Macaroni Kid - Check out these awesome activities!

So there is this awesome website the connects families with awesome activities in and around Edmonton. If you don't know what I am already talking about, then head on over and check out Macaroni Kid. 





What is even more exciting is that Macaroni Kid is hosting events called Macaroni Play Days.

For the month of August Macaroni Kid is teaming up with
Nourish Me Cooking Classes and offering children aged 6-12 yrs the opportunity to participate in age appropriate cooking classes! Taking place every Tuesday the classes will focus on healthy eating, fresh foods, finger foods, and even a class on making hot lunches!

Want to sign up? 

Just click here to get all the details and to register! 

P.S 

Parents are welcome to attend with their children, and can also bring other children that are younger as activities for the younger children will be set up and there is a park near by! 

Quinoa pizza. Make it for now, make it for later JUST MAKE THEM!

During our move we inherited a big bag of Quinoa from my mom... needless to say I am trying to find some kids friendly recipes that include Quinoa. 
One I have found that the kids **LOVE** are Quinoa pizza's.
They are easy to make, healthy, yummy and surprisingly they freeze fabulously! Oh and this takes under 30 minutes to make from scratch!  

Directions: 
Cook enough Quinoa to make 2 cups 

Preheat oven to 450 degrees

Grease muffin tin

Mix together: 

2 cups of cooked Quinoa 

2 eggs
1 cup of chopped pizza meat (ham salami, etc)
1 cup of other pizza toppings (chopped olives, green pepper, pineapple, etc) 

3/4 cup of mozzarella cheese

1 table spoon of minced garlic
1 table spoon of dried basil
1 teaspoon of dried oregano
pinch of salt

Place mix evenly into the muffin tin and cook for 15-20 minutes in the oven.
The tops should be lightly browned.

Remove from oven and serve warm with your favourite dipping sauce or place in a freezer bag to freeze for a letter date.

This recipe yields 24 bites


**This is a basic recipe if you want to add more ingredients remember to add in more liquid (eggs in this case) to ensure that they bind together when cooking**

An epic camping trip, a parade, rocking the minivan, and growing by 2 feet. What a whirlwind of the last few weeks.

A few weeks ago we had our 2nd annual mom's group camping trip and it was so much fun.
Let me say how much I love my mom friends.. I said it before in a previous blog post here, but seriously I love these ladies!!! I really am lucky to have such a great group of friends..who also have great husbands, and between us all we have a pretty kick ass group of kids too. Who could ask for much more??  I feel blessed...and am tearing up as I write this.

10 chairs, 11 kids. 

This brings me to my next topic.... are you ready for it??????? Baby # 3 will grace us with it's presence in March 2015! How far along am I you ask?? Well 7 weeks.. Ya ya ya I know some people are probably cringing at the news before the 3 month mark, but you know what I am kind of a glass half full kind of gal. To me not wanting to talk about it is anticipating something bad, and I know its going to be good, so this is me shouting it from the mountain tops.
I AM PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(p.s. if you are a half glass full kind of gal or guy...but still wait for the 3 month mark, awesome, no judgement here, to each their own!! )



And now to minivans.. I drive a Dodge Caravan. I love it. I hear the radio commercial about the parents getting the news about having twins and about them needing to get a minivan and their utter despair. NOOOOOO NOT A MINI VAN.. I laugh and you know what they are awesome! Here is why..

1. You don't have to push down a middle seat to get to the 3rd row like in cross overs. And this makes life a whole lot easier for people who have 3 kids in carseats, which I will. 
2. I can fit 16 Steralite bins in my car when going to shows for Bun in the Oven Consignment. 
3. 2 adults, 3 kids, 2 dogs, and a cargo roof carrier. All things that make a successful and comfortable trip. In a minivan
4. Stow and go seating. More places to put stuff when traveling!

