Great Christmas Gift Idea!

Every year we wonder what we should get family, and with the kids growing, the budget gets tighter each year. A great idea that we came up with is to give everyone a calendar of the kids. It's a gift that they can enjoy all year, and then the next year, they want another one! We try to get a few great pictures at all different seasons during the year to get us ready for the calendar that we are going to make, and the rest are all candids.

We use snapfish.ca. We've also tried vistaprint.ca and kodak.ca. Here are the reasons that we love snapfish:

• It's extremely simple to use. Even the most un-savvy tech person can use this website and create a wonderful calendar
• You can put up to 15 pictures on each calendar page. WOW!! Vistaprint, you can only put one picture per page, and Kodak had 3 or 4 max.
• The paper quality is top notch. Kodak also has great photo quality.
• You can customize days of the year during the calendar. For our birthdays we add a picture of ourselves on that day. We also like to customize Christmas and our anniversary.
• Their shipping costs is minimal. We ordered 12 calendars this year and our shipping (for 1-2 day delivery) was $16.49. Each calendar comes in it's own box for easy shipping if you have to send it to a relative.

The only thing that I would love to see from Snapfish is more background colours/designs to choose from.

Also, if you're like me, you don't have time to go pick up pictures, but like to have pictures printed, this is a great place to get your pictures printed at the same time. They ship for $5.00, and they are only $0.15 each. Our total order this year with 12 calendars INCLUDING shipping was around the $250 mark. This paid for all of our relatives presents and then we only have to buy for the kids.

It's a thoughtful gift, and is also very customized. This is a great gift if it is your baby's first Christmas, or second Christmas.

Snapfish has a website for different countries, so make sure you are on snapfish.ca. They also do greeting cards.

Savings!! 
Until Dec 12 use code xmasca106 to get 25% off all calendar orders
Until Dec 12 use code xmasca107 to get FREE shipping off any order of $20 or more!

Happy Shopping!!

Interact with Santa!

There are a few ways you can contact Santa Claus during the holidays to let him know what your child wants for Christmas. The first, and most traditional, is visiting Santa at your local mall for a picture. Here are a few tips that I've come across:

• Try to go in the evening, early in the Santa season. If you go too late in December, the lines will be crazy, and the kids will be cranky!
• The best mall in the Vancouver area that I've found is Metrotown. They have a great Santa look-alike, and the pictures are only $2 each, and the money goes to charity. At most malls, the pictures range from $9.99 to $19.99. At Metrotown, you can pick up your pictures the next day.
• Make sure your kids are comfortable. If you are going to have to wait a long time, don't try to put them in a suit and tie to see Santa. Save that for the professional pictures that so many families get this time of year.

Another way to contact Santa is to send him a letter! There are two ways that families can do this: through Canada Post (which is free), or get a personalized letter from Santa to your child where you can order a Letter From Santa. You can order to today and choose a future mailing date. (available from $5.99)
To mail a letter to canada post, send to this address Santa Claus, North Pole,  HOH OHO Canada. You can also email Santa a letter through this website http://www.writetosanta.ca/send-santa-letter/ and receive an email back! (also free) **Don't forget to include your mailing address to receive a letter back!!**

One more way to interact with Santa that I just foud out about this year is a phone call from Santa. I hope it reminds the kids to be good! Check it out here Order a phone call from Santa here.

Good luck this holiday season getting in touch with Santa. I hear he's very busy!

Will You Ship to Me?

Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm always in the market for a good deal, and that I love shopping. Putting those two things together, and add online shopping, and It's so easy these days to shop, get a good deal, and not have to drag your kids through a mall on a busy day. Here is a list of kids clothing stores who ship to Canada, and ones who don't.

Stores who Ship to Canada


Gymboree - The prices they have on their online store is really great. The prices are exceptionally lower than in any Canadian store, and shipping is quote low when comparing to how much more you would have paid in store. With the Canadian dollar quite high, it's a very good value. Tip: about 1-2 weeks after Gymboree.com releases their new lines, they go on sale. Always wait until they go on sale. Also, always check their clearance section. You could stock up for the next year at a fraction of the price.

