momstown Winnipeg

Happy Birthday Dr Seuss!

2012-03-02T16:30:00.001-06:00

Today is Dr. Seuss' Birthday and of course we had to celebrate with a party! It's the momstown way! This free event was open to the public and we had loads of crafts, games, circle time which included reading Dr. Seuss books and singing songs, cake and some fun times with a parachute! And of course some good times hanging out with other moms while the kids ran around and played.

Patiently waiting for the fishing rods.

Pin the egg on the plate game.

Yertle the Turtle Craft

Cat in the Hat hats


One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish fishing game.

Story Time

Kellogg's Share Your Breakfast Event

2012-02-29T22:45:00.000-06:00

Join momstown Winnipeg on National Breakfast Day, for the Kellogg’s Share Your Breakfast Event on March 8^th, 2012.

momstown wants to help Kellogg’s give back to the Winnipeg community. At this event, members will receive breakfast kits and learn how we can share our breakfast.

In Canada, 1 in 10 children live in poverty, and are at risk of starting their day on an empty stomach. On March 8^th, National Breakfast Day, Kellogg’s will be distributing mini-packs of Rice Krispies cereal nationwide, to raise awareness and reach out to children in the community.

Kellogg’s will also be donating to Breakfast Clubs of Canada and Breakfast for Learning. You can help by purchasing Kellogg’s cereals – every box equals a donation!

Join us for Share Your Breakfast – we’ll have activities for the kids, circle time, crafts, and a great way to help your community.

Go to www.kelloggs.ca/SYB for more information.

Little Scientists: Baby Sensory Play

2012-02-29T18:21:00.000-06:00

There are many benefits to sensory play. Sensory play is a valuable part of early childhood education and anyone can do this at home. From birth, a baby experiences life through its senses. Touch is one of the first and most important senses to develop. Sensory play allows them to use their senses of touch, sight, taste, smell, and hearing. It also provides children the opportunity for hands-on play to encourage the development of their fine and gross motor skills.

This month was our fist Baby Sensory Play. Our babies got to be little scientists and explore different textures. Since it was around Valentines we decided to use valentines inspired items for the babies to touch and explore. Some items are not for babies mouths so it is always important to keep a close eye on your baby.

Ready to dig into his bin!

Crinkley paper was a hit with the babies!

After attempting to chew a felt heart he decided to see what else was in the green bin.

Red jello was gooey. This little gal wasn't so sure she liked stepping in it. :)

But this little one loved the jello. As did my son who proceeded to lick his hands after he realized it tasted good too.

We had loads of fun at our first Sensory Play event. Can't wait for next months!

Little Scientists: Mixing Colours

2012-02-29T16:23:00.000-06:00

Our theme this month is Mix and Match. So for our Little Scientists lab we decided to learn all about mixing colours. What happens when you mix primary colours?

This is an easy science project that you can do with the kids too. All you need is water, food colour (in red, blue, yellow and green), a bulb syringe (your kids medicine syringe will do just fine) and clear cups or white ice cube trays. Start off with basic primary colours and start mixing. See what colours when mixed together make new colours.

Jenn was our science teacher that day.

Next month we are making Oobleck in honour of Dr. Seuss' Birthday. It's going to be another messy Science lab!

Mix and Match: We Share Everything!

2012-02-29T15:59:00.000-06:00

Our momstown educational topic for the month of February is Mixing and Matching. We had lots of fun with this theme in our Tots Science Lab, Connect the Tots and Tales for Tots events. Mixing and matching everything from colours, mits, and hearts.

We were also lucky to read a "mix and match" themed book at our Scholastic Canada sponsored Tales for Tots book club this month. "We Share Everything!" by beloved Canadian author Robert Munsch, has recently been released in board book edition. We Share Everything!" tells the story of two daycare kids who are finding sharing to be a challenge.

For a craft the kids made these adorable heart tree valentine's crafts (our event was around Valentines) and they mixed and matched the hearts.

Next month is all about My Senses. We'll be reading a fabulous book about Dinosaurs so be sure to come out! Check out the calendar for more details.

Not a member yet? Log on and register at http://winnipeg.momstown.ca for your free 4 week trial.

Win Tickets to Baby & Kids Show - CLOSED!

2012-02-22T14:51:00.001-06:00

Showtime Productions is hosting the 7th Annual Winnipeg Baby & Kids Show! The Baby & Kids Show is geared to expectant parents and young families.

Families can explore the show for the latest in baby and toddler products & fashions, collect information, and attend informative seminars, all under one roof! Children are treated to fun and activities throughout the day, including The Backyardigans!

E-Children & Westcoast Kids is sponsoring the Family Care Lounge at The Baby & Kids Show this year, which this mom of 2 can really appreciate. This includes a nursing centre and changing station.

Not too mention the row of booths they have this year! So be sure to pop on by and visit them! And pick up something cute for that new or soon to be baby in your life!

WANT TO WIN TICKETS TO THE BABY & KIDS SHOW?!?!

Westcoast Kids has given us tickets to give-away! We have two sets of 2 tickets to give-away. All you have to do is comment below that you want to win! We will randomly select 2 lucky winners by Thursday at 5 pm. Leave your email address so we can contact you too! Good luck!

E-Children and Westcoast Kids is located at 103 Princess Street, Winnipeg or visit their website at http://www.westcoastkids.ca

Closed!! Congrats to Laura Kazine and Marjori P for winning 2 tickets. I will email you on where to pick up your tickets. Thanks everyone for entering!

Winnipeg Baby & Kids Show

2012-02-21T23:12:00.000-06:00

February 25 & 26, 2012 10am to 5pm Daily

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW SCHEDULE

Looking for something to do this weekend? Expecting or know someone expecting a baby? Showtime Productions is hosting the 7th Annual Winnipeg Baby & Kids Show! The Baby & Kids Show is geared to expectant parents and young families.

NEW THIS YEAR! Our friends over at Purely Baby are hosting the "Moms Pampering Zone," which will feature massage demonstrations, mini-manicures, product samples, and take-home pampering gift bags!

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL FEATURES

Ahoy Matey! How to Have a Pirate Themed Party!

2012-02-21T08:00:00.001-06:00

Saturday was Braxton’s third birthday. To celebrate, we threw a pirate party. Braxton wanted to wear a striped orange shirt and blue shorts – perfect pirate attire. We chose to keep the party small, 4 friends, 1 brother and the birthday boy.

For the invitations, I used www.evite.com. It was simple and efficient. For decorations, I used general “pirate” stuff – a treasure map tablecloth, black, blue and red balloons and homemade banner.

As the children arrived, I gave them bandannas, eyepatches, swords, and they decorated a parrot, that can be found here.

Then we played a few games, read the book Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate’s ABC, had free play, ate lunch, went on a treasure/scavenger hunt, ate cake, and opened presents.

For food I served pirate themed food:

Fish ‘n Chips – goldfish and potato chips
Swords – pretzels
Gold Doubloons – Chicken Nuggets
Cannonballs – grapes
Sailboats – egg salad served in halved red peppers. find recipe here.

For activities, I tried to incorporate the pirate theme.
We played “Pin the Eyepatch on the Skull & Crossbones.

A treasure/scavenger hunt for their goody bags. I wrote the clues in pirate lingo, but since the kids were 2-4 years old I also had a picture clue on the reverse side.

The cake I found online and can be found here.

For the goody bags, I made my own labels, filled brown paper lunch sacks and tied them with brown raffia ribbon to make them look like loot sacks.

It was a great party, I feel the kids and moms had a great time!

Don't forget the kids this time!

2012-02-20T08:00:00.004-06:00

Having a party for your child, or a child in your life? Don't forget the kids! Sound like a funny thing to say?

I don't… I read party guides and posts all over the web, and beyond. People pick a perfect cake (that the kids don't eat), a perfect banquet table (that the kids don't look at). Don't forget the invites… parents send out the perfect invite which the kids don't see on the sending or receiving end. Don't get me wrong… I love all those aspects of party planning too. However, don't forget about the reason for the party. It's for the child!

When possible, let the children decorate the invites with crayons, stickers or markers.

Let the child pick out the flavour of the cake, maybe the style, or even put on a few jelly beans. They love the involvement.

Why not let the kids colour or draw some pictures to put up as decorations too. The other kids that come to the party will notice them when they are posted at a child friendly height. Try it, you'll see.

Finally, don't forget the activities. Plan them first if you can. Have several planned and maybe do a couple. Traditional games like treasure hunts, bean bag tosses, drawing and guessing games take virtually no supplies and children love them. Try it, you'll see. Don't be afraid to participate with them. It's a lot easier than chasing them around and trying to get them to not jump on the beds!

Have fun!

Cindy

This article was written by Cindy Despins, owner of Dress Up And Play Parties. Visit her site at http://www.dressupandplayparties.com and check out her imaginative and fun themed costume party packages and make party planning a breeze!

How to Make a Valentine Mouse Bookmark

2012-02-17T17:18:00.000-06:00

At our Valentine's Party with momstown, we got crafty and made valentine's cards. The kids also got to take home a kit to make a Valentine's Mouse Bookmark. It's adorable and easy to make.

Supplies Needed:
2 hearts cut from red felt – one large, one small. These will be the body and ears
1 strip of yarn. This will be the tail
1 Wiggly Eye
3 short strips of Fishing Line. This will be the whiskers
Glue

Steps:
1.    Small heart – glue the bottom half together – the heart “bumps” are the ears, so don’t glue them together.
2.    Large heart – put glue on half the heart –placing the EARS and TAIL in before you fold in half. The tail should go at the pointed end and the ears go on the heart “bump”.
3.    Glue the wiggly eye and whiskers on.
4.    Your mouse is complete. Usually I place a heavy book on top of the mouse during the drying process.

Get Your Kids to Listen without Nagging or Yelling!

2012-02-16T14:39:00.001-06:00

Positive Parenting Solutions, to offer a FREE live training webinar: Get Kids to Listen without Nagging, Reminding or Yelling!

We have 2 options for you to attend - Tuesday, February 21st from 9-10 PM EST (8 - 9 PM Central) or 8 – 9PM PST (10 - 11 PM Central)!!

Amy promises that we’ll walk away with concrete tools we can use the next day and see results. I know you'll be especially interested in learning the 5 R’s of Fair and Effective Consequences. You can watch, listen and even interact with Amy. Participants are not required to have a webcam, only a computer with speakers.

Webinar seating will be limited so learn more and RSVP now!

Please share this on your FACEBOOK page (friends of friends welcome) by clicking here!

momstown is now offering even more events, discounts, and interactive features than ever! Join our membership for just $45/year for 20+ events per month!

That's Amore!

2012-02-14T20:47:00.002-06:00

On the momstown Winnipeg message board, we have a thread called “Finding Time for Your Spouse (significant other/partner).” After reading the various ideas/tips from fellow moms, it got me thinking about my own marriage and how I can continue with our version of happily ever after.

So often we let our relationships fall to the backburners. Our kids take the #1 spot, our careers take #1, our comfort and happiness take #1. Reading relationship books was my pastime before parenting books took over my nightstand. One lesson I remember was: 
Discuss Daily 
Date Weekly
Depart Quarterly  

Discuss daily - have at least 30 minutes face to face time (no television, phone, or computer) discussing more than just schedules and how was your day stuff. 30 minutes of a love/heart check, a how are we doing check.

Date Weekly - If finances don't allow for dinner out or a babysitter, get creative at home. Cook together and eat picnic-style in a random room and enjoy conversation, bake together, give each other a massage or pedicure. If you can get out, go spend time in a bookstore or coffee shop, walk around the neighbourhood, attend a wine tasting, go tobogganing or ice skating. The point is to do something that reminds you that you just enjoy being with your spouse/significant other/partner.

Tony & Lisa on a date.

Depart Quarterly – Enjoy a trip together, preferably overnight. Use the time to refocus your goals as a couple and re-prioritize each other as #1. Take advantage of this time together and have fun!

Our happily ever after is different than yours, and I am not saying ours is a perfect union. We constantly work at our relationship and work through issues that may arise. Marriage is two imperfect people coming together, there are going to be hard times. Be prepared and take even the good times in marriage and work at making it even better.

This article was written by Lisa B, one of our newest blog contributors. When she's not chasing her 2 boys outdoors, she's up to her elbows with glue and glitter!

