Summer is in the air and the mercury has begun to boil. With the extreme heat alerts this week, it's no wonder I have been craving icy drinks and sweet smoothies. To celebrate summer, I joined the inspirational blogger behind +Listen to Lena and several other guests at the Minute Maid #CelebrateSummer event held at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Toronto. My husband had to work late that night but I made it just in time to watch mixologist Nadine Hughes as she demonstrated some really delicious recipes. The number one recipe on my must-try list? The Pucker-up Granita!

1 can Minute Maid® Lemonade Frozen concentrate, mixed with 3 cans water
1 can Minute Maid® Limeade Frozen concentrate, mixed with 3 cans water

Mint leaves for garnish

Simple syrup: In a small pot over medium-high heat, stir together water and sugar and simmer until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, stir in mint; cover and keep on the side. Meanwhile, pour Minute Maid® Frozen Lemonade into large, shallow glass baking dish and place in freezer overnight.

Strain mint from simple syrup. Stir simple syrup into Minute Maid® Limeade, pour into large, shallow glass baking dish and place in freezer overnight.

Using fork, scrape surface of each mixture creating an icy snow. Layer lemonade and limeade in glass with chopped mint. Garnish with mint leaves.

 

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Of course, I loved the Peachy Sparkler and the Tropical Smoothie served in shot glasses. But I love smoothies so it was the Minute Maid Strawberry Smoothie that won me over. On the way home, I had to stop by the grocery store to redeem one of the vouchers included in our gift bag so that I could enjoy it the next day. It was really easy to prepare.

 

I have always been a firm believer that walking is one of the best forms of physical activity, especially the speed-walking variety. I prefer walking over running simply because it is low impact and therefore easier on my knees. Plus, you can call up a friend to join you on your power walk while you get to catch up on the latest gossip, such as the undeniable fact that Chris Hemsworth has a secret crush on me. It's true.

One very important factor affecting your walk is a decent pair of shoes. Since we are finally enjoying some spring-like temperatures here in Toronto, I am feeling the itch to get out and walk more often. So I accepted an opportunity to try out a pair of Skechers GOwalk shoes. Having worked in a shoe store when I was younger, I have a general idea of what to look for: a low, supportive heel, a flexible sole, breathable material and a lightweight shoe. The new Skechers GOwalk pretty much fits this bill.

Seeing as I often have difficulty finding shoes that fit properly, I questioned whether or not this slip-on shoe would fit me well as compared to a lace-up. I was glad to find they fit like glove. The uppers are so flexible yet they hug you in just the right places. They are wide enough for my short, stubby feet and easily accommodate my slightly high in-step. The size 7 shoes left me with plenty of room in the toe box for my little piggies to spread out freely and cry, 'Wee, wee, wee!" all the way home. Unfortunately, the shoes smell of unpleasant rubber so I'm hoping the smell goes away sooner than later. And I'll be curious to see how durable they are for such a lightweight shoe and whether or not they can bring the price down a smidgen from the $75 suggested retail price.

Summer is less than a week away and there is little that screams 'fun in the sun' more than a bright new lipstick or flashy nail polish. And Yves Rocher has plenty of captivating colours to choose from. From their Grand Rouge Lipstick collection, I was able to try the following three colours: Bright Red, Powdery Pink and Flashy Coral. Of course, since I'm all about coral and love wearing my new coral sandals, my favourite lip colour is Flashy Coral. My second favourite is Bright Red. It's been a few months since I cut my hair really short and every time I look in the mirror, I wince. I feel the short hair is a little too boyish for my liking. So on those rare occasions that I go out at night, I pull out my new Yves Rocher Bright Red to bring out the glam. Pow! What a statement!

