- Thursday, July 31, 2014
- 11 Comments
In September, my son will be moving on to first grade and joining the ranks of all the other big goys and girls in the primary division. It's a milestone year for him as he will be adjusting from half-day kindergarten to full-day grade school. I know back-to-school season will be an exciting time for him but it will also bring about questions regarding new expectations, new teachers and particularly a new schedule. The school will be implementing new bell times this year, something we will all need to become accustomed with. To help ease his anxiety about what time school starts, ends, etc., my son will now have his very own watch to wear to school. And not just any ol' watch - a Kidizoom Smart Watch by Vtech.
Joining the newest tech trend of smart watches, VTech has introduced the Kidizoom® Smartwatch - the smartest watch for kids. Using the latest technology, the Smartwatch has a customizable watch mode where kids can select from amongst a selection of 50 watch faces and either analogue or digital clock display. But it's more than just a watch. The Smartwatch has a built-in camera with photo effects that allows young photographers to easily take photos and record videos on the go. The 1.4" colour touch screen allows children to explore their creativity with photo frames and filters, as well as play any of the four pre-installed interactive games.
This must-have gadget includes a rechargeable battery, alarm clock, timer, stopwatch and a voice recorder with funny voice changing effects. The Smartwatch also comes with a micro USB cable which can be used to upload all your photos and videos for editing via the Learning Lodge. Recommended for children aged 4 or older, the Vtech Kidizoom Smartwatch has an interface that is simple enough for my six-year-old son to use. Of particular note is the quality of the screen in terms of colour and clarity, a marked difference when compared to the LCD display of his MP3 player.
The durable design of the Smartwatch has withstood my son's vigorous daily activity. It is also splash and sweat proof, making it ideal for use during hot summer days. Just be sure not to submerse it fully in water or allow your child to wear it in the shower since it is not waterproof.
Available at many major retail stores for $59.99, the Kidizoom Smartwatch comes in three colours: blue, green or pink. Keep your eyes peeled for the white Smartwatch which is exclusive to Walmart.
- Sunday, July 27, 2014
- 16 Comments
Some people like to socialize while out dancing. Others prefer to chat over a cup of coffee or hot cocoa. And then there are people like me who would clear their calendar for a social event that involves chocolate. I'm talking a cacao-themed evening of chocolate sampling, wine pairing, social interaction, trivia and chocolate art. Yes, it's The Chocolate Social! With an invitation in my inbox to attend a complimentary workshop, I knew exactly who to invite as my plus one - my matron of honour and dear friend of 20 years. With a couple of workshops being held in Hamilton, I decided to make the trip to The Winking Judge and meet up with my friend so we could play catch-up.
Once we arrived, we met chocolatier David who began by sharing some interesting trivia on the history of chocolate. For example, did you know that Aztec rulers drank several cups of hot chocolate daily? See, I knew I was born in the wrong time period.
Shortly afterwards, we were invited to try out samples of dark, milk and white chocolate, the latter of which isn't really chocolate at all. David then enlightened us on the art of pairing alcohol with chocolate and gave us Ganache tasters to sample.
- Wednesday, July 23, 2014
- 22 Comments
On the weekend, the family and I went on a last-minute getaway to Blue Mountain in Collingwood, one of my favourite places. This time, we stayed in a Mosaic boutique bachelor and lucked out by booking on the last day of their hot summer deal. It also happened to be Famarama weekend and guess who was there to perform. Fred Penner! On our first day there, we spent the morning mining for gems, exploring trails and playing mini golf courtesy of Scenic Caves Nature Adventures. Then we headed over to the Ridge Runner mountain coaster, went swimming in the pool and lounged in the hot tub. Below are some photos highlighting some of the other activities we enjoyed as a family. Four days of outdoor fun with the kids... feeling pretty lucky, I am!
 |
| One of my favourite photos taken in the Village. |
 |
| My son was overjoyed at the chance to drive a Jeep. |
 |
| Hanging out in the hot tub. |
- Tuesday, July 22, 2014
- 41 Comments
Last week, Hallmark Canada announced an exciting new partnership with Toronto's own award-winning interior designer, Sarah Richardson. The Sarah Richardson Collection consists of gorgeous greeting cards, sophisticated stationery, elegant gift wrap and coordinating gift bags featuring designs created exclusively for Hallmark. Sarah Richardson is also a recognized television personality, known around the world for transforming ordinary spaces into magazine-worthy rooms. Richardson is the host and co-producer of five HGTV lifestyle series: Room Service, Design Inc, Sarah's House, Sarah 101, and most recently, Sarah Sees Potential which will debut on HGTV USA this fall. She is a past contributor and columnist on design and style for The Globe and Mail and Chatelaine, and was most recently named home design director at Good Housekeeping magazine. In addition, Sarah is a creative powerhouse in the design world and runs a design business, Sarah Richardson Design Inc. based here in Toronto. Think she can manage to squeeze in some time to transform my home?
 |
| Sarah Richardson Stationery Ensemble |
There are 16 individual greeting card designs for everyday occasions including birthday, wedding, baby, congratulations, friendship and blank cards. The boxed note card sets and journals would make excellent gift sets. Two of her elegant design themes from her Kravet fabrics collection have also carried over into the collection and are featured on two stationery box sets.
