Ah, yes! Those unforgettable Fisher-Price Mommy Moments. Whether it was the first time your baby cried or the very moment he took his first step and every little thing in between. Those are the moments we will never forget. The smiles. The giggles. The precious memories. And sometimes, the moments are as simple as sneaking in a shower, a second cup of coffee, or a long overdue phone call to a friend.

Need a moment? Don't worry. Fisher-Price has you covered.

 

Fisher-Price, the world's most trusted brand in toys, is there to support today’s parents with toys geared to each and every stage of your child’s growth, including all those special milestone moments. Their wide range of innovative baby gear and engaging toys are all designed to help today’s busy mom make the most of her time together with baby. 

It is with great excitement that I invite you to follow along as we share our #fpmommymoments on Twitter. Beginning on November 1st, 2014, every day at 12:00pm EST, the one and only @Listen2Lena will be tweeting a question. Simply share your moment by answering the question, remembering to add the #fpmommymoments hashtag. From all the entries received in a 24-hour period, a winner will be selected to receive a very special Fisher-Price toy. The program will run for fifty (50) days, which means that there are 50 fabulous toys up for grabs! 

This December, join your favourite Disney characters as they come to Toronto for Disney On Ice presents Treasure Trove. Brought to you by Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt, this skating extravaganza will be filled with classic Disney moments, unforgettable adventures and princesses galore. Set a date with Alice and the Mad Hatter before they march off with the Queen of Hearts’ Army Of Cards and celebrate Disney’s 50th animated feature with Rapunzel and Flynn. 

Want to see your favourite Disney princess? Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Aurora, Tiana, Mulan and Snow White will be there, too. And be prepared to set sail with Peter Pan, Tinker Bell and the nefarious Captain Hook.

Finally, let's not forget about the Lion King. Delve into the wilds of Africa with Simba, Nala, Pumbaa and Timon as they discover the true meaning of the ‘Circle of Life.’ This is one show full of Disney treasures you don't want to miss!

I have mostly overcome that fear now that I am thirty-six -something. But if I am home alone with the kids at night, the dark can be a very scary thing. I seem to harbour some deeply embedded fear that 'bad guys' will break into my home at night with malicious intent. I distinctly recall memories from my childhood of laying perfectly still under the covers at night, peering into the darkness and listening for possible intruders in the middle of the night. I would lay awake for what seemed liked hours just waiting to have the bejeezus scared out of me. And if it wasn't the fear of some stranger lurking in the darkness, then it was that one-eyed, one-horned, flying purple people-eater that was surely hiding under my bed ready to pounce as soon as I nodded off. 

It's amazing, though, how much more stupid confident I feel when the lights are turned on and I discover that there really isn't anything to worry about. It's all thanks to something we take for granted every day - light. If light can offer a sense of security to me, a fearless warrior mom, imagine how much reassurance it could give to a baby or young child, especially when sleeping in a new place. With the new Dreamz To Go Octo, both parent and child can enjoy a better night sleep thanks to its soothing light.

From the makers of Nighty Night Owl Smart Sensor, Dream To Go Octo is based on the original Twilight Turtle by Cloud B. It is part of the dreamy lites collection and offers a compact solution for soothing sleep. My favourite part? It runs on 3 AAA batteries (included) which means you can take it with you virtually anywhere you travel. It is lightweight and small so it doesn't take up a lot of space. Octo also has a built-in projector which sprinkles the walls and ceiling with bright stars and friendly little fish blowing bubbles. There are two buttons on the back; one to change the colour between blue, red or green, and another to turn it on, off or to rotate between all three colours. After 45 minutes, it automatically shuts off on its own.

Never thought you could have the #MomoftheYear title? Think again. Moms play one of the most important roles in a child's life. They help nurture our children with patience, perseverance and passion, oftentimes sacrificing so much to be there for their children round the clock.

To honour everything that moms do and the impact they have on those around them, @WalmartCanada will be hosting the #MomoftheYear Twitter Party, celebrating all Canadian moms, including the six 2014 Mom of the Year recipients. We invite you to join us on Tuesday, November 4 at 8:00pm EST for a chat dedicated to that woman who wears many hats – the chief scheduler, organizer, driver, coach, nutritionist, caregiver, best friend… and more.

