Getting little ones off the screens and outside can be a big challenge to parents these days. As much as you restrict them, the screens are there in the distance, beckoning to you with the lure of a little quiet time… whether it’s a television screen, a tablet or a smart phone – they are guaranteed to engage your kid in a little brain play and give you some much needed down time. It’s tempting. My family has replaced endless hours on a screen with some pretty major activity: We now have a Springfree Trampoline in our backyard.

It was time to grow up a little in our backyard. The play structure that we had for nine years provided my kids with endless hours of swinging, climbing and sliding, but my kids outgrew it a little and it was time to say goodbye and to pass it on to another family who could enjoy it as much as we did.

When I told friends that we were getting a trampoline, some weren’t very excited and had no issues telling me that they were dangerous and to expect injuries. That didn’t stop me, the fun and the activity far outweighs the possibility of injuries. Kids can get injured climbing trees, walking on grass, getting out of bed… I’m not too worried. It also helps that Springfree is the world’s safest trampoline. Click here to read more about why.

Blessed be the day that this trampoline was installed in our backyard. My kids have been jumping on it since day one. Getting sweaty, laughing, flipping, playing basketball – it has been so fun. And hello, less screen time.

I know that’s probably the best thing about the trampoline, but let me be a bit selfish here, the best part about this trampoline is that I can use it too. I don’t know about you, but I’m always looking for ways to get myself moving. I like to walk a lot and yoga is my jam but it’s really great to know that just 10 minutes of jumping on a trampoline is the cardio equivalent to a 30-minute jog! A 30-minute jog! I don’t enjoy running, especially not in one spot on a treadmill and my knees don’t love running on city sidewalks but boy do I love jumping. WIN!

Here’s another perk: You may or may not know that my kids have always been pretty horrible sleepers. Since this trampoline has been in our backyard – they have gone to sleep more quickly and have slept more soundly. Now that I think about it, maybe they just haven’t been active enough over the years? Maybe they just NEED SO MUCH ACTIVITY that it was never possible to achieve on a daily basis until we got this trampoline? That’s probably it. I’m going with that.

I am Springfree’s newest fan. I love it and I’m so glad that we have one in my backyard and that it can be used year round – as long as you clean off the snow in winter. I know you’ll love it too, so, here’s the plan: enter for a chance to win one! We are giving one away and you have until July 28^th to enter. Good luck!

It’s not like my family didn’t go camping. We did! And we also roasted marshmallows in the fire pit but nobody was ever inclined to put a perfectly roasted marshmallow (don’t burn them please!) in between graham crackers with chocolate. Sorry.

On our recent trip to Smugglers’ Notch, it was the first time that I felt that my kids were old enough to not be completed exhausted at the end of a day filled with skiing and so we planned a couple of family outings – no regrets here. I loved every minute of it.

Our first one: S’mores and Snowshoes

I may not like S’mores, but I do love showshoeing and of course, my kids love s’mores – especially since we don’t have them often… ahem, ahem, I’m responsible for the lack. Anyway, we went to the Nordic Center, put snowshoes on (don’t worry you don’t have to bring your own) and off we went. It was really nice for me to share showshoeing with my family as I love doing it so much and since I don’t ski, it was fantastic to do something together PLUS it was their first time so I was excited to see what they thought!

Ready to go!

We trekked into the woods – it was dark already so we had head lamps on (cool, it was my first time) and we ended up at a spot where our guide built a fire, and you guessed it – we made s’mores. My kids probably had about four (big ones) each… I guess they felt that they needed to make up for lost s’mores. They were probably afraid that it would be their last time… maybe the fact that we hadn’t had dinner yet had something to do with it. Anyway, I didn’t mind. We were on holiday and what better setting to have sweets than in the dark woods, by a warm fire?

I had to have one too. I know, I know… But it wasn’t so bad. I was mortified by the woman and child on the trek with us who CHARRED their marshmallows. I’m trying really hard not to judge, you eat your s’mores any way you want to, but I still have to wonder, why? Why not just eat ash? I don’t get it…

Not melty enough… but still yummy, well, it was ok. I haven’t had one since.

We trekked back to the Nordic Centre, took a few pics and called a shuttle (preferred method of transportation at SMUGGS) to take us back to our condo. A trek through the snowy woods before dinner was lovely, and we all slept pretty great that night.

