Date night in the kitchen

Please enjoy a guest post from my close friend Katie Schaafsma. Katie and her husband Dan recently had a private cooking class from a local entrepreneur Lisa Quenneville, owner of "No more excuses". A great idea for any couple looking for something new to do together!

Date night in the kitchen!
Guest post by Katie Schaafsma

The other night, hubby and I went to our first ever cooking class, held by Lisa, the owner of "No More Excuses". Though Lisa is based in Brockville, the class was held at Your Independent Grocer location in Prescott.

We recently made some big changes in an effort to become overall more health-conscious and aware of what exactly we are putting into our children's bodies, and our own bodies, and the effects this can have, both in the short- and long-term. We're having a blast exploring this whole new world outside of the old "meat-potatoes-something green" repertoire. Through Facebook, we learned about an upcoming "Valentine's Day Cooking Class" being put on by No More Excuses. Since we just developed this new, shared interest (a very cool feeling after almost 10 years together!), we decided it would be an appropriate activity for us to try.

Lisa is a friendly, inviting person, who made us feel comfortable right away. It is obvious that not only is she good at what she does, but she enjoys it. From the basics, like which knife is best for which job, to more complex things like mixing several spices for that perfect flavour, Lisa showed us the way!

 She explained the health benefits of probably every single food available, some I've never even heard of, and also explained why some foods aren't as healthy as one might think. She decoded nutritional labels, suggest brands, and even told us which aisle it's in. If it has to do with food or cooking, asking Lisa is just like typing it into Google! But better, because I suppose anyone can post anything on the internet... I digress, but my point is, she knows what she's doing.

I've come a long way since my days of charring Kraft Dinner and annihilating cookware (wish I was kidding!), but to say I'm skilled, or even confident in the kitchen would be a flat-out lie. I'm otherwise pretty smart though, and am somehow a decent baker. I can locate the "on" button, but I don't understand fancy cooking terminology. My husband is more or less the same, and we found Lisa's class to be geared perfectly for people with average cooking experience.

She explained what she was doing as she did it, or had us do it, but used everyday language. Because Lisa created an atmosphere that was so relaxed and easy-going, we also had no problems throwing out questions as we went along. We all had a good laugh when my husband, trying to be helpful, threw out the tops of the peppers that were supposed to be saved. Lisa not only showed us how to make food that tastes great and is healthy, she even threw in a couple of neat tips for presentation, if we ever wanted to impress guests. Knowing we had children, Lisa also pointed out as we made our dessert, that it did not require an oven, or knives, thus making it safe for kids to help out.

The class ended slightly before the allotted time, and as we're all parents, we naturally chatted about our children. Lisa shared her ideas for hosting parent-child cooking classes this summer, in an effort to promote healthy eating to kids, while showing them how much fun cooking can be. (Maybe if kids learn that it's not a chore, they won't grow up and burn Kraft Dinner like their mom?)
We left feeling satiated, with a print-out of all five recipes and the remainder of our sparking grape juice to take home, excited and inspired to continue on our journey in the kitchen!
Through "No More Excuses", Lisa also offers many other services that focus on healthy living, such as: weight loss/maintenance, private or group nutritional counselling, grocery shopping, fridge/cupboard revamping, and Vegetarian, Vegan, and Raw Vegan education.
To learn more, or to contact Lisa, go to
www.facebook.com/nomoreexcuseswithhelpfromlisa

Daycare Day at Prince of Wales Public School

Recently, I ventured into business with a great friend. We started a daycare with a vision of a "Back to Basics" approach. It is our belief that children should be children and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. We grow our own produce in season, play outside when we're not facing arctic temperatures and do yoga when we can. Our kids get dirty playing outside and we're all okay with that. In fact, we prefer it!

One of the other fun-tastic things we do, is take field-trips and get out into our local community. This past week, we took our daycare children to a special day put on by Prince of Wales Public School. Given the cold weather we have recently had- down to -22 at times, the school thought it would be a great idea to let the children have free run of the gymnasium on a PA Day. They also treated participants to snacks and the opportunity to play at their before and after-school YMCA childcare room. When we heard of this, we jumped at the chance to get the kids out and enjoy this special treat!

When we arrived, we were greeted by the Principal, Mr. Taugher and his staff of fabulous teachers and support staff. Everyone was smiling and happy to welcome us to their school. The children were very excited to play with hula hoops, bean bags, giant bouncy balls, floor hockey sticks and other fun equipment in the gym. Before we knew it, almost an hour had passed and the gang was still going strong and looking forward to a play in the YMCA program room.

