This time last week my two children, husband and I were cruising aboard Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas. Prior to our adventure, I’d never pictured myself as a sailor. I worried about motion sickness and feeling lost adrift a gigantic vessel on a seemingly infinite sea. I could barely watch Life of Pi or Titanic without projecting myself onto the screen, fear rising up inside me. Ultimately, I began meandering closer to thinking about cruising as a vacation possibility. Many of my friends are avid cruisers - one has cruised over twenty times and for years, has hosted a community forum thread on cruisecritic.com (look for “attempt at a semi-live report from the Adventure of the Seas). So, I became more and more curious about what the fuss was all about. Upon exploring the option of all inclusive resorts in the Caribbean versus a cruise holiday, I was surprised to learn that the cruise was actually more economical. I became excited at the idea of being able to see five new places in one week, while only unpacking once. I realized that being on the ship was about enjoying the journey along the way to sampling wonderful destinations. Suddenly, I became hooked and before long, we were all booked and raring to go.
Now that we have been there, done that, we are glad we did. I’m not sure that we will become like some of my friends and people we met on board (one couple spend eight months of the year on board, another eight weeks and many do back to back cruises) who count down the days between one cruise and the next, but we will certainly add cruising to our list of vacation options. Although there were many couples cruising without kids, there were also just as many with their families – sometimes multi generational. Children ranged in age from infants (although our ship didn’t really cater to families with infants as some do), all the way through to young adults. The programs at ‘Adventure Ocean’ allow children the option of participating in activities with peers when they’re not hanging out with their families. Some children even prefer to stay back to play mini golf, participate in rock climbing, skating or swimming with their friends and counsellors rather than join their parents on island excursions.
One thing you will never hear onboard a cruise is “I’m bored.” Figuring out how you’re going to manage to do everything that is offered is more of a problem than finding something to keep everyone happy and occupied. Another thing you’re never going to hear onboard is “I’m hungry.” Everything you’ve heard about cruising and food is true. The food was excellent and the choices huge and there was barely enough time to get hungry between one meal and the next, especially with so much snacking in between. It was a common sight, for example, to see families commune around 11pm in restaurants along the ship’s “promenade” after the main shows of the evening were over. Sandwiches, pizza, cookies, cakes and refreshments were flowing like the sea around us. One night, a midnight buffet beckoned with rows and rows of hot and cold food. It had throngs of guests out around the pool on one of the upper decks, eating as if they had never seen food before.
Here are some tips I’d like to pass onto you following my first voyage atop the no longer scary waters.
* Book your own flights. Next time we cruise I will arrange to arrive at the destination we are sailing from with at least a day to spare. Since we booked our cruise and flight as part of a single package, we weren’t given a choice as to time and date to fly out. As a result of a five hour delay in our flight the day we were to set sail, we arrived at the ship with an hour to spare before sailing. We missed the orientation and muster drill, which allows you to know what to do in the case of an emergency. In regards to the flight home, I would prefer to arrive home at a reasonable time, such as mid afternoon, for example. We didn’t get home until 10pm on Sunday evening so there was no time to catch our breath before having to get our kids ready for bed and Monday morning at school. Returning home on a Saturday is ideal, if possible.
* Read and complete custom forms carefully. Take special note of what you can and can’t bring on board your flight. Whether cruising or not, fruits and vegetables, for example, need to be declared. We inadvertently didn’t declare an apple and were interrogated in a secondary screening room. When the US agriculture customs official spied a US sticker on our apple, we were suddenly free and clear. Apparently, US apples are allowed into the States. Canadian apples not. Make sure to complete the customs forms carefully and accurately. I don’t think my children will ever look at an apple the same way again.
* Be tourist savvy. Beware that tourists (especially those coming from cruise ships) are like prey to some locals. Twice we were intentionally misled as to the cost of our taxi fare in Puerto Rico. Another time in St. Kitts we were handed the most irresistible green monkeys to stroke but before we knew what was happening, we were asked for ten dollars in exchange for the photo we had taken. I understand that this is how some of the locals make money to survive, but don’t assume anything is free – not even directions – on some of the islands.
