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.
If you are looking for a fun activity to fill an hour, consider this …
Create a list of items for your chuld(ren) to find. Then hand over and review the list, supervise the search layng out your rules, and let the fun begin.
Last summer my husband and I chose to drive from Toronto, Ontario to Halifax, Nova Scotia, with our two daughters, then aged twelve and nineteen. It was one of the most memorable and awesome summer vacations we had ever experienced as a family. Along with being able to capture the historic beauty of Quebec, we also visited New Brunswick and PEI for the first time. After spending time with friends in Halifax, we were awe inspired by the breathtaking Green and White Mountain ranges as we drove back home through Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Never having experienced a family road trip before, I wasn’t sure how everyone would adapt to spending so many hours on the road but planning ahead really paid off and we can’t wait to do it again. If you’re planning a road trip with your family anytime soon, here’s what you might like to know:
• Consider the age and temperament of your children. Travelling as we did with two older children who are quite capable of entertaining themselves, and each other, made our trip that much more enjoyable. I don’t think it would have been quite the same if we had made the same trip when they were much younger. Although travelling overnight so that young children can sleep the hours away may make getting to your destination easier, there are cons to this. For one thing, you may feel exhausted from driving without getting a night’s sleep and the beauty of your surroundings will be lost.
• The journey is really just as important as the destination. If you plot out stops and points of interest along the way, then the final destination becomes the place that you are spending the most amount of time at, but is not that much more important than all the special stops along the way. If you journey over several days and don’t need to be somewhere in a hurry, then you’re more likely going to appreciate every place you stop at. And dont be afraid to make slight diversions along the way if something special catches your attention.
• Involve your family in the planning stage. If your children do research on the internet, for example, about special places they’d like to visit and if you integrate these stops along the way, they will feel that their needs have been equally considered. Then, the vacation truly becomes a family vacation.
• Take lots to occupy them in the car. One of the great things about car travel is that you don’t have to worry about your luggage being a couple of pounds overweight. You also don’t have to worry about other restrictions such as products that are not allowed on board an aircraft, for example. Other than the portable dvd and other electronics, how about a knapsack of creative car activities such as a paper and crayons, stickers and maybe even a small lap tray to place the material on. This knapsack can also be taken in and out of restaurants, for example, too.
• Other than material items for the kids, think about other games that require nothing more than thought and imagination. Counting the number of red, versus blue cars, for example between point A and B or playing a memory game such as “I went to the market…..”are great ways to pass time.
• Help your children know in advance how much time between stops so that they don’t ask “Are we there yet?” every half hour. Older children, who understand time and can read, can be provided with an itinerary including approximate time planned to be on the road. Children can also be helped by showing them how to read a GPS so that they can see at a glance how much time remains until they can stretch their legs or visit another place of interest.
• If you typically drive a smaller car, consider renting a mini van for the time you’re going to be away. A van allows you the luxury of extra leg space, extra luggage space and extra elbow space may even mean that the children are less likely to fight with one another – both physically and verbally.
• Place a small garbage can or hang a small garbage bag by the front passenger seat so that you can keep the interior of your car (or van) organized and clean. You’re less likely to misplace items if you have everything organized and throw out litter or items you no longer need right away. Then, when you stop to fill up with gas, for example, you can dump your garbage into a larger bin and start fresh again.
Most importantly, take lots of time planning and researching a road trip so that you know where and when you are coming and going. Treasure each stop and inhale every moment along the way. Don’t rush the trip but plan the scenic route so that so that you can experience the beauty of your surroundings. Safe travels!
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 soon to be released book for couples – ‘How can I be your Lover when I’m too Busy being your Mother?’ Visit helpmesara.com.
A few tips for a more relaxing summer It’s all right to slow down!
WRITTEN BY
Nathalie Prézeau
We’re running all year round, aren’t we? Then comes the summer and we just can’t stop the momentum. We keep rushing and we tackle the planning of our kids’ freedom with the same intense frenzy as if it were back-to-school time
By mid-June, those who are “on top of things” have already put the pieces of the summer logistical puzzle into place. Their kids have been registered to multiple camps and other enriching activities before and after some exciting family vacation. Meanwhile, the rest of us are panicking, scrambling to save our family from a disastrous summer (Thanks, Mom!).
No need to panic
First of all, did you know that many people don’t plan their vacations far in advance? I could not find stats for Ontario but according to the Quebec Ministry of Tourism, 56% of Québécois start planning a trip within the province only two weeks or less prior to the vacation. (Feeling better now?)
