Holiday Mini Sessions With Anchor Studio at Movies For Mommies - REGISTER NOW!

With the holiday season fast approaching it's time to capture some adorable pics of your little elves. Anchor Studio Photography will be joining me at Movies for Mommies for the next 2 weeks to offer complimentary Holiday Mini Photo Sessions. Appointments will be scheduled between 12pm-1pm on each day (December 4th & December 11th). Photo sessions are free and attendees have the option to purchase photos for $25/digital image. Space is very limited for these sessions, so please email care@with-care.ca to request a spot. Don't forget to let me know which day you prefer December 4th or 11th. If the date you prefer is full I will offer you a time on the other day, or a spot on the wait list. These sessions fill up very fast, so please don't wait!

Here are a few of my favourite holiday photos that Anchor Studio have taken of my kiddos in the past. 

This Monday December 4th we will be screening the beautiful film Wonder starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson & Jacob Tremblay at 1pm (doors open at 12pm). This is one you definitely don't want to miss. Watch the trailer here. Plus join us to enter our weekly draw for a chance to WIN some awesome prizes. 

Hope to see you on Monday at the Movies! 

- Care 

*Please Note: The movie for December 11th is still TBD. If you would like to receive notice of our weekly screenings and special events please join the Movies for Mommies Humber Cinemas Newsletter

Modern Mama Social - GIVEAWAY! Enter for a Chance to WIN 2 Tickets + Prize!

I don't know about most of you mamas out there, but getting out for a night out with friends is a rare event for me. So when I heard that my friends Freda (owner of Bridge the Bump) and Christine (owner of Olilibaby ) were hosting a fun evening out I knew I had to score a ticket. The Modern Mama Social isn't just any typical night out. These ladies have thought of it all, right down to the dream mom venue...Anthropologie of course ;) 

Guests will receive a beautiful swag bag filled with sample products and discounts from local vendor, access to amazing Guest speakers and Incredible Vendors (See below). Plus delicious food from PaintBox Catering & Bistro Company, and limited complimentary wine and non-alcoholic drinks. 

Since this sounds like such a great night out, I thought it was only fair that I share some tickets with my readers. Check out the details below and Enter for a chance to Win a Pair of Tickets for you and your BFF to attend The Modern Mama Social. Plus get an adorable handmade bib from Made by Song that you can pick up at the Social. 

Here are some details about the evening...

Modern Mama Social Guest Speakers & Workshops

Shira from Stop Drop & Makeup will be talking about "the 5 minute face," helping us choose the right lipstick for the season, and offering mini makeovers.

Roselyn of Style Forage will be showing us capsule wardrobes and the "wardrobe essentials to take you from office to dinner". Plus answering any style questions you have. 

Linda Tommasino, Registered Nutritionist from The Wholesome Kitchen, will be inspiring everyone to cook well, eat well and nourish well, even during the busy holiday season. She will have a variety of mini nutrition talks, plus be available for your nutrition questions.

Becka Orgill Toner, Life & Career Coach from Ignite Your Inner Spark works with women across North America to help them navigate the complexities of career and motherhood with greater fulfillment. She will be helping us Ignite Our Inner Spark

Modern Mama Social Vendors & Specials

With a curated group of local vendors and some amazing Exclusive Offers this event is the perfect place to pick out gifts for the holidays...and maybe a little something for yourself. You deserve it! After all, we're usually the ones doing all the spoiling. Here are a few of the vendors who are planning to be there. 

Henkaa Designs will be providing an amazing prize at The Modern Mama Social of 1 Monogram Multiway Bag with Travel Change Pad + $150 gift card to Henkaa. Total value $250! 

Bridge the Bump will have their coat extensions for you to try on just in time for winter. I love that these are locally designed and made in Toronto. Don't sacrifice the comfort and style of your own winter jacket, plus stay nice and cozy with your bump or baby. (full review) *Bridge the Bump will have an Exclusive Offer on Grey Coat extensions. For this evening only, purchase a grey coat extension for $75 (regularly $90). 

Olilibaby will be helping save parent's sanity with their adorable and functional Mitten Clips. Perfect stocking stuffers! Get them for a Special Price of 2 sets for $20 at the Modern Mama Social. 

Made by Song will be selling her beautiful handmade bibs, taggie toys, rattles and teethers. Plus Kathleen from Made by Song will be launching a new bib design at the show. *Special Offer on Bibs at the Social 2 for $20. One Made by Song Bib is included in this GIVEAWAY! 

Bonnefetti will be showing of their gorgeous paper products including their one of a kind wine tags, and featuring a beautiful new collection of holiday cards at a special price! A perfect compliment to your holiday gifting. 

If you want to join us for this fun night out on the town Enter NOW for a chance to WIN a Pair of tickets to The Modern Mama Social ($90 value) + an adorable handmade Bib from Made By Song ($15 value). 

To Enter simply comment below with your name and email address, or alternatively you can comment below and submit your email address to care@with-care.ca for entry (You must comment below to be entered via the blog). Plus, make sure to check out my Instagram feed for additional ways to enter! Contest is open to anyone in the Greater Toronto Area who is 18+ and closes Wednesday November 22nd at 11pm EST. A winner will be chosen at random and contacted within 24 hours. Good Luck!

If you don't Win tickets you can Purchase Tickets Here for $45 per attendee. **If you purchase tickets between Thursday November 23rd and end of day Saturday November 25th $2 of your ticket price will be donated to the ShoeBox Project. So don't wait! Get your tickets. Space is limited and this is sure to be a lovely evening.

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. I only partner with products and services that I genuinely love and want to recommend. 

Lucy's 4th Unicorn Birthday Party

This year for Lucy's 4th Birthday I decided to go all out and throw her the party of her dreams. As a true 2nd child, she has never had a real party until now. While Ben has had several epic birthday parties. So basically, this party was making up for a few years of some serious parental guilt. 

Lucy requested a Unicorn party, with a unicorn flavoured cake, and real live unicorns!! After a discussion about mythical creatures vs. real animals, and a little internet search for animals and kid's birthday parties, we settled on unicorn invites, a unicorn shape cake, and a visit from some adorable animals care of Pawsitively Pets. Luckily since we wanted to have a weeknight birthday party they were able to accommodate my less than 2 week notice (see I'm not always organized). Please note: weekend parties book up much farther in advance, so don't wait as long as I did, or you'll be disappointed.

Once I knew Lucy wanted a Unicorn party I set to work on the internet to find a perfect invite and some cute decor. I fell in love with this invite from Little Crazy Doughnut on Etsy, and knew Lucy would adore it too. I absolutely love buying custom invites like this because it's so convenient, affordable, and fast. Which was especially important on my tight timeline.

We sent our invites out via email which is a time and money saver, and has the added benefit of preventing kids from getting their feelings hurt at school. I firmly believe that you can invite as many or as few kids to a birthday party, as long as your tactful about it. A full class party of 28 kids was not happening for us, so Lucy chose a few of her friends from her class and our neighbourhood to invite.

Next I set out to find a unicorn cake and when I saw this one by Le Dolci I knew it was perfect. I wanted this to be a huge surprise for Lucy, so I never let her see photos of it ahead of time. She was absolutely blown away by it, and so were all of the guests at the party. Plus it was absolutely delicious! As a baker I'm especially picky of icing and this was some amazing icing. 

The beautiful flowers from Tonic Blooms added such a perfect touch to the table, and brightened up our home all week. I didn't know exactly what I wanted, so I sent them a photo of some of the party decor and they made up these gorgeous arrangements. I was blown away by how well they complimented the overall theme. 

I absolutely love the way the decor all turned out, but nothing at the party could compare to the adorable creatures Pawsitively Pets brought. Our host Jess arrived a few minutes early and set up the area for the pet show. I loved how they came so prepared with sheets to cover the floors, baby wipes and hand sanitizer. Jess was great with the kids and managed to keep them engaged throughout the whole hour. When some of the kids started getting tired of sitting, she did a little exercise break with them and got them right back into the show. The kids got to look at, learn about, touch and hold a bunch of different cool animals. The questions that the kid's asked were so adorable, and it was amazing to hear some of the stuff they already knew about the animals. The chinchilla was the highlight of the party for me. Not only the softest thing I have ever felt (seriously it's softer than cashmere. no joke. I want one), but it also sat on their heads, which basically made their year. 