* Making connections. Everyone is required to carry a set sail pass with them at all times. An excellent system allows computers to scan in your personal electronic bar code on it so that ship personnel know who is onboard and who is not. This pass is also used in place of cash on board since ships are cashless. It’s also the “key” to your cabin. We asked guest relations (open 24/7) to punch a hole through the corners of ours so that we could wear them on lanyards around our necks. Prior to leaving Canada, we purposely purchased dollar store red and white lanyards with “Canada” on them so that we could proudly identify our nationality. This proved to be a great way to meet people. Other Canadians made themselves known – one person even lived in the same community as ours.
* Communication. Christian Franco, Adventure Ocean Manager, suggests bringing walkie talkies with. These are great ways to keep in touch with your kids, in particular, and vice versa. He also suggests another simple but great idea for communication - a white board left in the cabin so that family members can leave messages for one another such as “meet me at pool.”
* Cabins. Although inside cabins are slightly less expensive, it’s worth paying the extra bit for a cabin with a balcony. Even though our standard balcony room was very tight for space (and I had to keep reminding the girls to keep organized so we didn’t misplace anything), it was great even leaving our empty suitcases on the balcony. It was especially nice just standing out at night looking up at the stars in a clear sky or leaving the door open slightly to hear the breaking of the waves against the ship. Better yet, if you can afford a junior suite or the crème de la crème, an owner’s suite, you will experience true luxury.
* Footwear. Christian Franco recommends that each family member brings along at least a pair of waterproof shoes such as Crocs – these are great for around the pool, at the beach or at the kids club.
* Excursions. Before leaving, I did a lot of research on various excursions offered through the ship as well as by local companies. I also researched places of interest that we could get to by foot. I’d recommend internet sites such as cruisecritic.com and tripadvisor.com to learn about excursions at the various ports of call that others have taken. Ultimately, I booked a combination of tours – one through the ship to the amazing Dolphin Academy in Curacao where we hugged, stroked and kissed dolphins, another through Island Marketing Tours for an excursion in St. Thomas and a third through a wonderful woman, Beulah Mills, who you can contact through Welcome Tours in St. Kitts. Both these companies offered reasonably priced tours, the guides were incredibly knowledgeable about their islands, very friendly and extremely familiar with how to manage cruise guests such as making sure that we got back to the ship on time. I corresponded with Beulah and island marketing tours several times via email before leaving and felt good about supporting locals. Resortforaday.com, operating on various islands, also allows outside guests to take advantage of their facilities for the day, should you choose.
* Leave all technology at home. Connecting to the internet or sending texts or emails from a ship is extremely expensive and the perfect reason to leave all technology behind. If you really need to connect with others or check emails, you can find eating places on the islands that offer wi fi connections.
* Dining. On board you can choose to sit at the same table at the same time every evening or you can choose My Time Dining which allows you the freedom of choosing when you want to dine. The benefit to sitting at the same table each night is that you avoid line ups, get to know your waiter and him/her your family, and if you choose the earlier time slot, have a longer time for entertainment in the evening. If you’re travelling with an only child or have children who would like to meet others their age while, request a larger table with a family who have children of similar ages.
Overall, I highly recommend cruising with kids. Explore which lines and ships will best suit your family’s needs and then sail away, leaving all your worries behind you.
Sara Dimerman has been an individual, couple and family therapist for over twenty years. She is one of North America’s most trusted parenting and relationship experts and the author of three books - ‘Am I A Normal Parent?’, ‘Character Is the Key’ and a book for couples – ‘How can I be your Lover when I’m too Busy Being your Mother?’ Learn more or listen to advice from Sara and her colleagues by searching for ‘helpmesara’ podcasts on iTunes or by visiting www.helpmesara.com. Check out her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/saradimermanhelpmesara or follow Sara on Twitter @helpmesara.
March Break is quickly approaching, and we are pleased to bring you exciting camps and events, to help you plan a memorable holiday for your family.
PLAYDIUM THE ULTIMATE PLACE TO PLAY! Sponsored Listing: March Break Special - Playdium Playcard packed with 220 credits for $30.00 + HST. That’s an extra $5 of credits FREE! Available March 9 - 17th, 2013 only. The Ultimate March Break Destination! Playdium Mississauga, 99 Rathburn Road West, Mississauga.
