Sale Success!

This weekend we held our 3rd Annual Spring Mom to Mom Sale.

It was a lot of planning, a lot of hard work and time, but very worth it!

I worked with some awesome students from Barrie Central this year. They helped to plan and organize the sale and did all the setup and then worked the sale! It was awesome to have so many young men and women helping me out this year!



On Friday night all the sellers and vendors came out with their goods to setup. The students got right to work unloading cars and helping wherever they could. Everyone was so impressed with how helpful and polite they were!

Once everyone was unloaded and the gym was full of toys and gear and bins upon endless bins of clothes, they got down to sorting, organizing and displaying.



By the end of the night, after 5 hours of hard work, we were all set for the doors to open Saturday morning!!!



We all returned bright and early to be sure that everything was good to go. Our checkout crew setup and were pumped to check out the crowds of moms that came through, there were students around the gym to help the shoppers, keep organized and just watch their hard work pay off!!!



The moms came out in masses. By 9am there was a line up dozens deep just waiting to get at the goods! And shop they did!!!

The baby gear and toys were flying out of the gym. Some moms had arm fulls of clothes and shoes! Everyone seemed really please! It was so good to see so many momstown mamas out too!



Even the kiddies had a great time! Pickles the Clown was on hand to do her magical face painting and the kids looked amazing!!!



It was a great day for everyone! As the day came to an end and the shoppers disappeared, the vendors gathered to have a little fun!


Until next time, thank you to everyone that made the sale a success!!!

Preparing for THE sale of the Season... by a procrastinator

I am a procrastinator. There, I said it. I work well under pressure, I put off what can be, and when crunch time hits I spend countless moments saying, "why didn't I do this yesterday?" The upcoming mom to mom sale is no different.

This Saturday May 14th from 9am to 2pm at Innisdale Secondary School, momstown Barrie is holding it's 3rd Annual Spring Mom to Mom Sale. It's going to be huge. It's going to be awesome. And no one will know what a procrastinator I am...unless of course they read this!

This year I had the wonderful opportunity to work with a bunch of students from Barrie Central Collegiate that are taking a Business Leadership class. They have taken the sale on as a project to gain some real life, hands on experience in running a business and planning a community event.


The students have been great! They have answered emails, fielding all sorts of questions regarding the sale, they have advertised and promoted the sale, they have coordinated door prizes, and secured clothing racks. They have worked hard. As students, I don't think they realized what an undertaking it was to organize this sort of event. They did great and I can't wait to see what they all think come tomorrow evening when dozens businesses come to set up their tables of goodies and of course, when the dozens of moms converge on Innisdale Secondary School (our sale location if you missed it) with bins upon bins of gently used items all to be sold to the masses that will come out to shop. These young kids are in for a shock at the amount of "stuff" us mamas collect!!

But this will be nothing compared to Saturday. If past years tell me anything, this year is going to be huge. Hundreds of mamas coming out to shop. Not just any kind of shopping, bargain shopping. What us mamas do best!!

So as I sit here, taking a brake (ok, fine, procrastinating some more) from tagging and sorting all of my own children's items, dreading each bin as I open it to find millions of pieces of precious clothing and memories, I can't help but wonder... why didn't I do this yesterday?

Spring at the Farm!

We finally made it to the Farm yesterday! Last week our trip was cancelled due to a very cold and rainy day. It all worked out for the best since yesterday was the perfect day for the momstown mamas to head to Rounds Ranch.

The sun was shining, it was warm and everyone was in good spirits! We all met at the farm and had a little introduction from one of the farmers, Wendy!



While we waited for a few moms that got lost (and yes, I was one of them, had a lovely tour of Wasaga Beach though.), Wendy took the kids on a tractor train ride. The kids just loved it... and so did a few moms!



The kids piled in the barrels all brightly painted with animals, and held on tights as they were pulled along for a ride!



Once we had all arrived we headed to the barn area to visit with the animals. Wendy explained to everyone about the animals they had, which we could visit right in their pens to pet and play with and which ones were in a separate barn with their newborn babies.



The kids ventured in with the rabbits and chickens checking out their homes and looking for eggs. Wendy took one of the bunnies out for the little ones to hold and pet. All the kids were so excited, even the babies!



We were fortunate to get a special visit with the newest members of the farm. We were introduced to all the new arrivals, including a bunch of goats just one day old!


While visiting the baby goats, one of the mama goats decided it would be a good time to make a run for it and our momstown mamas, pregnant and all, corralled the goat so she could be put back in a pen. It sure was a moment to remember!

Seeing all the babies was so much fun! The kids were still ready for more fun though, so we headed to the hand wash station to clean up and then to the fields for fun. Some of the kids, big and small, took a ride on the peddle cars, some ventured into the moo maze and some headed to the large play structure where the kids climbed and played and braved the enormous slide and the super fast zipline!



It sure was a great day! Thanks to all the momstown mamas that came out to enjoy the morning with us!

Mother's Day, in a gym....

While most of your were spending time with your families enjoying the gorgeous weather, taking a walk, having dinner or just hanging outside in the sunshine and celebrating your Mother's Day, I spent mine in a gym with my oldest daughter as she competed in a baton twirling competition in New York.

As moms we know that our lives are dedicated to our children. We make sacrifices everyday to ensure our children have the best childhood we can possibly give them. I am sure most of you will agree that the greatest thing we can give our children is our time.

I think my daughter realized today, more than any other day, that no matter what, no matter when, even on a day dedicate to ME, I will always make time for her.

On our long drive home, we reflected on a day full of accomplishments. And as per usual, my Queen of the Self Portrait Took her customary selfie of us in the car. A day to remember!



As a mother to a competitive baton twirler, a lot of my times is spent travelling to lessons and competitions and sitting in gyms watching her twirl her heart out to perfect what she loves most, twirling.

Watching my daughter grow as an athlete and as a young woman has been an honour. I have raised a beautiful and intelligent girl and I am so extremely proud of her. Watching her put her heart and soul on the floor of a gym in front of dozen of people, judges, her coaches, her competition and her mother is such a humbling experience for me. I never thought it was possible to feel so much love and pride.

Today, as I sat in the gym with all the other mothers, on our Mother's Day, I know that this feeling of pride was understood by everyone around me, and that these little moments that we give to our daughters are the most important ones.

Happy Mother's Day to all you mamas!

Pancake Party for Mom!

Being a mom is the best thing on Earth! You get to have little adorable people love you no matter what you look like, what you do or don't do, or what you say. You get unlimited kisses and hugs with no expectations in return.

Celebrating Mother's Day isn't just a day for others to celebrate us, but to remind us mos of what we get to be a part of and how important we are and how special we are.

Today we held our Pancake Mother's Day Breakfast in honour of all the momstown mamas! It was a fantastic morning full of fun and food and giggles.

The moms got the chance to sit and chat and enjoy a coffee while the little ones played and made cute little cards for their mommies.



We all enjoyed an awesome breakfast of pancakes, including blueberry and the ever popular chocolate chip version! The kiddies especially enjoyed their pancakes and the chance to picnic on the floor with their little friends!


With tummies full and sticky fingers cleaned the kiddies continued to play while the mamas enjoyed a coffee.

We also got the opportunity to sample a very delicious, and healthy, cake courtesy of Sweet Pea Bakery. The gorgeous cake was devoured by the moms and kids and even though it was only 10:30 in the morning we all felt good about eating the cake made with veggies!



All in all it was a fantastic day! Again, thanks to all that came out! Another reason we all love momstown, the fabulous MOMS.

Happy Mother's Day!

Celebrate Mother's Day with momstown!

momstown is ready to celebrate Mother's Day and we are starting early this year with a special gift for you!

We love our mamas and we now how much you all love momstown so from now until May 10th we have our special bonus offer running!

Just for purchasing your 1 year membership ($45 +hst)to momstown you will receive $150 in bonus discounts!!! That's an awesome deal!

Who wouldn't love discount to some awesome retailers like Mabel's Labels, Gingerbread Monkeys, Photobook Canada, Lavish and Lime and so many more!!

This is a great time to tell a friend about us as well! Your friends will love you for turning them on to momstown. Fun, friendship and this month, discounts!!!

Hurry and purchase your membership today! This bonus offer is only available until May 10th, 2011!

If you haven't joined us yet, now is a great time joing the neighbourhod!

It's Election Day!

Today is the big day. Election Day. While advanced polls have been taking place the last little while, today is officially the day to cast your vote. Voting centres opened early this morning and will remain open until this evening.

It's a tight race, down to the wire. Who would have thought?

This is your chance to exercise your right and your privilege to vote! Have a say in our government and be a part of what happens to all of us. You can't have your voice heard without making a vote.

There are many people out there living in countries where they don't have the privilege to vote and have their opinions heard. Enjoy your freedom as a Canadian and have your say.

Do you know which way you are voting today? Have the candidates changed your mind in their efforts to win?

So mamas get out there and vote! Make your voice heard and shape the world that we will live in. All you need to vote is proof of address and a valid Canadian ID. If you have just moved and your ID has not been switched bring a piece of mail with you that has your current address on it.

To find a place to vote near you visit Elections Canada.