Stepping back to the past, farming, and family adventure in Leamington

During our visit to Leamington we had a few interesting experiences. We stepped back into the past when we visited John R. Park Homestead and Point Pelee National Park. Then we had a family adventure at Colasanti's, and learned all about farming at Lee and Maria's farm walking tour. While we explored the area we enjoyed delicious meals at Freddy's restaurant and Bradt's Butcher Block, and went to Sweet Retreat for ice cream. 

Leaders Who Changed History and Timelines of Everything

Leaders Who Changed History and Timelines of Everything are books that will be useful in every home library. It is a good resource for children, as they can use it for school projects and to gain knowledge.

Day trip to Stratford, Ontario Billy Elliot the Musical and Tours

Nolen Dubuc (centre) as Billy Elliot with members of the company in Billy Elliot the Musical. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann. Property of the Stratford Festival posted with permission from Stratford Festival

Exploring theatre and the arts in Stratford, Ontario is always a pleasurable experience for the entire family. Last summer, when we went to see the play The Music Man we also toured the Costume Warehouse. This year, we watched the musical Billy Elliot, and enjoyed a tour of the garden and a set changeover tour. 

Win DK findout! books of your choice

We enjoy books that are not only fun to read, but also educational. DK findout! books are an excellent way for children to get interested in topics that will be useful for their common knowledge. We like that DK is introducing topics that children will come across in their curriculum and beyond. The vibrant pictures, simple explanations, and facts make it easy to remember the main points of each topic. 

Exploring the Joys of Winter at the Ottawa Gatineau Winterlude

We had an opportunity to celebrate the joys of winter in Canada's capital region, Ottawa-Gatineau. The annual Winterlude will be happening until February 18th. There are lots of free activities for the entire family! Check the official Winterlude site for details on hours and locations. There were a lot of fun activities to do despite the cold weather.

Theatre and the arts in Stratford, Ontario

We love being creative every opportunity we get. Sometimes, we find the need for a little inspiration to spark our creative energy, and we got this when we went to see the play The Music Man, and took a tour of the Costume Warehouse during our time in Stratford and Perth County. 

Exploring the heritage of Stratford and Perth County

We spent a few days towards the end of our summer vacation exploring the heritage, trails, theatre, and outdoor activities in Stratford and Perth County. While enjoying the activities in this area, we stayed at Forest Motel and Woodland Retreat located in Stratford. It is a family friendly woodland retreat close to all the amenities, a few minutes from the Stratford Festival Theatre. 

Get Back-To-School Ready With Canadian Turkey

With the end of summer here, we're all getting ready to adjust to new habits and back-to-school routines. Making the transition from relaxed days, later bedtimes, sleeping in and weekend fun to schedules, routines and healthy habits can be tricky for busy families. With so much on the go, it's no wonder that one of the biggest challenges for parents is getting good quality meals on the table. Come September, tips and tricks that help you get organized are essential, so you can deal with getting kids ready for busy weekdays packed with school, activities, sports, and homework.

Thrilling time with the family at Long Point Eco Adventures in Norfolk County

We had a memorable time testing our physical and mental boundaries as we did adventurous activities in Norfolk county located in Ontario's South Coast. Our stay at Long Point Eco Adventures was full of energy and excitement as we anticipated and participated in activities we haven't done before.

Getting creative and ready for school with Hilroy and Derwent products

We love putting pen to paper in our home! We draw, doodle, colour, paint, and practice creative writing every chance we get. It is well known that writing and drawing has lots of cognitive, physical, and emotional benefits for children and adults, apart from being fun.

Shopping for sports gear at Sport Chek

We love exploring new sports. Our children have been part of a variety of sports teams at school, after school, and during summer sports camp. With each of the different sports we want to play, there is different gear and equipment that goes with it. Sport Chek has been the most convenient place for us to shop for all our sports equipment.

Back to School Shopping at Staples

Disclosure: I have partnered with YMC and Staples and have received compensation for this post. Please note that all opinions and thoughts expressed are my own. All rights reserved on photographs and written content Createwithmom © 2010 - 2018. Please Ask First 

Shopping for trendy new school supplies is half the excitement when we get ready for a new school year. We have been shopping at Staples for school and office related supplies for years, and it has never disappointed. We have always found what we need there. We start our back to school shopping by early August and look to take advantage of new deals. It is never too early to be prepared to get the kids in the mood for an exciting new school year. This also lets us travel without worrying about getting the school gear ready, so we can keep travelling until the last weekend of summer.

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. 

Visiting Prince Edward Island Once Again

The classic novel of Anne of Green Gables I read at school as a child, and the movies we have watched was an inspiration for our trip to Prince Edward Island in 2010. In our previous trip we flew to P.E.I, so this time we planned to stop in Summerside, Cavendish, and Charlottetown during our road trip from Ontario to Quebec and New Brunswick to revisit the places our children once visited when they were little. Prince Edward Island situated in the Gulf of St. Lawrence is a place we always think of returning to because of its beautiful sandy beaches, and something about the island that always calls you back.

Lots to do and learn at the Ontario Science Centre

We love visiting the Ontario Science Centre because there is lots to do, see, and learn from. When you get an opportunity, do check out the interactive, travelling exhibition POPnology. It explores how popular films, television, books and art influence our past, present, and future.

This Month's Reads - How one person's actions can affect another

All we ever wanted by Emily Giffin asks the daunting question: In the midst of a scandal that threatens a perfect life, how far are you willing to go to protect the ones you love?

Win a copy of The Encyclopedia of Landscape Design

Encyclopedia of landscape design is an inspiring book that helps us to plan, build, and plant in our outdoor space. This book will be useful for anyone looking to do a total redesign or target a specific area of their garden. We like the fresh and achievable ideas in this guide, which will be useful for every gardener. The Encyclopedia of landscape design is produced by a team of award-winning horticultural experts.

Boxcar Children Surprise Island' Hits The Big Screen and Giveaway

The new animated family-friendly feature The Boxcar Children Surprise Island, will be playing in 700 select U.S. movie theaters on May 8 as part of a special after-school event in partnership between Fathom Events, Shout! Kids, and Legacy Classics. The film is based on one of the books from the series by Gertrude Chandler Warner celebrating its 75th Anniversary. Children ages 3 to 13 will enjoy this movie.

Learning new skills from books and Giveaway

Books  are a wonderful way to learn new crafts and skills. During the holiday season, we learned many skills from a variety of DK Canada books. We explored the following books Embroider Your Life, Help Your Kids with Study Skills, How Not to Kill Your Houseplant, and Crafty Gifts. 

Healthy School and After-School Snacks and Giveaway

I always plan on what healthy school snacks I can prepare at home, and keep it ready for my children to enjoy after school. I also try to make sure the snacks they have are nutritious. Although, I love to make a different snack everyday, our on-the-go schedules don't give me time for this. On these days, I love the convenience of having delicious Hans Dairy snacks in the fridge. The Indian style rice pudding, lassi, and yogurt from Hans Dairy is one of our favourites; we can enjoy as is or by adding fresh fruits and berries.