote the post, I was ready to give up. I was mentally preparing myself to give up my dream of a double side-by-side stroller and was trying to convince myself that that 4 block walk to the park was sufficient exercise.

Thursday morning I went to my osteopath on St. Clair and just before leaving saw an email from Moms To Be and More letting me know that their As Is store was having a tax free event from that Thurs to Sat. My first thought was, oh maybe I could get a stroller there. Then I thought, but what are the chances they would have a double stroller let alone a BOB. So I went to my appointment during which I thought about a stroller (yes, I can be a bit obsessive)and then I decided that since I was in the neighbourhood, I might as well check the store (if I didn't it probably would haunt me).

SO off we trekked to the store and as I was pulling up to park, I saw the moms to be truck unloading boxes which looked like they had the BOB logo on the side. I tamped down my excitement because what are the chances that they would have the BOB DUallie in stock at the AS is store. We walked in the doors and there it was, a BOB Duallie! Turns out, they had 5 BOB strollers that had literally just arrived minutes before we had. They were $200 off the regular $649 and there was no tax.

By taking the chance and checking out the store, I had saved $250 (if you include the tax) and gotten the stroller I wanted. I think it was fate. The stroller gods were feeling sorry for me and decided to give me a break.

Now I just have to wait for a day that's not freezing and raining and I will get to use it!

Stroller Dilemma

2011-04-13T13:42:00.003-04:00

I have a dilemma. While the girls are getting too old for a stroller, I am determined to get more exercise this spring and the only way I can fit it into my schedule is to walk the girls to school. This would give me a good hour long walk (total walk both ways) and for one of those ways, I would be pushing an extra 65 lbs.

The dilemma is that we have just about outgrown our Phil and Ted's double and so we need to purchase a side-by-side jogger to accommodate our growing children. The dilemma is that it is physically hurting me at the thought of spending upwards of $600 for a stroller. I have done some research and feel that the BOB Revolution is our best option. It is sturdy and has gotten rave reviews from the parents I have spoken to. It is, however, $659. This is not a purchase to be made lightly.

I was actually at the store this morning looking at it and the thought of actually spending this much money is tying my stomach into knots. I have been wracking my brain about how I can make our Phil and Ted's work (don't know how I can do this seeing as there is a weight limit and we are a few pounds shy of it). I have been trying to find other exercise options to no avail. I am now trying to convince myself that $659 is well worth having a healthier me.

I think I am going to have to sit with this idea of spending this much for a bit and see if gets any easier to swallow. I think I am partly torn as well because I would rather spend this money on a tablet.

I just wish stroller were less expensive. Oh, and I have been on Kijiji and Craig's List every day with no sign of a BOB for sale yet! I will continue to look but have a feeling that buying a new one is our only option.

Keeping the magic when your child is a realist

2011-03-30T10:13:00.002-04:00

What I love about childhood is the magical quality. Everything is new and mysterious. Unicorns, fairies, mermaids and other magical creatures are still a possibility and there are no limits to the imagination. While my eldest has embraced some aspects of fantasy, she is also a realist.

Recently Ainsley has been complaining that Juliet has been waking her up in the morning. Juliet will go into Ainsley's room when she wakes up and will wake Ainsley up so they can play together. Really cute, but Ainsley is not getting enough sleep. So I told Ainsley that I would put a magic spell on her door so that Juliet won't be able to come into her room in the morning. In other words, I locked the door.

Well, Ainsley used the potty at some point in the night which unlocked the door so Juliet was able to get in and wake her up in the morning. This is the conversation that ensued:

Ainsley: Mommy, Juliet woke me up again. The spell didn't work.
Me: Well, I will have to put another spell on your door tonight.
Ainsley: No mommy. You should just use a key.

Well, didn't I feel silly. As hard as I try to keep it magical, it seems that Ainsley will keep me grounded.

How do you keep things magical for your children?

Our Favourite Disney on Ice: Toy Story 3!!!

2011-03-18T21:46:00.000-04:00

As a child I never understood why my parent's weren't as keen on March Break as I was. Now with the tables turned, I totally get it. March Break adds to my job description, Event Coordinator. I need to be extra creative this week to keep the girls busy and I have my own personal pressure to make it 'special'! I was super excited to have the opportunity to take the girls to see Disney on Ice on Tuesday and even more excited to find out it was for Toy Story 3!

From beginning to end Toy Story 3 was a lot of fun. Great music added to the story that was told. They did a really great job of meshing some stories from Toy Story and Toy Story 2 with Toy Story 3. All the characters were there: Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Mr & Mrs. Potato Head, Slinky, Lotso, Jessie and Bullseye were among the cast. We even had a short visit with Mickey, Minnie, and Daffy.

Our absolute favourite part was when Barbie arrived on stage to the song "Barbie Girl". What an entrance! Not only did Barbie and her clones do her own dance, but the romance between Ken and Barbie was touched on and Ken did his famous fashion show from Toy Story 3. What more can a girl ask for!

The show ends March 20th so there is still time! Use the code BLOG to receive $5 off your tickets.

Disney on Ice: Toy Story 3 is my favourite on Ice production to date and look forward to future shows!

Disney on Ice: Toy Story 3 Giveaway WINNER

2011-03-01T08:22:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to H. Posgate for winning four tickets to see the show!

If you are thinking of buying tickets, don't forget to use the code BLOG to receive $5 off tickets to the show.

Snip Snip

2011-02-28T09:00:00.000-05:00

I'm sure that pretty much everyone has had a hair trauma in their lives. I've had a few. From seriously crooked bangs to a bad Sun-In experience, we all take a mini leap-of-faith when we step into the hairdressers's chair.

I do love getting my hair cut. I love the freshness and the instant change that comes from a hair cut. I will try anything once and usually tell my hair dresser that "I am in their hands". When it comes to the girls, I am definitely more attached to their hair than I am to my own. Intellectually I know it will grow back and it's only hair. However, when they sit in the hair dresser's chair I have to tamp down my urge to yell "Stop the cutting!" Think of a scene from "What Not To Wear" when the person getting the make-over has a total meltdown before finally accepting that they must cut their four foot long rats nest.

I am not sure why I have this reaction to the cutting of my daughter's hair. I really don't know why the momster in me rears its ugly head at this particular event. It's a good thing the girls are not old enough to want a tattoo as I may just have to lock them in their room to keep them from marring their beautiful skin.

So, at each hair dressing appointment, I tamp down my crazy inner-voice, smile and encourage the girls to have the fun the I have when I change my hair. I want to pass down the freedom that change can give them and the artistic expression one can have with their hair. I think I have done an admirable job as you can see from the pics taken yesterday.

Disney on Ice: Toy Story 3 Giveaway

2011-02-14T10:38:00.006-05:00

It's giveaway time again! We have 4 tickets to Toronto's Disney on Ice: Toy Story 3 to give away for one of the following dates:

March 15 7pm

March 16 7pm

March 17 7pm

All you need to do to enter is to leave a comment on the blog telling me what your children's favourite Toy Story 3 character is. Please also include your email address so I can contact the winner.

Good luck!

If you don't want to leave it to chance, you can purchase your tickets at

http://www.ticketmaster.ca/Disney-On-Ice-DisneyPixars-Toy-Story-3-tickets/artist/841113

and use code BLOG to receive $5 off.

Giveaway ends Feb 28th.

Social Media Family?

2011-02-11T09:27:00.003-05:00

As my daughters grow older, I have begun to think a lot about our world and how it has embraced social media and what that means for my girls and our family.

I have embraced the social media trend, I am on facebook, twitter, linked In and have a You Tube Channel. I am very active on all these mediums and have realized the benefits one has in being a part of this social revolution. But what does this mean for my kids? Ainsley is almost four and has yet to play a video game or truly interact in an electronic medium. We have watched You Tube videos together but that is the extent of her computer exposure.

I was invited to attend a conference session yesterday on Social Media and the Family. It really got me thinking about how important technology is to our society and the benefits of being plugged in. It changed my thinking from how long can I keep the electronic world from my children to the thought that perhaps I am doing them a disservice from not exposing them to this world at an early age so that they can develop the necessary skills to thrive in our highly technology based world.

So how does one introduce their children to computers? Well, on twitter (fitting) Maria Pilar-Clark from @mariapilarclark who writes for Chicago Parent tweeted this morning that VTech was coming out with a tablet for kids. How timely is this? So I went on their website and am pretty excited about this product. The article about it is below

http://http://www.chicagoparent.com/community/cosmotot/2011/february/vtech-debuts-innopad-tablet-for-kids

I am hoping this is available in time for Ainsley's birthday next month. I think that as I have fully embraced computers and social media, that it is time to let this filter down to my eldest and see where that leads us.

I will still not be registering a domain in their name (yes, apparently some parents do this at their child's birth) nor will I be opening a facebook or twitter account for them. I think that when they are old enough to want to do this, then we will have the conversation about internet etiquette and hopefully they will want to be my friend.

Keeping Snack Time Interesting

2011-02-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

When it comes to food, I like to keep things interesting. I like to try new foods and flavours all the time to offer my girls a wide variety of tastes and at to keep from getting bored of cooking the same old thing. I struggle with keeping snack time interesting though.

Snack time is unique in that the food consumed needs to be quick and easy and sometimes portable. Add healthy into the mix and things get tricky. While my girls would be happy if they could just eat crackers at every snack, I try and push the fruits and veggies at each snack time.

I was recently introduced to Baby Gourmet. It was recommended by a friend and then I was contacted to try it by the company and see how we liked it. While it is geared towards younger children I thought I'd give it a try as the girls like applesauce, it is healthy and it is easy to take on the go.

I was very excited to receive our box and even more excited when I saw the flavours they had sent us. With flavours such as Old Fashioned Apple Crisp, Tropical Banana Bliss and Sweet Potato Pie my mouth started watering! I opened up the Apple Crisp one first and was delighted to find that it actually tasted like Apple Crisp and had the texture of Apple Sauce. It was a hit with the girls! Juliet liked eating it out of a bowl with a spoon and Ainsley enjoyed eating it directly out of the spout! Yay, we can add a new portable snack item to the list!

Even the vegetable fruit combos were very well received and of course had to taste it and it was blended very well. These are also great to add to smoothies or yogurt for great flavour and to up my veggie and fruit intake.

Overall, I was very happy with the product and the packaging was great! I am excited to have a new healthy snack option to offer my kids.

Cleaning up the Linen Closet

2011-02-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

When we were away on our vacation in December we had Brett's brother Sean do a few things in our house. One of the tasks we had him do was to rip out our old linen closet that had drawers that did not slide properly and install a new shelving system.

When we got back from Cuba before I had a chance to put all our linens back properly, I got sick so Brett put everything back in the cupboard in a haphazard way as you can see below.

It was not too pretty and it was hard to find things. This past weekend I had had enough (and I had time)so I got to work tidying up the cupboard. It actually did not take very long to get everything back in its place. Now it is easy to find what we need and it looks much nicer. This is especially important as we don't have our new closet doors installed yet. Here is a picture of our newly tidied linen closet.

I am looking forward to the installation of the new doors and for now, the closet is off limits to all but me!

Disney on Ice: Toy Story 3!!!

2011-02-07T09:00:00.001-05:00

I am very excited to be taking the girls to see Disney on Ice: Toy Story 3! I took Ainsley to see the movie this past summer and she loved it! Any time she sees a picture of any of the characters she gets excited. I enjoyed the movie. Especially the Ken Fashion show!

I love taking the girls to shows as each one is a new experience which feeds their imagination. Below is some information about the show and what we will be seeing:

The summer’s biggest hit movie, Toy Story 3 and famed moments from Toy Story and Toy Story 2are hitting the ice in this sensational live production coming to Toronto!

Catch all the heroic action when Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the Toy Story gang escape from the rambunctious Sunnyside Daycare tots and hit the ice, in their most daring adventure ever, introducing Barbie’s groovy bachelor Ken and Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear. It’s the biggest Toy Story experience on ice, jam-packed with fast paced adventure including Buzz’s galactic battle with Emperor Zurg and a hoe down on the set of Woody’s Roundup.

Rediscover the humor, friendship and unique toy ingenuity when Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3 takes family fun to infinity and beyond!

I have another discount code to share with you! Use the code BLOG to receive $5 off your tickets.

The Mess That Just Won't Go Away: Part II

2011-01-31T13:01:00.003-05:00

I wanted to include some pictures of what the room looks like everynight for about a minute before it is torn apart again.

The Mess That Just Won't Go Away

2011-01-27T17:05:00.004-05:00

I estimate that 95% percent of the time my daughter Ainsley's (4) room looks like a bomb went off and then a hurricane blew in. I truly think her goal is to make sure that not one inch of carpet is showing. What's impressive is that she can get her room into this state in seconds! It is truly a skill. One that I wish she had not learned. Today's mess was no exception.

And every night we tidy up. There is space for all her toys. We have a dress up trunk, ample storage for toys, a basket for stuffed animals, and a large bookshelf. There is a place for everything. However, it seems that one must dump the basket over to find the one toy you are looking for. Or throw every single item of clothes out of the dress up box to find the perfect costume. And one can't just read one book, one must read them ALL.

I remain optimistic that the girls will one day grow out of their tasmanian devil stage and start to want a clean room. I hope it comes soon.

Who's Sick Of Being Sick?

2011-01-24T10:03:00.004-05:00

I am! I've been told by many people that this is apparently the worst year for illnesses in a long time! I can only speak for myself on this subject and this has been the worst year for illnesses for me in my whole life! I have been well for 10 days in the past 40 and that is not a great ratio!

However, I have a plan. I will be attacking these germs and leaving no survivors (I hope). I like to be organized (as you can probably tell by Glow Baby and our products) and so I will be using my special organizational skills to help me beat the flu and any other illness this winter throws at me.

