My Top 10 Posts of All Time

Summer feels like the right time for some flashbacks, and today I'm sharing links to my top 10 most-read posts (excluding giveaways and Momterviews) of all time!

1. Perfect Parties Theme Five: The Rock Star Party (I have my friend Krista to thank for sharing tons of her kids' party themes!)

2. They Searched What? (Some of the craziest - and not always entirely appropriate - search terms that have led web surfers to This Mom Loves)

3. New York City Day 2: Live With Regis and Kelly (Not only did we meet the hosts after the show, but Kelly even told me that my hair is the colour of lice. An unforgettable moment indeed.)

4. Perfect Parties Theme One: The Polka Dot Party (I think Pinterest has also been really helpful in drawing readers to the party posts.)

5. Front Door Makeover (This one is pretty simple - painting our white front door black - but apparently popular.)

6. Perfect Parties Theme Two: The Pajama Party (again, thanks to Krista! We actually copied some of these ideas for Maggie's 5th birthday this year. Guests came to the evening party in their pj's, the cake was made to look exactly like the birthday girl's bed, and loot bags contained a bedtime snack, cheap pj's from Walmart, a toothbrush, lip balm and a little stuffed animal for bed.

Krista's daughter's bed cake:

 

7. PC Cooking School Birthday Party (we've done this with both of our girls, and I would highly recommend it. It's so much fun, a great experience for the kids, and keeps the work and mess out of your house!)

8. Baby Room To Big Girl Room (it actually started as a guest room, then was the nursery for both girls before becoming Maggie's big girl room!)

9. Behind The Scenes at Cityline (One of my favourite things about being a blogger is the backstage opportunities I've been given, especially this one with Tracy Moore at Cityline!)

10. What To Give a New Mom: (A friend did this for me right after Frannie was born, and it was an absolutely amazing gift. I'll never forget it...because it was for mom, not baby!)

So there you have it: This Mom Loves' Top Ten. 

I'd be curious to know, even if these posts are all new to you today, which one appeals to you most? It's always interesting to learn what types of posts my readers are interested in, since this list runs the gamut from entertainment to decorating to parties to blogging...all topics I love to write about!

Win a Family Pass to Santa's Village!

Located in Bracebridge, Ontario (about a 90 minute drive from our place) and now in its 58th magical season, Santa's Village is the jolly guy's summer home, halfway between the equator and the North Pole.

We first took the girls when Frannie was two and Maggie only two months (Frannie met Dora that year!), and then again the following summer when they were three and one. We took a few years off before returning this week, but it didn't take long for me to remember just why I love it so much as a family destination. (Psst...read on to the end for your chance to win your own family pass!)

Here are some highlights from our visit to the park:

Free elf hats on arrival

Riding the train with Grandma

Ringing the bell at Santa's chapel

Mommy with her "angels"

Feeding the reindeer ($1 for a cone full of feed)

Seeing Santa, of course!

(Frannie asked for Star Wars toys, and Maggie asked for an iPod, to which Santa replied: "I'm just a toymaker! That sounds like something that needs a family conversation!")

Out on the water on Santa's Summer Sleigh (you have to go this year if you want to see the legendary Captain Ricky, who will be retiring at the end of the season).

Bi-Plane Ride (Our kids could do all rides by themselves)

Colouring the Crayola wall (yes, you're allowed to colour on the wall...MUCH different than at home!)

Enjoying the playground action on Elves' Island

Decorating a gingerbread cookie (we did this at the end of the day)

Five year old Maggie says her favourite parts were: the rollercoaster (very fun for small kids), seeing Santa, and feeding the reindeer.

Seven year old Frannie says: feeding the reindeer and farm animals, decorating the gingerbread cookie, and going on the boat ride.

My favourite things about the park (from a parent perspective) are that it's clean, the staff seems very positive and helpful, and it's just the perfect size for kids this age (not a ton of walking or an overwhelming amount of activities).

I can definitely say that Monday was great in terms of crowds and lines, though I realize that not every family has the luxury of going such places during the week.While my parents were part of our complimentary group, they would have been free anyway as Monday is also grandparents day...one grandparent gets in free with every paid admission!

We certainly didn't do it all: we could have checked out a musical performance in the theatre (I'm sure their performers are very talented, but none with the name recognition that Dora had five years ago!), and skipped the spray n play beach and splash pad. Because we have a pool at home, we wanted to spend as much time as possible on rides and other activities, but the splash pad has tripled in size this year and is a great way to cool off on a hot day!

For older children, keep in mind the attached Sportsland (free admission, pay-as-you-play) has tons of activities for the eleven and up set, and there's also a campground.

More information and deals can be found on their website.

So...wouldn't you love to take your family to Santa's Village? I have a family pass for four to give away (for the 2013 season), and all you have to do is leave a comment letting me know which aspect of Santa's Village you - or your child(ren) - would be most excited about. Bonus entries for following/liking This Mom Loves and Santa's Village on Twitter/Facebook. Good luck!

