Cold Veggie Pizza Appetizer Recipe

This recipe comes from one of my best friends and I've been enjoying it at events and celebrations since our high school days.  Veggie pizza has celebrated many a baby shower, birthday, wedding shower, etc with me and my best girl friends.  I actually can't believe I haven't shared this recipe before, its always a hit!

Photo Credit

What You Need:

2 pkgs. Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
2 pkgs. softened cream cheese ( light or regular works)
2/3 cup mayonaise (light or low fat)
1 tsp. dill weed
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. chopped red onion
1 1/2 cups each, chopped: broccoli, cauliflower, radish, carrots

What You Do:

Roll out crescent rolls and bake at 375 for about 10 minutes, until golden brown (be careful, they burn quickly!). Cream together cream cheese, mayo, dill weed, garlic powder and chopped onion. Spread over cooled crust. Top with chopped vegetables.

It's best when refrigerated for at least 2 hours before serving. This recipe can easily be halved.

momstown Oakville's Belly Basics Prenatal Event Connects Moms To Be With Community Resources

Having a baby, especially a first baby, can be a very exciting but also an overwhelming experience. momstown Oakville's Belly Basics program is designed to connect moms to be to resources in their community and with other moms to help ensure that they feel supported and connected as they welcome their new little one into the world.

We welcomed all of our pregnant mamas to the event held at ellephysio with a swag bag and some yummy treats provided by BrightPath Learning & Child Care Centre.  Thanks to Melinda from Arbonne for including some samples from the Arbonne baby line.  Did you know that many of the "tear free" baby wash available for new little ones actually contains a numbing agent used to numb her little eyes to keep the soap from stinging!  ABC Arbonne Baby Care is a line of products designed for babies, children and even adults with extremely sensitive skin.  From Hair and Body Wash to Herbal Diaper Rash Cream and Sunscreen SPF 30, Arbonne has every inch of sensitive skin covered in botanically based, pediatrician-tested formulas that support and protect babies sensitive skin.  Contact Melinda at melindatarantino@gmail.com for more information!

We kicked off the evening with a quick presentation from Karen, the owner of ellephysio.  Ellephysio has so many resources available for women including physiotherapy, registered massage therapy and personal training.  Did you know that physiotherapy can help heal your body after giving birth? The ladies from The Halton Doula Group also spoke about the difference between a birth doula and a post birth doula and then we split our guests up into small groups so they had a chance to talk with each one of our community experts on the following topics:

Breastfeeding - Breat4Success
Doula Services - The Halton Doula Group
Physiotherapy pre and postnatal options - Ellephysio
Community Resources - Halton Parents
Babies & Sleep - Happy Little Sleepers
How Pregnancy Can Affect Your Spine - North Ridge Chiropractic

It was so great to see such animated chatter among the groups and seeing that the moms to be were really getting some very helpful information.  After the 'speed networking' was completed, we ended the evening giving away some great prizes like a cord blood kit from CReATe Cord Blood, one year memberships to momstown Oakville, and a baby gate from Bullseye Child Safety.

We wish all the moms to be who joined us all the best with their deliveries and look forward to meeting their little ones as they join us for our weekly mom and baby program!

momstown Oakville's Rhyme, Rhythm & Read with Scholastic Canada

Oakville moms and babies got to read a wondeful book called 'Never Let You Go' by Patricia Storms at the momstown Oakville Rhyme, Rhythm & read program in October.  This book just launched and is getting rave reviews!  Lucky James and his mom were the winner of our book raffle and get to take the book home to read again and again.

A big thanks to Scholastic Canada for providing fabulous books to give away each month and to Little Sprouts Cuts for Kids for having us in to use their space.  Rhyme, Rhythm & Read is just one of the many programs included in a momstown Oakville membership for just $45 a year.  Some of our other programs you and your little one can enjoy are:

-Baby Basics (mom & baby program)
-Tales for Tots
-Art & Play
-Toddler Time

Our 24/7 message board is also a great source of support and information on every topic from teething to naps to the name of a good local plumber!  Click here to check out our website and join us.

No Bake Pumpkin Cookie Recipe

momstown Oakville's monthly Junior Chef program aspires to get kids as young as 18 months in the kitchen and involved in food preparation.  This month, Oakville moms and kids tried out a no bake pumpkin cookie recipe.

To make this quick and easy recipe at home with your Junior Chefs, here is what you need:

1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup oats
1/4 cup raisins or dried cranberries
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Topping (optional):
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/8 cup powdered sugar
1 Tsbp whipping cream

Toddlers and preschoolers enjoyed measuring, pouring and mixing the ingredients.

Mix together all the dry ingredients and then add in the vanilla and the pumpkin.  Take a spoonful of dough and roll it into a small ball.  Mix together the three topping ingredients using a hand or stand mixer.  Put a dollop of the topping onto each ball (you can put the topping into a ziploc bag and cut off a corner as a make shift pipping bag if you'd like).

