Ask Mama MOE

Start Sports the Right Way with Sportball

2013-10-01T09:51:00.000-04:00

My oldest, who is only four as I write this, is finishing his second session of classes with Coach Matt from the company, Sportball. He was just three when he started and he absolutely loved it. The first day I took him, his eyes lit up. And to be honest, so did mine!

As anyone with little ones knows, their attention span is lacking because they are just too full of excitement for everything life is throwing at them! My guy is extremely social and very talkative, so when I signed up for a 45 min sport class for him, I was reluctant to think it would actually be worthwhile. We had tried other classes before, music, sing-alongs, but this seemed different.

"When I say go, run to the yellow cones, one two three spaghetti! Ah! I got you!! "

And my son laughs. "Can you say 'nice try Coach Matt'. Say 'I can do it!'"

When the children repeat what the coach says it locks the method in their mind and keeps them focused.

Coach Matt continues: "I went to the movies the other day and I bought this big container of popcorn. But you know what happened? I tripped and my popcorn fell all over the floor. Are you going to help me pick up all the popcorn?" And at that, the coach lets a big container of soft tennis balls fly out for the kids to pick them up - and as they run around, getting their little hearts pumping, they don't have a clue they are actually working out, let alone, doing a chore....now how can I incorporate that into cleaning up the toys at home?

"Can you fly like an airplane back to the magic line?" and my son zooms over. Ah, the magic line, I need one in our house.

Today was basketball.

First warm up, then "I'm gonna stretch, say stretch! I'm going to dribble, say dribble!"

It helps with self motivation and confidence, fair play and sharing.

My son has a lull: "I'm not a good dribbler." Coach Matt is up and at it: "Come over here buddy, because you are an excellent dribbler!" A little bit of one on one, and he's back on track.

Not listening is big right now, not wanting to do what we ask him...but Coach Matt has the patience of Jobe. My guy is in a very small class of three children, but they have classes as big as fifteen! God help him when he teaches those.

I listen in some more: "Do you know who this is, pointing to the cone, it's the green goblin! And you are Spiderman, you have to dribble the basketball through the enemies of Spiderman! You're doing amazing buddy! Great job! Fantastic!!"

Matt, along with all the other coaches, has an upbeat, positive, cheery tone, with smiles. It really makes these kids get excited even about picking up after themselves! "It's not a competition, we all did great!"

"Let's bring all the basketballs back here!" Suddenly the bag for the basketballs turns into a munching monster and Coach Matt makes a munching sound for every ball that goes into the bag.

"You can do it, buddy! High-five!"

Things like getting all the pizzas (basketballs) into the chimney (hula-hoop over his head) to get into the house to eat, gives a great imagination to the games that provide the skills to learn a sport. In this case, they were learning how to shoot.

Multilingual at that, the class has both French and English children so Coach Matt does the class in both French and English, and wouldn't you know it, my guy has already figured out certain words in French because of it. All good stuff. That will give him that much more of an advantage when starting school which is over 80% French in Montreal.

"We're going to take the ball with two, hands, say two hands! Dit deux mains!"

"Great try, let's try that one again."

Parents can either stay on the sidelines or leave for the time of the class. My husband and I have done a bit of both. Generally, since he's so young, I stay to keep an eye on him, if he needs me to go to the washroom or if he's had enough. But he doesn't tire of the class unless he's had trouble sleeping the night before or something of that nature. And I like to cheer him on too!

Classes run for eight weeks and are scheduled throughout Montreal. Ages of classes range from two years old to 14 years old. They even have after school classes at the public elementary schools now. A great addition since gym is now becoming less scheduled in schools.

Integrating superhero characters and tasty foods kids like helps them enjoy the sport in their own kid-friendly way.

My son asks why he has to do the jumping jacks. Oh no. "Do you know why Spiderman is so strong? Because he practices his jumping jacks." Nice save, Coach Matt. Want to come over to our house?

The best thing about the classes is that children have a sense of accomplishment after each and every class because each class focuses on a different sport.

The end of the class draws a close with a circle review of what they learned and a cheer.

At the end of the session, children get a ribbon and a certificate and my son's is hanging in his room. One of many more participation ribbons to come I'm sure, but this was his first and he shows it off with pride when friends come over.

To find out more information on Sportball classes near you, visit their website, www.sportballmontreal.ca

Sports that are covered in the classes:

Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, Baseball, Ball-Hockey, Football, Tennis, Golf

I have received no compensation from Sportball in any manner. I just really wanted to share my great experience with you all.

How Saving Early Can Save You Big - #SaveWithRBC

2013-09-27T23:45:00.000-04:00

Do you remember those cute birthday cards that you got from your aunts and uncles or grandparents that had coins attached to the inside of them? Some even had slots for coins, I remember getting one with an image of an apple tree and each apple was a coin. Well, how many of you now as parents would think to give a birthday card like that to your children or nieces and nephews? If not, why not?

I think my biggest birthday haul was five dollars when I was young. And usually, my parents let me take that money and spend it on whatever five dollars could get me. I was so happy with that responsibility of choosing what I could do with the money!

Flash forward a decade or so, and my father took me and my sister to the bank to open a bank account. I still have my first bank statement book as a reminder when I began this process with my father and how a little amount grew with time.

I can’t say all the money I received from family and friends always went into the bank account when I was young. But I can tell you that at the same time my father was teaching me about money, he was already contributing to another account for my sister and me. It was always a small amount, but it was steady, and with time, that amount grew into something that began our educational fund for college.

When I was approached to write about the RBC registered educational savings plans (RESP), I took it as an opportunity to write about something I think may go overlooked from the get go. No matter what, saving is hard. Saving for your children when they are just babies seems almost unnecessary.

One of the first things you think about when having a baby is “how can we afford this?” I know for me, my mind went to baby gear, furniture, a minivan, moving into a house one day....it seemed daunting. And I can honestly say that in those moments, I wasn’t thinking about saving for my baby’s college education. But my husband and I looked into RESPs right away. And you know what? I am so grateful we did. Have you taken a look at the cost of education for children to reach university these days? Post-secondary education has actually increased at three times the rate of inflation since 1990.