After playtime,there were snacks and drinks available. The room was very colourful and warm. As a new daycare provider, it was nice to be welcomed by the area's YMCA with open arms. The visit also gave my business partner, Stephanie, and I a chance to network, ask questions and "talk shop" with these fabulous ladies.

This was the first time Prince of Wales Public School has hosted a "Daycare Day" and I hope it is something that continues annually. It gave our preschool aged children a chance to visit a school and feel like such big kids. It also gave us the opportunity to meet other local professionals who work in the same field, and overall, was a great winter outing.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who participated and welcomed us into the school. For more information on Little City Charm Daycare,  Prince of Wales Public School or the Before and After-School programs from the YMCA, please visit the following links:

http://www.littlecitycharm.wix.com/daycare
http://www.ucdsb.on.ca/school/pow/
http://www.brockvilley.com/

The Fabulous Nanny Franny!

It was a Wednesday night,you know -  right in the middle of that mid-week slump. What's for dinner? I have been trying my hand at cooking lately and it hasn't turned out too badly....everyone has survived so far. The night before, my five month old sweet Baby R wouldn't give in and sleep , my two toddlers were up with the sun and frankly, I was exhausted.

About a month ago, we attended the Athen's Cornfest - a huge local success - and won a gift card for a local resturaunt, The Peacock. I had heard great things about their pizza from friends and have been told to try the Chinese food, as there is nothing better around! The lightbulb went off in my head and I decided I would convince Nick that we must go. I think after being my guinea pig for the last few nights, he may have welcomed the change.

Off we went, to the charming village of Athens, which stole my heart previously at the Cornfest,which had provided a welcoming and fun family environment. We unpacked the children and walked into the Peacock, hoping they wouldn't decide to close, seeing us with three small children. I was once a waitress after all, trust me - the sight of my brood would have sent me flying to take a break! Instead, we were welcomed by a lovely woman, who introduced herself to us as "Nanny Franny". Right off the bat, I could tell she had the type of personality that made you swear you were at her kitchen table having dinner. Never in my life have I felt such a warm reception at a resturaunt.

As we looked over the menu, my children were captivated. Looking around and then asking "Where's Franny? What is Franny doing?" They couldnt stop talking with her, and she was just as delighted and captivated with them! I'm not always welcoming of strangers invading my children's space, but I didn't once question Franny or think she was too overbearing. It just seemed natural. She told us tales of her own fabulous grandchildren and her family, took our orders with ease and brought our food so quickly, I was almost sure it was magic.

Once we were done eating, Franny asked if the girls could have jello as a treat for dessert. She brought them out lovely dessert cups topped with whipped cream and pink umbrellas! My kids were putting us up for adoption and moving in. As if that weren't enough first-class service, they were allowed a mini-tour of the kitchen and met the owner and chef, who was just as charming. On our way out, they sent us with a bag of their amazing eggrolls and homemade sauce.

As I go on and on about Nanny Franny and the exceptional service at the Peacock, I should also mention that this restaurant is everything we had heard about and more. It's a small place, not fancy but the food is comforting and delicious. If my waistline was more forgiving, I'd go weekly. With three small children, dining out is sometimes chaotic and not always in the budget , but we enjoyed our experience so much and will absolutely be back! If you are in Athens, or even if you aren't- take the small drive out there, it is worth the trip.

LoLo Enchanted

Fairies in the park. What a magical, whimsical idea. For those of you not familiar, Saturday, September 15 marked the first time for this new local event, which drew a number of families to St. Lawrence park in order to become 'fairies' for the day!

The setting could not have been more picturesque. Upon entering the park, there were colourful wings galore, on everyone in attendance. Girls and boys, even adults of all ages donned their very best magical attire. It had been some time since I had seen St.Lawrence Park so full of people, what a great sight. Down the walkway the tents were filled with local vendors and home-based businesses, selling everything from Epicure to hand-made signs and tutus. There were bean readings, professional fairy pictures and our favourite- fairy houses!

The girls took a seat at the edge of the woods on giant rocks and listened to stories being told by Cheryl Sinfield, the creator of "Faerie Door Workshops" which originated in Perth and was the inspiration for this event. As I watched, it became clear to me that my adorable "LoLo" was enchanted with this event. We had brought along a family friend and met with some other dear friends and their children. The kids gathered and watched as they were shown how to build their very own fairy house from nature's treasures. Twigs, pine cones, leaves, rocks and anything else we could find, were quickly being gathered up to make a home for our fairy friends. Even Nick and his friend Jamie got into the spirit, having a contest and building "fairy condos" and "houses with walk-out basements". Before I realized, Baby R and I were also drawn in - we climbed up the hill and snapped some pics of the fun

 About an hour later, we had finished up and headed to the center of the event, where we planted ourselves at the craft table for a while. It was here, that I met Stephanie Forgues, the host and creator of Fairies in the Park, Brockville. All the children were referring to her as Tinkerbell, as she had a striking resemblance to the character in her own costume. Stephanie also teaches at New Leaf Wellness, a holistic wellness center, here in town. Immediately, I was drawn to her positivity and zest for the outdoors and family life. I thanked her for hosting this amazing fun-packed day and then she was swooped up by a sea of small fairy children who wanted to play with this real-life version of Tink!

Before we knew it, we had spent three hours at the park. With tummies rumbling, it was time for lunch. Quickly we packed it in, headed to Metro for some picnic food and made a quick stop over at Hardy Park for lunch and a play. I'm pretty sure after dropping our friends off, it was only minutes before our girls were fast asleep. What a busy and special day it turned out to be.

We hope that Fairies in the Park, and many events like it will continue to come back to Brockville, as we truly were enchanted!

Athens' Cornfest a huge hit!

With summer soon coming to an end,  attending The Athens' Cornfest was a great way to celebrate and welcome the approaching autumn. A parade, a steam engine to cook the corn and a ton of local vendors, it was the perfect Saturday morning. Don't worry though, we aren't ready to put away our flip flops just yet!

My three year old was up at 7:00 a.m. and had already picked out her best "Cornfest"outfit. I am not sure she understood where we were going, but she sure was excited! Explaining there would be a lot of outdoor fun, we compromised on a pink ensemble, stowing the tutu for a later date. Once we woke daddy and all got ready, it was off to catch the parade.

Admittedly, it's been awhile since I have been to Athens. Although not far, there is usually not a reason for me to visit this town. Upon arrival, I quickly realized this was a place I'd have to come back to more often. The town has a charm about it, with beautiful hanging baskets lining the thoroughfare and well-kept shops. We could not find a place to park on the main street, so we turned up a side street and thankfully found a spot. Once the strollers were loaded up, we were ready to have some fun!

The first place we stopped was the raffle table for the Elizabethtown-Kitley Firefighters. They had an adorable "firehouse" for kids as the prize. The guys were very friendly, agreeing to smile for my picture and talk to the kids. Who doesn't love a man in uniform? Next up we spotted the always popular "Bouncy Castle". Quickly, my daughter was in line to have her turn. We started to get hungry and headed towards the steam engine that was cooking the local corn. It was delicious, easily the best corn I have had all summer.

 

 

 

 

We continued on to the paintball gun shooting range, Little Ray's Reptiles, checked out the vendors and finally ended up at the pony rides. This was the creme de la creme for my girls. Even my 4 month old was wide-eyed upon seeing the petting zoo and her big sister atop a pony.Everywhere I looked, there were happy families. With our youngest, people stop all the time to adore her cooing and her smiles, today was no exception. There were so many adorable babies and smiles everywhere- we were in good company.

 

 

We left a few hours later, exhausted by all the fun and a bit surprised by what this festival had to offer. Who knew this small-town Cornfest could hold their own with the best of the bigger festivals? A huge congratulations to the Cornfest Chair, Hendrick Pape and his hard working team. Our family had a great day and we hope to attend for many years to come!

Ride 'em Cowboy!

There were so many great family activities this past weekend. The Delta Fair, The Spencerville Stampede, McKenna's Dream in Lansdowne and Wheels A'Churnin in North Augusta, to name just a few.

 On Saturday, we chose to head to Gananoque to the splash pad, as the kids had been begging to go back since seeing it when we were there last weekend, at the Gananoque Pirate Festival. We headed home for a special dinner that our friends were making for us. It was a treat to have authentic Indian cuisine that my friend Monica prepared. She is such a talented cook and Indian food is now one of my new favourites.

Sunday, we were up and out the door early. Our children were excited to see the stampede that Spencerville was hosting for the first time this year. It was sunny and hot and the perfect day for it. The event's website mentioned a mechanical bull and pony rides for the children, so both Nick and the kids were looking forward to this. Unfortunately, upon our arrival, we found out that these attractions weren't happening. Nick was more disappointed than the girls were. The day turned out to be a ton of fun regardless. We had great food and so much fun watching the talented "Stampeders". Great job Spencerville, we hope to be back next year!


Here's a collection of snapshots from our busy, fun and local weekend.

You're among friends here

Every weekend, my family and I set out on a different adventure. Last weekend, it was heading to the National Arts Center in Ottawa to see "Wicked" and hosting a birthday party for our two year old. This weekend started out with a day trip to the outskirts of Cardinal where four of my favorite people live.

At 9:30 a.m. my great friend and "toddler doula", Steph pulled up out front. We had planned a fun day at the MacJoustra farm, a small oasis that our friends have recently bought. The kids were excited to run free in the country air, but I think it was us ladies who were more excited to catch up and relax.

We arrived to an array of chickens, ducks, peacocks and a bunny. The kids headed over to the ducks, then decided to go for a swim. With the sun shining down, a warm breeze and the laughter of the kids in the pool, this was the best Friday I've had in awhile. We had delicious coffee, fresh veggies and sandwiches for lunch and the house filled and then emptied with kids. The entire day seemed to fly by.

Brockville and all of the small communities around have plenty of family fun to offer, but today brought me back to the real reason I love this area; the people. Our family is surrounded by some of the nicest, funniest and most genuine people around and we are happy to call them friends. Thanks for showing a gal a fabulous Friday!

New season, New addition

With spring approaching, warm weather is setting in and our family is getting set to welcome a new addition in the coming weeks.  I've been MIA from blogging as a result of winter cold and flu season passing through our home as well as all the hectic last-minute tasks in preparation for the impending arrival of our new bundle of joy.

I have used this time to rest up in anticipation of the big day, while also focusing on our two toddlers and how the change to our family is going to affect them. With a three year old and a 20 month old, there is definitely going to be an adjustment period.

We have read books, online articles, consulted friends and family for advice and support and feel pretty prepared for this new adventure. Well, as prepared as one can be with three children, three and under!

It is our parenting style to run a fairly scheduled home. Not because we feel it’s the “right way” to parent, but because it is what has proved to work best for our children. We are a somewhat newly “blended family” and after much trial and error, we now know what works best for our kids. We like to plan dinners, nap times and outings in order to stay as organized as possible and to keep our kids on track. That being said, we also like to encourage their creativity, humour and let them just be kids.

This past weekend my spouse and I re-did the kids playroom, stocked up on craft supplies and spent some quiet family time together. We are determined to make this transition as smooth as possible.

Thankfully, my family is close by and very supportive and my fabulous in-laws will be making the trip from British Columbia to be with us for this exciting time. My mother-in-law is a fantastic cook and has offered to make Easter dinner for everyone and to help out with the children. My own mom will be by my side for delivery. Although I consider myself pretty strong and my spouse very supportive, sometimes you just need your mom!

I am looking forward to the end of pregnancy for many reasons. All who know me will understand that I am not the most patient pregnant person and I cannot wait to meet our wee one.

Also, with spring and summer quickly approaching, there are many activities going on in the area that I just cannot wait to get out and enjoy! Some of the exciting upcoming events in the area include:

1. May 4, 2012- May 5th, 2012 - Brockville and District Multicultural Festival;
2. May 26, 2012 (9:00 a.m.) - Sidewalk sale in downtown Brockville;
3. June 15th, 2012 – June 17, 2012 - Prescott Harbour Days; and
4. June 22, 2012 – June 23, 2012 - 1000 Islands Food and Wine show.

In addition to this, those of you who have small children should stay tuned as I may have some upcoming news about a few fabulous playgroups that are in the works. Mum’s the word for now, but I promise to update you as soon as I get confirmation.

 As always, thank you for your continued interest and support in the area and what it has to offer. There is always something wonderful going on in our community, make sure to get out and enjoy it!

"It's Amma Time"

The word "Amma" is very special in our family. It's the name my oldest daughter gave to my mother in place of the traditional "Grandma". It also means "date night" to her father and I.

Friday afternoon came and I recieved a glorious message from my mom: " Weather looks ok, I'll come pick up Lo for the night and then take her to the movies Saturday afternoon. You and Nick have a date night and meet at our place tomorrow  for dinner". I can't lie, my parents are very supportive and always jump at the chance to spend time with the girls so Nick and I can have "us" time. We love our children but it essential to take time out for each other now and then as well.

We decided that Brockville was the perfect place for a night on the town, with many options for dining and entertainment. We opted for Boston Pizza for dinner, as my fabulous in-laws gave us a generous gift card for Christmas. Nick travels a lot for work and frequents Boston Pizza so he knows the menu well and really enjoys the perogie pizza they have. I, on the other hand, am six months pregnant and have been craving steak, which, thankfully, is also on the menu. Our starter was a delicious bread that was covered in garlic and cheese, perfect for a cool winter night. Nick really enjoyed his pizza and he recommends it to everyone. I will however caution you when ordering this.  He lovingly offered me a bite and neglected to mention it had some serious heat. Thankfully I had my water nearby. My steak dinner was a bit disappointing. I ordered it "medium" and while the chef did an excellent job meeting this request, it was however, seasoned a bit too much with pepper, which took away from the taste. I chose the fresh veggies as my side. In addition, when my plate arrived they too were cold. The restaurant was busy at this time and the servers were doing a great job attending the tables. Our server checked on us many times and kept the drink refills coming. Upon having some of my water I noticed a large crack in my glass. We stopped the hostess on her way by, which is when we were met with an odd response. She looked at my glass and confirmed she saw the crack and then continued on her way. I thought maybe she was going to bring another water, but as time lapsed we realized she wasn't coming back. Thankfully our wonderful waitress checked on us again and when we showed her, she immediately removed the glass and brought a new one. All in all, dinner was a positive experience. The atmosphere was fun, the staff were friendly and attentive and the food was okay. We will be back again, but I am looking forward to trying some different menu items.

Now for the exciting part: the movie! We have been looking forward to the new Sherlock Holmes movie and the Galaxy Theatre in Brockville didn't disappoint. We thought perhaps with the holidays just being over and it being a small city, the theater would not be busy. This was not the case, as the theatre was buzzing with people excited to see all the new releases. We did not wait long to get tickets or treats and we scored some great seats even though it filled up quickly. The movie we chose was fantastic, although I am a tad biased with my unrequited love for Robert Downey Jr. The local theatre did not disappoint either, with its comfy seats, ample parking and selection of great movies. I urge you all to flock to the theatre and take in a movie.

Saturday we headed to my parents' house to celebrate Nick's Birthday. My mom always makes special dinners for the occasion. We arrived to their house and were met at the door by our daughter with lots of hugs! She was really excited that she and Amma had just come home from their own movie date. About an hour into our visit, dinner was ready. Fajitas, one of Nick's favourite meals.Dinner was amazing but no birthday is complete without DQ ice cream cake. C'mon the kid in all of us likes it! It was a great evening and just one more reason we love our family time so much.

Brockville, once again you have provided us with a great local experience and I am pleased that we get to enjoy the amenities you have to offer. Our biggest thanks goes to our parents, who cared for our oldest daughter and spoiled us with the gift cards to enjoy the night out. It's nice to be surrounded by our children and lots of love, but every now and then we love that couple time just as much.

Asleep before Santa

If you were one of the many who attended Prescott's annual Light Up The Night Santa Claus parade, you enjoyed quite a show!

My spouse, two daughters and I ventured out around 5:30 to grab a bite to eat and find a spot to take in the festivities. The parade didn't start until 7:00pm, but I am so happy we got there in plenty of time, as space was limited for the highly anticipated parade. We made a quick trip through MacDonald's, my children are in love with their grilled cheese and apple slices and then headed to our favorite spot where free hot dogs and hot chocolate are served. Never one to lose a good parking spot, my spouse quickly parked our car and the wait began.

It wasn't long before we could see the flashing lights of the police cara start and the many, many floats to follow. I have attended many Light Up The Night parades that are hosted in Prescott and this one didn't disappoint. The candy and smiles were flowing, the creativity was being showcased and all around there was Christmas spirit. My spouse and I agreed that we felt pretty lucky to be able to spend this time together as a family and just as we were about to tell the girls that Santa Claus was approaching, we realized our youngest was fast asleep on Daddy's shoulder. We decided one of us would sit with her in the warmth of our car and the other would take in Santa with our two and a half year old. Just then, she informed us she was tired too and would rather be in the car.

Although we didn't quite see Santa this year, the time spent with our girls and each other, was truly the gem of the evening.