Cool Kicks! March Break Sneaker Fun at the Bata Shoe Museum Sponsored Listing Lace up for some sneaker fun during March Break at the Bata Shoe Museum! Try on cool sneakers, decorate a sneaker-shaped cookie, place your footprint on our walk of fame, make a sneaker friendship pin, tie dye some shoelaces, win prizes and much more!
Scooby-Doo Live! Musical Mysteries: Sony Centre For The Performing Arts, Mar. 15 - 16, sonycentre.ca Sponsored Listing Jeepers! SCOOBY-DOO and the gang have been called in to solve a mystery in Toronto. A trouble-making ghost is haunting the theatre and SHAGGY, FRED, DAPHNE, VELMA and SCOOBY-DOO are on their way in the MYSTERY MACHINE to solve it!
Camp Wabikon - A Fantastic Summer Opportunity! Sponsored Listing An experience kids love. A family parents trust. We are one of Canada’s finest international camps for youth ages 6 -17. Join us at Wabikon for a summer you’ll never forget! Contact us today for a free DVD package and references in your area.
DISNEY ON ICE “ROCKIN’ EVER AFTER” Sponsored Listing: Disney On Ice presents Rockin’ Ever After, an all-new live production coming to Toronto from March 13-17 at the Rogers Centre. Get ready to rock out with some of the most magical idols across the kingdom! Save up to $15 and eliminate extra fees and taxes when you purchase tickets from AV Communications. Use promo code AV4100 to get 4 tickets for $100 ($42 value per ticket) only on Ticketmaster.ca.
Exciting & Full Service March Break and Passover Camp for all GTA Sponsored Listing Adventure Valley welcomes children from JK through Grade 6 for our most dynamic School Holiday camp ever! Kinder kids will enjoy a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities, special guests, and theme days! Our older campers will design their own schedule from an incredible list of choices. Lunch and snack included, bussing available to most areas of the GTA.
Getting Creative this School Holiday Sponsored Listing: Get creative with your children this March or Passover Break, and inspire some special memories by bringing the exciting activities in Creative IQ: Giving Young Learners the Creative Edge in a Competitive World to life together. Activities relate to fitness, cooking, art, drama, music, science and more. Limited time FREE SHIPPING OFFER.
WRITTEN BY
Rick Court, Total Body Fitness and Nutrition
What are the benefits of moms and dads working fitness into their lifestyle?
• Increase productivity
• Improve self-esteem
• Enhance sex drive
• Increase energy
• Reduce stress
• Fewer sick days
• Improve/increase metabolism
• Improve/increase bone density
• Improve body composition (more lean muscle/less fat)
• Lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels
• Lower risk of diabetes
• Chance to spend more time with family (exercise together)
• Set example for kids
Kids who are active will:
• Have stronger muscles and bones
• Have a leaner body
• Be less likely to become overweight
• Decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes
• Have a better outlook on life
Besides enjoying the health benefits of regular exercise, kids who are physically fit sleep better and are better able to handle physical and emotional challenges. Healthy, physically active kids also are more likely to be academically motivated, alert, and successful.
What better gift can one pass down than the desire to lead a healthy lifestyle and the enhanced quality of life that goes with it?
In addition to influencing your children, this can apply to friends, parents, co-workers and employees. The reasons are many but the end result is still the same. Your healthy way of life will inspire others around you to take better care of themselves.
What is the amount of exercise needed each week to maintain a healthy lifestyle?
The Total Body Fitness definition of “healthy”:
The ability to complete everyday tasks vigorously with energy to do more with a resting heart rate of 60 bpm or less.
Vigorous Lifestyle - 5 times/week hard core strength training and cardio training
Average Person (Adult), Healthy Lifestyle - 3 or 4 times/week, 1 hour/day min.
Children, Healthy Lifestyle - 1 hour/day min.
For kids, exercise means playing and being physically active. Kids exercise when they have gym class at school, during recess, at dance class or soccer practice, while riding bikes, or when playing tag.
Where do you spend your time? Just like keeping a food journal can be eye-opening, try tracking your time over the next few days. How much time do you spend on the computer, watching TV, etc.?
We have 168 hours in a week. Your priorities are where you choose to spend those hours. Make the most of them! It’s amazing how much time you can find when you minimize the things that aren’t important to make room for the things that are.