Valentine's Ideas & Traditions

2012-02-12T20:30:00.001-06:00

Happy Sunday, lovelies!! I hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend and that you’re spending it with those you love. Valentine’s Day is almost here and I, for one, am very excited! Jamit and I will probably keep our celebration pretty low key, since it will be mid-week and it’s a very busy month at work. I think what we’ll appreciate most is a nice dinner at home, with a great bottle of wine and a romantic movie! Since I won’t have too much time to prepare a complicated meal, I decided to make one of Jamit’s very favorite desserts; these molten chocolate cakes are surprisingly easy to prepare and are decadent and very romantic!

What do you have planned for V-Day this year? As I child I loved how special I was always made to feel on heart day. My Mom would find a way to add some special, “love flair” to our meals and would always tuck a little, love note in our lunch box (something she did on a regular basis). She used to cut our sandwiches into the shape of a heart and we thought it was brilliant! I love this idea for a festive breakfast. My Dad used to make a point of bringing me something special on Valentine’s Day that I knew was just from him. We always knew that Mom did the majority of the gift buying (or at the very least, it was a team effort), but on Valentine’s Day my Dad would come home with a gift for my Mom and something wonderful; just for me, just from him! xo

Do you have any unique Valentine’s ideas or traditions to share? I think these marshmallows are just the sweetest! Wouldn’t they be a great gift for a teacher, along with a tin of cocoa? You could give your little one the edible markers and let them go to town!

I found these free templates for pretty Valentines and plan on printing a few to hand out to friends on Wednesday!

I don’t generally exchange Valentines gifts anymore (Jamit and I try and do something thoughtful for one another, rather than buying gifts), but I remembered a tradition I was the lucky beneficiary of a few years ago and thought I might start making it my own. It was the week before Christmas and my Dad came home from work with a small gift tagged for me. It was from one of his coworkers and his family; I was stunned! I knew them fairly well, but certainly never imagined I was on their gift list. When I opened it on Christmas morning I found a lovely set of French soaps and a beautiful scarf. I was so touched and immediately picked up the phone to thank them. When I asked them how it was I got so lucky to have been given such a thoughtful gift, they explained that each year they choose someone they are not expected to buy a present for and they surprise them with something thoughtful. As a family, they were trying to emphasize the true meaning of gift giving. They thought of me and wanted to show me that I was important to them. I was incredibly moved and can’t believe it’s taken me this many years to pay it forward! This Valentines Day I’ve chosen one of my new girlfriends who was so welcoming and went out of her way to help me make new friends when I first moved to Boston. I plan on giving her a copy of Tina Fey’s “Bossypants”. Have you read it? It’s such a fun read! Her prayer for her daughter made me laugh out loud! I’m sure many of you can relate.

My funny Valentines' Love, Jamit with our dog Lumi.

This week I’ll leave you with this adorable video my friend, Danielle, posted. Her kids are ridiculously cute and it makes me chuckle each time I see it! My favorite part is Sacha referring to himself in the third person! I’m sure you Mommies can imagine how long it took to clean Milla of “the lotion”; as I recall it was somewhere around the one week mark. Enjoy and have a marvelous week!

This article was written by Courtney Dhaliwal, one of our newest blog contributors. While she's not a mom yet, she is by far the best Aunty one can ask for (and a pretty darn good BFF).

The New Modern Family

2012-02-06T19:40:00.001-06:00

I was inspired to write this blog post while watching Modern Family, one of my favourite TV shows. I started thinking about how there are so many different styles of families in today’s day and age. At one time, there was an idealistic image that society placed on a family. That image still exists to a certain point today but more and more, the new modern family is here and I think that it is fantastic!

There are many reasons why I think momstown is great and one of them is that it brings together a diverse group of families and moms. I’m sure with some of us, there is a twenty year age gap and it’s great that we can find commonality with other moms, regardless of our age. Some of us come from all over the world and are part of different cultures, yet together in the same room, the conversation flows. The conversation can be about our children and our families or about our personal interests and hobbies and everything else in between.

There are many things about a traditional family that is changing and I feel that as long as love is preached within the home, let everyone be happy and live their life! I’m a firm believer in “make love, not war.” Some kids have two moms or two dads, others have one of each and some have just the one parent. Some couples have found love a second time around through marriage and divorce and are blending families and are having more children with their new partner.

There are many couples who are waiting longer to get married and start a family, if at all getting married. I know people who are in common-law relationships (with and without children) and they appear to be as happy as the happily married couples I know. Not all couples feel the need to get married and it’s great that two people know what they want and are comfortable with their decision.
It’s a great feeling to be on the same page as your partner. Not including fertility issues, some couples are waiting longer to have children because they are focusing on a career or enjoy a certain lifestyle. Some people know that they want a large family; others know that they want a small family; some are not sure and are just going to go with the flow of life. All the power to everyone for whatever makes you happy!

There are children being raised in the sprawling suburbs, some children are being raised in high rise condos in an urban center and some children are being raised outside the city but just close enough for amenities. Each environment has advantages and disadvantages and it totally depends on the family. What works for one family will not necessarily work for another. This logic can be used for so many different topics.

momstown Winnipeg at a Pajama Breakfast!

We all have different parenting styles but want the best for our children and families. With momstown, there is so much that we can learn from one another if we’re open minded about it. With some issues, you may stand firm with what you already feel and with other issues, you’re more flexible and open to other opinions. That is why momstown is fantastic! We’re here for one another and we’re all part of the new modern family because as the saying goes, “it takes a village to raise a family” and momstown is the new village!

This article was written by Christina H, one of our newest blog contributors. She is currently a Stay at Home Mom to an adorable 18 month old.

Linden Christian School Information Evenings

2012-01-31T12:35:00.000-06:00

Still time to attend Linden Christian School's Information Evenings for Middle Years (Grade 5-8) and Senior Years (Grade 9-12). See below for details on how you can attend.

How To Make Your Own Chef’s Hat

2012-01-30T23:18:00.002-06:00

In January, momstown Winnipeg introduced the Junior Chefs program. Kids learned how to read directions, measure, mix, bake, and the fun part.... decorate! Each child got a personalized Chef’s hat to wear and take home.

Supplies (for one hat):

1 – 14L Kitchen Bag, white

1 – 3” strip of poster board

Markers / Stickers for decorating

Stapler

Steps to making your own chefs hat:

1. Decorate poster board strip as you wish. For our group, I put each child’s name in stickers on the hats.

2. Measure the child’s head using the strip. Don’t make it too snug, then the child won’t wear it. Staple the ends.

3. Open the kitchen bag. Using the open end of the bag begin stapling it to the poster board strip (as shown). Remember to staple from the inside, so the rough staple edges are pointing out, not poking the child’s head.

4. Once stapled all around, shake the hat to get air into the bag to help it stand up straight.

Enjoy your new Chef’s hat!

This article was written by Lisa B, one of our newest blog contributors. When she's not chasing her 2 boys outdoors, she's up to her elbows with glue and glitter!

Celebrate Chinese New Years with the Kids!

2012-01-28T13:12:00.001-06:00

I am a firm believer of teaching your children your heritage and to also explore other cultures. Canada is such a diverse country and we should celebrate this. My children are a quarter Chinese from my husbands’ side so I wanted to teach them all about Chinese New Years. Unfortunately their Great Grandma Chin past away last year and my Mother-In-Law was out of town. How was I to teach them this important Chinese celebration without the help of the pros?!?! In comes Google. I searched, and searched, and searched for some history, facts, ideas, and the superstitions. If you know anything about the Chinese culture, it is that they have superstitions and ‘what not to do’ lists! I didn’t want to screw this up! I even went to a Chinese market all alone! I was nervous. I’m not really sure why. Maybe they’d wonder what I’m doing in there. Do I bring my child in with me so they clearly get the Chinese connection! If you see my daughter the eyes are a dead giveaway. So I immediately found the lai see, red envelopes used to give money. I also purchased some oranges and fortune cookies. When I went to pay they lady smiled at me and said ‘Happy Chinese New Years’. She totally knew why I was in there!

I found some great craft ideas and downloaded Chinese music from itunes. What’s a party without dancing? My Latin background is in my blood. You can’t take the love of dancing out of me. Instead of the usually salsa I do with my daughter I was planning a dragon dance. After all, it’s the year of the dragon! I also got some ornaments from my Mother-In-Law’s and used the ornaments for decorations. And I informed our guests to wear red. Believe it or not, I couldn’t find red for my daughter. But she has a few beautiful Chinese dresses, so I put one on her. I broke a rule!!! She wore pink! All well. Next year I’ll be more prepared.

So the day of the party came. Some momstown mama’s came over with their kids. We had circle time and talked about Chinese New Years. Here are some facts I gathered, courtesy of mindful mum and A China Family Adventure.

Chinese New Year is the most significant holiday in the Chinese calendar, where it is known as the ‘spring festival’. People celebrate the beginning of the new season as it symbolizes new life and marks an end to winter.

The most common way to wish someone a Happy New Year is Gung Xi Fa Cai in Mandarin or Gung Hey Fat Choy in Cantonese. The meaning:
Gung Xi – are good wishes or congratulations
Fa Cai or Fat Choy – to become rich, acquire wealth

How is Chinese New Year celebrated?
Celebrations start in the first day of the lunar cycle, and end on the fifteenth day, when the moon is at its brightest. For 2012 it starts on January 23.

Before celebrations for New Year begin, however, it is considered prosperous to completely clean one’s house; this symbolizes sweeping away any bad luck that the previous year may have brought. After the house has been cleaned, brushes, dustpans and brooms are all put away, as cleaning at any time after this might sweep away the good luck that comes with the new year.

It is traditional for families to hang red lanterns outside their houses and to wear new red clothing, as it is believed that doing so will ward off any evil spirits. Fireworks are also set off for this reason. On New Year’s Eve, families will reunite and enjoy a large traditional meal together.

After our circle time we did crafts. The kids made red lanterns and dragons. Click here to see how to make a lantern. For the dragon, I found a great dragon craft on Kaboose. Print out a dragon head, have the kids decorate it and add a piece of streamer for the body. The kids used this during their dragon dance.

For a snack we ate oranges and fortune cookies. Then we used our dragon craft and danced to some Chinese music. The kids had a blast! They danced in a circle and also danced around the entire house chasing one another with their dragons.

After a half an hour of dancing it was time for home time. My daughter helped me hand out the lai see and we practiced saying Gung Hey Fat Choy as our guest left. I’m sure I didn’t quite follow the entire traditions of Chinese New Years but I think Great-Granny Chin would be proud that we celebrated and honored this very important holiday!

Disney On Ice 100 Years of Magic!

2012-01-27T15:33:00.000-06:00

Last night was the opening night in Winnipeg for Disney On Ice 100 Years of Magic! The show was amazing! My 3 year old and her cousin had a fabulous time. The look on their faces when Mickey Mouse came out onto the ice was priceless. Now that my daughter is a bit older I found she knew a lot more characters this year so she enjoyed the whole show.

Getting ready for the show to start!

My daughter is really into Pinocchio right now, so her favourite part of the night was Jiminy Cricket. Who knew! I thought the Disney Princesses would be the highlight of her night. And when The Lion King came out I don't know who was more excited. I think I was cheering the loudest in our section.

Disney is celebrating 100 Years of Magic and they sure know how to put on a party! My daughter keeps asking to go back. I think a trip to Disney World is in order soon!

They have more shows going on all through the weekend. So you too can join the celebration as 65 of Disney's unforgettable characters from 18 beloved stories come to life in Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic! You and your family will get to see Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio and many of the Disney Princesses! Characters from The Lion King, Mulan, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles and Toy Story will also be there too!

Check out more information about the show at http://disney.go.com/disneyonice/

You can purchase your tickets on ticket master.

Want to save on tickets to see Disney On Ice Celebrates 100 Years of Magic? Save $4 off per ticket when you use the coupon code NEMO at ticketmaster.ca for select shows.

• $4 off (Valid on Thursday 7pm, Saturday 7pm and Sunday 12pm)
• Code: NEMO
• Buy tickets by: Internet / Phone / Box Office
• Restrictions: EXCLUDES Front Row, VIP, and Rinkside tickets / no double discounts

Enjoy the show! And come back here to tell us what you thought!

If it Takes a Village, Does That Make Me the Idiot?

2012-01-24T19:34:00.000-06:00

My very first contributing blog entry for momstown. I feel like I’m walking up to meet a blind date for the very first time and am experiencing all the classic symptoms. Dry mouth (admittedly, potentially from the bottle of red I am funneling at light speed), sweaty palms, heart racing and all of the typical, neurotic pre-first date thoughts are swirling through my head. Will you like me? Will I come across as witty and cute, or will your great aunt’s, drycleaner’s, brother in-law call with an “emergency” in the middle of you reading this? A familiar panic is setting in…

Now that I’ve introduced myself as Woody Allen, let me explain that I’m not (quite) the manic flake I’m making myself out to be. The truth is, this usually very cool and composed girl has very good reason to feel like a fish out of water here. Confession time. I’m not a Mom. Are you still here? You are probably asking yourself what I can possibly contribute to a Moms’ group. Believe me when I say this; ever since Ester asked me to write for momstown, I have been asking myself the same thing. At first, I saw this assignment as a way to come through for my best friend as she works tirelessly to build a successful business, while raising two small children and overseeing construction on a new home. As I am currently living in Boston, I’m not around to do all the things I would be doing if I were in Winnipeg (namely babysitting my precious Bella and Benji). If writing is what Ester wants from me, then words she shall have! What the hell am I going to write for a blog about being a Mom? Foiled! I found the fatal flaw in my good deed for the year.

Courtney with her adorably, quirky husband, Jamit, and their free spirited Wheaten Terrier, Lumi. Doing one of the things they love best, hiking!

After months (in addition to the neuroses, I am also a procrastinator of the first order) of social observation, searching the Internet, conducting my own (and might I add, very insightful) surveys, and numerous hours of harassing a girlfriend who holds a Masters degree in Early Child Development from Harvard, I have finally found my voice! What started off as a favor to a dear friend has turned into an endeavor I am truly excited to share with all of you.

I may not be a Mom yet, but please know that I see what an incredibly, impossible job it is and I am truly in awe. I am at that stage in life where many of my best friends have kids, so I don’t quite feel like an outsider. I’m certainly in no position to be giving parenting advice, but the thing is I believe it takes more than just parents to love and advocate for a child. The job is simply too big and kids deserve more than that. On that note and for what it’s worth, here’s my contribution, however small! While I won’t be doling out any advice per se, I hope to connect you to some insightful, humorous, often frivolous, yet fun and sometimes controversial, resources. I LOVE a juicy debate and parenting is an area that deserves to be constantly studied and discussed in a forum that is free of judgment and ridicule (oh yes ladies, I know all about the “Judgy Mom” epidemic).

Thank you so much for indulging me and I am very excited to be a part of something so special. I have heard so many wonderful things about all of you momstown Mommies and if all the stories are true, I think this might be the beginning of something very interesting…

This article was written by Courtney Dhaliwal, one of our newest blog contributors. While she's not a mom yet, she is by far the best Aunty one can ask for (and a pretty darn good BFF).

Disney On Ice Celebrates 100 Years of Magic! Save with this coupon code!

2012-01-24T14:16:00.000-06:00

Disney on Ice is coming to Winnipeg January 26 - 29, 2012!

Join the celebration as 65 of Disney's unforgettable characters from 18 beloved stories come to life in Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic! You and your family will get to see Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Jiminy Cricket, Pinoccio and many of the Disney Princesses! Characters from The Lion King, Mulan, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles and Toy Story will also be there too!

The Dreaded Playdate

2012-01-20T20:28:00.000-06:00

Every so often I see a mom sign up for a membership never to be seen or heard. They may lurk the board from time to time but never actually come out to any events. I encourage moms to come out to events and for various reasons it doesn't always work with their schedule. This I understand. We're all busy, and it's impossible to have events scheduled at times that will accommodate everyone.

What I do wonder is how many of these moms don't come out to an event because they are shy and nervous? Nervous of what you may ask? Well, of fitting in. Of acceptance. Of the unknown. See, I understand because I was a new member too at one time.

My daughter when we just moved to Burlington. I spent a lot of time taking pictures of her to pass the time.

I'll take you back 2 years ago. We moved to Burlington, Ontario. Me, my husband and my 6 month old daughter. I didn't know anyone there. I was scared of being lonely but excited for our next adventure. I knew in order to survive I would have to join classes with my daughter. And lots! So I Googled mom and baby activities around the Burlington / Halton area. I was prepared to drive anywhere so I could get out of the house and keep busy. I joined swimming. I wasn't too nervous about this. It's swimming. We listen to the instructor but don't have to really worry if we aren't talking to other moms. We're there to to swim, not socialize. But when I arrived I felt the urge to talk to the other moms. I was so lonely I just needed to talk, to anyone! So I'd strike up a conversation and they'd talk back to me. We'd smile, say "I'll see you next week," and go on our day. After the last class I never saw those moms again. How do you pick up another mommy friend? It's not that easy. "Do you want to be my friend?"

So I Googled more activities. I stumbled upon momstown. It sounded like an interesting concept. So I signed up. $45! What do I have to lose. I signed up for a few events. I think I canceled the first few. I chickened out. Go to a playdate where I don't know anyone?!?! So I built up courage and I signed up for another. I clicked on each mom's profile who was signed up. I studied it like I was preparing for an exam. I didn't want to forget anyone's name or their kid's name. My first event was at Sharkey's. The Goldfish Playdate. It was a public place, so not as awkward as going into a strange mom's home. This I can handle. I chatted with the other moms. My daughter looked around and smiled at the other moms and babies. I went home and looked at their profiles again. I liked them. I think I may have found some friends. And I don't have to ask them to be my friend! I can see the next playdate they are signed up for and go. It will just come naturally.

Next up, a playdate at someone's home. I remember going to our first playdate at a mom's home. Ringing the doorbell and introducing myself. "Hi, I'm Ester. I'm here for your playdate." Again, another new and awkward situation. But I overcame it. Was I nervous? Yes! But each and every mom at that playdate had been new at one point too. They went through those same feelings I went through. You won't make friends unless you put yourself out there. It's like dating. Mr. Right won't come along while you're sitting at home.

A group of moms that I became friends with. All our kids turned 1 around the same time so we celebrated together.

I realized that it wasn't so bad to go to a playdate and not know anyone. I was nervous but I also wanted to teach my baby not to fear the unknown. To be sociable. I'm a pretty shy person but as I get out there, forcing myself to meet other moms, I am overcoming my shy nature. You probably won't hear me stop talking now. I also think reading the message board helped too. You start to feel like you know these moms before you even meet. It was nice to find a message board that was with local moms, not moms across the country.

Going to a playgroup is so much more valuable then we realize. It provides moms and their babies with activities that get them out of the house. You can make new friends and enjoy adult conversation. It helps moms from feeling isolated, which is essential in fighting postpartum depression. Socializing is important in order to be happy, healthy moms. Your baby is socializing too. Even if you think he or she is just lying there. They are watching other babies. Processing what is going on. These babies do get older. Eventually they'll be crawling and walking! Playing with the other babies that they have essentially grown up with. Making friends too!

So you shy moms, get out there! Come to a playdate. If you are lucky to have a mom group in your community like momstown, join! And come out to an event. Those heart racing, sweating palms will eventually go away. The dreaded playdate isn't as bad as you think it will be. And it sure beats trying to pick up a mom at the playground.

29 Activities To Keep The Kids Busy Indoors This February

2012-01-19T23:24:00.001-06:00

As I write this letter I hear the wind howling through the house. What a week it has been - fleece jackets and park outings to parkas and indoor activities. I hope everyone is staying warm and safe. I wasn't prepared to be stuck inside today, so I put together a list of inside activities. The list includes one activity for each day in February. Let's hope we will not need all of these!

1. Spend the day in pajamas
2. Exercise with the television or tape
3. Do a craft
4. Build a model
5. Put together a jigsaw puzzle
6. Organize photos
7. Create an album or scrapbook
8. Look through old photos
9. Play a board game
10. Play cards
11. Play 20 questions
12. Play I Spy
13. Watch a movie
14. Read books
15. Set up the tent inside
16. Skype with distant family members or friends
17. Dance
18. Bake cookies
19. Clean
20. Organize a closet
21. Sort through clutter and find some things to give away or throw out
22. Indoor Scavenger Hunt
23. Make ice cream
24. Put on a concert or talent show
25. Make sock puppets
26. Build a fort
27. Video record your kids
28. Perform science experiments
29. Bring to Beach to Us with an indoor beach party! (It's a leap year)

If our mild winter weather does return, I hope to see you at the park!

Lisa B.

This article was written by Lisa B, one of our newest blog contributors. When she's not chasing her 2 boys outdoors, she's up to her elbows with glue and glitter!

Life of a Stay At Home Mom

2012-01-17T22:07:00.000-06:00

Life has brought me to this wonderful (most of time) chapter and I’d like to share a little bit with you about what it is like to be a SAHM. One of the reasons I like staying home is because it’s a quiet and drama free life (I mean, quiet and drama free in a different way than what is thrown at you with a toddler running around.)

Before becoming a SAHM, I didn’t really focus on anything for too long. I still easily get bored when I’m not challenged, and at times I am eager to see what else is out there. I am a free spirit so I think that it’s just embedded in me. I accept it and embrace who I am. My life resume is far more interesting than the work and education listed on my resume. I like to think that I’ve lived a pretty exciting life and I pride myself on being well balanced. Since becoming a SAHM, I’ve found a focus like never before. It’s a focus that makes me feel fantastic, like what I’m doing is so much bigger than what it appears to be. In the grand scheme of things, I belong here.

At times, it’s been difficult accepting my role and I sometimes catch myself dreaming about doing something else. Part of the difficulty in taking on this role is that I had been on my own for ten years prior to meeting my husband. Independence is not something that can easily be given up, at least not for me. It was quite an adjustment from paying for everything myself to relying 100% on someone else. It was an adjustment for my husband as well, from having household expenses divided up to solely supporting a family. Just like others in our position, the adjustment period takes time and eventually it all gets smoothed out.

In the SAHM job description, something that often is not talked about is how isolating and lonely it can feel at times. Similar to Postpartum Depression, people are still not very comfortable talking about certain things. Family and community dynamics have changed drastically over the years. Growing up, I was surrounded by other kids at the playground and during the summer, I had countless cousins to play with. Today, the parks are practically empty due to a handful of reasons including technology and family living further away from one another.

As for technology, it has decreased face to face socialization but it’s also increased socialization. I’m able to stay in touch with people easier then before. It won’t come as a surprise to anyone that I often frequent Facebook throughout the day. I personally thrive on communication and I need it on a daily basis. Facebook gives me a connection that I need to the outside world. On the momstown message board, I jokingly said, “Boredom and loneliness are classified together as one of the seven enemies of survival and I think they would kill me first before hunger did.” I’m only half joking.

I am a firm believer in getting out of the house and socializing face to face on a regular basis. I feel that socializing by yourself is just as important as socializing with your kids (SAHM or working mom, it doesn’t matter). There are layers to us as individuals - we are wives (girlfriends, partners, lovers, significant others) and we are mothers but we also have an inner core when we strip away everything else. All of our layers deserve and need attention. If we don’t take care of ourselves, eventually and down the road, there is a good chance that we are going to burn out. It all boils down to balancing the layers that make us who we are. The balancing act is forever changing and different layers need more attention at times than others.

“Me time” is so important. I cannot stress it enough that we need to take care of ourselves. “Me time” can be as simple as an uninterrupted bubble bath or a weekend away at a yoga retreat. “Me time” can be signing up for classes, going out for a cup of coffee by yourself or having dinner with a friend. Take one look at the momstown calendar and you will find countless opportunities to get out of the house for a little “me time”.

One of the most important things about being a SAHM, I learned from my mom. She had earned a diploma in the 1970’s and in the 80’s and early 90’s, she decided to stay at home and raise a family. When my Dad passed away in 1993, she returned to work. Her education and office skills were outdated and she went to work at Tim Hortons. A few years later when my brothers and I were older, she returned to school and upgraded her computer and office skills and was able to find work that better suited her.