The first step was to start eating heathier. That meant more vegetables and fruits, less pre-packaged meals. So far, I am on week three of this and it is going really well! It helps that I am relatively healthy at the moment. When I took the girls to McDonald's last week, I didn't order anything for me!!!! Talk about will power.

The next step was to meet with a nutritionist to put together a plan of attack. Or rather a plan of prevention. I was lucky enough to meet with Marina from www.zenbeginnings.com. She not only provided me with a plan for prevention but also gave me non-medicinal options for when I did get sick. The main goal with this was to work on getting my immune system back into fighting shape. I am now just waiting for my supplements to arrive but am hopeful that this will give me a chance for being healthy for the remainder of the winter.

The third step is to join a gym. This is going to be the toughest one for me. I hate the gym! It is my least favourite thing. I find it boring. I have found a gym near me that has classes and I'm hoping that this may hold my interest. Maybe I should look for some other moms who would be willing to go with me....

How are you doing this winter with illness? Are you finding this year worse than previous years? Are your kids sicker than usual? What are you doing to stay healthy?

Harlem Globetrotters Discount

2011-01-21T13:54:00.001-05:00

Week One - Success!

2011-01-16T11:33:00.002-05:00

Last week was a good one. We made all the recipes I had listed on my menu plan and they were delicious! The recipes were easy to make and it made me feel better that our family was eating a very well rounded diet with new tastes. Juliet loved the fish and the enoki mushrooms (to my surprise). For this week I am using recipes from Rose Reisman and here is what I have planned for our dinners:

1. Fillet of Beef with Creamy Sesame Sauce
2. Chicken Chili with Barley and Black Beans
3. Salmon Stuffed with mixed olives and Sundried Tomatoes
4. Make your own pizza

I'm also planning on making a Fig and Cinnamon Loaf for snacks and for side vegetables Roast Onions and Sweet Potato and Yellow spilt pea soup with Goat cheese.
Yum!

I still haven't signed up at a gym mainly because while I was sick with the flu, I bruised my ribs and they still hurt!

This week's goal is to go to Zen Beginnings and meet with a nutritionist to get tips on how I can boost my immune system.

The Start of a Healthier Lifestyle

2011-01-08T12:07:00.003-05:00

I have been sick for way too long! I feel like as soon as I get over one illness, I get another. I have now been well for only 10 days during the past month. That is not a good ratio. To combat my seemingly sickly constitution, I have decided to make a conscious effort to eat better and to make time to get more excercise. I am also going to be meeting with a nutritionist next week to help me figure out what else I can do to boost my immune system.

My first step as I am finally feeling better from my recent Flu, was to menu plan for the following week and create my shopping list. I do have a number of healthy cooking cookbooks, as I love to cook and I do try to cook healthy meals. I just had gotten off track of late so need to refocus on this. I pulled out my Heart Smart cookbook by Bonnie Stern and started leafing through the recipes. I decided on the following recipes for this week (as we had a lot of the ingredients already in our freezer):

1. Sweet Chili Chicken
2. Moroccan Meatballs
3. Cod Baked in Tomato Sauce with Onions
4. Penne with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes and Bocconcini

Most of these recipes are fairly easy so are a good choice. I also want to introduce new flavours for the girls to expand their palate.

Wish me luck on my first week towards eating better. Next step: Join a Gym!!!

Disney Live! Colouring Page

2010-12-27T11:06:00.002-05:00

Disney Live! Coupon Code

2010-12-27T11:03:00.003-05:00

Use the coupon code BLOG and receive $5 off tickets to see Disney Live! Mickey's Rockin' Road Show!

Disney Live! Mickey's Rockin' Road Show

2010-12-27T10:54:00.003-05:00

DISNEY LIVE! MICKEY’S ROCKIN’ ROAD SHOW TAKES AUDIENCES ON HILARIOUS, HIGH-ENERGY ADVENTURE WITH FAVORITE DISNEY CHARACTERS
Brand-New, Live Stage Production Produced by Feld Entertainment
Stars Mickey Mouse and Friends in Original Storyline with Contemporary Twist

Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show, Feld Entertainment’s newest stage production, whisks audiences on a wacky, fun-filled journey with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald and Goofy as they embark on a talent search adventure filled with unexpected, exciting encounters and favorite Disney friends. As this original storyline unfolds, families will sing, dance and laugh along with the ever-lovable Tigger; Cinderella and her conniving stepsisters; and for the first time in Disney Live! history, Buzz Lightyear, Woody and friends from Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story.
“In Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show, fun knows no boundaries,” says Producer Kenneth Feld. “Audiences will feel like they’re seeing a cartoon come to life as they experience the humor, hijinks, twists and turns of Mickey’s road trip and talent show. The only rules are ‘cartoon rules,’ and anything goes.”

“Families will feel like they are traveling alongside Mickey and Minnie as they set off on an exciting theatrical excursion, right in their hometown,” Producer Alana Feld comments. “Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show is a combination of hilarious escapades, hip music and modern choreography that fuse together to present the Disney characters like you’ve never seen them before.”

As a special bonus, fifteen minutes before every performance, families are treated to the Playhouse Disney Pre-Show Party. This interactive experience features a live host as she gets the audience revved up for the show with fun video highlights from Playhouse Disney favorites “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” “Handy Manny,” “Imagination Movers,” “Special Agent Oso” and “Jungle Junction.” The Pre-Show party is free to all ticket holders.

The excitement begins when Mickey and his pals decide to put on a talent show, with Mickey as the director, Minnie as the costume designer, Goofy as the clumsy stagehand and Donald in charge of the big “Ka-Pow”! Realizing that they need more performers, they embark on a road trip in Mickey’s fantastical bus, where they face a series of misadventures and eventually round up a few friends to help put on their show.

“What sets this show apart is how we unite characters that normally exist in separate worlds and incorporate the kind of music that kids listen to everyday to create a fresh, original story,” says Director Jay Smith. “We want families to feel like they’ve played as much a part in the show as those on stage, so whether they join Cinderella as she sings ‘Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo,’ bounce along with Tigger to ‘The Whoop-De-Dooper Bounce’ or rock and roll to songs by the Jonas Brothers and Hannah Montana, there is really something for everyone.”

The show is based on the concept of a live cartoon, and writer Bradley Zweig sets the stage for fun when Mickey surprises his pals with the vehicle for their adventure: an amazing bus equipped with unusual gadgets. When the characters need to get over a mountain during their talent search, the push of a button inflates a hot air balloon from the roof. When the bus rolls into the ocean, the flip of a switch transforms it into a submarine. “These are things that only happen in cartoons, but we’re doing them live on stage. You don’t explain them; they just happen,” says Zweig. “In a cartoon, nothing is impossible. The silliest, craziest, funniest things can happen for no reason whatsoever, and in Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show, they do.”

The Mickey Mouse Bus was developed by the Feld Entertainment props team led by the show’s scenic designer and Feld Entertainment Vice President of Scenic Elements Rick Papineau. Special effects like the hot air balloon, periscope and propeller advance the storyline as the characters move from location to location.

To transport audiences on their virtual journey, the bus functions in conjunction with original video content displayed on a giant projection screen. Created by Feld Entertainment Video Designer Ilja Nowodworski, the animated video establishes multiple scenic environments and captures the essence of each character’s world. When Mickey and his friends are traveling to their next destination, the digital video images move to create the illusion that the bus is traveling and the characters are able to zoom up and down hills and around curves, drive underwater and float through the clouds.

To enhance the experience, Papineau incorporated multiple scenic projection panels that flank the screen to create an extension of the backdrop. “The panels are made directly from video screen shots, so it looks like the images run out of the screen,” says Papineau. Because the panels can configure many different scenic combinations, audiences are able to enjoy a truly visual experience as the scenic backdrop takes them through country hillsides, a cactus-filled desert, a royal village and other picturesque locales.

Costume Designer Scott Lane’s youthful and colorful designs enhance the playful, contemporary feel of Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show. “I wanted to incorporate bright, fun ‘kid’ colors so the show is like a coloring book and yet keep the silhouettes of today,” says Lane. To create costumes that reflect current youth fashion trends, Lane used clothing catalogs and magazines as inspiration and then added his own touch by infusing vibrant primary colors and mixing patterns. He also looked to current pop star fashion for the costume designs of the host and male ensemble, incorporating vests, ties, untucked shirts and pinstripe pants to create a casual and preppy look, reflective of current trends.

For the Disney characters, Lane maintained traditional silhouettes, but added a modern flair. Cinderella first appears in her classic ball gown crafted from 45-year-old vintage fabric, but with the help of the Fairy Godmother, it magically transforms into a sequined, beaded, light blue dress with accents of pink flowers. One of Lane’s challenges was designing an outfit for Mickey Mouse that is timeless, yet current, and reflects his active, youthful personality. To convey both vibes, Lane dressed Mickey in red plaid shorts, a multi-colored striped shirt and tie, a blue vest and sneakers during the road trip, and then switched to a classic showbiz look: a bold three-piece suit with red, white, yellow and black polka dots and stripes.

Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show features a unique blend of music that incorporates both timeless and remixed Disney songs, along with hip tunes that pave the way for choreographer Robbie Mackey’s distinctive dance numbers. From Cinderella’s comical tap-dancing stepsisters and a Broadway-style kick line to a knee-slapping hoedown and Tigger’s hip-hop-inspired bounce routine, Mackey combines a range of dance styles to create an energetic and fresh look that conveys a classic yet contemporary feel.

Host Chris Chatman provides the link between the audience and the characters throughout the show. The 23-year-old Chatman, one of the final 54 contestants in “American Idol” Season 8, guides families along the road trip and energizes them with his charisma, impressive vocals and dance moves.

Mackey collaborated with Music Director Stan Beard to choose pieces of music that support the action on stage and deliver the right tempo for the choreography. “The music is the energy behind everything,” Beard comments. “We wanted to show a different side of traditional characters so we used the song selection to add a little edge, which opened up endless possibilities for fresh takes on well-known Disney friends.”

For Tigger’s talent show number, Mackey choreographed an athletic, upbeat routine set to “Bounce, Bounce,” a re-mixed version of R&B artist J.Moss’ “Jump, Jump.” The scene showcases Tigger flanked by four backup dancers in an exciting, fast-paced music video-style routine. “It’s a current, very hip section of the show, and everyone in the audience bounces as much as the dancers on stage,” says Mackey.
Lighting Designer Sam Doty sets the mood of the show by creating colorful and vibrant lighting designs that transform the stage and complement the music as they transport audiences to each destination. “The music’s really fun and upbeat, and I wanted to match that,” says Doty. “Everything’s based on the music and the action of the show.” Tigger performs his hip-hop routine while subtle tiger stripe gobos embellish the proscenium and the stage floor. The stepsisters’ clumsy antics are supplemented by sharp, crazy lighting cues, while Cinderella’s elegant solo is matched by beautiful, soft pink, blue and purple lights. For scenes where the Mickey Mouse Bus is traveling, Doty mimics the motion on the screen so that the lights move with the road, like shadows going by.

Throughout the process, Doty was conscious of the practicality of lighting a children’s show. “It’s very important for kids to see the faces of the characters they love, while creating the environment of the scene and keeping the lighting fun and exciting,” he says.

Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show invites audiences to experience a high-energy adventure jam-packed with hip music, eye-catching choreography and one-of-a-kind scenery that combine to create an unforgettable journey full of laughs and surprises with favorite Disney friends.

About Feld Entertainment

Feld Entertainment is the world’s leading producer and presenter of live family entertainment. A privately owned and operated family company, Feld Entertainment is the parent company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®, Feld Motor Sports, Disney On Ice, and Disney Live! With more than 5,000 performances annually and tours in over 65 countries on six continents, the company’s shows are seen by more than 30 million people each year.
For more information about Disney Live!, members of the media should visit www.feldentertainment.com.

Disney on Ice - Winner Announced

2010-12-06T18:33:00.002-05:00

The winner of the 4 tickets to Disney on Ice is.....

Melissa!!!

Please email me at info@glowbaby.ca.

Guest Post: Massage Therapy an Essential Part of Your Body and Baby Care During Pregnancy

2010-12-06T08:55:00.004-05:00

Massage Therapy an Essential Part of Your Body and Baby Care During Pregnancy

Article by Nicole Nifo from Fully Alive Wellness Centre
Most of us make a visit to see our Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) at least every 1-2 months for a “tune-up” or sometimes every few months to relax and let go.

As you are progressing though each Trimester, your body is slowly adapting to a growing baby, belly, weight gain and more flexible joints. This puts a lot of strain on the muscles and joints that hold up your posture. Oftentimes body pain can be relieved with a stretch or a heated compress. Not when you are pregnant! Don’t forget that if the baby is already pushing into your ribs or lower back-as baby grows, so does your discomfort.

The benefits of Massage Therapy when you are Pregnant are:
• Reduced stress hormones and anxiety in the body
• Reduced postural discomforts (back pain, headaches, sciatica, carpal tunnel, etc.)
• Reduced swelling in hands and feet (reducing leg cramping)
• Improved maternal mood (decreasing depression)
• Promote neonatal health and development
• Promote awareness in the changing pregnant body
• Bond mother to baby growing inside her (important for 1st time mom)

Which Trimester is safe for Massage Therapy?

All of the trimesters are safe for Massage Therapy. Minor modifications will be made to accommodate your pregnant body during each trimester (eg. positioning, techniques, pressure).

So you have never had a Massage?

Then there is no time like the present! Face it, once baby arrives- all that “Me” time that you like to take for yourself will turn into “Baby” time. Most moms find it hard to do self care, but being a new mom is the beginning of parenthood. We all know that parents want the best for their children, but when it comes to themselves its mediocre.

Think about it: happy mom equals happy baby! Please do not think that your baby cant sense stress or fatigue; they are very receptive so make sure that you give you self lots of love before, during and after pregnancy to ensure optimal health and happiness.

Birthday Presents - When to open?

2010-11-25T20:13:00.002-05:00

I have been planning Juliet's 2nd birthday party this week and while planning the party itinerary,I struggled with the question of when do we open the presents? When I ask this question, what I mean is do we open present with everyone or after the party and send out thank you notes.

We don't usually open presents but as the girls get older, when is it ok to open the presents at the party? In the past, we don't open presents as there is not enough time and I have this vision of toddlers fighting over the newly unwrapped toys. I think it is probably wise not to open presents at Juliet's party, but at Ainsley's 4th, should we?

I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

Celebrating the Gift of Communication...for all children, of all abilities...everywhere!

2010-11-25T09:00:00.000-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfeBXIy_VAI

Who? Parents, teachers, librarians, speech language pathologists, early childhood educators and their children. We'll be counting the number of children involved, the number of locations and event the number of countries involved.

If you'd like to organize a WeeHands Challenge in your community on December 7th, please email: info@weehands.com. You don't have to be a WeeHands Instructor to organize a challenge in your area!

The WeeHands Challenge? Groups across North America will organize and meet in their own communities to sign and sing this year's song "This Little Light of Mine". This is a free event for families, teachers & children!

This fun event is a challenge for which geographic area (province or state) has the most children signing and sing this year's song at 11am local time.

The Challenge: 11am local time. Some sites will include a few signing parents/caregivers and their children who get together to "be counted" and others are much larger events with live music, speakers, prizes etc.

When? the event will occur across North America on Tuesday December 7th at 11am (local times for each location).

Where? Organizers will seek out and set up their own locations, e.g., libraries, speech clinics, early years centres, community rooms, mall or any other venue. We anticipate that schools and child care centres will also participate.

Why? to celebrate the gift of communication for all children, of all abilities, everywhere! A chance for education and peer support in a fun social way.

Visit the Weehands website for more information:

http://www.weehands.com/challenge.htm

Another reason why I hate the time change

2010-11-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

For the few weeks, it has seemed as if getting the girls out of the house and into the car has been especially inefficient and I couldn’t figure out why. We used to have our morning routine down to a science and were always out the door on time and at school with time to spare without rushing. However, to my great puzzlement, the last few weeks have seemed increasingly rushed and time seemed to fly as we went from house to car.

No matter how early we left the house, we were still later than usual at school. It was really beginning to frustrate me as I hate being late and could just not understand what it was that was slowing us down. Then today it hit me. We weren’t late, our clock in the car was fast. I don’t know about you, but often after the clocks have been changed, whether forward or back, I have to make small adjustments to our clocks a few times to get them all relatively in sync. Well, turns out that the clock in the house was correct, but the clock in the car was about 8 minutes too fast. One would think that this was not a big deal, but for someone who only has 2 hours and 30 minutes to herself in the morning while the girls are at school, 8 minutes is a big deal.

I am glad I finally figured out why there was such a time discrepancy as it was frustrating and now I feel relieved to know that we are in fact on time and even early! Now I can stop stressing about the time. I will make sure I do a better job of changing the time on all clocks in the spring.

Spotlight: Momstown

2010-11-22T09:00:00.002-05:00

momstown.ca is for neighbourhood moms wanting to connect for support, conversation and just plain fun.

Momstown brings you an online calendar chock-full of momstown specific events, a 24-hour interactive message board (perfect for those sleepless nights), and exclusive member privileges and discounts.

Odds are that when you were growing up your mom knew all of your neighbours. Your street was full of kids you knew and your mom invited the neighbourhood over to run through the sprinkler while the other moms had coffee and chatted. If a neighbour had a new baby, you were probably sent over with a hot casserole and the new mother would have been warmly welcomed into the folds of the other families. Although some social conventions have (sadly) changed, what hasn’t is the need to connect with other local mothers. It has always been said it takes a village to raise a child. We say it takes a town. Who resides in the town we fondly call momstown? Well, it’s moms like you.

What began as a small mothers group run by one mom has flourished under tender loving care by local women to make momstown the supportive, organized ‘neighbourhood’ it is today. Founded in August 2007 by moms from Burlington, Ontario, momstown.ca has now found a niche within many communities by providing moms with consistent activities and daily encouragement. momstown uses the internet to connect but our goal is to get moms off the computer and out of the house!

Momstown provides a unique offering for local moms. A membership is inclusive and offers over 20 exclusive momstown events monthly (per chapter!), an active local website with tons of dialogue and awesome member discounts and privileges from our partners.

The annual fee of $45 per mom (not per child) includes our events and social opportunities. An amazing deal that works out to be about 10 cents per event! Your membership will link you with so many local moms both in person and online and your social and support network will explode.

To join, just click on the communities page and complete the registration and watch your email (check your junk mail!) for your password and other details. Hope to see you in the neighbourhood soon!

Mickey and Minnie on Ice - Discount Code

2010-11-20T08:56:00.000-05:00

Don't forget to enter our draw for 4 Free tickets well! The link to the blog post is below http://glowbabyfamily.blogspot.com/2010/11/free-tickets-for-mickey-and-minnies.html

New: Spotlight Posts

2010-11-19T09:00:00.001-05:00

One of the reasons behind creating Glow Baby was to help parents. With our products we are helping parents take control of their lives and get organized! With products firmly under our belt (and new products on the way) we have decided to also share our knowledge with you. Whether this is knowledge of other great products or fabulous businesses that provide a service to help you, we will be bringing our readers this information.

From Doulas to momsgroups, if we think they can help make being a parent easier, we will tell you about them! If you know of a business or product that helped you as a parent feel free to send us a note at info@glowbaby.ca and we will contact them for a possible Spotlight.

Look out for our Spotlight posts starting on Monday!

The Big Decision

2010-11-18T18:53:00.006-05:00

So after much debate and help from my readers, I have purchased a birthday dress for Juliet and one for Ainsley.

I chose......

For Juliet, the birthday girl. Even though I loved the white one, I could just picture how it would probably be ruined with the pizza and cake we will be having at the party. This dress is a dark blue (stains will not show) and it's girlie with the tulle skirt. I am sure she will be thrilled to wear it for her birthday. (Note to self, don't show her the dress until the day of her birthday or she will want to wear it)

I chose this dress for Ainsley as I think the eyelets are adorable. It's a bit more muted than Juliet's and can see it being worn with a shirt underneath for school as well. Therefore I will get more use out of it. Oh, and it was on sale! A total plus :)

I will be sure to post pictures of the girls wearing their new dresses.

Dress Dilemma - Found another great option

2010-11-16T22:05:00.003-05:00

I don't know how I missed this dress the first time I was on Gap.com. I was just about to buy the white tiered dress when this one caught my eye. Now what do I do? The white one or the blue one? Clearly I need help!!!

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Birthday Dress Dilemma

2010-11-16T15:19:00.002-05:00

My adorable Juliet is having her 2nd Birthday Party in 2 1/2 weeks and I was browsing the web to find a nice dress for her and her sister to wear. I came across the Gap and they have some SUPER adorable dresses and I am having trouble deciding which one to get!

Please help and comment on which dress/skirt you like best:

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2.

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5.

Anyone Else Need A Vacation From Their Weekend?

2010-11-15T10:14:00.001-05:00

Our weekends seem to be getting busier as the girls get older. With ballet for my eldest, gymnastics and music class for my youngest, plus family get togethers, playdates, birthday parties and more, I need a vacation from our weekend!

We no longer have lazy Sundays where we can sleep in and relax. Chores have replaced reading the paper or going out for brunch. Don’t get me wrong, our weekend plans are great fun. The girls love their respective activities and I love going with them. They have so much energy that if we don’t get out of the house by 10am they start to go stir crazy. We plan playdates and other activities because they love them and allows them to use up some of their endless amounts of energy. It’s also a chance for us to catch up with our adult friends. But no matter how many activities we do, they just don’t tire out!

Yesterday, even after a playdate where the girls had a dance party, pretended to be animals and literally hopped around the house for two hours, they still had energy to burn! We took them swimming after Juliet’s nap and the only people who were exhausted after that were me and my husband!

How do you get the rest and relaxation you need to recharge? For me, it helps that the girls are in nursery school in the mornings which gives me a chance to work and write. At least I get a two hour chunk of time during which I can actually sit down for awhile and get things done. I am also very thankful that my mom comes over two afternoons a week to play with the girls. Making dinner is much easier when they are occupied!

I hear parents of much older children talk about a return to lazy Sunday mornings as their children start to sleep in and don’t need them anymore. While this sounds lovely, I already know I will miss their early morning snuggles, their wrestling, their dancing and all the time we spend together. Despite how tired I find I am most of the time, I know this period will go by so quickly and I don’t want to miss a moment!

Guest Blog by Sprout Right: How To Avoid Winter Flu's

2010-11-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

I came across this posts for alternative ways to boost your immune system and avoid illness this winter and was happy when Lianne from Sprout Right let me post on the blog. I will definitely be printing this out to try and stay healthy!

How to Avoid Winter Flu's
By: Lianne Phillipson-Webb, www.sproutright.com
It’s cold and dark outside. Yes winter is coming and we all know what that means—colds, flu, and other bugs flying around the office, school or daycare, and then brought home to circulate the family.

So far I’ve heard of Norwalk hitting hard, lingering coughs and colds, but not the flu… yet. Whether you find yourself achy all over, warming up with a fever, that scratchy throat feeling or nose is running like a tap, it means something’s coming. Those damn bugs gotcha!

Do you go for the medicine cabinet, or vitamin cupboard? In my house, well you can guess, I get out my remedy first aid kit and start there. I pull out the oregano oil (mixed in some Echinacea syrup so we can get it down), probiotics, vitamin C, garlic drink and specific homeopathic remedies depending on what the symptoms are. My daughters know that feeling sick means the caster oil and cold wet socks are coming at bedtime too (I’ll explain that craziness later on).

That may sound like quite a list, but I really hate being sick. If I could just lie on the couch and let it ride, I still wouldn’t like it. So I throw it all at us. And it works. If we’ve had some virus or whatever bug gets us, it generally hits us less or leaves faster.

What can you do to help your family? Here are my top tips:

Find yourself a naturopath or homeopath. As well as booking an intro consult, ask if they offer phone/email consults for acute situations. I’m able to email mine with symptoms and get feedback of what homeopathic remedies that will help speed recovery and lessen symptoms. If you aren’t familiar with homeopathy, it sure packs a punch. Your naturopath or homeopath can help you with specifics, so don’t worry about not knowing what it’s all about.
Create your own remedy first aid kit.
Start with vitamin C. A powder is best and most versatile for the family. It should dissolve in water or dilute juice and can be downed in one or sipped throughout the day. Adults can take about 2000 mg once or twice a day and kids 200 – 400 mg per day (too much vit C = diarrhoea, so ease off if that’s the case). Chech out the link below for my favourite product, Ascorbate C.

Oil of Oregano has potent antiviral and antifungal properties. It is taken against colds and flu’s, candida and parasites. Start it as any symptoms start. Adult dose – one to two drops mixed in with juice. Babies and children – put one drop on the soles of their feet. *Oregano oil is not recommended for breastfeeding. Use for no longer than three weeks and dose up on probiotics too while taking it.

Echinacea is an herbal immune booster. It works best when you feel the start of a cold or other symptoms. Long-term use is not advised. Take for one week then not the next. Continue over the winter months.

Probiotics are a sneaky way to boost the immune system. It sounds kind of backwards, taking good bacteria when it will go to my intestines – but when you understand that about 80 per cent of your immune system is in your digestive system, it all makes sense. Check out the link below for a description of Genestra’s products that I’ve used for years.

When you are hit with something, these crazy sounding remedies can be used on the whole family.

Castor Oil - Rub a loonie size of caster oil on the chest, over the lung area, front and back. Do this before bed, and use a hot water bottle over the area if age appropriate.

Cold Wet Socks – This is a great natural remedy for coughs, colds and congestion. Here’s what you do:

Before bed, make a pair of cotton socks with cold water, squeeze out excess water. Put the socks on the feet and cover with wool or wooly overtop. As crazy as it sounds, it really works. I’ve got up in the middle of the night before to re-wet my socks so I stop coughing. It’s better than cough medicine.

I have not made either of these up, they’ve been around for years. I know it sounds completely nuts, but I promise you it really helps!

Check out SproutRight.com here for more information on specific supplements.

Other suggestions include:

Avoid sugar – I know, I know, you only feel like snacking on comfort foods. Sugar can suppress the immune system for a period of hours, so it might be the difference to one day off to a few.

Drink immune boosting herbal teas and ease off the coffee and milk – don’t send me packing with my ideas just yet – let me explain. Your body (or your kid’s) need fluids so herb teas are warm, wet and also can help give a boost. Dairy products are mucus forming, so you may find yourself not needing any help in the mucus-producing department (both coughs and colds), so just shelve it for now.

Try the ‘Garlic Bomb’. You are at home anyway so it doesn’t matter if you have garlic breath. This one is probably only for adults, not kiddies. Fill a mug with boiled water from the kettle. Use a garlic press to crush a clove of garlic into the water. Add a teaspoon of honey, a squeeze of lemon and even a chunk of fresh ginger if you have it. Drink it all. The garlic bits at the bottom too.

So now that you’ve got more than enough ideas of how to make this a healthier winter, go stock up and be ready for what comes!

This is not meant to take the place of medical advice or a visit to the doctors.

Communication and Men - I just don't get it

2010-11-08T17:16:00.002-05:00

My husband hosted his annual Rally weekend up at the cottage this past weekend. This is a time that all the men who have been friends for a long time go away for two nights, drink beer, play poker and eat. Apparently, these three things are all they do for 48 hours as according to my husband, they don't talk about anything.

