momstown Oakville moms get long and lean with The Belle Method Pilates

The momstown Oakville fitness challenge continued this week as Oakville moms got a chance to experience The Belle Method Pilates.  There were so many moms that wanted to give this workout a try that we split into two groups so that everyone had a chance to participate.

For those unfamiliar with Pilates  it is a body conditioning routine that builds flexibility and muscle strength. It puts emphasis on spinal and pelvic alignment, breathing, and developing a strong core and improving coordination and balance.The Belle Method of Pilates is the creation of Nikki Bergen. Their fitness philosophy, specifically designed for women, combines the core technique of Pilates the intensity of boot camp and the zen of yoga.  I have done Pilates classes in the past and always admire the lean and muscular physique of those who practice it regularly.  

Learning about The Belle Method

The group was mixed with people who had done Pilates before and those that had never done a class.  We used Pilates mats, small weighed balls and flex bands to add intensity and challenge to the workout.  What I noticed right off the bat was the targeted intensity that I was feeling during the exercises!  Pilates also focuses on areas that have been exhausted by pregnancy and carrying around young children - your hips, your lower abdomen, your core, your chest and spine.  The instructor often referred to these areas during the workout and explained how these areas may be feeling week and it was usually a synonymous nod by everyone participating indicating that they did indeed feel weakness and fatigue in these areas.

It's always inspiring to be led by someone with passion and Nikki and The Belle Method team are full of passion!  They have a genuine interest in helping women become more fit and healthy.  Their positive and upbeat demeanour make the classes a pleasure to take.  Another interesting fact about The Belle Method is that they provide specific workouts for breast cancer recovery patients - so great to have someone trained to help breast cancer survivors begin to strengthen their bodies again.

Here's what some of our members had to say about their class with The Belle Method:

"One of the best workouts I've had in a long time. Surprised I cam walk this morning. Seriously considering going back, even though I have access to free classes at work!" - Mylene

"I liked it and am feeling it in my abs and legs. Nikki was great!" - Derryn

The Belle Method classes take place at ellephysio in Oakville and have three sessions a week that you can choose from.  Their next session will begin during the last week of March, check out their calendar for details and on how to register.  You will absolutely see results from these workouts!

momstown Oakville celebrates Family Literacy Day

momstown Oakville moms and kids got together this morning at Canlan Ice Sports to celebrate Family Literacy Day that was this past Sunday, January 27th.

We started the morning by making a family book that we put together with photos and drawings of our loved ones and friends! Both Oakville moms and kids really got into the family spirit and used all kind of materials such as alphabet stickers to spell out the names of special people in their books, markers, glitter glue and colourful string to tie it all together. All agreed it turned out to be a very special family keepsake to take home and share.

Craft time was followed by reading favourite books brought in by the kids to share with the group. Since it was Ainsley's first birthday, she brought her favourite happy birthday book, which given to her for her big day made it all the more special to read. Happy birthday Ainsley!

We ended the morning by reading and then raffling off six books from Scholastic Canada!  'Hot Rod Hamster' and 'How Do Dinosaurs Eat Cookies' were particular favourites! Thank you Scholastic Canada for  helping momstown Oakville celebrate Family Literacy Day!

Did you know that our partners, Scholastic Canada provides us with books for our babies and kids to give away each month and supports our Mama Book Club?  To find out more about our programs, click here!

How to host a race car birthday party

My son loves anything with wheels and so when we started planning his 4th birthday party, we decided that a race car themed party would be a great fit for him.  I had a lot of fun putting all the elements together and I think it turned out really well.

To start off, I did some research on party printable packages that you can order online and found a great design that I liked.  The package included invitations, thank you cards, a banner, party signage, loot bag tags, food tent cards and much, much more!  Once I ordered the printables pack, I used the same colours and design to carry through the rest of the party.

