Cars Land at the New Disney California Adventure Park

Disney, ROAM By July 11, 2012 Tags: , , , , 2 Comments

I had a solid strategy. Focus. Spy-talk. Going dark on Twitter, Facebook and email. The camera could also wait. The Mission. Step 1: Get into the park, go straight along the Red Car Trolley route and bear left at Carthay Circle. Step 2: At the Radiator Springs sign announcing the new Cars Land at Disneyland Resort in Southern California, head straight to the back to get in line for the Radiator Springs Racers. The highly secretive ‘cast members’ (Disney employees) who experienced the new attractions a full week prior to the general public had glimmering eyes and sly grins when I asked about this particular ride. My plan would have been stellar had my first experience been in daylight. On this particular evening – the grand opening ceremony of the new California Adventure Park – I was so struck by the neon signs and ambiance that I froze in my tracks. There was Flo’s V8 Cafe! The Cozy Cone Motel! (which serves goodies and snacks exclusively in cones.) I may need to wax poetic. Wouldn’t that be a shocker. The hum of the neon. The tunes wafting from the band. The giggles of guests on Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree and Luigi’s Flying Tires. This would be a good night.

And it was. But not nearly as good as the next day, when my two boys joined me in the park. Despite a string of temper tantrums by the 4 year-old (witnessed by Andy Garcia), the giggles he allowed escape during Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree were priceless. On this ride, you sit on a tractor and get spun around every which way as square dance music plays and Mater welcomes you to his yard. With a height minimum of only 32 inches, very young kids are able to experience the magic. We just lined up over and over again. You giggle as much in line watching others as you do on the ride.

Then there are Luigi’s Flying Tires. I must admit that I was a bit dubious at this. Air blows up through holes in the floor and lifts huge tires off the ground. Hovercraft Tires. The floating monoliths are controlled as the 2 riders lean side to side, front to back, allowing the tire to skim across the floor amidst bouncing beach balls. A jaunty Italian song plays and Luigi coaxes you to have a ball. So to speak. First thought? Do not wear a full skirt as you walk across the platform with air blowing upwards. I failed this first test. Second? Another ride where the minimum is 32 inches – Disney sure knows their demographic! And finally, Totally fun. We giggled as we bumped other tires, made caches of beach balls fly into the air and watched the faces of our fellow riders. Laughed so hard I cried. How very Italian of me. Not very spy-like though, as I was clearly wearing my heart on my sleeve.

The Radiator Springs Racers turned me back into the Bond Girl I am. (ok. Think I am.) 6 People in each car go for a leisurely ride through Ornament Valley, including a drive by the valley’s famous plunging waterfall, Radiator Falls.  As you prepare for the big race, Luigi gives you whitewalls, Doc Hudson supplies some racing tips, and Mater tries to coax you into joining him for a cow-tipping escapade.  Suddenly, you’re off, racing fast around high-banked turns and camelback straightaways, past spectacular red-rock formations. The entire ride spans a huge space through the towering Cadillac Range mountains.  “Car aficionados will notice that the 6 mountain peaks resemble the tail fins of classic Cadillac models from 1957 to 1962.”  Cool.  One more thing.  Best. Ride. Ever.

There are a few tips for when you go:

1. Check it out at night. The Neon is incredible.
2. Buy a pylon drink. You can later give it to the worst hockey player on your team.
3. Do the Radiator Springs Racers at least twice. make it your first stop and grab a Fastpass.
4. Get there early and study a map so you know the fastest beeline.
5. Watch the movies just before going. You’ll be floored (oh I love my car jokes) at the level of detail that will surround you.
6. Get a photo taken in front of the Radiator Springs sign. (You’ve got to do it). The Photopass photographers are amazing.

Tickets are $81-$87 per day, or $119-$125 for a park-hopper pass that allows you to walk across to Disneyland in the same day. Other options are available for multi-day passes.  The Disneyland website is informative and allows you to select various packages.

Disclosure: UrbanMommies was invited to experience the opening of the revamped California Adventure Park and as always, our opinions are our own.

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Harrison Hot Springs Resort with Kids

Canada, ROAM By July 11, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , 2 Comments

“I’ll meet you at the Bear.”  (That would be the 5 foot high stuffed one in the lobby of the Harrison Springs Resort and Spa.)  I just loved saying it.  Invited for a spring night’s getaway, my two boys and I made the short drive up Highway 1 from Vancouver to Harrison and as my lovely Welsh friend says, I was gob-smacked.  A broad lake with an enticing bright yellow slide and bouncy play contraption floating off the beach greeted us as we drove into the resort.  A dock for boating and fishing activities anchored the quaint town filled with painted Sasquatch footprints and pedicabs built for 5 ($25/hour, Jamie’s Quadricycle Rentals, 604-703-8951).  The shopping in this mining area was great for gifts, and I was able to pick up several specimens of ‘gems’ as a birthday gift for a future geologist.

