You know when two things come together so perfectly, it was like it was always meant to be? That's how I feel about Nutella and banana. I love Nutella and banana on toast. I love Nutella and banana with crepes. And now I have a new combo to add to my breakfast menu that just blew me away: Nutella Breakfast Banana Split! What can I say? I go bananas over Nutella and banana. Nuts, isn't it? If I feel a little ambitious over the weekend, I may even attempt Chef Stefano Faita's current recipe - Grandma's Nutella Breakfast Apple cake. I am hoping he will have some samples available when he comes to Toronto as part of the Nutella Summer Truck Tour. More on that in a bit. Right now, let's get back to how you can add a little joy to your breakfast with a recipe that will wow your family.

Isn't that amazingly simple? The kids gave me two thumbs up on this one and my daughter doesn't even like bananas! My version is a mini version since I don't have any bowls that were long enough. And, instead of Greek yogurt, I used plain vanilla yogurt since I wasn't sure the kids would like the consistency of it. Because regular yogurt is a little more runny than the Greek kind, my Nutella Breakfast Banana Split didn't look as perfect as in the photo featured on the addjoy.nutella.ca site (which is full of other delicious breakfast recipes) but that didn't stop my kids from digging right in. The granola I used had bits of coconut and chopped nuts in it and added a nice crunchy texture.

To help add a little joy to the mornings of Canadians, Nutella will be heading out on a Nutella Truck Tour this summer. The tour runs from June 27 to August 12 and will be a great opportunity for you to try fresh samples of waffles and fruit skewers with Nutella. Best of all, Chef Stefano will be making special appearances at each of the city-stops of the Nutella Summer Truck Tour. These events are perfect for the whole family since there will be personalized Nutella labels printed on-site, coupons, fun games with instant prizes, a personalized photo experience and kid-friendly activities for those waiting in line for samples. The schedule is listed below but you can find more information by visiting addjoy.nutella.ca. 

Today not only marks the beginning of summer but it just so happens to be the inaugural International Yoga Day. The weather was perfect for celebrating the Summer Solstice as many Torontonians gathered at the Distillery District for a full day of free yoga classes organized through omT.O. As a V.I.P. guest, I partook in the first class of the day lead by @Jelayna_in_yoga of Yoga Tree using mats provided by B Yoga. 

This was the first time I had experienced outdoor yoga and I couldn't be more grateful to be able to share in the experience. The sun slowly began to peak through the overcast skies while dozens of birds twittered overhead. A welcome breeze served as a reminder to focus on our yoga breaths as we saluted the sun in unison. 

What a great way to get your yoga on! Namasté!

What are you doing Wednesday night? There's a virtual picnic going on, rain or shine, and you're invited! It’s the #LetsDoPicnic Twitter party with @MapleLeafFoods, @PepsiCanada, @LaysCanada, @TostitosCanada and @WonderBreadCA on Wednesday, June 24 at 8pm EDT. Join in as we chat about yummy picnic food and give away summerlicious prizes. Plus, our special guest Chef Andrea Nicholson (@Andrea_n) will be serving up suggestions for your next picnic.

During the party, ten lucky winners will receive a cooler jam-packed with all your picnic essentials (pop, chips, t-shirts, hats, picnic umbrellas, coupons and gift cards) – each worth over $100! RSVP below for a chance to win! 

New to Twitter and/or Twitter parties? I have written the following tutorials to help you out, complete with screenshots:

This weekend, Tonic Magazine invites you to celebrate the summer solstice at Om T.O., a full day of non-stop yoga classes held outdoors in the beautiful Distillery District. Led by dynamic and popular instructors from top yoga studios in Toronto, classes are free and open to yogis from across the GTA. You can choose from eight different 40-minute yoga classes that include hatha, vinyasa, moksha and more. Be sure to bring your yoga mat and your appetite. There will be food and snacks sponsors on site including Live Organic, SoLo Gi, and Lady York.

You know what I miss? Making my own cards using my Cricut. So when I was asked to make invitations for my nephew's first birthday, I couldn't resist. My sister-in-law chose the dalmatian cut from the Create a Critter cartridge, which was perfect because the hat has a number 1 on it. Aren't they just adorable? Head on over to my craft blog dianasdesigns.ca to find out how I made them: Cricut Create a Critter Dalmatian Invitations.