These cookies are ready to eat as soon as the work is done but you can also pop them into the fridge to get them to firm up a bit.  This recipe makes for a great after school snack not just during pumpkin season but any time of year!

momstown Oakville Moms & Kids Had A Blast With These Popular Board Games For Ages 3 And Up

The colder weather is upon us and more inside playtime becomes a reality.  This week momstown Oakville held a Mommy & Me games event sponsored by Mattel to try out some great board games for kids 3 and up.  These games are perfect for a holiday wish list or to purchase now and add to the playroom for those cold, blustery days. Since we held the event a few days ago, my kids have wanted to play Uno Moo over and over and over again!

Top: Chipmunk Chompers, Bottom:  Go Piggy Go!

This event really brought back some childhood memories as I think we all remembered playing games as a kid.  I was also pleasantly surprised by how into the games my kids were.  We don't really have a ton of board games for kids in the house yet and this event made me realize its definitely time!

Here are the five games we tried and my thoughts on each:

UNO MOO!™ (Ages 3+, 2-4 Players)
This game was all about practising matching using the animals or colours and getting all of the animals safely back into the barn.  Even kids about 2.5 years old were into this game and could follow along.  The pieces are perfect for little hands.  I love the carrying case that all the animals and game pieces can fit into, perfect for packing up to take to the cottage, a grandparent's house or to a playdate.

Parrot Pile-Up™ (Ages 5+, 2-4 Players)

Balance and a steady hand are required in this tropical-themed game of skill. Players carefully stack fruit and crates on the clumsy parrot's raft using a steady hand and give it a patient push to the next player.  We had kids as young as 4 enjoying this game and I loved watching their brains think strategy when determining where they could fit a piece and what piece would be the best fit.  

Chipmunk Chompers Game™ (Ages 3+, 2 Players)

Each player gets a hungry Chipmunk Chomper and has to spell words or complete a pattern by grabbing the correct acorns from the tree.  You can either have the letters on the acorns facing out for an easier game or facing in to make things a bit trickier.  Kids about 2.5 years old and up loved this game at our event.  In fact, once the picnic pot luck dinner was over at the event, this game grabbed the kids attention and they started to play again.

Go Piggy Go!™ (Ages 5+, 2-4 Players)

Hands down, the hit with this game was being able to blast hay bails out of the tractor and knock your opponent off the board!  Each player gets piggies that they need to move from the mud pit to the food trough with some obstacles along the way.  This is a great game to get kids counting as they need to move their playing pieces across the board after rolling the dice.

Angry Birds™ Knock on Wood Game (Ages 5+, 2-4 Players)

Knock On Wood features three Angry Birds™, green pigs, one slingshot-style launcher, structure pieces and mission cards. Players draw a card and build the structure shown before their opponents launch an Angry Bird in an attempt to knock it - and the pigs - down to win points.  Launching the sling shot is really fun! Adults would have a blast with this game too.  The kids got very creative with the structures and were learning a lot about distance and force as they had to figure out how much energy to use to knock down the structure.

Left to Right:  Angry Birds Knock on Wood, Uno Moo, Parrot Pile Up

Speaking as a parent, getting to try out five different games was awesome!  Playing board games with kids is a really fun way to pass an afternoon and it doesn't hurt that board games teach important social skills like taking turns, having patience and how to be a good winner (or loser).  The Mattel games we tried out also had great educational components to them such as letter and number recognition, learning colours and patterning and improving reasoning and strategy skills.  If you couldn't join us, enter here to win your own Mattel Mommy & Me Game Pack (contest closes October 31)!

Oakville Small Business Spotlight - Kula Yoga Studio

As we celebrate Small Business Week , I’m please to share the contribution of Kula Yoga Studio, which is celebrating their 10th anniversary this December of offering Yoga instruction to Oakville.  Kula opened its doors in 2003 with the first Hot Yoga Studio west of Toronto.  Founded by Studio Director, Colin Matthews, Kula has become a celebrated Yoga studio recognized for outstanding teachers, innovative programs and workshops, and an inviting community that fosters health and well-being.

In celebration of their 10th anniversary, here are 10 exceptional ways Kula has supported Yoga practice in Oakville:

Community:  Kula is clearly a safe and caring space for students of all ages and walks of life to roll out a mat and practice.  Kula, means ‘community’ in Sanskrit, and this studio is evidently a welcoming and thriving community of Yoga practice.

Inspired Yoga Teachers:  Kula teachers come from different lineages of Yoga study, offering specialization in various forms of Yoga practice.  However, they all unanimously share a commitment to life-long personal study and a desire to support students experience a healthy, empowered and evolving practice.

Diversity of Yoga Classes:  Kula offers over 60 classes per week in both a heated and non-heated studio space.  There’s a class for everyone from beginners to advance practitioners!