Please Mum - Since they are a Canadian store, their prices are usually the same online as they are in store. What is great about shopping online at Please Mum is their sale section. When the stores have a clearance/sale they run out of sizes very quickly, but online they have many more sizes than in the stores.

Old Navy/The Gap - This is a fairly new development. Unlike Gymboree, Old Navy and The Gap ship from a Canadian warehouse, so the sales/prices are the same as they would be in Canada. I haven't ordered from here, but I haven't heard bad things, so if you are not close to a store, it could be a good thing to check out.

Stores that Do Not ship to Canada (but should!)


Carter's/OshKosh - This is the one that upsets me the most. They are predominately a US based store. Even the Canadian stores are not "true" Carter's stores, or so I've been told by other US Carter's store owners. It seems that they aren't as concerned with treating their Canadian customers with the same quality that the US stores get. This disappoints me.

The Children's Place - They are getting a lot of flak about not shipping to Canada from their Facebook fans. So much in fact that they had to create a separate Canada FB page so that their US FB page wasn't flogged with angry Canadians. I suspect that in the near future they will begin to ship to Canada, but when that will start is still a mystery. They do have good sales in their stores, and they have 40% off everything in the store on Boxing day (which is down from 2008 when it was 50%), which is a great deal.

I recommend that if your favorite store does not ship to Canada, you should email them and ask them to ship to you, or comment on their Facebook page about their shipping. Unlike 4-5 years ago, Facebook has changed the way that Customer service is heard. When you put it on the internet, companies almost always have to listen to you. If enough people explain that they want to purchase these products, they should start shipping to Canada.

Let us know where your favorite online stores are!

Moving with Kids

Recently we made a big move with our two young boys. Being 3 and 4 is tough enough any day, but add moving, all of your things in boxes, and not really sure where you are going, and you are going to have a rough few days!

We packed over 2 weeks, and moved everything in 1 day. When I was googling how to move with kids, I didn't really find much information, so here are a few of my tips.

• Always pack the toys and books that they play with often last, and unpack them first. You want to make sure that your children have something that will be constant for them.
• Have extra large plastic garbage bags on hand for bedding you use the night before moving so that in the morning you just have to throw them in a bag, and they are easy to find the next day.
• TELL YOUR CHILDREN YOU ARE MOVING! I am a big fan of letting kids know what's going on to avoid tantrums. We did this about 3 weeks early when the boxes started to make an appearance. We counted down the sleeps (I recommend counting down sleeps instead of days) until we moved and talked about moving every day so that they could understand what was happening.
• Have someone take the kids to a park or play place while the truck is being loaded so that they are not in the way and so that they don't get hurt.
• Let them pack a box or suitcase of their toys so that they feel involved. We have a suitcase that is our oldest son's and they like to pack it whenever they go on vacation or away somewhere. They got to pack that themselves and felt like they got to take part too.
• Reassure them that you will be moving their toys, their books, their suitcase, their bed, the TV, whatever it is that they are asking about. No matter how many times they ask. 
• If something in a box is important, write on that box "Unpack ASAP" or clearly write what is on it. We moved right before Halloween, and there is no way that I could lose those costumes!

One of the things that I tried to see from my toddler's point of view was that he has lived in the house we were in for his whole life (sure it may only be 3 years for me, but it was his whole life!) and this is a big change for him. He is still a bit unsure a week later, but he's getting more used to it. Moving houses, cities, or wherever you move to is a big deal for kids who don't know anything different. Take time to talk to them about their fears, and let them know what to look forward to. There may be new parks near by, an extra bathroom, maybe a playroom for all of their toys, you may be moving closer to a favorite relative, or friend. 

I hope that this list helps some of you who may be moving with children, and good luck! Make sure to post your tips too!

Christmas Gifts - What to ask Relatives for

I've had many conversations that begin with "Relatives are wondering what to get for my baby/child/toddler, but we have so many toys and not enough room!" And to that conversation, weather it be for birthdays, Christmas, or any other holiday where presents are involved, I have the following two tips: (We will focus on Christmas, as it is fast approaching)

1. Ask for Books! For your child's first AND second Christmas, I recommend asking for books to start building your child's book collection. You can NEVER have enough books! They will be read, and re-read over and over and over again. Books will be broken, riped, chewed, and loved. Children need books. Your child is too young to be disappointed that they have not gotten a new toy, and there will be many upcoming years when they can have toys from relatives. Many older kids love reading and enjoy books too, or will need a good book for a roadtrip, school project, or summer read, so don't forget the older ones when buying your books for Christmas.


2. Ask for Clothes, one size up! If you have enough clothes for your child currently, get clothes for your child for next year. Hopefully, you won't have to buy too many things the year after.

Remember that if it is your child's first, second, third, or even fourth Christmas, usually they are just as excited to open presents, as they are to see what's inside. Most won't say "I really don't want this gift", or "this gift is stupid", but if they do, you'll get a good sound bite for later. Chances are that you will make sure that if your child really wants a certain toy that they get it, but grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, and everyone else wishing to get something for your child could pitch in and get books or clothes.

Happy Holiday Shopping!!

How to get more mileage out of the Halloween costume

Weather you purchase your child's costume, make it yourself, or have it made, we all want to see them wear that costume more than once. But how to you get them to wear it again without making them wear it to the grocery store? Here are my tips:

1. Pumpkin Patch. Have your child wear their costume to the pumpkin patch when you go to choose your pumpkins. Make sure to dress in rain boots so that the costume doesn't get muddy. It's also a good time for a photo op.

2. Pictures. Have a photo session with your favorite photographer or studio or your own camera! You can choose fun fall backgrounds, or go to your favorite park that has colourful leaves all over the ground.

3. Halloween at the Mall. Take your child to your local mall on Halloween afternoon. Most malls will have trick or treating from 1-4 (check your local mall's website). It's a warm up to the night time event, but still fun for little ones to practice saying trick or treat.

4. Party! Have a halloween party with the young kids in your child's class, or with the kids in your neighborhood a week or so before Halloween. Costumes mandatory!

5. Get the costume a size too big. If you get the costume a touch big, they can wear it for dress up during the year, or if they decide to be the same thing next year, no problem!

Remember to enjoy the Halloween season. Dress up, be a bit goofy, carve magnificent pumpkins, and remember to be safe out in the dark, and to check the candy before letting your kids eat any of it. Most younger families will start trick or treating around 5:30 or 6:00pm to end before 8:00.

Boo!

Push Presents

Something a ot of you may not know about is the "Push Present". This is a gift new dads will get for new moms to show their appreciation for carrying their baby for the last 10 months and going through the x number of hours of labour she just went through. Hard work doesn't really seem to cover it, does it? I orginally heard about it through hollywood gossip when Britney Spears got a $10,000 something present from K-Fed for having baby number 1. I thought, "wouldn't that be nice?" But then I realized that this doesn't have to be a thing only for the Uber rich. Anyone can do this!

A push present is not about money, it is about thought and adoration. It could be anything from a $10,000 ring to a potted plant. It can signify a thank you, or something to grow or stay with your child. It could be a gift certificate for a pedicure so mom can just get away for 30 - 60 minutes, or it could be an in-home massage. My husband got me a cute locket after our second son was born and he put a picture of each of my boys in it. It was thoughtful and inexpensive. That is the point of a push present. It is to let her know that you appreciate what she just went thought, and what she is about to go through by being a full time mom (even if you work, you are still a mom first), and thanking her for her role in the creation of your new child. *bonus to the men who admit they could never do it themselves!*

For 10 months all focus is on the pregnant woman, once the baby comes out, everyone forgets about the woman they were admiring, and focus on the new baby. Take time to love her too because you might be the only one who notices how tired, frazzled, or overwhelmed she is.

Easy gift ideas: You don't have to go anywhere, and they ship direct. http://www.ice.com/ and http://www.spafinder.com

*Let us know what your husband/partner got for you to express their gratitude for the baby you produced!

Autumn is here!

Autumn has finally arrived. And not only because September 21st has passed. Most people think of autumn as cold weather and the lead up into the dark, cold, stay-indoors winter season. But for your children, it can be a world of wonder and amazement!

The changing colours of the leaves are a chance to teach kids about the seasons. Making a big pile of leaves and jumping in them, or gathering leaves and throwing them up in the air and dancing under them are just two great ways to enjoy the fall season! You can also take some leaves home for a cool art project! Here are just a few:

• Gather some leaves of different shapes and sizes. Take them home and put the leaf between two pieces of paper (make sure they are dry first). With a crayon or pencil crayon, rub the color over the page where the leaf is. This will make a leaf imprint on your page.
• Draw or print out the trunk of a tree with a few branches. With some finger paints, or some real leaves, put leaves on the tree. This can be a really big messy project, or a simply clean one. Use your imagination. Children's hands are the perfect size to create leaves for the tree branches.

Autumn is also the time that families start thinking about Halloween costumes. Luckily, if you purchase your costume from a mainstream store, they are all on sale by now. Costumes come out in early September, and go on sale at least 25% a few weeks after that. You should not have to pay full price for a Halloween costume ever!

Pumpkin patches are the biggest thing since sliced bread when it comes to Autumn, especially in October. There are three main pumpkin patches that I've heard good things about in and around the lower mainland. Richmond's Country Farms, Apple Barn in Abbotsford, and Alder Acres in Langley. All of the pumpkin farms have pretty much the same thing. Hay ride, pumpkins, a field, petting zoo, etc. Decide where you want to go, and thoroughly enjoy it! I recommend to wear rubber boots and old jeans. It is not necessary to wear a muddy buddy, but if you have rain pants, that might be useful! Bring a garbage bag to line the bottom of your trunk, or a crate/basket for the pumpkins to go into. Also, remember to bring your camera, it is the perfect place to get that once a year photo surrounded by pumpkins!

Teaching your kids the importance of being grateful, and giving thanks around Thanksgiving is an important lesson they can learn early. "We are not raising Children, we are raising adults" Teaching your kids the fundamentals of being an adult, like giving, being thankful, being respectful, responsible, and polite are important foundations of being a positive society member. Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to do that. So, let me start with "Thank you for everyone who has read my blog, made a comment, or has passed the website onto their friends. I hope to make this a really useful tool for families".

There are a lot of great things about autumn. Make some warm soup, snuggle under some blankets, have a family movie night (The Nightmare Before Christmas for older kids), or go examine the wonder of the season! Remember that autumn is not only the lead up to winter, it has it's own magic too.

Enjoy!

ps. My tip: start buying Christmas gifts now!! Many many things will be on sale this month and they will not go on sale again closer to Christmas. I recommend starting early, just remember what you've bought so that you don't end up with a million presents for one child!

Raise a Reader

I helped raise a reader today, did you?

Reading with your children is probably one of the most important things you can do to stimulate their brains. Reading helps with problem solving, imagination, learning letters, and comprehension, to name a few. Today volunteers are out collecting money for underpriviledged children to grow up with books and to learn how to read.

A quote from Life Literacy Canada

"Fifteen per cent of the Canadian adult population has serious difficulty reading even basic material. An additional 27 per cent can only deal with material that is simple and where their limited comprehension makes it difficult for them to face novel demands such as learning new job skills. In total, these two groups make up 42 per cent of adult Canadians – 9 million – who are deemed to have low literacy skills."

If these people are parents and are not teaching their kids the importance of reading, they need support from their local communities, their families, and from us. Today, I donated all of my change (about $3) to this wonderful cause. Not all of us are independently wealthy, but we can all chip in. If everyone in Canada donated $1 to this cause, there would be a lot more books on the shelves of kids' homes. Go on, Raise a Reader today!

Some of Our favorite Books:

Carters: Update

When I heard that Carter's was in Canada, I was so excited!! However, if you've read my previous rant about Carter's, you know that I was not too impressed with the Canadian stores. Well..... We went back to the Langley Carter's store this weekend, and I tried to push my bias out of my head. I was more prepared this time. I didn't go in thinking that I was going to get a whole bunch of cute clothes. I went in with the positive attitude that I would get some really cute PJ's for my 4 year old.

It was quite a good experience! I went straight to the Pajamas, he picked 2 pairs that he liked. OshKosh had some cute Halloween shirts (regular price $6), and the summer stuff was on sale too. The prices were decent. It is still not as good at the US outlet stores, but they will do for now. I would therefore like to say that Carter's Canada: You're OK. I will return to you to purchase pajamas and gifts for my niece, and I no longer have high expectations of you. I am looking forward to our future relationship.

-Melissa

Hockey Night Out

Ever wish you could take your family to a Vancouver Canucks game, only to look at the ticket prices and have your mouth hang open in shock? Canucks games have quickly become a place for business and not a place for families.

But, have you ever thought of taking your family to a different game? A game that you could take your family of 4 to for the cost of 1 Canucks Ticket?

There are a few teams that are exciting, fast paced, and fun! Go see the up and comers of the NHL and see the Vancouver Giants, Chilliwack Bruins or the Abbotsford Heat. The Vancouver Giants and the Chilliwack Bruins are made up of teens from 15 to 20 years old who will be, or have already been, drafted for the NHL. They have skill and want to play professional hockey. They put on a good show every night and will knock you off your socks. The Abbotsford heat are the farm team for the Calgary Flames (I know I know... booooooooooo!). They are constantly trying to prove themselves to make it to the NHL by being called up to Calgary when they need another player or if someone gets injured.

Price for a WHL game (Giants or Bruins) is $20 or under.
Price for a AHL game (Heat) is $15-$45

Best Groupon Yet!

The Best Pedicure for the best price!!!

Do you need some pamper time all to yourself?
Do you need someone to rub your feet?
Do you need your toes to look super sparkly?

Well I do. The most amazing pedicure salon that I have had the privilege go to go it called Bloom Essentials. Located near Burrard on West 1st, it is a cute little shop in the front, pedicure studio in the back. What they do is not only high quality (awesome foot rub!), it is also amazingly beautiful! They can draw almost anything you want on your toes. Last Christmas I had tiny snowflakes with rhinestones and glitter. A friend of mine had skulls, another had daisies, and there were poppies, candy canes. I've seen Santa hats, boats, leopard print, etc. It's awesome!

Not only is it amazing, but TODAY ONLY there is a special on Groupon! Buy it for yourself, buy it for someone in your life, or get someone to get it for you, but ACT NOW!!! Click the link below! NOW!!!
Click here for the Bloom coupon!

Here is how Groupon works:


What is Groupon?

Each day, Groupon features an unbeatable deal on the best stuff to do, see, eat, and buy in your city. By promising businesses a minimum number of customers, we get discounts you won't find anywhere else. We call it "collective buying power!"

I like today's deal - how do I get it?

Just click "BUY" before the offer ends at midnight. If the minimum number of people sign up, we'll charge your card and send you a link to print your Groupon. If not enough people join, no one gets it (and you won't be charged), so invite your friends to make sure you get the deal!

What happens if the Groupon doesn't reach its required minimum number of purchasers?

If not enough people sign up, then the deal is canceled, and you won't be charged. Better luck next time! So if you really want the Groupon, be sure to either beg or threaten your friends

Teach your child to build for FREE!

With everything these days being geared towards mommy and me, there has to be something out there for the dads. The Home Depot has a great program that happens once per month called the "Kids workshop". This is a way for dads to give mom a break on a Saturday morning for an hour or so. It is for girls and boys age 5-12 (but we bring both our boys since the ages of 2 and 3 and no one blinks an eye.). They include all the tools necessary, glue, hammers, nails, etc. Each month is a different project like a sled for December, a flower box for May (for Mother's Day), etc. Kids get to build and experiment with tools in a safe environment and bring home a masterpeice they can show off! Or, if you aren't very handy, dad (or mom) can learn with their kids how to use tools.

In Canada, these workshops are on the second Saturday of every month from 10am to 12pm at most Home Depot stores. In the US, the workshops are on the first Saturday of every month from 10am to 12pm. Call your local Home Depot store to confirm. We've gone a few times and so far we've built a birdhouse, race car, book ends, bean bag game, message board, tiny foozeball, flower pots, etc. Kids get their very own Home Depot smock - like what the employees wear - and a pin for each piece completed. You can use smocks later for your own art projects at home.

If you are usually busy on Saturdays, try to go to the May or February ones and surprise mom with something "home made".

Extra idea: If you want to paint your project (they all come in plain wood colour), you can go to the paint section and choose any paint colour (Let your child pick one of the Disney colours. They have fun names like "Mickey's Pants" or "Ariel's Fin") and get a sample container. They cost only $4.99 each container, and you can get foam paint brushes from Michael's craft store 10 for $1.00. This is a way to make your project last a little longer. First you build and then you decorate!

This is the US link - so if you are in Canada, it will have the incorrect date!! But it will tell you what project is upcoming.
Click here to find out what's coming up next in Canada

Complete this project every month for under $15!

Toons for Tots

More animated movies are making it into the theater these days and more families are going. Are you wondering if your kids will sit through a movie in a movie theater? Wondering if they'll have a melt down and all other movie goers will be throwing popcorn at you? Well, start with this!! Toons for Tots is movies especially for preschool aged children. They are held in smaller theaters across Canada (but mostly in Ontario), are inexpensive, and child appropriate. This month is Thomas and Friends: Misty Island Rescue. If you can't make it to the theater, you can buy Misty Island Rescue when it comes out this month Thomas & Friends: Misty Island Rescue (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

This is much like Movies for Mommies. Haven't heard of it, check it out here. Movies for mommies has adult movies at a quieter volume for infants to come along. That way you don't have to get a sitter and no one gets pissed off when you baby cries during a movie!

Click here to find a theater near you. AND, if they don't have your theater, talk to the manager at your local theater and see if they will consider bringing it there.

And, remember: to save money, bring snacks and drinks from home!

And, if they really loved the movie or Thomas in general, get this special Misty Island inspired Thomas Take along track! We bought it for our youngest for his birthday this summer and they LOVE it!! Comes with a Thomas die cast engine and space to add on other "Take along" Thomas track. We also bought "Captain" the boat shown in the picture above to go with it. See it here or order it from the states cheaper here Thomas & Friends: Take-n-Play Rescue from Misty Island

Toopy and Binoo

Who doesn't love Toopy and Binoo?? They will be at Capilano Mall in North Vancouver on September 25. They will have two shows and a special meet and greet for winners of a contest.

Click here to find a location near you. 


Saturday, September 25 at 11am & 2pm
Playdoh presents the Treehouse LIVE presentation featuring TOOPY and BINOO in Capilano Mall's Grand Court on Saturday, September 25th.
Come play with us before the show!  Playtime at the main stage will begin 1 hour before each show.  There will be two shows only, 11am and 2pm, so arrive early.  Bring the whole family and make a day of it.  After the show, visit the Hasbro Interactive Play Area for more giveaways and a Play-Doh play session or visit the J n J Game Area featuring child friendly interactive computer games in a colurful setting.  Visit Treehousetv.com for full tour details.
Win the chance for you and your little ones to attend a very special VIP Meet & Greet with Toopy & Binoo.  Saturday September 25th at noon.  Enter in person at the lottery/information booth near the food court in Capilano Mall.  Contest begins Friday September 3rd at 10am.  Contest closes Wednesday, September 22nd at noon.  Winners will be selected at random.

Have a great time!

Time for.....cake?

And now for a little self-promotion. I enjoy making cakes for my kids' birthdays, and I'm a little proud of them. I am NO cake maker, or artist. These cakes are made by a mom with love, that's it.

It's fun, challenging, exciting, messy, and a chance to help my boys have a special birthday. Here are a few of my "masterpieces"


Dominic's second birthday - cow cake.
He wanted a cow birthday specifically. Not a farm cake, but a cow cake. His favorite animal for about a year was cows. We got balloons from ebay and plates and cups from a local store that happened to have farm things.

Logan's third birthday - Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

The boys love watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on playhouse Disney. I made this cake for him and he loved it. It was a two layer round cake. We had balloons from a local store and plates from ebay.

Logan's fourth birthday - Frog cake
We were really into Princess and the Frog earlier this year. The movie, the songs were a huge part of our lives. Logan wanted a Princess and the Frog birthday, so we made that happen. We got plates and napkins from a local website and put up pictures of the characters around the house. We played "pin the crown on the frog" and had so much fun!

Dominic's third birthday - Thomas

My guess is that once in every little boy's life they will have a train or Thomas birthday party. This year was ours. We are train crazy over here. Everything is trains. I had my wonderful friend Jenni construct the face for me (she is a real cake maker, unlike my amature cakes. Check out her website here). I made the rest of the cake with this website help. Click Here It gives step by step instructions. Theirs is really great. It was my first molded cake and I'm a bit proud of it, even if it's not spectacular. We got a giant Thomas balloon from the local balloon store and plates from wherever. (they are everywhere)

Logan's second birthday - Pablo
Logan and Dom have always loved the Backyardigans. The combination of music, imagination, and dancing really get them going. And the fact that every show is SO different is awesome. This was my first custom cake and I was so happy with it. We got Pablo and Uniqua balloons from ebay (if you haven't noticed, I love ebay), and plates, cups, napkins from there too. We have the music from the shows and we played that in the background while the kids ran around.

My point in posting these cakes is that if you don't have any artisticness (and if you've seen me draw, you know that I'm not gifted) you can do this. You can look up any cake you want to make and find a picture of it on line. Just go to google. It's easy! Get a mold of a cake you want to make. Have a friend help you. You CAN do it! If you do it this way you can choose what ingredients you put into your cake and what goes into your icing. No store bought cakes here. ( I would like to say that I am not opposed to store bought cakes. Some of the cakes, or cupcake cakes they can make are crazy amazing. Especially since they have all of the airbrushing tools they need and pieces, etc.)

We let the boys choose the theme of their birthday and then we plan around that. They have to pick about a month and a half before their birthday so that we have time to get everything. Have fun with your kids' birthdays. They won't have very many where they let you plan the whole thing! Enjoy, remember to love the little things and see the wonder in everything!

xo
Melissa

The Great Hockey Debate

Debate #1: My husband and his friends always debate the pros and cons of the different hockey games. Since I'm on here, I want to ask YOU which your husband prefers and why. Or better yet, have him jump on here and join the conversation. NHL2K11 by Take2 or NHL11 by EA. Both series feature hockey at it's best, both have similarities and both have differences. They come out at the same time of year (very soon) and the debate rages on.
Here are links to the different games:
NHL 11 for PS3 (out soon)
NHL 11 for the Xbox (out soon)
NHL 2K11 for the WII (Currently available)


Debate #2: Do you let your kids play video games. Why or Why not? We have a V Motion by VTech. The controllers are wireless, the instructions are easy and most importantly the boys love it, and they play games geared towards counting, math, spelling, letters, etc. They can play together or separately. It gets them ready for the big gaming systems to come their way. Games and parts are fairly inexpensive too!This is the VMotion. We have Thomas and Friends, Mickey Mouse, Backyardigans, Wonder Pets, A Sports one. It's seriously great! The boys are allowed to play for 10 minutes each per day and they love it!