The room overlooked the lake (I later sat happily on the balcony after the boys were fast asleep) and the fluffy spare blanket was a perfect wrap on the abnormally chilly spring night.  Upon arrival the boys were in their swimsuits before I had taken off my shoes.  The natural hot springs beconed.  Originally used by the Salish Coast Indians for medicinal properties and rejuvenating effects, the Harrison Hot Springs Spa and pools have attracted visitors for years, including famous guests such as Clark Gable, John Wayne, Michael Buble, Robin Williams and Liam Neeson.  We’re not nearly as famous – ah-hem – but I could certainly see the rejeuvenating qualities after I’d soaked (and played) in the pools.  The resort includes 5 different mineral-fed baths, including a 4,000 square foot outdoor family pool.  The tranquil indoor space reminded me of Saratoga in New York or Baden Baden in Germany.  The symmetry of the architecture and the echoes of the water made my son decide that we would be celebrating his 5th birthday in this location.

A hike through the grounds through a trellised rose garden and then the forest over 11 bridges led us to the original source of the springs.  The 65 DEGREE CELSIUS water is mixed with the cool lakewater to feed the 5 hot springs pools at temperatures ranging from 27 to 36 degrees celsius.  And I can’t even set my PVR.

First Nations have known about the water for 100’s of years…The hot springs themselves were originally used and revered by the Sts’Ailes (Chehalis) First Nations people who live along the Harrison River nearby. The first Europeans may have been exhausted gold miners returning from the Cariboo Gold Fields in the early 1860’s – falling out of their canoe on the southern shore of what is now Harrison Lake only to find the water warm.

The Healing Springs Spa on the resort premises invited me for a facial which ended up being one of the best I’d ever had.  Ironically, my kids were with me.  (Don’t laugh – I’ve even had a massage while nursing one of them).  The boys thought the waterfall in the spa lobby was cool and each picked a nail polish they wanted me to buy.  For them.  The highlight, though (for all of us), came when the spa manager took them to Miss Margaret’s – an in-house cafe – for a giant and fantastically delicious cookie.

With great room service, the ability to tire out the kids and pet friendly policies, I’ll be back.  For a birthday party apparently.  And I think there will be gems and giant cookies in every goody bag.

Family Packages at Harrison Hots Springs Resort include the Get Wet Package and the Summer Soaker for Kids.

Disclosure: UrbanMommies was provided a room at the resort and 30 minute facial for the purposes of a review.  As always, our opinions are our own.

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10 Ways to Get Your Baby to Sleep

10 Ways to Get Your Baby to Sleep

baby, FAM By July 3, 2012 Tags: , , , , 3 Comments

Up to 30 % of parents of young children encounter difficulty with getting their little ones to fall asleep or stay asleep. Sleep is important for children’s health and development.  Lack of sleep in children is known to cause learning and memory deficits resulting in difficulty attaining age appropriate milestones for younger children and poor academic performance in school aged children. It is also reported that lack of sleep in children can result in irritability, depression, hyperactivity and aggression. Moreover, disturbed sleep in children often causes stress on the entire family. Contrary to belief, children do not outgrow sleep problems and if left untreated, sleep disorders are more likely to persist, but many still struggle with ways to get your baby to sleep?

In order for children to learn and develop, they need to be well rested to be at their optimum for taking in new information and accomplishing motor and cognitive milestones. Parents should practice and teach their children good sleep hygiene techniques to promote better sleep.  The term sleep hygiene relates to sleep behaviours that expose a child to activities and cues that prepare and promote them for well timed and effective sleep.  Here is a top 10 list of good sleep hygiene practices to teach your children:

10 Ways to Get Your Baby to Sleep

•    Being active during the day. Age appropriate activities are essential to help children establish good sleep-wake cycles. It exposes them to daylight and activities throughout the day which is thought to help increase the release of a hormone (melatonin) at night to help children sleep. Activities for an infant such as tummy time or a toddler playing at a park on swings, climbing, sliding etc… Children are meant to move and sedentary activities such as television are thought to hinder a good night’s sleep.

•    Routines help children understand what is coming next; this allows them to anticipate what is happening in their day.

•    Establish a bedtime routine to allow them to wind down and get themselves ready to transition from wake to sleep. Take approximately 30 mins of quiet time doing relaxing activities prior to getting your child to sleep.

•    Keep to a fairly predictable schedule during the week and weekends e.g. bedtime/naptimes should not vary more than one hour either side of regular bedtime. Most children are in bed by 730pm every night. Autumn is the best time to put children to bed earlier and benefit from the daylight savings time change to help with the transition.

•    Try not to feed your child food containing caffeine 4-6 hours prior to bedtime (e.g. cookies or muffins containing chocolate), it acts as a stimulant and keeps children awake.

•    The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends no television for children under two years of age. If you let your child watch television ensure that they do not watch any at least 2 hours prior to bedtime, this activity stimulates children instead of calming them. Try reading a favourite book or singing some bedtime songs to help transition them to calmer activities.

•    For younger children, research studies report that infants who learn to settle themselves are more likely to discover self-soothing techniques and are better sleepers by 6 months than infants whose caregivers assist infants to sleep through various activities e.g. feeding or rocking to sleep.

This does not mean letting your child cry it out but rather letting them settle themselves.

•    Noise reduces sleep time, especially in deep sleep, and increases light sleep e.g. a party going on at next door neighbours. During light sleep, noises can wake a person more easily. Try using a white noise machine.

•    When the room temperature is too hot, time in deep sleep is decreased. In a room too cold, it takes longer for a person to get to sleep. Recommended room temperature for sleeping is between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius.

Need more ideas? We’ve rounded up the ‘experts’ – Elizabeth Pantley and Richard Ferber.

Jennifer Garden, a registered health professional (occupational therapist) and mother of two year old twins!

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kingswoodpark fredricton

Things to Do with Kids in Fredericton, New Brunswick

Canada, ROAM By July 2, 2012 Tags: , , , 5 Comments

Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick, enjoys a milder climate than many other places in Canada, and is well-known for its culture, arts, and learning. You’ll find lots of variety in terms of ethnic cuisine, and a great music and art scene, plus a variety of outdoor stuff to do with the whole family. Here are some highlights for things to do with kids in Fredericton.

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Canada Day Recipes, Parties and Style

EAT, holidays By June 26, 2012 Tags: , , , , No Comments

We wouldn’t be true Canucks without breaking out the red and white over the Canada Day long weekend.  Our team were busy beavers (couldn’t resist) as we dug up these ideas for food, style, entertaining and plain coolness.

Food:

1.  The Strawberry Canada Day flag cake by Kraft.

2.  Strawberry cheesecake bites by Oh She Glows.

3. Maple leaf jello jigglers on a sandwich with sprinkled yoghurt from Meet the Dubiens.

Style:


1.  Canadian nails by CND Shellac.

2.  HUDSON’S BAY COMPANY COLLECTION Diana F+ Lomography Camera.  The Bay

3.  Alexander Wang Leather Donna hobo in persimmon at Holt Renfrew

Kids:


1.  The peace shirt.  Redfish Kids

2.  Daisy flower headband by Carrie N.

3.  Swimsuit by Bonpoint

Cool Stuff:

1.  Red Paisley Bandanas as napkins.  Shindigz

2. The Purple Forge Canada Day app (free)

3.  Canada Day printable subway art.

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Making Goop

LIVE, play By June 26, 2012 Tags: , , , , 4 Comments

Start by putting down a garbage bag… You’ll need a box of cornstarch… but $3 is totally worth the hour of sanity you’ll get out of it. You mix the cornstarch with barely enough water and food colouring to get it runny: think slightly-too-soft cookie dough. (i.e., LOTS of cornstarch, and probably one cup to 1.5 cups of water.)  It makes a non-Newtonian fluid (if you want to sound all sciency).  Basically, if you punch it, hit it or grab it… it’ll go solid.
As soon as you relax your hold if it (or gently push your hand into it) it’ll turn to a thick pancake-batter like consistency.  Makes cool “ooze” for little kids to play with… and cornstarch is a no-brainer for clean-up.  Enjoy.

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The Top 100 Things All Canadians Should Know

The Top 100 Things All Canadians Should Know

FAM, kids By June 26, 2012 Tags: , , No Comments

In preparing for Canada Day, we often reminisce about times gone by.  But have we perhaps been lazy with our heritage and our own education?  Here are the top 100 things all Canadians should know about – either at a cocktail party or in answer to your children’s questions.  We’re bracing ourselves for lots of comments about what we may be missing…  please add your thoughts below.  We sometimes forget that we are our children’s best teachers and role models.  So if a few of these things are fuzzy in your mind… you’ve got a fun activity brewing for the long weekend.

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bacon wrapped asparagus

Perfect Summer Sides: Bacon Wrapped Asparagus on the Grill

EAT, family meals By June 24, 2012 Tags: , , , , , No Comments

If your family is anything like mine, they love bacon, and everyone knows, bacon makes everything better! When you’re making dinner on the grill, try this simple, inexpensive, and delicious perfect summer side dish: bacon wrapped asparagus on the grill!