Waiting for the parade to start

The truck pulling our float

Lastly...the K-Days parade! First of all guess who won
BEST NON-PROFIT ENTRY!!!!!
Second, Carter was in his element. This year he chose to ride on the float and use his bubble gun to blow bubbles into the crowd, but he still told me it was the best day of his life. And you know what, this is a great childhood memory. Some people have dreams to be in a parade...and this kids has been in it 2 years in a row. Seriously aside from all the awesome work we do as an agency, it is also pretty great that we can participate in things like this. #staffmoral
(And a shout out to Rosenau Transport, cause their driver is amazing!!)

So thats all folks, for now that is! :) :)

P.S.
Like what you read? Subscribe to my blog here... I won't give your email to anyone else!

Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner

The in's and outs of the K-Days parade!

Friday is the K-Days parade and both Carter and I are super excited to be in the parade again this year. (Another reason my work is so awesome)

Last year Carter was a super star running along the side lines and giving hi fives to all the people sitting on the side walks. 
It's all he has been talking about since he found out he was going to be in the parade again this year!! 

For anyone who is planning to go, especially when travelling with children the more information you have, the better!! This is what I have learned over the past few years and hopefully you find it helpful too!  

What time to go? 
The parade starts at 10:00am and getting there early to stake out the perfect spot is ideal. If I were going to stake out a spot I would go for 9:15ish. 

Where to park? 
Taking the bus or the LRT downtown is the best idea! There is limited parking in close proximity to the parade because of construction (arena, road work, etc..) as well as many roads being shut down for the parade. Park and Ride is a great option. 

What to bring
Lawn chairs or a blanket to sit on the cement. 
Hats
Sunscreen
Snacks (The parade from start to finish can last up to 2 hours) 
Water bottles 
Money (If you want to purchase items from the vendors walking up and down the street) 
Camera 

Where to sit 
Check out the map of the parade, my favorite spot is by City Hall. Even though it is at the end of the parade, it is still my favorite place to sit. 
Locations that have natural shade will make the parade an enjoyable experience. 

If you see Carter and I in the parade, be sure to yell hi and have a great time!! 

Shopping at Carter's just got so much easier.

Attention Carter's customers!!!
Today you should have received the awesome news that starting today you can shop online at Carter's Canada.
(It was worth the wait)
This makes me very excited.
Just another reason to love shopping at Carter's. 

A chance to win Four Ride all day passes for K-Days - Contest ends Friday July 11th @ 6pm!!

Are you looking to buy Ride All Day passes for K-Days? 
Close your wallet and check out this contest first! 

Macaroni Kid Edmonton is giving you the chance to win FOUR Ride All Day passes for K-Days! 
(Yes these include admission) 

Entering is easy and you can go here to enter. 

The contest ends Friday July 11th @ 6pm and the winner will be contacted via email. 

Make sure you read the rules to qualify. 
And if you don't already make sure you subscribe to Macaroni Kid. It is an awesome resource of all things family happening in and around Edmonton! 

Food Truck Friday - La Poutine July 11th

So the awesome thing about my work, is that we have some pretty amazing people organizing kick ass events! Case and point! 

>>>>> FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY <<<<<

Tomorrow La Poutine will be at my work with their Food Truck filling our bellies with delicious scrumptious Poutine. 
What are the details? 
Check them out... 
Where: 11130 - 131street
When: 11am - 1 pm
What: Traditional, Italian, Supreme & Vegan Poutine. 

Come and check it out! Bring your appetite and of course money 
(La Poutine accepts CASH & DEBIT ONLY) 

See you there! ;) 

Happy Birthday 7 Eleven - FREE Slurpee alert July 11th, 2014

This Friday is 7-Eleven's birthday and they are celebrating 

by giving away Slurpee's! 

Go to any participating 7-Eleven between 

11 am - 7 pm and receive a 

FREE SMALL SLURPEE. 

What a great way to spend another hot day! 

Thursday date night at the Garden - Staycation idea #4!

Outdoor enthusiast unite! 
This will be a date night to remember! 

Enjoy a walk around the beautiful Devonian Botanic Garden until dusk every Thursday from now until the end of August! 

Dancing. Movie. Rumba. Games. 
Every Thursday also has a different theme so there is something for everyone.