The Walmart Canada Mom of the Year Award gives all of us the chance to say “thank you” to those mothers who have had the biggest impact on us. Pull out a box of tissues and get ready to share your favourite moments and memories. In addition to an inspiring, emotional chat, there will also be hundreds in Walmart gift cards to be given away, including TWO grand prizes of $200 gift cards.

I have made several diaper cakes over the years and I always resort to keeping them simple. For this cake, I bought chipboard letters since I didn't have time to make them using my Cricut. Otherwise, I would have made letters similar to the ones I made for Baby Evelyn's diaper cake, just not in pink.

A Diaper Cake Tutorial - Easy as Pie!

One of the things I like most about starting off a new school year is having fresh teacher supplies on hand. I even find back-to-school shopping for my children a real thrill. Call me crazy but I was one of those kids who cried in June when school was over and couldn't wait for it to start back up again in September. While my perspective has changed slightly (yes, I'm already counting down to Christmas vacation), I still harbour that same excitement for back-to-school season. I didn't hesitate for instant, of course, when Staples offered to send me on a little shopping spree last month. Fresh new teacher supplies plus Air Miles Rewards Miles? What's not to love?

Teaching à la carte has its challenges and, even though I have reorganized my mini teacher cart, I find I'm still leaving things behind in some of the classrooms. Sometimes I just lose them altogether. One item I cannot have enough of are heavy duty magnets, kind of like the ones above. I also carry plenty of paper clips in various sizes and Staples carries a really nice variety.

As a French teacher, I am always on the lookout for FSL resources or supplies. Staples has carried sets of Canadian French-English cards, which I had purchased last year, but I was happy to see that they carry des instruments de gestion de classe (classroom management tools) such as des horaires magnétiques (magnetic schedules). These would be great in a French Immersion classroom. 

In the end, I ended up picking up a bunch of generic stickers, a super cute apple Post-It note dispenser and some colour ink for my HP Envy All-in-One printer. The ink seems to be what I run out of most given that I make so many of my own flash cards at home. I also picked up some Elmers Sticky Out which is great for removing crayon, labels, most glues, tape and rubber cement, which has proven to be quite difficult to remove from my office walls. Oh, and I picked up one of my favourite Swiffer products - Swiffer Dusters. Every September, my office needs a good cleaning after all the dust that has accumulated during the summer months.

In light of this week's horrific events that transpired in Ottawa, I am sadly reminded of how fleeting our presence on this earth can be. The thought of how the life of a soldier standing on guard could be so quickly taken is difficult for our nation to accept. For his family, friends, and most of all, his young child, the world has surely been turned upside down. As Canadians stood together in solidarity yesterday wearing red and white, saluting Cpl. Nathan Cirillo on his journey home to Hamilton, I couldn't help feeling overwhelmed by our country's loss. My thoughts are with his family. But I can't help but selfishly think of my own family and how lucky I am to have two healthy and happy children. Tonight when I tuck them into bed, I will embrace them a little longer, hanging on to their hugs and all the fond memories...

As much as the scent of original Tide will always evoke a sense of nostalgia for me, my detergent of choice these days is the new Tide Free & Gentle, now available in Tide Pods. It's not that my skin is sensitive to detergents. I simply prefer to limit the amount of perfumes in the home. Blame my post-natal olfactory bulb and the ultra sensitive sensory receptors therein. Too many scents can be overwhelming. Unless we're talking about the smell of freshly baked waffles in the morning...

After attending Cascade Blogger Day last summer, I have a new-found appreciation for the science behind detergent. So when I received a tub of the new Tide Pods Free & Gentle, I was very eager to try it out. 

Before tossing a load of laundry in my front-loading high efficiency LG washer, I placed a pod of Tide Free & Gentle. After a successful first load of dark clothing which included my designer Pink Tartan sweater, I threw in a bunch of whites consisting of mostly towels and the kids' white uniform tops.

Given that my kids' white shirts are seldom fully white, I decided to try out the new Tide Stain Release Boost. These shirts could use all the help they can get!

