Toronto Teacher Mom: September 2015

Toronto Football Club Family Fun

Tuesday, September 29, 2015
17 Comments

Fabulously Fresh Fall Looks With COVERGIRL Outlast

Sometimes I think Mother Nature tries to pull the wool over our eyes. Yeah, sure. The leaves changing colour are pretty and all. But I think it's her way of diverting our attention away from the bitter cold temperatures of the season. You know what, Ms. N.? You can have your glorious fall colours. I'll hold on to my open-toed shoes and tees for as long as I can, as feeble an attempt it may be to rage against the dying of the sunlight. Plus, I've got a whole new set of tricks up my short sleeves to help me hang on to that summery glow thanks to COVERGIRL Outlast. Here are four makeup must-haves to help you get that fabulously fresh fall look that will outlast your day:

COVERGIRL Outlast All-Day Primer: Use this as a first step in preparing your skin. Not only will it extend the wear of any foundation, it will also hide pores and reduce imperfections. My colleague and office mate swears by this stuff and, based on her flawless look, it really does the job. I'm adding this one to my secret stash.
COVERGIRL Outlast Stay Luminous Foundation: Use this for a fresh, glowing look. Its new formulation with unique light reflecting particles and over 40% skin conditioning agents hydrates the skin, while its lightweight feel and medium coverage leaves it with a natural luminosity.
COVERGIRL Outlast Longwear Lipstick: Add a splash of colour with this waterproof, all-day lipstick packed with a rich blend of nourishing oils and lip conditioners. Available in 12 gorgeous shades.
COVERGIRL Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss: Finish the look with nail gloss that will go strong for seven days long.

To help you outlast the day, I have a special long-wear prize pack to give away valued at approximately $60. It includes:

COVERGIRL Outlast All-Day Primer – $14.99
COVERGIRL Outlast Longwear Lipstick – $11.99 (x 2)
COVERGIRL Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss – $7.99
COVERGIRL Outlast Stay Luminous Foundation – $14.99

a Rafflecopter giveaway

P&G has only provided me with the product that I am using as the prizes for this contest. The contest is not otherwise endorsed, designed and/or administered by or associated with P&G. By entering the following contest you are accepting that, if you win, your contact information will be shared with a P&G PR and shipping agency for the purpose of mailing your prize. Please allow 4-6 weeks from the contest closure date to receive your prize. This giveaway may appear on other blogs as part of the #PGmom/#mamanPG program. However, to be fair, you can only win once per giveaway. If your name is chosen more than once, another winner will be selected. All winners must be from within Canada.

Monday, September 28, 2015
109 Comments

Healthy Options for School Lunches

Back to School

Lil Oliver Pre-Packed Pitted Olives by Sardo

Looking to try something different in your kids' lunches? Here we round up some new products we recently tried. First up is Li'l Oliver, an all natural snack that is free of sugar, peanuts and cholesterol. Made by Sardo Foods, Li’l Oliver comes in two pre-packed varieties: pitted green (my kids' favourite) and black olives. They contain no artificial flavours or colours, gluten or trans fats, making it an excellent alternative to sweet and salty snacks. Each snack cup of Li’l Oliver olives has only 20 calories and two grams of fat. Bonus: Specially-marked boxes include free motivational stickers!

Fun Facts

The olive is technically a fruit.
About eight olives, roughly one pack of Li’L Oliver is equal to half a serving of fruit, which can count towards the Canada Food Guide recommendation of up to six servings of fruits and vegetables a day for children under 13.
Eating olives boosts your iron intake, which plays a key role in keeping you healthy and happy.
Olives are high in oleic acid, which studies have shown reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Olives are rich in phytonutrients, bringing added benefits for our cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, muscle, immune, inflammatory and digestive systems.
Oleuropein, found exclusively in olives, is an antioxidant nutrient that has shown to decrease LDL cholesterol and protect nerve cells.