Happy kids = Great vacation

Smuggs was great when my kids were little and also great now that they are a little bit older. It’s a fun vacation spot that my family has enjoyed since my little one started skiing at the age of four. I love how we all enjoy doing different winter activities during our stay but still manage to spend quality time together.

With friendly staff that really LOVE what they do, everyone is just so chill and let me say it – happy. I was really impressed by how much all of our guides really loved working at Smugglers’ Notch which really creates a great place for families to make lasting memories.

Stay tuned to read about our next family adventure at SMUGGS: The Cat Trax Express and the one I’m most excited about: I MADE FIRE!

Recently I was on holiday with my husband and two kidlets and we were having dinner in our hotel restaurant Juniper (the food was AMAZING by the way) and I was colouring with my daughter, as you do, while we were waiting for our food.

Two tables over from us there were two ladies sitting down for a night of cocktails and conversation and one of them came over and surprised me!

“I’m sorry, but I just had to come over and tell you how beautiful you look colouring with your daughter. What a very special moment. Do you mind if I take a picture of this for you? I know us moms rarely if ever take pictures of ourselves with our kids and I thought that you should have this very special moment photographed.”

Wow. She’s not a photographer, just a fellow mom who understands. That moment made my day. And I have to tell you that since then, I’ve been in more pictures and I’m so grateful to this complete stranger but fellow member of the mommy club for approaching us on that very fun evening.

This event has inspired me to do what this lovely lady did for me. I’ll be sure to offer my amateur photography services to capture special moments between parents and kids whenever I can. So thanks to the nice lady from Burlington, Vermont. Your kindness was so appreciated.

Do you have a similar story? Have you done anything to be kind to a fellow mom – complete stranger? I’d love to hear it.

We normally stay in the same large chain hotel every time we visit Burlington on our way to Smugglers’ Notch, but this time I wanted to try something new.

The last time we visited, someone recommended the Hotel Vermont as a great new hotel but when I asked if it was suitable for families she said that she didn’t think so, so I crossed it off my list. Last spring, when I was looking to make my reservations for a weekend stay, I decided to hit Twitter for a recommendation and Hotel Vermont came up. I immediately searched and landed on their website.

What I found was not a hotel that shuns kids but an ultra cool property with a rustic, Vermont feel that not only welcomes kids but caters to them.

I was really excited to try something new and as soon as we walked in I fell in love with this place. Friendly staff and six stories with a real boutique hotel feel, we were immediately taken by it.

Complimentary snacks when we arrived.

Our room was beyond comfortable with inviting bedding for this sleep deprived parent and so many stylish touches. I especially love that you can buy everything you see from the coffee mugs, to the flannel robes. They also have a fantastic Bed Time Menu where you can order anything from a complimentary bedtime story, flannel pjs, a Vermont teddy bear or a hot toddy to help you sleep better.

Adorable and cuddly teddy for little guests.

Some of the awesome decor at the Hotel Vermont!

What I love best about Hotel Vermont:

– You can borrow recycled bikes from Old Spokes Home – and we did!

A lovely bike ride by the lake.

– Each floor has a refreshment station with a basket of fresh fruit where you can get complimentary still or sparkling water and coffee.

– It’s LEED-certified (Green!).

– It has a gorgeous outdoor deck with a fire pit.

– It’s warm, rustic and modern – think sap buckets, tree trunk tables & the fastest free WiFi in Vermont!

– Located across from Lake Champlain.

– They actively promote, use and sell regional/locally made products.

– Farm to table yummy food on site!

I love that there is so much thought put into everything in this hotel. It really is a place for people who love art – both locals and tourists. You really need to watch this video to understand what it’s all about and what to expect.

My daughter, Hotel Vermont’s newest (and possibly youngest) fan: “The best thing is the so [sic] many hiding spots! You can even hide in the shower!”

I also have a secret to share with you: These beds are pretty awesome for jumping on.

Little monkey jumping on the bed.

I’ve already planned my next visit to include yoga on the third floor garden terrace with a view of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks. I’m already packing up the car.

Disclaimer: My family was invited for a complimentary stay at Hotel Vermont. I was not paid for this review, all opinions expressed in the blog are my own. 

Recently there has been some talk about eager new parents travelling with an extra bonus to their fellow passengers. I’m sure you’ve read a story about this somewhere on the great big internet. I know I’ve witnessed some discussions about this a few times on Facebook. But just in case this is the first your hearing of it, I’ll break it down for you:

New parents are taking a flight with their baby/toddler and they are worried about how their baby will behave on the flight and so they – out of the kindness of their hearts – prepare cute little loot bags for their fellow passengers. I’ve heard that they’ve distributed them to just the people around them and have also heard of people distributing these bags to everyone on the plane. The bag is filled with items like ear plugs, candy and/or some kind of chocolate treat. It also includes a little note written on behalf of the baby that basically apologizes for crying on board the flight along with some kind of explanation for it. Something like, “I’m only six months old, this is my first time on a plane, I get upset when my naps and routines are messed with. My ears may hurt on take off and landing and this might make me scream and cry. Please understand and here are some ear plugs for you…” it can even rhyme if the parents are extra keen. Nice right? Not really.

I think it’s pretty sad that new parents feel that they have to explain or even apologize for their baby on a flight. If you are sensitive to people – young or old – and the noises they make maybe you should splurge and sit in first class? Just a thought. We all started out as babies and truth be told, babies cry when they are uncomfortable, upset, tired, etc… they can’t just say, “Hey mom, this flight sucks and I’m feeling kind of crappy.” so they cry. I know adults who can’t handle a flight why do some feel the need to complain when a baby is unhappy on a plane?

Whenever I see a baby on a plane who is crying or not settling down very easily my heart goes out to the parents. It really sucks when you are on display like that. When all you really want to do is to sit back and relax on your flight and you want your baby to be happy. It’s so tiring to travel with or without little ones – the preparation is killer and trust me when I say that nobody wants that crying baby to be quiet and go to sleep more than that baby’s parents.

So next time you’re on a flight and there is a baby on there with you. Give a sympathetic smile to the parent. You can even offer to help if you want to go one step further. Or if you really just can’t take it splurge and fly up front or invest in a pair of ear plugs and eye masks – you’re not helping anyone by shouting at them or shooting them evil looks. Try to remember that it’s just a short time that you’ll have to be subjected to it… you share the planet and you were young once too.

I was recently invited to Lena’s home along with a great group of women to celebrate the holidays and to find out what the hottest toys are from Fisher-Price this year. I jumped at the chance because, as I said, I love a good party and I was excited to hear from one of the most trusted brands for baby toys and baby gear.

Lena has a gorgeous home and it was decorated beautifully for Christmas — one of my favourite times of the year. I absolutely love the sparkle from Christmas tree lights and winter greenery. Not only was Lena a warm and welcoming host, the spread was amazing.

One of my favourite things!

Great food! Great cocktails! Delicious wine! Great conversation! All key ingredients for a successful holiday party.

Don’t mind the shoeless feet, we are Canadian and have no issues taking our shoes off when entering someone’s home. I just wish I had better socks on, next time my socks will wow you.

Fisher-Price has been in the business for over 80 years. The classic Fisher-Price toys always bring up some really lovely childhood memories for me. I especially love the Chatter Telephone as a great gift for a little one (see below for my gift ideas), not only will baby enjoy the toy but it will bring baby’s parents joy and memories!

“Mommy what is this?” Let’s get back to basics and teach our kids how much work it was for us to use a rotary dial!

During our festivities, a lucky person followed hashtag #FPshowroom and won the Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Chair that the lovely Lena is holding.

Each guest left with two Fisher-Price products and most of us are donating these products to families in need. What I love most about the holiday season is giving. This is something I’m trying really hard to instill in my children and I take every chance I get to make people happy.

I could really go for one of these right now.

I had a great time and I thought that this was such a fantastic way for Fisher-Price to show us their great line up of toys and baby gear during the most wonderful time of the year. It was a very casual and FUN evening. I enjoyed great food and I didn’t have to cook or wash any dishes. WIN! I had the chance to reconnect with some ladies that I don’t get to spend time with regularly and I also met a few ladies for the first time. It was a perfect evening and a fabulous holiday party.