Here are the facts about RESPs:

Contributing small amounts each week can grow into a big amount once your child reaches college (for example $25 a week can grow to $50,000 in 18 years – crazy!)
The government will contribute an additional 20% for your child’s savings (up to $500 a year for a total of $7200!) Yes, that is free money, people.
This applies to every child, so in order to fully take advantage of free government money, it makes sense to save as much as you can for each of your children.
The funds you save are not taxed on, as long as the funds remain in the plan.
You can choose to invest in individual or family funds (which means the children can share the funds depending what is needed for their next step in post-secondary education).
Save automatically once you set it up with the RBC-RESP-Matic system (less to think about).
Anyone can open an RESP account for a child (grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.).
There is no charge to open and RESP account and no administration fees.
If your child doesn’t end up using the funds, the contributions and earnings you made can be used to fund your RRSP.

To find out more about RESPs with RBC, click here. And to find out how to set up an RESP-Matic, click here.

Okay, so now I've told you why you should save, but the true question is, how do you save? I am not a financial planner; I’m a mama of three. So in our home we try to do the following to save where we can:

Start small, but by all means, start – if you can sock away just a few dollars a day per child, think of what it can become in a short while.
Make your coffees at home (that $5 latte may taste good going down, but it will leave a bitter taste in your mouth knowing it could grow in savings for your kids).
Make your own lunches – same thing applies here, leftovers and great sandwiches will lead way to savings down the road.
Watch for sales – if some items on my grocery list are not on sale, I will not buy those items for the week, it’s that simple. Three children means we go through a lot of food, so sometimes waiting on some favourites for a week or two makes sense (psst, my kids appreciate them more that way too).
Reduce, reuse, recycle – in all aspects of life whether it’s clothing, craft materials, leftovers that become new meals, I try as much as I can not to waste.
If family asks what your child would like for their birthday or any other holiday, consider asking for a contribution to their RESP. Because let’s be honest, that third or fourth or fifth toy from family only lasts so long, but the savings can create something more valuable in the end.

Do you have any tried and true tips for saving for your family? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.

Disclosure: I am part of the RBC RESP blogger program with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog, as always, are my own.

BlogPodium Conference

2013-09-21T07:42:00.001-04:00

Today marks the third year of BlogPodium, the design and lifestyle conference in Toronto created by Jennifer Flores (Rambling Renovators) and Lindsay Stephenson (Little House Blog).

This will be the first year that I attend this conference. With over 250 bloggers attending the full-day conference, all in the same niche, it is sure to be an inspiring day, jam packed with information.

I started my blog with the intention to write about what I was living. And I have done just that. Many life moments are described in my posts, whether it be about my three amazing children, products and services we use as a family or activities we participate in. Inevitably, a blog about family-friendly living will have crafts. But what I didn't realize was how many DIY crafts we had done...until more recently.

As a reader of blogs, and a fan of social media in general, it is clear DIY is huge right now, more than ever. The boom has most definitely been thanks to the wildly popular Pinterest.

And while I like to joke that Pinterest has become the new trophy wife with unbelievable ideas to craft up the simplest things, I am a huge fan of the site and I love spending time browsing and pinning on my boards.

Long before Pinterest was around there was HGTV, and my idol was Sarah Richardson. Her first show called Room Service was my introduction to her style and I was immediately hooked.

Now, many years later, she is a successful design guru and she is the guest speaker at today’s’ conference. I couldn’t be more thrilled. And truth be told, Sarah Richardson has a major role in my decision to come to the conference!

I’m so excited to have a day full of inspiration, creativity and education in a room packed with talented people. Expect a full review on my exciting day!

Shrine Circus - A Family-Friendly Event

2013-09-20T04:12:00.000-04:00

Top 10 Reasons to Visit the Shrine Circus This Weekend:

The excitement your children will have as they see the big top when you drive up.
Getting popcorn or cotton candy or BOTH!
Being part of the Zerbini family Circus’ 250^th Anniversary Celebration.
The largest tiger act in the world with ten tigers (and the fire wheel!)
Watching children, one only 7 years old, performing and cheering them on with your kids!
Taking a ride on one of the elephants (how amazing is that?!).
The. Circus. Wheel. (I held my breath for most of it)
A clown that is really funny (and not scary!)
Trapeze, juggling and unicycles, oh my!
Hearing your kids describe the amazing time they had to their friends and family.

It will be a family moment you will remember forever. We had a blast and you will too!

Get your tickets quick and enjoy the show before they travel to the next location!

Visit the Shrine Circus website for times and locations.

Disclosure: I was invited with my family to see the Shrine Circus, however all opinions, as always are my own.

Online Shop Review - Mortimer Snodgrass

2013-09-17T00:31:00.001-04:00

In my last post you may have noticed the adorable Skip Hop lunch boxes I had hanging in my command center. I absolutely love them! My kids were so excited when they received them in the mail. I wasn't sure I would get them so quickly, but they came to me the next day after I ordered online from the Montreal-based store, Mortimer Snodgrass.

I was invited to check out their online shop and try their online shopping experience. Truth be told, I am not an online shopper at the best of times. I’m sure this has happened to you: you go through the trouble of choosing items to purchase, fill your online shopping cart, only to discover it either disappears or has some sort of glitch which makes you have to start all over. Want to know what I do when that happens? I shut down the site. I know it may be cold, and there can always be a valid reason for glitch which is not the fault of the company, but in my opinion, if you want your clients to shop online, your online shop has got to work well. And after I’ve gone through the trouble of finding what I want and it’s not there, I give up on that and go to a store in person. Well, this may just have to change now...

The products on the Mortimer Snodgrass site are clearly categorized, and the shopping experience I had was quick and painless – I was more than happy shopping online, for pretty much the first time. The best part was the checkout. As I mentioned, I was looking for back-to-school items for my children. And I was running late. As in, school was starting in a few days. I had already gone to shops I thought had what I was looking for, only to find out they were either out of stock, or no longer ordering what they said was available on their websites. I was frustrated and frantic. Mortimer Snodgrass came to the rescue!

Back to School - The Best Products

Not only did they help me get everything ready for back-to-school, but they have a great selection of gifts for all ages. Some of my favourite brands like Skip Hop, Crocodile Creek and Envirosax are sold at Mortimer Snodgrass which makes online shopping a breeze.

