Who Wants to WIN an Amazing Maternity Photoshoot GIVEAWAY? Enter Now! *$350 Value

If you have a baby on the way and want some beautiful pregnancy photos you can't miss out on this amazing GIVEAWAY from Sara Elisabeth Photography. Enter Now (by simply joining her mailing list) for a chance to Win a Maternity Photoshoot & an incredible assortment of products valued at $350!

The Prize Includes:

• A 1 Hour Maternity Photoshoot
• 8 High Resolution Digital Images
• 2 8x10 Prints 
• 1 Bragbook

We were fortunate to have Sara take our family photos a few years ago in Parkdale, and absolutely love them. Here are a few of my favourites from that session. Looking at these I can't believe how much the kids have grown and changed. I'm so grateful I have these memories to look back on. To see more from our session Click Here

Don't forget to Enter Sara's Giveaway! Contest Closes Friday March 31st 2017. Good Luck!

 Care

*The post is not sponsored.

Family Fun for March Break - Enter My TIFF digiPlaySpace GIVEAWAY!

A few weeks ago I was offered the opportunity to bring the kids to check out TIFF's digiPlaySpace. Since taking all 3 littles downtown on my own seemed a tad daunting for a Wednesday morning, I decided to make it a special date for my big guy Ben (with the baby in tow of course). When the day was done Ben declared "This was one of my best days ever!" So the short story is, if you haven't checked out this incredible interactive event for kids age 3+, you really should. But now, for some of the fun details. 

When we first arrived at the digiPlaySpace it was tough to choose what to check out first. There were so many amazing displays vying for our attention. We slowly worked our way around the room to see what sparked Ben's interest and was appropriate for his age (5 1/2) and ability. The clearly marked signs at each display had a description and recommended age, which made it simple to find suitable activities. 

We started off playing with polar bears and climbing mountains on the "Canada on (Green) Screen" by Parks Canada. Ben learned about LED Coding as he tossed balls through holes to create a complete circuit. We played, hugged and laughed with Little Robot Friends, and had fun making art with Drawbots. We also boogied down at the Animation Space Station. Ok maybe this one was just Mommy & Penny, Ben ditched us! Luckily I always look super cool dancing like a robot ;) 

As a parent, my favourite was seeing Ben in action with Osmo. This award winning game works with an iPad to create tactile and interactive learning opportunities for kids. Ben loved the coding activity and asked for Osmo to be added to his birthday list right after we left. 

When I asked Ben what his favourite activity was, he had a hard time choosing, but finally declared "Flight Painting!"  At this installation we controlled the height, colour, speed and brightness of a light to create a unique pattern that was captured in a long-exposure picture. This was one of my favourites too, because not only did we get to do it together, but we made some beautiful 3D light paintings like this one.

With March break around the corner I thought it would be fun to do a GIVEAWAY for a Family Pack of 4 tickets to TIFF's digiPlaySpace. The event is on until April 23, 2017 and is geared towards kids age 3-13, however every adult I saw there was having a blast too! Weekday admission is $11 per person and weekend admission is $13 per person. (Babies 2 and under are Free)

Don't wait! Enter Now for a Chance to WIN a Family Pack of 4 Tickets to The TIFF digiPlaySpace. Simply comment below with your name and email address, or alternatively you may comment below and submit your email address to info@fifty-seven.ca for entry. Plus make sure to check out our Facebook page & Instagram feed for 2 more ways to enter! 

Contest is open to all residents of Canada and closes Thursday March 9th at 11pm EST. A winner will be chosen at random and announced within 24 hours. Good Luck!

- Care

* I did not receive any financial compensation for this post. TIFF provided admission for my family and for the Giveaway. All opinions are my own...and Ben's ;) 

Welcome to the Neighbourhood West End Mamas!

Photo Credit Jade Beall Photography

I'm so excited to welcome West End Mamas to our Bloor West Neighbourhood! This total wellness centre for motherhood was created by Sarah Mickeler, a neighbourhood mom and incredibly skilled Chiropractor. After almost 15 years of working with clients solely on fertility, pregnancy and postnatal issues, Sarah decided to create a space that focuses on supporting the whole journey of motherhood. 

West End Mamas officially opened their doors today, and will provide a wide variety of Wellness Services including: Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy, Registered Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, Lactation & Breastfeeding Support, Psychotherapy & Counselling, Naturopathic Medicine, Nutrition Services, Doula Services, and Parenting Coaching. You can find out more details about their Fertility, Pregnancy & Postpartum services online.

In addition to this incredible line up of services, West End Mamas will be hosting amazing educational workshops, wellness classes and community meetups in their bright studio space. I'm very honoured to be working with West End Mamas and offering some of my programs including: Infant/Family CPR & Safety Workshops, Starting Solids Workshops, Parent Prep Classes, FREE Babywearing Meetups, and FREE Breastfeeding Cafes. Space is extremely limited for these programs, so please don't wait to Register. 