For the past several years, ever since Bounce introduced their Free & Gentle fabric softener, I have been using their sheets in the dryer to help control static. I rarely use a fabric softener in the wash but my bath towels have lost their softness and quite frankly, they need to be replaced. Once I've restocked the bathroom cupboard with fresh new towels, I'll be sure to use Ultra Downy Free & Gentle to keep them looking and feeling great.

* Update: I never really used fabric softener in the wash before and always relied on Bouncy sheets in the dryer instead but since I have been using the Ultra Downy Free & Gentle, my old, sad-looking bath towels have been given a new life. I can't believe how soft they are now! *

Please remember: Always keep Tide Pods and other detergent products out of reach children.

If you suffer from sensitive skin or simply prefer scent-free products like me, then have I got a giveaway for you. Enter the Rafflecopter form below for a chance to win a Sensitive Skin Laundry Pack valued at $45, which includes:

Finding the right gift for kids can sometimes be like looking for a needle in a haystack. You know it exists but the search can be painstaking. I know most kids like toys and the latest gadgets but, unless I know it is an item on their wishlist, I may end up taking the more practical route. Clothes, accessories, art supplies or other consumables, for example. Or I might lean towards a more personal gift that still has a practical twist. I recently discovered a local store here in Toronto that offers a myriad of unique personalized products for kids. Blankets for baby? They've got 'em. Artwork for the nursery? Sure thing! Personalized school supplies? You Name It Baby!

In all my years as a mother, I have never before seen so many one-of-a-kind personalized gifts for babies and kids all in one place. I'm telling you, the selection is endless! In fact, I think it has multiplied since I last hopped onto their site. If you head on over to younameitbaby.com, be prepared to drool over the incredibly adorable hooded animal towels or the luxurious Egyptian cotton bath towels that can be personalized with a monogram or a child's name. They even have plush sports pillows, stuffed animals, beanbag chairs and stools that can be personalized as well. Of course, the teacher in me headed straight for the Cool For School section. We're talking personalized notebooks, school folders, journals, place mats, story books and even clipboards. It's like a teacher's dream come true!

If you have school-age kids, you can appreciate how useful it is to have your kids' names on all of their belongings. For my kids, it's seems to be the only surefire way to ensure everything is returned home. Last month, You Name It Baby kindly sent over a set of personalized school items for my son. This is included a lunch square, a backpack and a sports water bottle, each with his name on it.

After checking out the selection of kids' bags, my son opted for the Navy Grey Collection and a space rocket themed water bottle. We even had the option of picking out the hair and eye colour for the boy's image on the water bottle. There are also ten different embroidery fonts to choose from. It was hard to narrow down which one we liked best but we ended up going with the Kidz font. The material of the bags is quite durable and the lunch square has ample space in it for a big kid's lunch. I really like how the school bag has padded straps, a padded backing, a large front zippered pocket and side pocket, a padded tablet/laptop compartment and a side pouch that's perfect for a water bottle.

Whenever possible, I try to make my own handmade greeting cards and personalize them as well. This is a card I made last year. I played around with the different sizes of font from the Cricut Storybook cartridge and used the ladybug from the Cricut Doodlecharms cartridge. It didn't have any antennae so I added some from a different cut. I also layered the wings to give it dimension. Isn't she cute?

Beware of haunting images lurking below! These frightful Halloween décor items may give you quite a scare. Read on, only if you dare...

OK, I digress. The newest in Halloween must-haves from Hallmark Canada aren't really that scary. More like adorable! The recent batch of Hallmark Press Pause samples I received last week are sure to be a real hit with treak-or-treaters this Halloween. A fun complement to last year's Halloween décor items from Hallmark, they will also make a great addition to my growing collection of décor items at school. My personal favourite is already hanging on my bulletin board:

Okay, ladies. Time to empty your purse and take inventory. How many personal items would cause you undue stress if they were ever stolen or go missing? Credit cards, IDs, car keys, house keys, money? The number one item on my list would be my cell phone. It is my life. I use it to tweet, take family photos, navigate, schedule, email, text message, listen to music, read ebooks, watch Netflix, shop,... Get the picture? No? Let me put it this way: my cell phone is like an additional appendage that I cannot live without. Period. Whenever I have a temporary loss of memory and can't remember whether I left it in a public washroom or in my car, I experience heart palpitations. My sanity aside, you have to agree with me that no one would ever want to lose their cell phone, let alone other valuables and personal items that we carry with us on a daily basis. For peace of mind, I needed a solution for security on the go. And this summer, I found just what I needed - a Master Lock Portable SafeSpace.