Here’s what I found for the kids – all eco friendly, reusable and BPA, Phthalate, and lead-free:

Eco-friendly stainless steel water bottle by Crocodile Creek
Reusable sandwich bag by Big Apple Sandwich Buddies by BUILT NY
Zoo lunchies lunch boxes by Skip Hop

If you are looking for some cute and unique gifts for kids or adult, there is really something for everyone. I already did a little browsing for upcoming holidays and birthdays.

Now a Little Something for Mama

As you may have seen by the side buttons, I’m going to be attending two amazing blog conferences this season. And with that, comes the need for a few new gadgets and gizmos to get myself up-to-date and ready for full days of texting, tweeting, and taking photographs and notes. I just love new tech and smart gadgets so here is my ultimate wish list of what I would love to have for conference season:

1. Wonder Woman MimoMicro Drive
2. Tablet sleeve by Zero Gravity
3. Ear buds (never forget which side is which again!) by DCI
4. Envirosax reusable bag that folds into the palm of your hand
5. Organic cotton lunch bag by Fluf
6. Samsung Galaxy S3 case by Zero Gravity

So, fellow bloggers? Are you swooning over this shopping wish list as much as me?!

Final Thoughts

The Mortimer Snodgrass online shopping experience was great. I am happy to recommend it to my readers as a family-friendly and easy-to-use shopping site. I know I will be stopping by online closer to the holidays for sure. PS For those of my readers in Montreal, Mortimer Snodgrass has an actual shop as well. Check them out and tell them Mama MOE says hi!

Did you think that was it?! It’s another great giveaway!!

Mortimer Snodgrass is offering one lucky winner a $25 gift voucher to use on their online shop! All you need to do is go on their site and tell me in the Rafflecopter below, what would be your first purchase if you won?

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents.

Good luck to all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was compensated for a review on the Mortimer Snodgrass online shop. All opinions, as always are my own.

The Perfect Back-To-School Command Center with 3M Command Strips

2013-09-10T00:54:00.000-04:00

It’s here, mamas. There’s no turning back now.

Back. To. School.

Whether you had an early start or a late one, we’re all in it now, and the routine of scheduled days is upon us.

How’s it going for you so far? Did you fill out all your slips? Sign every form? Send in any envelopes with money for activities? Already get birthday party invitations?

If you took the lax road of an easy breezy summer, getting all these papers in place without losing them can be daunting, never mind the afterschool activities and scheduling of each child’s school week.

This year, my little ones are all in some form of school or another (as I hold back the tears). So that meant I had to get us ready and organized for a new lifestyle and routine. Since they are at different schools and the schedule is not always in sync, I needed our mornings to run smoothly and our calendar to stay neat so we can see what is coming up.

So when 3M said they wanted to send me a package of Command Clear products to get ready for back-to-school, I knew exactly what section of my home I was going to tackle: the command center! Perfect, right?

I was already a Command Strip fanatic. We have various Command Strips all over our house, and the best part is that no one actually knows they are strips! I have three brushed steel hooks on the back of our bathroom and it has held big bath towels there for years without any problems. I use a Command Strip on my front door for a wreath and it works wonderfully, and I also have some in the children’s rooms to hang their sweaters at their current height. I love that I will be able to adjust the heights as they grow without ruining the walls with nail holes.

Command Center

We stationed our command center in our kitchen, off our pantry. It’s the hub of the home and it works well so close to the kitchen table. We can make sure things are in order each morning.

When it comes to the command center of the house, you need a few things:

a big calendar that has enough room each day to write down activities and events
a weekly schedule to mark down specific constants of the week with their locations and times
a pen and a dry erase marker
a notepad and pen

You would be fine with just that, but here are a few additions I made to get us ready:

hooks for lunch boxes
a birthday calendar to remember everyone’s special day
a small hanging file folder to place important newsletters from the school, as well as birthday invitations, sports schedules, etc.

So are you ready to see my big reveal??

Here is it!

Absolutely no holes made! Hurray for 3M Command Strips!

So happy with the way this turned out!

We are SO ready for Back-To-School!

I want to thank 3M for the opportunity to take my command center to the next level with Command Strips! Now if I can just tackle my own office space with the same excitement. Good thing I have lots of extra Command Strips to help me!

Giveaway

Now here’s the best part for YOU. Not one, not two, but THREE lucky readers will be able to win a Command Clear product Back-to-School package worth $50! Isn't that great?! All you have to do is follow the Rafflecopter instructions and leave a comment on what you would like to tackle in your home if you won the Command Clear product package.

Here is what three lucky readers will receive:

- Command Clear Medium Hooks
- Command Clear Small Hooks
- Command Clear Decorating Clips
- Command Clear Utensil Hooks
- Command Clear Flat Cord Clips
- Command Clear Medium Cord Clips
- Command Picture Hanging Strips
- Command Decorative Brushed Nickel Hook

This giveaway is open to Canadian residents.
Good luck to all!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was compensated for this review. All opinions, as always, are my own.

#Back-to-School Anthem: Sara Bareilles - Brave

2013-09-10T00:00:00.001-04:00

I can't stop listening to this song. I bought the album. I haven't bought an album for years. This is an album to buy. I've always liked Sara Bareilles' voice and music, but this one hit me. For all the teens dealing with back-to-school, for all the adults dealing with something, anything, this is the song. This is the anthem. Sing it out loud:

Hot Air Balloon Festival, St Jean sur Richelieu

2013-08-17T18:27:00.001-04:00

Children love balloons. It’s a well known fact that even though they can cry if their balloon pops in their faces they will still be back for more. The colours, the way they float and the pure celebration of them keeps kids attracted no matter what their age.

Now, magnify that happy feeling that kids get by 100% and you will feel what it’s like to attend the hot air balloon festival in St Jean sur Richelieu. An amazing experience for kids young and old, the Montgolfieres St Jean sur Richelieu is the largest hot air balloon gathering in all of Canada.

The festival is packed with family activities, more bouncers than I have ever seen in one location, and fantastic performers every afternoon and evening (including Taio Cruz, Eric Lapointe and Owl City this year). Because the event has something for all age groups, the festival now draws some 500,000 during its nine day run.

The festival began in 1984 from an idea to promote summer tourism in the region. Because of the region’s geographic situation and climate conditions, it led way to a perfect place for a hot air balloon festival. In its first year the festival ran four days and pulled in 60,000 visitors. In 1991, the festival presented an international competition, making it the first in Canada, with over 30 countries competing.

