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Five Events and Festivals to Help You Embrace Winter in Edmonton
Every year I want to embrace winter and be more active outside. Then the snow and cold wind hits and I just want to run inside and hibernate. You would think with growing up in Canada I would be used to it by now, but my mind is still stuck and longing for warm sun and beach days. But since Edmonton is the Festival City, they don’t let a little snow and below freezing temperatures stop them from having fun. There are great festivals year round that showcase culture, food, art, and recreation. Here are five festivals and events that make you want to go out and celebrate the winter…
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Kid’s Hour at the Cat Cafe on Whyte
My 8 year old is cat OBSESSED! She greets her kitty as soon as we walk through the door, wants to make a cat tower with her grandpa and if she touches anything soft, it’s as soft as “5000 cuddly cats!” When I heard that there was a Cat Cafe coming to Edmonton, I knew we would have to visit. I was initially disappointed to hear that the cafe would be for adults and children 10 and up. I totally understood though – you don’t want the kitties to be overwhelmed and stressed out from little ones chasing them and pulling their tails all day long. But I was…
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PJ Masks LIVE! Time To Be A Hero
PJ Masks has been a favorite in our house since they debuted almost 2 years ago. The stories of young superheros Catboy, Gecko and Owlette have been replayed over and over and then carried over into pretend play. It was so popular in our house last year that it was the theme of Kai’s 4th birthday. Masks (thanks to the talented Cold Lipstick’s Garden), superhero training complete with an obstacle course, and a completion certificate rounded out the activities. Just posted today was the announcement of the PJ Masks LIVE! tour coming to Edmonton on Monday, December 11, 2017 at 6pm. According to the Facebook event, presale begins Thursday…
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25 Activities For Screen-Free Week
May 1-7 is Screen-Free Week, and as we finally emerge from a long winter and the gloominess of a mixed up spring, I have to admit the kid’s tablet time has been on the rise lately. With extended screen time comes moody kids and sleep issues. It’s time to detox for a week and get things back on track. Working from home and being with the girls all day everyday means I tend to use screen time as crutch to get caught up on work or a bit of quiet time to recharge and get through the day. So I have to be prepared this week with activities to do…
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A New Year, A New Routine
Since I’ve already gotten the jump on goal setting and intentions for this year, I though it was about time to shake up our routine a little too. As unschoolers, we don’t have set subjects or curriculum we cover each day, but we do have certain activities and blocks of time that we do daily. We read daily, spend time exercising or doing yoga, go outside for adventures or errands, and have quiet time / tablet time in the afternoon. Little Sis spends most of her day asking Big Sis to play with her. Big Sis usually will, but not always at the time Little Sis wants. A few nights…
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Natural Products From Little One Naturals
I love supporting home based and small businesses. In many cases you are directly helping a mom stay home and raise her family, or for parents to help pay for classes, sports or medical expenses for their children. I try to search out unique and hand crafted items for gifts and everyday use. Over the past few years I have looked deeper at essential oils, past the pretty scents to looking at their therapeutic properties. I came across the home business of Little One Naturals and her products really resonated with me. Natural products that don`t cause skin irritation and essential oils and blends that help calm and relax our…
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Our Favorite Sand Free Playgrounds in YEG
Don’t get me wrong, I love sand, but it can stay at the beach. With the weather cooling down in Edmonton, flip flops, shorts and tank tops are being replaced with sneakers, pants, sweaters and jackets. One of my biggest mommy pet peeves is sand in shoes, clothes, hair, and everywhere else! Plus, back in the spring my daughter had a cast on her foot, so we went in search of sand free playgrounds so she could still play without it affecting her cast. Recycled rubber is becoming the favorite choice when new playgrounds are being built. Here’s a list of our favorite sand free playgrounds in Edmonton. Alberta Ave…
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G. Edmund Kelly Park: A Hidden Gem in YEG
With hot summer nights here already, we love to head out after supper for a quick cool down before bed. But with the larger spray parks jammed packed with excited kids, we sometimes want a quieter experience. Then we came across this hidden gem in the Kilkenny neighbourhood, G. Edmund Kelly Park. This park includes a playground and spray park and is located at 150 Ave and 79 Street, Edmonton (easy access off 149A Ave and 82 Street). This spot offers a perfect evening escape with a moderate amount of people. I love the fact that the playground and spray park are in the same park, but far enough away…
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Screen-Free Week – Planning + Keeping Busy
If you’re like us, you have a difficult time managing screen usage. Deciding how much is too much or if there are better things they could be doing with their time are always on my mind. We’re a pretty relaxed homeschooling family and we have a bit more free time on our hands than most, so there is more time for screen use to slip in. I also work from home and there are times I need quiet to get things done to make deadlines or talk on the phone, and a little bit of tablet time is usually the best way to achieve this. May 2-8 2016 is…
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Make a Salt Crystal Geode with Easter Leftovers
When we decorate Easter eggs, I poke holes in the ends of the egg and drain it out and then rinse the shell out. This is the way I did it as a child so this is how I do it with my girls. It allows the decorated shells to stick around a bit longer and makes for a decorative center piece. This year I remembered a fun science experiment you can do with the shells – make a salt crystal geode! All you need is egg shells, salt, boiling water and a small cup or bowl. Food dye is optional but it makes for a pretty geode. Full instructions…