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Disclosure: We were provided with free admission for review purposes. Opinions are, as always, my own.

A Day At LEGOLAND Discovery Centre

When the temperature is soaring, what better place to spend the day than at the air-conditioned LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, located at Vaughan Mills? (The fact that it's attached to a huge shopping centre is a bonus for moms!)

With over 3 million bricks under one roof, this destination is an absolute must for LEGO fans...and school field trips and birthday parties are also available!

A map of the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre:

Some of our family's highlights included finding out our weight in LEGO bricks on our way in:

One of the first things the girls did when they got inside was the LEGO Fire Academy (a fantastic enclosed jungle gym) and they absolutely loved it (unfortunately I didn't get a picture). Bring socks for that one.

We also got a kick out of MINILAND, where Toronto's landmarks are transformed into miniature replicas (do you recognize this?):  

The LEGO Friends area (with more feminine touches, in contents and colours); this was seven year old Frannie's favourite part:

Trying out the LEGO Friends Karaoke stage:

Posing with favourite LEGO Friends:

The Merlin's Apprentice ride (five year old Maggie's favourite part of the day):

There's also a cinema showing short 4D films with lots of surprises...I think this was one of my favourite parts of the visit. (Yes, I go somewhere superfun like LEGOLAND and I still want to watch a movie!)

The recommended visit length is 2-3 hours (though you're welcome to stay all day if you want). We lasted just over two hours, but kids with the building bug will want to play much longer. As casual Lego users, our girls thoroughly enjoyed their time spent there, but ardent fans of the bricks would be even more enthused.

Okay, now I'm just going to go there and make a sexist generalization (oh, yes I am): the boys I know would get even more out of it than the girls. And this isn't just coming from a mom of two girls who knows nothing about the opposite gender: I have seven nephews and have taught over 200 boys at this point so I'm pretty confident with this assertion. (By which I mean, I know exactly who goes for the Lego in my classroom when there's free time and I know who doesn't.) But that said, there's a ton of fun and learning to be enjoyed by both genders.

While we didn't eat at LEGOLAND, I took a stroll through the café and was very impressed by the fresh and healthy options for parents and kids: sandwiches, yogurt tubes, juice boxes, apple slices, etc. (Which is why I wanted to eat in the mall later where I could get a greasy slice of pizza. Wait, did I just write that?)

If you're considering a visit, the LEGOLAND Toronto website is extremely thorough with lots of information and tips. This place is a must-see for any little LEGO lover in your life!

Disclosure: We were provided with admission to Legoland for review purposes. Opinions are, as always, my own.

Teaching Kids Independence: My Walmart Mom of the Year Post

I was honoured when asked to write a post for Walmart's Mom of the Year website, and took some time to ponder my topic.

Finally, I settled on a parenting issue that's very important to me (not only as a mom, but also as a teacher) which is teaching kids to be independent...and my philosophy isn't always popular!

My article is now live, and you can check it out at the following link. Be sure to let me know what you think...even if your disagree with me! (You can leave comments directly on the Walmart site as well.)

http://www.momoftheyear.ca/its-not-what-you-do-for-your-children/

Photo Shoot For My Magazine Article

I was super excited when Jackie Kovacs, Editor in Chief of Professionally Speaking (magazine of the Ontario College of Teachers) tweeted out this photo on Friday:

Another nice moment on the @CTVCanadaAM set with the lovely @MarciIen and her amazing former teacher. pic.twitter.com/wt4k6lWSIu
— Jacqueline Kovacs (@Jackiekovacs) July 12, 2013

Why did I care so much? Well, because the photo will run with the article that I pitched and wrote for the magazine, that's why!

If I were someone else, jaded and cool, I probably wouldn't have posted about this. But I'm neither jaded nor cool, and yet you're still here, right?

The article will run in the September issue of the magazine, and of course I'll provide the link when it's available! And try to cut back on the exclamation marks! (But hey, only one set of parentheses today. Wait, two...)

Happy 80th Birthday, Grandma!

Today is a very special day in our family, as my beloved maternal Grandma turns 80!

Last week we threw her a garden party luncheon (my Aunt Jane has a gorgeous backyard, perfect for the occasion) and Frannie and Maggie provided some singing and dancing entertainment for the guests.

Just to give you a glimpse of what my Grandma means to me, I'm sharing below a "love letter" I wrote her before Valentine's Day this year, as a model for my students. (Remember, this was meant to be at a Grade 3/4 reading level...I'd like to think my usual writing is a touch more sophisticated!)

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Dear Grandma,

Do you know how much I love you? Since Valentine’s Day is coming soon I wanted to let you know how special you are to me.

When I was a kid, you always came to see me in plays and I knew how proud you were of me. Now you come and watch my daughters when they are performing, and it makes them happy too!

You are very helpful, always doing my sewing and mending for me...and never telling me that I should just learn to do it myself!

I love your cooking and baking, and I bet you can guess what my favourite is...that’s right, your chocolate pie!

I think you are so smart, and you know so much about politics. You are open to learning new things too, since you are figuring out an iPad and e-mail at 79 years of age!

Plus, we have so much in common, like our love of family, magazines and shopping!

Thanks for being such a wonderful Grandma! Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love,
Kate

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Happy 80th, Grandma! Here's to many, many more!

Personalized Backpack From Stuck On You~Giveaway (Can and US)

Giveaway open to Canada and US.

Preface: I am loath to refer to "back to school" the first week of July, but for this, I will do it.

The mail lady showed up at our door yesterday with a package containing two brand new backpacks for my girls from Stuck On You...and they were pumped! (Why else would 5 and 7 year olds break into a game of "school" on the second day of holidays???)

Ever since Frannie was in Junior Kindergarten my girls have used Stuck On You backpacks, and I love them. The quality is excellent and they make it through the year without problems. (Though it's funny how two kids can be different...Frannie got two full years out of her first backpack, yet Maggie's is too worn and dirty to keep around for another year!)

What I really like about the Stuck On You personalized backpacks ($49.95) is that they are totally customized. You go to the website and choose the colour (pink, navy or red), the design (far too many to list: Frannie chose the French-themed "Oui Oui" design and Maggie picked "Fantasy") and enter your child's name (very helpful when belongings go missing). You can even see what the completed backpack will look like before you order it.

The packs have several zippered sections, and easily hold a lunchbag and water bottle (lots of these back to school items are available personalized from Stuck On You) as well as an agenda and random "necessities" (sunglasses, markers, books, rocks, whatever).

Of course Stuck On You is giving away a customized backpack for a lucky This Mom Loves reader! All you have to do is use the Rafflecopter form below and let me know your favourite backpack design from their website. Extra entries for following Stuck On You and/or This Mom Loves on social media.

Please enter...and then forget about "back to school" for at least another six weeks! Good luck!


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Disclosure: I was provided with two backpacks for review purposes. Opinions, as always, are my own.

Sedentary Mom To Active Mom: Special Guest Post

Today as my special guest blogger I'm welcoming Jennifer from Real Clear Cool, who is sharing her inspirational story about becoming active, for her own health and for her children.

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Sedentary Mom to Active Mom: Modelling Good Health Behaviours for my Kids

Here’s my truth: for most of my life I have been a very sedentary person. I was not born with any athletic ability. In my childhood, I preferred the company of my dolls and a good book over any type of sporting activity. In elementary and secondary school, I avoided team sports like the plague. My tendency has always been to be a rather bookish person, and I was quite happy being that person.

As I grew older, I noticed my weight start to increase. It was very gradual at first, but as I inched towards the age of forty, the pounds started to accumulate rather quickly. After losing my mother to an aggressive form of breast cancer, I had an epiphany. If I wanted to be around to see my kids grow up, I needed to pay attention to my health, and fast. The excess pounds are a major risk factor for breast cancer, and this was one of the main risk factors that I could control.

So at the age of forty, I decided to change my bad health ways. I hired a personal trainer to help guide me in the ways of fitness, in the safest way possible. I joined Weight Watchers and started to forgo my penchant for both fast food, and processed treats. Soon, I started to see my weight decline, and my waist line shrink. As of June 2013, I have lost 45 pounds, and many inches of body fat.

My kids have seen me start to monitor my food intake more carefully. I have had to be much more deliberate about what foods I eat, and in what quantities. I explain to them why I am limiting my intake of say, potato chips, and what it does to Mommy’s body when I eat all that junk food. Even though we still have all that food in the house, I deliberately avoid it, and my kids are starting to understand why. They know that junk food is only a “treat” for me, and I am trying to get them to see why those foods don’t need to be part of the picture as often. I keep sweet fruit in the house at all times, and as they see me eat it more frequently, I notice that they ask for it more frequently. Score!

If I want my kids to be healthy and active, then I too need to be healthy and active. As much as like to read books and watch television, I need to engage my body in some type of physical activity in order to maintain my new body shape. So, I have decided to change my identity from “sedentary mom” to “active mom”. I still don’t like participating in sports or any type of organized exercise activity, but I do my own type of exercise that suits my lifestyle. That includes walking my dog (briskly!), riding my bike and doing yoga in my bedroom.

My kids don’t need a lazy, unhealthy and obese mom. They need an active, engaged and healthy mom; my hope is that by seeing me engaging in healthy lifestyle choices, they will also adopt similar healthy behaviours. Even though physical exercise still doesn’t come to me all that naturally, by repetition I will gradually incorporate activity into my normal day-to-day routine. In so doing, I am hoping that my kids will do the same.

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Thanks, Jennifer!   Visit Real Clear Cool for more of Jennifer's health, fitness and weight loss stories, as well as product reviews/giveaways and more!