Race Car Happy Birthday Banner

Race Car Themed Party Signs

We held the party at Monkeynastix in Burlington and the kids had a fabulous time!  It was great to see them being so active before they got to work on the party snacks and pizza!  I carried the theme into the party food and had the following things to munch on:

Cars & Dip (used a cookie cutter to cut pita into car shapes)

Pit Stop Mix

Fruit Stop Lights (honeydew, cantalope and watermelon)

And of course, you can't have a birthday party without birthday cake!  Read here about how I made this race car cake for the birthday boy.

Once the food was eaten and the kids got a bit more gym time in at Monkeynastix, it was time to head home.  Each party guest left with a loot bag containing a pull back race car, Cars stickers and my son's favourite treat, a small box of Smarties.

I can't believe my boy is 4!  We had a great time celebrating with this race car themed party.  What has your favourite party theme been?  For more great birthday theme ideas, make sure to visit the momstown arts & crafts site!

How to make a race car birthday cake

This past weekend we celebrated my son turning 4 with a race car themed birthday party.  I really enjoy making birthday cakes for my kids and this year decided to tackle a race car cake.

I started by making two nine inch round, double layer cakes.  My son picked chocolate cake, but you could do whatever flavour you like.  Once the two cakes were baked and cooled, I levelled off the tops with a bread knife so that they were flat and even.

I put the two cakes on the serving board we were going to use and then cut a small piece off each cake so that they would lay flat against one another, making a figure eight shape.

I put white icing between the two layers of each cake and then iced the outside of the race car cake with grey icing.  I was going for the concrete/pavement look.  I got the grey icing by combining red, yellow and green food colouring in white icing.  These are the same colours you use to make brown, but I just used less to keep the colour light.  Then I took yellow icing and did the outline of the race car track.

I decided to do a hill on the cake but you could leave this part out and I think it would turn out just as well.  I had put some of the cake batter into a 1 cup glass dish to make a large cupcake.  Then I cut it in half and cut off the top to make the hill.  I iced the piece in white icing and then dipped it on all sides in chocolate cookie crumbs.

Once the hill was on the cake, I filled in the rest of the race car track with chocolate cookie crumbs, pressing the crumbs down into the cake.

I added the yellow lines of the road but taking a small knife and digging a little hole and then piping the yellow icing in the hole.  Once the road was ready, I put six micro mini Cars characters on top, ready to race!

The very last piece was to add a checkered flag boarder around the base.  I purchased some checkered flag duct tape and put a piece on some white bristol board.  It took two pieces to make its way around the whole cake - I held the two pieces together with a bit of clear tape.

I was happy with the way it turned out and it tasted good too!  My son loved it and it was a great addition to his race car themed birthday party.

New momstown Oakville event includes books for babies!

momstown Oakville's Sing, Rattle and Read program for Oakville moms and babies has just gotten even better!  We are pleased to announce that Scholastic Canada is providing us with a new book geared towards babies each month to read to our little ones which will help us integrate literacy, one of our key momstown program pillars into our programming for babies 0-12 months.  At the end of the program the book is raffled off to one lucky family.

We started the morning with shakers, bubbles and songs.   The mamas had to work a bit this morning as we got up to do a moving around song called "Zoom zoom zoom" where you get to pretend your baby is blasting off to the moon and you zoom them way up high.

Then we read our book of the month, 'I Love You' by Caroline Jayne Church and Zachary was the lucky little guy that got to take the book home with him.

Are you an Oakville moms with a baby aged 0-12 months?  Join us next month for our Sing, Rattle and Read program where will be reading and giving away a book called "Welcome, Baby" by Barbara Reid.  This program as well as over 40+ other events per month and a bonus subscription to Today's Parent magazine is included in your momstown Oakville membership for just $45 a year.  Join us today!

momstown Oakville moms have fun and get fit with Fitdolls

My legs are sore this morning!  Last night momstown Oakville moms tackled our third workout for the momstown fitness challenge.  Fitdolls promised us a fun and challenging workout and they certainly delivered on that promise!  Fitdolls programming is exclusively for women designed by women. Their workouts are designed to give you a beautiful feminine toned body. Fitdolls goal is to help you look and feel your best and their programs involve:

-high intensity fat burning workouts
-fun stations that combine cardio and strength training
-flexibility component

We started our workout with a quick warm up and then moved right into some challenging but fun activities. When is the last time you skipped in a big skipping rope?  Taking us back to our school yard days, we had a blast taking turns turning the rope and jumping in and out of the rope.  We even had three mamas in their jumping all at once!

Another fun activity involved running around and flipping paper plates over.  We were divided into two teams and one team needed to have as many plates facing up as possible and the other team needed to have the plates facing down.  This activity was really great cardio as we raced around competing against each other but after bending down many, many times you could really start to feel the burn!  Add in some good old fashioned suicide runs, lunges and walking planks back and forth across the room, and some relay races and the hour passed really quickly.

Lunges, walking plank, skipping rope and flipping plates with Fitdolls!

Here is what some of our members had to say about the workout:

"Yes, good workout. My thighs are sore from all the lunges. The workout had a grade school vibe to it that was refreshing. All those jumping jacks, skipping, and suicides... all we needed was a game of dodge ball to round out the night!" - Amy

"It was a great workout! I'm glad I pushed myself as it was outside of my comfort zone. I've never done a class like that before." - Sarah

Fitdolls offers boot camp classes as well as personal training sessions either in studio or in your home. Check out their website for some great winter promo prices!  Their workouts are hard but they've done a really great job at making them fun and unique.

Teaching Myself To Eat Again

My son turns four this month and my daughter will turn two in March.  Basically since the summer of 2008 I've sort of had a license to not have to worry too much about what I ate as I was either pregnant or breastfeeding with just a few months of neither in between.  And yes, I know, pregnancy isn't really an excuse to eat for two, but I think most moms can say that they did indulge at least a little bit more than they otherwise would had they not been pregnant.

Except now its been a year since I stopped breastfeeding but my brain and appetite didn't seem to get the message.  Over the past 4 to 5 years have I really forgotten how to eat for just me?  Yes, I have!  I'll be honest in saying that food has always been a struggle for me.  I remember when I was getting married all my friends said "Don't worry if your dress is a bit tight when you buy it, you'll for sure loose 5lbs due to stress right before the wedding".  Huh?  Apparently most of them eat less when they are stressed.  Not me...I eat more.  And so I gained 5 lbs right before my wedding (not to worry, the dress still fit just fine).

So let's review...pregnant, breastfeeding, pregnant, breastfeeding, 2 young kids to chase (happy stress, but stress), working full time and not sleeping enough has been a recipe for disaster for my waist line!  Or rather, I have let it be a recipe for disaster.  As this popular inspirational quote says -  "If it is important enough to you, you will find a way. If it is not, you will find an excuse."  I can't use all the other things in my life as an excuse any more and I am ready to make a change.

I need to teach myself how to eat again.  I'm not eating to grow another person, I'm not eating to feed another person, I do not want to eat to cope with stress and tiredness any more.  I need to learn to eat to fuel my body so that I have energy and can be healthy and strong.  This means no more mindless eating or eating when I'm not even hungry or eating the same portion size as my 6'5 husband!

Losing weight is always at least a bit of a struggle for pretty much everyone.  I find you have to be in the right frame of mind and be ready to commit and make a change.  For the first time since 2008 I feel ready!  Luckily this coincides with the momstown Oakville fitness challenge we've just started and with a fellow momstown mama who is also on a journey to get healthier this year.

I sit here snacking on an apple and drinking my third 24oz bottle of water for the day.  I've been at this for a few weeks now and feel better already.  The first goal I set is for Valentine's Day - wish me luck!  I'll post again around then to let you know if I made it or not.  Nothing like putting a goal out there in a public forum to keep you motivated!

momstown Oakville kids learn how to make their own silly pizza faces!

Today momstown Oakville moms and kids got together for our monthly Junior Chef program.  Our theme for the month of January is 'Everything Silly' so the kids were excited to bring this theme into the kitchen.  And what better combination for kids than the chance to be silly and pizza!  These silly pizzas faces were a big hit!