To witness the hot air balloons take off is an amazing and beautiful thing. That happens at dusk and dawn, specifically, at 6 am and 6 pm each day of the festival. Since Canadian summers can be a bit unpredictable, and the hot air balloons need perfect weather conditions to take off, some days can be cancelled for safety reasons. With that in mind, try to scope out the week of the festival and aim for a day with the best weather scheduled.

In all honesty, my husband raved about this festival for years, since my father-in-law was the president for two year in the eighties. Every year for three years straight, we would pack up the kids and plan a day of it. And each year, the day we went was not perfect weather so the balloons did not take off. Finally, last year, after already trying one day with no luck, we came back a second day and experienced this:

Theses are all my own photographs, aren't they amazing?! Feel free to share!

It was incredible to see some 125 hot air balloons take off almost simultaneously, filling up the sky with colours. My children were so excited, and so were we! If you can make it out to the festival, it’s a Montreal must. You won’t be disappointed.

Tips & Tricks:

Bring the stroller – the festival covers 1.5 million square feet with places to sit and eat, bouncers, activities and shows. If you want your child to enjoy themselves and not burn out from the walking, bringing a stroller is must.
Name and number tag – Must so many bouncers in close proximity, it can be hard to keep a good eye on your child, or children if your have more than one. Just like any other big day out with lots of people, place a tag bracelet on your child with your cell phone number should you get separated. The festival also has a drop-off area just for this situation so show your child the location when you arrive.
Pack a lunch/dinner picnic – because the hot air balloons fly off at 6 pm, we packed a dinner and brough a picnic blanket. There are picnic tables as well as many food stations but for convenience and location, we opted to be close to the take-off area and save on packing our meals.
Bring water – your child will love the multitude of bouncers and won’t want to stop, so bring some replenishment and pack a couple of water bottles.
Wear socks – since there are so many bouncers and your child will be taking their shoes off on and on to get in them, do yourself a favour and put socks on them. It will protect their little feet from anything on the ground and save them from getting so dirty.
In case of rain – if the weather turns cold or it starts to rain, run, don’t walk, to the indoor face painting station. Last year when we went, we took our time and waited over an hour (I know, I know, but you try to explain to a child why we shouldn't wait in the tent for face painting when it’s raining outside). Incidentally, I’m a little over waiting for face painting, as amazing as it is. I may just paint my children’s faces before we get there!
Plan for down time – There are a number of activities and fun things to see and do at the festival. But just like any big day out with children, they can reach their maximum fast if they are over-stimulated and tired. Take some time in between bouncers and activities to relax, snack and just enjoy the view.
Look for the freebies – many brands such as Milk, Laurentian Bank and Jean Coutu are represented at the festival. Keep an eye out for coupons, samples and even little surprises offered to attendees.

For more information on the festival, showtimes, dates and performers, visit the festival's site, www.ballooncanada.com.

Sincere condolences go out to the family of hot air balloon pilot, Maxime Trepanier who lost his life in a tragic accident this year while helping another team land their balloon.

Reflection Mission Statement

2013-08-03T01:40:00.002-04:00

Introducing Monsters to Toddlers (#KinderMom Style)

2013-08-02T23:54:00.000-04:00

As a first post after a very challenging time in our little family’s life, I couldn't be happier to write about a great company and fun launch. Kinder has teamed up with Monsters University to introduce for the first time (ever!) 100% licensed toys in their Kinder eggs.

I have to be honest with you; my kids have yet to see Monsters Inc., let alone Monsters University. My oldest may very well be able to get through the movie and love it, so we are planning a ‘mommy and me’ movie date. Our twins are not ready for a fast paced movie yet since they are so young. But I will say that they have all seen the characters around and they think they are funny and goofy looking. So, when I knew that Kinder would be sending us Kinder Surprise eggs filled with Monsters University characters, I was so happy for them!

As far as monsters go, this is their introduction! Of course there are characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets, but I think this is the first time, they are ‘seeing’ them as monsters. So this has brought up some interesting chats.

“Are monsters real?”

“Are these monsters real?”

“Where do these monsters come from?”

Short from trampling all their imagination and naiveté, I have kept my answers simple and vague. These monsters are part of a story and monsters are not real, they are just pretend. It seems easier to rationalize these concepts with books. But when the characters have a voice and a personality that shines through animation film, it gets complicated. Ah, introducing monsters to toddlers...it’s just part of the joys of parenting...!

The other thing I like to remind them about is when they play ‘monster’ with Papa MOE. My kids just love when my husband runs around trying to catch them. He does his best growling monster impression and they go crazy for it! So, of course, that is the very first ‘monster’ they know – their own father! It’s easy to explain that Papa MOE is not a real monster, he is just pretending.

So if your children are too young to see Monsters University, I still would recommend the new collection of Kinder Specialty eggs. It’s a great way to show your kids that monsters can simply be goofy characters that can be just as much fun to play with as any other character. It will bring a smile to their face, guaranteed!

Be sure to collect your Monsters University toy characters in the Kinder Specialty eggs out now. There are 12 limited edition toys to collect, and you can take a sneak peek on the Kinder Canada Facebook Page.

Disclosure: I’m part of the KINDER® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Coming Back

2013-07-24T23:42:00.001-04:00

It's a strange thing, being a mama.

While you become more emotional at certain things in relation to family and children, you also grow a thicker skin. Priorities are adjusted, perspectives are changed. There is a sense of wisdom, as well as a sense of complete confusion that takes place every day. As a mama, you learn to laugh things off, gain more patience than you ever thought possible, and have a sense of pride that far exceeds anything you have ever taken part in. Your children are your treasures.

One thing is certain: as a mama, if you were lucky enough to receive this same love and pride from your mama, you now know just how incredible your mother is. Every tear shed, every laugh shared, every scream muffled, every tongue bit, every hug cherished...you mentally thank your mama. And if you have the chance, you thank your mama, in person, often.

My family blog has always been about enjoying your children, and living in a way that is honest, healthy and happy. Sometimes, though, life throws you curve balls. And when a curve ball is actually not a curve ball, but a freakin' bulldozer ball breaking down your whole world in a single swing...it makes it hard to stay positive and carry on.

