This week’s blog posts will come to you from The Boca Beach Club in Boca Raton. I am excited to share a new warm-weather vacation option for families, in the nearby sunny state of Florida.
First impressions … Wow! Even after waking up at 4 am for an 8:30 am flight, one could not help but be overwhelmed by the beauty of the ocean (which I am listening to right now from my room), the beckoning stretch of beach (which resulted in soaked pants from giggling, wading kids), and three gorgeous pools (including a zero-entry family pool).
You can get a preliminary feel for the newly renovated property at www.bocabeachclub.com, but it doesn’t even begin to capture the dazzling view and casual elegance.
I look forward to a week of fun in the sun together with you.
For years, I’ve been a subscriber to the American magazine Family Fun. It’s been my reliable partner in crime throughout my kids’ childhood and it might become yours too during the coming Family Day, the Valentine’s Day fuss or the March Break.
In Family Fun, I’ve found a mom’s advice on how to visit an art museum with my young son (turning the visit into a fun “I spy” game to look for specific items on the paintings). I’ve learned how to create a super card game that caught a slice of our daily life (teaching my kids about the different things one needs to know to run a house).
I’ve had a blast at the expense of my kids by using fabulous tips for April’s Fool pranks (I normally buy milk bags but for the occasion, I put a milk pint on the table, in which I surreptitiously added blue food coloring. The look on my then 8-years-old son when he poured the milk into his bowl was totally worth the trouble!).
When I was involved with the School Council, we would often choose the theme for the school parties according to the best craft activities I found while browsing through my Family Fun copies.
Years ago, prior to the internet, the magazine’s main appeal already lied in the fact that they’d been able to get hundreds of creative parents to submit their great ideas to them. Now we can all access this amazing resource online for free.
Their crafts section is the best. You can search by age, type or even by material but the Holiday & Seasonal category is such a time saver. You won’t find a Family Day section in there since it’s an American website but Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, April Fool’s Day, Easter and Mother’s Day will all come handy in the coming months.
Just to get an idea of the spread of crafts they offer, check the bottle-cap tambourines in the Recyclable Crafts category under Crafts by Material, or the newspaper fashion show (if I still were a member of the School Council, I’d use that idea to complement a Literacy day event for the students!). As soon as we get some snow, even just a little, I think we should try their Beach Bum Snowman. It would definitely cheer up the whole neighbourhood.
Most pages are followed by a Show & Tell section where you get to see pictures of craft ideas submitted by families just like us. Very often, parents also submit photos of one of the Family Fun crafts they tried for themselves. I should send them my daughter’s picture of the bubble bather costume suggestion we used during our school’s Crazy Bubbles end-of-the-year party.
The crafts are just the tip of the iceberg. Their Playtime section offers hundreds of games suggestions for all occasions and contexts. Their Parties menu allows to search by theme or age and includes Themed Cupcakes and Party Printables categories. They even have a how-to video section for cakes and cupcakes for the bakery-challenged among us.
Tips • Crafts offered online are not there forever. You can subscribe to their magazine online (or through the magazine sales of your school if they have one of those fundraisers). Check their website at www.familyfun.com.
In her personal yet practical 480-page guidebook, author Nathalie Prezeau describes hundreds of outings in and around the GTA she tested with her family and friends over the past twelve years. The 4th edition is out! It includes a new chapter on things to do with the kids around the 69 subway stations in Toronto, as well as exciting city walks to play the tourist in Toronto. Available in the Travel Section of GTA bookstores as well as Mastermind Educational Toys stores and currently at Costco. Visit www.torontofunplaces.com to learn more.
March Break is quickly approaching, and we are pleased to bring you exciting camps and events in Toronto and the GTA, to help you plan a memorable holiday for your child(ren).
Fun-Filled Gymnastics Camp at Gymalaya Sponsored Listing Gymalaya camp is designed to build physical, mental and social skills in a fun and non-competitive environment. Activities include: gymnastics, games, dance, crafts, story time and much more fun. State-of-the-art clean and bright facilities. Register early to avoid disappointment as spaces are limited for each camp day! Contact: Gymalaya Vaughan: (905)760-5655, Gymalaya Newmarket: (905)868-8200, www.gymalaya.com.
Creation Recreation Sponsored Listing It’s a Mixed Bag of March Break Creations! Register for our half day or full day workshops that include clay, ceramic and glass. Don’t want to commit to a workshop, no problem just drop in anytime between 10am - 6pm and create something unique. Contact: 1-888-909-TIJA or www.tijaceramicstudio.com.
March Break Camp at Steeles-West Gymnastics Sponsored Listing The March Break program runs March 15-19 half- days or full days, for 7 -14 year olds. You may register for any single day(s) or for the full week. The program includes gymnastics activities, active games, crafts, and snack time(s). 601 Magnetic Dr., Unit 21, North York. Contact: 416-736-8759, swgymnastics@on.aibn.com or www.steeleswestgymnastics.com.
PLAYDIUM THE ULTIMATE PLACE TO PLAY! Sponsored Listing Playdium is the ultimate interactive, virtual and physical Family Entertainment Centre. Our 40,000 Sq. Ft Game floor features over 200 of today’s most exciting attractions, rides and simulators. Play to win in our exciting Redemption & Prize Zones! Your ultimate choice for interactive fun! Contact: 905-273-9000, info@playdium.com or www.playdium.com.
Real People. Real Stories. Real March Break Adventure! Sponsored Listing MARCH BREAK MADNESS at the Children’s Museum IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR at Dundurn Castle SQUEAKY CLEAN at the Steam Museum A MONUMENTAL MARCH BREAK at Battlefield House WONDERLAND at Whitehern VIDEO CAMP at Fieldcote Contact: www.hamilton.ca/museums
Active Kids Zone March Break Camp Sponsored Listing March Break Camp will be action packed each day with tons of sports and games, crafts and ceramics, cooking and karaoke, time in our amazing Fun Zone and even a few half day field trips! A lunch option, extended hours and daily or weekly registration is available. Contact: 416-650-5060 or register online at www.activekidszone.com.
The Clay Room: March Break Masterpieces Sponsored Listing Come paint a treasured ceramic keepsake while spending quality time with family or friends. WALK INS WELCOME. March Break Camp (15th-19th; week long, full or half day) great for crafty kids: ceramics, creative clay, beading, papier mache, multi-media, fabric fun +more - registration required. Birthday Parties too! 279 Danforth Avenue, Toronto. Contact: 416-466-8474, contact@theclayroom.ca or www.theclayroom.ca.
Wizard World Sponsored Listing Toronto’s favorite family March Break destination. Thrilling stage shows, petting zoo, crafts, rides and inflatable bounce zone will keep kids 2 - 12 running, bouncing, laughing and playing for hours! Admission only $8.50+gst. Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place, March 14 - 21 10am - 5pm. Free lootbags. Contact: 416.585.WAND (9263), info@wizardworld.ca, www.wizardworld.ca.
March Break at Toronto’s Historic Sites Sponsored Listing Toronto’s Historic Sites present several great pre-registered day camps as well as family drop-ins for young people to enjoy during March Break. Have a blast exploring life in the city over a hundred years ago! Hands-on fun, cooking, dress up, crafts, making toys, and more! Contact: www.toronto.ca/camps or call 311.
March Break at the CN Tower Sponsored Listing Special Admission - March 13-21, 2010 Total Tower Ticket for only $25 (including taxes) - save 30%.
Explore the CN Tower: world’s #1 elevator ride, three observation levels, famous Glass Floor, Himalamazon ride, movie, March Break week activities - Nickelodeon character visits with Dora™ , SpongeBob™, Battle Strikers, and more. Contact: 416-868-6937 or www.cntower.ca.
With Valentine’s and Family Day just around the corner, you may not only be thinking of ways to say “I love you” to your partner, but to other members of your immediate family too.
Saying “I love you” is not nearly as meaningful if our actions don’t match our words. Showing love takes effort and intention. Combined, words and actions have a powerful effect. So, what are your plans for showing love this month?
Here are some suggestions for showing love all year round:
1. Disconnect from technology. Connect with each other. One way of doing this is to deposit your Blackberry, IPOD, DS and any other distracting electronic device in a bowl at your front door. Retrieve when you leave to go out again. Resist the urge to check emails and texts throughout the day, especially while in the company of others. Encourage family members to avoid screens of any sort for specific periods of the day. Giving your undivided attention to the people you love is worth more than money can buy.
2. Do the unexpected. Prepare a snack, make someone you love a cup of tea or breakfast in bed when they least expect it. Clear the dishes in the sink and put a load of laundry in the washer without being asked. Offer to drive your child or partner when he or she is anticipating taking the bus. Don’t wait for an occasion such as Valentine’s Day or a birthday to plan a special event or reserve a table at your favourite restaurant. Include a special “thinking of you” note in a lunch box. Sprinkle rose petals on your bed.
3. Make someone else happy. On occasion, going to see a movie of his choice, even though it’s last on your list, says “I love you.” The same is true for listening to rock music, when you’d rather listen to jazz, for example. Hopefully, this show of love will be reciprocated on another occasion.
4. Schedule family time. As opposed to having each family member off in his or her own corner of the house, doing his or her own thing all the time. Making time to sit together as a family over several meals during the week, taking time to play a board game or even watch a favourite television show together, creates a feeling of connectedness. Even though most children would never admit to it, they enjoy the feeling that coming together as family evokes. It’s these times that they will remember fondly when they are on their own.
5. Be playful. When life gets too serious, play hide and seek, wrestle on the floor or skip down the street, arms linked. We’re never too old to let our hair down and to get back in touch with our childlike selves. The times that I’ve gotten into play fighting and tickling matches with my kids are some of my most treasured moments – and it doesn’t have to stop, even between adults.
6. Say hello and goodbye. It’s easy, as you rush out the door in the morning to forget to say goodbye. Try to remember. Saying goodbye and offering good wishes for a great day ahead says that you care. When you come back home, take time to connect with your family members. Catch up on the news of the day. If you’re occupied when someone arrives home after some time away, finish what you are doing quickly or stop to enquire how that person is doing. These points of connection are vital.
7. Take care of one another. Massage aching feet, offer a hot water bottle or a blanket when someone you love is cold, run a bath with bubbles and make sure that your family eats nourishing food. These are some of the caring ways to say “I love you.”
8. Set clear limits for your children. Even though your children will say that they hate having a curfew and resent having to live by your rules, they inwardly know that the rules you have set are because you care. Asking them to return home at a reasonable time and to live with certain restrictions is your way of saying that you care enough to set clear, loving limits and that you love them enough to make sure that your rules are adhered to.
9. Work as a team. When each family member knows that they have a role to play at making sure that projects get completed, that routine runs smoothly at home, he or she feels an integral part of a family unit. When you sit down as a family to discuss an upcoming family vacation or a difficulty that the family is facing, and then ask for everyone’s input, you are showing that you love them enough to include them in your discussion and that you value their input.
10. Say “I love you” with conviction. Anyone can say “I love you” but said too often or recited as part of a perfunctory goodbye ritual, these words can sound empty. Instead, cup your partner’s face in your hands, look into his or her eyes and say “I love you” with expression and emotion. Hug your children tight (if they’ll let you) and whisper “I love you.” Said at the right time and not over used, these words, combined with acts of caring, will convey their intended special message.
Sara Dimerman is registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario and provides counselling to individuals, couples and families out of the Parent Education Resource Centre, which she established twenty years ago. Sara is a nationally recognized expert on parenting, and author of ‘Character Is the Key’ (Wiley & Sons, Canada, 2009) and ‘Am I a Normal Parent?’ (Hatherleigh Press, USA, 2008). She is regularly quoted in print and appears on radio and television across North America. For more information visit www.helpmesara.com.
It’s been almost three years since I started Have Baby Will Travel, and in all this time I’ve been a total cheerleader for family travel. My goal with the site has always been to inspire and motivate new parents to travel with their babies and toddlers, and I think a big part of the motivation comes from hearing stories from other traveling parents.