Every year, when Brett comes home, I ask him what was discussed. Every year his answer is nothing. No gossip, no tidbits, no insight into their lives. Apparently, nothing of any note gets talked about. How can this be?

When I went away to Blissdom Canada two weeks ago, everything was discussed! From children, to business, to twitter, to sisterhood. Not a topic was left uncovered. How is that women communicate in such a fundamentally different way than men?

I have tried many times to explain to my husband the power of social media and the relationships I have made through twitter and he has yet to understand what I am talking about. When I told him I wanted to create a resource page on the Glow Baby website and connect with other like-minded professional in the infant and child industry, he didn't understand. I tried to explain how connection and discussion and shared experiences were how women connected but it did not sink in.

I guess men bond through drinking, loosing money, bad jokes and gross bodily functions while women share what is in their souls to form the connection. I am thankful that I have found a wonderful group of women both online and offline who I can share my anxieties and joys with and who understand why details like the length and weight of a newborn is important.

One of these days I will send Brett up to his rally weekend with questions for the guys to fill out so I can find out what they have been up to over the past few months. Do you think he'd be embarrassed?

I need a break!

2010-11-05T10:08:00.002-04:00

The past few weeks in our household have been nuts. With my husband on a business trip one week, my trip to Blissdom Canada the following week plus various school meetings and networking meetings thrown into the mix, organizing our schedule was nuts! These obligations were in addition to our regularly scheduled routine and trying to juggle the logistics have been exhausting.

I need a break. I need one week in which all we have to worry about is our regularly scheduled routine. The beauty of routine is that it becomes second nature. You don’t have to think about it. You know where your kids are, you know who is picking them up and that is it. No coordinating caregivers, no piece meal solutions, no stress. It just runs as usual.

I had the tools and the ability to make it work and our household ran like a well-oiled machine despite the absence of one or both of us. I do not, however, have the stamina to keep this going. I have also noticed my children being affected by our absence. Very rarely do we have someone other than me or my husband put the kids to bed. In the past few weeks, bedtime routine has been done by my sister or mom at least twice a week. This has lead to a more difficult time saying goodbye at school and saying good night. When I start to see my usually happy children become more clingy and sad, I know it’s time to take a break.

I have had enough and will take a break from over scheduling myself. I missed my children when I was at Blissdom. I admit it. I missed snuggle time, their stories, their dancing. I love hanging with them and being there for them. Blissdom was definitely worth it but I am glad to be home and getting back into our regularly scheduled programming.

They say these days that kids are overscheduled but what about us parents? How can we keep the balance in our lives? I think the first step is recognizing the need to change. Now the challenge becomes learning to say No to some of the great opportunities that are presented to me. I must be strong, at least for a little while, and take a break. Wish me luck.

Free tickets for Mickey and Minnie's Magical Journey

2010-11-01T10:01:00.003-04:00

I have four tickets to Mickey and Minnie's Magical Journey in Toronto to giveaway! So I thought I would host a contest!! What a great way to start November.

Here is some information on the show with contest entry information at the end:

JOIN A GLOBETROTTING TOUR OF DISNEY DESTINATIONS IN DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTS
MICKEY & MINNIE’S MAGICAL JOURNEY

Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie’s Magical Journey takes audiences on a fun-filled tour to four exciting destinations filled with favorite Disney friends. With Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse as tour guides, guests will visit the enchanting worlds of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Lilo & Stitch and Peter Pan.
The arena will be filled with music and magic in every scene including an enchanting undersea kingdom with Ariel and Sebastian, a jungle adventure in the African Pride Lands with Simba and Nala, a Hawaiian luau with Lilo and Stitch and a trip to jolly old London with Peter Pan and Tinker Bell.

“It’s an extraordinary show and a family vacation all rolled into one incredible night,” says Producer Kenneth Feld. “You really get a sense you are traveling right alongside Mickey, Minnie and their friends.”

Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie’s Magical Journey features an international team of award-winning skaters, exciting choreography and a musical score filled with familiar Disney hits and rock-and-roll classics the whole family will enjoy.
The unconventional mix of music inspired Choreographer Cindy Stuart to incorporate original moves, like the boisterous pirate line dance. Stuart has also included more classic skating, like David and Nani’s touching surf duet and Prince Eric and Ariel’s tender pas de deux.

“Not only is this show a journey through favorite Disney stories, it is a journey of emotions,” says Director Jerry Bilik. “From the antics of Sebastian, Simba and Stitch, to the high-flying adventures of Peter Pan, the audience will experience excitement, humor and friendship.”

Costume Designer Arthur Boccia has assembled specific and appealing looks for all the Disney locales. Creatures and characters along the way sport everything from nightgowns to grass skirts. Surfer gear and lion’s paws give way to Triton’s fin-clad daughters.

Each destination has its own mood created by Lighting Designer Patrick Dierson. The foggy London skyline that can be seen from the Darling children’s window soon changes to the mysterious forest where Peter Pan and the Lost Boys live in their tree house. Ariel and Sebastian dive into undersea excursions and Lilo and Stitch cavort surfside surrounded by tropical sunlight and foliage.

The many settings of the show are enhanced by Robert Smith’s scenic design both on and above the ice. For example, Lilo’s Hawaiian home is on the ice, while Stitch’s alien planet is depicted above it, creating a multidimensional feel. Captain Hook’s rollicking crew sails across the ice on an enormous 35-foot pirate ship, and King Triton’s daughters emerge for their music lessons from oversized seashells.
To learn more about Disney On Ice, log onto www.disneyonice.com or visit us on Facebook and YouTube.

How To enter:

-Follow the Glow Baby Family Blog and and answer the question Who does King Triton instruct to keep constant supervision over his daughter Ariel?
-Fan the Glow Baby facebook page and leave a comment on the blog
-Follow on Twitter @lindsayGlowbaby and leave a comment on the blog

This contest will end Monday December 6th.

Activities, Playdates and More – Managing your Busy Family Life

2010-10-18T09:32:00.002-04:00

Managing the many details of family life can often seem more difficult than being an air traffic controller! With my schedule, work, Brett’s schedule and the girls’ schedules to remember along with doctors appointment, dentist appointments and the list goes on; I have had to come up with a number of ways to deal with the inevitable chaos.

1.Menu Planning – By setting aside a small amount of time during the week to menu plan, you can save yourself the hassle of multiple trips to the grocery store by ensuring that all the food you need for the weeks meals and snacks are on hand. It can also save you money as you know what you need and don’t end up buying extra food that may go to waste. It can also help ensure that your family is eating healthy, well-balanced meals instead of choosing whatever is fastest at the last minute.

2.Family Calendar - The use of one master calendar for the whole family is very useful. By having all family members’ schedule in one place can avoid confusion and missed appointments. Your family calendar can not only be used for schedules but also for chores, To Do’s and for leaving notes for other family members. A Family Calendar is an easy way to keep everyone informed about what will be happening on a weekly and monthly basis.

3.Drop the unnecessary – Take a look at your schedule and see if there is anything on it that is not necessary. Is there anything that can be consolidated? A trip to the drugstore can be combined with a trip grocery shopping perhaps? Or perhaps, there is an activity that you have to convince your child to go to that can be eliminated. Are there any tasks that can be delegated to someone else? If you can cut corners with your chores and To Do’s than do it! Our family has invested in a cleaning service twice a month for those extra chores so that I can use this time more wisely on the girls or on work. It is definitely worth it!

4.Ask for HELP – There are a number of ways one can find help with the daily grind whether or not you have family around to help you. Some ways to do this is:
-Carpool/share drop offs pick ups – Find someone at your child’s school who can share pickup and drop off responsibilities. It may only save you 20 minutes at a time but this quickly adds up.
-Share caregiving – Another way to find help is to share caregiving with another parent as well. One day you can pick up their child and have them over for lunch and a playdate in the afternoon. Then you switch.
-Drop off centres – There a number of parent relief centres in Toronto run by the Ontario Early Years Centres. You can drop your child off with them for a few hours to get a break or have time to run errands. Do some research where you live to see if there are any options available to you. While the OEYC drops offs are free, there may also be paid options available as well.

5.Assign tasks to certain days – One of things I struggle with daily is the urge to procrastinate. To combat these urges I find that when faced with an overwhelming to do list (which I often have), it is helpful to assign one or two tasks to each day. For instance, I would assign Tuesday and Thursday to be laundry day. My main focus would be laundry for these days. By doing this, it helps me stay on track and focused and keeps me from being derailed by the enormity of all that must get done.

I welcome any tips you may have for juggling your busy weeks. Comments can be left on our blog post http://www.glowbabyfamily.blogspot.com

Mickie & Minnie are coming to Town!!!

2010-10-15T09:34:00.003-04:00

This year both Juliet and Ainsley are old enough for us to take them to a show around Christmas time. Last year we took Ainsley to Disney on Ice, Princess and she LOVED it. From start to finish she was mesmerized. We are super excited that we can take both girls this year and can't wait to see Juliet's reaction.

This year we have chosen Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie’s Magical Journey. The website www.disneyonice.com has a sneak peek of what to expect at the show and the girls are already excited and watch it over and over! This show is filled with favorite Disney friends who the girls love. They will get to see Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse and visit the enchanting worlds of Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Ainsley's favourite), The Lion King, Lilo & Stitch and Peter Pan.

The girls will love the music and magic (and will probably dance through the whole show!). We are very excited to visit the Enchanted undersea kingdom with Ariel and Sebastian, a jungle adventure in the African Pride Lands with Simba and Nala, a Hawaiian luau with Lilo and Stitch and a trip to jolly old London with Peter Pan and Tinker Bell.

I am so excited to be able to share this with the kids. I love taking them on adventures and giving them new experiences and I know this show will be a hit.

Tickets go on sale Monday, October 18th! If you are looking for a family friendly event to take your children to or a great gift for grand children, this is a fabulous option!

A Mom's evolution into Author

2010-10-13T09:58:00.003-04:00

I never dreamed I’d be an author.

I never dreamed I’d be a ‘mommy blogger’.

I never dreamed I’d have 4,700 followers on Twitter, one of them being @MarthaStewart (?!)

Actually that’s not strictly true, because I did plan to write a book, but a children’s picture book, you know the kind with 2 sentences per page the length of a single blog post. I still will write this book. In fact I have written this book, but I’m building up to the hard part of illustrating it. If I procrastinate long enough perhaps my daughter will illustrate it for me.

So it’s quite amazing to me that I can now state ‘author’ as my occupation. I’m filling in all sorts of application forms just for the kick of it. Yet even though I can leaf through the pages of the book I (half-)wrote, it still seems like a dream. Someone pinch me, please. Ow, not that hard!

One thing is for certain: I would never have done it on my own. Fate meant that I found the perfect co-author in Erica Wells. We make the perfect partnership not only because we are the best of friends, but because we have such different personalities. Erica is an ideas person, a go-getter and a born saleswoman, oozing with enthusiasm and positivity. I’m the glass half empty type with my feet planted firmly on the ground. I’m a doer who likes to be given tasks. I like to beaver away behind the scenes and shy away from the spotlight. We frequently marvel at how fortunate we are to have forged the perfect partnership for our project.

Most conceptions are enjoyable. And so it was for The Survival Guide for Rookie Moms, albeit a little unorthodox as it took place in a crowded Vancouver Indian restaurant and involved 2 women. When Erica threw the idea of collaborating on a parenting book on the table I was skeptical (as I always am); unsure whether I had it in me to write half a proper, adult, full-length book. But the idea quickly blossomed and I hunkered down and found writing was both an enjoyable and therapeutic process. I had struggled with the first year of motherhood and writing about it helped me a lot.

Having a baby was easily the biggest lifestyle change I have experienced. It was as if I’d entered a whole new world, without a map, guidebook or phrasebook. Luckily, after only a few weeks adrift in ‘Baby World’, I was lucky to find some fellow castaways and soon built up a lifesaving band of ‘Mommy’ friends. Chatting with this group I discovered a whole lot more truthful and helpful info than I did reading the typical baby book. The group was soon discussing the nitty-gritty about how difficult breastfeeding really is and how explosive baby poo can be; sharing tales of vaporized sex drives; admitting that it’s fairly common to pee your pants at this stage postpartum. Quite often it’s not an answer to a problem that brings relief, but simply knowing that what’s happening is normal; other moms have been there. It makes you feel a whole heap better to have a comrade and being able to laugh about your woes with other moms might just save your sanity.

Our aim with The Survival Guide for Rookie Moms was to get these ‘no one told me’ topics out in the open. It’s a practical, helpful and humorous survival guide covering the things you need to know but no one ever tells you. We want to reassure and appeal to moms feeling low or lonely and raise a smile from the reader even through the pain of chafed nipples; regardless of the fact that she can’t sit down except on a doughnut cushion; even when she hasn’t slept more than four hours in the last forty-eight.

Erica and I embarked on this venture way back in September 2006, and it wasn’t until March 2009 that we finally signed contracts with John Wiley & Sons, Canada to start the publishing process, so it was a l-o-n-g pregnancy. The labour was a bit of a marathon too, but finally in April 2010 we were celebrating having a published book on bookstore shelves. We headed straight to the bookstores armed with cameras to take photos of our new arrival. I can’t describe the feeling of holding your own book in your hands for the first time.

Lorraine Regel is the co-author of The Survival Guide for Rookie Moms, now available in bookstores across Canada and the US and on Chapters.Indigo.ca, Amazon.ca and Amazon.com
Lorraine and Erica blog at www.survival4moms.com
Join them on facebook
Follow @RookieMommy and @MomSurvival on Twitter

A Mommy's Dilemma

2010-10-09T21:58:00.002-04:00

I find myself, once again, all by myself this weekend. I had to stay in the city today as I was attending a mom2mom sale in Brampton. Brett decided to take the girls up to the cottage to have Thanksgiving dinner with his parents and they will return Monday to have Thanksgiving dinner with my parents.