I had to say goodbye to my mama. Grandma MOE is now my second guardian angel and I miss my best friend every second of every day.

It was bittersweet that my last post was dedicated to her strength and courage.

So, my friends, in reflection of the passing of my second parent, I am laying low for a while. If you would like to connect with me, you will find me mostly on Twitter, and sometimes on Facebook.

Big plans were already in the works for Ask Mama MOE and a new site will be up and running before the "back to school" blitz.

I look forward to sharing so much more with you and hearing from you too.

Until then,

Julia a.k.a. Mama MOE

Mama's Birthday

2013-05-16T02:02:00.000-04:00

Today is a special day for me.

It’s also a special day for my mama, and my kids and the people who are close to me.

Today I celebrate my mama.

Grandma MOE was in the hospital 36 years ago today giving birth to her first child.

I can’t be sure of the feelings she had then, but I can imagine them clearer now that I am a mama.

I celebrate her for having the love and strength and courage to bring me into this world.

I commend her for raising me with values and respect.

And I congratulate her for having the patience through all the tough times.

The love I have been given over the years is something that some people wish for their whole lives.

Thank you, Mama.

So tell me, how do you celebrate your birthday? Do you reflect on anything or anyone as part of your day?

Mama's Gift: Lux Coffee at Home with Keurig

2013-05-12T15:54:00.001-04:00

Did you find the perfect gift for your mama this Mother’s Day?

In my opinion, mamas are not hard to buy for. It’s not like we don’t give hints and clues. At least I do; I am not subtle when it comes to what I like. Since my children are small, it’s nice to give them big clues. And boy do they feel special when they find something mama mentioned! (It also helps out Papa MOE too!)

Here’s a last minute gift I‘m anxious to try out and to give: The Keurig MINI Plus.

This mama loves coffee. However, I have shied away from single cup coffee makers since I already have a standard coffee maker. They have always been an interesting and very luxurious appliance that I have enjoyed using at other people’s homes (you know who you are!), except I wasn’t sure I would use it as much as I should for its price. But I have been thinking about it more lately. I am the only coffee drinker in our home, and every day I end up throwing away coffee after each brew. Could it be that I am throwing away money and the single cup brewing systems would actually be more cost-effective for me? I am looking into it...

The Keurig MINI Plus could very well be a great in-between piece that can still give the luxury of a single cup.

When I broke it down, here are the reasons I think this would be a great addition to my life:

- it’s smaller so it will take up much less room on my counter than its larger counterpart or even a regular coffee maker

- it’s less expensive, with a retail price of approximately $100 it makes it more attractive than other models

- it holds the regular K-cups that would give endless variety to my coffee choices instead of the same taste every day (for eco-friendly mamas like me, the MINI Plus can hold the reusable K-cup filters)

- it comes in new vibrant colours (I’m partial to the cobalt blue)

So there you have it: a luxury single cup coffee maker that would make a great gift for mamas. The Kuerig MINI Plus is available in most grocery stores and retail stores where coffee is sold.

And if you are more subtle than me, you can always just print out this post for your husband! You’re welcome.

Disclosure: I was given a Keurig MINI Plus coffee maker to review for this post. All opinions, as always, are my own.

Happy Mama's Day!

2013-05-12T12:42:00.002-04:00

The Spark That Led To #SFTH13

2013-05-08T11:46:00.001-04:00

Where is your spark?

Does it come from reading a classic novel? Does it come from seeing a new movie or a unique piece of art? Does it come from an act of kindness that you see in your passing day? What is it that sets something off deep down inside you and makes your eyes widen with excitement?

You know what I’m talking about. That moment you feel a synergy in your gut that rushes up to your heart and your start to palpitate with a thrill of what could be. Your potential has just received a lightning bolt of ideas and you need to do something about it immediately.

That is what it was like for me about three years ago at this time. I had just recently had my twins and my mind was on tilt. Perhaps it was just my personality or perhaps it was the hormone imbalance from having my twins, either way, I had such ideas rushing through my mind; I had to direct them somewhere. So I started a blog (of course I did). With much trepidation, I might add. The whole freelance writing thing was easy peasy for me. I knew the steps, I knew what to do and who to send what to. But blogging? Not a clue. Who would read my blog? Would anyone connect with me and my thoughts? When you write for a magazine, a lot of people see your work before it is placed for publication, and ultimately an editor gives the piece the ok for print. But for blogging, you write and edit and distribute on your own. Yet, I knew I had something to share.

So in the midst of raising one beautiful two year old, nursing twins and living in an already busy time of my life, being a writer, I needed an outlet. But I needed the outlet to make sense. I needed the outlet to do good in some way. Through connecting with others online, I began to understand that blogging was a great community of people. I met writers, brands, and services...it was all very interesting to me.

With the connections I was making, I thought about putting together a networking event. ‘A few women at home to chat and network over coffee’ I thought. A few women quickly turned into 20 women. So I set a date before Mother’s Day, called a church for a hall rental, and coordinated my first event. But here is the key ingredient – I decided to give back through the event. I figured, we were enough fabulous women in a room to make a difference. So I called on local businesses, asked the women to offer up a raffle and in about three hours, we raised close to $1000 for three children’s hospitals. Shopping From The Heart was born.

Now in its third year, SFTH has doubled in size and this year it will be taking place at a local Holiday Inn. I have many more sponsors giving such wonderful prizes. There has also been an additional silent auction added.

So what inspired me to coordinate an annual charity event? My children. They are happy and healthy, and I thank God for them every day. I am a lucky mama, and I know it. I recently came across the photos of my twins when they were in the NICU just after their birth. They fought their way through respiratory issues and low birth weights. They taught themselves how to breath before they were ready...that is amazing to me.

Bottom line is this – I am one person. One busy mama. I’ve got family stuff, work stuff, and all kinds of stuff in between. I look around this crazy world and see children suffering. I can’t end every child’s suffering, and I can say I’m too busy, but now that I started this annual event, I can’t ignore what a difference we can make together. The women that come as entrepreneurs have serious passion and 85% of them are mamas too. Watching them in action is very inspiring! And the businesses that give freely of their time, their products and services, really make a difference in our community. It’s nice to see so many people coming together for such a great cause.