I'm so happy to have so many amazing memories from Lucy's party captured by Silvia and Tony of Anchor Studio. I know I would never have been able to get action shots like this while hosting. Although we won't be able to have a photographer at every party, it was a nice treat for this one. I don't think Lucy is going to forget this party anytime soon. She is still wearing her unicorn horn around the house...and sometimes to school. So all in all I would say it was a major success. I will be sure to share the DIY Unicorn horns on the blog soon. I hope this gives you some inspiration for your next kid's birthday party. 

Care 

In this post:

Pawsitively Pets: Pet Parties & Camps     |    Le Dolci: Unicorn Cake     |     Anchor Studio: Photography *Mention With Care at booking to receive 10% Off|     Little Crazy Doughnut: Invitation     |    Tonic Blooms: Flower Arrangements     |     Newmies: Unicorn Stuffies     |     Tiny Trendsetter: Lucy's Dress

*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. I only partner with products and services that I genuinely love and want to recommend. 

Halloween Mini Sessions at Movies for Mommies

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty much obsessed with seeing my kiddos in halloween costumes. They're always so ridiculously cute. Every year I try to capture a sweet photo as a memento, but I have learned over the years that it's best to do it before Halloween. That way I don't have to compete with their sheer excitement for CANDY! Snapping a good pic can be tough, so I love letting the professionals do the hard work. 

This month I will be hosting 2 sessions of Complimentary Halloween Mini Sessions with Anchor Studio at Movies for Mommies at the Humber Cinema. Photos will take place pre-show from 12-1pm on Monday October 16th (Battle of the Sexes) and Monday October 23rd (Movie TBD).  Sessions are complimentary for Movies Attendees, and high resolution digital images can be purchased for $25/file. 

Space is extremely limited for these sessions and always fills up fast, so please don't wait to register. Send an email to care@with-care.ca indicating which date you prefer, and a session time will be emailed to you. If all sessions are booked I will give you the option of being added to the waiting list. 

These are a few of my favourites from our Halloween session with Anchor Studio last fall. As you can see Lucy refused to put on her costume (in true preschooler fashion), so Silvia and Tony rolled with it and made it a fall inspired session instead. 

Penny obviously rocked her costume.

Don't forget that Anchor Studio is one of my partners and offers 10% off to my clients. Just mention With Care when you book your session. 

Hope to see you at the Movies! 

Care 

**Please Note: Sessions are for Movie attendees only. Send an email to care@with-care.ca indicating which date you prefer, and a session time will be emailed to you. If all sessions are booked I will give you the option of being added to the waiting list. *

Garage Makeover Reveal With Care

It's finally here, the day I get to share our garage makeover reveal with you. This project took a lot longer than we anticipated due to delays with materials and summer plans, but in the end it has all come together beautifully. Check out this before and after to see a truly amazing transformation. 

Some things I learned doing this reno:

1. Renos ALWAYS take longer than anticipated. Even small projects have delays, so you just have to roll with it. I try to remind myself that we are incredibly fortunate to have a place to renovate, and the means to do so. 

2. Making reno choices is really hard. Who knew? As someone who hasn't done much of this stuff I found it really tough. There are so many choices for finishes, colours, textures...plus the budget! I was so happy to be able to bounce ideas off of our friend Krista of KMSalter Design & Diana at The Garage Door Depot. I now know why people hire designers, especially on big projects. Thanks ladies!

Here is my original inspiration from earlier this spring:

Looking out on our backyard now brings me the biggest smile. The garage turned out better than I ever could have imagined.

Not only is the garage beautiful and totally changes the look of our yard, but the garage door actually works! Like really really works. It's almost effortless to open and close, which makes it way easier to clean up the kids toys and bikes at the end of a long day. I know I sound like a nerd, but I love this door. I was so impressed by The Garage Door Depot's customer service from start to finish. The way they helped me design, measure and tailor the door to suit our needs was amazing.