Admission is affordable and includes the entertainment..  
$11/Adults $6/Students $8/Seniors $8/Friends of the Garden 
(Passes & coupons accepted for all Thursday's EXCEPT the movie night) 

The more you buy, the more you save.. 
If you know that you want to attend more then on of the date nights, there are multi-packs available! 

Tantalizing your taste buds! 
You can order some light fare from the Loft Patio Cafe or bring your own picnic... 
(BYOB is not allowed..sorry folks..rules are rules...but you can buy some bevee's there) 

There is free popcorn! 

Plan which night you want to attend, information is here! 

P.S
Date nights are rain or shine! (within reason) 

Camping....going this year...things I remembered from last year.

This weekend we are going on our 2nd annual moms group (including our family) camping trip. Last year we had such a blast and I am sure this year will be even more amazing! 

Anytime that anyone experiences something they always have those mental notes of things they should bring next time...what they should have brought even though  their husbands said "we won't need that" (hello Walmart...thanks for having some cute and cheap sweaters for the kids).. meals that worked...meals that didn't...fun games..and everything in between. This is a basic "mental note" list that I made..maybe it will help you out for planning your camping trips. 

Camping 2013.
At Walmart buying sweaters for the kids

1. Pack clothes that you are okay with getting muddy, stained, and ripped. Kids and adults..
2. Bring a first aid kit. Wondering what to put in a basic kit? I like this website. Plus bring children's tylenol/advil if you have kids. Nothing sucks more than a teething baby in the middle of the boonies and no pain relievers.. 
3. Pack a jacket for everyone even if it is supposed to be super warm, also long sleeve shirts and pants! It helps with preventing mosquito bites at night and it can get super chilly at night too. 
4. Bring snacks and bring lots of them. We are bringing fishes, bagels that we made last Friday (recipe can be found here), veggie sticks, juice boxes, and many other items that will be easy to grab in pre portioned out bags. 
5. If tenting it and you are looking for a kids bed, check out this cot that can be purchased from Toys'R'Us. We have one for Carter. It's convenient. It folds up into a small bag. (Think folding chair, but a little smaller). And its $40!
6. Bring/plan more activities then you will have time for. Make some that are rain and yucky weather friendly. Lasy year one of the mom's planned a scavenger hunt, like this one on Pinterest and it was a hit! Another mom planned a simple, yet fun craft. 



Carter modelling his crown 

7. Bring games for when the children go for naps/to bed. I will be bringing Personally Incorrect...should be a blast! 
8. Kids love sleeping bags (or maybe just the idea of them)! Carter and Sophie are so excited to use their sleeping bags that they got for their birthdays. It was literally all they could talk about today. Although I also think they are equally excited about the backpack/carry bag that comes with them... 
9. Check out Kijiji or other places to get cheaper/free wood if you can. Buying wood at the campsite is EXPENSIVE.. When we bought our house the owners left us lots of wood. We will be bringing some of that with us to avoid the crazy wood prices. 
10. Invest in mosquito repellent bracelets.. We have the bugslock ones and love them! No chemicals. No sprays. Easy to use. 
11. Lastly.... be in the moment and take the time you have and be away from your major electronics. Bring a camera.. take pictures, take many..and camp. Tell stories by the fire. Sing songs. Have fun!

 

Disney in Concert - Staycation location # 3! Set your calendars for August 29th... oh and it's FREEEEEEEEE

If you're doing the staycation thing like we are doing this summer, well then you are looking for fun things to do in and around Edmonton (affordable or free is also a plus!)

This is plan ahead and put it on your calendar NOW worthy!

Friday August 29th @ 8:00pm , the Edmonton Symphony is performing Disney in Concert at Churchill Square and it's FREE. 

There will be 4 vocalists performing with the orchestra as well as clips and storyboard art being displayed on screen through out the performance. 

Bring the family, dress up in your favourite disney character costume, and sing along to some of the greatest disney movies made such as The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and yes........FROZEN..  (and a variety of others.. ) 

Looking for more information? You can check our the Edmonton Symphony webpage here. 

See you there!!