I have managed to gather amazing women together, convince fantastic sponsors to donate amazing gifts and have a great night planned for women before Mother’s Day. I don’t do it for money or praise, I do it...from the heart.

Won’t you join me? If you are in Montreal, the event is taking place tomorrow night, May 9th. Here is a link to all the details. If you are not in Montreal, you can still donate to the cause. Follow this link and click on the donate button. All the proceeds will be going to the three children’s hospitals. Thank you!

Mama Makeover Giveaway

2013-05-02T23:57:00.002-04:00

If you are a regular reader of Ask Mama MOE, you know how much I just love Valerie Pyke. She is a fantastic Montreal photographer and she has been taking pictures of my children for a while now. Well, not only is she going to volunteer her time at my charity event, SFTH13 on May 9^th to give people a great picture of themselves in a photo booth, but she is donating a grand prize of a studio session with her as well. She’s awesome like that.

And if that wasn’t enough, Miss Valerie has decided to spread some more love for Mother’s Day here at Ask Mama MOE!

Valerie started doing, what is known as, boudoir photo sessions. They have sold out within hours every time! Boudoir photo sessions usually take place in a comfortable private setting such as a bedroom or a hotel room. Clearly, according to Valerie, everyone has been reading ‘50 Shades of Grey’. Although I have not read the books, I would gather that some women take the boudoir session for other reasons:

- They want to feel feminine and important in a beautiful portrait

- They want to get a romantic picture for their significant other that is tasteful

- They know Valerie will make them feel comfortable and look fabulous at the same time

Valerie says boudoir photography is all about loving yourself at any age and any shape. I think that is fantastic. And not only that, I think it’s important. Let’s face it; it’s easy to feel a little less gorgeous right now. The weather changes by the minute and you don’t know what to wear, you probably aren’t ready for swimsuit season but it’s creeping, and taking time to get yourself prettied up is probably last on your list.

Well mama, Valerie has the solution!

She is giving away a Boudoir Photo Session valued at $350 to one lucky reader that includes:

• Makeup & hair by professionals
• Nibblies & bubbly
• 5 retouched photos on CD
• 5 - 5x7 prints
• 1 - 8x10 print

This is open to anyone who wants to meet Valerie for a fantastic session. To be honest, if you can drive to Montreal, this is totally worth it!

Visit www.valeriepyke.com to see her portfolio - it's amazing.

Simply leave me an e-mail at julia@askmamamoe.com telling me why you think you deserve a very special photo session as a gift this Mother’s Day. Valerie will choose the best comment as the winner. (Any comments left here will be sent via e-mail)

Good luck to all!

PLEASE NOTE: This giveaway is now closed - Miss Valerie is in the process choosing a winner!

What Mamas Want

2013-05-01T23:59:00.002-04:00

The month of May is here, mamas! You know what that means? Mother's Day is coming up fast! The great people at PTPA surveyed mamas and put this amazing infographic together. I just love it!

Isn't this the best?!
If you happen to be in Montreal, my charity event, SFTH13 has got you covered for Mother's Day (including spa packages!). Click here to find out more.

P.F. Chang's Montreal Opening

2013-04-21T16:32:00.002-04:00

Generally, my nights are filled with teeth brushing, story time, cuddles and prayers. Well the other night, I was able to go out, all decked up for a media event for the grand opening of P.F. Chang’s China Bistro in Montreal. I was honoured and thrilled to participate in such a special night!

First, I must say for those reading my blog for the first time, I am not a foodie. As much as I would like to be sometimes, I am not. What I am is a mama. And as a mama, I am always on the lookout for good, healthy, and appetizing food that my kids will enjoy. For the most part, I make all our meals. But there are nights that this mama loves taking a break and enjoying a good meal made for me. So when I was invited to the Montreal media event for P.F. Chang’s, I took it as an opportunity to find a new and exciting restaurant for my family, and for yours.

Crazily enough, I had never stepped foot into a P.F. Chang’s restaurant before. There are actually 233 P.F. Chang’s restaurants around the world, with Montreal as its latest opening, and more openings to take place in Canada this year. I experienced P.F. Chang’s with a fresh palette and let me tell you, I was blown away.

Mr. Philip Chiang attended the media event and shared stories of his restaurants, his recipes and the backgrounds of some of his most well loved dishes. Born in Shanghai, raised in Tokyo and now living in San Francisco, Mr. Chiang has brought his culinary experiences to create uniqueness in the P.F. Chang’s dishes. The restaurant boasts recipes inspired by all five regions in China. Of the recipes, 70% of the dishes are still the originals from Mr. Chiang and his mother. I think I had the best seat in the house that night, read on and you’ll find out why.

The night was packed with decadent dishes, covering many favourites on the menu, as well as brand new dishes. When talking about how to order at a Chinese restaurant, Mr. Chiang said it is a question he gets asked often: “I tell people to order something from the sea, the earth and the sky, something familiar and something new." Don’t you just love that? And we tried it all that night...it was amazing.

Now I know what some of you are thinking right now. Good healthy food at a Chinese restaurant? Now more than ever, I am going green in my meals. So for that reason, Chinese food has been knocked off my menu. Not anymore: P.F. Chang’s uses absolutely no MSG in their dishes. Not only that, there are fantastic options for vegan and gluten-free customers as well. And although the restaurant is not a nut-free environment, they can prepare meals for people who have nut or shellfish allergies by using new clean woks and specially marking the meals for their guests. That alone is a big bonus for this mama.

Don’t let the beautiful ambiance and swanky furniture fool you, this is a family friendly restaurant, complete with high chairs, colouring pages and kids’ menus.

P.F. Chang’s is known the world over for their lettuce wraps and that was the first thing we tried. At each table, a dish of sauces was placed, but Mr. Chiang suggested trying the dishes without sauces first. I did, and I didn’t even want the sauces (although for the record, they were good too). The lettuce wraps were...let me put it to you this way, I was polite and ate one. But I would have been happy to clean that plate off all on my own. They were that good.

Now you know why my seat was the best in the house that night - Mr. Chiang served me the lettuce wrap he made!

Some of my other favourites that night included the vegetable dumplings (or “pot stickers” as they were lovingly nicknamed), the dynamite shrimp, the red chili shrimp with noodles and the Mongolian beef. I would be amiss if I did not mention the Montreal creation we enjoyed that night as well. A lettuce soup called Chang’s Asian soup was offered to us as well. When asked, Mr. Chiang said this could be a permanent dish in all locations if it is well received. I really enjoyed it!

You can easily feed a family of four at P.F. Chang’s for approximately $75 and that is with starters, main dishes and dessert. And everyone will leave full and very satisfied. I’m already hoping to go back with my family for my birthday coming up. I know my children will love it!

Be sure to follow P.F. Chang’s on Facebook and Twitter for updates. And for more information on their menu and history, visit their website.

The Decarie/Jean Talon restaurant is now open to the public and taking reservations (514-731-2020). As well, another Montreal opening is set for June 17^th at Carrefour Laval.

Reserve a special family dinner – you won’t be disappointed!

Many thanks to my friend, the lovely Tanya Toledano for the invitation, Michael Aronovici, Anne-Sophie Laframboise, Louie Mercuri and of course the incomparable Mr. Philip Chiang.

Disclosure: I was invited to the exclusive P.F. Chang’s media event in Montreal. All opinions, as always, are my own.

ABC Friday - O is for...

2013-04-20T14:20:00.002-04:00

Already another Friday has zoomed by! Time is flying right now, and I am one busy mama! Trying to coordinate my charity event, work on my blog and take care of my family is a lot to do in any given week. But I’m up for the challenge! Mostly because I know how fantastic #SFTH13 is going to be...

Now, back to ABC Friday...have you been following these fun photos? I can’t believe we’re already at the letter O! I love everybody’s take on the themed meme by Maple Leaf Mommy and Mom Vs The Boys.

If you are new to these weekly photos, unlike Wordless Wednesday, this link up has a challenge! We’re going through the alphabet with our photos (A is for apple, B is for...you get the idea). I personally chose to link up photos in relation to being a mama. J You can participate too! Click here to join and see what other participants are posting.

Fisher-Price Favourites - What's Yours? #FPFavourites

2013-04-19T00:00:00.005-04:00

If you are a mama of my generation, when you think of a toy telephone, the only toy that will pop into your head is the Fisher-Price toy rotary phone, right? Fisher-Price toys are synonymous with our era. I can honestly say I was a Fisher-Price kid. The other day I searched “vintage Fisher-Price” (sigh) and sure enough, every childhood memory I had came rushing straight back to me when I saw the toys I used to have. Who could forget the cash register? Or the record player? Or how about the Little People garage and barn sets? If you can believe it, I even remember the Fisher-Price baby activity center because it was in my pediatrician’s waiting room when I was a child. It’s one of those toys I will never forget because even when I was wasn’t playing with it, it was always around.

Today, as a mama consumer, I often look back to my fond memories with Fisher-Price and search for the toys I used to have for my children. My family was big on giving back to the community, so my old favourites were given away a long time ago. When my children were ready for certain toys, I lamented over the favourites that were not kept.

I can tell you this, whoever received my old Fisher-Price toys are either still enjoying them or they have passed them on as we did. And guess why that is? Because Fisher-Price toys and gear last through generations. As a brand, it is something to be proud of, and as a consumer, it is something I always try to find.

Fisher-Price has identified 12 items that have made moms’ “must-have” lists over the years. What makes them favourites is that they have been tried & tested through the years, and year over year have been favourites of moms, not just in Canada, but all over the world.

The list includes:

1. Ocean Wonders Aquarium

2. My Little Snugabunny Cradle N Swing

3. Infant to Toddler Rocker (see below)

4. SpaceSaver High Chair

5. Discover’n Grow Jumperoo

6. Brilliant Basics Rock a Stack

7. Laugh & Learn Love to Play Puppy

8. Laugh & Learn Say Please Tea Set

9. Laugh & Learn Click ‘n Learn Remote

10. Brilliant Basics Stroll-Along Walker

11. Little People Wheelies Stand ‘ n Play Rampway

12. Little People Animal Sounds Farm (see below)

To learn more about the chosen favourites, click here.

Of the above favourites, here are the one ones I made sure to have for my little ones:

Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker

When my preemie twins came home, they both fit on one rocker together! It was the cutest thing having them all wrapped up side by side. Soon, they were too big to be together and they each had their rockers. I found these to be invaluable.

Fisher-Price Little People Animal Sounds Farm

The Little People sets are still being used in our home. Pretend play is always abound!

So tell me, what's your favourite?

SAVE ON FAVOURITES

With the code FISHERPRICE20, Ask Mama MOE readers will be able to receive 20% off Fisher-Price favourites at Toys ‘R Us! But hurry, this PIN is effective from March 29th to April 30th. Click to visit their site and use the exclusive PIN code!

Disclosure: I am part of the Fisher-Price Blogger Campaign with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. As always, the opinions on this blog are my own.

ABC Friday - N is for

2013-04-15T01:11:00.000-04:00

Ok, so it's not Friday.

But I know you forgive me. With my charity event in full force, and with the responsibilities of everyday life, this is a fitting photo for the week.

We all need a little zen, a little peace, and a little tranquility. I usually get that at night.

Have you ever tried this parlor trick? I found it, as I find a lot of cool things, on Pinterest. My kids were fascinated with it! The natural candle is made from the skin of a Clementine orange with the center skin inside. All you have to do is add some olive oil inside and then once you light the skin, it will burn until the olive oil runs out. We did this over the Christmas holidays and I am so happy I took a picture of it.

How does this tie into the theme I created for the ABC Friday Photo Share? Well, at night I reflect on my blessings that are my children, as well as all the people that make my life beautiful. You know who you are!

Join us in this photo sharing meme with Maple Leaf Mommy and Mom Vs. The Boys by linking your photo here.

#Oprah in #Montreal

2013-04-11T18:30:00.000-04:00

When I found out Oprah was coming to Montreal, I have to admit I had a tinge of excitement. I say tinge because as much as I would like to see Oprah, the sheer volume of others who would want to see her too kind of cancelled me out. Not because I don't think I am good enough or worthy enough, just because I wasn't going to wait in line or online for tickets, and I didn't have a great big budget to get tickets (good tickets started close to $300).

I, like most of the free world, have enjoyed Oprah and all that she has done on air and off. I appreciate her growth and development over the years and I think all that she has done for individual people as well as great big groups of people to be very inspiring.