During the summer, the kids often wanted to go swimming at the local community pool. One of the reasons I would dread going is the simple fact that, when I remove my glasses, I can't see very well. If I am alone with the kids, I have to be close by them at all times in order to see them clearly, which makes it difficult to keep an eye on my personal belongings poolside. Next to having my cell phone stolen or accidentally kicked into the pool, my biggest fear is that someone steps on my glasses and crushes the lenses. Luckily, Master Lock sent me their Portable SafeSpace 5900D to help keep my valuables safe and out of harms way.

The durable water-resistant construction is the perfect solution for my portable security needs. It is also lightweight and has plenty of room for MP3 players, glasses, keys, credit cards, passport, and even my new LGG3 smart phone.

The Master Lock SafeSpace is also great for people who may suffer from PIN-code overload like I do because you can set your own combination.

Growing up with a gazillion cousins, I attended a lot of bridal showers, weddings and subsequent baby showers. I remember thinking to myself how I just couldn't wait to get married, build a family of my own and finally be showered with baby gifts and well wishes. It had nothing to do with that silly little bonnet made of bows that I would get to wear or watching family and friends attempt to guess the circumference of my belly. It had more to do with the special celebration of a miraculous bundle of joy and sharing the anticipation with loved ones. And perhaps it had a little to do with feeling spoiled, I'll admit. I recall how everyone would fuss over mom-to-be, oohing and ahhing over the cutest baby gifts and tiniest outfits. I also remember how many women of the older generation would marvel over the innovative Diaper Genie. Oh, how I wanted a Diaper Genie!

Unfortunately, I never had a baby shower, except for the unexpected party my dear colleagues threw for me at work. While I am truly grateful for their kindness and generosity, I still longed for a baby shower with my family and friends. Was it selfish of me to yearn for the excitement inherent in planning for baby's arrival and creating a baby registry? Maybe so. But perhaps I should have signed up for a registry anyway. It sure would have come in handy when people asked us what they should buy for our kids for Christmas or for their first birthday. Plus, it could have helped them find the perfect gift in their price range. I know I always found gift registries so helpful. It was gratifying to know we would be getting something for the parents-to-be that they would actually need and that they could also remember us by. There are so many great gift ideas available that it is rather useful to have a list of items on a registry to help narrow down our selection.

To help Canadians get ready for a new baby on the way, Walmart Canada recently launched its new baby registry on walmart.ca. Featuring a large assortment of baby products from diapers and bath supplies to car seats and strollers, Walmart offers more than 1,500 online exclusives to help you find every little thing for a very big moment. And registering for a baby registry is as easy as 1-2-3!

Last month, my sister suggested the kids and I meet up with her and my nephew at the Milton Fall Fair. If you didn't already know, my son is unbelievably obsessed with cars and had to sit inside every car he saw when we checked out the new Nissan lineup at the Canadian International Auto Show this year. It was an easy choice to take my son to the fair to check out some old classics as well as a demolition derby for the first time. Personally, I could have lived without the demolition. It seemed so... pointless!

Sponsored in part by DanceFeet, Ossington Chiropractic and Rehabilitation, Aventura Dance Cruise, Telelatino, Salsa in Toronto and Lula Lounge, to name a few, the Congress attracts some of the most talented performers from the world over.

Tonight is the final dance performance showcase and if it is any good as last night's performance, you definitely don't want to miss it. We watched in awe as local dance troupes took the stage along with performers from Montreal, Vancouver, New York, Miami and even as far as Italy.

Tickets are available at the door for $45 and include access to the Farewell Party and social dances that follow. Three separate ball rooms offer bachata, hustle and salsa dancing. If you plan on driving in, I suggest parking at City Hall which has an underground connection to the Sheraton Centre. I arrived at 7:30 pm, left at 2 am and parking cost a mere $6. The show starts at 9 pm but the doors open at 8 pm. Arrive early to get preferred seating or you can upgrade to VIP seating for an additional $20. At the very least, bring your dancing shoes y baila, baila, baila!

In the meantime, check out some photos from last night's performances. More to come!

Thinking back on how many toys the kids have had over the years, I am flabbergasted by the number of toys that served their purpose for a relatively short time. In some cases, my kids simply had no interest. In others, the kids outgrew them faster than the designer outfit their aunties bought for them for Christmas. With the exception of a really sweet party thrown together by colleagues at my first school here in Toronto, I never had a baby shower so we were very particular with what we purchased for our growing babies. Several toys the kids enjoyed in their toddler years were in fact handed down from my nephew or from my goddaughter once they no longer needed them, many of them bearing the Fisher-Price logo. These were the toys that I look back on with fondness, in addition to a must-have nursery item - the Fisher-Price Cradle N Swing - which I had purchased second-hand. Not only were they sanity-savers, they were extremely durable and withstood endless hours of play even after three or four children outgrew them. But just imagine if they could last even longer, adapting to developmental stages as your child grows, just like the new Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Chair!

One of the things my kids liked to do when they were infants was mimic mom and dad. They wanted to be just like the big people and the original Laugh & Learn chair was perfect for that. With the NEW Smart Stages Chair, little ones can do that and whole lot more. And with simple, straightforward assembly, mom and dad can have the chair ready in no time. It comes with five parts, screws and instructions which I suggest you read first. It took me less than five minutes to build before I realized that it is much easier to install the batteries first before assembling the rest of the chair. Also note that the conjoined rear legs have a protruding lip which helps prevent the chair from tipping backwards when baby tries to mimic daddy's infamous reclined position.

The Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Chair has a similar flip book as the original with brightly-coloured images.

In lieu of a lamp, the new chair has a light-up remote to help teach baby about numbers and shapes.

It also features a "magic" ABC seat that knows when baby sits, activating learning songs and phrases when baby stands. And the lift-up cushion is perfect for a fun game of peek-a-boo.

But what makes this chair so unique is the Laugh & Learn Smart Stages technology. It is what allows this chair to evolve with age-appropriate learning content that suits your child's learning stage, all with a flip of a switch.

After a summer full of family fun, you would think my kids would show their undying gratitude for all of the amazing experiences made possible thanks to my husband and I. From an afternoon at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and a day at Canada's Wonderland to a trip to Ripley's Aquarium and not one, but two afternoons at Medieval Times, we managed to sneak in lots of memorable outings. And this doesn't include our last-minute weekend getaway up north or our staycation at the Eaton Chelsea hotel. So can someone please tell me why, oh why do my darling children manage to drive me up the wall with their constant bickering and arguing? Can't they just get along, for crying out loud? It was the least I could do to salvage my sanity by taking up an offer to escape get out of the house and try out some real wall climbing. You know, the kind that requires special safety gear while dangling 20 feet above ground amidst the peace and quiet of Mother Nature's backyard.

The extent of my wall climbing experience to date can be summed up by a handful of attempts on a mobile wall-climbing apparatus with conveniently placed grips to guide your way to the top. My first attempt was nearly 12 years ago and it was an adequate intro to the sport. But it left me wanting a more difficult challenge, a true outdoor climbing experience that would require strength of mind and body. And so I made the hour-long trek to the limestone cliffs of Halton's Rattlesnake Point where I had participated in the 5 Peaks Trail Race earlier this summer. It was here that I could finally cross one off my bucket list. My fear of heights would have to take a back seat as I learned how to properly knot my ropes and how to belay from a wall climbing expert from One Axe Pursuits.

With Jay from Mississauga Life as my climbing partner, I took on the four easier courses without too much difficulty. Thanks for not letting me plummet to my death, Jay!

These first four courses had their own little challenges but we were welcome to attempt them more than once to find different or easier routes.

Now, I already showed that wall who's the boss so I decided to give the wall a break and re-energize with a banana and some nuts. And it's a good thing I did. The next set of courses were... well, just have a look for yourself: