Family, Reviews, Healthy Living, Photography and More!
August 12, 2015
Summer is always busy in our home with lots of family birthdays so I haven’t been participating in #WW the last few weeks but my linky is back! Join us on our adventure to Centreville Amusement Park in Toronto (and check out more of our fun here).
Make sure you link up below so that I can come visit you too!
August 11, 2015
Family time is special time in our house. We always make sure we do one small activity a week together (usually hiking, biking or swimming) and once a month a larger bonding activity (which usually involves some travel). Finding the right venue is extremely important for family bonding – you can’t enjoy each others company if you are miserable waiting in lines or can barely hear each other over the crowds.
This past weekend, we spent the day at Centreville on Toronto Island. This was our first time experiencing the ferry and Centre Island (even for me who grew up just north of Toronto!) and we were all excited. We weren’t quite to sure what to expect but we were ready for our special adventure and our mission to get on as many rides as possible and capture a selfie doing it.
When you are looking for a family friendly venue or attraction to take the whole family to like Centreville Amusement Park, here are some helpful areas to look at before deciding where to go:
A family oriented environment like Centreville is important to encourage bonding, learning and fun. Not only are there opportunities for fun but with lots of benches, breaks and nature everywhere you go, you can really focus on family and enjoying each other’s company. There is no pressure and you can just take your time at each area and even step away from the amusement park to take in some pretty spectacular views of Toronto.
A relaxed pace. One of the very first comments I made to my husband was that I felt like we had stepped off the ferry into another time. People were riding bikes, roller blading, ducks were walking across the grass and above all there were no angry guests, no shouting and no loud noises. This is so different from what I am used to at any amusement park and I LOVED it. It truly made the difference to us as a family.
It is so important that there is something for every one of all ages. My kids are seven years apart so planning activities for them can be hard. We have been to several places where they can’t go on rides together (one is too small, one is too big or maybe they just aren’t interested). This never happened at Centreville. Our eldest took his little brother on the brand new Toronto Island Mine Coaster, they played mini putt, we went on The Centreville Train ride together and even went down the log flume ride (and I still deny that I screamed the whole way down). It was an incredible experience for us a family, we have not laughed like that in a long time. And with over thirty rides to choose from, we were never once bored and actually stayed four hours longer than we had originally planned to.
A variety of food choices located conveniently near the attractions. We like to pack light and always have since our eldest was a baby. I prefer to only bring refillable water bottles and some small snacks so that I can enjoy my day just as much as my kids. Centreville had a conveniently located centre space (which resembled a small town square) that sold a variety of refreshments, drinks and meals. Located just outside the attractions (and under a five-minute walk) was a delicious restaurant, Carousel Cafe, that accommodated my boys love of meat and my need for a vegetarian meal (their spicy black bean veggie burger is incredible!!). We were able to sit outside on the patio right by the water, watching canoes go by and ducks swimming while we ate and planned our afternoon.
Quiet spaces to rest, for when the little ones get tired after all the walking and rides. I’m lying a bit here because this was a must for my husband and I, especially after lunch! It was extremely hot on the day that we visited Centreville so it was nice to just sit down in the shade by the water edge or even by the splash pad area.
The cool factor is always a must. My son and I were on a mission to get a selfie on each and every ride we went on. We hit up each ride (except for the windmill as my stomach can’t quiet handle the circular motion) in the park and managed to snap a selfie on over half the rides. The log fume ride and the Toronto Island Mine Coaster were by far some of the wilder rides but the Centreville train was exciting as it passed by Far Enough Farm. Far Enough Farm definitely added a great late afternoon treat as we walked through and met the animals. It was awesome to see how much the animals loved their farm handlers, at one point we were calling to Darby (the Centreville horse) who ignored us but when Darby’s farm handler called, the horse came trotting over excited to see him.
Tips for Your Next Trip to Centreville:
Have you been to Centreville and if so what is your favourite memory of Centreville?
This post is generously sponsored by Centreville, but the images and opinions are my own. For more information please visit www.centreisland.ca.
August 7, 2015
Many of you may have already started back to school preparations by purchasing new clothes, uniforms, backpacks and school supplies – we started last month purchasing new uniforms for our youngest son who will be starting school this year. One of the many overlooked but important areas is your child’s first smart phone.
For many children this year may mark their very first time walking to and from school. While this is an exciting milestone for them, it also brings with it a new set of worries for parents. How will my child handle walking home alone, what if they need to contact us on the way home or they need to stay late at school? Or if your child will have to start taking a city bus to school in high school, what if they miss their bus how do they make you aware of this?
