momstown Edmonton-South

Things we've learned...

2012-01-29T20:17:00.003-07:00

Parenting is hard. We're 4 years in and I am no expert but I can tell you one thing. We struggled. The first six months of Isabella's life I wasn't sure if we'd make it through as a couple. The stress of having a baby was putting a huge strain on our relationship and we didn't see it coming. When our second baby was born we talked about what happened to 'us' the first time around and were both terrified, but thank goodness it was easier. My friends without kids (read: the ones with no bags under their eyes, money in their pockets and all the time in the world) always ask how we manage to keep it all together.

Here's what we've learned along the way:

1. Housework is NOT worth fighting over. Stop keeping score. Understand that sometimes you'll do more than your share and sometimes he'll do more than his. Laundry is more a team sport now and our carpet sometimes just gets swept instead of vacuumed. Surrender to the fact that your house may never be as clean as it was when you had no kids. Don't expect a gold star and applause for sweeping a floor, just help each other out where you can.

2. Stay on the same team. Whether you're trying to get out of the house to go grocery shopping or on vacation. Work together - you both have the same goal in mind but you might have different ways of getting there. (Husbands - if you see your wife running around like a chicken with her head cut off trying to find soothers, socks and mittens, please, for the love of god, don't stand at the front door watching her. Jump in and help!)

3. Don't expect big conversations with kids around. It can be almost impossible to even get through the "How was your day" discussion during supper with kids. Take this time to talk to the kids, not about the kids. Save the big conversations for naptime or when the kids aren't around, that brings me to my next tip!

4. Prioritize couple time. It's not always easy to leave the house together alone but make time for each other in the evenings and on the weekends. Listen to your spouse, it can start to feel really isolating if your other half is too busy on facebook (or xbox) to listen for a few minutes.

5. Tell the other person what they're doing right. It can be easy too fall into a habit of criticising each other (this one is especially for you mama's!) Who cares if he puts the diaper on backwards or picks the one sleeper you'd never put the baby in. Think big picture here - he's being a dad, let him make his own mistakes; you'll make yours too and you'll rarely have someone peeking over your shoulder to check your work. Don't assume that your partner knows how you feel. I'll never forget the time I was nursing my baby for the third time one night and my husband woke up and looked at me and said "You're such a good mom". He probably barely remembers saying it, but it's something I'll never forget.

My biggest piece of advice is be kind to each other. Remember that it's the first time either of you has done this exhausting, frustrating and amazing thing that is parenting and it'll be easier if you lean on each other. Looking for more advice? Check out momstown.ca's Secrets to a great marriage!

Children's Book Club - Perfect Snow

2012-01-29T19:57:00.000-07:00

This month for our Scholastic Children's Book Club we read Perfect Snow by Barbara Reid. Although it's January, we actually had very little snow on the ground that day. By the evening though the snow was coming down full force, I think we had a little something to do with that!

Perfect Snow is a story about the kind of morning Canadian kids love - the Perfect snowfall! Wet sticky snowman, igloo and fort making snow! The kids in the story learn that working together is more effective than everyone trying to work on their own and they build and amazing fort and team of snowmen!

Congratulations to Brooke who won a copy of the book to take home!

Edmonton: Our Winter Wonderland!

2012-01-29T19:51:00.001-07:00

Our theme this month was very fitting for our fair city and we had tons of fun with it! We kicked it off with Baking at Bella's where we made adorable Cinnamon Polar Bears! The kids loved decorating then eating them! Click here for the recipe!

We had our Scholastic Canada Children's Book Club at Chapters Southpark. Although we had very little snow that morning (despite it being January!) the kids loved the book and one lucky attendee went home with a copy of the book Perfect Snow by Barbara Reid.

We had a Winter Wonderland themed Connect the Tots where the kids decorated snowflakes & we also attended Edmonton's annual Ice Festival where the kids admired beautiful sculptures and went down huge ice slides!

We wrapped up the month with a Winter Wonderland party with Edmonton & Area moms! We decorated cookies, made adorable snowflake bracelets, snowmen crafts, read stories at momstown's reading corner and what's party without bouncy castles!

We had so much fun in our Winter Wonderland!
Join us next month for our
Mix & Match theme!

Click here to register for your free trial membership!

Social media - Are we too connected?

2012-01-23T17:03:00.001-07:00

So I conducted a little social experiment (and maybe lost a few facebook friends). For just one hour I changed my status on Facebook to "Exciting news...Guess What?"

I knew I'd get a reaction and a handful of comments guessing baby news. What I got was a virtual facebook riot. Literally. In just 30 minutes I received 8 texts, 55 comments, and a phone call from my mother asking if I was pregnant. Wow. In 30 minutes. That's almost 2 comments every minute, friends were putting their lives on hold to hear news from me. Dishes unwashed, children waiting to go to bed. I was completely overwhelmed. We're so connected in our society that in just minutes my friends, acquaintances and family were pulled into my life.

I think this intense level of connectedness makes some people uneasy. The thought that your private information could easily be spilled to so many people with very little effort makes a lot people want to protect themselves. If a simple status of "Guess What??" can trigger a flurry of comment, texts and phone calls imagine what could happen if someone were to target you. Our lives are intertwined so much so that I can't even imagine my life before these social networks existed.

The social media world has made me feel connected. I feel connected to my community, my family and friends. I've developed friendship with people that I barely know in real life, but have found commonalities with online. I feel as though I actually know the businesses I frequent, they have a personality and a story. I've connected with so many online friends and learned so from people that I will never meet. I think that's pretty incredible.

The conclusion I came to about this facebook experiment was that I'm happy all those people wanted to know my news. I know if I was announcing bad news (which I've had to do in the past) those same people would do just about anything to help me get through it. Maybe in this case it was overwhelming. But most of the time I feel as though my facebook friends as well as my momstown friends are just widening my support network that is so important to me.

And I guess I should formally apologize to my poor facebook friends who hung on for an hour while I tested my theory. Thanks for not unfriending me : )

I locked my child in the car...and other mommy mistakes.

2012-01-15T21:02:00.002-07:00

-Jon Rogers

After thousands of trips in and out of the car with kids, I've finally locked my child in. After buckling my daughter in her carseat I close the door and realize it's locked, I frantically run from door to door like this will be the one and only time my doors malfunction. Nope. No miracle this time. Dammit. Alright now what. Hmm well she's four maybe I can get her to unbuckle herself? I plead with her. She finds this very amusing. Apparently the more I try the funnier it gets. Not going to happen. Next I call my husband. We don't have an extra set of keys so he can't help me. I was secretly hoping he turned into a locksmith overnight. No such luck. He tells me to call someone. "Oh hello Mr. Locksmith, yes, what time can you be here? TOMORROW?!? Umm nope that won't work." Ok calm down, I'm starting to lose it now and my daughters amusement turns to worry. I call every other locksmith in town, two could come immediately, I basically make them race. Whoever gets here first gets my money. The guy shows up and takes 2 seconds to open the door. He attempts to make me feel better as I try to explain the situation "The car must have done this on it's own, I swear I'm not a bad mom." In hindsight this seems like a ridiculous thing to justify, even if I were a bad mom there would be no purpose in locking my kids in a car. Basement, yes. Car, no. After the doors are open my daughter says "mommy please don't lock me in the car again." Insert guilt here. Sorry Isla I can't promise it won't happen again but I'll try my best. Driving home I think about every other time I've done something that resulted in this tailspin of mommy guilt. Considering there was no physical damage I realize this is at the bottom of my list of mommy mistakes. We've all done things like this. So why do we beat ourselves up when they happen? I'm coming clean with my top 3 mommy mistakes, please don't judge. Actually, feel free to post your own; I know you've all got some. 1) I pierced my daughters nipple. You may ask how does one pierce a child's nipple by accident? The metal soother clip we thought was clipped to her sleeper apparently was also attached to her nipple. Ouch. After 10 minutes of her crying we realized what happened. It broke the skin and everything. OMG. 2) My daughter pooped out a dime (at her first day at her dayhome) The dayhome providers exact words were "I just thought you should know she pooped out a dime, is this normal?" Umm, yes coins are a regular part of her diet, tomorrow you can expect to see a penny, it's yours for the taking. 3) Not securing my child into her car seat. Driving around town for almost an hour when all of sudden she starts freaking out because apparently I didn't do up her buckles...Oops. There are so many things on my mind it's a wonder they are fully clothed when we leave the house : ) This list could be much longer, I don't even want to count how many times they've tumbled off a couch or bed. Or all the times I've bumped their heads off walls, door frames, etc. Considering locking my child in a car for 45 minutes doesn't even make it into my top 3 mommy mistakes, I'm going to let myself off the hook for this one. I hope you can all come clean and let go of the guilt it's just not worth hanging onto and there's probably a reason they don't remember much till they're 5 anyhow : )

momstown membership - for the working mom too!

2012-01-09T21:03:00.000-07:00

We've heard there's a silly little rumour that momstown is only for stay at home moms and we think it's time to settle this once and for all! Did you know that we are in fact, working moms ourselves? Both momstown Edmonton South owners work out of the home and can appreciate that working moms want to do fun things with the kids on their time off! momstown is a lifestyle and we've got something for everyone!

Here's what's available to our 9-5 moms with a momstown membership!

1. Message Board - this is the best place to get to know other local moms. We talk about everything, this is a supportive environment where you can ask questions, chat and get advice! I'll warn you though - it's addictive. Our members check the momstown message board as often as they check facebook - yep, that's a lot.

2. Fun Family Events - momstown hosts holiday events from Mother's Day to Christmas and everything in between we have great events to bring the whole family out together!

3. Scholastic Children's Book Club - We meet at Chapters on a Saturday to read a story, have a snack and do a draw for a free book, courtesy of Scholastic Canada!

4. Baking at Bella's - Once a month we bake a special treat to go along with our theme for the month. This month we made adorable Cinnamon Polar Bears for our Winter Wonderland theme!

5. Big Cook - We've got it down to a science! Working moms need big cook meals more than anyone! After a busy day at work it's exhausting to come home and plan a big meal - we meet for a few hours and go home with up to 24 meals ready to go!

6. Working Girl's Lunch - We need to have a little fun on the weekdays too! The first wednesday of the month we meet for a lunch downtown.

7. Discounts - We've got tons of discounts both nationally and locally, they change on a monthly basis so check back regularly!

8. Toddler Tunes - The idea behind the group is to provide bonding opportunities for parents and their children, teach parents songs they can sing at home with their children, and boost toddler confidence and learning - and just to have fun!

9. Mompreneur Networking Night - From accounting to social media we've got a topic for you, we meet for coffee and learn from speakers and from each other!

10. Mom's night out! Meet those lovely mama's you've been talking to online for a delicious meal, a movie, a book club, bowling or anything in between! We've got at least two evening events a month for you to have some adult time with moms just like you!

Don't forget about our sister sites at momstown.ca there are
craft ideas, recipes and contests available at your fingertips anytime!

At $45.00 a year - there is no better value!

Click here to start your two week free trial!

The day my toddler turned into a cat

2012-01-05T07:27:00.048-07:00

A few short weeks ago my sweet toddler was easy going. Anything mommy wanted her to do she went right along. It was fun to put a hat on, have her diaper changed or eat her supper. She was a little bit on the slobbery side, somewhat clumsy too. She reminded me of a little puppy, easy to please, easy to love.

My cute cuddly puppy turned into a cat overnight.

My darling toddler has learned the word no. She says it loud and proud. Time for boots? That's a good reason to run. Needs a hat on? She can twist and turn her head so fast I end up just lunging for the nearest round, bald object and it ends up on the banister. The car seat, oh my. Have you ever seen a cat arch it's back? She could be a yoga master with her moves. Sometime around 18 months my little angel has decided that she eats when she wants to, comes to me when she feels like it and she has a fierce determination that would have a puppy cowering with it's tail between it's legs.

'with strong, flexible bodies, quick reflexes, sharp retractable claws, and teeth adapted to killing small prey.'

Yep, that about sums it up.

10 Things I Never Thought I Would Do...

2012-01-03T20:07:00.001-07:00

I knew some things would change when I became a mother but never would I have imagined doing any of these things! Thank you to our momstown Edmonton South members for contributing to our list, thank goodness we have each other to vent, laugh and cry with over the crazy things we do for our kids!

1. Eat something that has been in someone else's mouth.

2. Wipe a snotty nose with my bare hand.

3. Explain the use of a tampon to a 2.5 year old boy

4. Give up on closing the door when I use the bathroom

5. Talk about poop, my cervix or nipples with random strangers

6. Catch vomit in my hands because it's better than it landing on the carpet

7. Consider 3 consecutive hours 'A good nights sleep'

8. Keep my cool while my three year old has a full on tantrum in the middle of a store, then pick her up calmly and leave a cart full of groceries behind.

9. Eat a piece of oatmeal off a toddlers face only to find out that it was snot

10. After all this - love these little hurricane people enough to make multiples!!

Noon Years Eve Party with momstown Edmonton South!

2012-01-02T18:45:00.001-07:00

Why not celebrate New Years Eve at a decent hour with the kids! The same fun can be had Midday instead of at Midnight and it will save you from having cranky kids on New Years Day!