Family Practice: One look at the class schedule, and you can see family needs are taken into account! Kula offers weekly pre-natal classes, as well as mom and baby class series. There are Yoga classes scheduled for mom and dad while Little Yogis (ages 5-9) and Young Yogis (ages 10+) practice as well. Starting Monday November 19th at 1:30pm we will be adding a new class to the Kula schedule, Mom and Baby Yoga. Enjoy all the benefits of yoga in a class designed to connect you with your baby.

Inclusive:  Kula makes a conscious effort to ensure Yoga is accessible.  They offer several $8 classes on their schedule, as well as $5 community classes taught by a recent graduate from Kula’s Teacher Training Program, and a weekly Karma class in which proceeds are donated to charity.

Green Studio Space: The creation of a healthy practice space and an intention to minimize the operating foot print is evident in the following ways at Kula: cork studio floors, radiant heating, non-toxic cleaning products, VOC-free paint, mason jars instead of plastic water bottles, alkaline water filtration system, low-flow toilets, Solar Water heater, and LED lighting. Learn more by clicking here.

Sunday Nights at Kula:  A vibrant community conversation led by Colin Matthews about life and how to live a purpose-filled life.  Think, taking your Yoga practice off the mat and into the world!

Yoga Teacher Training: Kula has an impressive faculty of teachers working together to support budding Yoga teachers, and dedicated students through their Advanced Study and Yoga Teacher Training Curriculum. Kula offers a 200-Hour and 500-Hour certification, as well as a specialized certification in Pre and Post Natal teaching.

Energy Exchange Program (EE): Kula’s EE program invites yoga students to work at the studio in exchange for unlimited classes. The inspiration for this program was to foster community involvement and to offer alternative forms of currency.

Students:  Kula Director, Colin Matthews says the tremendous sincerity from students to study and apply their practice of Yoga in their life both on and off the mat is the greatest celebration of all after 10-years!

Kula has convinced me to try my first hot yoga class!  Check out their class schedule by clicking here. 

Oakville Small Business Spotlight - Dr. Michelle Peris, Naturopath

Dr. Michelle Peris chose to become a naturopathic doctor (ND) when she experienced how much better she felt after making changes for a healthier lifestyle.  She wanted to inspire others to do and feel the same. Becoming a mom further strengthened her passion to help families searching for a natural approach to raising their family and provide prevention-focused health care.  Dr. Peris really believes we were meant to live very happy and healthy lives and her passion is helping others achieve that.  Did you know that most benefit plans cover naturopathic appointments?

Dr. Michell Peris, ND

It is very easy to see Michelle's passion when chatting with her about her business or about helping a patient trying to solve a health issue.  We asked her a few questions about what she loves about her work; take a minute to read and learn more about Dr. Peris.

What do you love about running a small business?

I am very grateful to have a career that doesn’t feel like work. I truly enjoy working with my patients.  I often feel inspired by others’ successes. It fuels me to strive to work harder and be better both professionally and personally.  I am also appreciative of my ability to schedule my work hours around what works best for my family. Being able to practice what I preach with an aim for work life balance while not compromising my health or wellness is an integral part of my vision for a happy and purposeful life. 

What to do you love about running your business in Oakville?

I have been practicing in Oakville for five years and I see residents of Oakville as very receptive to integrative health care and eager to incorporate a naturopathic doctor into their health care team.  My goal is to inspire patients to live healthfully and empower them to be active participants in their health care. The people of Oakville have been very receptive to this.  

What do you want Oakville families to know about your business?

I am an ND with a clinical focus in woman’s health and pediatrics.  I want to support moms by helping them take care of themselves. As moms, often our priorities shift  from self care to care for our children thus our health tends to suffer.  I want to help moms find that balance.  I very much enjoy working with children and families finding creative ways for the family to function more healthfully. 

Children respond so well to natural interventions and there is no better time to incorporate a preventative health care approach then in childhood.  I want to empower families to thrive and not merely survive with simple nutrition and lifestyle changes.  I feel inspired to share a message of healthy living and I want to empower as many families as possible.  I can help you take the next step in living more healthfully.

momstown Oakville is fortunate to have Dr. Peris come and speak at our mom & baby group, our members always have a great things to say about her visits!  Please contact Dr. Michelle Peris, ND at the Oakville Massage & Wellness Clinic to make an appointment and make sure you visit her blog for lots of healthy living tips for parents with young families!

Oakville Small Business Spotlight - SupperWorks

I actually can't remember where I first heard about SupperWorks but it has certainly cemented a spot in my family as it reminds me of special times in my life.  The SupperWorks Stork Special was part of my post baby plan with both kids, the cottage pick up special makes our time at the cottage easier and more enjoyable and I've even served SupperWorks meals to friends who were over for dinner to rave reviews.  I love the story (I can totally relate to losing interest in cooking) of how SupperWorks got started so I'll let Joni Lien, the owner, tell it in her own words.

Click the image to watch a video of how SupperWorks works!

Tell us how you came to start your own business.

We first came across the “meal prep” concept in Oprah magazine!  We did some research and discovered that there were none in Canada.  My life at this time was very full.  I was married, had 2 young daughters in lots of activities, had relocated within Canada a few times, had gone back to school, and was always busy, busy, busy. I had long lost any sense of enjoyment in the kitchen. Quality home-cooking had given way to convenience foods, take-out, and restaurants; expensive and not always particularly tasty or nutritious. What really irked me is that when the kids were little, I’d spent lots of time in the kitchen with them, making cookies and teaching them basic cooking skills, but we’d come to a point where all of that was being lost in the piles of take-out containers.

I couldn't get the business idea out of my head - somebody else does the grocery shopping, tests the recipes, does all of the prep work like washing, chopping, grating, and making sauces, washes the dishes, AND cleans up when I spill. In other words, I can get a good, nutritious meal on the table in a fraction of the time, spend some time around the table with my family, AND make it to soccer practice on time!

What do you love about running a small business?

I love being part of something I’m so passionate about – something that has made a difference in my own life and in the lives of so many of our customers, in so many different ways.  I’ve had people tell me that SupperWorks has saved their marriage, has helped them lose weight, has taken the stress out of entertaining, has made cottage life more enjoyable, etc.

Curious to learn more about SupperWorks?  Here are the top 5 things you should know about this great Oakville small business.

• SupperWorks uses only high-quality, restaurant-grade meats in our recipes. Oakville’s own Woodwards Meat Purveyors has been out meat supplier since we first opened our doors.

• SupperWorks has special “bring your child” sessions on Saturdays.  You can bring a child (aged 5 and up) and prepare your family’s meals together. Our customers tell us that kids who have a hand in meal-making are more willing to venture outside of the “nothing but pasta with butter comfort zone” and try more adventurous foods!

• SupperWorks offers complete meal packages for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  They are easy, easy, easy to cook at home (and they’re really good!) so that you get to spend the day with your family, rather than in the kitchen.

• SupperWorks is all about quality food at reasonable prices. 99% of respondents in our customer survey said that they eat healthier and better with SupperWorks, and 88% said that, since using SupperWorks, their monthly food bill has either stayed the same or gone down!

• The great thing about getting to do the assembly yourself is that you can take into account allergies, likes and dislikes (recipe calls for cilantro and you don't like it?  Don't add it!) and still come out with fantastic meals prepped and ready to go!

Feeling hungry?  Go check out their upcoming menu and book your session!  This Oakville small business is definitely worth a look!

Oakville Small Business Spotlight - Dr. Kate Irwin, Connor Chiropractic

Having young children seems to cause parents to let their health take a back seat to all the rest of the demands that come with raising a young family and finding a balance between home life and work life. But everyone knows that the reality is, if you don't take care of yourself, you can't take care of your family either. Dr. Kate Irwin and the team at Connor Chiropractic (located on Cornwall Road) pride themselves on a holistic approach to patient care, taking into account all the elements of their patients life and their state of health. Dr. Kate Irwin works hard to ensure that her patients are receiving all of the care they require to lead a full, active life.

Dr. Irwin's passion for helping people lead a healthier, pain free life is evident when I asked her to describe what she loves about her work.

Dr. Kate Irwin, Connor Chiropractic

What do you love about being a part of a small business?

My greatest joy as a Chiropractor is having the ability to help decrease or eliminate my patients pain and get people back to their everyday life or sport! Overall though I love how personal this small business is. From the welcoming front desk staff, to the multitude of health care professionals in our facility, each person takes time to know all those that walk through our front doors. Being a small business allows me to go the extra mile with my patients.

How is your business involved in the Oakville community?

Connor Chiropractic is involved in the Oakville athletics community through Connors Runners - a run group coordinated by Dr. Steven Connor, recognizable by their neon orange gear. 

What do you want Oakville families to know about you?

As a Family Chiropractor,  I have a passion for getting patients back to their full function. I believe that the human form is meant to move. Life events, injuries and pregnancy can limit a person’s ability to move and I aim to restore that motion. My background in triathlons and personal training allows me to better understand the function of the body and the limitations we face when not functioning properly. Chiropractic treatment is effective for those of all ages to help realign the body and help increase overall health. 

Make sure you check out Dr. Irwin's blog for recipes and helpful information, like this post on determining if your child's backpack is too heavy and causing them pain.  To make an appointment to see Dr. Irwin, click here.

Oakville Small Business Spotlight - Little Rascals Place

Little Rascals Place has been a favourite spot for Oakville kids since it opened.  With lots of bright and welcoming decor, a mini trampoline, a ball pit and lots of blocks, Little Rascals is a great place to take your kids for some fun indoor play or a fabulous place to host a birthday party.

I asked the owner, Nilla, tell us a bit more about how Little Rascals Place came to be and what she loves about running a small business.

Tell us how you came to start your own business.

Well, I had just moved to the area and was looking to start something that would make a difference. I like to think my kids were my inspiration and I wanted to offer families a place where they could host children related events, but exclusively.  That’s how Little Rascals was born and I only hosted private events on the weekends and evening. As time went by I got inquiries about day time play and added that later on.

What do you love about running a small business?

What I love about being a small business owner is that I am the creator of my own success and wealth.  I have learned so much and met many other entrepreneurs, there is something very enticing about carving my own path (for me at least).  I love that I get to perform the many different roles that comes with being a one women show.  To be so involved with all the different aspects of running a business, from networking to advertising to customer service and everything in between. I enjoy it all, but I definitely love that I get to plan out parties and events and be part of the families making memories.

What to do you love about running your business in Oakville? 

I think Oakville is a great place to be a small business owner; it’s such an ambitious town.  I try to contribute back to the Oakville community and to do my part. Little Rascals is always part of the charity fundraisers and we also donate to schools for their fairs.  I believe what makes a community great is the involvement of local business owners. 

What do you want Oakville families to know about your business?

At Little Rascals we do things a bit differently, because we believe that having an intimate gathering makes for great parties.   No party has even been the same at Little Rascals, which is why we have such great clients who come back year after year hosting another birthday or a sibling’s party.  This is really amazing since 90% of the parites that I have hosted or planned have been from referrals. I think birthdays are such a big part of childhood and I believe in catering to the wants of the families to make sure children have great memories of their birthdays. At Little Rascals we want to help you make that day more special, so you can enjoy celebrating!  

momstown Oakville has hosted several events at Little Rascals and our mamas love Nilla and how welcoming and warm she is when greeting all the little ones that come to play.  Little Rascals has so much to offer Oakville families.  Not only do they have great birthday party packages and an indoor playground, but they also offer after school programs in Art & Drama and Lego & Robotics and summer camps (full day & half day options) too!  Check out their website to read more about this great Oakville business!

Shop Local Oakville Spotlight - Pretty In Pink Spa Studio

Founded in 2011, Pretty in Pink Spa Studio is Canada's premier all-natural spa specially designed for young girls. It is the brainchild of Sonia Imerti, an educator, entrepreneur and mother of two girls, who recognized the need for a spa with a holistic approach to personal care for girls and women.  Located in the Upper Oakville Shopping Centre in Oakville, Pretty in Pink is a place where young girls and teens are encouraged to uncover their natural beauty, nurture their well-being - both inside and out, and celebrate their confidence and self discovery.  All of their products are all-natural, chemical free and age appropriate delivered in an inspirational and empower space.  They also have just launched an e-commerce option offering the chance to shop online for some fabulous products!

I was lucky enough to be treated to a facial at Pretty in Pink not long ago and chat with the owner, Sonia Imerti.  I'll admit, before I went to visit Pretty in Pink, I assumed that there would be pink everywhere followed by sparkles and sequins and I wasn't sure what to expect.  My visit left me really impressed.  Is there pink in the store?  Yes, but the vibe, the vision of what a young customer would experience is really great, very calming, and something that I think young girls could really benefit from.

Here are the top 5 things you need to know about this great Oakville Small Business:

1.  As mentioned above, all the products used and sold are organic and contain natural ingredients.  The mascara sold in the front retail space is Fruit Pigmented Colour Cosmetics made from things like raspberries to get the dark colour (and it smells divine too).  Sonia puts a lot of effort into making sure all the products are safe and natural.  How lovely does a natural Vegan warm Belgian chocolate face mask that nourishes the skin with antioxidants and restorative oils sound?  This is just one of the age appropriate treatments offered for young girls.  Check out all their services here.

2. Pretty in Pink does fabulous birthday parties.  Girls can do things like make their own lip glosses at the party, they wear plush robes, get pampered and their packages include the food and cake!  How easy is that for planning?

3.  Pretty in Pink empowers the spirit of young girls.  This fact was really driven home to me when chatting with Sonia.  At some point, most girls will be curious about makeup and want to experiment.  I loved Sonia's approach of accepting that curiosity and working towards making tweens/teens understand how to apply it properly and what products might be harmful to their skin.  It is important to teach them not to share mascaras and to clean make up brushes, etc.  I love the thought of doing this as a bonding experience with my daughter (and yes, picking up a few tips myself!)

4. Pretty in Pink now does facials for Moms!  And you don't want to miss out.  I was lucky enough to enjoy a facial treatment and it was really amazing.  I really liked the Eminence Organic product line, the Stone Crop Whip Moisturizer being a favourite of mine.

5.  Did you know that Pretty in Pink also has a retail store?  Not only do they sell all natural, organic cosmetics but they also are one of the best places in town to get loot bag items or gifts for girls of all ages. Some of their top sellers include one of Oprah's favourite things, the Feeling Smitten Cupcake Bath Bombs, sleeping bags, jewellery, fun soaps and cute pens.