Now, upon initially hearing his plan, I thought about the time I will have to work, clean the house and do other things I normally do not have time to do. The dilemma is that I miss them! I was actually anxious on Friday before they left. I hate saying goodbye even if for a few days. I've always been this way but have done it millions of times (had a three year long distance relationship with my husband) but it never gets easier.

Brett often tells me to go and take the day off, go out and get a break. What he doesn't understand, and I try and tell him, that when I say I need a break, I don't mean a long break. I just need an hour to get something done and then I want to hang out with the girls. I like having the freedom of popping in and out but like being able to also have the girls around. What can I say, I'm attached.

I really try hard to keep my feelings hidden around the girls so that they won't have anxiety about leaving and I think I do a good job as they love the cottage and although Ainsley did ask me if I could come, she was find with me saying I couldn't.

How many other moms out there have trouble letting their children go and miss them when they are gone, even if it's for a short time? Am I alone?

Oh! The Cute things they will do

2010-10-05T09:59:00.002-04:00

Okay, so my title is a takeoff from the Dr. Seuss book Oh! The Places we will go, but this post is all about the adorable things children do when they are young so I thought it was fitting. My youngest, Juliet, is a character. She is a very social and happy child and makes me laugh. She has her quirks like most children and today I wanted to write about her latest which is where she sleeps.

Juliet decided in August while both Brett, my husband, and Ainsley were in England that she would no longer sleep in her crib. One night, she woke up in the middle of the night and I went in to comfort her and put her back to sleep she screamed bloody murder. She then tried to climb out. Hint #1 to mommy that the crib was getting old. So I laid her mattress on the floor and that’s where she spent the remainder of the night. I was hopeful that this was an anomaly as I was in no rush to lose the caged in qualities of the crib but at nap time, the same thing happened and I took the hint. The crib was passé.

Since moving into her toddler bed, Juliet has found other places to sleep. While she does sleep in her bed, she has been exploring other options. We started off not using a gate on her door as for the first few nights she stayed in her room. Then we found her sleeping on a box of diapers in the hallway (I kid you not). The gate went up.

Juliet’s favourite alternative to sleeping on her bed is her pottery barn chair (see picture). Not quite sure why but we often will find her asleep here and move her to her bed. The other night though, she found a new place. My husband was putting Juliet to bed while I put Ainsley down. I finished and realized about 20 minutes later that my husband was still in Juliet’s room. I peaked in and saw him asleep on the floor covered in a blanket, which after speaking with him realized Juliet had put on him. I looked around for Juliet, first searching the bed then the pottery barn chair and could not see her anywhere. I then noticed two little feet dangling off the end of the rocking chair. Juliet had climbed up into the chair and this is where she had fallen asleep after tucking her daddy in.

All in all, we think it’s hilarious that she can and will fall asleep in the oddest of places and we do wonder what will be next. Her closet? The carpet? On top of her toy box? Apparently she isn’t picky.
What adorable things do your kids do?

Mompreneur Spotlight - Petra King Photography

2010-10-01T09:25:00.003-04:00

I believe that photo’s play a very important role in our lives. They have a unique way of lasting much longer than our natural memories.

They also remind us of where we came from, and usually bring with them warm fuzzy feelings inside.
They keep us mindful of how really precious life is.
We just happen to have a keen eye and a good sense of timing to capture those precious moments that you’ll end up treasuring forever.
Whether it be during a pregnancy, the first days or weeks of a newborn’s life or a photographic record of your family together, you might want to try us out.
We’re good at what we do, you won’t be disappointed!

Ajax and Durham Region maternity, newborn, family photographer. Petra King is an on location photographer who specializes in lifestyle photography for maternity,newborns and families.
Petra King Photography is located in Ajax and serves the Durham Region including Pickering,Ajax,Whitby and Oshawa. Petra also serves the GTA, Greater Toronto Area.
Petra offers a variety of custom created items including, custom birth announcements, Christmas cards, leather albums, art gallery wrapped canvas prints, custom image boxes and gift certificates.
If you are in the final months of pregnancy or have just had a baby and for more information on having custom pictures, photographs, portraits of your maternity and pregnancy and or newborn and are located in the Ajax, Durham Region, Toronto or GTA, please feel free to visit Petra King Photography.
I highly recommend to book a newborn session before your baby arrives, to ensure we get a date scheduled for you.
I look forward to working with you!

Petra King Photography
www.petrakingphotography.com
petraking@rogers.com

Back-to-school and the exotic germs it brings

2010-09-28T09:00:00.000-04:00

Okay, so maybe we don't get exotic illnesses here in Canada. However, I got an email today from my daughters' nursery school informing us that one of the children has Hand, Foot and Mouth disease. Now, I have heard of this virus, really only in passing. I have never seen a child with it or have had it myself. So for me, it is exotic.

When I was in school the only illness that freaked me out wasn't even an illness. It was lice. I had it when I was six and still remember staying up all night having the nits picked out of my hair. I know my mom was traumatized by this as she never let us share any clothes, hair things, pillows etc. again. During Ainsley's first year at nursery school there was an outbreak of panic at the thought of lice in our home. Luckily we avoided it.

Today's email sent that same panic coursing through me. And this time I had no past experience to draw upon. I turned to my parent friends to ask what to look for, how sick my poor kids could get and treatment information. It turns out, this virus is really only exotic to me. Turns out it is fairly common in nursery schools and since it is extremely contagious, small epidemics will break out in classrooms.

So right now I am on the look out for the symptoms of HFMD and am watching my girls a lot more closely than I usually do. If they do get it, I hope it's mild and quick and that the bounce back quickly.

On-going Key debacle

2010-09-14T09:00:00.000-04:00

What is it with children's fascination with keys? It is uncanny the way they know the real keys from the props. We have even given the girls real keys that no longer have a purpose on real key chains and they still prefer ours. Over the past few months, we have had our keys go missing many times.

This fascination started at the beginning of the summer. We were all packed up and ready to leave the house for a playdate when I could not find my keys anywhere! I searched the entire house with no luck. I had no idea where the keys were. I ended up borrowing Brett's key so we could make our playdate but I had pretty much written off ever finding my keys again. That night, I went to file some documents for work and guess what was filed away? My keys! After that I was pretty careful that I would put my keys where little hands could not reach.

My husband, on the other hand, has yet to learn the lesson. Just three days later his keys went missing. We searched the house again top to bottom and he had to take my key for his car. This time the key was found in one of Ainsley's purses. Since then there have been a variety of hiding spots of for the keys. In the mixing bowls in the kitchen, in Ainsley's back-pack and in Brett's shoes. Today, Brett is missing his keys again. He said to me this morning that Juliet had been playing with his keys yesterday and he's actually said to her "Don't play with those Juliet, you will loose them". Yet he didn't take it from her. So it was no surprise to me that this morning, they were no where to be found.

Hopefully we have both learned our lesson to keep our keys out of the reach of little hands.

An Epic Shopping Spree

2010-09-11T20:21:00.009-04:00

I used to be a shopaholic. I loved shopping. I could shop all day everyday and not break a sweat. My feet wouldn't ache and I could keep going except the stores would close. That was the old me. Since being pregnant, my relationship with clothing has been a negative one. Starting with maternity clothing. I hated maternity clothing. I hated how expensive it was and how ill-fitting it was. After having my kids, shopping consisted of sweats and t-shirts. I no longer wore heels but flip flops or running shoes. I didn't bother buying anything nice as after having Ainsley by the time my body would have been back to my pre-pregnancy weight (about 1 year) I got pregnant again with Juliet. It's only been recently that I feel like my body has settled and I am ready to go shopping.

My fashion epiphany happened in the spring of this year. I was invited to two book launches and going through my closet was scary. I had nothing that wasn't worked in by the kids (I won't go into detail but I'm sure you can imagine) or that couldn't double as sleep wear. I posted on facebook asking my friends if they could recommend a good place to shop for a dress. The epiphany came when a friend of mine who knew me pre-baby but hadn't seen me post-baby said "How can you not have anything to wear? You were always so fashionable in school". I was taken aback as I honestly did not remember that once upon a time, people would complement me on my style. This was the moment that I decided that I would make an attempt to embrace my inner-fashionista once again.

So this past week I have been shopping like my life depends on it. I don't mean that I have bought a ton of things and spent a fortune. I have however, taken the time to find truly special items for a great price. I can no longer stomach the thought of spending more than $100 on one item so finding special items on a budget is tough. But they are out there.

I set out to find a pair of ballet flats. I didn't want standard ones though. I wanted ones with some bling. I literally went into every shoe store in Yorkdale and Vaughan Mills (two huge malls) and apart from a pair of shoes at The Bay of all places that cost $250 (not going to happen) I could not find anything! I finally went into my very last store at Vaughan Mills, Winners, when I found them. These Guess shoes were exactly what I was looking for and were meant for me.

They were an acceptable $69 and I love them!

I also found these boots at Winners too for $69.00 as well. For Boots!!

Another score I had this week was at Sears. I always do a walk through Sears especially when they are having a sale. You never know what you are going to find and occasionally you can find a gem for a great price. Last weekend I found these ankle boots for $49!!! They were on sale from $69 and I am so glad I got them. When I visited Sears today they were gone.

I got this necklace at Sears as well on sale for $19.99. It was the last one.

And last but not least, my favourite find of the week is this jacket. I found it at Zellers of all places. I wasn't looking for a jacket and I just stumbled upon it. It was on sale for 25% off and cost $49.00! I still can't believe I got it at zellers.

I would love to hear about any of your Fab Fall finds!

First Day Back at School

2010-09-07T09:58:00.004-04:00

Today is Ainsley's first day back at school and this year Juliet is joining her. Ainsley was super excited to go back. This is her third year at this preschool and she loves her teachers! There are quite a few returning students as well so she still has her friends but the most exciting part was that she gets to show Juliet the ropes.

Juliet was pretty excited too. I don't think she really knew that we were going to school until we pulled up to the building and she recognized it from dropping Ainsley off last year. She then got excited and off the girls went as quick as can be to their classroom. I wasn't sure if Juliet would be ok although last year she never wanted to leave when we were dropping off Ainsley. When I went to say goodbye this morning, she waved and went off and played. Clearly she felt comfortable and was excited to finally get to stay.

I am so glad that the two of them are finally at school together. I think this will be a great year. The two of them are very close and play well together. I look forward to seeing them grow over the next year and make new friends. I am so glad I found a great preschool in our area. It really helps to minimize first day of school anxiety. For me especially!

Back to School Shopping - Part 2

2010-08-30T09:00:00.000-04:00

I am really getting excited about my trip to Buffalo with Ainsley. She is excited but she has yet to experience a real shopping spree. I have gone through her closet this weekend and pulled out clothes that are two small or in rough shape and I have determined which clothes can make the transition into fall and which will be put away for next summer.

As mentioned in my last Back To School post, I have a list for both of us so we have a good idea what we need. Of course, I am sure we will find some cute things that neither of us need but will treat ourselves to it anyways. I haven't been shopping in awhile and I need to get some business type attire. I will be attending more sales, conferences and work related functions this fall so I must have options and sweat pants just don't cut it.

The main goal of this trip is for clothing but I couldn't help but look at bedding on the Target website and I really hope some of these styles are available:

How can I resist? They don't have cute bedding at these prices in Canada!

How to handle the influx of artwork coming home from school

2010-08-23T09:00:00.000-04:00

Getting organized for the new school year is in full swing at our house. For a three and a half year old and a 20 month old (both are going to nursery school) this really only involves buying new clothes for the eldest and some for the youngest and labelling everything! While this is not the full back-to-school prep people of older children go through, there is something we all have in common once school starts and that is answering the question: What do we do with all the artwork?

I don’t know about your kids, but mine are mass producers of artwork. When we do art projects at home, the girls go through pages and pages of drawings and paintings before they are finished. Add to that what they bring home from school and we have a major clutter situation. Some of the artwork is easy to throw in the recycling bin but a lot of it is hard to throw out. Over the past few years of receiving art, I have come up with a few solutions:

1.Use art as art is intended: Frame it!

As we have small children and lots of expenses, when we started decorating our house we found that we had a lot of wall space and no money or inclination to purchase expensive ‘art’. When I was in Grade 4, my parents framed a pastel drawing I had done and to this day it still hangs on my wall. It’s a great keepsake and I am proud that my parents thought it was special enough to frame. When decorating Ainsley’s big girl room, I went through the pile of art we had accumulated and picked out three of her drawings and framed those using inexpensive Ikea frames. I love the look of them and Ainsley is very excited every time I remind her that she drew those pictures. I will do the same for Juliet once we have a collection to choose from. What a great way to boost self-esteem by showing them that what they have created is special.

2.Art as a Gift
To take the framing of art one step further, I have given framed pieces to my parents and in-laws. I find it very hard to shop for them as really, what do you get your parents let alone your in-laws? Whether they hang the art on their wall in the office or at home, it’s a really nice thoughtful gift that is an Original piece of artwork that is priceless. This is a great way to save the art that you don’t want to throw out but at the same time, make room in your house for new art.

3.Art as Fundraiser
This past year at Ainsley’s nursery school we did a fabulous fundraiser for the school using the children’s paintings. Both girls created a painting and it was sent to Acorn Custom Cards, a company which took the art and made cards and placemats. This was a great idea as it provided a fun art activity for the kids, earned money for the co-op school and parents were able to have cards made that showcased their child’s skills and again, the children would get a self-esteem boost by seeing their art used in a new way.

4.Art as wrapping paper and cards
Another great option is to reuse your children’s artwork as wrapping paper and as cards. I love getting home made mother’s day cards and my girls love making cards for others. This is a great use of artwork that would otherwise be thrown out and save you from buying overpriced cards and wrapping paper!

5.The Art Book
This is something I haven’t created yet but have hopes that when the girls get older and start drawing people and animals we can create our own books. I would love to take a bunch of their drawings and work with them to create a story to go along with them. It would be something simple but I love the stories that Ainsley has started telling me about her drawings and think that soon we will be able to start putting them down on paper. What I would do is mount the artwork on scrapbook paper and add the caption below telling the story. To finish off the “art book” we would either insert the scrapbook pages into clear page protectors and put in a scrap book or we could punch holes into the pages and bind with ribbon. I look forward to the opportunity to make our first book by Ainsley.

The other option for this is to not have a story at all and just put together a collection of art and store it in a scrapbook. This is a really nice idea as you could pick a variety of work done over the course of a school year and have a volume for each year.

Back-to-School Shopping Part 1 - My list

2010-08-18T09:00:00.000-04:00

I have started to think about my Back-to-School shopping. Not only do I have to get the girls ready for school, but I have to think about what I will need for some of the business events I will be going to in the fall as well as our trip to Cuba in December. Late August is the perfect time to prepare for Cuba as there will be a lot of summer clothes on sale. I haven't done any real shopping for myself in a long time and am really looking forward to it. I will be heading to Buffalo and this year Ainsley will be coming along to shop.

I won't be able to make this trip until early September. I wish I could go sooner but with Ainsley's trip to England, followed by my husband's business trip the only day we could go with my mom and have Brett babysit Juliet was in September before Labour Day weekend.

Ainsley is super excited to be coming with as she loves to shop. We have started our list for this trip to keep us focused so we make sure that we get everything we need.

So far our list includes:

Mommy
-Laptop Bag
-Purse
-Tankinis
-dress clothes

Ainsley
-pants
-sweaters
-dresses
-skirts
-tights
-shoes

This is what we have so far and I'm sure as we get closer there will be other things we think of. Especially since we are heading to Target which I love! I have already been on their website to check out what they have and I can't wait. I wish Target would head North to Canada.

My latest project

2010-08-16T09:00:00.000-04:00

I finally found some time this week to finish two beading projects I had started a few weeks ago and thought I would share the finished results. I created a necklace and earring set and a charm bracelet. I will probably add make some earrings to match the bracelet but I will have to find some time for that!

My Fabulous 33rd Birthday!

2010-08-13T09:00:00.001-04:00

It's almost been a month since my fabulous birthday outing with my husband. I have been meaning to post about it for weeks and I have finally found the time to download the pics and talk about our day. I had mentioned in passing that my dream birthday would include lunch and a couples massage and I was pleasantly surprised to be heading out of town.

My parents took the girls for the day and Brett and I set out for our day at the spa. We travelled up North to the Millcroft Inn and Spa in Caledon, Ontario. It was gorgeously nestled in nature and welcoming quiet.

We arrived and checked into the spa a little bit early and had time to read and relax before our couples massage. We both had a wonderful 50 minute massage and it was over way too soon. Totally could have gone for twice that time. We then spent some time by the outdoor pool. I was in heaven!

We headed over for a late lunch in the restaurant overlooking the water. I was lovely. The weather was perfect and the surroundings were very relaxing.

We kicked off our lunch with some champagne. Why not? We were celebrating finally getting a day just the two of us. We ended our lunch with the most delicious cheese plate EVER!! We had to order another one.

After lunch we took a walk around the grounds and then headed back to the pool. It was fabulous just to sit by the pool for 2 hours and read. What a wonderful day. There was nothing else I would have wanted to do for my birthday. I think I would like to make this an annual birthday present!

I miss you! Come home!

2010-08-11T09:00:00.001-04:00

My week sans husband and eldest child is coming to an end. They will be back Thursday after dinner and while I have gotten tons done (it's actually quite amazing how much I can do with only one child) I am starting to really miss them.

I miss hearing Ainsley's stories about her day and hanging out with her and playing barbies or making jewellery. I miss my husband as he is my sounding board about business and life. It is a bit odd to not have his input on things.

I am glad that this separation is almost over. It's tough not having two of your best friends around.

Come home already!!!!

Giselle Bundchen sticks her foot in her mouth

2010-08-09T09:00:00.003-04:00

When I first heard that Giselle Bundchen had stated that there should be a law forcing moms to breastfeed their kids for 6 months, I thought it was a joke. I thought, that can't be right. What a ridiculous statement. Well, the joke was on me as she did in fact say this. And the kicker is apparently she only breastfed for 3 weeks. So I guess she should be arrested?

Where do I start with this unfair and ridiculous statement! To pass a law telling women what they can or cannot do with their body is something I don't agree with. When it comes to breastfeeding, there is enough guilt projected onto moms from nurses, friends, family and other moms that adding the government into the mix is just ridiculous. Obviously someone didn't think before she spoke.

I breastfed both my girls for just under a year. I was fully prepared to breastfeed my first baby. The idea of formula never even entered my mind. I was blissfully unaware of the difficulties some women have with breastfeeding and I found out the hard way that I would be one of these women. I persevered through a lot of stress and emotions but was lucky enough to end up with a positive breastfeeding experience. However, I still remember how difficult it was at the beginning while I was waiting for my milk to come in and Ainsley kept dropping weight.

I know a number of moms who had even more difficult experiences and were not able to breastfeed. I have a friend who's failure at breastfeeding affected her ability to bond with her baby and added to her post-partum depression. Statements like the one Gisele made just adds to the idea that you are not a good mom unless you breastfeed your baby. Your goal as a mom is to keep your baby healthy and do what's best for him or her. If that means formula because you are struggling with breastfeeding, your baby is not latching or for any other reason, that should be ok.

Every woman should have the individual right to do what's best for them and their baby. You will never know what another mom's situation is as you are not living their life. It is so important for moms to be supportive of one another as being a mom is tough. We have to stop beating each other up about the choices we make and realize the only choices we need to be worried about are our own.

I would love to hear your thoughts on Giselle's statement.

Productive Day

2010-08-06T21:38:00.002-04:00

I really dreaded Brett leaving me with Juliet for his trip. Not because I don't like hanging out with her, but I really wondered how I would juggle looking after her, the business and all the household chores without him. Not to mention my parents are also out of town so I have limited babysitting options.

Well, I am super impressed with myself today. I wish Brett was here only to show him how much I got done today. Juliet and I woke up just after 7am, had breakfast and cleaned up. Then I cleaned our bathroom. Then we went out and bought diaper genie refills (there has got to be an alternative as these are so expensive) and bought Juliet new shoes. We then went to the park and had lunch.

Got home and Juliet went straight to bed as she was exhausted. I worked for two hours straight. Filled orders, answered emails and even made some sales calls. When Juliet woke up we headed to the bead store to get supplies for my new hobby (see previous post) and then we went grocery shopping.

We got home. Put away the groceries and I tidied up the kitchen. Then we had dinner, I gave Juliet a bath, put away two baskets of clean laundry, put in another load of laundry, fed Winnie our rabbit, emptied all the garbage bins in our house and took it outside. I tidied Ainsley's book shelf (it was a mess) and went through her clothes and put away clothes that were too small. I then repaired a number of books that had been ripped.

I thought that was enough for the day and now I'm blogging, tweeting and watching TV.

My goal is to have the whole house completely clean by the time they get home. I don't know how I found the time today but I hope I can keep this up all week. I am looking forward to a tidy home.

Day 1 as a Single Parent to one Child

2010-08-06T08:52:00.003-04:00

It's wierd. It was definitely quiet last night when Juliet went to bed. I have forgotten how easy it is with just one child. There's no dividing attention. I have less dishes to do, less laundry, less stuff to pack in the diaper bag. There's no fighting over TV or toys. But it's wierd.

When Juliet woke up this morning she went straight to Ainsley's room and said "Ainsley?". She knew that Ainsley was not here and then she said "Daddy?". So I guess I'm not the only one adjusting to this change. Last night I felt a bit lonely without Ainsley and Brett but this morning I'm feeling better. I got an email saying that they had arrived safely and had a good flight (Relief). I think I was anxious about this and am now glad that they are okay. Only 6 more nights to go.

I have a plan for Juliet and I this week. We are going to do all the things that is hard to do with two children like go swimming at the pool. We are going to do a bit of back to school shopping which is great because it can be hard to tell a 3 year old that she won't be getting new shoes right now. We will go to the park, the library and I will get to spoil her a bit which I don't usually do. I am taking this time to focus completely on her and having Mommy and Juliet time.

I will also try and make some headway on tidying the house. It is time to go through the toys and take some to goodwill. This will definitely be easier with Ainsley away as she will often go into the Goodwill book and take toys out to play with. Toys she hasn't played with in ages.

But I miss her. I sometimes still feel like she is a part of me and when she is not around something is missing. I wonder if this will ever change.

My Baby's First Trip

2010-08-05T09:00:00.000-04:00

Ainsley is going on her very first trip on an airplane this week with her dad. Brett's side of the family is having a family reunion in England and he is taking Ainsley to meet them. I thought long and hard about whether or not to join them with Juliet but I knew that it would be a stressful trip with a very active 19 month old and the thought of a 7 hour over night flight with her on my lap gave me serious anxiety. It was a tough decision, but paying thousands of dollars to be stressed out was not worth it. Juliet has never adjusted to change very well and so I felt we would have a better week staying at home in Toronto and spending quality time together. And then we could take the money we would have spent and go on a family vacation later in the year when the flight is much shorter and there is not time change.

Having made this decision not to go was very tough. The longest I have been apart from Ainsley is two nights. It will be tough to be away from her for 7 nights and days, especially since this will be her first airplane ride and she will get to experience some wonderful things for the first time and I won't be there to see her reaction. I love history and would have loved to be there with her to visit her first castle and describe to her what the castle would have been like in the old days. She loves princesses and castles and I think this will be a magical adventure for her. It makes me sad that I will not be there with her for it. At the same time I know I have made the right decision however for my own sanity.

I think she will have a wonderful time with my husband and his family and she is super excited. I look forward to our daily phone calls when she will tell me of her day and how much fun she is having. I also looking forward to spending some alone time with Juliet and giving her my undivided attention. I am thinking of fun and special things to do with her while her sister is away.

Mommy Connections - Sanity Saver for the new mom!!

2010-08-03T09:00:00.001-04:00

Saying that having my first baby was a huge shock is an understatement. I thought I was totally prepared for becoming a mom but I don't think that you can ever be prepared for the life changing event of having a child. I felt lost as times and lonely and isolated. I dreaded the day my husband went back to work and had a lot of conflicting thoughts about my loss of a natural birth (I had an emergency c-section) and my role as a mom.

I had the presence of mind at the time that I needed to get out of the house even thought I knew it would be hard. So I signed up for a new mom and baby class at a centre that unfortunately no longer exists. This was the best decision I have made. By attending this class, my maternity leave was completely changed from one that could have been potentially lonely to one where I made lasting friendships for myself and hopefully for Ainsley.

In this class we talked about everything. And I mean everything. We talked about our disappointment with our births (I was releived to know I was not the only one mourning the loss of the birth we wanted) to whether our husbands were supportive or not. We talked about our fears and anxieties that came with being a new mom and nothing was off limits. When the class ended after 6 weeks we all keep meeting every few weeks to check in with each other. I am still friends with a couple of these moms and it's really neat to see how our children have grown.

As I mentioned, the company that ran this program closed as the owner had her own baby. It was really disappointing to me that this centre was no longer running classes as I would have liked to join such a class again when Juliet was born to meet peers for her. Recently I have come across an organization called Mommy Connections. They have post-natal classes similar to the one I went through. They are new to Toronto but I think that it is fantastic that they are here. I recommend every expecting parent to check them out. Their classes are a great way to meet other new moms to spend your mat leave with and at the same time gain information about your baby and resources available to you.

Mommy Connections is a modernized Post-Natal Program & Social Network featuring 6 weekly sessions of expert presenters. Sessions are designed to enlighten, support and educate, plus give new mom’s a place to go and socialize with other new moms. Topics include fitness, nutrition, safety, infant communication, and more. The first class starts on September 21st at Swansea Town Hall and costs only $60 for a 6 week program. If you know anyone expecting you should let them know about this program.

For more details go to: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Toronto-ON/Mommy-Connections-West-Toronto/116945278352604?ref=sgm&__a=8&ajaxpipe=1 or check out their website www.mommyconnections.ca

The Great Sugar Cookie Debate - To be Organic or not to be

2010-07-30T10:00:00.000-04:00

Ainsley has been at camp this week and the counsellors had planned a great activity. They had baked some sugar cookies and the kids were going to decorate their cookies and then eat them. I thought this would be great fun as Ainsley loves to bake with me and decorate so for her to be able to do this at camp as well was exciting for her.

Then I overheard a parent speaking with the counsellor about the fact that her child only ate organic food and were the sugar cookies organic. Of course they weren't. They were pre-cut ready to bake cookies. This parent expressed her dismay over this and said her child should not eat the cookie and that in fact perhaps this activity should not happen.

Now, when it comes to parents choices about how they raise their children, I try to be open-minded and basically have the philosophy that if it works for you (as long as it doesn't hurt the child) than all the power to you. This was the first time I had encountered a situation in which a parent was enforcing their own beliefs over my child and what she could and couldn't do.

Initially I was angry that this women, because of her personal belief was going to ruin this fun activity for Ainsley. I was really annoyed that another parent was attempting to dictate what Ainsley could or could not do at camp as well as the other children. Especially since the other parents had been telling their children that they would get to decorate cookies that day. So if they were to cancel this, there would be a lot of disappointed children who wouldn't understand.

I had to go and drop Juliet off at camp so as I passed the office I overheard the counsellor speaking with her supervisor and they decided to compromise by doing the activity at the end of the morning so that the child in question could participate but the mom would arrive in time to tell this poor kid he couldn't eat his cookie.

So I thought this was a good compromise, although I did feel badly for the kid who would have to throw out his creation. So my question for everyone is this and I am interested to have opinions from both sides:

Those parents who are organic, how would you have handled non-organic cookies at camp? For parents who aren't, what would you do if an activity had been cancelled becuase of 1 parents belief?

My new hobby

2010-07-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

My parents bought Ainsley a beading kit a few months ago and she has caught the bug! So I thought it would be great to learn how to make beaded jewellery so that she and I could do it together. I like doing crafts and now with etsy I have always thought wouldn't it be great to use my creative craftiness and start an etsy shop. I never had time to do this and I didn't really want to knit or sew which are two skills I can do but aren't passionate about it. So I thought I would take a stab at beading.

So I went and bought a book about beading and Ainsley and I went to the bead store and picked out the beads she wanted. We spent the afternoon creating bracelets and necklaces for her and this is what we made.

She has been wearing them everyday and now asks everyday to do beading with me while Juliet is asleep. There is no way I would bead when Juliet is around as that is a recipe for disaster. Now, this past weekend I had some time to myself so I created a necklace with a clasp and some more sophisticated beads. It was definitely fun to pick out the beads and create a unique necklace. I think I may start an etsy shop after all. This is what I made.

The necklace is made out of 20mm Purple/Pink Agate Coins and 20 mm Grey Agate Coins with 4mm Stone Amethyst Luster Beads. Now on to the next project.

Kobo - A dream for the clutter-phobic

2010-07-24T13:04:00.006-04:00

I love to read. When I was a kid, I used to go to the library and take out 20 books at a time and read them all by their due date 3 weeks later. Yes, they were books like Sweet Valley High and did not take much to read through, but reading was my absolute favorite thing to do. This love of reading has continued through to my adult years, however, I don't exactly have the time that I used to have to read. As a result library trips are in the past. I would probably never be able to be sure that I would finish a book within the allotted borrow time. This being the case, I buy my books.

I am a huge customer of Indigo and buy my books in large lots so I get the free shipping option :). I have many, many unread books that I am dying to read but with my busy life I have to put off. As you can see, my bedside table currently has a pile of books waiting to be read and I have book shelves in the basement filled with must-reads.

For my birthday, my husband was thoughtful enough to purchase a Kobo reader. I had not even thought about getting one to be honest. I am very much a paper person (as you can probably tell by my products) and it had never occurred to me to start reading on a digital reader. I do like the feel of a book in my hands and being able to physically feel my progress. So when I got my new reader, I was a bit skeptical about whether or not I would use it. In fact, Brett started to read a book on it before I had even figured out how to use it.

This weekend, I signed up for a book club and went to purchase a copy of The Birth House by Ami McKay. I originally went to purchase the paper version when I remembered I had the Kobo and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to try it out.

It was very easy to order and download. I then realized what a fantastic alternative the Kobo is for someone like me. It drives me crazy that I have books taking up space all over my house. It is a nice thought that all my books can now be stored on a tiny device to read at my leisure. No more worrying about where to put them. No more dealing with my children ripping pages out of books (yes, this does happen). This will eliminate a great deal of the book clutter in my house which is greatly needed! Now not all the books I want to read are in digital format yet, so I will still get my fix of the traditional reading experience. But in the new format, packing for vacations will be easy and I will have more room for other necessities and my luggage will be that much lighter.

I am very excited to start my first e-book! Did I mention there are accessories???

The Organized Family Calendar

2010-07-12T10:01:00.004-04:00

I am excited to announce the latest product from Glow Baby: The Organized Family Calendar. This calendar is the perfect way to keep track of all family members schedules with its unique design. Including both a monthly view and weekly views, this calendar is a wall calendar and planner all in one. Please visit www.glowbaby.ca to pre-order. Take advantage of our 25% off pre-order special with shipping scheduled for September 2010.

Calendar details include:

• 12 month calendar runs from January 2011 through December 2011
• Unique and stylish design includes both a 12 month calendar and 52 removable weekly planner pages
• Perfect for tracking each family members' extra curricular activities, work and social schedules
• Weekly planner pages accommodates 6 individual schedules
• Opens to 14" x 21.5”

I can't wait until January so I can finally use this calendar! It will definitely help me keep my mom schedule, work schedule and the girls schedules organized and I desperately need that!

Check out http://www.glowbaby.ca for more information.

First Year Anniversary

2010-07-07T12:52:00.000-04:00

Today is Glow Baby's First Anniversary. A year ago today, I got my first box of Baby's First Journal hot off the press! While a lot of work went on behind the scenes before this moment, I consider this our anniversary as this was the day our journals made it into their first store.

A lot has happened over the past year. Glow Baby products are now being sold in over 80 stores across North America. We have received rave reviews from moms and many press outlets. It's truly amazing to look back at the past year and see how far Glow Baby has come in such a short period of time.

Just in time for our first anniversary we are announcing our latest product the Organized Family Calendar (details below) to help all busy families organize the family schedule.

Thank you to everyone who has offered support and guidance over this first year. Here's to another fantastic year.

AVOIDING THE SUMMER READING SLUMP

2010-07-05T09:00:00.000-04:00

AVOIDING THE SUMMER READING SLUMP by Wendy Toone

Guest contributor and MobiStories.com producer Wendy Toone, offers great tips on how your kids can avoid brain drain when they're out of school. Take a look...

It's Summertime! Catching fireflies, eating dinner on the deck, swimming, no school!!!

What have your kids been doing? Waking up late, lazing around in front of the TV? It's nice to decompress after the school year. For a few days. But now what?? Camps, classes, playdates can fill up the days and keep the kids active and occupied. But my fear is always that their brains will turn to mush by mid-July, leaving them (and in turn, me) frustrated and floundering come mid-September when they're back in school with flabby grey matter that hasn't been exercised in way too long.

According to Kent State Graduate School of Education's Dr. Timothy Rasinski, professor of literacy education, students can lose as much as 3 month's worth of reading level over the summer. Research shows that younger elementary school students rarely make up deficits in reading once they fall behind. Conversely, students who read during the summer could end up 3 months ahead, too.

So, why not be even just a little pro-active in keeping your kids reading. That doesn't mean they need to plow through "War and Peace" by August 24th. Here are just a few FUN ways reading can become part of your family's summer fun activities:

Don't fight TV: Kids insist on watching TV? Try letting them... with the sound off and the closed caption on (sneakyyyyy)

Act it out: Get the whole family in the act and tackle one of the classics as a play. How fun is "Charlotte's Web" when every family member plays a different character and reads aloud...don't forget to speak in accents and voices, use arm motions, whatever to have FUN.

Campfire stories: The art of storytelling is the original 'reading' before the printed page.... Everything sounds good around a fire - family memories, ghost stories, or fairy tales can captivate kids. Try a "make-it-up" story where everyone adds just one line at a time."

Discover the classics : Treasuries of classic literature is available for even younger readers that may not be ready for the "real" version. Advanced readers can expand their world with the likes of Jules Verne and Mark Twain in addition to Stephenie Meyer and JK Rowling!

Log reading hours in a Read-A-Thon : Several non-profit groups such as Reading Is Fundamental and PBS Kids have read-a-thons that can be found on the web. Great goal-setting activity for the summer as well!

Use Your Local Library!! So many summer programs are available for all ages/reading levels. Story/song time for toddlers, book clubs for tweens and teens...And they're FREE!

Organize a Book Swap: Get together with friends and neighbors to exchange previously read books. This allows the kids to read the latest titles (not always available at the library) while you save $$.

Get your kids excited about reading this summer by getting them excited about stories in new ways to keep them from suffering the "Summer Reading Slump."

Wendy Toone is a child expert, having owned and operated a leading children's fitness center and now produces MobiStories, Digital Books for KidsTM. She is a cableAce-award winning television producer and has worked on hundreds of television commercials as a Production Manager after spending a decade onstage as a professional dancer. Wendy's two children have been inspirational in the creation of MobiStories.

To download a free digital book for your PC visit MobiStories.com, click on Summer (in the Ages 2 - 4 category) add it to the cart and Michelle Obama then enter the code SUM0710 in the Coupon Code Box. Here's a How To video for reference as well.

To purchase more stories, visit Mobistories on iTunes.

Friends

2010-06-24T09:23:00.002-04:00

I was listing to CBC the other day and they were doing a program on friends. They were talking about how there is no protocal when dumping a friend like there is when dumping a partner. It got me thinking about how true this is and then I started to wonder why this is. Some friends are in your life longer than any relationship but when it ends, there is no ceremony or ritual ending.

I have had a few friendships end over the years, some by my own decision, some that just slipped away and one or two that I have no idea what happened. After listening to this program, I started thinking about the ex-friend who just disappeared out of my life. I can pin-point when it happened as it was totally abrupt. We were friends (as far as I knew) one day and then I had Ainsley. I sent emails with my announcement to this friends, called her, left messages but nothing. Not one word of congratulations, no visit, nothing. I was quite hurt at the time especially since I had thought we were good friends and had been for 15 years but something about me becoming a mom obviously changed our relationship significantly. I still don't know how this changed things and I will probably never know.

So, what I am wondering is how many people had friendships that changed when you had a baby? Were you able to make new friends with other new moms?

While I lost one or two friends, I have made new friends once becoming a mom. Some great friends who I have gone to when things are really tough and they understand completely and are usually going through the same things. I guess only time will tell who your true friends are.

My Little Dancing Queen

2010-06-18T14:02:00.002-04:00

As Juliet gets older her personality emerges more and more. Even as a baby she has always liked music. When she was really small, I could almost always be able to settle her cries by singing to her. She is almost 18 months now and over the past few months she has begun to dance and has been adding to her dances moves daily.

She is hilarious! Anytime she hears music (it doesn't matter what kind) she gets up and dances. When we walk in the mall, she will stop at the entrance of each store that is playing music and dance. When we drop Ainsley off at school in the morning and Oh Canada! comes over the PA she dances. We have regular dance parties in our house while listing to a fabulous Putomayo CD. She will also dance to my singing and her favourite song is from Sleeping Beauty. The one that goes "I know you, I've danced with you once upon a dream". Juliet will even sing I know over and over again herself.

It doesn't matter how short the music clip is or where its coming from, when she hears a note of music she must dance! I absolutely encourage her love of music and dancing and I hope that she never looses her enthusiasm.

Neighbourhood Hunt

2010-06-12T13:45:00.002-04:00

My husband and I are currently exploring neighbourhoods in the Toronto and its surrounding suburbs as we are thinking of moving from our downtown Toronto house. Our neighbourhood is aging and there are not many kids living near us for the girls to play with. Add into the mix the closure of our local elementary school, very few childcare options and a busy neighbourhood we have decided to look elsewhere.

We have our wish list and are really hoping to find a neighbourhood that will meet all our needs. Not only do we have a neighbourhood wish list, but we also have a house wish list. We bought our current house before we had kids so we had no idea what would work and what would drive us nuts once the kids came and now we have many things that drive us nuts! Add into the mix, Glow Baby which has turned our dining room into an office and we are bursting at the seams.

Our neighbourhood wish list top 5:

1. LOTS OF KIDS!!
2. Good schools
3. Family infrastructure
4. Parks nearby (not a 30 min walk :>)
5. Quiet street

Our Home wish list top 5:

1. Family room on main floor that I can see from the Kitchen (those with young children know why this is number 1)
2. Backyard that can be seen from the kitchen
3. fourth bedroom or office (I want my dining room back!!!)
4. Two bathrooms upstairs (I refuse to share a bathroom with two teenage girls)
5. finished basement

I don't think our wish lists are too much. I think that what we want is out there. Now to go and find it...

If anyone loves their neighbourhood, I would love to hear about it!!

Remembering Roo

2010-06-04T16:09:00.003-04:00

We've had a tough week over here. We've all been sick with colds and our poor little bunny Roo has been very sick. This morning we got up and Roo was in a really bad way. We took him to the vet where it was decided that the best thing to do was to put him to sleep. He was no longer able to eat or drink on his own.

We rescued Roo from a rabbit shelter 6 years ago. We don't know how old he was when we got him but the vets estimated he was 2. He had been mistreated by his former male owner and so when we was adopted by us he was very attached to me and was not so keen on Brett. He was very cute. He would sit in my lap and we actually had naps together. He loved to snuggle in our bed with us. We got him as a companion to Winnie and after initally hating each other, they bonded and loved each other.

Roo will be missed. He was a very sweet bunny and was loved by both his bunny partner and his human friends.

RIP Roo June 4, 2010.

Sleep - The Neverending Battle

2010-05-26T10:48:00.003-04:00

This past long weekend, we took the girls up to the cottage. Sleeping arrangements can often be tricky as there are not always enough rooms for guests. So my husband decided we should let the girls share a room for the very first time. After I recovered from my heart attack, I reluctantly agreed to try it and see.

Let me explain why I was sceptical. My girls are 3 and 17 months olds. Ainsley is very good with sleeping. She is a deep sleeper and will stay in bed when it is bed time. She has always been a good sleep and when we did have to sleep train, she got the picture quickly. Juliet, on the other hand, is a very light sleeper and has fought going to bed almost every single night since she was born. She does not sit still and she has never slept in a bed before. In my opinion sharing a room for the first time in a new location was a bad idea but I was willing to be proven wrong.

Well, the first night Ainsley went to bed ok. We initially tried to put Juliet in the pack and play but she screamed in horror. So we piled some mattresses up next to her bed in case she rolled off (she is a very active sleeper), gave her some milk during which time she feel asleep. The girls slept peacfully for most of the night. I went in to check on them during the night a few times. The first time Juliet had rolled off the bed onto the mattresses and was sleeping there (so cute) but I moved her back onto the bed. She did not fall off again but each time I checked on her she was in a completely different position in the bed.

The 2nd night we tried this, things did not go smoothly. Juliet would not lie down in the bed. Everytime we tried she would get up and fool around. Poor Ainsley was so tired but Juliet kept climbing into Ainsley's bed and jumping on her. I ended up watching a bit of TV with Juliet and let her fall asleep and then put her into bed. But then Ainsley woke up in the middle of the night and Brett was worried she would wake Juliet up so he ended up sleeping on the mattress that was on the floor in between the girls.

So all in all, not a success. I'm not quite sure what we will do the next time we are up at the cottage but I am glad to be home where the girls are in seperate bedrooms and Juliet is in a crib that she cannot escape from. Yet.

My new love

2010-05-12T20:57:00.003-04:00

I hate cleaning. Cleaning is at the bottom of my to do list. I find it incredibly boring and will procrastinate in any way to avoid it. I don't mind folding laundry or doing dishes but getting a mop and pail out or a vacuum causes me physical pain.

I have however, recently found something that actually makes me want to clean. I found the Shark Steam Pocket Mop through the PTPA. Actually, the mop and "Baby's First Journal" have been on TV together. It was through our first television appearance on Canada AM that I was introduced to this product. I thought it looked neat and the premise was interesting. I forgot about it (as cleaning is not something I usually wax poetic about or start googling).

But, as Baby's First Journal got more press, with the Shark steam Pocket Mop, this neat gadget started to stick. That added to the increasing mess created by daughters during meal time and my increased irritation with constantly sticky floors, I mentioned it to my husband.

He scoffed at me and said I should use the good old mop and bucket. I explained to him the logistics of filling a bucket full of water and soap and lugging it and the mop upstairs with a 3 year old demanding to help me and a 17 month old wanting to play in the dirty mop water. I described scenarios including one with Juliet tipping over the bucket and thus flooding our kitchen. Mop and bucket, not such a good idea.

Finally, for Mother's Day, I got my Shark Steam Pocket Mop. Most people would probably think I might have been upset by this gift. That to give a mom something to clean, bake or complete chores with just doesn't cut it. I have to admit though, I had a smile on my face and a sigh of relief for my husband when I saw my gift. And let me tell you it did not disappoint.

I wasn't sure initially if this product would be fiddly or annoying or if it would work at all. I wondered if the marketing had gotten to me but I just had to try it. I LOVE it. It is quick, easy, no fuss, no muss and is compact. It tucks away and most importantly it cleans my floors. My girls are seriously messy eaters and Juliet usually has to change clothing 3 times a day due to eating disasters. So finding something that makes cleaning easy and even fun is fantastic!!!

I actually like to clean the floor now. It's kind of fun. It's also nice to have clean floors all-the-time!!! Thank you to my husband who listened to me and took a chance and bought me this mop for Mother's Day.

Mother's Day Laugh

2010-05-09T15:48:00.001-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to All My Favourite Mums / Grand-MumsHave a great Day, you deserve it!!

WHY GOD MADE MUMS

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the sticky tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mum just the same like he made me. He just used biggerparts

What ingredients are mothers made of ?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in
the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from mens' bones. Then they mostly use
string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other Mum?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's Mums like me.

What kind of little girl was your Mum?
1. My Mum has always been my Mum and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be prettybossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did Mum need to know about Dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he getdrunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your Mum marry your Dad?
1. My Dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mum eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My Grandma says that Mum didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mum doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because Dad's such anidiot.
2. Mum. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under thebed.
3. I guess Mum is, but only because she has a lot more to do than Dad.

What's the difference between Mums & Dads?
1. Mums work at work and work at home and Dads just go to work at work.
2. Mums know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but Mums have all the real power 'cause
that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
4. Mums have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your Mum do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't have spare time.
2. To hear her talk, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your Mum perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of
plastic surgery.
2. You know, her hair. I'd die it, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your Mum, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get ridof that.
2. I'd make my Mum smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did
it and not me.
3. I would like her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back ofher head.

I finally have time to myself and I don't know what to do

2010-04-24T13:15:00.004-04:00

This weekend is momentous. For the first time in over 18 months, I am in my house ALONE. Ainsley and Brett have headed up to the cottage for the night and my parents have taken Juliet to sleepover. I am completely alone in my house and I at a bit of a loss. I have forgotten what it feels like to have time all to myself.

I did not plan ahead for this. My husband didn't make his decision to go up to the cottage until yesterday and so I did not make any plans for a night alone. So now I am trying to decide what to do. I have started a spring cleaning of the girls toys and am tidying up things that I normally don't get to during my normal week. I'm all caught up on work (amazingly) so I can actually do something fun.

I have decided that tonight I will spend on my own. I will have no one to answer to, no chores to do, no pressure. I am so looking forward to this! I am going to head to Blockbuster, rent a chick flick, get some Japanese Take-Out and relax. I will probably have a glass or two of wine. I will not think about what else I could do (marketing for the business, accounting, laundry, etc.) but I will do all the things that I normally don't have time to do. Have a bath, read a book, watch a movie without interruption. Bliss!!!

Tomorrow I will come back to the real world and head to Vaughan Mills to get something to wear to two book launches I'm heading to in May and I will do our weekly grocery shopping. But for tonight, Tonight is Me Night!

Balancing Working from home and Motherhood – Not an easy Task

2010-04-21T09:26:00.000-04:00

The decision to go back to work after having your first child is an agonizing one. Most moms I have spoken with have gone back to work with a heavy heart and hope that one day they won’t feel guilty about leaving their child with someone else all day. When my eldest was one I struggled with this decision and ultimately decided to quit my permanent job. I was lucky enough to find a consulting job with a previous employer and so I was able to work from home. It was the best of both worlds. I had an income coming in, I was challenged and most importantly I got to spend oodles of time with Ainsley. It was fairly easy to juggle my work and her needs.

When I began looking at the options after my second daughter Juliet was born, it was a different world. The company I had consulted for no longer had room in their budget for me so I was faced with either going back to work full-time or I had to find another solution. I had toyed with the idea of starting my own business but had never really had a reason to take the leap. The thought of being my own boss and being able to be here for my children was what ultimately motivated me to start Glow Baby. I thought that running my own business would be similar to working as a consultant except that I could choose what I wanted to work on and every high point would be because of my efforts.

Glow Baby has been in business for 9 months now and my expectations were definitely wrong on some levels but correct in other ways. It takes a lot of work to get a business up and running. When you are a sole proprietor you are the accounting department, the marketing department, the sales department, shipping department and the administrator to name a few. In my case I am also the product developer. I love my business. I love what I have created and I have a million ideas in my head about the direction I want my company to go. I do not however, have enough time.

It was definitely easier to balance my business needs and my daughters’ needs at the early stages of the business. Ainsley was in nursery school for 4 mornings a week and Juliet would nap in the morning so I could get work done. I would then pick Ainsley up from school we would all have lunch and then both girls would have their afternoon nap. I would seize this opportunity to work again. When the girls woke up we would have snack and then play until dinner time and then we would have family time until bedtime. I would then pick up working again after they went to bed. It was definitely busy, but I had blocks of time to devote to my work.

As Juliet grew older, she dropped her morning nap which meant that I do not have time in the morning anymore for the business. As a result, I have found a wonderful caregiver who is able to come in two mornings a week to play with Juliet so I can work. There are days when I struggle with the fact that I am not with her on these mornings and I do get jealous when they go out and have fun, but I keep telling myself that the total time I am missing each week is 6 hours. If I was working in an office I would be missing her at least 9 hours a day if not more.

Another challenge I have been faced with as the girls get older is that Ainsley has now dropped her afternoon nap. At first this was very frustrating as there went two hours of work time, but we now have a routine. I will let Ainsley watch an hour of TV (and yes I felt guilty and still do about this) but then she will come into my office/dining room and do her own “work”. She will draw next to me as I work and has learned that when mommy is on the phone she needs to be quiet. It’s actually very cute and I have a huge art collection now of Ainsley originals. Ainsley loves to see what I am working on and I love to see what she works on and we get to do our work together.

There are days when I miss the girls as I have to devote more time to what is going on in the business but overall when really looking at the amount of time I do get to spend with them, I am very lucky. I got to see their first steps, hear their first words and I get to be there to develop the people they are going to be. As much work as the business can be, I am in control of the pace of our growth and can keep it slow and steady while the girls are young and build a solid foundation. Once the girls start full-time school I can take what I have already accomplished and run with it. I hope that the girls remember the time we spend together happily and I hope that they can see what I have done with my business and realize that they too can do anything they want if they only put their minds to it.

Life has gotten way too busy

2010-04-13T10:49:00.003-04:00

So, I'm sure you've noticed that I have not posted in awhile. Every day I say today is the day I will post on my blog but then life gets in the way and it's pushed down the priority list. The girls are super busy these days and with the beautiful weather we are outside a lot and there is no way I am skilled enough to write a blog post on my iphone.

Business has also been super busy. We have gotten some great press coverage lately, and there is a bunch more scheduled for later this month. I will definitley post these as they come in.

Our latest coverage was done by the Family Magazine Group out in California.

Stroller Thieves

2010-03-25T10:01:00.000-04:00

The news making the headlines in Toronto has recently been around stroller thieves. Believe it or not, peoples strollers have been stollen from their front porches.

I am one of those trusting people who leaves their stroller out on the front porch. I figure, my stroller is so beaten up that no one would want it. With the recent news I have kept my stroller locked away just in case. Especially since it is a Phil and Ted which is the same make as the stroller stollen.

Do you keep their strollers on their front porch? Do you lock your stroller up?

Is stroller theft covered under house insurance????

Is it really worth it to spend $500+ on your stroller? Are they getting to expensive?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Toronto Hospitals push for breastfeeding

2010-03-23T10:00:00.003-04:00

I am all for breastfeeding. I breastfed both my girls for at least 10 months of each of their lives. I am happy that I was able to have successful breastfeeding relationships with both of them. However, they were not easy to establish.

I have been reading the recent articles about the push in Toronto hospitals for breastfeeding as statistics say that most new moms are not breastfeeding their babies exclusively 6 months after their child's birth. While I think that breastfeeding should be encouraged in the hospital and that breastfeeding clinics are wonderful if they are able to provide support to moms; what I find objectionable is the militant approach suggested by some doctors to stop providing formula in the hospital.

I truly believe that if formula had not been available to me with my daughters, instead of a successful breastfeeding relationship, I would have given up and not had one at all. I had a c-section with Ainsley after 12 hours of labour and pushing and oodles of drugs. My milk did not come in for 4 days. Ainsley was a hungry baby and started losing weight. She had lost 10% of her weight before the hospital finally suggested I supplement with formula.

I had never considered formula at all and took it for granted that I would breastfeed. However, my daughter was hungry, losing weight and I felt like a failure. The supplementation with formula bought my body the time to catch up and produce milk. I found the whole breastfeeding process up to this point very stressful and to be able to feed my child and satisfy her hunger with formula enabled me to relax and take the time to learn to breastfeed properly.

I feel uncomfortable with nurses and doctors taking formula out of the equation all together as it is sometimes necessary. It can be helpful and ultimately, the health of your baby is most important. Ironically, after the initial 2 weeks of formula Ainsley drank, she refused to drink formula after that and we exclusively breast fed until we started solids. With Juliet, I gave her one bottle of formula a day while breastfeeding the remaining feeds. This one bottle gave me a little break and I breastfed her until 11 1/2 months.

Breastfeeding was not easy for me when I started and it was discouraging at times. There is a lot of pressure on moms to get it right. I think some of this pressure needs to be taken off of moms and it should be ok to tell them that breastfeeding is not always easy, you sometimes have to work for it, but that it is ok if you struggle because there is support out there. The key is education and making the support available.

I welcome your comments about your own experiences with breastfeeding as almost every mom I know has had some sort of difficulty.

Juliet's March Break Adventure

2010-03-19T15:02:00.006-04:00

Well, I have been holding off posting this entry as I have not been able to find the cable that allows me t download my pics from my cell phone. My husband finally found it so I can finally share Juliet's big adventure!

On Tuesday Juliet and I dropped Ainsley off at March break camp and we headed downtown to the CN Tower. I have not been there since I was a little girl and I have actually never been up the tower. I was very excited to be invited to join the Mom Central Canada ladies and their children for a morning at the CN Tower where we got to meet DORA!!!

We got to the Tower and meet all the ladies and very excited children. We were ushered into a room where we all patiently waited to meet Dora. Juliet of course had no idea what was happening but as soon as Dora entered the room she was SUPER excited!! When it was her time to take her picture with Dora she stole the show. She danced with Dora, played coy, hugged Dora and altogether had a fantastic time.

This whole event was organized by Mega Brands which includes the Mega Blocks brand. Thanks to them after meeting Dora we were able to head up into the Tower. Juliet really enjoyed looking out over the city (her favorite past time at home is to look out the window) and we even visited the glass floor which freaked me out!

Mega Brands was nice enough to send us home with a goody bag including their Mega Blocks which have been thoroughly enjoyed by both my girls along with Dora the mermaid.

Thanks again to Mom Central and Mega Brands for organizing this wonderful outing for the moms and their children.

Ainsley's Birthday Cake

2010-03-10T09:45:00.004-05:00

My eldest just had her third birthday party on the weekend. I can't believe that she is three years old already! Where is the time going?

This year, Ainsley helped me bake her own cake. So cute!! Really, she just wanted to lick the bowl but we had fun together. Here we are making the cake batter. I think she is already having a taste.

Making a cake is serious business so Ainsley went to change into her Princess dress.

Ainsley is here getting ready to help me put the icing on the cake.

And here is the finished cake, complete with the requested "sparkles".