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I don’t know about you, but I’m nowhere near finished with my gift purchases this Christmas. If you’ve got a baby on your list this holiday season, here are my top five picks under $50 from Fisher-Price:

1) Chatter Telephone
2) Corn Popper
3) Laugh & Learn Learning Puppy
4) Go Baby Go Poppity Pop Musical Dino  – This one is giggle inducing. My kids LOVED a variation of this toy!
5) Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Chair  – This one is one of the hottest toys this year and flying off the shelves.

Fisher-Price is not only about the toys, they are also a very trusted source for baby gear. If you’re expecting — or someone on your list is — and you’re looking for quality products, here are my top picks:

1) My Little Snugabunny Cradle ‘n Swing
2) 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soother
3) Ocean Wonders Aquarium
4) Infant-to-Toddler Rocker  – There is a pink one and it has owls on it!!!! (Super cute!)
5) Calming Vibrations Cuddle Soother

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Have you finished your holiday shopping? Do you have a toy that brings you great memories from your childhood? I’d love to hear about it.

I really love soup, it’s one of my favourite things. My grandmother always had a pot of soup on the stove and I never turn away a bowl. My kids don’t really enjoy eating it, but that’s slowly changing. I figure the more I make it the more they’ll eat it and actually grow to love it. I mean, what’s not to love?

Caldo Verde is one of my favourites. I grew up eating collard greens and kale and this is a Portuguese classic that is really very easy to make.

Caldo Verde

Ingredients:

10 cups of water
2 garlic cloves, peeled and halved
2 large onions, peeled and quartered
6 medium potatoes, peeled and quartered – this is something that you can play around with. I love potatoes and I like my soup thick, so 6 works for me. You may want to try it with fewer potatoes for a thinner consistency.
1 cube of chicken stock
2 tsp salt
2 Portuguese choriços (Portuguese sausage) sliced – you usually find them as two links of sausage packaged together. It’s up to you whether you use spicy or sweet choriço. I always buy the sweet one as my kids don’t eat spicy food – YET.
2 tbsp of olive oil
4 cups of collards or kale chiffonade  – I usually decide between the two based on what’s available in my garden or what looks fresher at the grocery store.

Choriço, onions and potatoes.

Put the water, garlic, onions, potatoes, choriço and crumbled chicken stock cube in a large pot. Bring it to a boil and then set it to medium heat for 20-30 minutes – until the potatoes are cooked.

I love the smell of this goodness.

While this is all boiling, wash and trim the hard stems off of your collards/kale leaves. Stack them, roll them up tightly and slice them as thin as you can.

Collard chiffonade.

Once your potatoes are cooked, turn the heat off and remove your choriço and set it aside in a bowl. Using a hand blender puree everything in your pot.

One of my fave kitchen appliances.

Once everything is pureed turn the heat back on and bring it to a boil again, add the greens and cook for 10 minutes. Next add your choriço and olive oil. I like to sprinkle freshly ground black pepper in my bowl and of course I always eat it with a side of fresh bread and butter.

YUMS from my house to yours.

This recipe feeds many and it’s a great leftover!

Caldo Verde is the only way that my picky son will eat collards or kale. What’s your favourite soup?

1. Showing off my belly. I strutted my stuff daily. Tight t-shirts, bikinis on the beach, and not to mention the comfort of stretchy waistbands. It was amazing not to have a muffin top.

2. Feeling my baby move was one of the best feelings ever. From little somersaults to sharp kicks. They were all such a miracle and I loved every movement I felt.

3. My nails! They were so strong and didn’t chip once during my pregnancies.

4. The food that I ate without feeling guilty. Nutritionists out there reading this might be shaking their heads right now, but my mom always told me not to ignore my cravings. So even though I ate a healthy diet I really enjoyed chocolate chip cookies dipped in full fat milk — regularly.

5. The not-so-secret feeling that I was creating life. The inner glow that came with that is indescribable. What a big job that was, and what an honour that I was chosen, willing and able to do it.

6. I enjoyed the attention I received. I really like talking to strangers and this really opened up a lot of doors for me. I also had a lot of fun with it. You might think I’m mean but one time a woman asked me if I was having a boy or a girl and I (with the most serious face ever) said to her, “What are you talking about? I’m not pregnant.” She was mortified and I quickly smiled and put her out of her misery. I gave her a hug and let her touch my belly. It was fun.