Secondly, a large part of our angst comes from our belief that a lack of planned activities is synonymous to total boredom for the kids. Which is weird considering most of the adults’ best childhood memories are made of simple summer pleasures involving minimal planning and supervision on the part of their parents: stop at the ice-cream truck, parties with the cousins, hot-dogs on the BBQ, games in the local park with their friends and lots of water fun.
What do you want?
It is vital that every family member gets a clear idea of a few things they’d badly want on a wish list of summer activities. All members will have different expectations, but as long as each one gets to cross a few items off their list, the summer will be a success: a water-balloon fight, a golf game with Junior, organizing a block party, trying a new water park, sipping a cocktail on a fancy patio with girlfriends (moms are people too!), watching the sun set over the horizon. You get the gist.
Need some help? Check April Durrett’s article Planning Your Ideal Vacation and download her Vacation Needs Worksheet PDF.
A few simple ideas
Can’t take a long vacation? Take your family on a sleepover in a local hotel. With a pool!Arrive early to enjoy the pool. Return to swim after dinner. Check out after breakfast and go back to the pool for one last dip. (As a bonus, rent a movie in the evening and order pizza to eat in the room. Kids will love it!)
Put up a tent in the backyard. Supply everyone with a flashlight and organize a game of light-tag with local friends (when you’re touched by the light, you’re it). Then, bring out sparklers (at least three per child).
No budget to travel? Time to play the tourist in your own town. There are three golden rules to a successful “staycation”: 1) Make sure to choose activities you don’t normally do in your daily life. 2) Allow for a little budget to indulge more than you would normally do (to go to a restaurant, to get a treat or to buy a little water toy). 3) Hire a babysitter at least one afternoon to enjoy lunch (less expensive and as decadent as a dinner) in a good local restaurant, with your partner or a friend.
Try trading! Plan for your friends’ kids to come over to play with yours for the whole day. Let them return the favour the next day.
Choose activities with minimum parental supervision. Drop all the Lego blocks on a blanket on the front yard. It will attract neighbourhood kids like flies. Supply the popsicles.
Take out plenty of big chalk for kids to draw a city on the sidewalk. Supply the little toy cars.
Supply all the items and condiments to fix a meal or a dessert. Then let the kids assemble their own creation. It’s even more fun with friends!This works great for pizzas on pita bread, sandwiches, tacos, and ice cream or cupcake decorating.
A few good resources
If you really do want to go somewhere for a few days, here are a few good reference sites.
www.bonjourquebec.com (covers the 22 tourist regions of Quebec, with interactive maps and an advance search option to find the most suitable accommodations and activities)
Nathalie Prezeau has played the tourist in and around the city since she moved to Toronto from Montreal 20 years ago. She’s the author of Toronto Fun Places… for families, now in its 5th edition. Her new guide Toronto Urban Strolls… for girlfriends offers a fun way to explore Toronto with the help of 28 strolls with walking maps, distances and over 800 colour photos. Both guides are sold in major bookstores and online on www.torontofunplaces.com and www.torontourbanstrolls.com.
This is one of my favourite times of the year.Everybody is starting to come outside and breathe in the fresh spring air.Thinking about the upcoming warm and sunny days brings with it feelings of optimism and delight.As we put away our hats, coats and gloves for next year… we bring out the sunscreen, swimsuits and towels! Going to the park, water play, playing hockey on the driveway, frequenting one of the neighbourhood’s ice cream (or frozen yogurt) parlours, these are some of my family’s favourite activities.
Below you will find a super fun spring-inspired craft that you can make with your kids and their friends.You will also uncover the recipe for my daughter Sabrina’s “Summer is here” breakfast parfait.
Paper Plate Flower Craft
The directions to make this paper plate flower are easy to follow and the result is a colourful flower representing the joys of both spring and summer.This creative project comes from one of my favourite arts and crafts websites http://www.enchantedlearning.com
You will need:
A pencil
Colorful construction paper
Scissors (depending on the young artist’s age, an adult’s help may be needed for the cutting steps)
A stapler
Glue
A paper plate
Pipe cleaner (one per flower)
Directions:
1.Using your pencil, trace a child’s hand on colorful construction paper, at least 18-20 times.
2.Cut out the hand tracings.
3.Staple a circle of handprint tracings (fingers pointing outwards) around the outside of the plate - the fingers are the flower’s petals.
4.Staple a second circle of handprint tracings (fingers pointing outwards) just inside the first circle.
5.Staple a third circle of handprint tracings at the center of the plate.
6.Cut out a small paper circle from the leftover construction paper (2” in diameter) and glue in the center of the flower.