This year we made noise makers, had a delicious potluck lunch, toasted the new year with juice and counted down to 12pm with some very excited kids!

The kids had a great time making these paper plate shakers, they made a ton of noise when we did our countdown! Click here for instructions on how to make them!

After we rang in the New Year we ate some countdown cake - I do not claim to have any talent for cake decorating, this was my best attempt!

Thank you to everyone who rang in the Noon Year with momstown Edmonton South!!

Respect for 2011 & Optimism for 2012

2011-12-30T10:18:00.001-07:00

This time of year everyone is talking about resolutions. What can I do differently next year? Do we all really look back on each year with regret? Not enough weight lost, not enough time spent with family, etc? This cartoon made me laugh but it's true, we focus too much on what we haven't done and not enough on just how amazing we are.

I'm making a list of accomplishments this year and how I'm going to build on them going into 2012.

What was amazing about 2011?

1. I'd been longing to be an entrepeneur for years but couldn't figure out what I wanted to do. This year I purchased a business that I am passionate about and that fulfills my need to connect with my community and with other mothers.

In 2012, I will take the giant leap of faith that is leaving my guaranteed paycheque and becoming fully self-employed.

2. In 2011 I tried to focus on my family. At Christmas and for birthdays I asked for gifts that we could do together, crafts and games that would lead to us sitting around the table doing things together.

In 2012, I want to spend even more time with those kids! Turn the tv on less, sit down and read a book with them more. I'd like my husband and I to plan to spend some time alone with each of our daughters every week.

3. This year I made amazing connections with local businesses and local moms! We reached more people in person, on our blog and the message board than ever before.

In 2012 I'd like to grow our momstown chapter to be something even more amazing. We have some great partnerships already in the works for 2012! I will shout from the rooftops the benefits of this amazing organization!

2011 was a great year! It was full of change, growth and realizations that I can't please everyone and I can't do everything. I go into 2012 full of inspiration, purpose and the focus to follow through!

Tell us what you did in 2011 that you are proud of!

Our Christmas Wish for You

2011-12-24T15:59:00.001-07:00

Our Christmas Wish for You

We wish for you a home full of giggling, happy faces.

We look forward to a New Year filled with fun events and friendships

We hope to connect more moms and bring this big world together.

To give our moms a place to talk, get out and fill their lives with laughter.

We feel so blessed to have our momstown moms and can’t imagine our lives without you.

So we wish you all a Merry Christmas and from the bottom of our hearts, Thank you!

Families Built Backwards...

2011-12-23T21:55:00.008-07:00

I'm married. Finally. After 8 busy years, 3 cities, 3 houses, 2 babies and 3 dogs. Yep, we did it backwards. Jamie and I had been together for two years when we bought our house and only a few months later we found out we were expecting our first baby. At first we both cried. I was only starting in my career and was so excited about climbing the ladder (I only had my foot on the first wrung!) I felt like that phone call from the doctor ruined every plan and aspiration I had going for me. (I know, I know a little dramatic but what can I say, I was 21.) My parents were a little bit upset and most people that I told were more shocked than happy for us. I was grateful that I was in a loving stable relationship and so glad that we had decided to take the plunge and buy a home only a few months earlier. We got over the loss of youth and freedom and began to get excited for our new arrival.

When our daughter was born we were elated. This was no mistake, this baby was a gift. I corrected anyone who used the word 'accident' and replaced it with 'surprise'. We talked about getting married, but life got in the way and soon we both felt that adding another baby to our family was more of a priority than a wedding. In the two years after my first daughter was born, we moved 10 hours from home, my 'boyfriend' went to school and when he finished we moved again 5 hours closer to home. We had just settled into our new home when we found out we were expecting again. Only happy tears this time. We had gone from a couple to a family in those years and were closer and more connected than ever. I still had my career and he had his, we were doing just fine.

I wondered if we had missed the boat on having the wedding I'd always imagined. What was the point now of making a big production? We decided to finally plan this wedding, we wouldn't make a big deal of it, just a small destination wedding in Mexico. Little did we know we would have 70 family members and friends who travelled thousands of miles to support us - our little family. I didn't realize until I was walking down the aisle towards the father of my children that this wedding is as significant, if not more, than it would have been 8 years ago. I held my daughters hand while I said vows that I truly meant. We had come so far, been so blessed and as I promised to love and cherish this man who had been my biggest support all of these years, I thought - maybe this wasn't the 'wrong' way to do it after all; families assemble in so many different ways and this was just our family's story.

Baking Exchange - My favourite time of year!

2011-12-19T21:38:00.001-07:00

Well...maybe it's not my favourite time of year because I don't really like baking. I do enjoy baking with kids, I love watching them get involved in the measuring, pouring and stirring. This week I taught my dayhome kids how to crack an egg gently and was genuinely amazed as I watched them crack a perfect egg. I just don't really bake on my own it's much more fun to watch kids marvel at cookies slowly rising in the oven.

What I do love about this time of year is Baking Exchanges! I love making one enormous batch of cookies and coming home with a multitude of Christmas treats. They are so popular with our momstown mamas that we had two this year! I attended one and came home with delicious homemade treats that I can impress my family and friends with this season. Cookie exchanges definitely make me look like much more of a super mom than I actually am! I shared my Holiday Secret, what's yours? :)

Here are the delicious recipes I got to come home with this year!

Ting-A-Lings

1 - 6oz pkg (170 grams) of semi-sweet chocolate chips (approx. 1 cup)

1 - 6oz pkg (170 grams) of butterscotch chips (approx. 1 cup)

1 cup of Salted Peanuts

1 cup or more of Chow Mein noodles (broken into pieces) (DO NOT buy Farkey - it's gross) - Taipan label - must say "in canola oil"

Put wax paper on a cookie sheet.

Break the chow mein noodles into short lengths (less than one inch). Melt the chocolate and butterscotch chips in a double boiler and mix together. Add 1 cup of salted peanuts and 1 cup or more of broken chow mein noodles. Mix together to coat the peanuts and noodles in chocolate. Drop mixture onto wax paper with a teaspoon. Should make 48 pieces. I usually get less out of a recipe because I make mine bigger.

Butter Tarts

Ingredients Needed

1 cup of brown sugar
1/2 cup of raisins
1/3 cup or margarine or butter
1 egg
2 tablespoons of milk
1 tsp vanilla
unsweetened and unbaked tart shells

Melt your margarine, then add in the vanilla,egg, cream and brown sugar. The lovely part about these is they are SO easy and fast to make. Throw it all in, mix the ever-livin’ devil out of it, and you are good. Now add in your raisins, and half a cup is the bare minimum I use. I find that sometimes there is too much liquid and not enough raisins by the time I reach the end, be brave and just add in what you need at that point.

Put your tart shells, still frozen, on the tray and fill a good 3/4 of the way. I say still frozen because I have found when they are defrosted the filling leaks through the pasty, not ruining them, but making them softer. A good frozen tart shell will hold the contents in, and cook at the same time.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for 15-18 minutes, until the rims of the tarts are beautifully browned.
Recipe from: http://www.thekitchenmagpie.com/my-butter-tarts-theyre-even-famous

White Chocolate Peppermint Delights

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

3/4 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp peppermint extract

3/4 cup white chocolate chip

1/4 cup crushed candy canes

Preheat oven to 350F and grease cookie sheets. Sift flour, baking soda, and salt together. In big bowl cream butter, sugar and brown suger. Beat in egg, peppermint extract and vanilla. Stir in dry ingredients. Fold in crushed candy cane and white chocolate chops. Drop by teaspoon into greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Bake 10-12 minutes

Easy Decadent Truffles

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

3 cups semisweet chocolate chips, melted

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until well blended. Stir in melted chocolate and vanilla until no streaks remain. Refrigerate for about 1 hour. Shape into 1 inch balls.

Brownie Peppermint Cookies

Yields about 3 dozen　

Ingredients:

1 (18.3 oz) pkg brownie mix (I used Betty Crocker fudge brownie mix)

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar

1/4 tsp salt

2 large eggs

2 Tbsp milk

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

1 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 tsp peppermint extract

1 recipe vanilla cream frosting, recipe follows

1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy canes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a cookie sheet and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together brownie mix, flour, brown sugar and salt. Add in eggs and milk and stir with a large spoon. Add in melted butter, vanilla and peppermint extract, stir until well blended. Spoon dough by heaping tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet (you can fit 12 per sheet). Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before frosting. Once cool, frost each cookie and sprinkle with crushed candy canes.

Vanilla Cream Frosting

Ingredients:

4 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

6 Tbsp heavy cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, with an electric mixer, whip together sugar, butter and cream until fluffy. Stir in vanilla and salt, blend well.

Gooey Turtle Bars

1/2 cup Butter

1-1/2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs

2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

1 cup pecan pieces

1 (12oz) jar caramel topping

Combine butter and wafer crumbs in a 13x9 pan. Press into bottom of pan. Sprinkle with chocolate chops and pecans. Heat caramel topping for one minute or until hot, stirring every 30 seconds. Bake at 350 F for 12-15 minutes or until chocolate is melted. Chill at least 30 minutes on a wire rack. Cut into 24 squares.

Snowballs

1 devils food cake

1 cup sugar

5 cups unsweetened medium coconut (1cup for rolling)

5 cups quick oats

1cup 2% evaporated milk

2 cups of melted margarine

Mix ingredients, roll into balls and chill.

A new momstown tradition - Santas Anonymous!

2011-12-19T20:57:00.004-07:00

momstown loves to give back, chapters all over the country are working together this year to help people in our communities. This year, momstown Edmonton-South decided to help out by delivering gift hampers for Santas Anonymous. Walking into the Santas Depot seeing all of those bags piled high with gifts for needy local families made me both proud and overwhelmed. I was thankful that so many people had donated; their generosity allowed so many families to have a christmas that they might not have had otherwise. I was overwhelmed by the realization that so many families in our city are in need. We were shocked to see the delivery map, there were needy families in every area of the city. We didn't deliver toys to the inner city, we delivered toys to my local neighbourhood. We quickly became aware that these people are no different from us. Who hasn't struggled to make ends meet? So many families are only a lay-off away from being in this very same place.

Delivering the gifts was a rewarding experience, next year, I'll be bringing the kids along. We got hugs and handshakes of thanks from the grateful parents. I was glad to have done my part but dissapointed in myself that I hadn't done more. Next year I will do more. We've decided that this will be an annual event for momstown Edmonton South and next year we hope to add a wrapping team and a few more delivering teams. We are so thankful for the momstown mama's that took time out of the last weekend before Christmas to join us in delivering some joy to our neighbourhood.

Did you know that momstown.ca is also helping out this holiday season? For the month of December they are making a donation to the Red Cross for every new 'like' on their facebook page! Click here for the details! Want to help out in your community? Check out these great ideas for how you can give back - with your kids!

Breakfast with Santa at Salisbury Greenhouse!

2011-12-17T23:14:00.000-07:00

momstown had a great day among beautiful plants and flowers at Salisbury Greenhouse. The greenhouse holds this event annually and is always sure to sell out!

The kids enjoyed face painting, balloon animals, a delicious nutritious breakfast and of course a visit from Santa!

Check out all the fun we had!

10 Tips for Keeping your Sanity During the Christmas Chaos

2011-12-17T11:34:00.007-07:00

There's only one week left till Christmas, who's sanity is on the brink of destruction? I know this time of year is hectic but there are some ways to keep your cool and enjoy the holiday season without cancelling Christmas altogether.

1) Hydrate - Despite the rumours, we cannot survive on coffee alone. Make sure you keep hydrated while your shopping, wrapping and baking. This will stave off pesky headaches that could hinder your holiday spirit.

2) Take short cuts - No one will know and you'll look like even more of a super mom than you already are. Cookie exchanges are a great way to save time and impress your friends. Another great way to save time is to prepare your side dishes in advance. A lot of dishes can be made the night before (check out these make ahead mashed potatoes!, this will save your sanity on the day of the big meal and give you time to enjoy your company.

3) Make lists - Know what you have to do and when it needs to be done. Lists can not only keep you organized but make you realize just how productive you are, so you can cut yourself some slack.

4) Don't multitask yourself to death - We know you can clean the house, wrap presents, and make supper all while baking dozen of cookies but who are you trying to impress? Take one night to wrap the presents, one night to bake the treats and for the love of God don't even think of cleaning till the last day or your efforts will be undone within hours.

5) Take time for yourself - In the midst of the chaos take a long bath or stop in for a massage or pedicure while you're out shopping and don't forget to log onto your favourite momstown message board to vent and get some holiday ideas from the mama's!

6) Ask for help - See that guy sitting on the couch leisurely watching the hockey game? He's your husband and he's perfectly capable of taking some tasks off your plate. Have a hard time giving up the control? Give him the easy tasks like grocery shopping and stocking stuffers (accompanied by a detailed list).

7) Eat - I know it tempting to snack on all the sweets and delicious holiday food but to feel good and have energy we need fuel. Eating properly around the holiday season will also help keep you bloat-free for holiday parties.