- Thursday, July 17, 2014
- 15 Comments
Canada Day celebrations may be over but there is still so much to celebrate and be proud of when it comes to our great nation - its beautiful lands and diverse population, for example. Of particular note is the fact that Superman was created by a Canadian and that a Canadian bear named Winnipeg inspired the Winnie-the-Pooh stories. This month, Netflix Canada Stream Team members are celebrating Canada by discovering a list of shows that were either filmed in Canada, take place in Canada, like Are You Afraid of the Dark, or were created in Canada. Before watching some of these shows, I thought it would be fun to test out my kids' knowledge on Canadian trivia. For example, did you know that Canada is the second largest country in the world and is comprised of six time zones? Canada is also home to the world's longest street - Yonge Street starts at Lake Ontario, crosses right through Toronto and ends at the Minnesota border, measuring nearly 2,000 km in length. And Canada has the world's longest coastline at well over 200,000 km. If you'd like to test your kids on Canadian trivia, check out this list of Canadian trivia questions on DLTK-Kids.com. Then bring out the beaver tails and tune your Netflix to one of these kid-friendly shows.
"Canadiana" Netflix titles for the older crowd:
- Are You Afraid of the Dark?
- Johnny Test
- Black Hole High
- Alpha and Omega
- Goosebumps
- Erky Perky
- Eliot Kid
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
- Wednesday, July 16, 2014
- 9 Comments
While I haven't crafted in a while, I did manage to put a couple of birthday cards together at the request of a colleague at work before the school year was over. For this one, I used my cherished Martha Stewart butterfly punch that I found at Walmart last year. It's a simple design but she loved it. You can find more details over on my craft blog: Diana's Designs.
Participating in Wordless Wednesday? Leave a link to your post below:
- Tuesday, July 15, 2014
- 24 Comments
Delve into the past and learn about Canadian military aviation history at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Located in my hometown of Hamilton, Ontario right at Hamilton International Airport, the museum has as its mandate the goal of acquiring, documenting, preserving and maintaining a complete collection of aircraft that were flown by Canadians and the
Canadian military services from the beginning of World War II to the
present. This collection also includes other related aviation artifacts and memorabilia of historic importance to this time period, such as air plane models, helmets and other gear.
My kids and I had a chance to explore the museum and we ended up bringing a couple of friends along with us. The kids were particularly surprised to find out exactly how heavy these old helmets were. Yikes!
Within the museum you can roam through a gallery containing other various memorabilia, scene replicas and displays. This is an excellent place for students who need to research more about D-Day, the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, or the Ninety-Nines. Or step into the Rolls-Royce Theatre and watch James Cagney in "Captains of the Clouds." In technicolor, of course.
Next, you can make your way into the airplane hangar where you will find a myriad of historic aircraft. The word 'impressive' seems inadequate to describe the sight. We're talking Beechcraft Musketeers, Boeing Stearmans, Westland Lysanders and Avro Lancasters.
 |
| Hawker Hurricane Mark XIIB Fighter-Bomber |
 |
| Avro Lancaster Mk. K Vintage Bomber |
There are select aircraft that you can actually board by climbing into the cockpit. This was a really neat experience for the kids.
They even have an old fire engine from 1926 that is still in operating condition. Pretty cool, if you ask me.
 |
| 1926 Bickle Fire Engine |
Along the way, the kids can pose behind some fun photo stands. This picture was my favourite one of all.
- Monday, July 14, 2014
- 15 Comments
So... I have some exciting news to share. I am an auntie yet again! My brother and his wife welcomed a baby boy last week and he is seriously the cutest baby I've seen in a very long time. My sister-in-law checked in at the hospital at around 9 o'clock in the morning, had the baby shortly after 11:20am and then went home at around 2pm. She didn't even have to spend the night. Can you believe it? With two kids to look after now, I know how having the right baby gear can be crucial to getting through those busy times. Fortunately, baby's big sister has a new tricycle to help her enjoy some 'daddy and me' time outside. It is the latest SmarTrike Chic, a 4-in-1 Touch Steering premium tricycle that offers the ultimate in outdoor fun.
Assembly of this uber cool SmarTrike may seem a little daunting at first when you consider the number of parts that are included in the box. However, it took me about 20-25 minutes to put together. Following the instructions, I first attached the wheels and handles to the body frame.
I made the mistake of screwing on the seat without including the strap for the restraints but that was easily rectified. You will need a screwdriver, not included, to attach the seat and the basket at the rear. Hint: Activate the brake to help keep the tricycle from moving during assembly.
The SmarTrike comes with a bottle holder that snaps onto the front of the handlebars.
It also includes a supper cute toy phone that has its own compartment and is secured with a cord so you won't have to worry if baby accidentally drops it. It requires two AA batteries, not included.
For Stage One, assemble the high back padded seat support which includes a surrounding bar and a 3-point harness. This stage is for babies that are 10 to 18 months old.
Fold down the footrest for Stage One and insert the telescopic parent handle.