The last trip was my 4-year-old daughter’s 8th and my 9-month-old son’s 3rd. Other than the usual hassles of a giant pile of luggage and figuring how to make sure both kids are fed and occupied on the travel days, it went off without a hitch. Come to think of it, the very first trip we took with our daughter also went off without a hitch, but I was still a very stressed out new mom who wanted to make sure we got to our destination in one piece physically AND mentally, and enjoyed ourselves once we were there.
But when I think of that first trip, that’s not what I remember. I remember how she kept dozing off in odd places during the first couple of days. I remember her squeals of absolute joy as she hit the beach and crawled in the sand for the first time. I remember her pointing at a cat and saying “cat”, and pointing at a dog and saying “cat”.
Much like childbirth, you just kind of forget the bad stuff. Like how I cried out of sheer exhaustion and frustration when she wouldn’t nap and woke at all hours during our first few days. Like how out of sorts I felt until we established our “vacation routine”. Like how I panicked when I realized the pasta with tomato sauce she was greedily eating had shellfish in it, and I hadn’t yet introduced her to that yet.
As my site nears its 3rd birthday, it’s a wakeup call of sorts for me to not forget where I came from. That first trip was tough, and as much as it’s easy to forget the bad, it’s important not to. I don’t ever want to seem smug or glib about the troubles and hassles involved in getting from point A to point B with a baby in tow. They’re real and they exist and I think being prepared is half the battle.
And also just like childbirth, it’s totally, totally worth it.
Corinne McDermott is the founder of Have Baby Will Travel, your online guide for family travel with babies, toddlers, and young children. Connect with her online at www.havebabywilltravel.com or www.twitter.com/hvbabywilltrvl
Valentine’s Day is the perfect time for me to remind the people that I love how much they mean to me, especially my husband Daniel and my three kids Sabrina, Max and Dalia. Because I love to be creative in the kitchen … this Valentine’s Day I plan to provide them with a days worth of delicious and nutritious surprises throughout the day. Each surprise will have a Valentine’s touch!
Breakfast for my “Beloveds”
I will begin the day by making a large batch of our family’s favourite pancakes and then using a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut them into hearts (heart-shaped cookie cutters can be found at your local dollar store). You can even use a frozen pancake or waffle, to save time! I will then top the pancakes with freshly sliced strawberries (frozen can be used too) and make a heart using a can of whipped cream. A great way to start the day!
This is my favourite pancake recipe from my good friend Norene Gilletz’s cookbook “The Food Processor Bible”.
Buttermilk pancakes
Ingredients
¾ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup whole wheat flour*
½ tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1 ¼ cups buttermilk**
2 tbsp canola oil or melted butter
1 egg
Method:
1. In a food processor, using the steel blade, combine all of the dry ingredients and process for 3-4 seconds
2. Add the remaining ingredients and process for 6-8 seconds, until smooth.
3. Pour onto a lightly greased griddle or skillet and cook until bubble appear on the top side. Turn over and brown on the other side. (I use a ¼ cup measuring cup for pouring each pancake)
Yield: 12-14 pancakes
*The original recipe called for 1¼ cups all-purpose flour and I have substituted a ½ cup whole wheat flour to boost the nutrition
**If you do not have buttermilk on hand you can measure 1 tbsp plus 1 tsp lemon juice or vinegar into a measuring cup and add enough milk to make 1¼ cup.
Loving lunch!
A sandwich filled with tuna salad, deli slices or cream cheese, will be cut in the shape of a heart using the same cookie cutter used for the pancakes at breakfast. (Try keep the filling in the middle to minimize the part that is cut away).
Snack: Using a smaller heart shaped cookie cutter I will be cutting slices of cheddar and mozzarella cheese into heart shapes and providing crackers to accompany them.
Fruit: Red fruits like strawberries, raspberries, watermelon, grapes.
Treat : Throw in a few “hugs and kisses” chocolates, or any other valentine’s treat (Max loves the special valentine’s mini Smarties boxes, which are perfect as they are nut-free)
And don’t forget a special note telling them to have a wonderful day and that you love them very much! If you find some Valentine’s Day stickers, those are always a nice addition too!