I want to encourage every SAHM reading this to get their foot in the door somewhere. It can be a part time job, volunteering (great way to maintain references) or going to school part time. I keep my foot in the door and my resume active by volunteering, and in the spring I will start working towards a Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric and Communications on a part time basis.

Being a SAHM is a wonderful chapter in my life that I wouldn’t trade for anything. I love being here when my daughter wakes up in the morning and through all of our daily adventures. I want to be at home with her during her first five years of life and I feel truly blessed that I am able to. After this chapter, I will be ready to move on to something else and in small ways; I am slowly preparing myself for it.

This article was written by Christina H, one of our newest blog contributors. She is currently a Stay at Home Mom to an adorable 18 month old.

Goldfish Playdates at Purely Baby

2012-01-17T14:01:00.000-06:00

Our first Goldfish playdate at the new Purely Baby started last week. This playdate is for moms and their babies 0 to 12 months old. It's a great way for moms to get out of the house, socialize and enjoy good company. And nobody has to worry about cleaning their house for friends to come over. Well, except Becky, the owner of Purely Baby!

We were some of the first in Winnipeg to see the brand new facility that offers prenatal and postnatal programs and resources for Winnipeg moms. It is a fabulous space. We loved the soft floors and bouncy balls. We pretty much stayed until we had to leave. What do you mean there's a yoga class after us?! :)

We are there once a week. If you are interested in joining this playgroup, you can register at momstown Winnipeg. Playgroups are included in your momstown membership!

Japanese Painting Workshop

2012-01-17T13:43:00.000-06:00

One of the benefits of having an artist as a member is using her talent to teach the rest of us! Cathy, our very own in-house art teacher got together will a group of moms to teach them pseudo-rice paper Japanese style painting.

It is super easy for anyone, even those with no background in art!

Keep an eye on the calendar! She's got more workshops in the works.

Thanks again Cathy for hosting a fabulous workshop!

Clothing Swap

2012-01-16T15:19:00.000-06:00

Have a lot of clothes that you want to giveaway but also need to update your own wardrobe? Host a clothing swap with your friends. The other week a bunch of momstown moms got together to swap clothes.

Initially we planned to use decks of cards to keep track of how many items we each brought, and we could 'buy' the same amount back. But after quickly realizing the excessive amounts of clothes we had (we love to shop!), we just decided to go at it. Everyone was of different shapes and sizes but there was still something for everyone. That's the benefit of having a swap with moms. We've all been different sizes at some point in the last few years. We also had accessories there.

To have a successful clothing swap have somewhere to hang some clothes and have some mirrors around the room. You may also wish to have private rooms or bathrooms for fitting rooms.

And what's a girls get together without food!

After we went through the piles of clothes we packed up the rest and donated the bags of clothes to Ka Ni Kanichihk which is an organization supporting Aboriginal women. They were looking for clothing donations for their "My Sister's Closet" event on Jan 19th. They have an office administrative training program for women and in February the participants begin work placements and job interviews. We thought it was the perfect place to donate the clothing and accessories. We had quite a few business attire that would be much appreciated at Ka Ni Kanichihk. The clothing donations will be a big help for women prepare for the professional work environment.

Kids Book Club - Perfect Snow

2012-01-16T14:24:00.000-06:00

This month we got together to read Perfect Snow by Barbara Reid, a favourite author in this household!

Perfect Snow is about two boys and their adventure with freshly fallen snow! Snow comes one night, and the next morning it's Perfect Snow for the schoolyard. Scott is making snowmen, and Jim wants to build the world's best snowfort. They find a way to work together to make a great creation from the perfect snow!

Winter Wonderland is our January theme at momstown, so this book was perfect! We made snowman for our craft and used some sugar to make snow on our art work. Nothing like a little mess and some good old fashion sensory play! Thanks to Chapters Polo for letting us make a mess of their place!

Congratulations to this adorable little tot who got to take home a copy of the book!

Kids Book Club - A Porcupine in a Pine Tree

2012-01-16T14:13:00.000-06:00

This past month we got together to read a fabulous book called A Porcupine in a Pine Tree - A Canadian 12 Days of Christmas written by Helaine Becker and illustrated by Werner Zimmerman.

This is the classic 12 Days of Christmas, but with a Canadian twist! There are beavers, caribou, loons, and even Stanley Cups!

For our craft we made Rudolph ornaments the keep with the theme of Christmas, and our monthly theme of R is for Rudolph!

Thanks to Scholastics for sending us this fabulous book to read and giveaway! This mama has had to sing this book many times during the Christmas season. It was even brought out to sing at our Circle Time Nursery Rhymes playdate!

Announcing Our Meals4Mamas Program!

2012-01-06T00:40:00.000-06:00

momstown Winnipeg announces the launched a new program called Meals4Mamas.

Meals4Mamas is one of the benefits of being a momstown Winnipeg member. It provides an opportunity for our members to help one another out when they need it most. Who better to understand the struggles of a new mom then our own members! Meals4Mamas will provide your family meals every other day for two weeks. It is most widely used by our moms who just had babies; however, we will provide meals in the event of a death in the family or major surgery and need the extra assistance.

Questions running through your head? Hopefully the answer is below:

1. How much time do I need to give the Meals4Mamas coordinator to set up meals?

While the more time, the better, it is understood that things happen and a moment’s notice is all that is given. If you know you’re having a baby, please try to email info.winnipeg@momstown.ca prior to your delivery so we are aware you’ll be in need of meals. If you are in need of meals for a death or illness in the family, then just let us know as soon as you can and we’ll do our best to get the meals set up right away.

2. If I’m on the Meal Maker list, how often do I have to prepare a meal?

You decide how often you can help. If you can make a meal on one of the requested dates, please do and if not, we will catch you next time.

3. What kind of meal should I prepare?

You will receive information about the family’s preferences and allergies when you volunteer to be a Meal Maker. Please assemble a complete and balanced meal that is enough for the entire family plus leftovers. Some ideas: Chicken and rice casserole, broccoli, rolls, brownies; chili or soup, bagged salad, bread, cookies; barbeque chicken, green beans, baked potatoes, fruit salad

If you are expecting, please email info.winnipeg@momstown.ca. We will send you a short questionnaire to fill out and then leave the rest to us!

Looking for Mamas who want to volunteer!

If you are interested in being a Meals4Mama Meal Maker, please email info.winnipeg@momstown.ca. When a meal request is made, we will contact you with instructions.

Thank you to all the volunteers who are making this program possible. After all, It Takes a Village to raise a child.

Calling All First Time Expecting Moms!

2012-01-03T01:32:00.002-06:00

Are you a first time expecting mom living in the Winnipeg area? momstown offers a FREE membership until 1 month after your due date.

momstown Winnipeg One Great Year

2011-12-31T14:03:00.001-06:00

Have a Happy New Years Winnipeg Moms! Thank you for one great year!

How to Celebrate New Years with Toddlers

2011-12-30T18:18:00.003-06:00

Want to celebrate New Years with your little ones but don't want to keep them up till midnight? Host a Noon Year Party and ring in the new year at noon. momstown.ca is celebrating Noon Year across the country, and here in Winnipeg we had two parties!

Anyone can host a Noon Year party. Send out invitations a few weeks before. During the holidays it gets busy so give them plenty of notice. Or if you are lucky enough to be in a city where there is a moms group, like momstown.ca, chances are they are hosting one already. Join in on the fun and attend your local groups Noon Year Party.

Have a potluck. Organizing a party when you have little kids at home is always a challenge. Make it a bit easier on yourself and have all the moms sign up to bring one item. Finger foods are best for young children.

Don't make your party too long. Have guests arrive between 10:30 and 11 am. End the party around 1 pm. This gives you time to have some activities before noon, celebrate the ball drop at noon, eat and then the kids can play. Longer then that and you will just have over-tired kids kicking, screaming and crying.

Have a ball drop! You can make this easily by cutting 2 large pieces of paper, like Christmas wrapping paper or easel paper, and tape it to the ceiling. Tape string on the paper. Place balloons under them. When noon comes, have a countdown and rip the paper by pulling on the string. Down comes the balloons. If you plan to have younger infants at the party just warn their mama's so they can hold onto them. Balloons are a choking hazard.

Plan an activity, like crafts. We love doing crafts at our momstown events. You can do a simple craft for a Noon Year Party like decorating foam crowns. Or you can make glitter fireworks! You can buy all the supplies at your local dollar store. Another great idea that our member Micheline had was to have a puppet show. Your kids can practice for a few weeks and have a show for their friends.

Get noise makers, party hats and crackers. The kids will love this! Bubbles are also a hit with kids. It's not as messy as confetti and safe for the younger ones.

Make a toast! Get some cute, fancy plastic champagne glasses and serve sparkling apple juice. Pink lemonade is another great alternative.

Most importantly, get someone to take video and photos of the big party. This is a party that you will want to remember for years to come!

Thanks to Lisa B and Micheline G for hosting our momstown Winnipeg Noon Year Parties.

Missed out on our Noon Year Parties? Sign up today to see our jammed packed calendar of events.

I Don't Know How She Does It

2011-12-28T00:40:00.004-06:00

I was recently given the opportunity to review Sarah Jessica Parker's latest movie I Don't Know How She Does It which is out on DVD January 3. When I watched the trailer my first thought was this would be a great movie to watch with my momstown friends. Moms are bound to resonate with one of the characters in the movie.

The moment the movie started, I was laughing. It begins immediately with the 'list'. I don't know a mom that doesn't do this! Fearing the teacher when you're late dropping off your child at a school! Getting snubbed by your daughter when you are not around much! Let's not forget the 'hair cut'! It was all too familiar with a recent business trip to Toronto for our momstown Conference. Except for me I missed the first time my son stood on his own. I could go on and on but I don't want to spoil the movie.

Based on the bestseller by Allison Pearson, I Don't Know How She Does It is about Kate Reddy (Parker), who is a working mom in Boston that is trying to juggle marriage, two children and a high-stress job. The movie finds humour in the stereotypes that stay-at-home-moms and working moms go through. From Allison, Kate's working mother friend, to the scary supermoms at her daughter's school to her workaholic, child-phobic young junior associate Momo, you'll find yourself relating far too often to the characters. We all struggle to be that supermom, perfect wife and exceptional employee. Mama guilt is far to common, as is the comparison to the other mom's around you. How does she do it? Look composed, clean, calm, thin, well rested?

I've heard it often myself. Ester, I don't know how you do it? I won't lie and say it isn't stressful. We make it look like we have it all together yet in reality we are barely making it through the day. I lay awake at night making my 'list'. I type emails while feeding my son his breakfast. I bought my tarts this Christmas instead of making it from scratch. The trick is to put it in a box with a nice ribbon and it looks like I've been up all night baking. I haven't experienced lice yet, but I sometimes forget the last time I've showered!

It took me three times to get through this movie. Not because it was awful, but because I kept getting interrupted from a waking baby. I found irony in this. The first night I attempted to watch it I was wrapping Christmas presents while watching the movie, running to rock a crying baby back to sleep and then continuing on with my work. Then I had to finish setting up toys from Santa so my kids could have a perfect Christmas morning. I finished the night at 2 am, preparing our traditional Wife Saver for Christmas morning brunch.

The movie couldn't have come at a better time for me. This past year has been the most hectic, exhausting yet rewarding year of my life. While I struggle to find balance as a mom, wife and business owner I love my children, love my husband and love my job.

Want to make life a little easier. You can enter to win a $1,000 Gift Certificate to Molly Maid at Saveland.ca. Enter here.

I can't wait to show this movie at the next Mom Movie Night with the momstown mamas! Check out the trailer:

Honey Glazed Carrots

2011-12-21T21:57:00.001-06:00

During the holidays my family gets together and each of us are in charge of bringing a dish or two. Glazed carrots is a family favourite! Here's the recipe I've been using since I can remember.

2-3 cups baby carrots (or large carrots cut into small pieces)
1/2 cup butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
fresh minced parsley or chives

In a medium skillet, melt butter. Add brown sugar, honey, nutmeg and cinnamon; mix together. Add carrots. Cover; cook on medium low to medium heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. When finished cooking, the carrots should be firm, not mushy.

Remove from skillet and sprinkle with fresh parsley and/or chives. Serve.

momstown Holiday Party

2011-12-18T23:12:00.001-06:00

The previous Saturday we had our 1st Annual momstown Holiday Party. It was great to see so many of our members come out who I haven't seen in some time. I have been working on the party for some time but this time Santa sent me some helpers so I was able to enjoy a lot of the party. We had crafts, music, a potluck, trivia, prizes, a dance party and a visit from Santa! Not to mention some great company and lots of laughter and happy kids running around!

I had some homemade gingerbread playdough for the kids to play with. I also made a Christmas playdough using peppermint and coloured it green. By the end it was all one big ball of nutmeg, cinnamon and peppermint, but still smelled good!

We had a potluck and had a great variety of healthy snacks...... cookies are healthy right? Well the veggie platter balances it out!

Santa came by for a visit. The kids loved him! He even danced with us to some Christmas tunes!

In some cases moms loved Santa more then the kids. There may have been the odd tear too. Is it bad that I love these photos the most?

What's a Holiday Party without a Christmas Tree! Thanks to Santa's little helpers for setting this up for us!

Here's Santa again! The kids just couldn't get enough of him.

The generosity of our moms just continues. We had a collection going for our 2 families for the Christmas Cheer Board. We also had a collection going for The United Ways Koats for Kids.

What's a party without a little gift. Santa left each family some Reindeer Food to take home. You must remember to feed them too. Everyone leaves milk and cookies for Santa but forget about his helpers. They need fuel to fly around the world that night. Click here to see how you can make this Reindeer Food at home.

Thanks to all of Santa's helpers for helping make this event a success! Happy Holidays!

Make Your Own Center Piece This Holiday Season

2011-12-17T14:17:00.001-06:00

We are always looking for new events and we moms love those mom nights out. With Christmas around the corner, we wanted to do something crafty just for us moms for a change. So a bunch of mamas got together to make Christmas center pieces. We shared a pool of supplies and rolled up our sleeves and got crafty.

Luckily for us we have an Art Teacher as a member. Cathy shared some ideas and tips with us.

We had a variety of Christmas ornaments, fake flowers, greenery, pine cones and ribbon in different colour schemes to choose from.

And Captin Marbles was at it again!

What's a mom night out without a little wine....

In the end, each center piece looked different. It showed our different personalities and tastes....

Well except mine. Mine ended up looking like a Carrie Bradshaw hat.

All well. My mom liked it! Hmmm, not sure if that's a good thing! Better try next year! Happy Holidays!

Hot Apple Christmas Punch

2011-12-16T21:17:00.005-06:00

Yesterday was another Gingerbread Decorating Playgroup. It was such a popular event we had 2 parties! Why not! Lisa hosted this one and had a fabulous Hot Apple Christmas Punch that we had to share.

Here's what you need:

1 L Apple Juice

1 L Cranberry Juice

1 container frozen orange juice, undiluted

10 cinnamon disk candies

2-3 cinnamon sticks

Put in slow cooker and wait until it is nice and hot. 2-3 hours on high, or longer on low.

Serve in some adorable Christmas cups and enjoy!

It's the perfect punch to serve at Holiday themed playdates, like our Gingerbread Decorating Playdate! Click here to see how you can make Gingerbread Houses out of Graham Crackers!

*This recipe was contributed by our momstown Winnipeg member Lisa B.

How to Make Christmas Ornaments

2011-12-15T19:32:00.001-06:00

Remember making these cute, traditional salt dough ornaments in school? It's a great ornament to make with the kids that is affordable and made with stuff in your cupboards!

A few weeks back we had a Ornament Making playdate. With the help of my daughter I premade the ornaments because they had to bake for an hour. It's a great activity you can do with your toddler.

But the kids got to paint and decorate them.

We sprayed them with a glossy coating to protect the paint, plus it makes it look pretty too.

And what's a playdate without playing with toys!

Check out the momstown arts and crafts blog for the recipe!

Don't forget to feed Santa's Reindeers! See how to make Reindeer Food.

2011-12-14T21:16:00.000-06:00

This past weekend we had our Holiday Party with momstown Winnipeg moms. Santa came to visit and left some Reindeer Food for the kids to leave outside for when he comes on Christmas Eve with his reindeer. He reminded the boys and girls that the reindeer need to be fed too, not just Jolly Old St. Nick! We always leave milk and cookies for him but forget about all the hard work the reindeer do.

Look Santa is in the background!

So after the party we had a few extra bags and my daughter decided to leave some out just in case the reindeer stopped by early. Luckily it is all natural, because the bunnies ate some of it.

If you want to make some at home for your kids all we put were oats, sugar, and coloured sugar (sugar mixed with red food colouring). Santa told me he found these cute bags at the Dollar store too! Or you can use ziploc bags.

And don't forget to add this cute poem on there too:

Send us a photo on our facebook page when you're kids are sprinkling the reindeer food out on Christmas Eve!

Decorating Gingerbread Houses

2011-12-14T16:11:00.002-06:00

Looking for a great activity to do with your kids this Holiday season? Make a gingerbread house, or two, or three..... or a village! It is a fun playdate that you can do with your kids and their friends that will keep them all engaged and entertained.

We made our houses with graham crackers. It's economical and easy to handle when building the houses. Perfect size for toddlers. There are a variety of recipes for Royal Icing. I ran out of Cream of Tartar but found a great recipe that I was able to do without this ingredient.

If having a Gingerbread Decorating Playdate, ask each parent to bring a topping to be shared. As the host I provided and premade the gingerbread houses the night before to ensure the icing dried and the houses were strong enough for decorating. I placed each house on a disposable Christmas plate so it was easy for each child to bring home.

We set up around the table and placed all the ingredients in the middle to share. Everything from smarties, to candy corns, candy canes, marshmallows, coconut, little itty-bitty gingerbread men, and so much more. The Bulk Barn has a great selection of treats to decorate gingerbread houses.

Can you believe we were all gingerbread house virgins! It was all of our first times decorating a house. Needless to say the moms might have had a bit more fun then the kids!

Here's the Royal Icing recipe I used:

2 large egg whites
2 2/3 cup powdered sugar, divided

Wisk together the egg whites and 1 1/3 cups of the powdered sugar until smooth.

Add the remaining 1 1/3 cups of powdered sugar to the mixture. Beat on high speed until the icing holds stiff peaks. Add more powdered sugar if needed, until stiff peaks form. Place a dampened clean towel over the bowl of royal icing to prevent it from drying out while you work with it. Once you are ready to use it, fill a pastry bag (or ziploc bag with the tip cut off).
*recipe from www.simplyrecipes.com

We had lots of fun and can't wait to do this again next year. I might even attempt to make my own gingerbread houses from scratch! Okay, who am I kidding.... I so won't! Happy Holiday!

More Then A Mom Group!

2011-12-09T00:24:00.001-06:00

The concept of momstown is so new to Winnipeg. When people ask me what I do and I explain momstown, they think 'oh so you're a mom's group.' We are so much more then that. Yes, we get together and have playdates, and we are a group of moms. But momstown is a concept that is like no other group out there.

First, we bring mom's together on-line through our 24/7 message board. This is a huge resource to the moms. They love it. Last month alone I had over 86,000 page views on the momstown Winnipeg site alone! Mom's have said that they check the momstown site several times a day. Pretty much whenever they check facebook, momstown gets checked too. We are essentially our very own, private social media site.

Secondly, we get mom's out of the house so they can socialize in person. We have a calendar on our site where we have over 30+ events per month. Moms can read up on each event, and if it is of interest to them or their child they sign up. These events are included in their membership fee, so often there is no cost, except for maybe the cost of a latte at a coffee shop meetup or entrance fee to a public facility, like Fort Whyte (a momstown favourite). Moms are encouraged to host playdates or suggest events that suite their needs, desires and schedules.

What is unique to our events is our curriculum. We don't just do playdates. We have a monthly theme where we try to incorporate that theme into many of our events. We are huge supporters of early childhood literacy, and have partnered with Scholastic's Canada to bring our member's a Kid's Book Club. We also have our Alphabet Playgroup where kid's learn a new letter every week.

Thirdly, we help moms save money! We have exclusive discounts to local and national businesses. Discounts at places like Hair Do Zoo or online stores like Tiny TreeHugger or Mabel's Labels to name a few. We also love giveaways. We have monthly contests online and at events.

Fourthly, we work with businesses to promote their brand to a specific targeted group.... moms! We provide the opportunity to directly access the key decision maker in the household. We are capable of not only advertising online, but in person. Where else can you have your product touched, tested and talked about in person by the key decision maker in the household? Our mom's even have the opportunity to do product testing for big companies like Kellogg's and Vim.

Discovery Toys was at our Boo Bash.

Kids got to play with their toys and moms saw first hand which toys their kids enjoyed.

Last but not least, we give back to the community. This often helps mom's feel like they are contributing to society. As a stay-at-home-mom myself, this was something that I struggled with when I first went on maternity leave. Society often defines us by our career, and suddenly your are JUST a SAHM. Albeit the hardest job one will ever have, but highly under-compensated and under-appreciated. But we work together as a community, finding ways to give back to the community. I have seen how much momstown Winnipeg mom's have embraced this. I know it makes me feel like I'm making a difference in our community. We have collected food for Winnipeg Harvest, collected shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child, we are collecting for Koats for Kids with United Way, and we are collecting for two families for the Christmas Cheer Board. Not to mention our partnership with the Canadian Red Cross.

It's a hard concept to explain to moms, which is why we offer a free trial. The best way for mom's to understand our unique mom group is to try it. And actually come out to an event, lurk the message board and ask questions. As one of our members put it, it's the best $45 you'll ever spend!

momstown Winnipeg is Growing!

2011-12-04T00:05:00.000-06:00

It has been almost 6 months since we've launched momstown here in Winnipeg. We've grown fast, with over 160 active members. Moms have recognized the need for momstown so they can socialize, get out of the house, stay connected on the message board when they are stuck in the house and enjoy all the other fun perks that a membership brings.

So with this growth means our team needs to grow too. I have so many exciting events and programs that I want to launch, but I can't do it alone. So I'm excited to announce that Marla Nystrom-Smith will be coming on as our new Community Manager. She will be in charge of the info.winnipeg@momstown.ca mailbox. She will also be helping me with events, managing the Calendar and Message Board, and various other administrative tasks (i.e. keep me organized!)

Marla, originally from Winnipeg, is mom to two boys -Alexander, 6 and Elliot, 2. With a hubby, 2 boys, and a "boy" dog in the house, she is "outnumbered" (her momstown username). Until joining the momstown team, she was a stay-at-home mom.

I look forward to working with Marla to create even more great opportunities for Winnipeg moms and their children to get together, be it on the momstown Message Board, or at momstown events!

I'm also pleased to announce that Lisa Borgford (Imborgford on the message board) will be volunteering as our new Events and Volunteer Coordinator. Lisa was a member of a MOM group back in Atlanta and has a great knowledge of organized playgroups and events which will be beneficial to our ever growing calendar. We also have so many of you wonderful moms that have been wanting to volunteer so Lisa will be helping to coordinate our new Volunteer Committee! More details to come on this new committee.

Please join me in officially welcoming Marla and Lisa to the momstown Winnipeg team!

Thank you,
Ester Raftis
momtown Winnipeg
Owner

Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box Collection Celebration

2011-11-30T16:27:00.000-06:00

Last week was the National Collection week for the Operation Christmas Child boxes. momstown Winnipeg mom's got together to fill and decorate their boxes. The kids all enjoyed going out to shop for items to fill up their shoe boxes. It taught them all a great lesson of giving.

The enjoyed decorating the boxes just as much. And just like most of our craft events mom usually jumps in to help out. But we loved it and had a blast. And to top it off we had Christmas music playing and some treats to nibble on.

Thanks again to everyone who participated in this great cause! We had a very good response. As a result of our momstown mom's generosity, 18 kids will be blessed with a gift they otherwise would have never received! What a great way to start the Holidays with the true spirit of this Christmas Season!

A special thanks to our member, Penka Thompson, for putting together this great event!

Winnipeg Harvest Food Drive

2011-11-30T15:55:00.001-06:00

At our Boo Bash last month, momstown mom's in Winnipeg had a food drive collection. Our moms are very giving and so were ecstatic about the opportunity to give to those in need.

I had the opportunity to go down to Winnipeg Harvest to drop off the food and met a great team of workers and volunteers. I even brought my son with me, as it's never to early to teach him about giving. I am happy to report that we collected 153.2 pounds of food!

Our mom group has lots of plans to continue this through out the year, from food drives, sponsoring families for the Christmas Hampers, Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box Drive, and more to come.

A special thanks to our new Community Manager, Marla for setting up this food drive for us!

Are You A Horse?

2011-11-30T14:24:00.000-06:00

November at momstown was the Wild West. I brought out my plaid shirts and did a lot of yee ha's! My daughter is now a pro at galloping like a horse too. At our Kids Book Club at Chapters Polo we read Are You a Horse? by Andy Rash courtesy of our partners Scholastic Canada.

Are You A Horse? is about a cowboy named Roy who got a saddle for his birthday. But he has no horse. So he's on the hunt to find a horse so he can enjoy the ride! It was a funny book with a great twist at the end.

After we read our book, we had craft time of course! The kids gathered around and made sheriff badges. A simply craft for all age groups.

And what's a visit to Chapter's without some playtime! Somebody might be getting that penguin for Christmas!!!

Join us in December as we read Porcupine in a Pine Tree written by Helene Becker.

Infant Massage

2011-11-28T00:25:00.000-06:00

A while back our momstown moms were given the opportunity to have a private infant massage class by Christine at A Votre Sante. A few of us moms gathered with our babies to learn some basic massage strokes that will help our baby relax. We also learned how to massage our babies to help relieve them from common problems like colic, gas and constipation.

Christine not only showed us these basic moves, but went over the benefits of massaging your child on a regular basis. Benefits such us relieving colic and gas, strengthening their immune system and heightening their motor and intellectual development. It is a fun, relaxing and safe way to bond with your child.

Parents can learn the gentle art of safe nurturing touch in an intimate setting, offered in five one-hour classes of five consecutive weeks. For more details on A Votre Sante or on their infant massage classes you can visit their website at http://avotresanteinc.com. The next Infant Massage class starts March 2012. Contact them directly for more details on this wonderful course.

Thanks again to A Votre Sante for hosting this event for our momstown moms!

Enjoying My New Toshiba Tablet

2011-11-20T21:17:00.000-06:00

Last weekend I attended the momstown National Conference in Burlington, Ontario. We had a weekend packed with training, brainstorming, strategic planning and loads of fun! We had a ton of fabulous sponsors, one being Toshiba. They sent us four Toshiba Tablets to play with through out the weekend.

As I was using the tablet I quickly realized how helpful it would be in my everyday work. I could bring it to client meetings to show them our interactive momstown website, display our site or photo slide shows at trade shows, and bring it where ever I go so I can be more productive at work. Perfect for this mama, who is big on social media sites like facebook, twitter and the momstown Winnipeg message board. And the entertainment is an added bonus!

Checking out the Kids CBC website with my daughter.

I was fortunate to be voted by my peers to win one of the tablets at the conference. I've been playing with my new tablet ever since. My husband and daughter have been enjoying it too. It's easy to use and light and compact.

My daughter loves touching the screen.

What I love best about the tablet is the ease of typing. The keyboard is the right size. The colour and graphics are sharp and the touch is just right. Not too sensitive to the touch. I also really like the grip on the back, which is perfect for not slipping off the table easily when those little hands get a hold of the tablet.

Want one of your own? You can enter here to win your very own Toshiba Tablet from our momstown contests blog!

momstown Winnipeg's Halloween Boo Bash!

2011-10-31T22:57:00.000-05:00

This past Saturday was our first annual momstown Winnipeg Boo Bash. Babies, toddlers, big kids, and even some parents dressed up in the very adorable and creative Halloween costumes.

It was a packed event, with close to 200 people in attendance. We had crafts, games, toys and an animal show! Not to mention loads of candy!

Steve from Prairie Exotics was there with a fabulous show! The kids got so see all sorts of reptiles. snakes, spiders and lizards! I even got the courage to touch the snake!

We also had an area set up from Melinda at Discovery Toys where the kids could play with toys! It kept them very busy!

There were some mystery boxes set up with some scary and gross stuff for the kids to touch and feel. They had to guess what was inside! And every family went home with a gift bag!

Of course we had prizes! Door prizes and awards for the best dressed parents and mom!

And what's a party without cake and candy. I put some fruit there to keep a healthier option available! :)

Winnipeg moms are very generous! We had a food drive collection for Winnipeg Harvest and the boxes available for our Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box collection event that is coming up.

These boxes were filled to the rim by the end of the day!

Not an empty box was left by the end of the event!

A special thanks to all our sponsors: Prairie Exotics, Melinda from Discovery Toys, Lindsay from Creative Photojournalism, Velma from Norwex, Jen and Erin from Tupperware, Penka from Arbonne, Cosette from Fit 4 Two Winnipeg East, Dana Baxter from Investor's Group, Purely Baby, Discovery Toys from Jen, and Sunflower Girls Boutique.

Hope everyone had a safe and Happy Halloween!

Laugh and Learn Puppy from Fisher Price

2011-10-31T12:38:00.001-05:00

I was super excited when I received a package a few weeks back that had Fisher-Price right on the box. I knew instantly it was our Laugh and Learn Puppy. I immediately opened it and gave it to my 6 month old son. I sort of assumed this toy would be for him as my 2 1/2 year old daughter has a ton of toys, and I actually thought she was past this stage.

Well was I wrong! My son looked at the toy and wasn't quite sure what to think of it at first. It was his first time seeing a toy that moved and talked. He has since warmed up to it but it was cute to see his initial reaction. You could see the wheels turning in his little head wondering how this toy moved on it's own.

My daughter on the other hand snagged the toy and hasn't given it back to her baby brother since. She dances with it and interacts with the puppy. This toy gets 2 thumbs up from my toddler!

I also had a chance to have some of our momstown mom's children play with the Laugh and Learn Puppy during our infant playdates. The toy was a hit with all the babies. I think this toy would be great for a baby over 9 months old. If it is their first time hearing a singing, moving animal then maybe turn it on far away from them. They may get a little startled at first. But in no time they will be moving along with the puppy. My son now giggles and laughs to the puppy.

If you want to win a Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Puppy you can enter here. Good luck!

Pumpkin Carving

2011-10-31T11:51:00.000-05:00

Last weekend some of us moms, dads and tots got together to carve pumpkins.

It was even one dad's first time carving a pumpkin! Look at this masterpiece he did. His is the cat. I don't believe he was a pumpkin carving virgin!!

The kids got side tracked and started to play and we set up some crafts for them, so not surprisingly us parents did most of the carving.

We tried to get the kids to pose with their pumpkins. It took a while....

Wait, one is still missing!

There she is! Quick before one of them runs!

This was the best group shot we could get before they escaped!

Never the less, we had a blast! I'm thinking a pumpkin carving contest may be in the works for next year, so mama's get practicing!

Kids Book Club - Scarecrows!

2011-10-31T11:02:00.000-05:00

This month at our Kid's Book Club we headed to Chapters Polo and read Story County by Derek Anderson. Story County is a story about a farmer and his animals building their farm together, including a very pretty scarecrow! Read more about Story County on the momstown Book Review page.

After story time we made a scarecrow craft. I'm not sure if something was in the water, but all the kids were super well behaved and did the entire craft on their own without mom's help. We were all in shock!

And let's not forget about the babies.....

We had lots of fun sipping on our Starbucks while the kids heard a story and played. Can't wait until we meet again in November!

Is Time Out a Waste of Your Time?

2011-10-18T01:19:00.001-05:00

Discipline decisions are tough. Every expert out there seems to have a somewhat different take on what method is best, and how it should be used. Add to that the fact that what works on one child may not work on another, and it's easy to see why so many parents are uncertain about what what discipline strategies to use.

momstown and Amy McCready, founder of Positive Parenting Solutions, have partnered again to offer a free live training webinar session that will hopefully clear up some of the confusion. In "Why Time Out is a Waste of Time!", Amy has vowed to provide attendees with concrete discipline tools that we can use the next day and see results with, including one of the all-time “parent favourite” tools for stopping any power struggle in its tracks.

The best part is that you don't have to hire a babysitter and leave the comfort of your home to participate. All you need is a computer with speakers and the internet. You will be able to watch, listen and even interact with our host, Amy. You will see a LIVE video image of Amy in the upper left corner of your monitor the whole time. As she talks with you, you'll watch her PowerPoint presentation that is packed with valuable information. She will stop to answer our questions about difficulties and needs when it comes to getting our kids to listen. You will even have the option to write in specific questions and she’ll address them, right there for you!

In order to attend, you just need to RSVP to http://www.positiveparentingsolutions.com/momstown (due to limited space you MUST register on positive parenting) and then log on at your selected time to learn the proven strategies to get kids to listen without nagging, reminding or yelling.

There are two time slots to choose from, so you can sign up for the session that suits your schedule best:

Option One: Thursday, October 20th from 1:00 PM -2:00 PM Central

Option Two: Monday, October 24th from 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM Central

Have a friend(s) that are not momstown members that you think could benefit from this training? Please invite them too! Just share this registration link http://www.positiveparentingsolutions.com/momstown.

A messy yet organized office

2011-09-29T23:56:00.000-05:00

I was never the type of employee to leave at the end of the day with my desk empty, every file and piece of paper put away.

My desk always had papers on it and sticky notes around my computer screen. I would appear to many to be unorganized. But I never missed deadlines. I had things in a certain order. As messy as my desk (or cube) at work appeared, I knew where things were. I'm the type of person that needs to see things to be reminded to do it. So logically in my mind, if I leave the binder on my desk it will get done. Out of site out of mind.

So have things changed now that I'm an entrepreneur? How is my home office? Working from home is not as glamorous and at times, enjoyable, as it sounds. Throw 2 kids into the equation. My office was in the basement, but it has slowly crept into our dinning room. Let's face it. I need to do work while the kids are home, and I like to be close to them, even when they are napping. Do I know where everything is? No. Am I the most organized person in the world. Absolutely not. But it works for me in the state that my business and life is at the moment.

I started off momstown Winnipeg earlier in the year. I was organized. I started labeling my files, purchasing office products to organize my office products and had containers to keep my arts and crafts in order. My intentions were to be an organized entrepreneur. What I did not plan was this explosion that momstown had over Winnipeg. To say it's been busy is an understatement. Trying to keep my head above water is a challenge on most days. So ask me how my desk looks, well let's just say you won't be seeing a photo of it in its current state. But do I know where things are? Yes. I also have great support from momstown National, always sending me information, spreadsheets and tools to stay organized.

Note: I am not quite this messy! My floor is clean. :)

I'm not sure there is a right way to have an organized office. I won't give you a list of top 10 must haves in the office. Everyone is wired different. Some people strive in empty spaces, while others are working on 10 things at once. Sometimes business is slow and sometimes it is beyond busy. I will give you messy folks one tip, try to clean up your office once a week. Go through the piles on your desk, reorganize if you must. I often come home from an event and my crafts get tossed to the side. I have kids to feed, babies to rock to sleep, diapers to change and supper to make. So once a week I reorganize my crafts and art supplies and get my lesson and event plans ready for the following week.

Will my office get cleaner one day. I hope so. One day it may just slow down. But for now, this mompreneur is riding the wave in my messy yet organized office.

Alphabet Playgroup

2011-09-29T21:52:00.003-05:00

This month we started a new playgroup for our toddlers to help them learn the alphabet. We have partnered up with Indigo, and once a week we will be meeting and learning one letter. We started last week with 'A' and read Alligator Baby by Robert Munsch.

And what's a playdate without circle time and crafts. We sang the alphabet and did a fun craft. Using the letter 'A' we made an alligator's head. You can find more great craft ideas around the alphabet theme on our Arts and Craft blog.

Join us at Indigo's on Kenaston. We'll be meeting up every Wednesday from 10:30am to 11:30 am and working our way to 'Z'. Hope to see you there!

Thanks to Lindsay at Creative Photojournalism for capturing some great photo's of our event!

Backpack Safety for Back to School

2011-09-22T00:03:00.000-05:00

There is a growing problem for school aged children that was once a simple right of passage – the backpack. Due to increasing homework assignments and fewer lockers many children carry heavy bags to/from school. Those heavy, overloaded backpacks can cause neck and back pain, muscle spasms and spinal subluxations in children.