Jax coco has recently released a healthier alternatives for kids with jax coco Kidz, a line of 100% pure coconut water straight from the nut and fruit puree or pure cocoa. It contains no artificial flavors or colours and nothing is from concentrate. We were able to sample three flavours: chocolate, banana, and grape. My kids' favourite? Chocolate, of course! Sweetened naturally, it has up to 70% less sugar than juice, and is packed with essential electrolytes including magnesium, potassium and calcium. Mom of five and co-founder Jane Gottschalk created Jax Kidz to provide a healthier alternative to sugary drinks for kids around the world and the line is loved by many celeb parents including Elton John, Jamie Oliver and Elizabeth Hurley. Jax coc Kidz is available on Well.ca for $5.99 for a package of six, and currently the banana and grape flavours are on sale for $4.

Pereg Quinoa with Vegetables, a delicious blend of pre-washed quinoa mixed with spices and herbs, contains hand-picked carrots from Italy, crunchy red bell peppers, and hearty potatoes to create. It's a mix that is easy to prepare, and I mean EASY, taking only 20 minutes. You can cook it on the stove top or microwave and is a refreshing side dish that my kids really loved. Pereg Quinoa is all natural, gluten-free, non-GMO verified, and Kosher. One box makes 4 servings. You can find additional varieties of Pereg Quinoa on Well.ca for $5.49 a box, currently on sale for $4.94.

Disclosure: I received product to help facilitate this review. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Friday, September 25, 2015
13 Comments

Post-It Dry Erase Surface

Classroom Solutions

If there is one thing that I have learned over the last few years, it is the importance of creating a classroom environment in which my students feel comfortable taking risks. Could the fear of making mistakes impede a child's learning potential? I believe so. Looking back on my childhood, I remember how embarrassed I would feel if I shared an incorrect answer in front of the whole class, making me wish I had never raised my hand. But then, if given the opportunity to correct my work, it would open the way for me to learn from mistakes. One of the ways educators today are providing such opportunities for students to share solutions to problems and build on ideas is through collaboration, an important 21st Century learning competency. And now, they can rely on an instant, flexible whiteboard solution to create new places to collaborate in the classroom in a way that is interactive and engaging. Introducing the Post-It Dry Erase Surface.

It comes as no surprise that collaboration delivers results. When children work together in pairs or groups and have shared responsibility, they develop an interdependency that opens new learning opportunities. A Dry Erase Surface is an excellent tool that invites students to share ideas without the fear of imperfection, especially knowing that they can easily erase their work. What I love most about the Post-It Dry Erase Surface is that you can quickly and easily cover large surfaces to maximize productivity or cut it down to smaller sizes and adhere to individual student desktops as highlighted in the video above. It can also be used to re-surface whiteboards.

For review, I was sent a 4 ft x 3 ft Post-It Dry Erase Surface sample that I shared with the kindergarten teachers at my school. They used it on a large table and created an inviting space for their little ones to share their drawings. I was tempted to join in myself! There is something about holding a marker in your hand and drawing on the smooth dry-erase surface that I find entices children. I also believe that, where little hands are concerned, drawing and writing skills can be better developed when you need not worry about applying pressure, as with a pencil. A Dry-Erase Surface is a great way to encourage writing and visual expression.

This back-to-school season, Alyson Schafer, a well-known Canadian parenting and education expert, along with Post-It has compiled tips for educators and parents on how to help kids maximize productivity and creativity. Many of them seem to touch upon additional 21st Century learning skills such as communication, real-world problem solving and self-regulation.

Diversity: Working together encourages diversity and allows kids to understand what it’s like to walk in their friend’s shoes. Whether it’s through a group project, playing a game or working as a class to solve a math problem, collaborating in an open environment helps kids learn from one another and embrace each other’s differences.
Freedom to take risks: Post-It’s Dry Erase Surface is a whiteboard solution perfect for kids. Freeing students from their fear of imperfection and giving them permission to make mistakes is the best way to inspire learning. When kids realize that it’s okay to wipe off a mistake and start over, free thinking is reinforced.
Staying focused: Distraction issues in the classroom is not a new thing. There are ways to help kids stay on track while allowing parents and teachers to address different learning styles. For some kids, the process of moving their hand and doodling while listening in class or at home helps them pay attention and take in new information.
Don’t forget to write: Holding a pen in hand and the repetition of writing helps kids practice important competencies while further developing motor skills. Going old school has its benefits, and the more hours kids can put into practicing writing, the better for their overall development.
Make them a stakeholder: Getting kids ready for school each day can be a hefty task. Allowing kids to create their own organization system —making a checklist for the morning, choosing what’s going into their backpack each morning—in their desired format will help them become stakeholders in their day, and chances are, they will stick to their own system versus the one created by parents or teachers.

