The Best Princess Party EVER!

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!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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.