7.Take a pipe cleaner and staple to the bottom of the flower – now you have a stem!
“Summer Is Here” breakfast parfait
Along with the beautiful weather comes the bountiful supply of fresh and exotic fruits that are often not available in the colder months.My daughter Sabrina loves her breakfast and this is the recipe for her favourite summer breakfast.She loves to mix up a variety of colourful fruits, with a few dollops of yogurt (sometimes more than one flavour) and then she tops it off with the crunchiest cereals she can find.
Ingredients:
1-2 cups fruit - blueberries, bananas, strawberries, pineapple, mango , kiwi, raspberries and blackberries
¼ - ½ cup yoghurt - vanilla, strawberry and/or blueberry.
3-4 Tbsp. cereal - any of your families favourite cereals will do…granola is a favourite of Sabrina’s
1-2 Tbsp. topping - dried apricots (cut in slivers with a pair of scissors), ground cinnamon, raisins and/or dried cranberries.
*Quantities vary, depending upon how hungry you are and which ingredients you favour.
How to make it:
1.Wash and dry the fruit you will be using. Cut the fruit up into bite-sized pieces.
2.Place the fruit at the bottom of a bowl and drizzle the yogurt of your choice over the fruit.
3.Cover the yoghurt with the cereal and toppings you are most partial to.
4.Grab a spoon and enjoy!
Sabrina enjoys taking her breakfast parfait out onto our deck and eating in the sunlight!
Take the time to head outdoors, breathe in the fresh spring-summer air
and spend some good old-fashioned quality time with your family
Shelley Sefton is a chef, recipe developer & creator of “Yummy in my Tummy” - classes for kids thatoffers them the opportunity toexperience exciting adventures in the kitchen – combining education, art,food and most important of all FUN! Contact: (905) 597-0672 or sdsefton@rogers.com.
On the last day of school, I breathe a sigh of relief. Although I mostly enjoy the routine of school days, I find that by then I need a break from it as much as our daughters do.
Other than taking a break from routine, what I look forward to the most is re connecting as a family. Last summer we were fortunate to have taken a trip to England and France. We rented a quaint artist’s studio in the centre of London, stayed close to the Eiffel tower in Paris, and despite the overwhelming heat, enjoyed seeing the sights as a family. Eating crepes on the street in Paris, sitting by the Eiffel tower and watching it light up after the sun had set are some of our fondest memories. However, beyond the sights and special finds in Europe, we all agree that what we treasure most is the time we spent together.
Last year’s trip was more extravagant than usual. This year we’re thinking of staying closer to home.
I’ve come to realize that even when we take time off our work schedules and promise to spend family time in the city, something usually interrupts our time together. Even with the best of intentions, there’s usually something to divert our attention away from one another. That’s why we always escape to Fern Resort, near Orillia, Ontario – if only for a few nights, every summer. Although we love seeking out new adventures, there’s something comforting about the familiarity of returning to Fern Resort at the same time every year. Something about returning to activities that we know and love - bingo and fishing are the girls’ faves! So when they insist that if nothing else, we must go back year after year, we’re thrilled because we want to too.
We’re considered “alumni” now since we’ve been guests at Fern for five years – usually capping off the summer by spending a wonderful Labour Day weekend enjoying their incredible programs and activities.
Here then are some things to consider and what to look for when choosing a family friendly vacation this summer:
1. Considering the age of your children, how far do you want to venture from home? Especially when they’re young, and especially if you’d prefer to drive, you may want to consider finding a family friendly spot closer to home.
2. Unless you’re going camping or renting a cottage and creating your own fun, make sure that there are activities at the resort or hotel that you can all enjoy. We especially love watching the evening entertainment shows as a family at Fern. During the day, there are programs and activities that cater to our individual needs if we choose.
3. Some of the best times when away are meal times. At home, how often do you get to just sit together, be served and then have someone else clean up after you?
4. Check that the resort or hotel has high chairs or booster seats if you need. Since you want to encourage eating together, make sure that they don’t insist on separate dining times for adults and children.
5. Share a room if you can. Some places insist on no more than two people per room. This defeats the purpose of being together. I’d rather have the four of us share 2 queen or double sized beds than to be in separate rooms. We do that at home.
6. Find a spot that you can make a tradition out of going to every summer. If your children grow up going to the same spot every year, they will learn their way around the facility really well. Now that our kids are older and have been to Fern so many times, its comforting knowing that we can soak up some rays by the swimming pool while our children navigate their own way around the property.
