momstown Barrie Tots enjoy a Spaghetti dinner thanks to Barilla!

This month our popular Jr. Chef program was sponsored by Barilla!


We had an awesome turn out of moms and tots all ready to cook a fantastic spaghetti dinner with the new Barilla Plus spaghetti!

Barilla Canada’s latest line of pasta, called Barilla PLUS®, is a new multi grain pasta that contains protein, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and fibre. Not only does it deliver superior nutritional benefits, but the same great taste you expect from regular pasta, too!

After some back yard playtime and a good hand washing, the kids were ready to get busy creating a yummy meal!

While the water for the spaghetti was boiling we prepped our Caesar salad and garlic bread.

The kids got hands on with the cutting of the lettuce.  Most of them experienced their first time using a real knife.  With some assistance for safety, they did an awesome job!

Once we got all the components prepped and the spaghetti was cooked perfectly, the kid assembled their plates and headed out to the sunshine for a back yard feast!

Watching little ones eat spaghetti is always fun.  It's  messy and nutritious meal and certainly a delicious ones!

Our moms enjoyed their meal as well.  It's always a great dinner when you don't have to cook yourself and the kids all eat until their plates are clean!

With full bellies, the kids enjoyed some more playtime before having an ice cream cone and heading home for a much needed bath and bedtime!  Moms were thrilled to take home a box of spaghetti for a future meal!

Thank you Barilla for this awesome Jr. Chef and allowing us to try your new PLUS pasta!! 
For more on Barilla's new PLUS pasta and recipes, visit www.Barilla.ca.

momstown tots loved the zoo!

It was a gorgeous day to go head to the zoo so that was just what a bunch of the momstown mamas did recently!

Being in Barrie we are pretty lucky to have a small local zoo close by, the Elmvale Jungle Zoo.

It's a great little zoo for the young kids, lots of animals to see, animals to feed and a big playground to play at.  It's the perfect outing for a morning or afternoon!

We had a nice sunny breezy day and some pretty excited kids, and moms, who were eager to see the animals.

We saw the deer and some kids braved feeding them.  We saw the big tall giraffes and the kids had fun giving them some bananas. 

We saw the lions and the monkeys, and the tigers and the some birds.  The kids loved looking at all the animals.

We also made sure to stop and visit the goats.  This is a great chance for the kids to get hands on and pet the animals and feed them.  The goats are always a fun time as you just never know what they might do or how the kids will react. 

The kids and the moms all had a blast!  I know this is a place we will be heading back to again before the summer is out!

momstown mamas got to enjoy Fern Resort... again!!!

Our spring momstown conference was held at the Fern Resort again.  We enjoyed it so much in November that we made our way back and I for one, couldn't have been happier.

Getting together with all the momstown owners every 6 months is one of the amazing things about being a part of the company and the team. 

We have so many amazing momstown owners across Canada and each of them has something special to share and contribute to our team.

The weekend was full of learning and growing and as always full of laughter and amazing memories.  We spent many hours in the board room learning from each other and planning for the future, but we also spent many hours together having fun, including our game night, this was certainly a night full of laughter!

One of the best part of this spring conference was being at Fern again. The resort is so warm and welcoming and their staff is fantastic and so accommodating for us.

We had a great tour of the resort and all their amazing summer activities that are available.  We even got to try our hand at some archery!

This place is truly a gem nestled into Orillia.   If you are looking for a great getaway for your family, this is the place to be.  As they like to say at Fern, No Cottage, No Problem!   They have you covered.  Their cozy water front cottage are adorable and so perfect for any family!

Fern Resort is the perfect getaway for you and family during any season. Check out their website at www.fernresort.com or call them at 800 567-3376 and don't forget - momstown Moms always get 5% off + any additional discounts/benefits Fern is offering.

Mixed Media art night with the Barrie mamas

When one of our members came to me and asked about doing a mixed media art night I had no idea what she was talking about

All I could picture was some strange art with weird music and movies or something...the word media kind of had me thinking along that lines.

 Once she showed me some samples of pieces she had made I was so curious to see more and to get hands on and make something myself!

Mixed Media art is a great way to get creative and has no boundaries at all. For someone like me this was hard.  I am used to doing crafts where there are instructions and a clear outcome.  Even when I scrapbook I don't do anything free and creative, I follow books with patterns... or copy friends that have done something creative.

The most creative and abstract I ever get is without Picasso in the Park when the kids get their hand and feet into paint and less loose.

After staring at my canvas feeling very intimidated for quite some time, one of the other moms grabbed the paint that I had collected and just squirted various colours on for me and told me to go.

Horrified, I took a brush and started smearing the paint.  The other ladies had no problem getting into this and were using their hands and other things to spread their paint and make patterns.

With the paint on and dried, it was time to really get creative.  Using various items that we had collected (tissue paper, sheets of music, calendars, post cards, material, etc) we started to glue pieces on and create our masterpieces.

This was actually fun.  It was freeing to know there was no right or wrong.  It was amazing to watch random pieces of ripped paper, crumpled tissues and ink form into a masterpiece!

What I loved about this was that a. I was able to do it even though I had some anxiety at the beginning, b. I made something for my daughter that could never ever be replicated and that no one else could ever possible give her. I actually want to do it again!

All of the pieces created were amazing, so creative and so fantastic!!!

Tales for Tots counts the lights with Night Light!

Tales for Tots was all about counting lights!

Our Tales for Tots program is a great event is sponsored by Scholastic Canada. Every month we receive two copies of the book of the month; one to read and one to raffle off to a lucky winner!

June's book was Night Light by Nicholas Blechman.  What a fun way to learn to count!  Each page featured peek-a-boo cutouts showing "lights" of something that would be on the next page.

The kids caught on quickly that we would say  "3 shining lights....." and .  when we turned the page it would be some sort of mode of transportation.

The kids had fun guessing what would be next and then calling out the answer when we turned the page.

This book was super easy and fun and a great way for the kids to work on their counting!

Art Innovators wows the momstown Barrie tots!

Our bi-weekly crafting event at Chapters today was an absolute blast!

It was certainly a full house and the kids were ready to get their craft on!

We had special guest Tracey from Art Innovators out to do a craft with the kids.  This week we made some super cool, super easy birds!

The kids had fun painting glue on to their birds so they could fill it up with colourful bits of tissue paper.

Tracey had all the pieces cut out and ready to go and it was so easy for the kids to just dive in and have fun!

Once they had their birds full of colour, they added some feathers for a tail and then scrunched up some bits of tissue paper for the wings.

The birds looked so great, and so animated!  A coloured popsicle stick for a handle and they were ready to fly!

New to Barrie, Art Innovators enhances a child's experience of art.
Kids have a great need to express themselves in many ways — artistically, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Art Innovators impacts each and every area of expression. The Art Innovators classroom is a non-competitive environment enhanced by soft music that allows children to focus and enjoy what they are doing. Parents see the difference in the quality of art their children bring home. Kids get immediate results as their enthusiasm for art increases.

Looking for a great birthday party idea?  Check out the fun options that Art Innovators offers!

You can meet Tracey and experience Art Innovators at our Birthday Bash on August 25th!!

Father's Day Gift Ideas for that special Dad!

Last month we celebrated mom.  This month it's all about dad!

Are you looking for great gift ideas for that special dad in your life?  Whether it be your own dad or father of your kids, here are some great gift ideas for Dad!



Photo Memories - Dads love memories as much as moms.  Why not get Dad a special photo session with his little minis! 
McKernin Photography is offering Daddy and Me Mini sessions just for Father's Day!

You can find McKernin Photography at www.mckerninphotography.com  

To book your Daddy and Me Mini Session, contact owner Tara at taramckernin@bell.net


Pampering - Men love a little pampering from time to time too.  Treat that special father in your life to the smoothest skin and closest shave with Arbonne’s RE9 anti-aging system specifically designed for men.  From now until June 13th, Laura will be offering this entire kit for 20% off the retail price. (a savings of almost $30!)

Treat yourself this Father’s Day too!!!  With any purchase of the RE9 anti-aging system, receive the above men’s line for only $30! Visit www.arbonne.ca to check out these amazing products and learn what makes Arbonne unique and beneficial.

For more information please contact your independent consultant Laura Tucker at 289-242-6879 or laura.tucker.arbonne@gmail.com

 

 

 

Style and Organization - Dad could use some style in his every day life or while out on the lake

fishing!  Why not deck that special man out in some useful and stylish products for his everyday life!  A thermal lunch bag, a cool camo cooler for his fishing adventures, or a Large Utility Tote to get him organized for a day on the lake!

 

You can get your Father's Day order in today in time for Father's Day!  Visit http://www.mythirtyone.ca/karriecopelli today!

 

 

Looking for something homemade?  No problem!  Here are some ideas for you and your kiddies to make Dad!

Helping Hands Apron - Give dad a hand as he fires up the grill for countless BBQ's over the summer!  Get a plain apron, some fabric paint and your little ones hands and make dad a Helping
Hands Apron!



Book Marks - Got a dad that loves to read?  Whether it's fiction, how to books or comic books, let dad mark his place with a foot print book mark!  Take some paint and get the kids to make a foot print.  Get the foot print laminted and add some yarn!  Voila!



Whether you make a gift or purchase one, dad will know you care!  Fore even more Father's Day ideas, you can visit our momstown minds blog!