Your child’s loaded backpack should not exceed 15% of their body weight – so pack only what they need. If they are leaning forward under the weight to carry the backpacks, it’s overloaded. To put it on correctly the child should bend at the knees, using both hands lift he pack and be sure to use both shoulder straps. The pack should be snug and if it comes with a waist strap it should be used. Spinal problems are more likely to occur if the pack is carried by straps that are too loose, by only one strap, or if the weight is resting near the small of the back instead of being distributed over the length of the pack. Children that are carrying heavy backpacks through the school year should be under regular chiropractic care. They will be better able to deal with the mechanical stress involved but they will also be able to enjoy the health benefits of a properly functioning spine, nervous system and body.

- Dr. Kimberly Mah Dalke, Dr. Myron Dalke of Two Rivers Chiropractic Centre
For more information visit our website @ www.tworiverschiropractic.com
Follow us on twitter (@tworiverschiro)
Unit S-730 St. Anne’s Rd, ph: 256-6181

Family Financial Planning

2011-09-21T16:16:00.001-05:00

The other day some of us momstown mamas headed over to Investors Group for a session on Family Financial Planning with Dana Wiens Baxter. It was a very important session for myself, as my husband and I are always 'meaning' to start investing but never go further then talking about it.

First off, what was great about this session was that is wasn't a sell from Dana on buying investments through her. She truly cares for our best interest and was there to answer our questions and give us advice that works for young families. As a mom with a young one at home too, she understands what we are all going through and gets that money is tight during these precious years.

We talked about differences between investments such as RRSP's, RESP's, and Tax-Free Savings Accounts. She even touched on topics, such as the importance of having a will. And we also talked about debt, and whether or not we are best to just focus on paying that down or do a combination of lowering the debt while ensuring we have some savings on the side for those unexpected expenses.

The consultants at Investors Group kept peeking through the window of the board room with great big smiles as we had some special guests join us mamas. Something about babies that brightens up an office!

Stay tuned on the momstown calendar as we'll be adding an evening date of this fabulous Family Financial Panning session.

Kellogg's Back To School PJ Party

2011-09-19T22:58:00.003-05:00

This past Saturday over 30 moms came out with their kids and some dads to enjoy breakfast on us, courtesy of Kellogg's. They got to sit back (as much as the kids let them) and let momstown do the prep work. And to make things even easier for them, we made it a pajama party, so moms didn't even have to change their kids in the morning (well diapers may have needed a changing). Even lots of moms came out to party in the pj's!

The kids ran around and played while us mamas sat back, relaxed and enjoyed our coffee and tea.

We started off the party will some fun discussions on our crazy morning routines and learning the importance of ensuring we all eat breakfast, including moms. I myself am terrible for skipping breakfast because I'm so focused on the kids that I forget to take care of myself. This bad habit has got to stop. One fun icebreaker questions was "did you ever leave the house and realized you are still in your slippers?" Glad to know I'm not the only one that this has happened too!

Everyone got to enjoy a variety of different cereal that Kellogg's sent. Many of us parents were reminiscing about the good old days when we ate Fruit Loops and Frosted Flakes. We have all tended to shift to 'adult' cereal, such as Kellogg's Special K, Mini Wheats, All Bran or Raisin Bran. I ate my bowl of Frosted Flakes rather quickly. We also had yogurt and lots of different fruit available.

Enjoying her apple! Check out her adorable silky pajamas. I don't even own pajamas that fancy! Lucky little girl!

Our party wasn't just about eating. We talked about nutrition, the facts about various breakfast food choices, and learned some interesting stuff. Many of us did not know that 'cereal contains less sodium than many popular breakfast items, including one slice of whole wheat toast, one croissant, one medium biscuit, one English muffin, and half a bagel.'

Every mom is looking for a fast and simple way to get breakfast on the table in the morning! Kellogg's cereal answers all the demands, and meets the nutritional needs of our growing kids. It was also convenient to have the cereals on hand to check out the nutritional value for themselves. We often don't have the time in the grocery store to read the labels. This breakfast provided the kids with a chance to sit down and try the food, and gave mom a moment to check out the labels.

What's a party without a prize! Congratulations Candis for winning our awesome prize loaded with cereal and fun stuff from Kellogg's.

What's a party without loot bags. Every family got to take home a gift bag from Kellogg's!

We had a great time! It was nice to get together and enjoy breakfast with our momstown mama friends!

Craft Playdate at Kildonan Place Mall

2011-09-19T08:34:00.002-05:00

Last week the kids gathered at Kildonan Place Mall for a craft playdate. Our momstown theme this month is 'Let's Go To The Zoo' so we made lions, panda's and pigs..... oh my!

Our craft event was open for all, not just momstown mamas.

Making piggies!

I was quite proud of my sample piggy. Cheap and easy to do. We used paper plates and cut egg cartons for the snout.

This little guy was making a lion.

This cuttie decided to make her own animal. Very creative!

Hard at work making a panda bear.

The kids were happy that we were stationed right by games and rides.

Thanks again to Kildonan Place mall for helping us set up this fun day. The moms had a blast and I think enjoyed the crafts more then the kids!

Brake for Breakfast & Party in Your PJ's!

2011-09-12T08:58:00.001-05:00

Breakfast is often called the most important meal of the day. Numerous studies outline the myriad benefits of breakfast. Kids who eat breakfast tend to score higher on tests, and have more energy, and longer attention spans. Moreover, since four out of five children don't get sufficient vitamins and minerals from lunch and dinner alone, a well balanced breakfast can help fill this nutrition gap.

The benefits of breakfast are clear, but the reality is that mornings can be hard. From packing lunches, to managing drop off at day care and school, to wrangling toddlers (with or without their toys) out the door and into the car, breakfast sometimes get missed. I can't count the number of times that my own breakfast has consisted of a cup of coffee, and not realizing I never ate breakfast until 11:30 am (just in time for lunch). Not exactly a balanced meal... Purchasing breakfast en route isn't always a solution either. The cost adds up quickly, and many fast food options are loaded with sugar, fat, and sodium.

Thank goodness for cereal! At only 50 cents per serving with milk, its inexpensive and simple to prepare, and even preschoolers can help get it ready by bringing bowls to the table, and pouring cereal into them. As a bonus, being involved in creating the meal fosters self confidence and a sense of self sufficiency, and can reduce picky eating. Cereal is healthy too. Paired with milk or yogurt for protein, and either fresh or dried fruit, you have a nutritionally balanced meal that is full of vitamins and minerals.

Cereal doesn't just have to be eaten in a bowl at the breakfast table either. Here are just a few ideas for when you need to have breakfast on the go:
    •    Create customized trail mix with finger friendly cereals, nuts or seeds, and dried fruits. Divide into bags and keep in the pantry to grab when you need them
    •    Make a batch of cereal, fruit, and nut bars to eat throughout the week
    •    Blend cereal with yogurt, milk, and fruit in a smoothie
    •    Layer yogurt, berries, and cereal in reusable lidded bowls so that kids can enjoy yogurt parfaits in the car
    •    Allow preschool and school aged children to string Fruit Loops or other "O" shaped cereal onto lengths of stretchable string cord to create edible necklaces or bracelets. Stringing the "o"s onto the string is great fine motor practice, and the "jewelery" can be munched on the go.

If you and your family are cereal fans too, then you'll definitely want to join us at our Back to School PJ Party! Kellogg's is providing us with a variety of yummy cereals, milk, yogurt and fruit to enjoy. We will also be giving out gift bags packed with Kellogg's coupons and products to each mom in attendance, and one lucky mom will also go home with a special Kellogg's prize pack. Come out in your pjs, and let Kellogg's and momstown take care of breakfast for once. It will be a great chance to meet and socialize with other momstown Winnipeg members too. Head over to our main website to RSVP. We are almost at capacity!

If you aren't a momstown member yet, now is the time to join. We have a free two week trial for moms to check out what momstown is all about.

ManyFest - Downtown Winnipeg at Broadway

2011-09-10T23:36:00.003-05:00

Today was day two at Manyfest. It was their first day for the kids zone and momstown was there with Koba Entertainment. It was a hot day here in Winnipeg, but we had lots of fun! Koba Entertainment asked us momstown mama's to help out with their arts and crafts table, which is what momstown does best!

We will be there all day tomorrow starting at 11 am so come on by and have your kids show us their inner picasso. We have paints and markers for the kids to create their master pieces and Koba Entertainment provided us with a big mural of The Backyardigans that the kids can colour in.

And we have lots of chalk for the kids to do chalk art. I also saw clowns doing face painting and balloon art and lots more!

Last but not least, we have a draw going on where you can enter to win tickets to see The Backyardigans live this October 1 at The Pantages Playhouse Theatre.

Here's a glimpse of what was happening after sunset. The live band was going, folks were sitting around enjoying the beautiful weather and dancing in the streets of downtown Winnipeg!

You can see the full line up of events happening this weekend at manyfest at http://www.downtownwinnipegbiz.com/home/events/manyfest/#manyfest.

Hope to see you there!

Let's Make Music at our Tales for Tots!

2011-09-02T00:21:00.001-05:00

momstown has exploded here in Winnipeg! Our Tales for Tots is getting very popular! In less then three months we have gone from 3 mamas at our first ever meet-up to 16 moms and their kids/babies at our August Tales for Tots (and that was still after last minute cancellations due to sick kiddies)! It got a little noisy as our theme this past month was 'Let's make music!' but we had a blast!

We switched things up this time and did our craft first. Since we planned on singing songs during circle time and our craft was decorating maracas, it only made sense to get those shakers ready for some music!

Scholastic Canada provided us with two board books this month, You Are My Sunshine and The More We Get Together, by Caroline Jayne Church. We sang our books this time around and the kids had a blast! We also sat around and sang lots of out fun nursery rhymes. The kids helped pick out some songs and we practiced shaking our new instruments! If you missed our event, you can read our momstown.ca review about these books.

Getting ready for circle time!

We also gave away each book to 2 lucky moms & their tots! Congratulations to Michelle and Nadine!

Looking forward to this month's Tales for Tots, as we'll be reading The Underpants Zoo by Brian Sendelbach.

Win tickets to see The Backyardigans!

2011-08-29T17:06:00.002-05:00

I am so excited about The Backyardigans show coming to the Pantages Playhouse this October 1! The Backyardigans Quest for the Extra Ordinary Aliens is the theatrical production by Koba Entertainment that brings to life the fun-loving and adorable characters from the favourite children's TV show. Wouldn't you love to surprise your little one with this special outing?

Well, I have great news! I am going to award one of you Free Tickets to the show!!! Here's how to enter our contest:
All you need to do is visit the momstown Winnipeg facebook page between Monday August 29th-September 5th and post a picture/video/or story featuring your kids loving The Backyardigans and why they are the number #1 Fan. We hope you will get very fun and creative in honour of our friends The Backyardigans!

Don't forget you will need to come back here and post a comment letting me know you completed step 1 which was uploading your creative submission on Facebook (please leave your Facebook name as well so I can easily find you)!

I will need to see your post on Facebook and see a comment here on the blog in order for your entry to be valid.

On September 6th will choose one lucky winner!

Check out www.thebackyardigansontour.com/ for more details on the Show and make sure you go and like the Koba Entertainment Facebook page and follow them on Twitter as well! Looking forward to seeing your submissions!

Soothing Body Mask

2011-08-25T23:06:00.000-05:00

Today we went to Tinkertown with some momstown Winnipeg mamas for a playgroup. I saw another mom who was beet red! It hurt just looking at her. It reminded me of this soothing body mask recipe that I have used in the past. Let's hope you remember to slather on the sunscreen or cover up! But if you don't, here's the recipe for the Soothing Mask that has helped me with sunburned skin. It can be used all over your body!

Ingredients:

1 part plain yogurt
1/2 part regular oatmeal
Optional: 2 drops essential oil (jasmine oil works nice)

Stir ingredients together. Add jasmine essential oil. Make sure the mix is cold. If not, place in the fridge or freezer for about 10 - 15 minutes. Apply to the area and leave on for 10 minutes. Wash off with warm water and pat dry.

Trip to the Zoo

2011-08-25T00:49:00.000-05:00

In September our monthly curriculum theme is Let's Go to the Zoo but we were too eager to wait until then to go to the zoo! A few weeks back momstown Winnipeg organized a field trip for moms and toddlers to the Assiniboine Park Zoo.