While we were making our creations, we talked about all the parts of our face, and what they do for us, then they got right into making their own silly face.  Smiley red pepper mouths, olive eyes, pineapple ears, olive eyebrows, salami hair, cookie cutter shaped pieces of ham for the nose, or a mixture of all of these.  And would you believe that more veggies got eaten than usual - apparently 'eyebrows' are more fun to eat than just plain old red pepper!

Once the pizzas were in the oven baking, we played with Mr. Potato Heads and made more silly faces and characters.  Of course, the best part of the morning was when the pizzas were done and we got to eat our hard work.  Very tasty faces!

Here's what you need to create silly pizzas of your own:

-tortilla shells or pitas

-pizza sauce

-shredded cheese

-olives for eyes

-pepperoni and/or ham which can be cut into fun shapes using small cookie cutters

-red, yellow or orange peppers to use for mouths, eyebrows, etc

-pineapple for ears

-any other veggie that your junior chefs like on their pizzas!

Create your faces and then cook at 350 F for about 5 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly.

Do you have a Junior Chef at home?  Join momstown Oakville next month as we create tasty treats to go along with our February theme - polar animals!  Sign up for your 4 week free trial now!

momstown Oakville moms spin their way to fitness with Quad Spinning

Last night momstown Oakville moms completed our first fitness challenge workout.  We starting things off by working up a huge sweat with Quad Spin West.  Led by Micheline, the owner and Candace, our instructor for the night, we went through a fun, fast and high intensity workout that left us all feeling great!  For anyone who hasn't heard of spinning before, its an indoor cycling class, usually one hour in length (including a warm-up and cool-down) with a focus on tempo, timing and rhythm. The classes have interval training (hill climbs, sprints, standing up on the bike) which are the basis of the classes and take participants through easy, medium and intense energy output levels.

Before we even got started last night, everyone was impressed with the kids area that is right next to the spin studio.  It's all glassed in so you can see the area easily and was well equipped with lots of things to keep kids entertained while you get in a spin workout!  The area isn't supervised, so your children would have to be old enough to entertain themselves, but they could see you the whole time, and you can easily see them. Pure genius to add this in and make it easier for moms to be able to get in a workout!

Quad Spin West Kids Area

We had many first time 'spinners' last night so Micheline and Candace made sure that everyone was seated properly on their bike before we began.  We then went through a 60 minute class which was infused with good music and motivation to push ourselves.  The hour went but quickly and I felt great afterwards!  If you love working out to music, this is a perfect class for that, they pump up the volume and use the music to do different intervals as you can sprint to the beat or get your rhythm going up a hill based on the song being played.

momstown Oakville moms spinning up a sweat!

Quad Spinning has a great drop in special and also has a “take us 4 a spin trial pass” for newcomers or for any spinner who has not been to quad in over 6 months. You can either drop into your first class for only $10 or take the 2 week “take us 4 a spin” trial pass for $33.

Here's what some of our moms had to say about Quad Spin West on our message board:

"Ok, I hate spinning. But tonight? I actually liked it!! It's the first time I've worked out in a looooong time and I was driving home feeling exhilarated!" - Stacey

"I loved the class, and really enjoyed getting to try a place I haven't been before. Music was great which really helps. Would definitely go back!" - Sarah

Quad Spin offers several types of classes including a Live DJ Spin class (how fun does that sound!!). Check out their website for more information.

momstown Oakville is a community that provides fun and friendship for moms. If you would like to get connected check us out! A membership is only $45/year and a 12 month subscription to Today's Parent is included! You even get to try us for 4 week FREE!! Register here.

Oakville's Junior Academy Fitness Program for Kids Gets A Top Score!

For the past few weeks, momstown Oakville moms and kids were lucky enough to be able to participate in The Sports Training Academy's new Junior Academy programs.  While it was obvious that the kids were having a blast, I wanted to chat with the head coach, Carly Isic, to find out more about their programs.