Originally I was thinking of a pretty basic door, but after looking at the options and chatting with Diana I decided on a gorgeous carriage style door (Acadia North Hatley by Garaga). I figured it's an investment and something we will be looking at for a long time (comes with a limited lifetime warranty after all), so we should go with one that we love. I'm obsessed with all the little details on this door. The windows, iron handles and hinges give it such a classic look. Plus I love that it's Canadian made.

I usually enjoy a good DIY, but our new garage door was one thing I definitely wanted professionally installed. There is something about a large piece of metal suspended from the ceiling that makes me vote for a pro. The installers with Garage Door Depot were incredibly knowledgeable and worked efficiently to get our door installed and ready to use.  Plus they cleaned up the area before leaving. I know that sounds silly, but as a busy mama who is always cleaning up after someone, I aways appreciate when in-home service providers leave the space as they found it. *If you're in need of a new garage door mention With Care for 10% off Insulated Garage Doors with The Garage Door Depot Toronto

We debated simply painting the metal siding on the garage, but after learning how much work was involved for a short term fix, we decided to change up the siding and go for something eco-friendly and local. We chose Canadian-made stained wood siding from Maibec. We eventually want to refinish our screened in porch at the front of our house to match and wanted the classic look of wood, without all the the upkeep. This stuff is warranted for rot for 50 years, and the stains are warrantied for anywhere from 8-15 years depending on what you choose. I absolutely love this natural tone charcoal grey that we picked to compliment the existing brick facade of our home.

Please note that we installed the siding ourselves because of our budget, and because we're those kind of people ; ), but if it's in your budget, I would always recommend hiring someone for large jobs like this. Especially with kids under foot. If you are someone who likes a challenge, is handy, has the right tools, a little help, and some extra time, it's doable (make sure you choose the em+ installation system if you're going DIY and read through the whole installation guide so you can plan your project). We hope to do the front of our house next year (ahh it would look gorgeous!), so maybe I'll write out a little DIY guide if we do.  

For now I'm just excited to enjoy time in our backyard and smile at this beauty of a garage...and maybe start dreaming up ways to make the inside prettier and more functional. I can already hear Brian (my partner) rolling his eyes from here ; )

If you're planning a garage makeover don't hesitate to get in touch, or check out some of the amazing products and services I used below. 

Care

In this Post:

Garage Door Depot Toronto (Mention With Care for 10% off Insulated Doors): Acadia North Hatley Garage Door by Garaga     |     Maibec: Coastal Charcoal URBAHN Brushed Wood Siding in Rabbeted Bevel     |     Plant World: Hay Bail, Planters, Pumpkins + Wreath     |     Wayfair: Goosneck Light Fixtures

*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. I only partner with products and services that I genuinely love and want to recommend. 

Join Me At The Bump To Baby Show, Fall 2017 + Ticket GIVEAWAY!!

I'm so excited to be taking part in The Bump to Baby Show's 1st ever fall show on Saturday October 21st at The Riverdale Hub. I always love the spring show because it's such a great group of finely curated local businesses, that genuinely love to help and support expectant and new families in our communities. The Bump to Baby Show is a much slower pace show than most giant baby shows out there, but that's another element that I really enjoy. As a participating business I love being able to connect with guests, and give them an opportunity to ask questions and learn about what I offer. 

This fall's show has an incredible Marketplace, Kids Activities, a fun Photo Booth, Swags Bags, Prenatal Yoga and amazing Guest Speakers. 

Yours truly will be speaking with The Big Carrot at 2pm about Healthy Snacks for Busy Families. Join me for some live food demos and healthy recipes for pregnancy, starting solids and your growing kiddos. Plus some awesome Swag and Giveaways!  Pre-Register for my talk Here

Advance Tickets to the show are $5 and come with a complimentary cotton tote filled with amazing swag. Admission at the Door is $10 per adult **Please Note: Bumps, Babies, Kids & Grandparents are FREE! Add The Bump to Baby Show to your calendar on October 21st and buy your tickets now! 