I think we moms enjoyed it more then the kids. I haven't been to the Winnipeg Zoo if quite a few years, so it was a nice visit. There are lots of renovations going on there. I was sad to see the petting zoo and paddle wheel gone, but I'm excited to see what will be put there in its place.

After we stopped for a picnic and the kids played in the playground. That was my daughter's favourite part of the zoo.

If you missed this event, we are going again in September. And it will be on the weekend so the working moms and dads can join us! Hope to see you there!

Wordless Wednesday - Halloween Costume Gone Wrong!

2011-08-24T15:53:00.000-05:00

Coffee Body Scrub

2011-08-21T23:17:00.000-05:00

Coffee is a necessity for many of us mamas. Many sleepless nights means brutal mornings that having us brewing up a pot of coffee to get us through the day. Not only does this coffee help us keep those heavy eyes open but you can use those coffee grinds to make your skin a little prettier.

Did you know that ground coffee has been found to be an excellent way to treat and prevent cellulite. It increases the circulation of the underlying skin layers and distributes clusters of fat. Here's a homemade Coffee Body Scrub to help you combat cellulite just in time for those short shorts season. I got this recipe from an episode of Steven and Chris. They had lots of great tips that day.

Ingredients:

2 cups ground coffee (use the left over coffee grinds from your coffee maker)
1/2 cup of sugar or sea salt
2 -3 tablespoons of olive oil (or grape seed oil)

Mix all the ingredients together. Apply to the skin by massaging in a gentle circular motion. Rinse off with luke warm water. Best to apply after taking a warm shower.

momstown Winnipeg's Birthday Bash Was A Blast!

2011-08-21T00:13:00.000-05:00

momstown Winnipeg had our official kick off event last weekend at the Children's Museum! We celebrated our 'birth' and momstown's 4th Birthday! We had a lot of fun and we're already working on our 5th Birthday for next year.

We had families lined up to enter the event before 9 am!

It didn't take long before our event, which was open to the public, reached capacity. We had a waitlist of moms dying to go to the event! With amazing gift bags worth over $70 each and loads of prizes from our amazing sponsors, it's no wonder why an invitation to our Birthday Bash was in high demand.

The free event was held at the newly renovated Children's Museum. We not only had lots of crafts for the kids, but Kindermusik Discovery was there, along with Dee Dee the Clown and Puff the Clown from Laughter without Boarders. Entertainment at our event was top notch! I had mom's coming up to me throughout the event with nothing but compliments on how much fun their children were having. Children (and parents) got to explore the museum throughout the day as well.

We also had Lindsay from Creative Photojournalism there doing mini photo sessions for the children and she managed to take some amazing event coverage photos for me too. One less thing I had to worry about doing thanks to Lindsay! We just got the photos back and they are amazing as always!

Here are some more great photos of this fantastic event!

We had coffee from Tim Horton's, not to mention gift cards courtesy of Madison from Tim's Community Cruiser in all the gift bags for all the moms and dads!

La Fiesta Cafecito & Bakery provided cupcakes and a cake for all the guests! It was delicious!

Our sponsors were very generous! We had a table jam packed of door prizes!

Not a member yet?

Sign up during our birthday month of August and you receive a 4 week FREE TRIAL membership (double the usual 2 week trial).

Why you should join momstown? Watch our short video & watch your friendships grow! :)

Thanks again to all our sponsor's who made this day possible!

Stroller Fit Mamas

2011-08-20T00:15:00.000-05:00

momstown Winnipeg moms got the opportunity to enjoy a free Stroller Fit class with Aileen from Fit 4 Two. I was nervous as I had never done one of these classes before and wasn't sure how my daughter and baby boy would do. I feared the tantrums and crying would stop me from working out.

The great thing about our class, not only was it fun and a great workout, it was very flexible. So if a baby was crying, you could stop and attend to him. Or if we had to run around to do a lap, Aileen would stand by and watch the strollers.

Our group of ladies really enjoyed the class. We worked up a sweat, had great conversations and laughs and even went to enjoy a nice cup of coffee at The Forks after class. It was a great event, and we burned some calories too, which is always a plus! We even chatted on our message board the next day about which body parts were hurting!

Here's Aileen, our instructor from Fit 4 Two. Check out how fit she is!

Our inspiration to get in shape.

The greatest thing I learned that day was how you really can work out anywhere. There is no excuse that we are stuck at home with the kids. You can incorporate them into your work out, and do some moves where ever you are. Even at the park!

Thanks Aileen. We had loads of fun and look forward to attending more events this fall!

Non Toxic Paint for Kids

2011-08-19T23:57:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is our final Picasso's in the Park for the summer. It's one of my favourite events that we put on for Winnipeg moms and kids. It got me thinking of this paint recipe that I use to make a lot when my daughter was a young baby, just learning and exploring with paints for the first time. I wanted to make sure her first paint experiences where with non-toxic, natural stuff as she put everything in her mouth.

My little picasso painting in the dining room. I start them young! :)

Although there are paints on the market that are advertised as non-toxic I thought I'd look into making my own. It's a fun project that you can do with your kids and it's cheap. You can't buy non-toxic paint that is this cheap. And you probably already have all these ingredients in your cupboard.

What you will need:

1 Tbsp Vinegar
1 Tbsp Baking Soda
4 Tbsp Corn Starch
1 Tbsp Light Corn Syrup
Food Colouring
Paint trays / plastic containers / muffin tray

Stir the baking soda and the vinegar in a bowl. It will start to foam. This is the part that the kids will love! Allow the foam to settle and add a few drops of food colouring until you get your desired colour. Stir in the corn syrup and the corn starch. Pour into the container and allow to harden. Now repeat for each colour that you would like.

This is like water-based paint, so best to use paper meant for finger painting. Happy Painting!

We used a muffin tin to keep the paint in. This way it was low enough for my daughter to reach into and wouldn't tip over either.

I always say, if my daughter ends up messy, dirty and needs a

bath by noon then it's been a fun day!

Wordless Wednesday - RIP Great Granny

2011-08-17T00:31:00.000-05:00

Here's great-granny with Isabella. Their last photo together.

A Fairy Garden Party

2011-08-06T00:53:00.000-05:00

Like many new parents, first birthday’s around here tend to be a little over the top. This is clearly not for the child, as she or he will really never recall this day, or even care if this party included everyone you know or just mom and dad.

When my daughter turned one I may have got a little too excited. Her birthday was in February. I started planning in October. Yes, that’s right! October. Four months before the big day! But we actually had her big party around Easter as we waiting until we flew back home for the holidays. So I had almost 6 whole months of planning this party.

I did have a small party at home in Burlington with a few friends to celebrate her official birthday. I kept the theme the same so I was able to use some of the party accessories twice.

I quickly decided on a theme (which I now regret that I didn’t wait until she was older as Tinkerbell is now a favourite of hers). Her first birthday was a Fairy Garden Party. You can still do this theme if you have a child’s birthday in winter. Anyone who knows the story of Tinkerbell and fairies understands that they are preparing for spring in the winter.

I even had a story in the invitation with a cute poem explaining all the details. Here's a copy of the invitation.

If you want to do something similar, this is the wording I used:

Royal Celebration
In the hush of winter beneath glistening snow Enchantment and merriment mingle below.

Deep within the garden under canopy of flowers The fairy kingdom gathers to await the hours.

With glittering costumes and delicate wings, gentle fairies frolic, make music and sing.

Fairies take flight, get ready to have fun. For our sweet Isabella is turning the Big1!

Wishes come true by the King’s proclamation
As dancing fairies gather to make exclamation: “There’s nothing as magical, lovely and grand
As a royal celebration in Fairy Land!”

Garden Attire
Garden girl fairies, wear your fairy best. A tutu will do, or a pretty fairy dress.

White or pink, violet or blue. Wings of all colours will await you.

And let’s not forget the garden bug boys. We need Grasshoppers & Bees to make some noise.

Or fly with us to Never Never Land. We invited Hook, the Lost Boys & even Peter Pan.

This is the birthday girl's dress. We had special wings just for her too.

The good thing about planning this in October was that I went out to buy costumes and accessories after Halloween for a fraction of the price. It pays to think ahead. I also lucked out and found lots of garden accessories that started coming out right before Easter.

The birthday girl still learning to balance when walking.

All the kids came dressed up. Even the boys dressed up as pirates. I made sure to invite Hook, Peter Pan and the Lost Boys. I had a table just for all the accessories where the kids picked out their wings, wands, hooks, swords, etc when they walked in.

We had a special cake just for the birthday girl, as smashing of the cake is a must for a one year old birthday party!

To keep the kids entertained we set up lots of arts and crafts. They decorated flowers and butterflies to help prepare for spring. They also decorated their very own flower pots.

I made these pots out of yogurt containers. They held all the markers and paint brushes. My daughter still has them. We use them as containers for her arts and craft supplies.

And every kid was sent home with a loot bag filled with garden fairy accessories! As always, we had each loot bag customized based on his or her age. Flower seeds where also included for the kids to plant in their flower pots that they decorated at the party.

My little boy is just three months old and now this has me thinking….. what theme shall I do for his big party! I'll have to check out momstown's Birthday Ideas on the blog for some themes that could work for a one year old! Stay tuned until next spring to find out what theme I went with!

momstown Winnipeg Birthday Bash!

2011-07-31T23:09:00.000-05:00

August will be a BIG month for momstown and you're invited to celebrate with us. Each chapter is hosting a children's birthday party, open to the public, complete with Birthday activities and crafts, special guests, loot bags and more! So that will be 17 birthday parties across Canada, so fun and exciting!

momstown Winnipeg will be having our Birthday Bash to celebrate our 'Birth' on August 14th from 9am to Noon at the Children's Museum! Kids can explore musical instruments and play some music with Kindermusik Discovery! Dee Dee the Clown will be performing to make the kids laugh and doing face painting! And momstown will have crafts and games! We'll also have food, cake and so much more! Our theme in August is music, so be prepared to shake those maracas! You're kids are also free to explore the newly renovated Children's Museum!

momstown Winnipeg wants you to remember this exciting Birthday Bash! You can have your child's photo taken with Creative Photojournalism at our BIG launch party!

And what's a birthday party without loot bags filled with goodies for the whole family!

We'll also have lots of 'presents' to raffle off, like a Little Tikes Mini Sports Coupe, Clementine Art, Teething Bling, a $25 Loblaws gift card, Greenworks Cleaning Prize Pack, Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, a Lunch Cooler bag with products from Life Choices Foods, a ThermoMaster Spatula from Maple Leaf Foods, Norwex and lots more!!!!

Our Winnipeg party has now reached capacity but if you wish to be added to our waitlist please email me at info.winnipeg@momstown.ca.

Can't make it to our party? Join us on August 18 for our Facebook Birthday Fan Party! This virtual party is to celebrate our 4th Birthday with momstown.ca!! It starts at 7pm Winnipeg time and all our awesome fans across Canada are welcome to join in on the fun! Click here to register!

Twitter fans can also join in on the fun! Because two parties isn't enough, we're throwing a Twitter Party!!! Join us on August 10, along with momstown National for a Twitter Party. We'll be giving away loads more prizes and having a blast chatting with moms across Canada! Party starts at 8 pm Central time! Follow our hashtag #momstownbd4.

And be sure to follow me on twitter @momstownWpg! Hope to see you there!

Want to stay in the loop of events like this? momstown members are always the first to know about events around town. Join today!

Tales for Tots go to the Beach!

2011-07-31T15:18:00.000-05:00

This month our Tots went on an imaginary trip to the beach! Learning all about sandcastles, fish, and playing with sand.

Each month we have a themed curriculum from momstown. This month was At the Beach and to go along with that theme we read the book The Sandcastle Contest. This is a classic from Robert Munch and the kids really enjoyed it! If you missed this event, here's a recap of the book.

A big thank you to our sponsor Scholastic for providing us with not just one but a second book to give away to one lucky tot! Congratulations to Maisie who won the book!

After reading the book we gathered to make some fun crafts. We had crafts for kids of all ages.

The younger ones enjoyed making art using glue and sand, while the older ones made sea creatures and fish bowls.

Join us at next month's Tales for Tots where we'll be making some music!