Post-It Dry Erase Surfaces are available in four different sizes: 2 feet by 3 feet, 3 feet by 4 feet, 4 feet by 6 feet and 4 feet by 8 feet. They can be purchased on Amazon for $39.99 for the smallest size up to $178.99 for the larger size. Currently, you can save between 27% and 38% on Amazon.ca so it might be a good time to stock up. You can now also find the smallest size available at Staples and all sizes are available at Grand and Toy as well as Novexco (for members only.)

For more information on Post-It Dry Erase Surfaces and other Post-It products, visit PostIt.ca.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015
4 Comments

Adopt Our School - Indigo Love of Reading

For the Love of Reading

Tuesday, September 22, 2015
2 Comments

VTech Kidizoom Action Cam

Outdoor Fun

Last year, my son had his first taste of wearable tech with the VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch. He loved it so much, he couldn't wait to try out the Kidizoom Action Cam, the perfect companion for little explorers who love both outdoor and underwater adventures. Now, a new generation of active kids can capture and relive memories thanks to the durability and versatility of the VTech Kidizoom Action Cam. Use the included mounts to attach to a bike, skateboard or scooter, or use the waterproof case for some underwater fun.

My son's favourite feature was the waterproof case. This kid just loves playing in the water and recorded several videos during our latest family getaway to Blue Mountain a few weeks ago. The weather was below seasonal but, thanks to the Action Cam, he still managed to have endless hours of fun in the pool. I was personally surprised at how clear the underwater photos turned out, especially given that these ones were taken on an overcast day.

Assembly of the waterproof case was fairly straightforward and my son was able to quickly learn how to take videos. Many of them, however, were very shaky so I had to remind him to try to keep a steady hand. I also found that you have to keep your distance if you want to fit more people in the frame, which is harder than it sounds when your subjects are swimming around like fishies. Here's a brief video clip that I recorded at the pool by merely submersing the camera underwater. I didn't have any goggles on so this was filmed blindly, so to speak:

With a waterproof case that can take videoes and pictures up to six feet underwater, and a mount for bikes, skateboards or scooters, the Action Cam can go anywhere kids go. It was designed to withstand drops and tumbles while sparking creativity. The Action Cam features a 1.4" color LCD screen that can take stop-motion videos and time-lapse photos, and allows kids to explore fun effects, frames and photo filters.

The VTech Kidizoom Action Cam comes with a waterproof case, mounting accessories, and a wrist strap, as well as a micro USB cable for data transfer and battery recharging. There are also three built-in games for additional fun and room for expandable memory up 32 GB with a Micro-SD card (sold serparately). It is available in yellow/black or purple and is recommended for children ages 4 and up. The Action Cam currently retails for $69.97 at Walmart.

Disclosure: I received product to help facilitate this review. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Saturday, September 19, 2015
2 Comments

Costumes and Stuffies and Smiles

Life's Like That

Monday, September 14, 2015
35 Comments

Grilled Peach Salad #KidApprovedMeals

Kid Approved Meals

Photo Credit: Adam d'Oliveira

What's the first thing that pops into your head when you hear the word barbecue? My guess is that it has something to do with meat and proteins. Am I right? Two of my favourite foods to grill on the BBQ are chicken and pork. There's something about digging into a perfectly grilled pork chop that makes my mouth water. However, we sometimes host guests who are vegetarian and in fact, my husband has recently made efforts to convert to a whole food diet. So what can I make on the grill that the kids will love and vegetarian guests will love, too? Last week, I was able to pose this very question to the talented celebrity Chef Corbin Tomaszeski on the final leg of his culinary barbecue tour across Canada. We met up in Pickering for the last Walmart tailgate of the season to try out a fabulous new recipe the whole family will enjoy - Grilled Peach Salad.

Chef Corbin's Grilled Peach Salad #KidApprovedMeals

Photo Credit: Adam d'Oliveira

In case you haven't heard, something is a-buzz in the aisles of Walmart. It carries 100% Canadian-raised Angus beef, Maple Leaf chicken, Canadian salmon and fresh produce, making it your neighbourhood spot for one-stop shopping.

With a commitment to provide high quality and locally sourced fresh foods, Walmart Canada has teamed up with Chef Corbin to help tackle our barbecue woes. Whether you're looking for dinner-time inspiration or kid-approved meals, you can visit the Walmart Canada Youtube channel for ideas. Not sure what to try first? Allow me to recommend this delicious vegetarian side dish with a kick:

'Tis the season for peaches and let me tell you, the grilled peach salad was incredible. I had never tried peaches on the grill before and I wasn't so sure I'd like them dressed with chopped jalapeño peppers, but it was the perfect pairing between heat and sweet. And if you're worried your kids will find it too hot, Chef Corbin pointed out that the pepper itself isn't as hot as the seeds, which are really hot. Or you can easily omit the jalapeños altogether.

Walmart Tailgate in Pickering #KidApprovedMeals

Photo Credit: Adam d'Oliveira

Looking back on the tailgate, I feel like I have discovered a whole new side of Walmart. Crowds of families with their little soccer stars lined up to sample barbecued chicken, steaks, hotdogs and fresh produce from the store, many signalling their approval with a thumbs up. It only made sense for me to stop by the Walmart across the way to pick up some groceries for my next BBQ on my way home. Plus, it's reassuring that they back up their quality promise with 100% guarantee. If you're not satisfied, you can bring in your receipt for a full refund.

On a final note, I'd like to thank Chef Corbin for sharing his delicious recipe and culinary skills.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Walmart Canada, as part of the #WalmartMomCA program. In exchange for this review, I have received special perks in the form of products and/or compensation. All opinions on this blog are my own.

Friday, September 11, 2015
18 Comments

Lunchtime With GLAD and Disney: Kid Approved

GLAD

Welcome back to school, the joyous season of packing lunches, filling out forms, and helping with homework. You know, the exciting time when we get to fuss with our kids about what snacks to pack and what to wear. You rush them here and there, make sure they're packed and ready for school, go to work, and rush back home to make dinner, fill out more forms and tackle more homework. And then the kids get to run outside and play whilst mom and dad clean up in the kitchen and tend to laundry. Every. Single. Night. For once, it would be great to start off the day in perfect harmony, where beds are magically made, teeth brushed, lunches prepared and there's a coffee in mommy's hand, butterflies and fairies fluttering in the background. What? Fairies don't really exist? Well, I've got the next best thing: GLAD Snack and Sandwich Zipper Bags sprinkled with Disney magic!

GLAD's New Disney-Themed Sandwich Bags - Frozen

These new GLAD Zipper Bags, available for a limited time, are printed with characters from your child's favourite Disney films and are a wonderful solution to boost the fun factor of your child's lunchbox. There are four unique bag designs inside each box featuring favourite characters such as Elsa, Olaf, Woody, Lighting McQueen and Francesco Bernoulli. Luckily, our family received a bunch of GLAD Bags with Disney characters to help ease us back into the school routine and inspire my kids to look forward to lunchtime. I interviewed them both to share their thoughts on these Disney-themed zipper bags.

GLAD's New Disney-Themed Sandwich Bags - McQueen

Which character was your favourite?

Paolo: I really like Lightening McQueen.

Madeleine: My favourite is Mater. As in tuh-mater. Without the "tuh".

GLAD's New Disney-Themed Sandwich Bags - Mater

Did your friends love your new bags?

Paolo: Yes, they thought they were cool.

Madeleine: None of my friends had seen them before. They really liked the one with Olaf.

How did Disney-themed bags make lunch more fun?

Paolo: I love cars so it was fun to have them [Cars-themed bags] in my lunch.

Madeleine: The [Cars-themed bags] bags reminded me of the first Cars movie, which I liked. It's probably my favourite PIXAR movie.

What would your favourite Disney character have in their lunchbox?

Paolo: I don't know. Maybe a hamburger? (Guess what we had for dinner tonight.)

Madeleine: Mater would probably want pistacchio-flavoured ice cream. (And a lunchbox with a built-in freezer, methinks.)

GLAD Disney-themed Zipper Snack and Sandwich Bags are available at all major retailers and grocery stores for $2.49-$3.49. And by the way, for those who live in Toronto, you can now recycle resealable lunch bags as of June 1, 2015. You can find an updated list of new plastic that is now accepted in the blue bin on toronto.ca.

Disclosure: Our family participated in the #gladlunch sampling opportunity and have received special perks. Any opinions expressed in this post are our own.

Tuesday, September 08, 2015
9 Comments

Kellogg's Breakfasts for Better Days Blogger Challenge - Day 5

Breakfasts for Better Days

Five days ago, I began what I had previously anticipated would be a very simple challenge - the Kellogg's Breakfasts for Better Days blogger challenge. It entailed going four days without breakfast, eating breakfast on the fifth day, and documenting the effects in a video journal. Those of you who have been following along may have noted how much more difficult I found this challenge to be. In short, the first four days found me transformed into my alter ego Ms. Grumpy. Watching my kids enjoy their breakfasts while I went without merely added salt to the wounds. But finally, Day 5 arrived. I could finally indulge in a delicious breakfast that included all five food groups: dairy, cereals, fruit, meat protein and coffee. Yes, coffee. There are no words to describe how much I enjoyed my first breakfast in five days...

One of the questions that kept running through my mind throughout the challenge was, "Why on earth would anyone choose to skip breakfast?" But I kept reminding myself that, where the 1 in 7 school children are concerned, missing breakfast is likely not a choice. It's their only option. This sad reality is the reason why I signed up for this challenge.

Kellogg's Breakfasts for Better Days #LostEducation infographic

The Kellogg's Breakfasts for Better Days campaign has been created to raise awareness of how hunger affects learning. The infographic above highlights some of the statistics from the second annual survey of Canadian teachers which clearly shows the tangible impact of hunger on school aged children. Fortunately, Kellogg Canada wants to change these statistics for the better. In addition to supporting breakfast clubs for over a decade, Kellogg Canada is committed to donating a portion of the proceeds of cereal box sales, to a maximum of $100,000, to its breakfast partners across the country. This is above and beyond the more than one million dollars they have already donated to breakfast clubs in Canada. So, the next time you enjoy a bowl of Kellogg's Corn Flakes, it means somewhere in Canada a student will have a better day, too.

Disclosure: I am participating in the Kellogg’s Breakfasts for Better Days campaign. Though I have been compensated as part of this campaign, all opinions remain my own.

Saturday, September 05, 2015
8 Comments

iStore - A Store Like No Other

iStore

Photo Credit: JJ Thompson

Glamourous, sleek and unique. These are but a few adjectives that could be used to describe iStore - a stylish shopping destination for fashionable and practical technological accessories. It's the place where cutting-edge digital design meets modern lifestyle. It's also the place where you can be sure to find the perfect gift for my next birthday. Just in case you were already planning ahead.

Photo Credit: JJ Thompson

Recently, iStore owners, Joel Teitelbaum and Mike Battat, opened their newest location inside Scarborough Town Centre. Their goal was to create a stylish and welcoming retail environment that entices customers to relax and discover everything that the store has to offer. iStore's artistic design features a dramatic, hand‐assembled, custom‐designed, black and white patterned high‐gloss ceramic floor imported from Europe, custom‐made, curved modular Corian tables featuring floating trays where out‐of‐box products are displayed and custom‐built digital panels above each tray highlighting retail and product details.

The store also features a unique sound booth engineered with a sound‐proof foam interior where you can conveniently compare sound systems before making a purchase. And since we're on the topic of convenience, you will be thrilled to learn that iStore offers SafeCharge stations for mobile charging where customers can charge their mobile phone while they shop. For free! These charging stations use fingerprint recognition technology to lock and unlock a small personal locker, ensuring your phone remains secure while you shop.

iStore Herschel bags Frends headphones Skullcandy earbuds

Inside the iStore, you will find a myriad of products in a wide variety of categories:

Audio: Wireless speakers, headphones, earbuds and more from brands such as Frends, Skullcandy, Bose, Beats, Olufsen and more.
Cases & Bags: Protective bags, backpacks, and cases from brands that include Kate Spade, Herschel, Vanesa Rey.
Accessories: Rechargeable battery cases, cleaning products, cables, keyboards, storage solutions and more.
Connected Home: Unique smart home devices such as iGrill, weather stations and plant sensors.
Health & Fitness: Wellness devices to monitor health, improve performance and track sleep, meals and workouts.
Entertainment & Lifestyle: Design tools, interactive toys, iPhoneography and more.
Mobile Devices: The latest Apple mobile products, from iPhones, iPads, MacBook and iPods to Apple TV. Apple-certified staff is on hand for product demos and to answer questions.

One of my favourite features of the iStore is the ability to test out products on site, including several interactive toys. On my son's wish list: Sphero 2.0 and SilervLit Ferrari in red. Both of these are app-enabled so you can control them from your mobile device bia Bluetooth.

Personally, I think the Osmo Educational Gaming System for the iPad will be a huge hit this holiday season. It features a reflector and stand, and includes word games, tangram games and more. I give it two thumbs up.

iStore Osmo Educational Gaming System for the iPad

While you can find most of these products online at istoreworld.com, I highly suggest you stop by an iStore location for a unique shopping experience. You will likely spend several hours drooling over all of the beautiful accessories like I did. Honestly, it's a store like no other.

Other iStore mall locations include the Rockland Shopping Centre in Montreal and West Edmonton Mall. There are also several boutique airport locations across North America as well.

Saturday, September 05, 2015
10 Comments

Kellogg's Breakfasts for Better Days Blogger Challenge - Day 4

Breakfasts for Better Days

Friday, September 04, 2015
3 Comments

Kellogg's Breakfasts for Better Days Blogger Challenge - Day 3

Breakfasts for Better Days

Thursday, September 03, 2015
2 Comments

Zoom-O Disc Launcher

Family Fun

Thursday, September 03, 2015
8 Comments

Kellogg's Breakfasts for Better Days Blogger Challenge - Day 2

Breakfasts for Better Days

Yesterday marked Day 1 in the Kellogg's Breakfasts for Better Days blogger challenge and let me tell you, it's so much harder than I ever thought it would be. Today was even more so. On occasion, I like to take the kids out for some yummy baked goods and freshly squeezed orange juice and today was one of those days. I usually grab a fresh cup of coffee and a yogurt parfait but this morning, I didn't. You see, this blogger challenge involves me refraining from eating breakfast for four days and creating a video journal of how it affects my day. Well, this morning I just about had it. And only after two days without breakfast. You can vote me off the island, banish me from the house or label me the weakest link. Whatever. I am struggling big time. And boy, am I ever grumpy.

My alter ego - Ms. Grumpy

It certainly makes me empathize a lot more with children who go to school on an empty stomach. How can they possibly focus on school work? Two consecutive days without breakfast has put me in an awfully miserable mood and trying to concentrate on writing a blog post while my stomach grumbles incessantly is next to impossible. I did manage to record my second video journal. Like to see it? Here it is:

To raise awareness of how hunger affects learning, Kellogg Canada has developed the Reverse Hunger online video which depicts the depth of struggle a child experiences when he or she is hungry. And, in addition to supporting breakfast clubs for over a decade, Kellogg Canada is committed to donating a portion of the proceeds of cereal box sales, to a maximum of $100,000, to its breakfast partners across the country. This is above and beyond the more than one million dollars they have already donated to breakfast clubs in Canada.

Come back tomorrow to find out whether or not I can make it through Day 3 with no breakfast.

Disclosure: I am participating in the Kellogg’s Breakfasts for Better Days campaign. Though I have been compensated as part of this campaign, all opinions remain my own.