As a Midwife and neighbourhood Mom of 3, I firmly believe that we need more spaces like this for hopeful, expectant and new families. Bringing together skilled clinicians and amazing educators means that families don't have to travel around this huge city to find the services, education and support they need. When I began Fifty-Seven I imagined it as a space like this, but my business took me in a different direction. I soon decided to focus on my own personal offerings via teaching, consulting, writing and speaking, but was always sad that there wasn't a space like this for my clients, friends, family and neighbours. Needless to say I am very happy that Sarah has come in to fill this huge void in our community. I know that West End Mamas will be a incredible source of support for local families.

Check out West End Mamas gorgeous website to learn more, and drop by some time to see their beautiful space in the heart of Bloor West (2477 Bloor St W, 2nd Floor). If you have any questions about services or programs offered please don't hesitate to Contact West End Mamas.

- Care 

Congrats On Your Move Diaper-eez!

Our good friends at Diaper-eez made a big move this past weekend. We're sad to see them leave the Bloor West strip, but we're so happy that they're staying in the neighbourhood. Their Bloor Street location closed on February 19th and their new boutique location at 501 Runnymede Rd (Runnymede & Annette) opened yesterday. Drop by to check out the new shop and mention With-Care for 10% off*. If you can't make it in to the store, head online and use code withcare for 10% off*

 

Diaper-eez new store hours at 501 Runnymede Rd.

• Tuesday-Friday: 12pm-5pm
• Saturday: 10am-5pm
• Sunday-Monday: Closed

Thanks for shopping small and supporting our local stores. 

- Care 

*Some restrictions apply

Happy Valentine's Day! + Save with Anchor Studio Photography!

Happy Valentine's Day! Hope everyone is having a wonderful day celebrating LOVE with your friends and family. 

I wanted to share these adorable photos captured by Silva of Anchor Studio Photography at Movies for Mommies a few weeks ago, during our Valentine Mini Sessions. I'm always amazed at the moments Silvia is able to capture, especially on a day like this with a grumpy sick baby in a dark theatre. 

Sign Up for the Movies for Mommies Newsletter if you want to receive information about future pre-show photo sessions. Screenings are every Monday at 1pm (doors open at 12:30pm) at The Humber Cinema (Bloor & Jane) and we often have special events before the show. 

If you're looking for a great family photographer I highly recommend Anchor Studio. Receive 10% off your session when you mention With Care at booking. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

- Care

Welcome To The West End True North Sports Camps! Enter To WIN A Week Of Free Camp + 30% OFF Registration!

It's hard to believe that it's already time to start thinking about summer, but it'll be here before we know it. I'm typically the parent who hears about summer camp registration in the winter, but then gets busy and forgets to actually register. When I do get around to it, most programs are crammed full with waitlists or unavailable on the weeks we want. So this year when I heard that True North Sports Camps was coming to the West End, I decided to jump on it and get my big kid all signed up. Yay for checking things off my to-do list! Plus I asked them for a discount for my friends and followers, and they were super generous. You're welcome ;)

I had heard of True North Sports Camps before, from some friends in North Toronto who had sent their kids and loved the programs, but it was too far away for us. I hadn't found any comparable program in our neighbourhood for this season, so hearing that they were extending to the West End in the summer of 2017 was perfect. They offer Multi-Sport and Baseball camps for kids ranging in age from 4-14, and focus on a pressure free environment that emphasizes sportsmanship, teamwork and fair play. All things that our 5 year old could use a little help with, as I'm sure most kids can. They also offer extended before and after care, which is essential for so many busy families.

If you're looking for a great Sports Camp for your little camper this summer, check out True North Sport Camps and use Code TrueNorth57 for 30% off Registration at their West End Camps. Plus Enter for a Chance to WIN 1 Week of FREE Camp! 

Simply comment below with your name and email address for a chance to WIN! (alternatively you may comment below and submit your email address to info@fifty-seven.ca for entry). Plus make sure to check out our Facebook page & Instagram feed for 2 more ways to enter! 

Contest is open to all residents of the Greater Toronto Area and closes Thursday February 16th 11pm EST. A winner will be chosen at random and announced within 24 hours. *Prize must be redeemed for services at True North Sports Camps West End Location

I'm in disbelief that it's only February and we're all set for camp. I'm feeling pretty proud of myself and Ben is so excited he's started a countdown. I'm sure that won't get old anytime soon ;) 

- Care

*This is a sponsored post which means I was provided compensation and/or product for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Simple DIY Floor Cushions

If your kids are anything like mine, they probably don't actually sit on furniture the way it's intended. Mine seem to sit on the floor most of the time, so I decided to make them some oversized floor pillows to make a cozy spot for reading books or watching a movie. 

I searched high and low on the good old internet for some appropriate cushions, but the prices were ridiculous. $150-$300 for a big cushion with cover! Not exactly what I wanted to spend on cushions that I knew would be covered in peanut butter and apple juice within hours. I wanted something that I could machine wash and toss on the floor without concern for ruining them. I even looked at dog beds, but turns out people spend A LOT on their dogs. Not that I don't love my kids, but seriously, I just couldn't justify that kind of money on floor cushions. So I decided I would make them myself. 

I found an amazing textile place in West Toronto, Nusso Textiles, that has an incredible selection of pillows and cushions, as well as options for custom orders. If you oder more than $100 at a time it's considered wholesale and much cheaper. I ordered a dozen throw pillows of various sizes for our screened in porch bench seats and 4 giant 32" x 32" pillows for the kids. I opted to upgrade to the polycotton covering so they would stand up to any necessary laundering. They came to $22 each and were ready to pick up in about 4 days. 

Next I wanted to make covers for the pillows, but again wanted to keep it simple and affordable. I chose some durable cotton canvas fabric (I recommend a cotton canvas or cotton twill, something with a little more strength than a soft quilting or craft cotton) from my favourite local fabric store Fabric Fabric. This place might seem a little rough around the edges, but I promise it has great fabrics and even better prices. I find I get my best deals from the ladies there when I'm pregnant or toting around a cute baby. Just a tip ;) 

I found this dead simple envelope pillow case tutorial online and set to work. This is definitely a project appropriate for a beginner, and can be adapted to fit any cushion size. The project involves:

1. cutting one piece of fabric
2. ironing said fabric
3. hemming two ends of the fabric
4. folding the fabric into the appropriate shape &
5. sewing a straight edge along 2 sides.

For each of my 32" cushions I needed 2 meters of fabric, which left me with extra fabric for smaller cushion covers or other projects. I cut 1 piece of fabric 32" x 72" (32"x2 +8" for overlap and seam allowance) and created my cover. Once I figured out my measurements each pillow case only took about 20 kid free minutes to make...if a baby or child is around this could be extended to several days ;) 

As you can see the kids are loving the finished project. The best part is that they cost about $40 each to make. A huge savings from the original ones I found on Etsy and other sites, not to mention you can customize them to suit your style. Hope this inspires you to make some cozy floor cushions for your family. 

Care 

Giving To Charity Never Smelled So Sweet: Great Wolf Lodge + Ronald McDonald House Charities

Every year as the holidays approach I try to think of some ways that our family can give back. We are so fortunate and privileged, and it's essential that our children grow up knowing that. Throughout the year we try to instil a sense of gratitude in our kids and actively help in our community where we can, but the holidays are a great time to reinforce this giving mentality. Whether it's small local initiatives or larger charitable organizations, we always pick a few to support. I often include these giving activities in our Christmas Countdown Calendar, interspersed with little gifts, treats and holiday family events.

So on December 1st I was very excited for the kids to open their calendar. Ben (who is an excellent reader) peeled open the envelope and as he read the card his eyes lit up and huge smile came across his face. The card said "We're taking a family trip to Great Wolf Lodge!!! While we're there we will be dining in a real gingerbread house, and making a donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charities to help families with sick children." Ben had heard myths of Great Wolf Lodge from friends and family, and desperately wanted to go, so this was huge for him. I don't think the kids fully understood the life size gingerbread house part, and honestly I think they thought I was lying to them, but they seemed very excited and curious to see it. Penny, on the other hand just wanted to eat the envelope ;)

When we arrived we were all in awe. The gingerbread house was absolutely gorgeous and the kids were mesmerized by it. Made with over 1200 eggs, 666 lbs of flour, 5 lbs of ginger powder and 40 Litres of Molasses (just to name a few ingredients), plus 165 lbs of candy, it's an impressive structure. The house takes over 700 hours to plan and make, and baking begins each year in September. Inside the house there is a working fireplace and a train running around the top of it. Plus the smell...oh the smell, it's absolutely incredible. It's like sitting in Christmas. The only issue was that Lucy wanted to eat the whole thing!

If you're headed to Great Wolf Lodge for their Snowland Event this holiday season I highly recommend checking out the 10th annual Gingerbread house. By giving a $20 donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities, families can reserve this special table for a meal during their stay. It books up fast, so be sure to contact the resort in advance, or reserve online, because virtually every kid wants to eat in it once they see it. Our kids wanted to eat EVERY meal in it! 

I feel so fortunate to have 3 healthy children, but I know that their health can change at any time and I never want to take that for granted. Having a critically or chronically ill child is one of every parent's worst nightmares. Ronald McDonald House Charities provide incredible support for families with ill children around the world. Most of us have heard of their "home away from home" housing for families with hospitalized children, but I was totally unaware of the other amazing initiatives they have. These initiatives include: Mobile Medical Care in remote areas around the world, Family Rooms in hospitals to provide a safe and quiet space for families to rest, Grants for non-profit organizations that work in children's health, and Educational Scholarships. Donations from the Great Wolf Lodge Gingerbread event go to 3 local Ronald McDonald houses in Toronto, Hamilton & London Ontario, so you will be supporting local families when you donate. 

I'm so happy that we were able to do our little part to help out this year. A trip to Great Wolf Lodge was the icing on the cake...or should I say gingerbread house ;) 

- Carolyn 

*This was a sponsored trip, but all opinions are 100% my own. Although I wasn't asked to write more about our stay at Great Wolf Lodge, I'll definitely be sharing some tips for anyone planning a trip in a future post. Stay tuned!

**If you're not headed to Great Wof Lodge this season, but would still like to make a donation to local Ronald McDonald Houses, please follow the link.