Dinner for my darlings…
For the main course itself, anything goes. However, there are still a few Valentine’s touches to be added…
Valentine Napkin Rings:
Make one for each family member using craft foam or construction paper, stick-on hearts and a stapler. Toilet paper tubes wrapped in red tissue will also do the trick.
Ingredients: 1 package Red Jello (strawberry, raspberry or cherry)
Directions:
1. Prepare the Jello according to the Jello Jigglers recipe on the box.
2. Pour into shallow pans and place in the refrigerator to set.
3.. When Jello is firm use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut out hearts.
4. Serve and enjoy!
Every day we witness things that remind us how precious life is.
I believe in living life to the fullest and in not taking anything for granted.
Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day and don’t’ forget to let those people close to you know how much they mean to you!
Shelley Sefton is a chef, recipe developer & creator of “Yummy in my Tummy” - classes for kids that offers them the opportunity to experience exciting adventures in the kitchen – combining education, art, food and most important of all FUN! Contact: (905) 597-0672 or sdsefton@rogers.com.
The other day my daughter asked me how Valentine’s Day started. She’s in Grade 5 so starting to worry a little bit about the message she sends when she hands the boys (and the girls) in her class a Hannah Montana valentine which says something about making cool music together. So I explained that traditionally Valentine’s Day had been a day when male secret admirers gave their female crushes a card, rose, or small gift, and signed an anonymous note declaring their devotion and love. Eventually it became a greeting card company gold mine with everyone from boyfriends and girlfriends, husbands and wives, grandparents and grandchildren, students and teacher and kids-to-kids getting in on the action. It’s not an understatement to say as a result, it’s become a little less significant. Particularly once you get 32 of them, all addressed to “Classmate”. (And seriously, which one of you Moms started attaching nut-free chocolates and pink pencils to the cards – enough already!)
But it did start me thinking that while I do love my family, and my friends, and even the occasional sales clerk who convinces me I look good in those pants, that there are some inanimate objects I would like to issue Valentines to instead, this year.
• My crock pot. Seriously. Who else cooks dinner for me while I work, run kids to hockey and spend 10 or 60 minutes on Twitter?
• The inventors of pre-cooked bacon, bagged salad and frozen garlic bread. And the “flash-freeze” process.
• The clothing manufacturers who decided that a size 10 is all-of-a-sudden a size 4. Well will you look at that! I guess I can have that cheese plate after all.
• My beloved BlackBerry, Seamus. He’s the only one of my children who knows when to stop making so much noise (okay I can turn him off, granted), gives me information I can use (versus “I haven’t changed my underwear in three days”), and never drinks all my diet Pepsi, steals my chocolate or refuses to put his boots/protective covering on.
• The mirrors they seem to have in fitting rooms and hotels. I know you deploy the “skinny” mirror but it still counts. I carry that image in my head all day, even if others don’t. So there.
So this Valentine’s Day, do the right thing – help your child with their cards – it’s worth the price of social acceptance, but think about sending an anonymous one too - maybe to that fabulous new shoe that looks great and doesn’t hurt to wear. No taped-on chocolate required.
Kathy Buckworth’s latest book “Shut Up & Eat: Tales of Chicken, Children & Chardonnay” is now available for pre-order on amazon.ca and at Chapters Online. Look for the book in bookstores on March 21st. Visit www.kathybuckworth.com and follow Kathy on Twitter.
February has our thoughts turning to romance with the approach of Valentine’s Day. This year picture yourself romantically holding hands across a beautifully prepared meal while the flicker of candles light up your loved one’s smile. Can you see it? No? Could be the two kids crawling under the table and your exhaustion from preparing the meal alone blurring your vision!
For some, preparing a meal at home has all the romance of a crowded bus stop. But it doesn’t need to be if you take a different approach and look at it as a way to spend quality time with your loved one. One of you not a cook? Don’t worry, there are always simple things to do in the kitchen such as boiling water, setting the table or opening the wine!
To help create a romantic and fun atmosphere in the kitchen here are a few tips to help get you on your romantic journey.
• Banish the bright lights. Dim the switch, choose the under the counter lights or light candles to help with the relaxed mood.
• Prepare a special drink to enjoy together while cooking. My recipe for Sgroppino below is a perfect starter with fresh oysters. Give the non-cook the task of keeping these flowing!
• Play a collection of your favourite and most memorable songs to reminisce about together.
• Feed the kids early and rent their favourite movie for them to watch; it should buy you a few hours at least! • Keep your menu simple and easy to prepare. Cooking together should be fun and enjoyable, now is not the time to try complicated recipes. Chicken Piccata and Creamy Brown Sugar Strawberries are simple yet delicious.
Sgroppino
Serves 2
Ingredients:
• 1 cup (250ml) of chilled Prosecco (or any sparkling wine)
• 2 tbsp chilled Vodka
• 1/3 cup frozen lemon sorbet (or gelato)
• ¼ tsp chopped fresh mint leaves
1. Pour the Prosecco and vodka into 2 champagne flutes dividing equally.
2. Spoon a scoop of the sorbet into each flute.
3. Top with fresh mint and serve immediately.
Freshly Shucked Oysters and Mignonette Serves 2
Notes: If you don’t want to shuck the oysters, pick shucked ones up from your local seafood store on your way home and keep them on a plate of ice in the back of your fridge until ready to eat.
Ingredients:
• 12 freshly shucked oysters on the half shell
• Lemon wedges, to serve
• 1 shallot, finely diced
• 125ml (1/2 cup) red wine vinegar
1. For the Mignonette sauce, stir the shallot and vinegar together in a small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Note: the sauce can be prepared the night before and kept in the refrigerator to let the flavours infuse.)
2. Serve the oysters with the lemon wedges and the sauce for drizzling. Enjoy these casually in the kitchen with the Sgroppino while you are preparing the main meal.
Chicken Piccata
Serves 2
Notes: To butterfly a chicken breast, lay the breast on a cutting board. Using the edge of a sharp knife parallel to the cutting board, begin cutting down the length of the side of the breast. Carefully slice the breast in half widthwise almost to the other edge. Keep that edge intact and open the breast along the “fold.”
Ingredients:
• 1 skinless, boneless chicken breast, butterflied and then cut in half
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• All-purpose flour, for dredging
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 65ml (¼ cup) fresh lemon juice
• 125ml (½ cup) chicken stock
• 2 tablespoons capers (from jar), brine rinsed off
• Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
1. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Place the flour on a plate and dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess.
2. In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter with 1 tablespoon olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add the chicken and cook for 3 minutes or until chicken is browned. Turn chicken over and cook for 3 minutes. Remove, transfer to plate, cover to keep warm.
3. Into the same pan, add the lemon juice, stock and capers. Bring to boil, scraping up brown bits from the pan for extra flavor. Season to taste. Return the chicken to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove chicken to platter. Add remaining 1 tablespoon butter to sauce and whisk vigorously. Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with parsley.
4. Serve with rice, roasted potatoes, steamed vegetables or green salad.
Creamy Brown Sugar Strawberries
Serves 2
Ingredients:
• 12 large strawberries, cleaned with stem still attached
• 1 cup light sour cream
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ½ cup brown sugar
1. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream and vanilla.
2. To serve, using the stems as handles, dip the strawberries in the sour cream and then into the brown sugar. Enjoy!
Nadine Hughes is the creator and owner of, The Cook’s Companion and The Menu Companion, through which she offers kitchen consultations, menu planning services as well as private cooking classes for adults and teens throughout Southern Ontario. She is also an award winning author. Pick up a copy of her latest cookbook “The Groove Mamma Goes Gourmet – Easy Ways To Put The Fun Back Into Entertaining” (awarded Best Canadian Entertaining Cookbook at the 2009 Gourmand Cookbook Awards) for $7.98 at www.groovemamma.com
Far too often, we all have “how the hell didn’t I know that??!?” moments. I personally cannot understand that as a reasonably educated, urban consumer and modern mom, I could have made such poor decisions – like using formula in BPA laden bottles even though I breastfed and made all of my own organic baby food, such as purchasing the “best” mattress for my unborn first child chock full of flame retardants, like slathering on triclosan and ingesting toxins to keep my family “healthy” and “clean”, such as pre-dosing my baby with medicine containing food colouring and propylene glycol to numb the pain of vaccinations on my doctor’s suggestion…and I really thought I was doing right, really right!
Now, close to a decade later with two more children (who were more privileged early on, as my life and business evolved due to these “how the hell didn’t I know that?!?” moments), I see things differently. The good news is that we can ALWAYS do better (and that’s the bad news too in a way), and each little thing does add up.
I’m trying to tell you to among other things to ditch the antibacterials, don’t buy canned food and formula, try natural remedies, but, most importantly, question everything. Take the time to make the best decisions you can for yourself and constantly share great finds and information with others. That is the true sign of love – love for yourself, your family and our world.
How can you make these “best” decisions for yourself and your family? My standard advice is to think. Think about what you are buying, where and who it came from and where it’s going after you are done with it. Every dollar you spend is a vote for something, so make sure you spend wisely. Every can of soda you pop open is telling the companies producing it (the ingredients, the packaging, the store included) that what they are doing is ok and that we want more. Every conventional mattress you buy proclaims that you don’t mind sleeping with flame retardants. Every toxic lipstick you buy says that you don’t care that your bedtime kisses may be laden with lead.
It takes time and effort to change. It can be overwhelming and scary. Just start. Progress matters, set your own pace. These are our kids, and this is our future at stake, so, we can all agree that it’s certainly worth our effort!
Here’s a list of some of my favourite web resources to get you started and/or inspired:
Healthy Toys They have tested 1,500 toys and children’s products for bromine, chlorine, lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic and assigned them with ratings of low, medium, or high.
What’s On My Food A searchable database allowing you to see residue data from pesticides on food and information about each of the chemicals.
Cosmetics Database : A safety guide to cosmetics and personal care products brought to you by researchers at the Environmental Working Group.Do you need to know what safe sunscreen to use? If your shampoo or toothpaste should be changed? About that ingredient you saw on your bar of soap? You’ll find it here.
My Essential Reads (and movies if you prefer to watch) are listed here: www.bordencom.com/theBIGlist.html
The day my eldest asked me, “Mommy, how come the store can sell it if it’s so bad for us?”, I realized even more that I needed to take action. His question is a good one. And, the answer is complex and challenging to explain to a 9 year old without depressing him and myself! “Um, let’s see, our government sucks at protecting us, companies don’t care as long as they are making money and too many listen to them rather than to their own common sense?” We can do better for our kids.
Please be your own best advocate, check out everything you can, and then help others realize the same – passing this post on would be a wonderful start!
Our children depend on us in every way. As parents, we can give them all they deserve – pure food, clear, non-toxic information, meaningful love and complete appreciation for all that they are.
Lisa Borden is an eco-advocate and mother of three, whose business is a direct reflection of her commitment to better, more responsible living. She is a dedicated workaholic, admitting that it takes a lot of time and effort to change the world, especially in her non-preachy, fun, engaging and inspiring ways. Lisa consults, writes, engages the media, runs private workshops, and enjoys speaking to large and small groups. Her full-service marketing firm, Borden Communications + Design Inc. is based in Toronto and takes great pride in being an ethical business providing exceptional ideas. You can sign up for Lisa’s rants and raves at www.bordencom.com or reach her directly at lisa@bordencom.com.
WRITTEN BY
Their 
Most pages are followed by a Show & Tell section where you get to see pictures of craft ideas submitted by families just like us. Very often, parents also submit photos of one of the Family Fun crafts they tried for themselves. I should send them my daughter’s picture of the bubble bather costume suggestion we used during our school’s Crazy Bubbles end-of-the-year party.
It’s a Mixed Bag of 
The 
Playdium
MARCH BREAK MADNESS at the Children’s Museum
March Break Camp
Come paint a treasured ceramic keepsake while spending 
Toronto’s favorite family 
WRITTEN BY
e that looks great and doesn’t hurt to wear. No taped-on chocolate required.