Recent stats show that 31% of parents want/need the ability to contact our children and 27% want our child to have a phone in case of emergencies (information take from a recent Telus smart phone chat).
These fears and concerns are very real and concerning for parents. Safety is one of the number one concerns parents chose to purchase a cell phone for their child at a younger age. I am sure if they had cell phones when I first started taking a bus, my parents would have purchased one for me too (not trying to age myself here!!).
Microsoft has just recently launched the Lumia 435 and with its competitive price and features, it will be a quick favourite for those just entering the smart phone market. Some of the top features it includes that many parents should consider prior to purchasing are: price, durability, size, apps, display and camera.
Price Point. Let’s face it, kids just aren’t as careful nor gentle with electronics as we wish they would be. Spending a large amount on a first smart phone may not always be the best, especially if they damage the screen, lose the smart phone or drop it (heck I still drop my phone all the time so I won’t spend a lot on my own!). Priced without a contract for under $100, you can’t beat the price on the Lumia 435.
Durability and Size. The phone case itself should be strong but light in weight. A flimsy phone case will just break or damage if it is dropped. The size should be reasonable because it is meant for a student. It needs to be able to be placed in a backpack, pocket or desk away from sight. The Lumia 435 has the bonus of having two additional covers that can be purchased in bright orange or green that really gives it that extra pop of colour.
Popular Apps. While most children will be using the phone for safety concerns, texting arrivals or phone calls home, it would be hard for anybody to resist playing a game or connecting with social media. I quickly became addicted to Fruit Slash!
Display, camera and memory. A clear and bright display screen in a must. The display on the Lumia 435 is fantastic! The images are bright and clear on it’s 4 inch screen, not quite what you expect for this price point. The Lumia 435 has a 8GB memory with an additional 125GB maximum memory size that can be added in. This allows for plenty of storage for your child. The camera itself has the ability to take pictures from the front and back (very important for those much-needed selfies and Skype calls).
The Lumia 435 is sold exclusively on the Telus and Kodoo networks and available at Walmart and Best Buy.
Have you purchased a smart phone for your child? If yes, what were the main reasons you purchased the phone? If you haven’t, are you considering one in the near future?
Disclosure: I received the above mentioned product to test in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 7, 2015
The one thing that I hate the most in our home? The crazy clutter and awful look of a ton of different wires plugging into the tv and hanging down the walls. It just looks unsightly and unorganized. I love my electronics but I just don’t love the look of the wires hanging around everywhere from our children’s video game consoles, digital plug-ins and blu ray players.
The Kinivo K300 Premium 4K 3 port HDMI switch eliminates the need to have multiple wires all over the place. This one device eliminates multiple wires hanging out of the back of your television or even worse the unplugged ones that are hanging out all over the floor because you only have one or two inputs! Instead of plugging the consoles into the inputs on your television you plug them into the K300 device which is in turn plugged in only using one wire! Talk about the perfect solution to multiple wires hanging out all over the place.
The Kinivo K300 features:
Here is a basic model example of how the K300 works:
We loved the easy set up of the Kinivo K300, it was basically just a plug-in and get ready to use device. Which with my limited tech skills (thank goodness my hubby is so good with technology!), I can appreciate the most. With one small remote, I could easily change from my son’s Playstation to my favourite movies. The size of the K300 is perfect, small enough to not take up a lot of space but still sleek and stylish. Talk about love at first sight!
Make sure to check out Kinivo’s brand new website and all the latest products they have for sale!
How do you manage the wire clutter in your home?
Disclosure: I received the above mentioned product free of charge in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 5, 2015
Leo is a great friend, the only problem? Leo is a ghost.
About Leo: A Ghost Story
You would just love to be Leo’s friend! He likes to draw, make delicious snacks but no one can see him because he is a ghost. When a new family moves into Leo’s home, he tries to make them feel welcome but they don’t understand his good intentions. Leo is sad and decides to leave his home and see the world. On his adventure into the world he meets Jane, a young girl with a great imagination who has an open position for a knight. Leo’s adventure is only beginning!
My Thoughts
Leo: A Ghost Story is an adorable, sweet story that has you falling in love with Leo our ghost and hoping he finds a friend who can appreciate him for who he is even if he is a ghost. It is important for children to realize that just because we are different on the outside it is what is on the inside (the unseen parts) that matter the most. They make us a good person.
It takes the imagination and acceptance of a young Jane for Leo to realize his potential. His happiness is heart warming and makes you want to reach out and hug him (which would be impossible since he is a ghost!).
With beautiful illustrations that highlight the ghost story theme, Leo: A Ghost Story will be a special book you can treasure with your children to teach about friendship, love and imagination.
Rating: 5/5
Book Trailer
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