Total Body Fitness & Nutrition is owned and operated by Rick Court. Rick Court is accredited by: (i) International Sports Sciences Association, (ii) National Federation of Professional Trainers, (iii) Specialist in Performance Nutrition, (iv) A member of Toast Masters International and (iv) Over 30 years nutrition and exercise experience. You can contact Rick at 647-838-7778.
As you search for that “perfect” gift for the holiday season, or just stuff to do with the kids over the holidays, consider adding Creative IQ(TM): Giving Young Learners the Creative Edge in a Competitive World by Jo-Anne Schneeweiss & Shelley Sefton to the shopping list. With all this quality time with the kids coming up, sometimes it’s handy to have an “idea book” close-by.
If you’re like me - tired of hustle and bustle, but concerned that staying at home will result in too much screen time - Creative IQ(TM) is a recipe book for fun, creativity, and learning. Let’s face it, a book whose opening chapter, “Chocolotta,” details chocolate-related play, learning, and, of course, eating, is a winner.
“You had me at ‘Chocolotta’.”
From a chapter on “Winter Wonderland,” to “Math…It All Adds Up,” the authors combine their significant experience and talents to offer new and traditional suggestions for play, learning, and creative enrichment. Appealing to all types of learners, the activities are varied (math, music, science, language, and art are just some of the categories) and, well, delicious.
Whether it’s savouring the Spider Cookies in the “Say Know to Insects and Bugs” chapter, or teaching your children to be environmentally responsible in the “It’s So Easy Being Green” chapter, Creative IQ(TM) appeals to a broad readership. Formal and informal educators, as well as parents, will benefit greatly from this resource book.
So, consider taking a page out of Creative IQ(TM) this holiday season and taking a break from the hustle and bustle by indulging in some excellent recipes for creativity, curiosity, and engagement. And, we mustn’t forget the chocolate!
Dr. Janna Nadler has a B.Ed. and a Ph.D. in English Literature. She is the Director of BOOK CLUBS BY JANNA and lectures widely for book groups in the GTA. info@bookclubsbyjanna.com * www.bookclubsbyjanna.com
Ross Petty Productions fractured fairytales, take the stage at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto each year, from November to the beginning of January. I know this because for the past five years, the event has become a favourite holiday tradition for my family. Each year, we plan for our family night out, knowing that it will be filled with laughter, song and merriment. This year was no exception.
On Saturday night, we eagerly settled into our seats for the 7 pm show of SNOW WHITE, The Deliciously Dopey Family Musical, our vocal chords warmed up to boo at the villain, played by Ross Petty. You see, Ross Petty’s productions are done in pantomime style, meaning, that the audience is encouraged to get involved and respond to the actors on stage at various times during the show.
We knew not to expect the Disney version of Snow White, which made the anticipation so much more fun. We appreciated that the show would be loosely based on the tale of Snow White, but would be filled with lots of surprises and familiar tunes (think Gangnam Style and Firework). Looking around, it was clear that both adults and children found the play hysterical because the humour is aimed at both audiences. The Evil Queen is named FarFromPoopin, and current events form part of the jokes.
In SNOW WHITE, The Deliciously Dopey Family Musical, Bond 007 and a host of fairytale characters must come to Snow White’s rescue when she is banished from Queen FarFromPoopin’s Kingdom. What follows includes a magic mirror, adventure, romance, intrigue, fabulous singing, dancing, laughs and lots of well scripted (and partially improvised) silliness. #socialmediareferencesabound
It is rare that one will go to a production where the actors have as much fun as the audience, but it was so obviously the case at Snow White, and the cast’s enjoyment was infectious.
Our kids oohed and aahed about this part and that on our way home in the car (along with my husband and I). They agreed that their favourite scene was a beauty contest between Queen FarFromPoopin and Snow White to decide who would be able to remain in the Kingdom. No spoiler alerts here.
If you are worried about getting a happily ever after at the end, you won’t be disappointed, both on and off the stage. And there is still time to join in the excitement, as SNOW WHITE, The Deliciously Dopey Family Musical is continuing onstage until January 5, 2013.