8) Let go of the guilt - Accept that you may not get every gift on the list and not everything that "needs" to get done will. But no one will notice and they're there to spend time with you, not critique your perfectly decorated table. Cut yourself some slack this year and don't stress about the small things.

9) Shop with Focus - Don't wander into stores without a clear idea of what your coming home with. Find out where the sales are and call ahead to confirm they have the "must have" toy of the year so you don't waste your time.

10) Embrace the Chaos - It's Christmas, so embrace that crazy aunt and the noisy house that's what the holidays are all about!

And if all else fails throw some rum in your Eggnog and just let relax.

Merry Christmas!

Handprint Christmas Ornament

2011-12-12T21:25:00.000-07:00

momstown Edmonton South had fun at Connect the Tots getting messy and making these adorable handprint christmas ornaments.

These hardly need an explanation they're so easy!

What you need:

-White paint

-Matte or Sparkly Christmas Ornament

-Black and orange marker

-A small childs hand : )

Paint your childs hand with white paint, make sure their fingers are covered including their palm. Place their palm on the bottom of the ball and wrap fingers around the ornament.

Wait till the paint has dried and color a hat, nose and buttons on the fingerprints. That's it, super easy and adorable craft!

We've done this 2 years in a row and always write their name and the year on the bottom.

Hope you have fun making one, we sure did : )

Check out this list of 6 great snowman crafts for kids!

Kids and Planes - Tips from "the expert".

2011-12-08T21:52:00.003-07:00

So a while ago we decided to go on vacation. Let's take the kids we say, it would be so nice to go somewhere warm as a family! We get the passports, the sunscreen and the towels.

I planned on writing this fantastic blog about plane rides with children and how if you're prepared everything can go smoothly. It was supposed to be an awesome list of tricks and tips from an "expert".

Here is what actually happened...

On our way to paradise

I'm nervous. I have only taken my daughter on a plane but now I also have my son Nolan who is 18 months old, he is one of those "active" children. I love that parents choose the nicest possible way to describe a child who will not stay still for longer 5 seconds at a time. The type that went from rolling over to crawling at 6 months, who just skipped that perfect age between 4 and 8 months where they can sit and play but are completely immobile. You know this kid... he's the 9 month old walker.

So there I was with the "active" child, herding him into a 4 x 1 foot space for 6 hours straight. Most people would think that letting this child peruse the plane and aisle who be a good idea. They are mistaken. If he knows he can get out of his cage of seats there's no turning back. That would be the end of me sitting, although the sitting I'm describing is not kind I'm used, this sitting involves being a toy, stool, and a climbing apparatus.

Although it's no walk in the park this plane thing is pretty easy I think to myself. Just let them play and bring lots of snacks and toys to keep them occupied. As we deboard the plane I'm pretty proud of my plane skills and other than poop explosion with no extra pants we get through the flight without a single tear.

I decide on the way back I'll actually write my fabulous blog because the kids will be sleeping as I know exactly how to keep the content now.

Leaving Paradise for a Mountain of Snow

My confidence is up and I'm feeling pretty good about my plane parenting. I now know to pack extra pants and I've learned to make sure snacks are readily available. Unfortunately this is an evening flight my "active" child has considerably less patience for being stuck in these extremely tight quarters when he's tired. Before we even leave the ground he's laying on the floor planning his escape route under the seats. This is not a good sign.

Take off is rough he will not sit the "burp position" like he did last time. He will not drink the bottle I came prepared with to avoid ear troubles. He doesn't want to sit with us at all actually. I get the snacks and toys out but he is not the least bit interested. Then he starts crying, my son isn't much of a crier so I do the checklist; Hungry, no. Thirsty, no. Tired, no. Poopy, yep that's it. I stand up to take him to the bathroom to do a quick bum change. I'm trapped. I've got a drink cart coming at me from both directions. I normally change my baby wherever and whenever but considering the lack of airflow I didn't think it was appropriate, so the crying continues. After a few minutes the coast is clear. I dart for the bathroom but on my way the seat belt sign turns on. I risk it and keep going it's already been a good 1/2 hour since the poop was discovered. The flight attendant stops me and tells me to sit. They are continuing with the drink service so logic tells me this can't be life or death type of turbulence. I argue with her and tell her I promise I'll be quick. No luck. Back to my seat with the screaming baby. After a quick discussion my hubby and I decide to ignore the seatbelt sign and change the poor kid on the seat, he's had diarrhea a few times on the trip so we don't want a sore bum situation happening. While the fabulous scent reaches my fellow passengers I hear some mild grumbling. As the flight attendant walks by I ask her to take the diaper to the garbage but she refuses so the diaper continues to fill the already stale air for another 10 minutes.

Crisis averted but he's still crying. I sit, I stand, I walk, I bounce, I rock, I sing but the crying continues. A really considerate flight attendant stops and asks if he's hungry. Oh, well that makes sense it's 5:30, he must be hungry. She makes him a supper early but he won't eat a single bite. I wrap him in a mei tei hoping he'll just fall asleep. He doesn't. It's been 1 hour of crying now, since the original poop crisis crisis. People are beginning to get annoyed. I'm surrounded by a group of 20 somethings who look like they've had a few too many margaritas and were hoping for a quiet flight home. For the most part though I get a lot of sympathetic looks from mothers and grandmothers. Another hour goes by of contant crying and their sympathy turns to pity. A dad comes up and asks if I need anything for him medically, he offered tylenol or benadryl, I have no idea whats wrong with him so I take the tylenol in hopes it will at least make him tired (at this point I would have taken a tranquilizer if it was offered).

After another 1/2 hour he finally starts doing the closed eye cry. For all you non parents this means he's on his way out. He goes in and out of sleep and crying. If I stop rocking or if I talk or sit he wakes up. Ok. I give up. I will just sit, my back is acheing and theres no way I can stand for another second. As long as I'm singing he's quiet I can't think of a lullaby long enough so I sing him Adele's Someone like you. It's long enough that he finally falls asleep for good. There is still 2 hours left of this flight and it's going to be quiet.

I ask the flight attendant for a pop. I set it on my daughters tray and it slides off and spills all over her. She's begins screaming and wakes up the "active" child. Seriously. He eats a few bites of cracker and cheese and with some more Adele he lays his head down and goes back to sleep.

Ahhhh....it's quiet for 30 minutes straight. Everyone is sleeping. I begin writing my blog and realize I just happen to get lucky on the ride to Mexico. I've come to the conclusion that you can't predict how children will react to anything. We're lucky if they stick to a routine day to day let alone expect them to behave while we're on a flight 20,000km in the air. I was a fool to think I had any control over the situation. I am still proud of my plane parenting. I don't think I could have handled the situation any better. I ignored all the stares and grumbling and focused on my child and that's about all you can do.

The flight ended with Isla waking up screaming because her bug bites were bothering her and to top it all off a pen exploded all over Jeff as we landed.

We survived. And we'd probably do it again....just not anytime soon : )

Walk to Remember - Miscarriage, Stillbirth, Early Infant Loss

2011-11-26T11:50:00.000-07:00

Walk to Remember: Honouring Little Lives Lost

momstown attended the Walk to Remember this year as a group. Some of us have lost little ones and many were there just for support. The event always surprises me because it's such a sad topic yet there is so much positivity and hope. We have attended the walk every year since we lost Maya and it affects me differently every year. Every year I grow and my grief has changed. Although I miss Maya and think of her everyday, I feel at peace and this year's walk meant so much to me. To be surrounded by women who care so deeply for me and my family that they put aside a whole saturday afternoon to support us was overwhelming.

At the walk each year every family releases a balloon for the children that they've lost and that childs name is written on the sidewalk. This event is so unbelievably touching and every year I feel more at peace with my loss. I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to share this day with my momstown mama's and family. I hope the walk brought some closure to those who were there to mourn their children and understanding for those there to support their family and friends.

Kate Inglis spoke at the event, she is a blogger and a fellow Angel Mama. Her words touch me every year but this year the words below really resonated with me so I thought I'd share.

"You might say, My Baby is gone, and I don't know how to feel. I don't know how to breathe, I don't know how to walk, I don't know how to exist when my baby doesn't. I don't know what to do.

Four years into this, I don't know either, to most of it.

But I can tell you what to do.

In the last moments, you looked at your baby and you thought the same thing I did.

Please live. I don't mind if you dye your hair kool-aid blue. I don't mind if everything you believe turns out to be different from what I believe. I don't care who you love or how you love, as long as you find some and give some. I don't mind what you're into, as long as you're safe. I just want to support you. I want to witness you. I want to see the things that make you smile. I want you to have the chance to be. To be happy.

Please live.

And then your baby died, like mine, and unconditional love was illuminated for you. You might have thought you knew what it was before, but you probably didn't. Now you do.
Carry it with you. Every single day, turn that into compassion for other people, all of whom started out as somebody's baby.

When you're moving through the world, you'll come across people with blue hair, who live differently and love differently and speak and think differently, who are perhaps in every way -- aesthetically, spiritually, culturally -- the opposite of you. Or maybe they're not sure what they are yet. Maybe they're struggling. Maybe they have nightmares too.

Extend them the same compassion that you would have given your baby, had you been given the chance. Regardless of how they align -- or don't align -- with you.

It's one of the only things you can do, after a loss like this. To treat others the way you would have liked to treat your child. With care, with hospitality, with humility.

It's a daily practice, and it does bring some peace, to look at every person and think, There goes somebody's baby. Could have been mine.

And before you're finished, extend some of that compassion to yourself.

That's what you can do."

Doodle Bear = Lots of Fun!!

2011-11-25T22:27:00.001-07:00

This toy really brought me back to my own childhood. I always wanted a Fisher-Price Doodle Bear as a child, needless to say I never did get one. My daughter was so excited when she saw this adorable bear, and that was before she knew she was ALLOWED to colour on it! She's also a huge fan of ballerinas so she was thrilled with the design.

My daughter is 4 and she's very much in the artist stage. She loves writing, colouring and painting anything, she's always looking for ways to be creative so this bear really hit the nail on the head. Once she saw the markers she looked at me and said "I can colour on this bear??" She literally played with this for well over 1/2 hour, which in child time is like a century. She handed it to me when she was done and said "Okay, put this in the washer so I can colour it again!" What's really neat about this toy is that you can conveniently store the markers on the Doodle Bear's back!

She has taken this out and coloured it again and again and it even stays in her bed to cuddle with too. I am so glad my daughter got to enjoy what I thought looked like a fantastic toy when I was her age. It has definitely lived up to my childhood expectations and as mother it exceeded them!

How to make the cutest Sock Snowmen

2011-11-24T12:29:00.002-07:00

Our moms had a great time getting crafty with these adorable sock families!

In just 2 short hours we had entire snowville made complete with 25 of these snow people!

Heres how you can do it at home:

What youll need:

-one white sock

-one colourful or Christmas sock

-string

-2 elastic bands

-Assortment of buttons

-wooden bbq skewer

-any decorations you want to add *see picture below

- glue gun

How to:

1) Cut white sock straight across just above heel

2) Fill sock with rice, needs to be stiff (if you use the ankle part of the sock you'll need to tightly place an elastic on the end and flip the sock inside out)

3) Tie elastic around the top of sock leaving some fabric out (this will keep his hat propped up)

4) Cut decorative sock above ankle and just below heel (if using a short ankle sock you need 2 - cut one at toe and heel, the other just below the heel *see picture)

5) Tie string around neck to create a head

6) Fold extra fabric under, place toe section of sock on head and tie hat with decorative bells etc.

7) Glue two small buttons on as eyes

8) Cut bbq skewer and colour with orange marker for nose

9) Decorate with whatever you have to bling out your snowmen

That's it! Then you can make a whole family! Here are the ones I made to represent my family!

Dana McDonnell with Snowville also sells ready made kits

To purchase one please email: danamcdonnell7@gmail.com

What IS momstown??

2011-11-22T22:03:00.001-07:00

This is the question I get asked the most. What IS momstown??? Why should I pay for a playgroup??

momstown is so much more than a playgroup! momstown is the best way to connect with real moms in your community. You can get to know these moms on our message board and in person. They are real, down to earth people with enormous hearts. They are just like you guessing their way through this motherhood thing. Whether you're looking for advice, a referral, a hug or a laugh, you'll get it all with momstown.

momstown is a community. I always have a hard time explaining what momstown is. It's like trying to describe a city, there are so many reasons why I love Edmonton it's hard to narrow down why I enjoy living here; I love the scenery, the opportunity, the activities, the community, the events, the variety, the energy, and most of all the PEOPLE.

The reasons why I love living in Edmonton are the same reasons I love being a part of the momstown community. We are a town, a town of moms. A town full of diverse and interesting people. A town full of energy and fun. A town full of events and variety.

Here's an example of Decembers calendar and what kind of events our members have access to:

To check out what momstown has to offer sign up for a free 2 week trial membership!

Want more information? Email: info.edmonton-south@momstown.ca

Kristin and Janine

your momstown mamas

The Gift that was the momstown National Conference

2011-11-21T14:50:00.000-07:00

I was excited to head to Ontario last weekend to learn about where momstown is and where we are headed! I was looking forward to gaining new skills and tools to manage this business. I wanted to come home refreshed and with new ideas for our members. I got all of that out of the conference, and so much more.