If you have a baby on the way, or a young family in tow, this is the show to attend. Don't miss out! ENTER for a Chance to WIN a pair of tickets to The Bump to Baby Show.

To Enter simply comment below with your name and email address, or alternatively you may comment below and submit your email address to care@with-care.ca for entry. Plus make sure to check out our Facebook page & Instagram feed for 2 more ways to enter!  Contest is open to anyone 25+ and closes Saturday September 30th at 11pm EST. A winner will be chosen at random and contacted within 24 hours. Good Luck!

Learn More + Buy Advance Tickets to Save 50%

Hope to see you at the show!

Care xo

No Stress, Last Minute, Back To School Guide - The Real 4 Must Haves

With back to school right around the corner I have received some panicked messages from friends and clients who have left prep to the last minute, and are feeling overwhelmed. So many parents believe they need to break the bank and buy a tons of supplies to make sure their little one is ready, but that's not the case. I firmly believe back to school shouldn't be stressful for parents, especially if you're little one is headed to Kindergarten (or early elementary years, grades 1-3). We are very fortunate to have the majority of school supplies provided here by our public school board, so don't waste your money. You can always buy supplies in the future if the need arrises. (*If your child attends a private school, please follow the list they provide)

In an effort to calm nerves and help anyone who is worried that they're not doing enough, here is my super simple, no stress, totally last minute, back to school guide. There are only 4 Must Haves on my list...yes technically some categories have more than 1 item, but you probably have at least 1 at home. Yay! See, you're already winning ;) 

4 Must Haves for Back to School

1. Litterless Lunch: Most schools ask families to pack lunch and snacks with as little disposable packaging as possible. There are tons of amazing lunch boxes on the market these days, so take a look around before you purchase one. You can always use some simple containers eg. yogurt and sour cream containers, for the first few days if you're waiting on your lunchbox to arrive, or still deciding. One thing to ensure is that your little one can independantly open whatever containers you send. It's a good idea to do some practice runs in the days leading up to the start of school to give them confidence for the big day. We did a practice walk to school and a picnic so Lucy could try out her new gear. Needless to say it was a total hit.

Each kid typically needs a lunchbox and bag, an ice pack, a leakproof water bottle, a reusable cutlery set, a napkin, and a thermos (if you intend to send any warm food). We love our PlanetBox lunch boxes (See previous review here), and are really excited to try out their capsule water bottles and cold kits this year. These are definitely an investment, but with Ben going into his 3rd year with his, I'm feeling pretty great about the purchase. *Edited in 2019 to note: We’re now on year 5 with Ben’s original planet box and still going strong! 

We typically pack the PlanetBox with a healthy lunch, and then pack 2 snacks in the front pocket of the carry bag (you could also pack these in the front pocket of their backpack). For snacks we typically do 1 piece of fruit eg. apple, pear, orange - no package, or wrapped in abeego, and something that fits into the planet box big dipper snack container eg. nut-free energy balls 

2. Indoor Shoes: Schools usually ask that kids have a comfortable pair of shoes to be left at school for daily use indoor. Since our kids are running around inside and sweating a lot I always try to pick something that's breathable. I love runners with a strong mesh fabric upper. These are the ones I have bought for Ben for the last 2 years (In pic above. *Edited in 2019 to note that we got these awesome similar New Balance ones this year for both Ben & Lucy). I have been really happy with the way they have lasted all school year and through the summer for camp, and how comfortable he's found them. I highly recommend finding something similar with good breathability. There are tons of great sales on right now, so hopefully you can save some money on this purchase. 

3. Change of Clothes: A labeled, season appropriate, change of clothes is important to pack on the first day of school (including socks and underwear). Place the extra clothes in a labeled resealable plastic bag to be left at school for future accidents or mishaps. I have used Mabels Labels on clothes, bags, water bottles & lunch containers with success for 2 years now and have barely lost anything. I highly recommend labelling your kid's stuff in some way (even simply using a sharpie), otherwise you will lose a lot of stuff, and be unable to easily identify it.  