Q:  What is the Junior Academy?
The Junior Academy was developed to facilitate the growth and development of children aged 2-5 and to encourage them to participate in sport and fitness activities that will lead to adopting a healthy, active lifestyle now and into the future. It is a day-time program that incorporates the fundamentals of sport, exercise and health (flexibility, strength, endurance) with the basic skills pertinent to healthy growth and development (such as hand-eye co-ordination, balance, gross motor skills, and spatial and body awareness).

The program introduces children, through weekly one-hour sessions, to the fun and exciting world of sport and exercise while at the same time building on developmental skills. The activities and games played at the Junior Academy are age appropriate using a variety of child-sized equipment making it easier for their little bodies to work with. The child’s self-confidence is enhanced through encouragement from coaches and class-mates, and feedback from coaches guides children to success!

Q:  Tell us how your background augments the programs being offered?
I (Head Coach Carly) have masters in Pediatric Exercise and Health and so Junior Academy programs offer more than just sport instruction. I am able to apply my knowledge of how children exercise, how their bodies adapt to exercise, and what affect physical activity has on children to the program to make it the most beneficial it can be.

Q:  What have kids loved best so far about your programs?
The kids have loved using their imagination and turning exercise into play. Jumping on the trampoline has proven to be a popular warm-up!

Q:  When are the next sessions starting?
A 7-week program runs from Monday February 4 - Friday March 29, 2013 (excluding March Break).  The cost of the 8 week program is $120, plus HST. For more information, I encourage you to visit our website.

The classes were very energetic and engaging and allowed the kids to enjoy every activity.  Here is what some of our members had to say:

"This is so much fun!!! Went today and my son had a blast!"

"Carmelo loves the Junior Academy class. The instructor Carly is great with the kids and the activities are fun."

Thanks to the Junior Academy for such a great time!

Join momstown Oakville in 2013 and get a BONUS one year Today's Parent Subscription!

There’s never been a better time to join momstown Oakville! When you purchase or renew a full year momstown membership in 2013, you received a BONUS subscription to Today’s Parent!

Included in your membership to momstown is a one year (12 issues) subscription to Today’s Parent! This includes all new memberships as well as existing membership renewals, and applies only to full year momstown memberships ($45). This special offer is available from January 1st to December 31st, 2013, inclusive.

Already receive Today’s Parent? Then your subscription will be extended for one additional year!  Click here for full details and mark your calendars to renew or sign up soon!

I just finished reading the latest issue of Today's Parent, cover to cover.  My aunt got me a subscription after I had my first baby and I still look forward to reading it every month, four years later.  I almost always try a recipe from each edition and have gotten many craft and birthday party ideas from the magazine as well.   I find the magazine to be an easy read yet packed with information that I find valuable.  It's a parenting staple for me!  

Chicken Cacciatore Recipe

I don't know that I had ever had chicken cacciatore before I tried this recipe in 2007.  But after making this recipe once, it has become a reoccurring dinner in our house and I have passed the recipe on to lots of family and friends.  This chicken cacciatore recipe freezes really well and isn't complicated to make but is family friendly and healthy too.

Chicken Cacciatore Recipe (Serves 4)

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into bite size pieces
1/4 all purpose flour
2 tsp vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups diced onion
1 cup diced green pepper
1 cup diced mushrooms
2 tsp minced garlic
1 1/2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
2 cups thick tomato pasta sauce
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup diced rehydrated sun-dried tomatoes*
1 tbsp brown sugar

Directions:

Dust the chicken with flour.  Heat the oil in a stock pot over medium heat and cook chicken until seared and brown on all sides but not cooked through.  Remove from pan.

Add onions and cook for about 5 minutes or until soft and brown.  Stir in green peppers, mushrooms and garlic and cook for 5 minutes or until veggies are soft.

Stir in remaning ingredients and chicken.  Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer on low heat for 15 minutes.

*Tip about sundried tomatoes:  Buy dried sun-dried tomatoes, not the ones packed in oil.  Rehydrate them by covering with water and microwaving for 1 minute on high or by leaving them to soak in hot water for 15 minutes.

For those following Weight Watchers, this meal makes four generous servings and one serving is 7 points.

Kicking Off momstown Oakville's Fitness Challenge - Here We Go!

On Wednesday the first ever momstown Oakville fitness challenge kicks off!  Oakville moms are excited to get moving and get healthier while being supported by the awesome momstown community.  There are 6 great workouts lined up, nutritional support from Living Force and our personal fitness consultant, Ryan, from Fitness on the Go who will be doing our weigh ins and taking measurements.

Here are the workouts that momstown Oakville moms will be giving a try:

Quad Spinning

Fitdolls

The Belle Method - Pilates

Zumba with Binu

Junior Academy to Elite Athlete Training

T-Zone Oakville - Vibration Technology

We'll also be doing a Body Pump class led by one of our own momstown Oakville mamas!  Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook to find out how the challenge is going and to see pictures of us in action! We'll also have support and tips being offered on the momstown Oakville message board. The fitness challenge is 6 weeks and there will be two winners - the person who loses the biggest percentage of weight and the person who loses the most inches.  

Good luck to everyone participating!

Giftless Birthday Parties For Kids

Has your child been invited to a giftless birthday party?  Have you held a giftless party for your kids? Recently the momstown Oakville message board was joining in on the conversation about this new trend.  A member was thinking of going this route for her child's upcoming birthday and was wondering how people felt about it.

For those who haven't heard about a giftless birthday party, the idea is that invited guests are asked to make a charitable donation instead of bringing a gift.  A popular tool to use is Echoage.com where you can make a donation and half of the money goes to a charity of choice and the other half goes towards buying one larger gift for the birthday boy or girl.  If not using that tool, you can simply direct people to a charitable organization's website.  Another option is to do a giftless birthday where you don't ask for donations either but just let guests know that gifts are not necessary.

The overall feedback on the message board was that the concept is a great idea.  There are some other references out there that indicate otherwise stating that it is only a privileged family that could even consider doing one in the first place and that people don't like being told to make a charitable donation that they may not be interested in making.  And the final argument against giftless birthday parties is along the lines of just letting kids be kids and opening presents on their birthday.

I do like the idea of less stuff overall and speaking from experience, it can be hard to choose a gift for a child you don't know all that well (a friend from daycare or kindergarten) and I don't want to add to someone else's clutter.  But on the other side of the coin, people who say "my 2 year old wanted to do it this way" don't have me convinced.  A 6 or 7 year old?  Maybe.  At the early age of two though, that child is already being directed towards giving back to others and you can't fault parents for that.

In my opinion, if you are invited to a birthday party, you should support whatever way the family has chosen to celebrate (unless maybe they are asking you to join them in for a quick trip to Paris at your expense!)  I certainly don't think its a bad thing to educate children about philanthropy, empathy towards others and being kind.  The world could use more of that, always.

This is the first year we are doing a 'real' birthday party for my son, inviting friends from his daycare and having it outside of our home.  Up until this year it has just been a family affair.  I didn't make this party a giftless party but I can see doing something different for next year more along those lines as I already feel like his party is quite a big affair and will probably tone it back next year. Interestingly enough, a few moms on the message board said they had done a party where they invited their kid's whole class and both could agree that they would never do that again!  Perhaps the giftless party trend (the overall message being less is more) will also lead us back towards simpler and smaller parties where you play the 'pass the present' game and eat homemade birthday cake (hopefully with a few quarters baked in it)!

What are your thoughts on a giftless party?

Cinnamon and Apple Slow Cooker Oatmeal Recipe

This past weekend I was lucky enough to spend a night away with my girlfriends at a cottage.  We had a great time!  There were 10 of us and so we divided up the meals and snacks to share the cost and prep work.  On Sunday morning we enjoyed this delicious Cinnamon and Apple Slow Cooker Oatmeal - best oatmeal recipe I have ever had!  You can put this on the night before and wake up to a delicious, hot and healthy breakfast.  This recipe will be well used in my house this winter!  And thanks to my wonderful friend for the recipe.

What You Need:

-2 apples peeled and cored cut into small pieces (about 3 cups)
-1 1/2 cups milk
-1 1/2 cups water
-1 cup uncooked steel cut oats
-2 tbsp brown sugar
-1 1/2 tbsp butter cut into 6 small pieces
-1/2 tsp cinnamon

What You Do:

Coat the inside of the slow cooker with cooking spray (this is a crucial step or it will stick to the sides).
Add all ingredients, stir and cover and cook on low for about 7 hours.  This recipe makes 7 servings (3/4 cup is one serving).

At the cottage, our chef has extra optional toppings for us to choose from such as blueberries, chopped pecans, raisins and a bit more brown sugar to sprinkle on top.  Really, the add on options are endless so add whatever toppings you'd like.

The leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated in the microwave (just add some milk or water to it).

So simple and now you have a healthy breakfast all week that can be made in just one night and for anyone following weight watchers, its just 4 points!

momstown Oakville's Tales for Tots Program: My Friend Henry

momstown Oakville had our first Tales for Tots program of 2013 this week! Oakville moms, babies and kids started the new year off right by creating a craft aligned with our 'That's Silly' theme for this month and then enjoyed our Scholastic Canada sponsored book of the month entitled "My Friend Henry".

So...what is white, wintery but down right silly? Why clown snowmen, of course! We used all kinds of materials such as colourful construction paper, sticker shapes and letters and all kinds of sparkle glue to make the silliest snowmen clowns possible!

Silly Clown Snowman

After craft time there was plenty of silly fun among the babies, toddler and kids within the Canlan Room at Canlan Ice Sports. We ended our morning by reading our story mentioned above, sponsored by Scholastic Canada. As always, one lucky mama and her family won a copy of our book of the month.

Our lucky winners!

Interested in joining us for our next Tales for Tots program?  Did you know we also give away a book for babies aged 0-12 once a month too?  Join momstown Oakville here or sign up for a free trial.  Purchase a one year momstown membership and get a subscription to Today's Parent magazine as an added bonus!

momstown Oakville moms and babies learn about introducing solid foods

momstown Oakville moms and babies meet weekly at ellephysio for our Baby Basics program.  The program is for moms with babies 0-12 months and each week there is either a speaker, a chance to do a craft with baby and there is always lots of time to connect and chat with other moms.  This week the topic was introducing solid foods to your baby.  Our guest speaker was Naturopath, Dr. Michelle Peris who talked about starting with pureed foods or using the baby led weaning method.

Below are some of the tips and information she shared with our group.  Be sure to visit Michelle's blog for great recipes for baby purees including Sneaky Green Apple Sauce!

FOOD INTRODUCTION

When? 4-6 months is your baby’s nutritional requirements change significantly.  Foods can be introduced as early as 4 months, although it may be best to wait until at least 6 months to ensure that they can digest food properly.

Does your baby watch while you eat? Your baby may be ready.  The ability to sit in a highchair and pick up food with their thumb and forefinger are also signs of readiness.  A good rule of thumb is that if they are reaching for it they are probably ready.

What to eat?
-Foods that are the least allergenic and easily digestible.
-It is advisable to begin with certain organic fruits and vegetables.
-Iron requirements substantially increases at the 6 month mark therefore selecting foods that provide adequate iron is of utmost importance. Iron fortified grains (ie. rice cereals) are not a great introductory food.
-With growing concerns of food sensitivities you need to know how to introduce foods in such a way to ensure that they can be identified and avoided to prevent further discomfort for your baby. Continue to nurse or formula feed your baby during this process.

General introduction instructions:
-Select one food at a time every four days. This way you can observe your baby to see if there is a sensitivity and you do not have to question which food it was that is causing problems.
-Peel the skins in the beginning as these are too fibrous and will be difficult for your baby to digest.
-Lightly steam your vegetables to soften and be sure to include the water used to make your puree or use breastmilk.
-Make your purees very smooth for initial introduction. The consistency can become more thick and chunky as your child matures, preparing them for solid food.
-Add herbs and spices to your purees such as dill, parsley, basil, cinnamon and cumin. This develops a diverse palate, making them more open to different foods as they grow. I would add herbs and spices after you have completed individual fruit & veggie introduction. This way if your baby has an adverse reaction you will be able to identify which ingredient your baby is sensitive to.

Tips from Dr. Michelle Peris
-Get your child involved in the process: let them feed themselves, hold the spoon, let them get dirty and allow them the time to required to feed themselves.
-Let them taste the foods as your prepare it: Sitting them in their highchair as you prepare the food helps them to see the process of making food. Letting them taste it throughout engages them in the process and helps them to establish a relationship with food from a very young age.
-Do not feed them when you are busy: sitting at the table enjoying the process will not only help them establish a healthy routine but also ensure proper digestion and reduce risk of adverse reactions
-As you go through the list of new foods you may find that some are more constipating than others. A gentle way to help your baby is to have your house stocked with prune juice to give them as needed.

Interested in meeting other new moms in Oakville and connecting? Join us for our weekly Baby Basics program. Sign up for a 4 week trial or purchase your membership here. Membership is just $45 for an entire year and includes all of our programs, our 24/7 message board, member discounts and more!

Winter Outdoor Activity Ideas for Kids

During the summer month, momstown Oakville moms and kids can be found enjoying our programs in parks and outdoor spaces all over Oakville.  Now that the weather has turned colder and we have mostly moved indoors, it takes a bit more creativity to keep active outside and get in some fresh air.  Here are some fun outdoor winter activities for kids that will make outdoor time as much fun as it can be when the temperature dips into below zero territory!


1. Make snow paint. Simply add food coloring to water or add water to some washable paint and put in a spray bottle, then go out and paint your yard!

2. Blow bubbles!  Bubbles in the winter?  Why not?  Kids will love seeing what happens when they blow bubbles in below zero temperatures.  For a great homemade bubble recipe, click here.

3. Set up an obstacle course in the yard with jumps, tunnels and other challenges.

4. Forget mud pies, make snow pies! Borrow some pans from the kitchen. Use them to create cakes for a cold-weather feast.  Or make a snow castle using pails and shovels from your summer beach toys.

5. Pitching practice. Paint a bull's-eye target on a piece of cardboard or wood and give each colored ring a point value. Attach it to a tree or put it up against a wall and kids can try to hit the target with snowballs.  Keep score for a prize like extra marshmallows on a post game hot chocolate!

6.  Have a coloured ice cube scavenger hunt.  Add food colouring and water to your ice cube trays and then hide them around the yard for kids to find.  You can assign each child a colour.  To avoid wet glove you can give out big spoons or tongs to use to pick up the ice cubes.

7. Snow faces.  Use snow to make faces on large trees.  Pack the snow onto the tree to make eyes, a nose and mouth.  Make a funny face, a happy face, a sad face, a surprised face, etc.  I totally remember doing this as a kid!

And of course making a snowman, a snowfort, going sliding and going for a walk through the snow are always great too.

We'll be adding some of these fun activities to our winter calendar and we'd love to have you join us.  Click here to sign up for your 4 week trial.  Our members get all of our programs included in their membership as well as this special bonus!

Tips For Making Positive Changes In The New Year

I'm not going to lie.  I'm feeling a bit of pressure when it comes to my first blog post of 2013!  My brain is being flooded with ideas for new year's resolutions, 2013 bucket lists, getting organized check lists...and the truth is I haven't quite narrowed down any concrete lists just quite yet.  I am working on it though and so I offer up to you the same resources that I have been consulting and reading so that I can make my own top notch plan for 2013.

How to create a stress management plan

A website to help you create a bucket list

A Family inspired bucket list

9 Happiness Strategies

Live Like You Give A Damn

Setting Realistic Resolutions For The New Year

So for those of you who are like me and need to settle into 2013 first before making a self-improvement/to-do list/bucket list/grandiose plans and ideas list, I hope you find some of the information above helpful.  It's been 2 days of living in 2013 and I like the way it feels so far.  I think 2013 and I will get along just fine.