I also love Pretty in Pink's 'pinkspirations' that they frequently post on their Facebook page.  Great messages to share with girls and women of all ages and a testament to Sonia's passion and what she is really trying to achieve with her business.  As we celebrate Small Business Week this week, please take a minute to learn more about Pretty in Pink.  What a great local business in the Oakville community!

Making Alphabet Soup At Alphabet Play sponsored by Post Alpha-Bits Cereal

momstown Oakville's monthly Alphabet Play program falls into our Literacy program pillar. Designed around simple crafts, each month this program explores a different letter of the alphabet through stories, play, and crafts.  This month's program was super charged as we learned all about the letter S with an special bonus from Post Alpha-Bits cereal.

Not only did Oakville moms and kids enjoy snacking on the Alpha-Bits, they made a great addition to our craft - Alphabet Soup!  Before we got to crafting, we read a great book called 'Stone Soup' and mixed all kinds of vegetables into our mixing pot.  We also brought out the surprise bag!  Each child got to reach in the bag (no peeking!) and pull out something that started with the letter 's'.  The surprise bag revealed a seal, Spiderman, a skeleton, stickers and more fun items that the kids got to play with.

To make our Alphabet Soup craft, each child glued a bowl and spoon cut out of construction paper onto a coloured piece of paper and then used white glue to stick on the letters of their choice using Alpha-Bits cereal. While the kids crafted away, the mamas chatted about eating Alpha-Bits as a kid and also how it not only works for breakfast but is a great addition to a trail mix snack as well.  The Alpha-Bits website has got some fun recipe ideas too, check them out here. Everyone went home with a box of Alpha-Bits to snack on after all the hard work learning about the letter 's' and crafting some Alphabet Soup!

When should my child take an interest in reading?

The benefits of reading to your children are well documented. While it’s a good idea to do many other things to enhance your child’s education, reading is a simple, effective way to boost brainpower while bonding with your child.

Here are just a few of the many benefits:

• Reading to children increases their vocabulary. A recent study of eight month old babies conducted by the Child Development Center at Rhode Island Hospital showed that the ones whose parents read to them frequently understood far more words than children who were not read to as often.

• Language, speech and communication skills improve when children are exposed to books. By reading to your children, you will be helping them learn to speak correctly. In addition, you will be improving their mastery of the language, and teaching them different ways to communicate.

• Young children love to snuggle up for a bedtime story, but even older children benefit from reading time with a parent. In today’s hectic world, reading together can be a special time, an oasis that allows you to share a meaningful experience.

• Students whose parents read to them tend to be academically advanced. Several domestic and international studies, including an article published by the British Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, found that children who are read to before preschool have a better chance of performing at above average levels throughout their school careers. That’s because reading helps them to master other skills too, like logic and empathy.

• A love of books is one of the benefits of reading to your children that has lifelong implications. People who love to read will continue learning throughout their lives, and this will enrich their world and make them more interesting people. Teaching your children that books are wonderful and reading is fun is one of the best gifts you can give them.

While the benefits of reading to your children can be obvious, what is less obvious is the best way to make sure they get off to a strong start.

If you are unsure as to how your child is doing or you want to be certain they are well prepared for JK/SK or Grade 1 then you should consider some outside help.  The Education Directors at the Sylvan Learning Centre in Oakville have a great deal of expert knowledge and experience and also offers FREE useful online resources at www.sylvanlearning.com.

For children who do seem to be struggling and need a little bit of extra attention Sylvan Learning offers a Beginning Reading program as well as a Handwriting Course to teach a young child how to hold a pencil and to how form letters carefully and confidently.

If you are interested in improving your child’s reading level at any age or grade or are looking for a reading, writing or math tutor then give your local Sylvan Learning Centre a call today at (289) 813-2054.

Leftover Turkey Idea: Enchilada Casserole

Leftover turkey is fabulous to have in the fridge after Thanksgiving or Christmas.  It gives a great base for so many meals for the coming week - and not just turkey sandwiches! This Enchilada Casserole recipe is another great way to use leftover turkey.

Photo Credit

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups tomato sauce
1 1/4 cups salsa
4 1/2 tsp chili powder
3 tsp ground cumin
1 1/4 tsp dried oregano
2 cups each chopped turkey and cooked brown rice
1 can (19 oz) rinsed and drained black beans
3/4 cup corn and diced red pepper
1/2 cup chopped green onions
2 Tbsp lime juice
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)
12 small corn tortillas
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar
1/2 cup low fat sour cream

Directions;

1.  Combine tomato sauce, salsa, 2 1/2 tsp of chili powder, 2 tsps cumin & oregano in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer with a cover for about 5 minutes.
2. Combine turkey, rice, beans, corn, peppers, green onion, lime juice, clilantro (if using), remaining chili powder and cumin in a bowl and mix well.
3.  Spray a 9 X 13 inch baking dish.
4.  Spread 1 cup red sauce over the bottom of the dish.  Arrange 6 tortillas on top, overlapping as necessary.  Spoon another cup of sauce and spread evenly.  Top with 1/2 of the turkey mixture & half of the cheese.  Put the remaining tortillas over top.
5.  Top with another cup of sauce, followed by remaining turkey and bean mixture and then remaining cheese.  Spoon any remaining sauce over top.
6. Cover with foil (you can spray the top of the foil so the cheese won't stick) and bake at 350F for 35-40 minutes.  Let stand 5 minutes before serving.  Serve with a dollop of sour cream on top of each serving.