The best part of Grand Rouge lipstick is its moisturizing formula with Camellia Oil, Vitamin E and Organic Sesame Oil. Not only does it glide on easily and feel incredibly creamy, it smells fabulous. Head on over to YvesRochers.ca to discover all of their 18 radiant and rich lipstick colours. Pair them with the automatic Lip Liner, which defines and plumps your lips. Its velvety texture is enriched with nourishing Jojoba Oil for softness and comfort. The new colourless lip liner goes on clear so you can use it with any colour. Grand Rouge lipstick is currently available for purchase on the Yves Rocher site for $10 and lip liners are listed at $7.

Discover peace in motion this June as over a thousand people dressed in white gather at Fort York for a one-of-a-kind experience at the Lolë White Yoga Session. In collaboration with Chatelaine and Sporting Life, Lolë brings us Toronto's largest outdoor yoga session dedicated to peace lead by Lolë White Yoga Session instructor Grace Dubery. Registered participants, who must adhere to an exclusively white dress code, will enjoy a musical performance by M'Michèle followed by a yoga class using yoga mats provided by Lolë.  

I woke up this morning after going to bed early, like 8pm early, and checked my email. Because we all know that's what working moms do at 6am before waking up the kids and packing lunches, right? Well, lo and behold this lovely email from the editor-in-chief and co-founder of SavvyMom Media announcing that Toronto Teacher Mom has made it onto the list of Top 75 Most Influential Canadian Mom Blogs. If you check out the list, you'll find a whole bunch of talented bloggers from across our amazing nation. Each one has been designated an award-like title such as 'Most Celebrity Obsessed' and 'Most Likely to Spark a Debate' to 'Best Green Living Blog' and "Most Likely to Teach You Something New' (ahem... that would be me). And if you click on 'view all', you can easily see all 75 blogs at a glance which will save you from having to click the arrow button 75 times. There. I just taught you something, hopefully new!

Now that we're in June, summer is just around the corner. There are only four weeks left until the kids and myself are officially on summer vacation and we couldn't be more excited. The summer is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the weather with some fun outdoor activities and mini family getaways. One of my favourite places to take the family in the summer is Blue Mountain. The views are breathtaking and the fun-filled activities are plenty. We can enjoy paddle boating, mini golf, wall climbing, swimming or hiking up to the top of the mountain. Most recently, they added the Timber Challenge High Ropes which is incredibly exhilarating.

Our family also enjoys heading out on camping trips. Last year, we camped out at Bronte Creek Provincial Park and the kids had lots of fun. But it paled in comparison to our trip to Gatineau Park when my daughter was younger. Sitting by the campfire roasting marshmallows deep in the woods was such a joy. My daughter and I woke up early one morning and headed out in her Bugaboo stroller only to be greeted by a bunch of deer. With the sun rising behind them, it was truly a sight to behold.

During the summer months, I am always looking for ways to keep the kids busy and active. Aside from playing recreational soccer, the kids keep active by swimming at the local pool, playing at the playground, or partaking in games and activities with the kids in the neighbourhood. From playing frisbie and bean bag toss to jumping rope or flying a kite, the possibilities are endless. The goal is simply to avoid being cooped up in the house watching TV or playing video games and instead enjoy some fresh air while developing hand-eye coordination skills, team-building skills and a love of physical activity. Each year, I like to buy at least one new outdoor game or activity that we can add to our repertoire. This year, I decided to delve into the kids' Italian roots and teach them the game of bocce, otherwise known as lawn bowling. While at Canadian Tire looking for the sprinkler, I also purchased this Moulded Bocce Set for $19.99. It was brightly coloured and more lightweight than the professional set, which I think makes it more kid-friendly. So far, my son seems to like it best. Check out my Google+ album to view my entire shopping experience: Shopping for Fun Outdoor Activities at Canadian Tire.

All in all, I think we are going to have plenty of fun with our new bocce set and sprinkler this summer, along with all of the other summer toys and backyard games that the kids own. I am definitely looking forward to spending some quality time with the family, too.

What are your favourite summer activities that you enjoy with your family?