I don't rush out to buy a ton of fall clothes for back-to-school, because September tends to be warm in our area. When I do buy school clothes I like to stick to basics that can be handed down to siblings. If your little one is in need of some new cloths for the school year, check out the amazing new line of Tiny Basics Tiny Trendsetter just launched. 

4. A Backpack: Every kid obviously needs one, but what size? There are so many these days that it can be hard to know what is appropriate. Most schools ask that kid's bring a full size backpack (eg. one that fits a binder) starting in Kindergarten. Mini backpacks, like these adorable Skip Hop ones, are perfect for preschool and daycare, but not appropriate for full day school. I always try to find a backpack that will fit lunch, snacks and library books, but that also fits my kid's frame and doesn't overpower their ability to stay upright ;)

If you're in need of some last minute back to school gear check out Tiny Trendsetter. They have a huge selection of adorable backpacks and back-to-school basics to choose from online or in-store. 

I hope this simple list helps put you at ease, and let's you focus instead on your little one, and the big transition that is to come. Lots of love to all of the nervous parents out there (don't worry, I'm one too!). One thing I can tell you from experience is that it's usually harder on us than it is on them. You've got this!

As always please feel free to ask questions below. 

Care

In This Post

Tiny Trendsetter Herschel Backpacks, Skip Hop Backpacks    |    PlanetBox Rover Lunchbox, Capsule Water Bottle, Carry Bag + Cold Kits    |    The Shoe Company Nike Running Shoes

*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. I only partner with products and services that I genuinely love and want to recommend. 

Download My FREE Complete Family Camping List

We just returned from our annual backcountry camping trip, so I thought it was time I shared my complete packing list for camping with kids. A lot of friends and family are surprised that we can enjoy our time camping with 3 kids in tow, but it really is one of our favourite traditions. As I've said in previous posts about Camping with Kids (found here & here), preparation is key to your enjoyment. There is nothing worse than forgetting a vital piece of equipment that means you're left wet, or uncomfortable, or hungry. In an effort to make sure this doesn't happen to any family, I'm sharing my Complete Family Camping List.

Going camping the first time can feel a bit overwhelming due to the sheer amount of gear required. Don't forget you can save your budget by borrowing equipment from friends and family, buying gently used gear from neighbourhood buy and sells, or renting from places like Mountain Equipment Co-op. We registered for camping gear from MEC for our wedding, and have been using it for the last 7 years. It’s amazing to think how many memories these gifts have given our little family. 

I really hope this list makes you feel a little more prepared for camping with a young family, but remember nothing is perfect. You will be bug bitten, covered in grime and smelling less than peachy, but seeing the look on your little one's face when they catch their first crayfish, bite into a perfect s'more, go skinny dipping in a warm lake, or drift off to sleep in your arms watching the sun set, makes it all so worth it. There will probably be tears (for everyone), but trips like this build resiliency and help connect our kids to nature and the environment. For all of those who would prefer to glamp it up in a hotel or cottage instead, have fun! Whatever you do with your littles, know you're doing an awesome job.

CAMPING GEAR: 3 Day Family Trip

• Canoe, Paddles & PFDs (Can be rented at most parks and marinas)

• Collapsable Wagon (Great for hauling kids or gear to walk in sites, or over simple flat portages)

• Container for gear, clothes, toiletries & bedding (Large waterproof dry pacs are ideal or rubbermaid bins for car camping)

• Dry Food Storage (Barrel with Harness or Rubbermaid Bin for cap camping)

• Cooler (pre-freeze water bottles to save ice pack space in the cooler, and have cold clean drinking water)

• Tent, Vestibule & Footprint (or large tarp for underneath tent)

• Bug Shelter

• Sleeping Pad (We use 1 Family Sleeping Pad + 2 Regular Size Sleeping Pads, makes perfect size bed for our family)

• Large bed sheet (Or appropriate for your size mattress)

• Sleeping Bags (Since we sleep with the kids all together, we typically lay out a sheet on the sleeping pad and then use the sleeping bags on top as blankets)

• 2 Large Tarps (for rain shelter, covering gear at night etc)

• 2 Ropes (for tying tarp up to create a rain shelter, hanging food, towing a canoe, clothesline etc)

• 2 Bungee Cords (for attaching stuff to packs or keeping gear closed etc.)

