Monday Giveaway Linky

List any of your open giveaways here - please make sure to include who is eligible to win (can/us/ww) and sharing this linky would be very much appreciated! Thanks to all those that list, and good luck to those that enter!

How we spent our May 2-4 weekend

After checking out the weather forecast earlier in the week, I had big hopes of spending the entire weekend outside with the boys. Hubby was going to be working all weekend - so I knew I needed to keep the kids busy so I didn't go crazy.

Saturday was absolutely beautiful, and we did manage to spend pretty much all day outside.  We started the morning by cleaning our family room (Mr. J and I; Mr. K got relegated to his bedroom because he was being quite destructive)  once we were finished cleaning, I threw ingredients for a french baguette into the bread maker.  After that, slathered the 3 of us with sunscreen and outside we went.
Our fantastic neighbour was outside gardening, so of course the boys wante to "help" (these particular neighbours are like another set of grandparents to my boys; so much so that they will invite themselves over to their house and be fed freezies and juice boxes to their hearts content.)  While the boys were trying to help, Dorothy was so patient with them.

Boys being Boys and climbing a tree

We were outside for a few hours and then I made them come in for a quick bite to eat and rest from the sun/heat.  It was with much protest from them, but it refreshed us all and we headed back outside for another 90 minutes or so until it was time to come in (they needed a bath - playing in the dirt all afternoon had them FILTHY).

After bath was dinner, and Mr. K fell asleep while I was getting it ready. 4:30pm he was passed out on the couch - and he was out until 6am!

This morning,  I was excited to see that it was 14 degrees, but noticed that the sun was nowhere to be found. After checking the weather forecast again, I was VERY disappointed to see that there was no sun to be found today....it wasn't really cold - but the weather wasn't enjoyable.

We ended up heading to The Carp Custom Creamery, a new ice cream place that opened recently; owned by 2 wonderful people, Crystal and Dustin (owners of The Cheshire Cat Pub - great little pub, although they are closed at the moment while they restore from a fire earlier this year :( and Alice's Cafe).  While it would have been nicer had the weather co-operated with me, the boys enjoyed the treat and it was absolutely delicious! (They both opted for soft serve twists)

enjoying their soft serve twists

Carp Custom Creamery is just down the road from one of my aunts houses, so we made an impromptu visit - they have some wooded property and we took a quick walk to see the pond, then I headed home with the boys.  Hubby was home from work, so he took Mr. J out to get cleats and shin guards - soccer starts next weekend so we needed to prepare.

When they got home they went outside so Mr. J could get used to his cleats; then back in the house and we all watched Brave (love that movie).

Finished up with breakfast for dinner and then the hockey game!

How did you spend your weekend? Was the weather nice where you are, or were you stuck inside?

Ideas to entertain the kids

We have a 3 year 2 month age gap between our boys; this can make it pretty hard to keep them occupied doing things together. When my youngest was really little (around 10 or 11 months old) I started needing ideas that could keep them both busy at the same time. Mr. K was old enough to be interested (and want to participate) in what his brother was doing, but to young to ACTUALLY participate.

Here are a few of the ways I used to include them both:

1) baking
- I would put Mr. K in his high chair and wheel him over to the work area; give him a snack and some measuring cups and then Mr. J and I would bake.  When we were finished mixing, I would give Mr. K a wooden spoon and let him have a quick mix of the batter.

2) bath time
- I would throw them in the bath together (even if it was the middle of the day) and just let them play; they had a blast splashing around together

3) Pots and Pans
- I would let them haul out all my pots from the cupboard and play "orchestra"; this would entertain them for quite awhile, and when they got bored playing with the pots, they would climb in the cupboard and "hide" from me.

4) painting/crafts
- I would give Mr. K a snack and have Mr. J do the craft at the kitchen table; when Mr. K was finished his snack, I would put some paper on his tray and give him 1 crayon (if he started to eat the crayon, I would switch it up and give him a board book or something else to look at)

5) Forts
- make a fort with your oldest and then they can both enjoy it afterwards

What kinds of things do you do with your kids when you have an age difference to worry about?

Nokia Lumia 620 - review

I was recently given the chance to test out the Nokia Lumia 620 from Telus;  it piqued my curiosity when I found out about the great photo options available on the phone.  I played around with it inside the house and outside in the yard. 

The Nokia Lumia 620 is a Windows 8 smartphone; it has a 3.8 inch ClearBlack display with sunlight readability enhancements (much easier to use outside!). When it first arrived, I quickly tested it out by calling my hubby. I was really surprised at how clear the call was, and there was no echo either.

 

What I really loved was the Smart Shoot feature - it takes 5 consecutive photo's, and you choose the one you feel is best.  Here are a few of my favorite photo's taken with the Nokia Lumia 620.

Being an avid baker, I love taking pictures of my creations





Baking captured by the Nokia Lumia 620

I also took it outside with us while the boys played;

 

And used it randomly to play around with the different features

 

Telus also offers a terrific service to their customers; you are able to book a one-on-one training session with a Telus rep. This appointment allows them time to teach you all about the features your device has to offer, and how to use them all.

Do you have a cell phone? What is your favorite feature?

 

*I was sent the phone for my own use along with a gift basket as compensation; this did not alter my opinion and as always, the opinion stated belongs to Tales of Mommyhood - your opinion/experience may vary*

 

 









Doc McStuffins: Review and Giveaway (CAN/US)

If you have young ones that watch Disney Junior, I am sure you are aware of Doc McStuffins. My boys absolutely love watching her and they really enjoy the fact that she is a doctor for toys.

Doc McStuffins: Time for your Check Up has just been released on DVD, and it contains 5 great Doc McStuffins episodes.  This is the 2nd DVD in the collection, and it also comes with a FREE growth chart.

Out of the episodes on the DVD - Mr. J's favorite one is Gulpy, Gulpy Gators.  One of the gators from the gulpy, gulpy gators game eats too many marbles and doesn't feel well. He was able to relate to when HE eats too much and gets an upset tummy!

Are your kids fans of Doc McStuffins? Use the rafflecopter form below to enter for your chance to win a copy of Doc McStuffins: Time for your check up!  Open to CAN/US and ends on May 26th at 11:59pm.  Good luck!

Win passes to the #OTTAWA International Childrens Festival!

I am super excited to share this latest giveaway with you! Thanks to The Ottawa Mommy Club for including me on this giveaway for the Ottawa International Children's Festival! I hadn't heard of it until a few weeks ago - have you been?

Welcome to the

Ottawa International Children's Festival

Giveaway!

 

The Ottawa Mommy Club is pleased to host the Ottawa International Children's Festival Giveaway with the help of our co-hosts: Canadian Blog House, Shannon's View from Here, Journeys of the Zoo and Tales of Mommyhood!

Enter to win 4 tickets to

The Ottawa International Children's Festival

"Where The Wild Things Are"

on Thursday, May 30 @ 7:00 p.m

  The Ottawa International Children’s Festival (OICF), the largest children’s festival in Ontario, is gearing up to celebrate its 28th year in the Capital, May 28-June 2, 2013 at Lebreton Flats Park and Canadian War Museum sites. Each year the OICF proudly presents some of the finest visual and performance arts programming for young audiences. Thousands of area children, families and businesses come together to celebrate and take part in live performing arts that serves to surround young people with excellence in the arts community and to promote creativity, boundless imaginations and individual expression in children of all ages. This year, the Festival proudly presents the finest visual and performance arts programming for young audiences. Counties Shaped Like Stars, by Ottawa’s Mi Casa Theatre, is making its debut at The Ottawa Children’s Festival with a whimsical theatrical productionfeaturing characters Gwendolyn Magnificent and Bartholomew Spectacular, as told through a tin-can telephone. The show has received race reviews and five-star designations from audience members and critics alike, performing across Canada and as far south as New Mexico. The programming schedule for this show is as follows : * Wednesday, May 29 @ 9 :30 am – Atelier C&D Canadian War Museum (English) * Thursday, May 30 @ 10 :00 am – Atelier C&D Canadian War Museum (English) * Friday, May 31 @ 9 :30 am and 12 :30 pm – Atelier C&D Canadian War Museum (English) * Saturday, June 1 @ 1 :00 pm – Atelier C&D Canadian War Museum (English) * Sunday, June 2 @ 10 :00 am – Atelier C&D Canadian War Museum (English) The high-energy, Quebec-based Evolution of BBoying by Ottawa’s Mi Casa Theatre, featuring local choreographer/dancer Yvon ‘Crazy Smooth’ Soglo, explores street dance tradition in a modern performance setting. This show brings together 10 of Canada’s most talented dancers and performersin a piece that evokes the essential nature of street dance. The programming schedule for this show is as follows : * Wednesday, May 29 @ 1 :00 pm - Tent 2 LeBreton Flats Park (Bilingual) * Thursday, May 30 @ 9 :15 am and 11 :00 am - Tent 2 LeBreton Flats Park (Bilingual) * Friday, May 31 @ 1 :00 pm and 7 :00 pm - Tent 2 LeBreton Flats Park (Bilingual) * Saturday, June 1 @ 9 :30 am and 12 :00 pm – Tent 2 LeBreton Flats Park (Bilingual) * Sunday, June 2 @ 12 :30 pm and 3 :30 pm - Tent 2 LeBreton Flats Park (Bilingual) Denmark’s A Sonatina, by Gruppe 38 Europe’s oldest artistic creative, is a hysterical theatrical version of Little Red Riding Hood, featuring an un-cooperative live chicken and a newly laid egg. Highly original and tremendously imaginative, this performance is sure to be an audience favourite. The programming schedule for this show is as follows : * Wednesday, May 29 @ 9 :30 am and 12 :00 pm - Barney Danson Theatre – War Museum (English) * Friday, May 31 @ 10 :00 am, 12 :30 pm and 7 :00 pm - Barney Danson Theatre – War Museum (English) * Saturday, June 1 @ 10 :00 am and 12 :00 pm - Barney Danson Theatre – War Museum (English) * Sunday, June 2 @ 10 :00 am - Barney Danson Theatre – War Museum (English) The award-winning adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s Where The Wild Things Are is back by popular demand. It is a whimsical, joyful piece of participatory theatre that will delight one and all. Kim Selody brings our favourite characters to life in this Dora-nominated production. Get your tickets soon, this one sells out fast! The programming schedule for this show is as follows : * Thursday, May 30 @ 9 :30 am, 12 :30 pm and 7 :00 pm – Barney Danson Theatre – War Museum (English) * Saturday, June 1 @ 2 :30 pm - Barney Danson Theatre – War Museum (English) * Sunday, June 2 @ 12 :30 pm and 3 :00 pm - Barney Danson Theatre – War Museum (English) Ghosts and Ladders, featuring acrobats and musicians combining music, movement and poetry. This show originating from Quebec, has audience members transported to an imaginative, engrossing world that won’t soon be forgotten. The programming schedule for this show is as follows : * Saturday, June 1 @ 1 :00 pm – Tent 1 LeBreton Flats Park (English) * Sunday, June 2 @ 11 :00 am and 2 :15 pm - Tent 1 LeBreton Flats Park (English) Please refer to the Festival’s activities schedule for more activities. Tickets for the Festival are $12.50 per person, or you can choose your three favourite shows by purchasing a 3-Show Package (any 3 shows) for $30.00 per person. Tickets can be purchased through the festival office by calling 613-241-0999, by visiting the office at 294 Albert Street, Suite 602, Ottawa (Mon-Fri, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm), through the Festival website or on-site at Lebreton Flats Park, between May 28 and June 2. These shows usually sell out, so please call early to avoid disappointment! For more information about the schedule or ticket information please visit the website at www.ottawachildrensfestival.ca or call (613) 241-0999. You can follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest! Contest is open to 18 + Canadian Residents only. You have 48 hours to reply by email once you are notified as the winner. If you don't, we will draw another entry. Prize may not be substitute. Contest ends May 26th at 11:59pm.   Win 4 tickets to The Ottawa International Children's Festival

Selling used items - be safe

I have used kijiji and usedottawa to sell/buy baby items since Mr. J was an infant. It is a great way to make some money back on items you only use for a short period of time.  The return you get is higher than taking the items to a consignment store, although a downfall is the time it takes to list items and respond to inquiries.