Makes 8 servings.  This recipe tastes great using left over chicken as well.

Momstown Oakville's Active Program For Busy Kids

Getting out that afternoon energy was the name of the game at the momstown Oakville Movers program earlier this week at Canlan Ice Sports. When the kids arrived, they got to make a hand print turkey (using feathers, eyeballs, oil pastels, and little triangles for the beak) and then we enjoyed using them for our first circle time song - 'One little, Two little, Three little turkeys'.

The turkeys are up and the turkeys are down. The turkeys are dancing all around the town
Dance 'em on your shoulders, dance 'em on your head,
Dance 'em on your knees and tuck them into bed!

We also sang some Halloween songs and enjoyed a felt board mini story called 'Five Little Pumpkins By The Barn Door'.  To get the kids up and moving, next up was a freeze dance followed by animal action songs and, of course, the parachute made an appearance. We sang 'If You're Happy and You Know it', 'The Grand Old Duke of York', and 'Ring Around the Rosie'. Phew - we did a lot of songs and the kids loved it!

To wind things down, Oakville moms and kids gathered in a circle on the floor to read "Thanks for Thanksgiving" and sing this Thanksgiving song:

Thank you thank you let's all sing
Thank you thank you for everything
Thanks for the flowers, thanks for the trees,
Thanks for the sun that shines on me!

Our next momstown Movers program is happening on a weekend.  Did you know we have weekend programs for working mamas too?  Be sure to check our calendar and sign up to join us!

Healthy Food Kids Will Love: Chia Pudding Recipe

One of the reasons that I love the momstown Oakville message board is that its a great source for recipes that come with direct feedback from other moms about what worked, what didn't, what was a hit with their kids, etc.  A recent recipe posted by a member was for Chia Pudding.  Chia seeds are all the rage these days, right up there with coconut oil and flax seeds.  Have you tried chia seeds before?  They are a great source of healthy omega-3 fats and fibre.  And yes, they are the same seeds that grow those beloved Chia Pets!

Photo credit

This recipe for Chia Pudding has been a hit with Oakville kids so I knew it was a recipe worth sharing!  Try this recipe for breakfast or for a yummy snack.

What You Need:

3 Tbsp chia seeds
1 cup almond milk (vanilla rice milk or coconut milk works too)
Vanilla and cinnamon to taste
1 Tbsp maple syrup

What You Do:

Mix it all up in a mason jar and cover in the fridge over night.  Stir it on your way up to bed and break up the clumps. In the morning it will be gelatenous and kind of like tapioca pudding.  You'll need to give it another good stir in the morning as well. Toss in some berries too if you want. The consistency is similar to that of tapioca pudding.

Tips: For picky kiddos, a dollop of whip cream or a few mini chocolate chips on top helps or add in 1 and 1/2 Tbsp or cocoa and another 1/2 Tbsp maple syrup.  

2013 Halloween Events for Oakville Moms And Kids

Halloween is such a creative holiday with so many ideas for crafts, costumes and spooky snacks!  We're lucky that Oakville moms and kids have the opportunity to celebrate with so many local Halloween events! Have you marked your calendar with these fun events?  I'm sure you'll see some of our momstown Oakville moms and kids there!

Little Rascals Indoor Playground Hotel Transylvania Halloween Party
Saturday, October 19, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Come get your key and stay awhile at the Hotel Transylvania. Explore Hotel rooms with spooky surprises. Visit Franenkstein's home away from home or Dracula s crypt suite. DANCE the night away in the hotel banquet hall. Prizes and treats, juice provided. Order pizza for the family through Little Rascals. All ages, family event, $25 plus HST per family or $15 plus HST for one child/one parent.

Halloween Spooktacular at the Halton County Radial Railway
Saturday, October 19 & Saturday, October 26, 6:30 PM-10:00 PM
All ages event! Walk through the haunted car barn and travel in the old, creaky streetcars along the mainline and enjoy some hot apple cider & scary snacks. If you’re a Halloween fan this is definitely a spooky experience not to be missed! Costumes encouraged. Reservations not required. Tickets sold at the door.

Spooktacular Halloween at Mountsberg Conservation Area
Oct 19 & 20 and 26 & 27th, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Start your Halloween festivities early at Mountsberg Conservation Area's Spooktacular Halloween. This event is free with park admission and features plenty of hauntingly good fun for everyone: Pumpkin Patch, Toddler pumpkin maze, Haunted PlayBarn, Pumpkin Scavenger Hunt, Kids crafts, Harvest games and Bison rides.