7. I thoroughly enjoyed prenatal yoga. It was really nice to do something so peaceful with my baby belly. It helped me make a real connection with my mind, body, baby and spirit.

8. I loved being self-employed during my pregnancies. It was so luxurious to be able to have a nap at my desk. Really. Sometimes I was just so tired (it’s hard work making a baby!) that I would just shut my office door and snooze for a little bit. Strangely enough this doesn’t happen now and I’m probably more tired now, but you know, pregnancy let’s you get away with a lot.

9. Which brings me to my next point: Pregnancy let’s you get away with a lot. That’s self explanatory. If you say you’re tired, everyone believes you and they let you rest. You basically rule the school. At least in my house. I say milk it, in the nicest possible way.

10. And how could I forget: not menstruating. No visits from Aunt Flow. FREEDOM! I breastfed as well, and I am so grateful to be one of the lucky ones who doesn’t menstruate while breastfeeding. Really. I went over two years without my period. Heaven.

Pregnancy was amazing for me. Both times. Sure I had some uncomfortable moments, nausea, back pain, bladder issues, it wasn’t all roses, but overall being pregnant is right at the top of my list of the most amazing things to happen in my life.

Did you love pregnancy? What did you love about it?

Back to school is quickly approaching and like most parents, I usually use back to school as a time to buy my kids new shoes. I don’t usually go over the top like some. I don’t buy an entire wardrobe for each kid, but they do each get school supplies (depending on age), a new outfit for the first day and a new pair of shoes.

I’m a fan of quality shoes. Some people may think that it’s not worth spending the money on, but the better quality the shoe, the more likely it is to last. Since my daughter is a shoe lover she often begs for cheap fashion shoes… quantity not quality in this case. And when I do give in, she always wears them out within weeks of wearing them. So one $15 pair of shoes that only last about a month before they really start looking shabby doesn’t make much sense to me. I’d rather splurge on the shoes that my kids wear every day and this way they will fit well and they will last!

We headed over to the Geox at Yorkdale here in Toronto and we weren’t disappointed — what a great selection of children’s shoes. I love the quality, they are breathable, comfortable and quite stylish! My kids aren’t required to wear a uniform to school, so while Geox has a great selection of uniform shoes we didn’t spend any time in that section.

Geox at Yorkdale Mall in Toronto has a huge kids section.

Geox’s latest collection includes seven stages designed to fit your little one’s growing feet from ages Newborn to Nine years plus! (You can read more about this new collection here. I love the removable (and washable) insole that allows you to check for fit and growth of your child’s foot. The insole is made of a “memory” material that helps it keep its original shape and I love that it’s made to fight bacteria — say goodbye to smelly shoes.

Patiently waiting to try on shoes.

For starters, I think I’ve been buying my kids the wrong size shoes. Jasbir, store manager of this location, quickly taught me how to fit my kids for shoes. First thing is to measure both feet! One may be bigger than the other, as is the case with one of my kids, so you should always buy for the bigger foot. It’s important to leave space to grow — something that I’ve never really done. There must be space in the front (wiggle room!) and you must be able to fit one finger in the back of the shoe. Do all of this while your child is standing to ensure a perfect fit.

Tip: If you crisscross the laces on your child’s shoes you get a tighter fit!

They really had so many choices for my kids. My six year old wanted shoes with laces. She’s quite proud of her shoe tying skills. My nine year old on the other hand wanted Velcro. While he can tie his shoes, it just takes way too much precious time and he much prefers the quicker option. More time for playing.

The chosen ones.

Our Geox shoe shopping experience was a great one. The manager who helped us every step of the way was very nice and wonderful with my kids. She spoke directly to them, asked them questions and treated them as valued customers. She didn’t mind that my daughter tried on four pairs and that my son was extremely uninterested and only cared about Velcro. I think their favourite part was the gift with purchase. I mean what kid doesn’t like getting a gift? They each got to choose a “Beat Voice” bracelet. Basically a colourful silicone bracelet that records sounds and lights up when you speak into the microphone. They LOVED it! (I think more than the shoes!)

Stylin’

Are you ready for back to school? What is on your must-have back to school shopping list?

Geox provided my children’s shoes for this experience. All opinions are my own.