- Sunday, July 13, 2014
- 12 Comments
Looking back on my childhood, some of the fondest memories I recall are spending summer weekends at the beach with the family or, as an extra special treat, making the hour trek to Canada's Wonderland for a day of fun. I recently came across some old photos taken at Canada's Wonderland circa 1988 and smile every time I look at them. Now that I have kids of my own and live in Toronto, I have an opportunity to make new memories that my kids will look back upon with the same fondness. Last week, in fact, we were invited to join in the Family Blogger Fun Day at Canada's Wonderland and experience the thrills that are unique to Canada's premier amusement park. First up, exclusive ride time on Wonder Mountain's Guardian.
This innovative new ride begins with a coaster climb up the side of the park’s
iconic mountain followed by a quick descent into its core. As riders enter a cavernous world of mythical
creatures and navigate through five layers of a 4-D medieval
world, they will have an opportunity to test out their gaming skills as they
compete against fellow riders, scoring points while aiming at moving targets.
The quest will culminate as riders enter the dragon’s lair for the
ultimate battle with Lord Ormaar, and experience a heart stopping finale
that will leave you speechless. At the end of the ride, you can compare your scores with those of the other riders. My personal best: 659 259. Oh, yeah!
Height restriction for Wonder Mountain's Guardian is: 42"-48" accompanied by an adult and over 48" alone.
Next, we were granted early access to Kidzville and enjoyed Jokey's Jalopies, Chopper Chase, and Blast Off followed by multiple rides on Silver Streak, the perfect ride for kids 44" and taller who are still too young to ride the larger coasters. Also located in Kidville is Ghoster Coaster, only one of three wooden roller coasters at the park and one of four of the original coasters that were at the Park when it opened in 1981. The minimum height requirement is 40". Once the park opened, we headed over to the mountain for Thunder Run.
One of my personal favourite rides at Canada's Wonderland is White Water Canyon. I remember how much my parents loved taking us on this ride but the line-ups were usually so long. On this day, they were quite short and even my blogging friend Lena of Listen to Lena got to experience it with us for the very first time.
Of course, Peanuts characters were out and about with their great big smiles and posing for photos.
@Listen2Lena, the kids and I took on White Water Canyon and lived to tweet about it. Ha! @WonderlandNews #CWTHRILLS pic.twitter.com/oDAcp82FdE
— Diana M. (@TeacherMomOfTwo) July 4, 2014
Of course, Peanuts characters were out and about with their great big smiles and posing for photos.
In the afternoon, we headed over to Wonderland Theatre to watch Dimensions: A Cirque Experience. New for 2014, the show boasts awe-inspiring athleticism and acrobatic feats presented in true cirque style.
The show begins with the comedic routine of two very funny clowns who interacts directly with the audience, sharing popcorn and 'borrowing' a purse or two. They then 'borrow' an audience member who disappears into the depths beneath the stage. Where could he have gone? The clowns set out on a journey through various dimensions in the hopes of finding him.
- Thursday, July 10, 2014
- 19 Comments
A Revolutionary Tea Experience
Tea connoisseurs rejoice! Brewing the perfect cup of tea has never been easier thanks to the innovative design of Breville's One-Touch Tea Maker. While I can appreciate a good cup of tea as much as the next person, my knowledge of brew times and temperature requirements for different types of tea is somewhat lacking. Even if they are listed on the tea canister, I wouldn't know how to achieve the right temperature. And do I really have the patience to hover over my pot of tea while it steeps for the correct amount of time? Certainly not.
.png)
The Breville One-Touch Tea Maker takes the frustration and guess work out of steeping various types tea. The secret lies in the fully automated magnetic tea basket that lowers into the water once it reaches the ideal temperature.
Simply fill the kettle with the necessary amount of water and use the accompanying measuring spoon to scoop your loose tea in the basket, replace the basket lid and return it to the kettle where it connects magnetically. Select from five pre‐programmed tea settings: green, black, white, oolong and herbal teas. A “custom” button allows users the option to select their own unique temperature and steeping time and you can also indicate your preference for a strong, medium or mild tea.
Simply fill the kettle with the necessary amount of water and use the accompanying measuring spoon to scoop your loose tea in the basket, replace the basket lid and return it to the kettle where it connects magnetically. Select from five pre‐programmed tea settings: green, black, white, oolong and herbal teas. A “custom” button allows users the option to select their own unique temperature and steeping time and you can also indicate your preference for a strong, medium or mild tea.
Once the water has reached the ideal temperature, the basket silently cycles in and out of immersion, gently agitating the leaves for a precise tea infusion. When the tea is ready, it brings the basket back up so you never risk over-steeping your tea. The Breville Tea Maker also has a ‘kettle’ mode that allows it to function as a variable temperature kettle without the basket. I use this function often when preparing French-pressed coffee. It has an LCD screen will display the brew time and temperature as well as a Keep Warm feature which will maintain the temperature for one hour.
Tip: During the Keep Warm cycle, the tea will continue to steep so may want to consider reducing the initial tea strength and brew time by using the arrow buttons on either side of the display.
- Wednesday, July 09, 2014
- 34 Comments