There was a lot of times I watched her show and thought, I want to do something like that. No doubt, the road to massive success would be long, and it truly wasn't my desire to go on television and do what Oprah did. However, her drive, her passion, her education, and her charitable work were all things I aspired to achieve in my own life.

Whether it was the first time I saw little Craig Kielburger talking about his dreams at 12 years old and Oprah deciding on the spot to sponsor his initiatives, or whether it was how she honored an audience filled with mothers or military families or people who have made a difference in other peoples’ lives, they were all powerfully inspiring. Those were the moments I longed to see in all talk television. And why not? These hosts had the media and brands behind them to help make a difference more than others. It was such a positive message to portray and Oprah did it every chance she could.

Giving and Giving Back

I dream about giving back. Often. When I started my mama blog, I knew that I wanted to do giveaways because I just loved having the ability to give something great (be it little or big) to someone out there that stopped by to "meet" me. Sharing what I love has always been a thing I do. Looking for a good toy store? I will tell which is my favorite and why. Did you mention you were looking for something specific but can't find it? I will take a picture of the item I find, send it to you and see if you want me to pick you up one. Call it friendly, call it what you want. It's just the way I am. I have some great friends that are exactly like that. We create a community we want around us. And I must say the community I have created is fabulous.

A few years ago, I decided with all the fabulousness around me, I wanted to turn it into something more. With the birth of my children and my freelance work, I was constantly meeting unique and wonderful women in business. I had been to craft fairs, and business fairs, but I always felt there was something more that could be added. I had a spark, a little light that flickered every time I met new women....and then it happened. I took charge of my own event.

Did I have time? Not really. My twins were only one year old when I made this decision. But I did have help and I did have drive. And more importantly, I knew that I had been blessed with three healthy and happy children, and a loving supportive family surrounded them and me, so I did it.

To be honest, the initial idea was smaller, much smaller. A few women in the home, I thought. And then we'll see what can be done. But within a month, I had over 25 women on board and I knew I had something different that could be fantastic.

Head over to my charity site and see just what I’m talking about. I won a ticket to tonight’s event with Oprah from Montreal spitfire, Erica Diamond. Think if I ask nicely, Oprah will feel the love and send a couple of favourite things for my charity event to auction off? Here’s hoping!!

Ready for a Party? #UBP13

2013-04-06T13:38:00.000-04:00

For those of you who read my blog regularly, you may remember my posts on the Ultimate Blog Party over the past three years. This online blogging event essentially catapulted my desire to really excel in blogging and create my charity event which is now in its third year.

So for those of you who have never attended the UBP yet, you are missing out on SO much fun!

Here is the basic concept: Janice and Susan, twin sisters based in Vancouver have their amazing site called 5minutesformom.com . Seven years ago, they created an event to connect other bloggers during a week-long extravaganza of sharing, parties, comment love and amazing giveaways. And when I say extravaganza, I mean it; $10,000 worth of prizes are expected to be won during this week! I know, crazy right?! Each year, it is bigger and better!

In an effort to introduce myself to the new bloggers that will stop by and say hi (and hopefully come back, *wink*) here is a little bit about me and my blog:

I live in Montreal, Canada and love telling everyone how great my hometown is! (We are the oroginal home of Cirque du Soleil, sugar shacks and so much more)
I have three beautiful children (see their feet above?), one kindergartener and twin toddlers (we have crazy-busy-fun together).
My children make me laugh every day and have some pretty funny things to say these days.
I love to find smart, safe, and healthy products for mamas and children and let my readers know all about them (and I love to do giveaways for them too!)
I like to share some thoughts on being a mama here (like my oldest child’s first day of pre-K).
In our home, reading is a big deal and we love it.
We like to craft together, and I am addicted to Pinterest.
Music is always playing in our home.
Cooking is my passion and I strive to find ways to introduce great food to my kids with a twist (like Popeye pasta, sunshine balls and apples stars).
Before my kids, I was a freelance fashion writer in Italy, and we speak English and Italian at home.
I started an annual networking/charity event after connecting with amazing women online and off that I am so proud of called Shopping From The Heart.

Hop on over to the UBP13 and be sure to leave a comment here to introduce yourself. I’m excited to learn more about YOU!

I have no giveaways this year, since anything I accumulated through sponsors and wins will be going to my charity – sorry! Have a quick look and see how generous everyone has been for the great cause!

And if you happen to be in Montreal on May 9^th, please come by The Holiday Inn Pointe Claire and party with me in real life!!

ABC Friday - KLM is for...

2013-04-05T23:50:00.002-04:00

KLM? No, I am not promoting the airline with this post (although, that would be nice!).

I am participating in a photo sharing meme by Maple Leaf Mommy and Mom Vs TheBoys. Each week, we have been sharing one letter of the alphabet at a time, starting with A, of course. I got a little behind in my posts, so here are three together. I have dedicated my pictures to all things mama and children. Have a look at all the other great photos and link yours up here.

Easter Reflection

2013-04-03T01:06:00.000-04:00

It’s been some time since I have written something here at Ask Mama MOE. It is absolutely not for lack of subject matter, great news updates and really interesting reviews and giveaways. These are all things that are waiting for my attention, and will be so exciting to share with you, my readers.

There is nothing like a looming deadline or a promise made that is not kept yet. I’m sure you have a clue as to what I am talking about, right?

Well, during the last couple of weeks I have felt the guilt. Call it mama guilt, friendship guilt, or any other fabulous guilt you can think of associated to any and all of the above mentioned things. I have big intentions, big plans, BIG dreams and BIG goals. But sometimes, life makes you stop and say, “You know what? Why don’t you just sit down and breath it all in?”

That is exactly what I did for Easter weekend. The guilt slowly was brushed away, if only for the long weekend, and I enjoyed the time I had with my family. Usually we start early and prep for days, if not weeks, for a glorious feast. This year, I encouraged us to take it down a notch. Not because I don’t love a good feast, but just because I knew we were all tired and struggling to find time to make it all work.

Instead, we had a less traditional meal, and feasted all day in more important ways; family time at mass, conversation, activities in the home and not rushing thought each moment.

Here are some pictures of our Easter celebration. I hope you had time to breath it all in too, and I wish you all a very happy and blessed Easter.