While away, we often talk about the school year that has passed and the one to come. Again, free of distractions, the kids communicate more openly and the effects of this connection spill over into our lives for months after we return home.
Happy travelling!
Sara Dimerman, C.Psych.Assoc., provides in office and over the phone counseling to individuals, couples and families. A parent herself, she is the author of two parenting books, ‘Am I A Normal Parent?’ and ‘Character Is the Key.’ Listen to advice from Sara and other experts by searching for “helpmesara” on iTunes. Find out more at www.helpmesara.com.
In celebration of their 40th Anniversary, Ontario Place is offering exciting events and live entertainment all summer long for FREE! Ontario Place will offer free admission to the grounds thanks to CTV, its official television sponsor.
For free, guests can watch a variety of performances on one of the park’s three main stages or one of the season-long shows such as Pipeworks, a new acrobatics show, or returning favourites such as the Extreme Wake Series, Earth Rangers and Treehouse Live! Where you can see friends like Barney, Angelina Ballerina, Thomas and friends and The Big Comfy Couch.
Growing up in South Africa, sleepover camps weren’t nearly as popular. Or maybe it was just me who didn’t care to know much about them. I hated the idea of not having a washroom in my cabin and having to make my way to one with only a flashlight to guide me. And I didn’t want to sit around camp fires listening to ghost stories that I feared would keep me awake at night.
My husband, on the other hand, looked forward to the entire sleeping away from home experience. He loved the independence, the camp outs, the sharing a cabin with 11 other boys his age, the trekking through the wild wooded area and portaging to the river. I think he especially loved the friendships he made and all the activities such as windsurfing and archery that he might never have been exposed to closer to home.
So, after our older daughter was grown up enough to choose between day camp and sleepover camp, I had to think really carefully about how I was going to help her make her decision. I ultimately encouraged my husband to play a larger role in sharing his positive experiences with her. We also requested that certain overnight camps send us their promotional DVDs so that she could see all that they had to offer. Since she already had a good taste of spending days away from us at summer day camps, she was then able to compare the two. Being more reticent and less adventurous in nature, she ultimately chose to stick closer to home.
Over the years, she enjoyed her experience at a couple of wonderful day camps. She loved the spirit and camaraderie on the bus to camp. The campers and counsellors named their buses, decorated their interiors and sang songs to and from camp. Far enough from home and surrounded by nature, she felt as if she was experiencing the great outdoors. She loved swimming – both instructional and recreational – twice a day and especially loved the giant waterslide. She loved the farm animals, the arts and crafts, the drama and dancing classes and participating in all the sports activities. At the end of the day she arrived home, exhausted but looking forward to returning the following day. Ultimately, she became a counsellor at a day camp and continued to enjoy that experience.
My younger daughter is more like her dad. She is an explorer and a lover of nature. She is less bothered by creepy crawlies and adapts easily to new situations. Now that the time has come to think about going to sleepover camp, as many of her friends are, she is fully contemplating it.
Here are some things to consider when choosing between day and sleepover camp:
1. Know your child. Every child is different and while it’s true that some children need to be encouraged to take on challenges and overcome fears, others can be quite traumatized if they are forced into an experience that they are not ready for.
2. Slow and steady. I’m not a big fan of sending very young (6 or 7 year olds) to sleepover camp. I think that young children are better suited to enjoying activities days closer to home. For a first time experience, children may do better with shorter periods away from home (up to 10 days) rather than going away for a month as a first time experience.
3. If you remove the sleeping away from home component, many day camps offer as enriched an activities experience as do overnight camps. Its best to try to find a camp that offers activities that meet your child’s interests rather than sending your child to the most popular camp or the one closest to home.
4. Engage your child in the decision between day or sleepover camp. Even though children do not have the life experience to make this kind of decision alone, let them have their say. If possible, visit camp sites ahead of making your decision so that you can all take a look around and meet the counsellors and staff.
5. Its best, when possible, to have your child attend camp – especially for the first time – with a friend or family member. Chances are that he or she will branch out very quickly but most children say that it’s comforting to have a familiar face close by.
Sara Dimerman, Dip.C.S., C.Psych.Assoc., is registered with a College of Psychologists and provides counselling to individuals, couples and families. A parent herself, she is the author of two parenting books, ‘Am I A Normal Parent?’ and ‘Character Is the Key.’ Find out more at www.helpmesara.com
Last month I gave you a few ideas on how to keep your summer entertaining easy with quick and tasty recipes that will have you cooking less and enjoying summer more. Having spent the last few weeks in cottage country doing my fair share of entertaining, these lessons bear repeating! When I invite people up to the cottage, my guests usually insist on preparing one meal during the weekend. Fine with me, however I always feel a wee bit concerned for them that they feel it needs to be a major affair. Don’t know whether it’s because of what I do for a living that intimidates them or my friends truly enjoy spending hours in a hot kitchen preparing a meal for us instead of hours on a hot dock with a cold drink in their hand! I suspect it’s more to do with the common mistake that many inexperienced cooks make when it comes to knowing what to cook, how much to cook and when to cook it. Here are a few tips to help guide you through your summer cooking and entertaining:
• Keep it simple. By choosing the best local and seasonal quality ingredients you can find, the less you’ll actually need to do to them. Tomatoes are coming into season so instead of spending time on an elaborate salad, thickly slice fresh tomatoes, drizzle with a great olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Lay out a big platter of them with fresh bread and a crisp white wine and you have the perfect light lunch.
• Make the BBQ your best friend. Everything you can do on a stove or in the oven, you can do on the BBQ leaving you less mess to deal with in the kitchen and more of that great summer grilled flavour. Chances are there will be someone around that fancies themselves a BBQ King or Queen so you might not even have to do any of the cooking!
• A little goes a long way. Too often we cook far too many dishes for one meal or too much food thinking there will never be enough. In my experience people eat lighter and less in the summer so plan your meal, picture it on the table or plate and chances are you can remove one or two items from the meal reducing your workload.
• When it’s the weekend, spend some time prepping and planning your meals so that you can cook in advance and enjoy for the whole weekend. Many foods that we serve hot in the winter can be enjoyed cold or at room temperature in the summer so it’s easy to prepare in advance. A grilled potato salad is a great to cook the night before but serve the next day cold. Roast a chicken and serve it cold the next day with a classic mango chutney and ciabatta rolls. Or BBQ salmon on a cedar plank, serve with a sliced cucumber salad and serve any remaining salmon the next day for lunch over room temperature orzo pasta.
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
I guess it’s quite hysterical, if you take a step back to think we’re hearing that we need to consume more in order to reduce our impact. Buy green. Try this. Throw this out. Never use that. Replace it now. Nope, that was wrong, now do this.
So many products and services are now being marketed as green. Aside from not having real purpose, they may not in fact really be green, they may just been marketed that way, or, they may just be completely unnecessary. Even some toxic cleaning chemicals on shelves have a green certification. Of course, it’s the company’s own certification, and it’s parallel to potato chips saying “reduced fat” on the bag; sure, it’s better, but it’s still not healthy and certainly not as low fat as an organic apple, or nothing at all!
Maybe you find it all stressful, maybe you find it overwhelming, but just take a deep breath (of clean indoor air because I’m sure you’ve already rid your home of all toxic chemicals!) and don’t write off living green. It is absolutely worth buying into the green movement, especially in Toronto…any one change you make, or new service you try, is simply another beginning, not an ending point. And, if you like it, tell at least a few friends…now you’re making a big difference.
Whether you consider yourself green, not green at all, hippie, treehugger, lifetime suv driver, all–natural or anything else, the below ideas and businesses are worth supporting. Make this summer your starting point to support businesses (and people!) that are local to you, pleasant, making efforts to be green, and provide quality products and services that aren’t going to make us sick, or contribute to an unhealthy planet.
6 eco-summery things to try:
Shop a farmer’s market and make a meal with your friends and family with your purchases. My pick – Evergreen Brickworks on Saturdays in Toronto
Get a synthetic-free pedicure (google 3-free nailpolish to start) My pick – Iris Bocknek of www.healthyaesthetics.com)
Order in “eco” pizza. Think local, sustainable…even spelt crust. My picks – Pizzeria Libretto, True Yorkville and Magic Oven in Toronto and Pizza Fusion in Florida
Buy an organic t-shirt. It’s easier than you think. My pick – Earth Child for kids, www.metowestyle.comfor moms and dads.
Try vegan ice cream. It’s better than you think. My store bought picks – Luna and Larry’s or So Delicious Coconut Milk based tubs.
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.
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 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.
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.
A few tips for a more relaxing summer
It is vital that every family member gets a clear idea of a few things they’d badly want on a wish list of summer activities. All members will have different expectations, but as long as each one gets to cross a few items off their list, the summer will be a success: a water-balloon fight, a golf game with Junior, organizing a block party, trying a new water park, sipping a cocktail on a fancy patio with girlfriends (moms are people too!), watching the sun set over the horizon. You get the gist.
WRITTEN BY