The cultural component of the Grade 6 Ontario curriculum focuses on intercultural awareness of French-speaking communities in eastern, western and northern Canada. As such, I have recently introduced my students to the Festival du Voyageur. I tried to find some online resources and came across the Language and Culture weebly, initially developed by a team of Core French elementary school teachers. It references several links of cultural relevance for grades 4 through 8 and includes a unit on the festival. After having shown a video on les voyageurs, some of my students showed an interest in the song "C'est l'aviron /  M'en revenant de la jolie Rochelle" which les voyageurs sung throughout the video. I thought this was a perfect time to break out les cuillères and teach them how to play the spoons. They slowly began to take an interest in the song lyrics and so I decided to create a cloze activity based on the lyrics. I showed them two videos (see below) I had found on YouTube that included a more traditional version of the song and one that was more modern. The latter is actually a video from Kids CBC and features Patty, Sid, and Saumon de Champlain (this video has been removed from YouTube since this post was first published). I was worried my grade 6 students would find it too childish but in fact, they found it more amusing because the characters re-enact the lyrics and it also includes captions in English. 

I created the cloze activity seen above and wanted to share it since my students really enjoyed it. To download a copy, just click on the thumbnail above to access it via Google Drive. (Hover your cursor over the YouTube player and click on the YouTube logo to watch it on YouTube.com where you can add it to your playlist.) Here is a video I found on YouTube, which you may want to add to your own personal playlist for ease of reference.

Many moms will agree that those special moments you share with baby are among the most memorable moments we will ever have. Whether it's enjoying baby's first bath or watching baby roll over for the first time, we will never forget the emotions that arise when we witness a special milestone. To help today's busy mom make the most of her time together with baby, Fisher-Price, the world's most trusted brand in toys, is there to support 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 continues to expand to support babies as they grow and help ensure those unforgettable #FPMommyMoments.

To celebrate, we will be chatting about those special moments and giving away some incredible Fisher-Price prizes at the #FPMommyMoments Twitter party and you're invited!

Date: Thursday, June 11, 2015

Time: 8:00 pm EDT

Party Hashtag: #FPMommyMoments

Hosts: @Listen2Lena and @thesocialcommon

Prizes: 

• 1x Smart Connect Mobile – Rainforest Friends ($69.99)
• 1x Deluxe comfort curve™ bouncer ($59.99)
• 1x Deluxe Take Along Swing & Seat ($99.99)
• 1x Newborn-to-Toddler Play Gym ($69.99)
• 1x SpaceSaver Jumperoo- Woodland Friends ($79.99)
• 1x 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soother ($149.99)
• 1x 4-in-1 Smart Connect Cradle 'n Swing ($249.99)

• 4-in-1 Smart Connect Cradle 'n Swing
• Deluxe comfort curve™ bouncer
• Rinse ‘n grow tub
• SpaceSaver Jumperoo
• Newborn-to-Toddler Play Gym
• Smart Connect Mobile
• BeatBo
• Smart Stages Puppy (or Sis)
• Smart Stages Piggy Bank
• Puppy’s Smart Stages Speedway
• Smart Stages Tea Set

RSVP below for a chance to win. (Prizes are available to Canadians only.)

New to Twitter and/or Twitter parties? I have written the following tutorials to help you out, complete with screenshots:

When you get an invitation to shuck oysters and enjoy a sparkling dinner party with Chef Michael Smith, it's very hard to find a reason not to go. Let me tell you, this guy knows how to throw a party. From a fancy venue and a delectable menu to sabering champagne and setting bananas on fire, what more could you ask for? The #SparklingClean event, hosted by Cascade, took place at The Chase Fish & Oyster in downtown Toronto. Upon arrival, guests were invited to join Food Network's Chef Michael Smith and learn how to properly shuck oysters. But not just any oysters. PEI oysters! Upon successful completion, we partook in the Oyster Society Oath that ended with a salty kiss. Figuratively speaking, of course.

Following this interactive activity, we gathered together to officially kick off the dinner party with a bang. We watched as Chef Michael coached a guest in the art of sabering a bottle of champagne. Can't say I've ever seen that done in person before. It sure wowed the crowd.

As we took our seats, I couldn't help but notice how everything sparkled. The drinking glasses and table décor definitely set the tone for the dinner party. Chef Michael also made sure to add a special touch by including fresh flowers and letter blocks arranged to spell words such as "sparkle" and "wine". I thought it was a creative idea to include the blocks. It wasn't long before it became clear that he had put much thought and effort into planning this party. He even took great care to write out his Sparkling Dinner Party Tips on the chalkboard using his excellent penmanship. 

As an hors d'oeuvre, we were served a portion of his delicious Bacon Potato Casserole which was followed by the restaurant's rendition of Chef Michael's Sunny Southwest Salad. As an entrée, we enjoyed some Greek chicken stuffed with oregano and lemon butter, caramelized onion and creamer potatoes with herb roasted tomatoes. It was incredibly delicious! The only part I didn't eat was the skin. But it was crisped to perfection and so Chef Michael, who sat next to me, couldn't resist adding it to his plate. He convinced me, though, that it's one of the best parts so I'll be sure to give it a try next time.