Ross Petty Productions presents SNOW WHITE The Deliciously Dopey Family Musical! is playing at the Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge Street, until January 5, 2013. For a complete performance schedule visit WWW.ROSSPETTY.COM. Tickets are on sale now: $85/$75/$64/$27 Adults • $59 Children under 12 • $236 Family 4-Pack (prices do not include fees/taxes). Tickets can be purchased online at www.rosspetty.com by phone at 1.855.599.9090 or in person at the Elgin Theatre Box Office. SNOW WHITE is presented by Lowe’s Canada and sponsored by Sears Financial, Maple Lodge Farms and the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
Jo-Anne Schneeweiss and Shelley Sefton have just launched a website to provide up-to-date information about their book, Creative IQ (TM): Giving Young Learners the Creative Edge in a Competitive World, at http://www.CreativeIQ.ca.
Criminal harassment is an offence under section 264 of the Criminal Code of Canada. It includes conduct that ranges from following someone or sitting outside a place that they are known to be, to repeated contact with an individual directly or through a third party, to actual verbal or physical threats to a person. This type of behaviour becomes criminal if an individual knows that their conduct is harassing the victim and when a victim reasonably fears for their safety or the safety of people they know. Even if an individual is reckless or willfully blind in knowing that their behaviour is harassing the victim, in other words, they should have known, the conduct can be considered criminal harassment. If an individual is honestly mistaken as to the fact that their behaviour is harassing someone, that can be used as a defence to criminal harassment.
With respect to the complainant being fearful, there is an objective element, in that his or her feat must be reasonable in all of the circumstances. R. v. Sillipp (1997), 120 C.C.C. (3d) 384 (Alta. C.A.), leave to appeal to S.C.C. refused. The question is whether the complainant felt harassed in the sense of feeling tormented, troubled, worried continually or chronically plagued, bedeviled or badgered. R. v. Kosikar (1999), 138 C.C.C. (3d) 217 (Ont. C.A.), leave to appeal to S.C.C. refused. Criminal harassment does not always involve repeated contact. A single incident can constitute threatening conduct. R. v. Kosikar, ibid. Further, in terms of age, under the Criminal Code, anyone over the age of 12 can be prosecuted. Individuals between the ages of 12-17 are prosecuted pursuant to the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Criminal Harassment on the Internet
We are in an electronic age where the internet and social media are increasingly being used for daily communication. As such, the use of the internet in criminal harassment cases has also increased. A common form of criminal harassment among children and youth is cyber-stalking and cyber-bullying. This can take many forms such as inappropriate or threatening emails, Facebook posts, Twitter messages, blogs, pictures, instant messaging etc. While the content is often public, cyber bullies can be anonymous which makes it harder to identify and stop them. For instance, some people will use aliases or post under an “anonymous” username to hide their identity from the victim. Others may post under a name known to the victim; however, you cannot be completely certain that it is indeed that person posting without seeing who is behind the keyboard. For someone to be found guilty of criminal harassment, the prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused is the person who was the individual who sent the message(s).
There is a fine line between having fun and criminal harassment. It may be viewed as a continuum with mutual play being on one end and criminal harassment on the other. Mutual play is teasing when both parties are joking around and having fun. It rarely deals with a person’s race, religion, appearance or other personal characteristics. In the middle is conduct that is one sided, wherein the victim is not engaging in reciprocal behaviour and may in fact be hurt as a result of the other person’s actions. When this conduct becomes nasty at the expense of someone else and the victim is fearful, the behaviour is much closer to the criminal harassment end. Thus, not all bad behaviour would be considered criminal harassment under the Criminal Code. Signs from the victim that the behaviour is moving towards criminal harassment are unresponsiveness, not reciprocating the conduct, saying they are afraid or do not like the behaviour.
The line is crossed when conduct is deliberate and repeated, intending to harm, embarrass or slander the victim. At this point, the person acting in the negative way knows or ought to know that they are intimidating the victim and causing them to be fearful. Specific examples of how criminal harassment may occur via the internet are:
o Sending repeated offensive emails or instant messages, especially threatening ones, to an individual, their friends, family, schoolmates and/or co-workers
o Posting inappropriate comments, false accusations or rumours on social media sites
o Hacking or sending viruses to an individual (i.e. changing passwords; spamming)
o Creating websites or invading forums and leaving threatening comments or pictures about an individual
o Gathering personal information that can lead to offline stalking or soliciting violence
o Posing as the victim in an attempt to embarrass or slander
This behaviour could lead to charges of criminal harassment. Further, it may attract other charges under the Criminal Code such as unauthorized use of a computer, possession of a device to obtain computer service or mischief in relation to data.