Family Great Pumpkin Carving/Decorating Contest with the Oakville Public Library
Saturday, October 26, 2013 from 1:00-4:00pm
Attention all Families! Take some time and choose, decorate and carve a pumpkin for our Great Pumpkin carving contest! Bring it to the Central Branch for judging! Prizes awarded in various “spooktacular” categories. This is a free event.

Halloween at the Oakville Museum
Sunday, October 27, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Join us at the Oakville Museum for our annual family friendly Halloween event. Come in costume and experience a historical Raggedy Ann story time, hunt through the house counting pumpkins, and make your own Halloween scarecrow craft! Crafts, games, popcorn, prizes = FUN! $5 per person.

Tiny Tots on Parade, Downtown Oakville
October 31st, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
With our friendly witch, cuddly friends and Oakville Fire truck display, not to mention all the tasty treats, it's a day you don't want to miss! Please come in costume and bring a bag for all of your treats!

Glama Gal's Little Goblins Halloween Bash
Thursday October 31st, 10:00am-11:30am OR 1pm-2:30pm
This jam packed event for Little Goblins 5 and under includes making a halloween mask, a monster mash mini dance party, create your own mummy cupcake, snack station, candy buffet and more!  $20 per child and $5 per parent.  Tickets need to be purchased in advance, reserve your tickets here or call (905)842-4257.

DIY: Burlap Fall Wreath With Flowers

momstown Oakville has got some really crafty moms as part of our community and so we often have a Crafty Mamas moms night out where we all work on the same craft or sometimes each mom works on her own craft (scrapbooking pages, cards, etc).  It is fabulous when these events come about as it motivates me to get crafting and try something new.  This time I decided to make a Fall wreath using burlap and some felt. I liked this design as it seemed simple enough but was rustic and perfect for my door for the next few months.

Here is what you need:

16" styrofoam wreath from a craft store
Glue gun
Burlap garland
Red, orange, gold and/or yellow felt (or other colours of your choice).  You'll need three colours.
Green spraypaint
One other colour of spray paint for the flowers.  I picked a deep purple (almost brown) but you can pick any colour you'd like.  Cranberry, purple or a dark pink would work too.

Burlap Fall Wreath

Steps To Make the Wreath:

1.  Fold the starting edge of the burlap three times so you get a narrower width.  Glue this to the back of the wreath using the glue gun. This will be your starting point.

2.  Wrap the burlap around the wreath so its completely covered.  Make sure you pull the burlap tight each time you go around the styrofoam.

End of step 2 - your wreath should look similar to this picture

3. Cut the burlap off from the rest of the roll that may be left and glue the end to the back of the wreath with the glue gun.

4.  Next. cut out five strips of burlap (use the width of the garland, its the perfect length) for the green leaves and three strips for each flower (so 15 total for the flowers).  You can also use 4 strips per flower if you'd like.

5.  Once the strips are cut, fold them in half width wise and trim each of the corners off to a rounded shape. When you unfold the strips, you should have an hour glass shape.

6. Spray paint the hour glass shaped strips using the colours that you have choosen.  The leaves should be green, the flowers can be whatever colour you'd like.

7.  Once the spray painted pieces are dry, arrange the leaves and the flowers on the wreath.  I played around with mine a bit until I found the way I liked them best.

On the left is the hour glass like shapes.  On the right is my flowers arranged on the wreath.

8.  Using the glue gun, glue the green leaves on first, followed by your flower pieces.

9. Cut out small rectangles from the coloured felt, one from each colour (so three in total).  Rectangles should be about the same size as half of a credit card.  

10.  Using the glue gun, apply some glue along the longer edge of the rectangle and then roll the other side over the the glue and secure.  You'll end up with something like a mini straw.

11.  Then roll the felt from the shorter end (like rolling a sleeping bag) to the other end and use the glue gun to secure.  This gives you a rosette type mini flower that will be the centre of the burlap flowers.

Close up of the flowers with the felt centres

12.  Using the glue gun, glue a felt rosette into the centre of each burlap flower.

13.  The final step is to use leftover burlap to make a hook to hang the wreath.  Choose a length that will work for where you want to hang the wreath and then double that length.  Once you've cut that piece of burlap, fold it in half so you have the original length you wanted.

14.  Put the piece of burlap under the top of the wreath so you have an equal amount of burlap on each side and then use a piece of burlap string (that you can pull from the leftover burlap) to tie it towards the top.

My burlap Fall wreath is complete!

This was a really easy craft to do!  It may seem like there are a lot of steps but it didn't take very long and was a great project for an occasional crafter like me.  If you are interested in other Fall wreath options, check out this beautiful one made out of wood or I also love these DIY decorative blocks for the holidays.

Being a momstown member is a great way to try new things so please visit our website to find out how you can sign up to join us and be part of our next crafty mamas night!