Christmas Crafts and Holiday Cheer

 You can feel the holiday season upon us. The air is crisp, restaurants are filling up with patrons celebrating and stores are buzzing with happy shoppers.  I have recently given in to the spirit and started to join in the fun.

 Saturday morning was off to a whirlwind start. The girls were up early and we had a busy day planned. I had been anticipating the 1000 Islands Mall Annual Craft Sale for weeks and it was finally here. I love the idea of hand-made and unique gifts plus, as you all know , I’m a huge advocate for supporting local. The parking lot was full and upon entering the mall, you could see people were in the shopping mood. From door to door, vendors lined the corridor showing their products and services. There were beautiful hand-made soaps, knitting, Christmas ornaments, wood carvings and various other offerings. Everywhere I looked, people were carrying bags full of their new purchases and it instantly threw me into the holiday spirit! I can’t tell you what I bought, because that would ruin the surprise for some reading this – but I’m very happy that I was able to attend the Uniquely Creative Craft Sale and will be back next year!

Now that we were all shopped out, it was time to relax with the family and get ready for the Annual Athens' Christmas Parade. It has been a busy month and unfortunately we had missed all the local parades to this point, so I was very excited to take the kids to see Santa. The Athens' Parade of Lights is held later in the evening (starting at 7 pm) so with small children, it was a bit of a gamble for us. We packed up the hot chocolate in our thermos, brought blankets and dressed the kids in their flannels and warm snowsuits.

 

We made sure to arrive early enough to find parking and get the kids situated. As we have a mini-van (with stow-and-go seating) we parked the van so we could pop the back hatch and watch from the comfort of our vehicle. This proved to be a smart move, as the entire main street quickly filled up. My aunt and uncle, cousin and family friends met us and we all waited for the parade to start. This year was especially fun as both my kids are at the age where an event like this is sheer magic!

The floats were lit and started to make their way towards us. With the OPP starting things off, followed by local fire departments and then the parade of business and entertainers, this was a big hit with all of us. There were great school bands, a fun group of bikers showing their "light" side, and of course – Old Saint Nick, himself. The girls were very happy that Santa was able to see them behaving (for once!) and he may possibly bring them more then coal now. 

Hope you've found some time in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season to stop and enjoy some fun local events like these. All the best of the season to you and yours.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I have been a bit MIA lately. This is not because there is a lack of things to do in our great area, quite the opposite actually. We have been out frequenting the craft fairs, attending the parades, taking advantage of the local retail sales and getting ready for the upcoming Christmas holidays.

I've been lucky enough to have been asked to write a monthly contribution for SNAP Brockville, one of my favorite local publications and am also working hard on Little City Charm Daycare, a joint venture with one of my child guru mentors and close friend. In the midst of all this, our family, like many in our community, has been hit by the flu and have been recovering from that. To say it's been busy is a complete understatement, but I wouldnt trade a moment of it in, as I am truly lucky to have the family, friends and opportunities that have come my way this past year.

As I reflect on 2012, I want to thank everyone who supported my blog, new business and contributions to our wonderful community. I am thankful to have met some new colleagues and friends and for the new experiences I've had while putting my thoughts out there. I am very excited for the year ahead and a few projects Little City Charm has on the go!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. As always, keep it local!

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!

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!

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.

Brockville Remembers

The streets are filled with Brockville citizens, young and old. All gathered at the Cenotaph to remember and show respect to those who fought and gave their lives, to better ours. It's quiet, not the usual buzz that the downtown core usually sees on a late Friday morning. Everyone is focused on the service and the veteran's that continue to stand tall.

As I watch the men and women in uniform, I am reminded of my daily blessings and how lucky I feel to be Canadian. I didn't grow up with a strong influence of Military or what it was like to have family who fought to keep us safe, but Remembrance Day has always been very close to my heart. I find it is a time of reflection, in an otherwise very busy life. With two children under the age of three, quiet only comes once bedtime has set upon us and then there are dishes and laundry to do, and other chores to finish off the day.

On this day, I think of not only the soldiers, but their families as well. It must have been difficult to have been away from their spouses and children. Some of the soldiers were still children themselves, lying about thier age so they could go off and protect their loved ones. My spouse's Grandfather did just that. He was around the age of 17 when he enlisted. At that age most of us were enjoying our last year of high school or deciding what exciting adventures were next, not hugging our loved ones for what could be the last time.

I'm humbled by the sacrafices these men, women and families have made, and continue to make in today's service. On this day, I hold my children a little tighter, I kiss my spouse a little longer and I am forever grateful for the freedoms we have.

Thank you Brockville for this wonderful service, it was nice to see so many citizens pay their respects. Lest we forget.

The journey begins in our new home

October 1st was an exciting time for our family. We took the plunge and moved into our first home as a family. With our ever-growing brood, we definitely needed more space and a kid-friendly backyard for growing minds.With three bedrooms, an extra washroom, formal dining room, the kids own playroom and a double lot fenced-in backyard, we began our life together in beautiful Brockville!

Somehow I always pick fantastic times to move ( I'm pretty sure New Year's Day tops the list) and this time I didn't stray from my fabulous planning. Being pregnant and restricted from lifting anything over 10 pounds always presents a challenge when packing and moving. Thankfully we have fantastic friends who  volunteered to help us. Their help made this move as unstressful and dare I say easy, as one could hope for.

The unpacking began and the kids were extremely excited when they learned they have their very own playroom, with built-in cabinets to boot! We began to set up a kitchen area and an area for the ever-growing collection of babies and their accessories. Sometimes I think my children are exposed to too much entertainment television and are striving to be "Octomom" or "Brangelina" with their love for babies.

Once settled, we decided to head out to explore the backyard. This was the highlight for the entire family. Having moved from a newly built townhouse with the yard unusable and still being landscaped, it was a treat to discover our own little oasis. Fall had begun to set-in and the leaves were falling, beautiful colours everywhere. We have many retaining walls that will serve a wonderful purpose this spring when Pop Pop attempts to teach us girls how to plant and garden, lots of room to run around and best of all, many leaves to pile up and jump in.

It has been a fantastic time so far in our new home and we can not wait to get out in Brockville and see what's going on in the community. Coming into winter, there is buzz about the Farmer's Market/Craft sale in the Museum, the Santa Claus Parade and other events showcasing local talent and family fun.

Let the Journey Begin!