The most valuable thing I've walked away with is a sense of community with my fellow licensees and a sense of awe at what we are accomplishing all across Canada. I met twenty amazing women working as hard as I am to do something great in their communities. In each of these towns and cities we are connecting moms and we are creating opportunities for real friendships. We are giving moms who are struggling a soft place to land where they know they'll be welcomed with a listening ear and an offer of help.

These twenty women have the same frustrations and joys that I have. We were able to share with each other what works and what doesn't. As a new member to this team I am as grateful for what momstown has created for our members as I am for the network of support they've created for the licensees.

This conference meant the world to me, it has left me ecstatic about our vision for momstown and so motivated to continue building an amazing organization that connects real canadian moms.

Want to why so many real moms have joined the community?
Register for a 2 week free trial membership and find out what all the buzz is about : )

A Tablet convert thanks to the Toshiba Thrive

2011-11-19T21:37:00.001-07:00

I always thought that tablets were an uneccesary device, I just didn't get the point of them. Between my laptop and my Iphone I figured I had my bases covered. I found out that Toshiba had provided four Thrive Tablets to test and give away to momstown at our national conference I thought that it would be fun thing to win, but wasn't sure what use I would have for it.

The first day of the conference I was the first one to get my hands on the tablet! I turned it on for the first time and it took me all of 30 seconds to be connected to the internet, hooked up to my gmail and logged on to the momstown message board! The android platform is easy to learn, being both a PC and Apple user I find it just as user friends as the others.

I will confess that the Toshiba Thrive tablet has converted me to a tablet addict - who knew I could be addicted to another electronic device?! I've used it to read on the bus on the way to work, I've used it in a meeting to take notes and brainstorm, followed recipes on it while it sat conveniently on my counter while I cooked and both my kids and husband have learned to use it...and I've had it less than a week.

The Thrive is easy to use, easy to set up and so unbelievably convenient. Considering the high ratings and lower price to comparable tablets I would definitely put this high on my list of must give christmas presents this year!

There are two ways for you to win this year! Click here to find out!

My 1 Year Old Uterus

2011-11-15T20:53:00.002-07:00

What is it about your baby turning one that has you doubting your decisions? Is it those first few words? Watching them finally let go of your hand and take those first few wobbly steps? We decided we'd have only two babies but all of a sudden that nagging voice says, "I wonder what having three would be like?"

There are so many reasons that having only two would make sense for us. Our house has only three bedrooms and they are way to small to share. The toll it would take on us financially for me to be back on maternity leave and then the cost of putting them all into daycare when I went back to work (if I went back to work?) I haven't even begun to think about paying for another set of ballet, piano or soccer fees, let alone university in the not so distant future. My heart doesn't seem to be considering budgets and square footage though. None of these rational thoughts seem to make those nagging thoughts quiet down.

I wonder if most parents go through this tug of war between heart and head. I hear so many people say, "I am SO done" and I definitely don't feel that way, but I do agree that not having anymore children would be the easier. This story from momstown Barrie makes me a little terrified to be outnumbered! It seems like such a final decision to make at twenty seven; I keep thinking that I might change my mind when I'm 35 or even 40. If those first steps cause so much confusion I can only imagine what sort of emotional hurricane I will be in watching my babies climb onto that big yellow bus or sit in the drivers seat of a car.

Sometimes I look at that sweet baby...toddler (okay there I said it) and think this can't be the last time. It can't be the last time I feel the unmistakable flutter of a sweet miracle in my tummy. It can't be the last time I lay awake in the middle of the night so grateful to stare at the angel nestled in next to me and it can't be the last time that I feel my baby's hand wrapped around my finger. So are we done having babies? The more I think about it the more I don't want to make a decision. Why do I feel so much pressure to decide right now anyway? I know I can't make any rational choices staring into those big blue eyes and hearing them giggle, finally learning to play together. It's like grocery shopping when you're starving. For now, we'll enjoy our girls and see what the future holds.

Remembrance.

2011-11-10T23:33:00.000-07:00

For as long as I can remember, I have gone to a ceremony for Remembrance Day. Most often, it was one done through a school. I am not sure when they started to mean more than getting out of class and going to an assembly to me, but somewhere along the line, I realized what that assembly was actually for. I remember one ceremony in particular. I think I was in Grade 11, and as part of our social studies class, we were required to participate in the ceremony. We rehearsed and performed a sort of "re-enactment" of one of the battles in World War II. All I remember is the sound of gunfire and having to pretend I was dead in front of our whole school. I remember thinking how awful it would have been to be surrounded by real gunfire. What would those brave soldiers have been thinking as they were hearing that gunfire? What were those soldiers' brave families thinking as their husbands and wives and sons and daughters were hearing that gunfire?

The ceremony that moved me the most, however, is the one I went to when I was newly pregnant with E. I was working as a supply teacher at a K-12 school. That day, I was sitting in the front of the gym with a Kindergarten class. I don't know if it was the hormones coursing through my veins, but I cried through that whole ceremony. It finally hit me what those sacrifices truly meant. I thought about the little baby I was carrying, and how every soldier was at one point a little baby growing in his or her mother's womb. And I cried. One little girl reached over and held my hand when she saw me crying, and that only made me cry more. There I was in a gym with over one thousand 5-18 year olds, secretly pregnant as we hadn't told anyone and I wasn't showing yet, and I was bawling, and a sweet five year girl reached out and held my hand.

I don't have any family that were/is in the military that I know of except for my mother's grandfather and mrblueberry's grandfather. I don't know what it feels like to have someone close to me make that ultimate sacrifice. I saw on the news today about a Canadian soldier who had been killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb. It was his funeral. I saw his wife carrying his little girl, wrapped in a blanket, and I broke down. He was deployed when she was ten days old. They showed one of the newborn photos they had done with her. At least he got to hold her, and smell her, and she will have those photos. But she will never have her dad hold her when she skins her knee. She will never have her dad look at her with proud eyes as she graduates. She will never have her dad walk her down the aisle, or hold her newborn baby. That whole family paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Remembrance Day means more to me now that I am a mother. As I snuggle E, and my new nephew, it truly hits me. I understand what those families lost more than I ever did. My heart goes out to every family who has felt that sacrifice, and to every family who has waited for their soldier to come home to them. Our veterans and military sacrificed a lot for us to have what we have. And sometimes, I wonder if my generation and the generations after me truly appreciate that. I hope I am wrong. I hope that they do. I hope that they realize that the sacrifice does not always come in war; often, it comes after when the soldier comes home. I hope that they realize what it means when we wear that poppy.

Thank you to Guest Blogger & momstown member Sarah Wallace for this post. Check out her blog http://meditationsofablueberry.blogspot.com/

Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Puppy!

2011-11-01T08:10:00.001-06:00

My kids get so excited when they see the Fisher Price box come in the door! They've learned that they get a new toy to play with and mom is going to be asking them what they think! It makes my 4 year old feel so important!

The Fisher Price Laugh and Learn puppy is the culmination of all things kids love: animals, singing and dancing! My daughters love the flapping ears and the puppy's cute wiggly
movements. The puppy is so easy to play with, even my 1 year old daughter learned within a few seconds how to turn it on and change the music. It is so adorable watching her dance and clap along with her new puppy.

I was surprised to find out that my four year old loved to play with it too. She's carries it all over the room, talking to it and tucking it in under some blankets for a nap, she loves that it talks back to her. I feel bad for the poor puppy though; he spends a lot of time tipped over because my kids think it's hilarious to hear him say 'Uh Oh' when he falls down.

I would definitely recommend this toy as a great Christmas gift for kids! My only complaint is that I didn't get two; my kids are constantly trying to take it from each other! The Laugh and Learn Puppy is a hot item in this house! Check out this link for more reviews on Fisher Price toys by your momstown mamas.

Do's and Don'ts from the Big Cook Expert!

2011-10-26T14:42:00.000-06:00

When you first think stay at home mom, its amazing how quickly images of perfectly cleaned homes with well behaved children, four course meals waiting on the table with you looking all done up will come to mind. Cause everyone knows that we moms have tons of time on our hands! Reality of it is, we fight for time to shower, and when witching hour hits, that hour before dinner, you are opening the fridge ten times hoping that something will finally appear that will solve the reoccurring question of “what are we going to have for dinner tonight?”

Before kids, I used to love to cook. Trying new recipes with hours in the kitchen was something I looked forward to. Somewhere in the last 3 years, that changed. My food ends up on floors and walls, and on a good day, I will have 20 minutes to get dinner made before I have to break up fights, or have a child hanging off one of my limbs. Needless to say, there had to be a better way to do this! As if on cue, I was introduced to Big Cooks, a simple concept where in a few hours, the horrible supper problem is solved.

A Big Cook is a pretty simple concept. Recipes are picked, food is bought and prepared, and then everyone gathers to assemble the meals in a few hours. These meals are then tossed in the freezer and the only thing left to do is relax! Come suppertime, grab a bag, defrost it, and go! Some are even easier and get thrown, completely frozen, in the slow cooker. Simple concept right? Well it is, if it’s done right.

When putting together a big cook, there are a few things to know to ensure that it’s a successful night:

When just starting with Big Cooks, plan ahead and pick recipes that don’t involve multistep cooking (browning meat, then vegetables, etc). Meals that have everything combined at once work best.

Try to pick recipes with the same key ingredients and cuts of meat. This will save you bundles in the long run.

Arrange to only do 1 shopping trip. Call ahead with the amount and cuts of meat you need and ask for a bulk discount and for it to be packaged in larger quantities. When you are talking 100 lbs of chicken, most stores are happy to help, especially if it means you not taking every pack of chicken out of their store. Don’t be afraid to ask if they can slice the meat into needed cuts as well, as this will save you TONS of time! With only one shopping trip, you’re also not ending up with 5 cans of ketchup, 4 bottle of soy sauce, and so on.

While each Big Cook can be done differently, there are some easy Do's and Don'ts that will help things go well. The big secret is to keep it organized!

Do try to pick recipes that can use the some of the same ingredients. Some great staples will be ketchup, soy sauce, brown sugar and tomato sauce.

Don’t assume that a favorite recipe can’t be adapted to be frozen. Many meals can easily have a few ingredients left out as added during cooking so that it freezes better.

Do use a recipe multiplier to make sure you have your quantities right. Allrecipes.com has one built in that works great, but always round up with the measurements. Remember to double and triple check your quantities when buying things, its never fun to run out of a key ingredient.

Don't try to take on all the shopping by yourself, enlist a few friends, or go as a group. If you've called ahead for the meat, it makes for a quick shopping trip when you are just getting the remaining ingredients and the meat is already measured out and packaged.

Do print out your recipes based on the serving sizes you want. It’s much easier to double then it is to half, so when in doubt, go smaller and double it if you need to.
Don’t assume that everyone knows what they are doing. Ask people what they are comfortable doing and put them at tasks they know best.

Do keep it small to start. If you want more meals, have people do 2 or 3 recipes each, but the more people that come, the more hectic it gets.
Don’t worry too much about lots of space, you can always do one recipe at a time. If you do have lots of room, setting up stations for each recipe works great too!

Do let people assemble their own meals, some may want some things left out.
Don’t forget to always make a bit extra when prepping the ingredients, you never know when something is going to get knocked over or spilt.

Do keep it organized while cooked. Try to keep each ingredient with the recipe it belongs to and in one spot.
Don't forget to label your bags! You can write on them prior to putting ingredients in the bag, or can print out labels with the name and cooking instructions that you just stick on after.

Do remember basic cooking rules when assembling meals. Keep raw meat separate and make sure there is lots of soap and cloths for washing hands.
Don't just wing it with the measuring. Most ingredients are weighed or measured carefully, so use proper measuring cups and spoons and weigh your meats.

Do take a break in the middle and do a load of dishes, it helps tremendously at the end!
Don’t neglect the clean up. While it’s wonderful to have 30 meals in one day, most kitchens will look like a war zone at the end, so make sure it’s good to go before leaving!

Remember to enjoy yourself and your company while you’re at it, and then say good-bye to dinner-time stress! Happy Cooking!

Guest Blog by momstown's resident Big Cook Queen - Amanda Laramee

momstown.ca Wins Savvy Mom Entrepreneur of the Year Award!!

2011-10-22T16:38:00.000-06:00

Wow.

Mom Entrepreneur of the Year!!!

That's quite the title considering the absolutely incredible and innovative businesses that were nominated as well!

We are so unbelievably proud of Ann-Marie Burton for developing this amazing organization and inspiring us to think so big! momstown.ca has been going strong for 5 years now and this a fantastic way to celebrate!

momstown could not have done this without the support of our members, fans, and partners. We are so grateful to everyone for supporting this community of mom entrepreneurs, this means the world to us!

Because this award is a joint effort and wouldn't not have been possible with our amazing members and partners we want to share this award with you!

Available to ALL Online Mom Entrepreneurs: FREE advertising package which includes a National Contest and a 3 month discount listing on all our national sites. Click here to sign up to claim your package and get set up to support your business over the holiday season. Our celebration ends October 28, 2011, don’t miss out and enter your name.
Available to ALL Members: As a thank-you to all of our amazing momstown members for their continued support, we’d like to extend everyone’s membership! FREE one month membership – for all New, Existing or Lapsed members. Click here to sign up for your free month extension, reactivation or extra trial membership. momstown loves to connect neighbourhood moms and we hope you’ll join us.

Designing the Perfect Nursery...

2011-10-18T11:26:00.000-06:00

Picture this: I was about 8 1/2 months pregnant and I spent my days wandering the aisles of all kinds retail establishments, list in hand. What list? The list I had ripped out of my New Mom Organizer, of course; the list outlining everything I would need to create the perfect nursery.

Baby wash: Check. Baby Lotion: Check. Baby Oil. Why? Who knows, but it's on the list. Check. Gorgeous matching crib sheet set: Check. Check. CHEQUE! Hundreds of checks and almost as many dollars later, I felt so ready for a baby. Boy, was I prepared!

I used to just sit in the rocking chair and gaze upon my perfect nursery full of matching bedding, wonderful artwork (what a find – a framed alphabet picture in my nursery's colours!), the wonderfully stocked cabinet of diaper creams, lotions, potions, elixirs, oils, powders and pastes (no seriously, I had something called Butt Paste). All arranged according to size, all easily accessible. I would sit there and dream about my perfect baby in my perfect nursery.

A few weeks later, Harrison barged right into my life in what can only be described as an infant hurricane. In only a few short days, the nursery I'd worked on all summer became a mess of creams, diapers, clothes, maybe some sweat, surely some tears, and a possible puddle of pee.

You can't put a lotion bottle back in the ‘right’ place when you're keeping one hand on your squirmy infant. You can't remember to empty the diaper genie when you just wrestled a 6-week old into a onesie that Nana Sally bought and you have to go get a picture of him in it before he outgrows it - which may be in 7 more minutes. You can't put laundry away when you've got a newborn!!!!

Soon I learned that baby powder isn’t really used by anyone with lungs (why was it on my checklist?), and that Butt Paste wasn't as good as Penaten, that baby wash smelled like chemicals, and what to do with baby oil is still a mystery.... eventually it all got given away and I was left with my trusty favourites that got the job done a little quicker each time.

What about the matching crib set? My son started to shimmy around in his sleep and one morning I found him snoozing happily with his face in those beautiful bumper pads. Out they went. That comforter that matched the set? My baby has never seen it – you don’t put a heavy comforter on an infant!??. So basically we had a beautiful fitted sheet and a bedskirt left. But that sheet is now a multitude of colours, telling the story of when we started solids... carrots, berries, beef. Yuck, beef. It's been replaced. That wonderful bedskirt? Now that the crib is lowered, it was all bunchy on the ground and nothing we had left matched it. It's gone too.

Remember that alphabet picture I mentioned? Well, my checklist didn't mention not to hang it over the baby's crib (duh!), so now that he can stand and reach it, that big frame is on the floor, on its side, behind the diaper genie. And don’t even ask me about the bedsheet-for-curtain décor I have going on. It keeps the daylight out, okay??

So now I sit in the puke stained rocking chair and gaze at my nursery in the wake of Hurricane Harry. It’s been disassembled, reassembled, and it's certainly nothing you'd see in ‘Today's Parent’ Magazine.

But it’s where my little man has hung his hat for over a year now. It’s where he first peed on me, it’s where we’ve cried together, eaten together, hid from company together. It’s where he first reached his arms out to me. It’s where he peed on me again.

It’s not the nursery I imagined.... but he’s not the baby I imagined either. They are both so much better.

Guest blog post by Cheryl Trachimowich

New Positive Parenting Webinar - Is Time Out a Waste of Your Time?

2011-10-05T10:12:00.002-06:00

momstown is excited to partner with Amy McCready, founder of Positive Parenting Solutions to offer a free live training webinar to our members!

If Time Out is the staple of the discipline diet in your house, sign up for this webinar today! Amy McCready, will teach you why you need to ditch the strategies that are fundamentally flawed and what you can do instead. You’ll walk away with concrete tools you can use immediately to get your kids to cooperate without the slightest hint of whining, fussing or complaining.

Who Should Attend: Frustrated parents of kids ages 2 – 15
What You’ll Learn: Our strategy-packed, interactive, LIVE online webinar designed to teach you…

What kids are really telling us when they don’t listen, talk back or flat out ignore us!
Why the time is up for “Time Out” and “Counting 1-2-3”
Tool Box Solutions – the strategy parents consistently hail as “magical” in it’s effectiveness
The answers to your pressing questions (you’ll submit your questions via the text chat and I’ll make them part of the session.)

No need for a webcam. All you need is a computer with speakers and you can kick back and learn from the comfort of home.

Two sessions are available:

Thursday October 20th at 12pm MST

Monday October 24th at 7pm MST

All you have to do is RSVP at http://www.positiveparentingsolutions.com/momstown

(You must RVSP in advance to attend as there is limited 'seating')

Not a momstown member? Think could benefit from this training?

Please Join In Too! We wouldn't want you to miss out!

About Amy McCready

Parenting expert Amy McCready is the founder of Positive Parenting Solutions, which has empowered thousands of parents worldwide to correct their kids’ misbehavior without nagging, reminding or yelling. Amy is a frequent guest on the TODAY show and has also appeared on Rachael Ray, CNN, Fox & Friends, MSNBC, and elsewhere. A regular contributor to the TODAY Mom’s blog, Amy lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with her husband and two sons.

Planning is Key - Quick Tips for New Mompreneurs

2011-10-04T22:20:00.002-06:00

At momstown Edmonton South's first Mompreneur Networking night, Communications Specialist Natasha McKenzie shared with us some critical tips on having a plan - and not just a business plan. She taught us how to make both Communications Plans and Marketing Plans to ensure that we've considered everything about the industry we're in before taking the plunge! As suggested in the recent, and very polarizing, blog post by momstown.ca about the rise of the Disposable Mompreneur, having a good plan that considers every aspect of your business is so crucial to your success as a Mompreneur. It takes a look at the business from different angles and can help you figure out if your business is viable and if you have the time and resources to make it successful.

So what is a Communications Plan and a Marketing Plan (and aren't they the same thing?) Natasha explained that the Marketing Plan is a precursor to the Communications plan. The Marketing Plan tells us the Who, What, Where, When, while the Communications Plan is the How & Why.

Marketing Plan - Top 5 Tips

1. Find out who your customer is - include age, sex, marital status, location, family size, income level etc. You need to know who you're selling to.

2. Once you find out who you're selling to find out how they make their purchasing decisions - what are they willing to pay for your product, where do they shop, what motivates their purchases and what problem does your product or service solve for them?

3. Know Your Competitors a.k.a SWOT Analysis - Identify your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.

4. Marketing Activities - How will my message reach potential customers? Print ads, facebook, twitter, sponsoring, promotions. Figure out what the best fit is for your business in your industry.

5. Project where you will be in 1, 3, 5 and 10 years - What are your long term goals?

Don't forget to set a date to review your plan!

Communications Plan - Top 5 Tips

1. Overall Outcomes/Objectives - Similar to your mission statement from your business plan, this should be 2 or 3 sentences about how your product or service will assist your target audience.

2. Critical Path - Timeline for how you'll use the tools and tactics to achieve your goals and relay your messages, charts are a fantastic way to budget your time and stay organized (ie. How often and how long will it take you update facebook, your website or engage on twitter daily?)

3. Key Messages - What is the message you are trying to relay about your business, these should be one liners to describe what you're business is about, your 'elevator speech'.

4. Evaluation - This is necessary to measure your success. Example - how many hits generated, number of new clients or number or mentions/media clippings.

5. Public Relations - How will you interact with the public? Advertising, Socia Media and Media Kits - Which will you use in what way? Remember that social media is not free, you are always investing time and energy.

Thanks again to momstown mama and Communications Specialist Natasha McKenzie for teaching us so much!

Fun with the Fisher Price "Loving Family" Grand Dollhouse

2011-10-02T21:38:00.000-06:00

When we received the Fisher Price "Loving Family" Grand Dollhouse I had thought to myself; "Grand indeed!" The mere size of the box was surprising until we opened it and to our surprise there it was, assembled; every parents dream! To completely assemble the dollhouse it took about 5 minutes in total and that was mainly because we couldn't decide which room from the many available to put the family!

Once it was complete and ready so was our daughter. She couldn't wait to get in there and explore the house herself. She loves that there are two babies to play with and that have their very own chairs to sit in with the mommy and dada. I found the layout was very well done because our daughter isn't even quite two yet and it can keep her busy for quite a while with all the different rooms available and also something as simple as playing on the stairs, go figure.

The "Loving Family" Grand Dollhouse doesn't only keep our daughter busy it also keeps my nephew (3) busy as well. I found it quite interesting that he naturally picked up the male figurine and started to play with him. After being able to watch both of these children play together with this one item I knew this was definitely something that would stay grand in our loving family for quite some time and am very grateful that we were picked for such an opportunity.

Guest Blogger: Angelina Cardinal

Why Doing What You Love Will Repay You In Spades

2011-09-27T13:28:00.001-06:00

When I found momstown.ca I thought, "Why would anyone pay to join a momsgroup??". Then I took advantage of a 2 week free trial and realized the value a membership contains and haven't looked back since. After 1 year of attending events and developing some incredible friendships, the opportunity came to purchase the South Edmonton chapter. I originally thought about how much I loved these ladies and worried that we couldn't live up to their expectations. I also thought about how much work was involved in keeping an entire community of moms busy, happy and most of all connected. Needless to say taking over the momstown Edmonton South chapter was a huge decision and after thinking about it long and hard Janine and I decided to jump in!

Then came the work.

I once thought that I was a computer whiz, after purchasing the license I found out my knowledge level is sub par at best! After a month or two of frustration and a lot of hard work, we realized that we missed something. momstown is about community. Although things were running smoothly our vision for community had been buried as we learned our new roles.

Moms need support, recognition and to feel cared for and our vision for momstown was just that. We began to look at ways to encourage our community to support one another in good times and bad. We've had incredible response and we've been so unbelievably delighted to see amazing things happen within our community. Our moms have given so much of themselves to help each other and at times it has literally brought tears to our eyes. Whether it was a coffee, a hug, or help around the house our community takes care of each other and we couldn't be prouder.

On a business front we've seen that partners are aware of how connected our moms are and they want to be a part of it. This venture has been scary, frustrating but most of all rewarding. We all know being an entrepreneur takes a lot of hard work so check out this blog for some fantastic tips on how to keep the love for your business alive. We can't *imagine not being an integral piece of this flourishing community and we're excited to be part of an amazing team of mom entrepreneurs just like us. We've learned that our struggles only make us stronger and they don't even compare to how much we've gained intrinsically from this endeavor!

"Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do."

Kristin and Janine
Your momstown mama's

Back to School PJ Party with Kelloggs!

2011-09-26T20:53:00.002-06:00

momstown Edmonton South spent a fantastic morning dressed in our jammies at Gymboree! Our bellies were filled with delicious Kelloggs cereal, fruit and yogurt! All our moms were amazed as we read the labels on cereal we've all been feeding our kids for years. We were surprised to learn just how nutritious cereal really is, it was a fantastic learning experience for us all!

If you’re interested in comparing

Kelloggs cereals and how your choices contribute to your calorie and nutrient intake for the day I encourage you to check out this neat tool from Kelloggs that builds a breakfast for you and then compares the breakdown of each food.

http://www.kelloggsnutrition.ca/canutrition/en/gda-tool/GDA3.html

A HUGE Thank you goes out to Kelloggs who treated us to a wonderful breakfast as well as Gymboree who hosted the awesome event and kept the kids entertained!

Here is a video recap of all the fun we had!

We're having fun with Kelloggs all across Canada!

Check out the PJ Party's in Winnipeg and Hamilton!!

Kelloggs Back to School Pyjama Party!

2011-09-22T09:22:00.001-06:00

What my childless friends don't know...

2011-09-13T21:42:00.000-06:00

I've always wanted to be a mom, I've never had to decide whether motherhood was for me. I have always found kids to be fascinating, how they think, play and love has always astounded me. When we made the decision to have children, I knew it wouldn't be easy but as the old Beatles song goes I thought "All you need is love".

All that said motherhood took me by surprise.

I knew I'd be up in the middle of the night, I knew breastfeeding would hurt, and I knew that toddlers were a handful. But I struggle daily with my children. My 3 year old tests my patience on a daily basis and my sons sleep habits are less than stellar. My life is busy, a little bit crazy and very loud. I'm tired and I don't get much time to myself.

My childless friends look at my chaotic life and say, "I am sooo happy I don't have kids, I love my sleep" or
"I don't know how you do it, just watching you makes me tired!"

But they don't know.

They don't know what it feels like to be responsible for a small miracle.
They don't know what it's like to hold a screaming baby for an hour, then not want to put her down when she finally falls asleep.
They don't know that you have literally fall in love with that messy, crying baby.
They don't know what it's like to study every inch of a baby from their tiny toe nails to the wrinkles at the back of their head.
They don't know that hearing the words "I lub you mommy" brings tears to your eyes.
They don't know what its like to see the tiny feet that you created taking their very first steps.
They don't know how it feels to watch your perfect little baby smile in his sleep.
They don't know what it's like to feel those small arms wrap around your leg for a surprise hug.
They don't know just how much you love those tiny humans.
And they don't know that it's worth every second.

So because they don't know what they don't know we won't fault them for thinking we're crazy. But let's keep this a secret so they don't try to steal our precious babies : )

momstown's 4th Birthday Bash!!

2011-09-12T14:59:00.002-06:00

momstown's 4th Birthday Bash was HUGE success!
Across Canada there were 19 Birthday Parties, that's a lot of cake!!

Here in Edmonton, we were so happy to see so many happy smiling faces. We were blessed with amazing weather, incredible kids and tons of fun! Thank you all so much for coming out and supporting us.

I hope everyone had as much fun as we did!

Have a question? Want more info?

info.edmonton-south@momstown.ca

or call 780-918-5639

To get in on the fun! Register now for your free trial membership!!

Win Family Passes to The Backyardigans!

2011-08-29T09:31:00.000-06:00

Contest: Win Family Passes to The Backyardigans

So excited about The Backyardigans show coming to Norther Jubilee Auditorium on September 25! The Backyardigans Quest for the Extra Ordinary Aliens is the theatrical production by Koba Entertainment that brings to life the fun-loving and adorable characters from the favourite children's TV show. Wouldn't you love to surprise your little one with this special outing?

Well, I have great news! I am going to award one of you Free Tickets to the show!!! Here's how to enter our contest:
All you need to do is visit the momstown Edmonton South facebook page between Monday August 29th-September 19th post a picture/video/or story featuring your kids loving The Backyardigans and why they are the number #1 Fan. We hope you will get very fun and creative in honour of our friends The Backyardigans!

Don't forget you will need to come back here and post a comment letting me know you completed step 1 which was uploading your creative submission on Facebook (please leave your Facebook name as well so I can easily find you)!

I will need to see your post on Facebook and see a comment here on the blog in order for your entry to be valid.

At the end of the day on September 2nd I will choose one lucky winner!

Check out www.thebackyardigansontour.com/ for more details on the Show and make sure you go and like the Koba Entertainment Facebook page and follow them on Twitter as well!

An Edmonton womans's Skin Cancer Story

2011-08-26T14:16:00.001-06:00

Guest blog post from a 27 year old local Edmonton woman. Please heed her warnings and protect yourself and your children from the sun.

Hi, my name is Erin and I have a story to tell you. I am a fair skinned person with lots of moles. When I was 18 I thought my pale skin was unattractive and that I needed a tan. People would say I was pasty and needed a “healthy” glow. I believed these stupid people. So I started tanning in tanning beds, and lying out in the sun without protection trying to get some color, which I could never get much… but I kept trying. I thought if I went more and used tanning accelerators that maybe I’d get darker. I felt myself becoming addicted to the good feeling you get after using a tanning bed. I would crave the warmth and light. So, for three years, I would go in spurts, try for months to tan, then stop, then months later start again… until I finally stopped because I thought it was a waste of money, and in the back of my mind I wondered if I had done enough damage to my skin that I would pay for it later…. Little did I know what was in store for me.

I had a mole on my leg that was large, and people like my mom and boyfriend all said it looked weird; I thought so too but didn’t think it was a big deal. They urged me to get it taken off. So I did. Eventually.

DECEMBER 15TH, 2010
The dermatologist who took off my mole said they’d call if there were any problems with the mole. First thing I heard that morning ten days before Christmas was my phone ringing. I answer in a haze. It’s the dermatologist. The conversation went like this: Hi Erin, can you come to my office today? No, I can’t, I have to go to work… Ok well grab a pen then.

You have Melanoma. I just wrote it down and kept writing everything he said.

I was so shocked I didn’t really hear him, just wrote down what he said. I had to go the next day to get a chest x-ray and two ultrasounds to make sure that the melanoma hadn’t spread to my organs. I found out later that day that it hadn’t, and we all breathed a sigh of relief. But my cancer journey wasn’t over yet, in fact, it was just beginning. I was then referred to a melanoma doctor at the U of A. He told me I had a stage one melanoma and that they would remove flesh around where the mole was and then biopsy a lymph node in my upper leg to be sure the cancer hadn’t spread to my lymph nodes.

February 4th I had my surgery. Ten days later I go in to my surgeons. They found cancer in the lymph node they removed. They said I now have stage 3 Cancer. My chances just went down to about 65%. I crumbled and cried for the first time in fear of my disease. I wondered if I was going to make it to my 28th birthday. I wondered if I’d survive long enough to have a family one day. I cried, I was scared, I sat on regrets. I was then told that I would have to have all the lymph nodes around the one that was malignant removed. I was told it would be a big undertaking.

Two weeks later I had the surgery, what they call “Radical groin lymph node dissection.” Sounds scary and it is. I had two tubes coming out of me when I woke up, one on my hip and one in my lower abdomen, and a serious amount of pain in my hip and upper leg. I lay in a hospital bed for four days, unable to go to the bathroom without the help of a nurse and high on morphine to relieve the pain, I cried at night about my uncertain future.

After my recovery from my surgery, I was then referred to an oncologist, a cancer doctor at the Cross Cancer institute. I grew up in the neighborhood where this scary place is and I always thought that other people go there, not me or my family. No, I wouldn’t know anyone who’d have to go there for treatment, not me. He said I should do a year of Interferon, a drug that “interferes” with cancer cells to slow down or kill them. I was told I’d have to go in five days a week for four weeks for IV Treatments and then I would go on to the “maintenance” part of my treatment, 3 shots a week from home with a “pen” for 48 weeks.

The first week of interferon I walk into the cross and I am told to go to the main Chemo room. It wasn’t until then that I realized I was a Cancer patient. I was here to have Chemotherapy. What everyone fears. I was nervous but dove head first into my treatments. I wrote a little calendar to mark off the days and called it “Chemo countdown.” I lost 15 pounds in two weeks. I couldn’t eat. I had a horrible taste in my mouth for the whole four weeks. I had to give up drinking, and caffeine, and I fought the urge to puke 24 hours a day. I felt weak all over. In my whole body, from head to toe I was exhausted. I slept everyday after my treatments, and couldn’t keep my eyes open after 9:00 pm, and would do it all the next day, endless day in day out of the same, feeling sick physically, mentally, and emotionally. Waking up and crying. Just crying.

But then deciding to soldier on and get this sh*t over with. Once I thought I wanted to just quit. I thought I couldn’t do it. Then after thinking about it all weekend I thought, no, I will finish this off. And I did. I am now in month 3 of my at home treatments. I feel a bit better but some days are still hard, I have mornings where I have no appetite and days, sometimes weeks where I am completely exhausted, where I can hardly stand up I am so weak and tired, and it is a far cry from the girl I used to be. I went back to work part time, and even that is too much sometimes.

I used to have a busy life and at the age of 27 I’ve had to slow down more than I’d think I’d have to till my 70’s. I never imagined I’d spend a year in my 20’s fighting a disease like melanoma, and now looking back there was a lot I could have done to prevent it. Melanoma is a disease you can see on your skin. Most cancer quietly grows inside of you and doesn’t give you any warning signs until it is too late. Melanoma can be caught early, but if it isn’t caught until it spreads to your organs your chances are less than 10% that you’ll survive 5 years.

Please think about me next time you hop in a tanning bed. I was just like you.

Letter from my daughter..

2011-08-19T10:10:00.003-06:00

Reading this blog post on the The Leaky Boob inspired me to think about my own struggle with breastfeeding through my daughters eyes.

Dear mommy,

I remember just after I was born, you were so excited to feed, hold and kiss me. I heard you tell my auntie how this time things would be different. I didn't know what happened 'last time' but I could tell you loved me so much, I trusted you to take care of me. You let me nurse for hours and hours, usually straight through the night. That sweet gentle lady came over and hung me in that blanket and you started to cry. She told you it was okay, I hadn't lost too much weight yet; we'd see how I was doing in the next few days. I would nurse and nurse, I just loved being so close to you all the time. I wish you wouldn't cry so much mommy. I really liked visiting the nurses in the office with the brights lights, but you were always so sad when we left, it made me sad too. I felt you not wanting to hold me unless I was eating. I saw you not being able to look at my legs and arms, getting so skinny. Did you know that I was so hungry mommy? That new milk tasted funny and the bottle was cold to suck on, but it filled my tummy. Everyone told you that I was getting so big, I liked to see you smile. I don't know why you called my bottles baby poison, but auntie didn't think it was funny. I hear you telling my friends mommies that you didn't make enough milk. I hear that you're still sad that you couldn't feed me yourself. I hope you know that I'm okay, I know you tried. I forgive you mommy.

Can you forgive yourself?

Love,

Madilyn

A Whole Lot of Fun with the Fisher Price Stride-to-Ride Dino!

2011-08-09T16:28:00.001-06:00

I was lucky enough to be selected to test and review the Fisher Price Stride-to-Ride Dino! As soon as this awesome toy graced our doorstep my children fell in love! I saw the small box and thought there's got to be 1000 tiny peices in there, we're waiting for daddy to get home to put it together! But after much begging from my 4 year old I finally opened it and to my surpise it was the easiest toy I've ever assembled! In literally minutes and both my kids (1 and 4 year old) we're cruising around the kitchen on this adorable little Dino!

It's bright, colourful and the sound effects are cute too! Not overly loud like some toys on the market. What I LOVED about the Stride-to-Ride Dino was how easily it adapted from ride on to push toy for smaller babies! My adorable neice who's not walking yet loved pushing this toy from one end of my house to the other. My daughter had a truck type of ride on toy when she was 1 and this is so much better, I love the design of the dinosaur and both my kids can't get enough of it. My 1 year old, who's a bit of daredevil has had so much fun playing with this. It is a great toy to give as a gift or for your own kids, we'll be using it for years to come!

Enter to WIN your very own Fisher Price Ride-to-Stride Dino from www.momstown.ca

momstown.ca celebrates 4 incredible years of building community!

2011-07-30T17:37:00.002-06:00

When I joined momstown I thought it would just give me something to do. I liked the idea of a message board with local moms and having a calendar of events catered specifically to my neighbourhood. I found so much more than I expected with momstown and for the whole month of August we're celebrating momstown.ca's 4th year of building community among moms all across Canada!!

Be sure to join in on the momstown.ca facebook fan party on August 18th! So much fun and of course amazing prizes!

Join us on August 21st at Jackie Parker Recreation Area from 10am-2pm for tons of fun for the kids and as always local moms looking to connect with each other!

Snow Pea Portraits will be doing FREE family photo sessions all day!
Par-T-Perfect will have a face painter on hand as well as a Bouncy Castle to get some energy out!
Tiny Labs is providing some scientific fun for all ages!
Marr Mac Dance and Theatre Arts will be doing providing entertainment as well as fun activities with the kids!
Cupcakes for all provided by Whimsical Cake Studio!

You'll also have a chance to win some great prizes!!

Presidents Choice Gift Card
Smashbox Cosmetics
Littlest Pet Shop
Little Tykes Sports Coupe
Greenworks Gift Pack
Gift Basket from Stella & Dot Stylist - Sabrina Komarniski
Scrapbook from Linda's Stampin' up!
Clorox Gift Pack
Life Choices Food Prize Pack
CBC Kids - Super Why Prize!
Maple Leaf Foods
Epicure Selections Gift Basket!
Gift Basket from Cafe O' Play

Thank you to our fabulous sponsors!

Don't live in Edmonton? There are Birthday Parties just like ours happening all over Canada for the whole month of August!

Ontario

momstown Barrie - Aug 20
momstown Burlington - Aug 14
momstown Georgina - Aug 27
momstown Guelph: August 16
momstown Hamilton: August 13
momstown Kitchener-Waterloo: August 21
momstown Markham: August 31
momstown Milton: August 5
momstown Newmarket-Aurora: August 13
momstown Oakville: August 10
momstown Toronto: August 27
momstown Whitby: August 27

Manitoba

momstown Winnipeg: August 14

Alberta

momstown Central Alberta: August 29

Maya's Stillbirth Story: A baby is a baby, no matter how small.

2011-07-06T21:37:00.009-06:00

I have three children, you’ll only see me with two of them at playdates or shopping at Wal-Mart. But I have three. When I explain that I have an angel baby I see people get a little uncomfortable. I see the sadness in their faces. I hear their justifications for why it happened. Most of the time they try to change the subject. I’ve heard so many times that it would have been easier if she had passed away earlier. That it must have been so much harder carrying her for that long and then losing her. There is nothing that could make losing a baby easier. She would have been my baby if I had carried her for 6 days, 6 weeks or 6 months. As soon as you see those two pink lines you have plans, dreams and a love for that baby that consumes you so completely. You can imagine their tiny hands wrapping around your finger, you can picture them learning to walk and saying their very first words.

We found out we were pregnant just a week after returning from our wedding in Jamaica. Excitement, joy, and a whole lot of worry set in. In no time at all, we were 12 weeks along (that magic number) and started spreading our news to family, work, and every social media outlet that would listen. Then I saw red. You know that feeling your whole pregnancy. You don't want to look down just in case you see that awful colour you’re dreading. There it was. I thought, well maybe it's implantation bleeding, doing the math it I knew it wasn't, but I just wanted it to be anything other than the only thing my mind could think of - miscarriage. After describing the symptoms to the triage nurse, she loudly stated "Oh that doesn't sound good, you're probably having a spontaneous abortion." Nice. Like my body had some sort of disdain for this baby and called off the whole thing. Finally they came in with the doppler and there it was! I hear that familiar and incredible sound of tiny horses galloping in my belly!! It's funny how such a small sound can change your world so much.

They sent me for an ultrasound and found out it's a subchorionic bleed, which is basically an accumulation of blood between layers of the placenta, 20% of women have them but most aren't even detected. Mine unfortunately was larger than most and required bedrest. From then on, I was waited on hand and foot. Sounds like fun right?? Not when you have a 18 month old that so desperately wants you to continue on with your daily activities, but you aren't even able to lift her into her carseat or pick her up for a cuddle. Without the help of some amazing mamas, those three months would have been unbearable. They babysat, cooked meals, arranged playdates and always remained positive. We joked that this little Jamaican baby was trying to teach his mama to relax a little!

After two more months, she was still strong and everything seemed to be improving, I felt all the bed rest and ultrasounds were worth it, I was really going to be able to meet my baby. 24 weeks, I kept repeating to myself. Babies are viable outside the womb at 24 weeks. I was almost there.

Then it happened. I will never forget the day we found out we had lost her. All the kicks and movement had tapered off and I had this terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. I tried to pretend she was alright and that I was just being paranoid. We watched the ultrasound monitor, she was so still. I cried all night wondering what I had done, what I hadn’t done. I dreaded waking up in the morning knowing I had to deliver a baby that I couldn’t take home.

When they induced me they thought it might take days to start the labour, I secretly hoped it just wouldn’t start at all. But the labour began quickly and before I knew it I was having strong contractions. I wept and prayed for God to give me the strength to do this; my body was doing the opposite of what I really wanted. I wanted to just keep her in my belly, safe and warm; I wanted to pretend she would come out alive and well. After only 4 short hours we were holding our sweet baby girl, Maya Grace.

We were surrounded with so much love that words can’t even describe. That tiny hospital room became a place of peace and calm. We didn't even cry holding her, how could we cry holding someone so beautiful?

Days turned into months and everyday a little bit of strength returned. I grew with this experience more than words can ever explain. I've become more loving, more caring and I cherish every second I have with my kids. I revel in the small things; like the look on my daughters face when she's done something wrong, or that tiny trickle of drool my son leaves on my arm when he's sleeping. I tell them I love them more than they probably need to hear. I hug them (a lot). Every chance I get to be their mommy - I take it.

I feel lucky. I feel blessed to have had the chance to hold my sweet angel. To see her hands, toes, and kiss her lips. I know most people think it would be harder to have a stillbirth and harder still to have a baby who passed away after birth. But I would give anything for even an hour of my baby's life, to see her sweet smile or open her eyes.

I want my experience to shed some light on stillbirth, miscarriage and early infant death. We've all been touched by at least one of these, but most likely all three. You’ve probably had a friend of a friend deliver a stillborn, or your aunt had a baby pass away from SIDS. I'm sure you know at least a handful of women that have had miscarriages, if you haven't had one yourself.

These babies though small, some just a few weeks along, are our children. They stay with us forever whether you have subsequent children or not. I think of my daughter and this experience often. I’ve learned that most people have no idea what to say or what not to say to a woman who’s just lost a baby. I have some advice for helping someone heal from such an incredible loss.

Don't expect her to be "normal". She will never be the same. Forget who she was and just follow her as she becomes the mother of an angel baby.

Don't avoid talking about her loss. She is always thinking about her baby so don't be afraid you'll upset her.

Let her cry. She needs to cry.

Don't tell her she can have more. Compare it to if someone lost their sister, would you say "Well at least you have another sibling?"

Say her baby's name. She needs other people to acknowledge her child and hear her baby's name from someone else's lips

She doesn’t need to hear “It was for the best”. It just doesn’t matter to her. She wants to be holding a baby, not a box of tissues.

What I did need was support. I needed someone to listen to me if I needed to talk. I needed people to just be there. I needed hugs. I needed to cry and I needed to laugh.

I know Maya will always be with me. I feel her presence as my children giggle with joy blowing bubbles that float gingerly in the air. As I continue to heal I keep her in my heart even if I can’t hold her in my arms.

For more stories about miscarriage, stillbirth, or early infant death
or to share your own please visit:

Sanity Saving Meals and Delicious Wine!

2011-07-04T22:43:00.001-06:00

momstown Edmonton South got together for another Big Cook! We are so grateful to Chateau des Charmes for providing us with delicious Generation Seven wine. We spent hours talking, eating and of course building meals that will make our lives so much easier! I couldn't think of a better way to spend a friday night than sipping amazing wine and chatting with some fantastic momstown mamas!

One lucky mama went home with a bottle of yummy Generation Seven Wine courtesy of Chateau des Charmes and we all got to enjoy a glass (or two) before and after the food prep!

Although buying 60 chicken breasts and chopping 10 cups of onion can be overwhelming, it's worth every second, there's nothing like opening my freezer to 8 prep free meals that are easy and delicious!

Thank you to everyone who participated and for Kim G. for hosting, a great time was had by all!

Photo Contest Winner!

2011-07-01T11:03:00.002-06:00

Congratulations to Amanda Van Wieringen who
submitted the photo below for our Father's Day Contest sponsored by Patient Man Productions! Amanda won a family photo session valued at $300! Thank you to everyone who entered, the pictures were beautiful!

Diapers to Diamonds, diplomas and destinations. Patient Man Productions, based in Edmonton - but available worldwide, will capture the memories that are important to you and your loved ones.

The Beauty of Birth

2011-06-30T22:12:00.003-06:00

Recently someone asked me how I could possibly want to attend births. Why would I want to stand by and watch a woman writhe in pain for hours on end? What could possibly be gained from putting my personal life on hold for weeks at a time waiting for a woman to spontaneously go into labour? The financial gains could not account for the many sleepless nights awaiting the call. Or night after night talking to an anxious mom wondering if these contractions were actually the real thing, only to fall back asleep (iphone in hand) just before my kids come bounding into the room saying "Good Morning Mommy!" Sometimes I wonder myself what I signed up for. I've been squirted with amniotic fluid, been awake for 36 hours straight, walked empty cold hallways at 4am and will gladly do it again.

Birth is messy, exhausting, unpredictable and intense. Birth is beautiful.

I fall in love with birth again and again. I'm not a doula who is concerned with what choices a mom makes. A birth could never be measured in epidurals, episiotomies or emergency c-sections. The mother herself is the only one who knows what is right for her body and her baby in that moment. There is no good, there is no bad. Birth just is. There is no room for ego or pretending to be anything other than what you are - a beautiful, strong and powerful woman. Helping women find the strength to birth their baby, to look into their eyes when they weep "I can't do this anymore" and tell them "Yes, you can" and believe it with every fiber of my being means more to me than I could ever explain. I don't attend births for the money, most doula's would attest that the sacrifices far outweigh the financial gains. I attend births because women need someone to believe in them. During labour if she loses faith in herself, even for a moment, and looks outward for help - that is where I'll be.

Spring Planters!!

2011-06-30T22:06:00.000-06:00

Alberta had a late start to spring so this month we kicked off summer making some gorgeous planters! We were lucky to have a beautiful day, fantastic company and delicious snacks! We are some multi-tasking mama's, having 8 babies in tow and coming out with beautiful planters to decorate our front yards and decks!

A Big Thank You to Shanna, our resident planting expert, for hosting and providing supplies!

Sarah, Joanne, Chani and Debbie get their gloves dirty!

Isla gets to dig in the dirt!

The babies have fun in the sun too!

All ready to take home!

Summer reading - join the club!

2011-06-18T21:13:00.001-06:00

All across momstown communities, kids can join summer reading clubs at their local libraries! You don't need to be a reader to participate - my youngest son was 2 yrs old the first summer he joined, and the books we read to him counted towards his participation!

　
Sponsored by TD Bank, the reading program is launched Canada-wide at the end of June/early July in many communities*. The goal is to encourage children to engage with books throughout the summer.

　
Upon signing up, children usually receive a poster, stickers, colouring book, and a way to track their summer reading. When milestones are hit (say, 10 books read) kids receive a reward - such as a free ice cream from a local restaurant, or a pass to a local entertainment complex. Each year my kids look forward to the library reading program, and it's a great way to start off the summer!

The theme this year is Splash! Celebrate Summer and the website has lots of links to recommended book lists (ranging from pictures books up to teenage years).
An interactive kids website has been designed to engage kids in reading with online games and activities. Whatever momstown community you're part of, there should be a local library ready to engage your kids in reading this summer!
momstown has a strong literacy program as part of its educational curriculum for children aged 0-5. Our momstown book clubs, book reviews, and parent resources help families make reading a part of their every day.

　
Even the youngest child can engage with letters - momstown has a full range of alphabet crafts to get kids interested!
Click on your community for your local library information on the TD Summer Reading Club.

Click here for the link to our Edmonton Public Library Summer reading program!

By: Guest Blogger Ally Cooper

Positive Parenting Solutions Webinar!

2011-05-31T23:33:00.001-06:00

momstown.ca is excited to partner with Amy McCready, founder of Positive Parenting Solutions, to offer a FREE live training webinar: Get Kids to Listen Without Nagging, Reminding or Yelling!

We have 2 options for you to attend -

Tuesday June 21st from 9-10pm EST

or Thursday June 23rd 2-3pm EST

Amy promises that we'll walk away with concrete tools we can use the next day and see results. I know you'll be especially interested in learning the 5 R's of Fair and Effective Consequences. You can watch, listen and even interact with Amy. Participants are not required to have a webcam, only a computer with speakers.

Webinar seating will be limited so learn more and RSVP now!

Please share this on your FACEBOOK page (friends of friends welcome!) by clicking here!

momstown is now offering even more events, discounts, and interactive features than ever!

Monthly Contest Winner!

2011-05-31T23:20:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Jennifer Delisle who won a 6 month membership to momstown Edmonton South!

Thank you to everyone who entered!

Check out this months contest here!

momstown Weightloss Mission!

2011-05-30T20:46:00.002-06:00

We are starting fresh for spring with a new Weight Loss Challenge beginning on June 1st. Many of us have settled in to some unhealthy habits over the winter (drive thru anyone?) and it's time to shape up and get healthy!

Our biggest goal this time around is to provide support for each other so that we don't fall off the wagon a few weeks in! We have three groups set up based on location and we are ready to motivate and support each other to reach our goals! Participants received a pocket calorie counter, food log and journal to keep track of the lifestyle

changes we are making!

We have a total goal of 465lbs to lose in six months!

Can't wait to see what we can accomplish together!

Congratulations to momstown member Cheryl who lost 20lbs and won $360.00 in our last challenge! Great Job!

Need some extra motivation? Check out how momstown Barrie did in their weight loss challenge earlier this year!!

Mother's Day Surprise!

2011-05-16T22:55:00.001-06:00

On Mother's Day momstown wanted to show our deserving mama's how much we appreciate them. We lined up some amazing local businesses to come and pamper them and even better, entertain their kids at the same time! We had a fantastic time and thank our members for sharing their special day with us!

Here are some glimpses into our Mother's Day Surprise!

Mariya receives a relaxing massage from Cheryl-Lynn McKinnon RMT, this chair was never empty!

Cheryl gets a great 'do by Christina Mawhinney

from Pretty Mama Travelling Salon!

Zoo 2 U brought some friendly animals and The Twisted Pirate made amazing balloon art for the kids! Bounceroo provided a great bouncy castle for the kids to get their energy out! We hope there were some long naps in the afternoon!

Make up by mG Artistry had our makeup looking camera ready!

Delicious gourmet cupcakes enjoyed by all

were provided by Toot Sweet Cupcakes!

Thank you again to Snow Pea Portraits for taking beautiful family photos with our mama's looking especially gorgeous after a relaxing day of pampering.

What I love about momstown!

2011-05-13T22:29:00.001-06:00

Everyone is familiar with the saying "it takes a village to raise a child" and as mothers, I'm pretty sure each and everyone one of us has, at one time or another, wondered where the rest of the village was hiding, shirking their duties to a crying newborn or fit-throwing toddler.

I talk about momstown A LOT, and people often ask me two main questions: where I found momstown, and what it is exactly that a moms' group does. So, I'll answer those questions here for everyone today, because I believe the answers bear repeating, and the benefits of a moms' group, specifically this moms' group, are innumerable and should be had by all.

I was already a new mom when I found momstown, although I wish I'd found it much, much sooner. My daughter was just over six months old, and I'd been cloth diapering her (and I was the only person I knew who used cloth diapers). I thought I'd look for some one-size AIOs, and dashed to the internet. I had a brand in mind, so I went on a search to see if they had what I was looking for. I was pleasantly surprised - they did! But the wholesaler wouldn't sell me small quantities, obviously, and I'd never seen these before at any baby specialty store, so I sent an email inquiring as to where I could find these diapers in my area. The only place, they told me, I could find them was at The Baby Market Place, an online store that, as it turned out, is based here in Sherwood Park. Even pleasanter a surprise was that my mom offered to buy the diapers for me. At that time I was lonely and overwhelmed and never got a thing done - so she looked into it for me, and discovered that you could get free shipping to my house with a momstown membership. Even better, a trial of the membership was free! And better yet - there was a promotion going on that gave you a free 6 week trial, instead of the usual 2-week trial! It all made sense.

Those six weeks opened my eyes - there was a whole world of moms out there who also used cloth diapers, and also struggled with breastfeeding and also had babies who wouldn't sleep more than three hours at a stretch.

This leads me into question number two. What does a moms' group do? Well, a lot of things, actually. momstown has events every day of the week - you can always find something to do with other moms in your area, even during the day when your old friends are at work, and bringing the kidlet along is no problem, and there are big holiday-based events where the whole family can come and enjoy. Better yet, there are Mom's Nights Out, where you can go out and talk at lengths about your child without boring the pants off of anyone. Those are amazing benefits, and they've kept me coming back again and again, but they're not really the main draw for me.

The main draw of momstown is this (I'm actually tearing up a bit as I type this - bear with me); momstown is a community. It's a support system for every mom out there who's ever been frustrated or fed up or felt helpless or didn't know what to do. It's advice, experience, and help. I've found lifelong friends at momstown (and since the cost of membership is nearly nothing, I don't have to worry about losing this group) and have found a whole world outside of my life that I didn't know existed and couldn't otherwise have tapped into. It's not just a playgroup - it's a group of friends, and a safe place for us moms to be who we are, do what we do, and help one another.

By: Jen Schimanke Snow Pea Portraits

2011-05-01T00:11:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Chani Palindat who has won Design Services from Urban Chickadee! Be sure to post some pictures when the room is done!

From Yoga Pants to the Workforce...

2011-04-30T23:11:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is the day I've been dreading since my son was born, it's time to go back to work. I've dreamed up every possible way to stay home and for us unfortunately it's just not an option. Although I am going to miss my kids and my "old life" I’m desperately trying to stay positive about my “new life”, so here are a few things I’m actually looking forward to!

1) Taking care of myself- I can no longer leave my eyebrows untamed or my hair in the standard ponytail, I must look presentable to the general public this means I will need take more than glance at myself in the mirror. I’m actually looking forward to showers being necessity rather than an optional luxury. Now if this post pregnancy weight didn't make these damn pants so tight I might actually like getting dressed up!
2) Adult conversation – I love talking to my kids and other moms but it's nice to have a conversation that doesn't include breastfeeding, dirty diapers and sleep schedules. This means when someone asks "how are you?" they don't mean "How many hours of sleep did you get between feedings??". I’m not sure if I know how to have these real conversations anymore but I’m sure I’ll learn.
3) Problem Solving- I am absolutely not an expert on parenting, I’m just flying by the seat of my pants, like the rest of you. Parenting is about trial and error and I find that as soon as I think I know something about my child she changes making me more confused than ever. I can’t wait to live in a world where there’s just one solution to a single problem, rather than having 100 possibilities why my child isn’t sleeping, eating, walking, pooping...the list goes on and on.

Although I know returning to work will benefit my family, but I have to remember it may be good for me too. I’m going to try to remember these things this week, while I hold back my tears, do my hair and put on those pants with a button.

Teddy Bear Picnic with momstown!

2011-04-24T22:38:00.000-06:00

On April 1st we pretended it was summer here at momstown Edmonton South! Of course it was too cold to enjoy a real picnic so we laid out our blankets inside! The kids brought their favorite teddy bears to share their lunch with. There were lots of laughs over our April Fool's joke earlier that day and a ton of food enjoyed by all!

Top 3 tips for Parents Taking Pictures!!

2011-04-24T22:22:00.002-06:00

Parenthood, especially early parenthood, is a chaotic, whirlwind time in a person's life, and if you're anything at all like me, you're completely blown away by the speed with which your little one is changing before your very eyes. I find myself moved, daily, by my daughter, who is 21 months...oh my goodness, 22 months old. This morning, she was sitting in her high chair, blond locks all disheveled and big, round hazel-green eyes looking tiredly at me and a little pout on her pillowy little lips. Looking back now, five hours later, I cannot believe I did not snap a photo. Every moment in time is so precious and irreplaceable. So, it makes sense that we want to take photos of our children every single day. We're lucky to live in the digital age, where that's very possible and I encourage everyone to carry a camera everywhere you go! But there are good photos, and there are bad photos, and what good are a million photos if you didn't manage to get any good ones? So, here are some simple tips you can follow to take good and even great photos of your kids! 1. Make sure you camera settings are appropriate to the situation. While just about every camera has an "AUTO" setting, you won't get the best results in every situation. Kids move QUICK. So take a look at your camera - does it have a "Kids" setting? This setting is designed specifically to reduce blur in your subject, by using the fastest possible shutter speed for your lighting situation, and by using it, you'll have far fewer photos of adorable little blurs. 2. Lighting is key in photography, so be mindful of your light. The more light the better, and natural light is always best. I know, we can't take every photo outdoors, but we can still be smart about our lighting. So, to avoid disappointment, DO NOT shoot a photo of your child in front of a window! At best, you'll end up with a silhouette, and at worst, your kidlet will disappear completely. Light shining on the face is ideal! 3. Get up close! When it comes down to it, the situation and the place don't matter - it's those wonderful little expressions that you're going to be treasuring forever. When getting up close, it's better to ACTUALLY get up close, unless you're outside in daylight. Using the zoom on your camera will change the amount of light that can get through the lens, and will increase the length of exposure, which may result in blurry or grainy photos. It's much better to just get closer to your kid - and if you start early, they won't mind so much when you have a camera in their face all the time. Time is precious, especially with little ones, so don't let it get away from you! Take photos often - you'll never regret taking too many, and you will thank yourself later! By Jen Schimanke - Snow Pea Portraits

Message to the mama's - Take the help!

2011-04-18T12:50:00.001-06:00

I admit that I am not the first person to ask for help. I've been guilty of saying "No. I'm fine." when I really, really wasn't. When Madilyn was born I was deadset on breastfeeding. I was committed, then my baby starting shrinking. My midwife and I tried everything to try to get my supply up. This meant that Maddi was attached to me constantly and if she wasn't, a pump was. My older daughter was getting extremely frustrated with the whole situation and was acting out constantly. Of course I didn't ask for help. What's worse? I didn't accept the help that was offered. My mom offered to take my 3 year old to Fort McMuray for a week to give me a break. I said no, over and over again. My sister finally convinced me to let her go so that I could focus on getting my sweet baby healthy again. I felt so relieved and wondered why I had put up such a fight to allow someone to help me. I think we all need to remember that "Can I help you?" does not mean "You can't do it" it doesn't mean "You're failing" and it most of all does not mean "You're not a good mother". However, it does mean that I have someone in my life willing to go out of their way to help me. Lucky me. :)

Rules & Filming Dates

2011-03-31T22:03:00.000-06:00

APRIL FOOL'S!!

Come on mama's! You know we at momstown love messy children, not to mention yoga pants!! Not even Oprah could take those away from us!

We hope you all have a fantastic day!

Janine & Kristin

Your momstown mama's

March Contest Winner!!

2011-03-31T21:30:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Joanne Mekdara!

She won an adorable personalized dish set from CHILDish!

Thanks to everyone for entering!

Check out this month's contest here!

Stronger than you think - Moms Supporting Moms

2011-03-10T22:04:00.001-07:00

Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. -Christopher Robin to Pooh

Our vision for momstown is not only playgroups and a helpful message board; but a real community. We know that moms need to feel that they are supported and cared for. In the past few months we've seen moms who are stressed, alone, or affected by postpartum depression. We've had moms who've lost babies, been admitted to hospital or had sick children.

We feel it is our duty as a community to have a support system for situations like these. We've been amazed to see so many of you reach out and support moms who need help. Whether it was a kind word, offer for childcare or help around the house.

We believe this group is full of compassionate, kind and downright incredible women! We know how hard it can be to ask for help, or to talk about difficult situations. We'd like to make sure that if one of our own is struggling they know they have somewhere to turn. We've created a committee of moms who have volunteered to help us with this. The response to our request for volunteers was incredible, it was extremely hard to choose only a few of these amazing & caring women. It was so nice see so many of our moms truly care for eachother and were willing to help.

Janine & Kristin Your momstown mama's

Our Love-ly Breakfast with momstown!

2011-03-06T15:13:00.000-07:00

On valentine's day we hosted our Love-ly breakfast with momstown sponsored by Kelloggs!!

My daughter and I spent the afternoon before filling all the gift bags, she was excited to hand them out to all her friends!

Our momstown mama's were so looking foward to this event, they'd been hearing the buzz through twitter and facebook and the day was finally here!We had a selection of cereals for everyone - moms and kids alike enjoyed trying out some cereals that were new to them as well as the old favourites! We also enjoyed fresh fruit, coffee, tea and juice all provided by Kelloggs!

Many of our moms were surprised to hear that some of the cereals they'd been avoiding giving their children were actually very nutritious!

We wrapped up the the day with a valentines day craft and handing out the incredible gift bags! We had more than one mom say, "Is this really ALL for me!?"

What a great way to spend Valentine's Day with our momstown mama's! Thanks Kelloggs!

February Contest Winner!

2011-03-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Stephanie Kanee who won the O'Play card courtesy of Cafe O' Play!

Check out this months contest here!

New February Contest!

2011-01-31T22:32:00.001-07:00

This month enter to win an O' Play card courtesy of Cafe O' Play - one of momstown Edmonton's favorite places to visit!! Remember to enter once a day all month long!

January Contest Winner!

2011-01-31T15:22:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Debbie N. who won a 6 month membership to momstown Edmonton South!

Sweet Lil Minis

2011-01-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

What could be better this Valentines Day than sending a Valentine that showcases your sweet lil mini?

momstown is pleased to partner with Tangible Moments again for more fabulous Mini Sessions.

Sign up on momstown for a spot at these fun and fabulous sessions now! Not a member? No worries, you have two options! Register for a free trial momstown membership and get in on the action at no additional cost or email us for further registration details.

Winter Wonderland Crowns

2011-01-08T16:46:00.000-07:00

We're getting ready to celebrate Hat Day this month at momstown. What better way to get ready for the big day than to make a hat of our very own?

Next week we will be making Winter Wonderland Crowns.

What you need:

Paper Plate
Scissors or utility knife
Embellishments (for us it will be foam snowflakes, mittens, polar bears etc and jewels)

What to do:

Have an adult take the paper plate and, with an utility knife or scissors, cut the center just like you would a pie, stopping before the outer rim of the plate. Gently fold up the triangle pieces to form a crown. Decorate with embellishments!

Join us at our crafty playdate to make Winter Wonderland crowns next week. Register for a free trial membership with momstown Edmonton-South

12 Days of Toopy - Winner

2011-01-04T20:30:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the winner of our 12 Days of Toopy Contest! Kim G. wins a Family Four Pack of tickets to the upcoming January production Toopy and Binoo and the Marshmallow Moon compliments of Koba Entertainment.

If you weren't our lucky winner you can still enjoy the show! Tickets are available now at Ticketmaster.

Stay tuned for more great contests hosted by momstown!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T18:35:00.000-07:00

2011 is here already!

A quiet couple of weeks in momstown, where everyone seems to have cozied up in their homes, with their families to enjoy some down time after the holidays.

While I am busy working on calendars and thinking of what is ahead for momstown, I am also thinking fondly about a great year gone by.

Thanks for a great year! I hope everyone enjoyed the Holidays and look forward to seeing everyone in the New Year!

If you would like to join the fun, register today for a free trial momstown membership.

Merry Christmas to All

2010-12-20T07:15:00.000-07:00

momstown Edmonton-South joined forces with momstown Edmonton-North this past week to celebrate the magic of Christmas together at the momstown Family Christmas party.

A fun morning for kids and parents where we enjoyed games, crafts, food, a special visitor and most of all the festive community of momstown members!

New toys

To all our momstown families thank you for a great year and for making momstown what it is,a community of neighbourhood moms! From my family to yours we wish you a magical Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year!

And the Winner Is......

2010-12-19T19:15:00.000-07:00

We've just wrapped up the 12 Days of Toopy Contest on the momstown website! Our members watched daily for a clue word to enter. And the winner is:

Congratulations to Kimberly Gibson, winner of the momstown Edmonton-South 12 Days of Toopy contest! Kim wins a Family 4 Pack of Tickets to the January Toopy and Binoo show in Edmonton.