Prevention and Reaction
It is important to teach children and youth not to engage in harassing behaviour. To ensure this, they need to be aware of the effects of cyber-bullying and the importance of respecting one another. Children should be taught to be positive leaders and not to give in to peer pressure involving hostile behaviour towards someone. They should be alerted to signs that tell them that their conduct may be hurting or intimidating someone so they know to stop before they cross the line. Taking an active role in children and youth’s internet usage through monitoring and discussing what they do online will minimize cases of criminal harassment. Parents should watch for patterns in their child’s behaviour as well as the content that their kids post or receive online.
It is also important to teach children and youth what to do if they or someone they know is being harassed. If an individual sees something online that appears to be harassing behaviour, they should consider reporting it to the website or to someone else, especially if it is repeated. Most social media websites have a way to anonymously report inappropriate content. While it may not be removed, it will alert the website to investigate further and either remove the content and/or warn the user who posted it. Most importantly, if the harassing behaviour is directed at your children, teach them not to respond or engage in the negative behaviour, rather block the user if possible and tell someone.
Conclusion
With the advent of the internet and social media, new forms of criminal harassment have arisen. While not all hostile behaviour online will be criminal, individuals should refrain from, and watch out for emails, posts and photos that are aimed at attacking or embarrassing an individual, especially when it is repeated. The line is crossed when the victim reasonably fears for their safety or the safety of others and the individual engaging in the appropriate behaviour knows or is reckless in knowing that their actions are harassing the victim. Parents must be aware of their children’s conduct online, as individuals as young as 12 can be charged with a criminal offence. They should teach their children to have fun while being respectful and it will make for a more enjoyable experience online, rather than a potentially criminal one.
Elizabeth Bristow, who likes to be known as Lisa, completed her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Windsor, majoring in Criminology and Communication Studies. She earned a Master’s degree in Sociology, specializing in Criminology at the University of Windsor. She completed her second year of her Master’s degree while in her first year of a joint law degree program at the University of Windsor and the University of Detroit Mercy.Lisa earned an LL.B. and a J.D. when she graduated from law school, allowing her to practice law in both Canada and the United States. In her graduating year, Lisa was the recipient of the John Whiteside Award for her involvement and dedication to the University of Windsor Law School.
Lisa was a summer law student with Pinkofskys Criminal Trial and Appeal Lawyers in 2010. She returned to the firm, under its new name, Rusonik, O’Connor, Robbins, Ross, Gorham & Angelini LLP, for the 2011/2012 term to complete her articles. Eager to begin her practice, she went straight from articling to practicing criminal law as a lawyer at the firm. She has experience defending cases in the Ontario Court of Justice, Superior Court of Justice and provincial offences court (i.e. traffic court).
Lisa practices throughout Ontario, primarily in the Greater Toronto Area and Southern Ontario. If you’d like to contact Lisa, you can reach her by phone at 416-598-5741 or email at bristow@criminaltriallawyers.ca.
Fall or autumn, no matter what you call it, offers so many fabulous opportunities to have fun with your kids.Going on a nature walk and collecting leaves, then returning home to create a fall work of art.Visiting a pumpkin patch and then carving your very own Halloween Jack-O- lantern. Scooping out all of the raw pumpkin seeds and roasting them to make a delicious and nutritious snack.Finally, at the end of a long day, cuddling up on a couch with your kids to read a book about the season.These are just some of the things that make Fall special for me and my family.
Fall leaf activity: Cherishing the colours of fall
You will need:
·Leaves in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes
·Craft foam sheets in fall colours – orange, red, brown or yellow
·Contact paper*
·Tan card stock paper
·White school glue
·A popsicle stick (spreader for the glue)
What to do:
1.Go outside and collect leaves in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes.
2.Cut a frame out of the foam sheet and put aside.
3.Cut a piece of card stock paper to fit behind the frame (the same size) and put aside.
4.Cut a piece of contact paper the same size as your card stock paper and put aside.
