Toronto Teacher Mom: Collective Bias

Dining With Kids at Jack Astor's #CollectiveBias #Shop

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.

A sore throat. That's how it started.

Then the body ache followed.

Sure enough, by the middle of the night, I was fighting a fever of 39.2 and feeling miserable. My husband had been hit with the flu the week prior so by the time Friday night rolled along a few days later, neither of us had any inclination nor the energy to cook dinner. The solution? Load the kids into the Jeep and head out to one of our go-to restaurants - Jack Astor's.

Aside from the obvious benefit of avoiding kitchen cleanup and having the kids complain that they don't like mommy's lasagne, eating out with the family is usually a stress-free evening away from the everyday routine. At least twice a month, we will eat out and, while I prefer going to a Greek restaurant on the Danforth, my kids almost always ask to go to Jack Astor's. I like it because it's close to home and I know there will be something on the menu the kids will love. It is also a very kid-friendly restaurant. As soon as we are seated to a table, our server has a paper placemat and crayons ready for the kids.

My son loves completing the maze and my daughter enjoys drawing. Sometimes they will even play Tic Tac Toe on the craft paper that covers the table. If this isn't enough to keep them occupied, Jack Astor's has DVD players on loan to help pass the time while the kids wait for their food. We have relied on this a couple of times in the past but now the kids are older so we no longer ask for one. There is, however, a new toy at Jack Astor's for kids to enjoy - a little black Barrel of Donkeys! Such a brilliant idea, no?

If you have young children, you will know exactly what I mean when I say, thank goodness for no-spill cups! This is incredibly vital for a mess-free evening since my kids are notorious for knocking over their drinks.

Another reason our family enjoys dining at Jack Astor's is because they understand the need to get the kids' food orders on the table as soon as possible. And that night, they did.

My kids usually order a fajita because they love making them their own way. This time was different. My son chose a pepperoni pizza with fries and my daughter opted for a burger and fries, both from the kids' menu.

They each devoured their meal and I'm glad I ordered a chicken fajita for myself because my daughter's meal didn't seem sufficient enough. (And by the way, if you've never tried a fajita at Jack Astor's you are missing out.)

Wednesday, April 30, 2014
11 Comments

Outdoor Activities and Summer Fun

Canadian Tire

Now that we're in June, summer is just around the corner. There are only four weeks left until the kids and myself are officially on summer vacation and we couldn't be more excited. The summer is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the weather with some fun outdoor activities and mini family getaways. One of my favourite places to take the family in the summer is Blue Mountain. The views are breathtaking and the fun-filled activities are plenty. We can enjoy paddle boating, mini golf, wall climbing, swimming or hiking up to the top of the mountain. Most recently, they added the Timber Challenge High Ropes which is incredibly exhilarating.

Our family also enjoys heading out on camping trips. Last year, we camped out at Bronte Creek Provincial Park and the kids had lots of fun. But it paled in comparison to our trip to Gatineau Park when my daughter was younger. Sitting by the campfire roasting marshmallows deep in the woods was such a joy. My daughter and I woke up early one morning and headed out in her Bugaboo stroller only to be greeted by a bunch of deer. With the sun rising behind them, it was truly a sight to behold.

There are many local attractions to visit here in Toronto. In the past, I have taken the kids to Canada's Wonderland, the Ontario Science Centre, Centreville Island, Edwards Gardens and the Toronto Zoo. I have even purchased a family pass to the zoo so that we can visit the animals year-round and also stop by the splash pad periodically throughout the summer. This year, however, I am taking a more frugal approach and will not be renewing our membership. Instead, we will visit the animals at the Riverdale Farm and enjoy water play in the comfort of our own backyard. I recently purchased the Wigglin' Water Sprinkler at Canadian Tire and, as you can tell from the photo above, the kids had a blast with it. We also purchased a brand new bike for my son's fifth birthday a few weeks ago which has already provided countless hours of fun. All I need to do is fix the flat tire on my bike and I can join in, too. But seeing as my bike is over 12 years old, I could easily justify buying a new one altogether. Right? Right!

During the summer months, I am always looking for ways to keep the kids busy and active. Aside from playing recreational soccer, the kids keep active by swimming at the local pool, playing at the playground, or partaking in games and activities with the kids in the neighbourhood. From playing frisbie and bean bag toss to jumping rope or flying a kite, the possibilities are endless. The goal is simply to avoid being cooped up in the house watching TV or playing video games and instead enjoy some fresh air while developing hand-eye coordination skills, team-building skills and a love of physical activity. Each year, I like to buy at least one new outdoor game or activity that we can add to our repertoire. This year, I decided to delve into the kids' Italian roots and teach them the game of bocce, otherwise known as lawn bowling. While at Canadian Tire looking for the sprinkler, I also purchased this Moulded Bocce Set for $19.99. It was brightly coloured and more lightweight than the professional set, which I think makes it more kid-friendly. So far, my son seems to like it best. Check out my Google+ album to view my entire shopping experience: Shopping for Fun Outdoor Activities at Canadian Tire.

All in all, I think we are going to have plenty of fun with our new bocce set and sprinkler this summer, along with all of the other summer toys and backyard games that the kids own. I am definitely looking forward to spending some quality time with the family, too.

What are your favourite summer activities that you enjoy with your family?

Monday, June 03, 2013
7 Comments

My "Me Time" Snack (Shoppers Drugmart Shop) #cbias

Collective Bias

A couple of days ago, I woke up with a sore throat. The following morning, my son vomited and later came down with a fever. Luckily for me, my husband was able to stay home with him. I continued to ignore my sore throat until Wednesday morning when my daughter woke up complaining of a sore throat, too. She also felt feverish. I, myself, felt like I had swallowed razor blades. Looks like I would take my first sick day of the year. We lucked out and got an appointment with the pediatrician who didn't seem too concerned about the kids. But he took one look at my throat and knew instantly that I had strep. Great! We were in and out quickly which meant I could go home and rest while the pencillin takes effect. Right? Not with two little sick kids to tend to. They had a mild fever for most of the day but drank plenty of water and had some of my homemade chicken soup. I kept them entertained as best I could but Sibling Rivalry reared its ugly head. Ack! I just wanted some quiet time to myself!

Day 2 of being practically house-ridden, I decided that enough is enough. I needed to take the kids outside for some fresh air. So I loaded them into their wagon, bundled them up all nice and warm and headed to Shoppers Drugmart for some comfort food. The location closest to home is fairly small with a limited selection of goods. I ended up getting some Tostitos chips with salsa and some Coke. This was strictly for my "me time" snack, an indulgence that was long overdue. While the kids sat down with their snack and watched a t.v. program, I took the time to focus, though briefly, on myself. I had no one there to pamper me so I pampered myself! It was almost like reliving my younger years when I had very few cares in the world and could veg with chips and dip like I used to when I was a kid. I strongly believe that "me time" is important, especially when you're sick. Don't you?

Check out my This Moment story - Shoppers Drugmart "Me Time" Shop:

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias.