Learning the origins of board games, illusions, journey, and math

We love playing board games and have a few family favourites. As children, we have played lots of different board games from monopoly to mancala, and made sure to introduce our children to board games at a very young age. A few years ago, we made a wooden convertible storage cart just to keep our games. We believe most board games are a wonderful way to socialize and connect, and they have become part of our lifestyle. Over the past decade, we have documented a few board games on CreateWithMom. When we saw the Board Games in 100 Moves by Ian Livingstone, we were curious to discover different board games and their origins. 

Fun Games and Entertainment

We are always excited to try new games and do different hands on activities in our family. We love game nights, and recently have been playing Azul and Ticket to Ride London. We also spent time building with Flexo. A new calendar year comes with new resolutions to become more creative, so we have been practicing watercolour painting with Watercolour the Easy Way book and took the time to clean up, get organized, and even spiced up our phones by replacing our Pop Sockets with creative ones! We have also been reading the Four Seasons of Entertaining book that is filled with colourful photography, recipes, and ideas separated by each season. 

A Cozy Winter Camping Experience at Silent Lake Provincial Park

We love camping at Ontario Parks in the summer, which allows us to enjoy the serene outdoors and all the wonderful things we can do in the warm weather - thinking of it makes me miss summer! We have also learned to embrace the beauty of winter; the fresh cool air, soft snow, the beauty of trees covered with white snow, and all the fun activities we can do in the winter from skiing, tobogganing to snowshoeing and more. 

When we travel in winter to enjoy the festive season or to explore winter themed events and activities, we usually stay in hotels. We tried winter camping in one of the roofed accommodations at Ontario Parks, which is truly a lovely way to get close to nature, away from the everyday hustle and bustle. 

Festive Season in Stratford, Ontario

We love the festive season because it is not only a time for families and friends to gather in celebration of the end of a year, but also a time to admire the coziness, beauty, and magical time of winter. Just in time for the holiday season, we spent a weekend at The River Merchant Inn located in Stratford, Ontario to enjoy the Holiday Light displays, Outdoor Christmas Market, Santa’s Parade of Lights, and to go on the Christmas and Chocolate Trails.

Win 1 of 3 Hasbro Toys for the Holidays

There are lots of exciting Hasbro toys that encourage children's imagination and curiosity. The variety of fun toys make wonderful gifts for any occasion such as this Beyblade Burst Turbo Slingshock for children over 8 years. We are excited to partner with Hasbro Canada for 3 winners to win one of these toys: Monopoly Voice Banking Electronic Family Board Game, The Star Wars Scream Saber Lightsaber, and Disney Frozen 2 Fashion Dolls.

Exercising the mind and being creative at LSA summer camp

On our recent post about TAC sports camp we mentioned that they have partnered with LSA (Lifetime Skills Academy) to offer STEM themed programs, which will help our children exercise their creativity and develop a variety of skills.

Games that bring family and friends together

Joining friends and family to play educational and fun board games is a wonderful way to connect while stimulating thinking skills of all players, despite their age. Playing games develop a variety of cognitive, social, and physical skills.  

Fun educational games everyone in the family will enjoy

Learning doesn't have to be boring! Games are a fun way for families to spend time together while children develop a variety of skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, teamwork, sharing, and many other fundamental skills. Pressman Toys promote learning with its STEM and educational products. We have been playing with three of their games - Mastermind®, Tri-Ominos® and Rummikub®. 

Summer Travel and Outdoor Games

We love taking games with us when we travel. This keeps everyone in our family engaged while travelling. Games always come in handy on rainy days, or when we look for something relaxing to do. This summer, we took a look at a few outdoor and travel games from Goliath Games and Pressman toys.  

Driving the stylish 2018 Mazda CX-9

We recently got to drive and discover the features of the 2018 Mazda CX-9. The CX-9 is positioned as a Mid-range SUV that has style and does the heavy lifting. We recently packed the CX-9 for a road trip and got to experience most of everything it had to offer.

Always thinking of the next fun thing to do at Fern Resort #OntariosAllinclusive

While at Fern Resort, the only thing we thought of was vacationing! The mood is all set from the time you walk into the resort till the time you check-out. This resort is all inclusive, so all the meals and activities are taken care of. This made my husband and I feel at ease since we didn't need to worry about the meals, and were able to participate in the activities we wanted to, and children were able to do activities they wanted to. 

Gift Ideas and Giveaway

With the holidays around the corner, here are some gift ideas to consider. 

This post will be updated all month long with deals, discounts, and giveaways. 

Premium Green and Black's chocolate bars made with hand-selected, gourmet cocoa beans would be enjoyed by everyone. We found the flavour combinations unique and delicious. We used the dark chocolate in desserts that everyone enjoyed. It is available in ten unique flavours ranging from smooth milk to rich dark chocolate, Green and Black's will impress even the most sophisticated palettes.

Fun Board Games to Encourage Learning

I believe playing board games with our children is a fun way for us to get involved in teaching lifelong skills such as problem solving, team playing, communication skills, and help in the development of cognitive thinking. It is so much easier to shop for these toys for children in all ages right from the comfort of our home through Amazon.ca.

Family Friendly Experience at Living Water Resort

During our recent visit to Collingwood, near Wasaga Beach we had the pleasure of staying at Living Water Resort. We enjoyed our stay in a double queen bed deluxe suite, which has an aesthetically pleasing design and décor. The suite has everything we need for a comfortable family stay including a kitchenette, bathroom with a Jacuzzi, and a walkout balcony.

Keep Exploring During March Break with DK Canada Books

March Break is a time to play, relax and explore and break the school days' routine for a week! Children will have lots of time to relax and try different activities. Having fun and exciting books to refer to can help children get inspired to explore. Here are three books from DK Canada that will help children build exciting computer projects, including games, music, and designs on the computer, or learn to draw, or do science experiments.

V-Tech and Hexbug Toys for the holidays

VTech has lots of entertaining and educational toys for children that would make fun holiday gifts. 

My children enjoy the VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX that totally welcomes our children into the digital age. This fully functional, multipurpose watch keeps children entertained, while teaching them how to read time and understand the concept in a fun way.

Tutorial on How to Change Cabin Air and Engine Filters

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Changing the cabin air filter in our vehicle is very important. A clean cabin air filter allows passengers to breath easily, as it improves the air quality inside the vehicle. In the past, the dealership usually changes the filter on our vehicle and it costs us more than if we were to do it ourselves. Recently, when we found out how easy it is to change the air and engine filter in our vehicle ourselves using FRAM products, we realized how it helps maintain the vehicle and saves us money. 

Activities We Do With Our Children to provide Inspiration

As parents, we find it our responsibility to make our children comprehend that everything around them needs to be respected and appreciated. To make them understand that all experiences provide knowledge, we do a variety of activities with them. Making these activities as part of our lifestyle, helps them become savvy. These activities do not cost us financially, and helps build memories.

Relaxing, Homely Stay at Viamede Resort

We enjoyed a relaxing stay at the Viamede Resort in Kawartha Lakes, while enjoying a variety of activities. The staff at the front desk were friendly and welcoming; we got a run down of all the activities available at the resort when we signed in. 

Books for Young Readers

Cozy Classics written by Jack and Holman Wang are meant for babies and toddlers. Cozy Classics tells the story line of English literature classic novels such as Pride and Prejudice and Moby Dick using simple words. Children can grasp the basics of the story line by looking at the 12 pictures and reading the 12 words in these board books.