One of our favorite summer traditions starts this weekend. Each August, the Fair at the PNE returns to Vancouver complete with entertaining shows, carnival rides and of course, yummy fair food. As a family we visit annually, as it coincides with my son’s birthday week. For the past several years, we have made a day of it and take in all the fun it has to offer. Read on to find out our Top 5 Fair moments and enter to win a 4-Pack of tickets for your family.
I consider myself lucky when my close friends allow me to help with their child’s birthday party. As lady Oprah once said, “the more you celebrate your life, there more there is in life to celebrate”. For me growing up and still to this day, I love a good celebration, especially when it is for a special kid. For a second year in a row, my close friend gave me free range on putting together a celebration for her daughter, who also happens to be my daughter’s BFF. Our girls have grown up together in the last couple years despite a 2 year age gap, they simply love being in each other’s company.
The heat index is rising here on the Westcoast and what a better time to share a fun little party I threw earlier this month to welcome the official start of Summer. The kids were finally off of school and it was time to celebrate the season of fun with a little get together with friends. With help from some fellow moms and party lovers, Hello Hoopla and Teeny Wish, the gathering was actually pretty easy to pull off (which was especially important, as I too, was coming off a hectic last month at school).
As a busy working mom of two who also tries to find a bit of time to blog and go to yoga, there isn’t a whole lot of extra time in my days. And while I am somewhat savvy when it comes technology, I am by no means close to utilizing technology to its fullest. Case in point, I am not a person that listens to podcasts, though it is something I want to start doing, as supposedly you can listen when you are doing other things (for a multi-tasking mama, that is always important). For instance, my husband listens to sporting and political podcasts regularly when he is in the car, when he is working out or even when he is completing a mindless task at work.
My family will tell you that I am all about gifting experiences for birthdays and holidays. Every year for my son’s birthday we take him to a local amusement park and for my husband’s Christmas present, I usually gift him tickets to concert or special event. I love the idea of making a memory together over gifting something they may or may not use long term.
Each Spring, our family participates in the RBC Race for the Kids supporting oncology and mental health initiatives at our local hospital, BC Children’s Hospital. If you have spent any time at the hospital, it is hard not to support the cause. It is home to some of the world’s best doctors and nurses, that care to deeply about making sick kids better. Of course, we have a close connection to it after spending almost a year there off and on while my son was going through this cancer treatments and regularly get to visit for check-ups. Each time I am there, I feel so blessed to live close by such a world class facility.
With the big Royal Wedding just a few days away, I thought it would be fun to share a travel themed bridal shower I threw a couple years ago. You know what is just as exciting as planning and prepping your own wedding?!? For me, it was getting to be involved in my best friend’s big day. I know you think your bff is fabulous, but you haven’t met mine. She is always doing things for others and is one of the most caring, kind and loyal people you will ever meet. So when it was time for her to get married, I wanted to make sure she was spoiled like she deserved.
One thing I feel like I have mastered through my motherhood journey is self care. Whether it is just for an hour workout or overnight for a girl’s weekend, taking time away from the kids to catch my breath and focus on my own needs is so important. I feel like my whole family benefits when I come back refreshed and recharged. My self care routine sometimes includes taking the time to get pampered through massages, facials and pedicures.
After a long Winter and an abundance of Spring showers, it is hard to believe Summer is finally on the horizon. We are talking 62 days people! That means that bathing suit season is also around the corner and my current mom bod is so not ready. To top it off, I am hoping to squeeze back into my wedding dress to celebrate my 10th Anniversary come August. Talk about lofty goals after birthing two kids and not working out regularly since they were born.
The last couple of years, I haven’t had a chance to dye and decorate Easter Eggs with the kids. The way Spring Break fell this year, we had a bit more free time before the holiday. However, I just didn’t have the energy to clean up a huge mess. I saw another mom online talk about “tattooing” eggs and I decided we would give it a go.