5.Take your leaves and plan out a design on your card stock ensuring that it fits inside the frame.
6.Using your popsicle stick, spread the glue on the back of your leaves.Glue the leaves to the card stock. Peel away the backing of the contact paper and stick the adhesive carefully over the leaf picture.
7.Using the popsicle stick, spread the glue over the back of the foam frame and place it over the picture (on top of the contact paper).
8.Allow the glue time to dry.
*Contact paper is a clear adhesive covering used to laminate pictures or posters and protect them from getting wet and ruined. It can be purchased at most dollar stores.
Wall art – hanging-up your creation:Using a hole-punch, make one hole in the top left corner and one hole in the top right corner. Then thread a fall coloured ribbon or yarn through to hang.
Sweet & Spicy Pumpkin seeds:
Pumpkins are a very important part of Halloween and the fall. Why not try out this recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds, a healthy snack to give the trick-or-treaters, before they head out in search of candy. This particular recipecaught my attention.It uses egg whites instead of the usual butter or oil required in most roasted pumpkin recipes.I thought it to be a healthier alternative!
You will need:
·1 egg white
·¼ cup white sugar
·½ teaspoon fine grained sea salt
·1 cup fresh pumpkin seeds (washed and dried)
Method:
1.Preheat your oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
2.Spray the baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray (Parchment paper is an alternative).
3.In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the egg white, sugar and salt.
4.Add the pumpkin seeds and toss well. Drain off any excess egg white (using a colander) and place seeds in a single layer across prepared baking sheet.
5.Bake for 10-12 minutes or until seeds are golden in colour.
6.Remove from oven and allow to cool. Seeds may be kept up to 3 days in an airtight container.
Great reads for the fall:
Here are some great fall-themed books that caught my kids’ attention at our local bookstore!
The local library is also a great place to take your children. They can pick out their own books and it is much more cost efficient!
1.Boo! by Robert Munsch (a favourite in our house!)
2.How Do Apples Grow?by Betsy Maestro – find out how an apple grows from bud to flower to fruit–ready for you to pick!
3.Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson
4.Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White
5.The Scarecrow’s Hat by Ken Brown
6.…and my 10 year old Sabrina’s all-time favourite Halloween book, Happy Halloween, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt
The leaves are falling yellow, orange and red,
Fall is no time to be staying in bed,
It’s time to go out and pick up a pumpkin,
Roasting the seeds will have everyone jumpin’,
Halloween costumes - I can’t tell you apart,
Using coloured leaves to create fall art,
After trick or treating, cuddle up with some books,
Fall really is as much fun as it looks!
Shelley Sefton is co-author of Creative IQTM:Giving Young Learners the Creative Edge in a Competitive World. Creative IQTM is available at www.amazon.ca, at Alpha Textbooks. Orders in the GTA can also be placed directly through Shelley Sefton at bcreativeiq@gmail.com.
It’s already October, and Halloween is quickly approaching. Shop for all your Halloween needs online, and plan fun Halloween outings, to create special and lasting holiday memories.
Have a crafty Halloween! Sponsored Listing:
Love Halloween but tired of how many sweets the kids collect? Craft Caravan has a crafty solution! Give away Wikki Stix Halloween treats - each package contains 8 Wikki Stix and a fun Halloween design. It’s a great Halloween treat for kids of all ages. Set of 50 Halloween Treats - $21.99.
Get ready to ‘trick or treat’ with a special Halloween party at Nepean Museum. There will be pumpkin painting, candy creations and more! Don’t forget to wear your Halloween costume. For complete program details please visit: www.nepeanmuseum.ca.
Its back!!! - Halloween Carnival at Ireland House
12:00 noon to 4:00 pm Sponsored Listing: Costume parade and contest, prizes, live entertainment, pumpkin carving, children’s activities, haunted woodshed, spooky cabin, special museum tours… it will be a howl for the whole family! Goody bags for all children! Admission: $6.00 for Children, $ 2.00 for Adults
40% off all costumes from The Dress Up Club Sponsored Listing: Just in time for Halloween, The Dress Up Club is offering 40% off all costumes. Choose from 40 costumes including pirates, princesses and witches as well as licensed characters from Batman, Sponge Bob, and Star Wars. Enter coupon code HALLOWEEN upon checkout. Be sure to tell your friends and family.