• Lightweight Fold Up Chair for each person

• Booster Seat (lobster style is ideal for attaching to picnic tables)

• Headlamps/Flashlights (*Always check batteries and pack extra. Headlamps and handsfree options are ideal when you have to help small children. Lantern style are also handy)

• Plate, mug, bowl for each person

• Sippy Cups/Bottles for little ones

• Cutlery set for each person

• Lightweight Cutting Board (not a flimsy one)

• Flipper, Tongs, Mixing/Serving Spoon, Bottle Opener

• Sharp Knife x2 (I wrap them in the dish cloth and tea towel with an elastic around them and put them in a bag together before packing into the gear bag)

• Camping Stove with Gas Canisters (Even if you love to cook over the fire it's important to pack a stove in the case of rain, or a sudden fire ban)

• Pots & Pans

• French Coffee Press

• Ove Gloves (or oven mitts)

• Lake Eco Dish Soap (not for use in lake)

• Dish Cloth & Drying Cloth

• Duct Tape

• Tin Foil (for using on grill when cooking veggies etc)

• Paper Towels (In a large ziploc bag to avoid getting ruined from water)

• Ziploc baggies (a few large and small, very useful for keeping things dry if it's a wet trip, putting your map into, or putting leftovers away etc)

• 2 Green garbage bags + a few smaller Kitchen catcher garbage bags for collecting garbage around site and covering things to keep dry if needed.

• Matches/Lighters (Packed in a ziplock bag to keep dry. I typically pack an emergency lighter and matches in our 1st Aid Kit too)

• Pelican Case for valuables e.g. cell phones, car keys, permits, wallets

CAMPING TOILETRIES: 3 Day Family Trip

• Eco-friendly shampoo/body wash (for shower, no soaps are safe for lake use)

• Hair Brush

• Toilet Paper (2 rolls, in separate large ziploc bags to avoid water damage + backup)

• Portable Fold Up Potty (much easier than trekking to the outhouse in the dark)

• Sunscreen, Aftersun

• Bugspray, Afterbite, Bug Jacket, Tick Kit or Tick Remover

• Diapers

• Baby Wipes (for easy hand and face wipes etc)

• Swim towels (Turkish towels and travel towels pack well)

• 2 Face Cloths

• 1st Aid Kit *Get My Downloadable Complete Family First Aid Kit List!

OPTIONAL ITEMS: 3 Day Family Trip

• Baby Carrier (eg. mesh water sling, favourite regular use carrier *consider what carrier would be ideal if you need to rock/walk your little one to sleep in it, backpack style etc.)

• Hammock

• Solar Heated Camping Shower

• Binoculars

• Utility Knife

• Camera

• Cards/Dominos/Travel Backgammon

• Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

• Books

• Picnic Blanket

• Water Toys (Boats, Pails & Shovels)

• Rainy Day Activities *Check out some great ideas in Part 2 of Camping with Kids

CLOTHING: 3 Day Family Trip

• 2 Bathing Suits & UV Shirts (or full piece UV suits)

• 2 Pants

• 2 Shorts

• 3 T-Shirts

• 2 Long Sleeve Shirts

• 1 Sweatshirt

• 2 Socks

• 3 underwear

• Rain Coat & Pants (or full piece rain suit)

• Brimmed Quick Dry Sun Hat

• Sunglasses

• Wet Shoes (eg. Keens)

• Dry Shoes (eg. Running Shoes)

Hope this list helps you have a great time in the outdoors. Happy Camping!

Care

This post is not sponsored but I have linked some of our absolute favourite pieces of gear in case you're looking for some. *Please note that we backcountry camp for about 3 days eg. portage and paddle in site with no running water, no flush toilets, no electricity etc. If you're planning a less rugged trip, feel free to scale back and omit some of these items or pack in any bags or bins you have. You will need to add some items if you're planning a longer or more rugged trip.