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Travel Doesn’t Need to Be Uncomfortable: Travel Beds for Small Children

LIVE, play, ROAM By June 20, 2012 Tags: , , , , 1 Comment

PeaPod Plus Baby Travel Bed: More like a cocoon than a bed

Urban Mommies always seem to be on the go, especially in the summer! When traveling with our little ones, finding a comfy place for them to sleep can be a source of concern.  It’s easy to feel like Goldilocks in the house of the Three Bears:  our children are too big for a pack-n-play or a crib but they are too small to be comfortable in a large adult bed.  What’s a mom to

do?  We need to find a bed that is just right, and these travel beds for small children do the trick.

 

The solution?  A Travel bed specially designed and shaped to accommodate infant/toddler and young child age groups.  There is an assortment from which to choose including: inflatable air mattresses, simple and light-weight cots, lightweight play yards many of which come with a bassinet for small babies.  Some travel beds are also equipped with folding bed rails for children who have a tendency to roll out of bed in the middle of the night.  Most importantly, because many of the travel beds are inflatable, they are also quite portable, light-weight and c

an easily be folded to fit into a car or a closet.

Several makers of child travel beds and different styles of travel beds are available.The Urbanmommies Editors found the following child and infant travel beds particularly pleasing:

 

PeaPod Plus Baby Travel Bed

Unlike the hardier and bulkier play yards of our youth, the PeaPod Plus Baby Travel Bed is more like a “travel cocoon.”  The mattress is inflatable and, when baby is finished sleeping, can be folded into a compact tote for easy carrying; no more lugging around the heavy pack-n-play! This travel bed is also outdoor-friendly: the mesh bubble blocks bugs, wind, and half of the UV rays. The mattress inflates in less than 5 minutes using the a specific pump (sold separately by Leaps and Bounds).


Guava Family GoCrib

Guava Family GoCrib

The GoCrib is a standard size, ultra-portable travel crib that packs into a lightweight backpack for families that are on the go.

Because it’s inflatable, it is pretty easy to assemble.  But, once it is set up the rigid structure creates a strong and safe environment.  The product features a 27″ x 39″ insulating mattress and a 25″ depth sleeping and play area (same as a standard play yard).

 

My Cot Portable Travel Bed

My Cot Portable Travel Bed

I wish that they had something like the My Cot Portable Travel Bed when I was a child.  It would have made sleeping at my grandparents’ house a lot more comfortable.  This portable cot can go to Grandma’s, day care as easily as it can be transported to sleepovers!  The bed is slightly lifted off the ground leaving enough room underneath to ensure that the children sleeping on it stay comfy and dry whether the cot is indoors and out. It even comes with its own carry bag.

 

Tuck-Me-In Travel Bed with Removable Mattress

We love the Tuck-Me-In Travel Bed with Removable Mattress. It’s so easy to assemble my daughter and her cousins argue about how’s turn it is to inflate the mattress.  The famous inflatable bed features a larger, fully-detached mattress, for snugglier sleepovers and easier linen changes. Soft and cushy, with a flocked surface that’s not sticky, it also built-in safety bumpers. The Tuck-Me-In  is very light and folds compactly.  The pump and tote included in the price of the bed. Further, if your little one is a sheet lover, like my daughter is, you can purchase the coordinating travel bed accessories from One Step Ahead too.

 

Intex Cozy Kid Air Bed

My 8 year-old daughter is begging me for a bed that can accommodate all her friends when they have a sleep over.  Rather than pull out the old sleeper sofa’s mattress, we elected to go the less time consuming and affordable route and took a look at the Cozy Kidz Airbeds.  The Intex Cozy Kid Air Bed Twin Size comes in three bright fun colors: pink, blue and orange . Both the pillow-top and mattress-top are lightly flocked which adds comfort while also preventing the sheets from sliding off of the mattress.  This is the perfect air mattress to take on a sleepover or even family camping trips. The beds are 34.5″ Wide x 62″ Long x 7″ height (slightly shorter than the average twin bed) but the dimensions may vary up to two inches depending on firmness and come with built in pillows. Even better?  The mattresses can withstand more than 200lbs which means more than one child can sit on it at a time before having to worry that they are going to cause the mattress to deflate.  One note, the mattress does not come with a built in pump.

Traveling with small children doesn’t have to be painful.  Most Urban Mommies know that the first step to having a happy child is ensuring that child has had a good night’s sleep.  With so many great travel bed choices, we know that you & your family will find the right one (or two?  or three?)  that works for you.

Good luck! And safe travels!

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