Carter's On Vancouver Island

Click Here for an recap on my Carter's journey in BC.

I was in Langford the other day on Vancouver Island, and noticed that there is a Carter's sign in Westshore Town Centre! They will be opening March/April 2011. Thankfully I won't have to travel far to get Pajamas for my boys! Now if only they would start carrying sizes higher than 24 months, and would have the same quality as the US stores, then we'd be talking!

Happy Shopping everyone!

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!

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

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!

How to Make Pizza FUN

Next time your kids want to have pizza for dinner, try making the pizza at home.
All you need is:

• Whole Wheat Pitas (or your fav. pizza crust recipe)
• Spaghetti or Pizza Sauce
• Pepperoni or another meat topping
• Green Peppers, Red Peppers, Onions, Olives, etc
• Oregano flakes
• Parmasean Cheese
• Mozzarella Cheese or your other favorite pizza cheese

Pre-heat your oven on broil and move a rack up to near the top of your oven

Heat the pitas in the oven so that they are warm

Have your child spread pizza sauce on the bottom, sprinkle oregano flakes and Parmesan cheese, put the meat and veggies on and then the cheese. Feel free to help them with whatever steps you you think they need help with.

Put them back in the oven until the cheese is melted.

Make this a fun Experience for the kids. They will learn how to make fun food and how to enjoy food at the same time. This is a good recipe for picky kids as you can put whatever ingredients you want on the pizzas.

What we do to make it fun: SHAPE PIZZA!!! Make your pizzas then get the cookie cutters out! Make any shapes you want. They can be stars, flowers, Christmas shapes, Halloween shapes, etc. Our boys love making their own shapes with the pizza. They might need help getting the cookie cutter all the way through the pizza, so make sure you are on hand to provide the muscle.

Enjoy!

Carter's - The Journey

So, I went to the infamous Carter's/Oshkosh today. I was disappointed. The clothes were cute as usual, and looked awesome, and the variety looked quite large. BUT...... all the clothes were size 0-24 months. I'm sure that if you have a child in that age range, you will be very happy. The only clothes that Carter's has for kids 3 years and older is PJ's (my fav item from Carter's actually). The Oshkosk, which takes up the back of the store, Does have big kids clothes, but it's a wall the room for about 6 pegs of clothing. And there is 1 or 2 racks for big kids. Needless to say, my excitement is not as large as it was, and I will still be travelling to the states to buy my Carter's clothes for my boys.

Carter's is in BC!!!!

I cannot say how excited to be writing this right now. I feel the need to jump into my car and drive to the store just to see the sign. Yes, I'm aware that they will be closed by 10:00pm when I get there, but it would be worth it!

The fantastic (seriously, the best EVER) children's clothing store Carter's has FINALLY opened a store in BC!!! I have had to go down to the US outlet malls to go to a Carter's, or ask any friends who have been going down to get me clothes for my boys, but not anymore!!!! Right by the Walmart in Langley at 66th and 200th is my wonderful little store Carters. I cannot wait!!

For those of you who do not know Carter's, let me paint this picture for you. My boss gave me his boys' clothes when I had my oldest son. At the time, they had two kids. I then had two boys. When a co-worker of mine had a son, I gave them the clothes. When they were done with them, they donated them to goodwill. That is at least FIVE children who went through the same clothes!! And they were all boys. That is amazing! The clothes are cute, they are durable, they wash very well, and they fit great. The best part of sizing is that they not only put the size on the tags, they also put the weight of the child it will fit. If you have a 6 month old who is 30 lbs, the 6 months clothes will not fit them, but you can find clothes that will!

Seriously, I am so excited about this store, I need my Carters fix, NOW! It is a mixed store of Carter's and Oshkosh, which is super duper cute stuff as well. (Sorry Oshkosh, I just love Carter's so much!)

What you can get: Boys and Girls Clothes size NB to 6. Everything from  shirts and pants to PJ's and accessories. Here is the link to find the store nearest you.

PS. When you buy something, they usually throw in another coupon for 20% off your purchase the following month! Savings that we can all use!

Playland and the PNE

The fair at the PNE is a Vancouver family tradition that has spanned generations. This year will be the 100 year anniversary! The PNE or Playland (yes, they are different) is a whole day outing and is super fun, but it does come with a steep price tag. Here are a few tips for saving at the PNE.

• Playland or The PNE, which to choose? If you aren't excited about the PNE but you want to go on rides, go to Playland. The PNE is the last two weeks of August and ends on Labour Day. Every other day of the summer it is Playland. The difference is that Playland is rides and games. The PNE has a market place and an extra section with parades, shows, entertainment, etc. You will save about $15 per person if you go to Playland, however remember that it is ONLY rides and games. If you don't like amusement park rides, you shouldn't go.
• The PNE has free concerts at night each night of the fair. This year highlights include Cindy Lauper, Michael Bolton, Mariana's Trench, Loverboy, Joan Jett and much more. Get a sitter and go to the PNE in the evening with just the adults. Walk around the market, see the booths, taste the cuisine, and see a show. A fun evening out.
• Always pre-purchase your tickets. You can pre-buy your tickets at many local retailers (7-11, Safeway, online here) This will save you about $5 per person.
• Pack a Lunch. White Spot is the official supplier of Playland and the PNE. I do notice that the staff at playland do not know how to serve hot food. The food is expensive, and does not taste very good. We have friends who are vegetarians, and they find it difficult to eat there. Try to pack a lunch and some water to bring with you. Snacks for your little ones in ziploc bags or in small containers is a great idea and this makes it easy to pull out and give to them before a melt down ensues. You will save $30-50 per family of 4 if you pack a lunch instead of buy one.
• If you plan on drinking any fountain pop while you are there, buy a "Helevator Cup". This is a reusable cup that costs $9 to buy, but refills are free from any Playland food vending station. You CANNOT use the helevator cup at the PNE food vendors. If you already have one, make sure to bring it with you when you go back, it is only $5 to re-use it another day! A regular soda will run you about $3-5 each time, so depending on how much pop you drink, this cup is a significant savings!

Have a great time this year celebrating 100 years at the PNE or at Playland. Remember to bring water and sunscreen for your little ones and for you. It does get very hot, and they do not sell sunscreen for you to purchase. Get there as close to opening as possible. It gets very busy as the day goes on, and kids can get on rides faster and have less melt downs if there is less waiting in line.

For any information about Playland or the PNE, click here.