After hearing about Timothy Bosma, it really got me thinking about all the times buyers came to my house in the middle of the day, when I was alone with the kids.  I even went and picked items up from people without thinking twice about it.

After hearing about Tim's death on the news today, they listed some great tips on how to continue selling privately, but being safer about it.

1) ask questions of prospective buyers on the phone; try and get a phone number to reach them at. IF they won't give you one, that should raise some red flags
2) always try and meet during the day, and in a public place
3) never go alone - bring a friend or family member with you


Do you buy or sell online or through classifieds?  What are your thoughts - will this change your mind about it?

Monday Giveaway Linky

Feel free to list any open giveaways you have, but please make sure to write who is eligible to win (CAN, US, WW) For maximum exposure, it would be great if you could share the linky via twitter or facebook. Thanks for linking up and good luck if you enter!

Happy Mothers Day

Today is a day marked to celebrate Mothers.  Time to tell them how much you love and appreciate them, because while you know everyday, sometimes it is easy to let it go by without showing them just how much.

Today, however can also be a day of sadness for some.  For those that have lost their own mother; for those that have lost their babies; and for those who have so dreamt of carrying a child, but have been unable to.

Hugs to all of you

CHOOZE Shoes - Review and Giveaway (CAN)

I like my boys to show their individuality; I let them dress themselves, and almost anything goes (as lomg as it is season appropriate and clean, I am pretty good with whatever they want) even if it means wearing batman pj's (come on, capes are awesome) to school.

I have always been someone that isn't overly fond of wearing socks - however, my feet get cold so I suffer through wearing them and make it fun.  Bright coloured, funky designs - I love them all. Most of the time though, my socks don't match.  I don't have the time (or the desire) to dig through them all and match em up.  My boys (especially Mr. J) have followed suit, and even if they have a pair of matching socks, often choose to mismatch them.

When I first learned about CHOOZE shoes, I knew I needed to test them out. I was sure that Mr. J and Mr. K would love them.

CHOOZE very kindly sent us TWO pairs of shoes, 1 for each of the boys.  I was thrilled when they arrived - they are slip on style which is perfect for summer. Easy for them to grab and go, and they don't really need my help with them.

CHOOZE shoes are made from all vegan materials; in addition to this, instead of shoe boxes, they have "art boxes" which are made from recycled materials and help kids get creative in decorating them.

Chooze gives back - at the end of every year, they take the profits and invest in anti-poverty projects, you can read more about that here.

Chooze offers shoes for girls, boys and women.  They have slip ons, sandals, flip flops and sneakers. The shoes co-ordinate, but don't match - Mr. J noticed immediately, and thought they sent him the wrong shoes.  When I asked him what he thought, he said it was awesome and would "match" his socks since they did not match either.



you can see his mis matched socks also!

The shoes are fully washable, which is great for kids - I love that when they get dirty I can just throw them in the washing machine with the rest of their laundry (on gentle cycle) and then let them air dry. 

They have an anti-microbial insole (helps keep the smells away!) and the soles are really firm, which is great to protect their little toes and bottoms of their feet.  I measured the boys feet and then checked the website for their size.  I added a little on just in case; Mr. J's are slightly big and Mr. K's fit perfectly. 

Would you wear Chooze shoes? I would! I think I need to buy myself a pair now.  Here is a chance to give them a try - one lucky Tales of Mommyhood reader is going to win a pair of shoes*!  (winners choice of size/shoe from a selection in stock at that time) Giveaway is open to residents of Canada who are 18+.  To enter, use the rafflecopter form below.

Wordless Wednesday - A Balancing Act

Mr. K practicing on his Strider Balance Bike

Kids and video games/tv time

Today I have a post up on the CHEO Moms and Dads blog; it's about kids and screen time.  What are your thoughts on the subject?

Are you super strict with the amount of time your children have with electronics? or are you more relaxed?

We are fairly relaxed - mainly because our kids don't focus solely on electronic devices. They are happiest when they are outside playing, and they get plenty of outdoor time. They also have lots of time to use their imaginations and be creative indoors with the tv off.