For all the details and the check out our full line of costumes visit www.thedressupclub.com.
Too Sweet Sisters Sponsored Listing: Too Sweet Sisters - Specializing in custom made cake pops and chocolate covered sweet treats for all occasions! Some of our chocolate covered goodies include: marshmallows sticks & pops, lollipops, pretzel rods, liquorice, popcorn, sour keys and more! Perfect for your Halloween party or special treat that everyone will be talking about!
Steve’s Magic Sponsored Listing: Let “Steve” make your next Coporate event, Trade show, Holiday function or birthday party a magical one. With the use of slight of hand, close up or table to table magic, he provides the real mystery of illusion. Fully interactive shows for people of all ages.
Camp Spooky Sponsored Listing: Join Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang for Camp Spooky - a fun Halloween event for the whole family! With rides, mazes, a costume parade and fun live show, Camp Spooky at Canada’s Wonderland will make your kids scream for more! Campy Spooky is included with park admission.
Sponsored Feature Our Kids, Canada’s trusted source to private schools and education, is hosting the Calgary Private School Expo on Sunday, September 30, 2012, and you’re invited.
· Meet with the best day and boarding schools
· Speak with education consultants and experts
· Save time and energy in your search
· Find the right school for your kids and teens
If you’re interested in attending, simply pre-register today to get your 50% off family tickets at ourkids.net/expo/register.php.
Should you have any questions, please give the hosts Our Kids a call at 877.272.1845.
March Break Special - Playdium Playcard packed with 220 credits for $30.00 + HST. That’s an extra $5 of credits FREE! Available March 9 - 17th, 2013 only. The Ultimate March Break Destination! Playdium Mississauga, 99 Rathburn Road West, Mississauga.
Lace up for some sneaker fun during March Break at the Bata Shoe Museum! Try on cool sneakers, decorate a sneaker-shaped cookie, place your footprint on our walk of fame, make a sneaker friendship pin, tie dye some shoelaces, win prizes and much more! 
Jeepers! SCOOBY-DOO and the gang have been called in to solve a mystery in Toronto. A trouble-making ghost is haunting the theatre and SHAGGY, FRED, DAPHNE, VELMA and SCOOBY-DOO are on their way in the MYSTERY MACHINE to solve it!
An experience kids love. A family parents trust. We are one of Canada’s finest international camps for youth ages 6 -17. Join us at Wabikon for a summer you’ll never forget! Contact us today for a free DVD package and references in your area.
Disney On Ice presents Rockin’ Ever After, an all-new live production coming to Toronto from March 13-17 at the Rogers Centre. Get ready to rock out with some of the most magical idols across the kingdom! Save up to $15 and eliminate extra fees and taxes when you purchase tickets from AV Communications. Use promo code AV4100 to get 4 tickets for $100 ($42 value per ticket) only on Ticketmaster.ca.
Adventure Valley
Get creative with your children this March or Passover Break, and inspire some special memories by bringing the exciting activities in Creative IQ: Giving Young Learners the Creative Edge in a Competitive World to life together. Activities relate to fitness, cooking, art, drama, music, science and more. Limited time FREE SHIPPING OFFER.
If you are worried about getting a happily ever after at the end, you won’t be disappointed, both on and off the stage. And there is still time to join in the excitement, as SNOW WHITE, The Deliciously Dopey Family Musical is continuing onstage until January 5, 2013.
Love Halloween but tired of how many sweets the kids collect? Craft Caravan has a crafty solution! Give away 
Get ready to ‘trick or treat’ with a special Halloween party at Nepean Museum. There will be pumpkin painting, candy creations and more! Don’t forget to wear your Halloween costume. For complete program details please visit: 
Costume parade and contest, prizes, live entertainment, pumpkin carving, children’s activities, haunted woodshed, spooky cabin, special museum tours… it will be a 
Just in time for Halloween, 
Specializing in custom made cake pops and chocolate covered sweet treats for all occasions! Some of our chocolate covered goodies include: marshmallows sticks & pops, lollipops, pretzel rods, liquorice, popcorn, sour keys and more! Perfect for your Halloween party or special treat that everyone will be talking about!
Let “
Join Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang for