Building Birthday Fun with LEGO®

Tips for hosting your child’s next birthday party extravaganza

The thought of being responsible for a group of kids hopped up on frosting, sugar, and fizzy drinks is enough to make most adults cringe, especially during the hot summer months. Throwing a successful party requires a secure area with lots of activities to wear off high levels of energy that accompany birthday celebrations.

“Planning your child’s birthday party can be a piece of cake. It’s all about finding the most cost effective, safe and stress-free way to make a great day for your little one,” says Noel Straatsma, Master Model Builder at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre.

LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre provides plenty of attractions all under one roof, providing the perfect LEGO® playground for birthday girls and boys.

Noel suggests a few things to keep in mind for this year’s birthday party extravaganza:

·         Keep it short and sweet – Technically you are the babysitter for the afternoon, keep that in mind. A two to three hour maximum gives plenty of time for cake, food and fun, before the kids come down off of their sugar highs and burn out.

·         Activities galore – Ensure you have provided enough physical activity to burn off all that excitement. Each child will be inhaling the key birthday food groups of sugar and sweets and will need a way to release all that energy. A great way to keep them busy is to build with LEGO®! The kids stay busy and have fun while the parents get a little break to catch their breath.

·         Party favors – Some party packages can include loot bags, leaving each child leaving with a smile and more entertainment for which the parents will appreciate.

·         Invite the parents – To take some of the pressure off, invite some of the parents to attend as well. Certain venues offer packages with special adult rates. Enjoy a little adult time amongst the chaos while gaining a helping hand.

LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre offers LEGO®-themed birthdays brought to you by your own personal host. Winter, summer, spring or fall, LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre provides indoor entertainment for kid’s enjoyment from ages 3-10. Packages offer admission into the attraction, a party room for your specified time and hours of LEGO® fun.

For more information on LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre, Toronto, visitwww.legolanddiscoverycentre.ca and follow it on Facebook and Twitter.

About LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Toronto

LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Toronto is a 34,000 square-foot indoor attraction featuring more than 3 million LEGO® bricks, geared towards children ages 3-12 and their families.  Its range of interactive attractions will include hands-on play areas, a 4D cinema, master classes led by Master Model Builders, two LEGO® rides, special party rooms and MINILAND — the venue’s signature re-creation of landmark locations and buildings throughout Toronto and the GTA, made entirely out of LEGO® bricks. Adults must be accompanied by children to enter

Felicetti’s Organic Pasta for babies

A baby’s food is essential to their growth and development. This baby pasta is enriched with protein, fibre and Vitamin B1, to ensure healthy bones and growth. It comes in two shapes: tiny stars (stelline) and mini tubes (coralline) in two types of grain: organic ancient emmer wheat and organic ancient durum wheat. It is small in size, easy-to-swallow, and perfect for babies over 6 months of age. Moms can feel good about adding this to their baby’s diet.

Italian Pasta Company Introduces Canada’s First Ancient Grain Organic Pasta for Baby   Felicetti Pasta Company, the world’s largest producer of 100% organic pasta, launches a line of organic, ancient grain pastina, tiny pasta, for babies in Canada.   Our Baby Pasta comes in two shapes: tiny stars (stelline) and mini tubes (coralline) in two types of grain: organic ancient emmer wheat and organic ancient durum wheat. Each is enriched with Vitamin B1, to ensure healthy bones and growth. Non-GMO, rich in protein and fibre, with a naturally nutty flavour. Our Pasta for Baby is small sized, easy-to-swallow, perfect for babies over 6 months of age.  Our pasta is different from all the others on the grocery shelf as it’s the only 100% organic ancient grain pastina for babies.  Our traditional Italian ancient grain pasta, with its pure flavour, is an ideal introduction for baby to solid food and new tastes.  We use only pure, chlorine free, Dolomite Mountain spring water, which we combine with these exceptional organic grains for a food that’s genuine, healthy, safe.   A note about our certified organic pasta for baby: Even though requirements for organic certification for adults are quite strict, those for products intended for children are even more stringent. For example, the level of pesticides is set at less than 0.01 mg per kg the limit for food intended for baby is even lower.  Analytical controls and verifications are performed at each step of production.   The full line of Felicetti pasta is available in Canada at such fine gourmet shops including: Wholefoods, Pusateri’s, Mac Ewan’s, Sweet Potatoe in Ontario Urban fare, Choices, Green Market in Vancouver Avril and Tau in Quebec Website: www.felicetti.it/en Keeping it simple and healthy for your little one try adding the pasta to a healthy organic tomato sauce or a tasty chicken broth for a meal you know they will enjoy!

A Soapy and Sudsy Father’s Day

Bond with your father over his automobile

 Dad and his car. Many of us have memories of our father babying his favourite set of wheels, out in the driveway on a sunny Saturday afternoon giving it a good scrub and shine.

It was also likely where you learned how to wash a car, working beside dad with a big soapy mitt on your hand, moving it in careful circles to wash away the road grit and uncover the vibrant colour below, and probably learned the basics of car maintenance — checking for oil, ensuring the tires had the right air pressure and changing a flat.

“Dads and their cars have been connected since the days of the Model T,” says Megan Currie from Armor All. “This Father’s Day, get out and create some lasting memories with your Dad by helping him ensure his pride and joy (after you, of course) looks like it just rolled out of the showroom.”

Armor All offers the following ideas for your Dad on this Father’s Day:

Soap it up. Got a small budget? No problem. Give your Dad’s car a thorough washing and waxing that would make the Old Man proud. All you need is a bucket, clean cloths, hot water, car wash detergent, a hose and some wax.

Car care kits. Is Dad fussy about the way his car looks? That’s understandable. He loves his car and takes pride in the way he looks after it. Help him out with a completecar care gift pack that provides Dad with all the essentials to preserve the shine on his four-wheeled baby. Your local auto cleaning section at Canadian Tire and Wal-Mart have several to choose from.

It’s in the details. Looking good on the exterior is the curb appeal of a car. But ensuring a clean interior is equally as important. Get inside and ensure Dad’s windows are clear, the dash and trim is dust free and shielded from the dangerous rays of the sun, the leather is protected and thecar mats and upholstery are scrubbed and looking like new.

Go for a drive. Road trips have endless possibilities. Enjoy your Father’s Day afternoon on the road with your Dad, taking in local sites or enjoying local attractions. It’s a fantastic opportunity to shut out the outside world and catch up with your Dad.

For more information, please visitarmorall.ca. Get all the latest updates by following Armor All® on Facebook , where you can join the conversation with the hashtag #ArmorAllEasy.

About the Armor All® Brand:

For more than 50 years, the Armor All® brand has helped people keep their cars and trucks looking like they just rolled off the showroom floor. We care how your vehicle looks, and have developed a full line of products to be a complete resource for every car and truck owner. Use Armor All products for easy and effective car cleaning — not just the body but also the wheels, tires, dashboard, seats and interior trim. Our passion is to help you get excellent results so you have renewed pride in your ride with less effort.

About Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc:

Spectrum Brands Holdings, a member of the Russell 2000 Index, is a global and diversified consumer products company and a leading supplier of consumer batteries, residential locksets, residential builders’ hardware, plumbing, shaving and grooming products, personal care products, small household appliances, specialty pet supplies, lawn and garden and home pest control products, personal insect repellents, and auto care products. Helping to meet the needs of consumers worldwide, our Company offers a broad portfolio of market-leading, well-known and widely trusted brands including Rayovac®, VARTA®, Kwikset®, Weiser®, Baldwin®, National Hardware®, Pfister®, Remington®, George Foreman®, Russell Hobbs®, Black+ Decker®, Tetra®, Marineland®, Nature’s Miracle®, Dingo®, 8-in-1®, FURminator®, IAMS®, Eukanuba®, Digest-eeze™, Healthy-Hide®, Littermaid®, Spectracide®, Cutter®, Repel®, Hot Shot®, Black Flag®, Liquid Fence®, Armor All®, STP® and A/C PRO®. Spectrum Brands Canada is based in Mississauga, ON. The Global Auto Care Division manages the Armor All® and STP® brands. Spectrum Brands Holdings, based in Middleton, Wisconsin, generated net sales of approximately $4.69 billion in fiscal 2015, employs more than 13,500 employees worldwide and sells to the top 25 global retailers with products in more than one million stores. For more information, visit www.spectrumbrands.com

Finding A Boarding Facility For Dogs

When you go on a vacation, you might not be able to take your dog with you. However, you might not want to leave your dog at home alone or under the care of someone who is not familiar with your furry friend. You can get luxury dog boarding at most kennels, but there are a few things to consider so that your dog receives the best care possible. 

A boarding facility offers a way for your dog to remain safe while you're gone. The dog will be looked after by a caring staff who will take the time to feed and water the dog and play with the dog as well. The facility prevents the stress of being in a car for a long period of time. Look for a facility that has a video service so that you can check up on your pet while you're gone. You should also be able to call and talk to someone about your pet while you're away. If there is any lack of communication, then you might want to avoid placing your dog at that facility and finding one that does let you talk to the staff. 

While at the boarding facility, your dog will receive more attention that he would if he were home alone. You will know that the dog will be fed at least twice a day and receive plenty of water. Most will offer treats as well. Some facilities have times when they can play outside. There could be other dogs that your pet will play with, but most facilities will only let dogs that are of the same size be together so that they are safe. Dogs will be safe and unable to escape while at the facility. 

When you go to the facility, examine the smell. While there will likely be an odor of urine as it is a place where several dogs stay, you don't want to smell something overwhelming as this might be from the staff not keeping the area as clean as possible. Make sure there is enough ventilation and light for the animals. Talk to the staff to see that they care about the animals instead of being there for a job. You can often tell a lot by the type of people who work with the animals.

The Best Greeting Card Ever! Giveaway!

Gift-a-Green:The Greeting Card that Grows into Edible Greens

by Gift-a-Green

Send an experience! A greeting card that comes alive and ignites the senses. Send it! Grow it! Eat it!

We created Gift-a-Green because we wanted to bring some "LIFE" to the greeting card industry. Literally! Our Gift-a-Green greeting cards pack a powerful pouch of fresh and organic healthy microgreen seeds that allow you to send it and your recipient to grow (and eat) it. 

Each pouch is designed as a greeting card & gift combo. Simply choose a theme, write your personal message on the back and add a stamp. Now your Gift-a-Green is ready to be mailed to someone special. 

Each one of our 5 exclusive and freshly sealed pouches comes fully equipped with organic soil and non-GMO, organic microgreen seeds which your family, friends and colleagues will adore. They get to plant the seeds and then watch them grow into a healthy and delicious garnish that they can add to any one of their favourite dishes.

We have sourced the finest certified organic, non-GMO microgreen seeds around as well as partnered with a local supplier of organic soil and fertilizer. Our first test production run was a success, but now we need to manufacture and produce 1000's of pouches. This is where you come in. Kickstarter, we need your help to help us fund our large inventory order which will help keep costs low and enable us to ramp up production in our workshop. 

With any additional funds over and above our goal, we want to build a website that will allow everybody to fully customize and ship their own custom Gift-a-Green's direct from giftagreen.com. We want our platform to allow users to generate any message they want, pick the type of organic microgreens they prefer and then have their Gift-a-Green shipped to any recipient they choose. Creative, Simple and Efficient! That's what we want to build. Kickstarter, please help make Gift-a-Green a leader in eco-social gifting! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Zoolander No. 2

“A fashion forward sequel”

— Gersh Kuntzman, New York Daily News

  

BEN STILLER, OWEN WILSON, PENÉLOPE CRUZ, KRISTEN WIIG AND WILL FERRELL STAR IN THE OUTRAGEOUS COMEDY

 ZOOLANDER

No. 2

The Magnum Edition

Prepare for the Dangerously Sexy Adventure on Digital HD May 3, 2016 and 
on Blu-ray^™ Combo Pack May 24

            HOLLYWOOD, Calif.  – Long time no Z. Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson and Will Ferrell reprise their iconic roles in the “ridiculously funny” (Mara Reinstein, Us Weekly)ZOOLANDER NO. 2: THE MAGNUM EDITION, which critics are calling “every bit as good as the original classic” (Gersh Kuntzman, New York Daily News).  The highly anticipated sequel hits the catwalk on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand May 24, 2016 from Paramount Home Media Distribution.  The film arrives fashionably early on Digital HD 
May 3.  

            Featuring Penélope Cruz, Kristen Wiig and a host of celebrity cameos including 
Justin Bieber and Billy Zane, the hilarious comedy tops the original with even more wild and outrageous situations. When a mystery assassin starts killing off the world’s most beautiful people, haute-shot Interpol agent Valentina Valencia (Cruz) learns the key to this deadly plot lies with Derek (Stiller) and Hansel (Wilson).  Recruited for a top secret mission, they must return to the world of high fashion, reclaim their fame, and save the day. The only things standing in their way: the criminal mastermind Mugatu (Ferrell) and his evil fashion protégé (Wiig).

            ZOOLANDER NO. 2: THE MAGNUM EDITION looks really, really ridiculously good-looking on Blu-ray Combo Pack and includes a Digital HD version of the film and behind-the-scenes featurettes. Go on location to Rome with Ben Stiller and the all-star cast as they discuss the legacy of Zoolander and reveal the secrets behind the sequel. Plus, discover the origins of the iconic character Derek Zoolander, and laugh out loud as Kristen Wiig’s Alexanya Atoz introduces her revolutionary new beauty product “Youth Milk.” And for a limited time only, get a bonus digital copy of the originalZoolander with the Blu-ray Combo Pack.

ZOOLANDER NO. 2: THE MAGNUM EDITIONBlu-ray Combo Pack

The ZOOLANDER NO. 2: THE MAGNUM EDITION Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English DTS:X, English DTS Headphone: X, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, and English Audio Description and English, English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles.  The DVD in the combo pack is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, French and Spanish subtitles.  The combo pack includes access to a Digital HD copy of the film as well as access to a Digital HD copy of the original Zoolander and the following:

Blu-ray

·         Feature film in high definition

·         The Zoolander Legacy

·         Go Big or Go Rome

·         Drake Sather: The Man Who Created Zoolander

·         Youth Milk

DVD

·         Feature film in standard definition

            The Blu-ray Combo Pack available for purchase includes a Digital HD version of the film that can be accessed through UltraViolet™, a way to collect, access and enjoy movies.  With UltraViolet, consumers can add movies to their digital collection in the cloud, and then stream or download them—reliably and securely—to a variety of devices.   

ZOOLANDER NO. 2: THE MAGNUM EDITION Single-Disc DVD

The single-disc DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, French and Spanish subtitles.  The disc includes the feature film in standard definition.

http://www.Zoolander.com/

Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/ZoolanderMovie

Twitter: https://Twitter.com/ZoolanderMovie

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/Zoolander

Amazon: http://j.mp/BuyZoolander2

Paramount Pictures presents a Red Hour/Scott Rudin production of a Ben Stiller film: 
“Zoolander No. 2.”  Music supervisor George Drakoulias.  Music by Theodore Shapiro.  Produced by Ben Stiller, Stuart Cornfeld, Scott Rudin, Clayton Townsend, and Jeff Mann.  Written by Justin Theroux and Ben Stiller & John Hamburg and Nicholas Stoller.  Directed by Ben Stiller.

About Paramount Home Media Distribution

Paramount Home Media Distribution (PHMD) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment.  PPC is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), home to premier media brands that create television programs, motion pictures, consumer products, and digital content for audiences in 180 countries and territories.  The PHMD division oversees PPC’s home entertainment and transactional digital distribution activities worldwide. The division is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment content on behalf of Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and CBS and applicable licensing and servicing of certain DreamWorks Animation titles.  PHMD additionally manages global licensing of studio content and transactional distribution across worldwide digital distribution platforms including online, mobile and portable devices and emerging technologies. 

What does dad want for Father's Day?

Well, fun facts, of course! Check out these cool facts from a survey of moms and dads, and then swing by Swagbucks to pick out your gift from his favorite stores!

Still need help shopping for dad? Now through Father's Day, you can earn Double Cash Back or more at the following stores:

• 1800Flowers.ca - 6 SB per $1
• Groupon - 7 SB per $1
• Hudson's Bay - 4 SB per $1
• Under Armour - 6 SB per $1
• Footlocker.ca - 4 SB per $1

And many, many more!

How to revamp your kids' old clothes!

When you are shopping wardrobe for your children it may seem as a never-ending process, because they are constantly growing out of their clothes. If the clothes is not too small yet, then the favourite dress or a shirt is stained with dirt, chocolate or cranberry juice. Fortunately, there are a couple of suggestions to how you can extend your kid’s clothes life, and make them look brand new. 

 

From Denim Pants to Stylish Skirt

Source

If your little girl is thin, and the pants eventually only fit her on the waist, but nowhere else, turning them into 

 a skirt is the best solution. Measure the length you want the skirt to be and cut the excess material. Unstitch the 

seam between the legs, and start by folding over and pinning in place the original stitched crutch piece on the front.

Adjust the crutch and pin all the way lengthwise, both front and back. Stitch on the right side, cut the excess fabric on the inside of the skirt and that is it. 

There are several options for the hem. You can either turn the skirt inside out, fold the hem as much as youlike, and then iron it. On the other hand, you can also sew a lace on the hem, and have your daughter have the prettiest denim skirt with a touch of delicate lace. Sew in two hearts from two different fabrics, and add some buttons on the front for the final touch. 

Revamp the Pants

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One of the best things you can do with kids’ old pants that run short is to refashion them and make acompletely new pair of pants. All you will have to do is add a couple of decorating supplies and make some alterations. 

Namely, choose the pants that no longer fit length of your kids’ legs, and cut or just double fold the hem of the 

pants. Sew in the hems on both sides of the leg, to prevent unfolding during the wash. Take the decorating 

supplies and attach them to pants. 

For example, you can have buttons in various colours, and have them sew in the back of the pants, right on the 

back pockets. Now your kid has a completely new pair of short pants, perfect for the spring and summer time. 

Furthermore, Brilliant reflective tape is the best decoration to a kid’s clothes, and it serves an even better purpose. It is reflective, and your kids will be seen even in the darkest night.

 

Leggings Upgrade

Source

The perfect way to glam-up the old leggings is to add a bit of lace to them. Depending on the colour of leggings, use the complementary shade to make it look stylish. Cut a triangle out of a stretchy lace, put it at the bottom opening of the leggings and it will perfectly taper in as it goes up the leg. Sew it in as long as you think it is ok. It can go all the way to the knee, or you can just have it a little bit under the calf. Hand stitch the lace to the bottom of the legging, on the inside; add a couple of stitches up the legging and you are all done.  

These few DIY tricks will help you glam-up your kid’s clothes, and save some money on shopping. They will love it, and for some time, you will have a piece of mind when it comes to their wardrobe.

How to De-clutter Your Life and Experience the Joy of Less

Chicken  Soup  for  the  Soul  and  Brooke  Burke-Charvet  show  you  how  to  say  “no” to the things that don’t matter so you can say “yes” to the things that do COS  COB,  Conn.  –  Do  you  have  too  much  stuff?  Are  you  cramming  too  many  activities  into  each  day? Have  electronic  devices  taken  over  your  free  time?  We  all  want  to  reclaim  control  of  our  lives—reducing the  amount  of  clutter  in  our  homes,  on  our  calendars,  and  on  our  screens!

 Chicken  Soup  for  the  Soul: The  Joy  of  Less  (Chicken  Soup  for  the  Soul  Publishing,  LLC;  Amy  Newmark  and  Brooke  BurkeCharvet;  April  19,  2016,  978-1-61159-957-2,  $14.95)  shows  you  how,  with  101  stories  from  real  people who have figured out how to experience “the joy of less” by simplifying their lives.

These  stories  will  inspire  you  to  get  to  work  on  those  life-changing  projects  that  you’ve  been  meaning  to do  for  years.  You’ll  learn  how  to  de-clutter  your  homes  and  experience  the  liberation  of  less  “stuff.” You’ll  be  inspired  to  slim  down  your  calendar  and  say  “no”  to  commitments  you  don’t  want  to  make. And  you’ll  find  yourself  re-evaluating  the  amount  of  time  you  spend  online  and  in  digital  relationships with “friends” instead of having experiences and relationships with living, breathing people.

  Entrepreneur,  actress,  and  mother  of  four  Brooke  Burke-Charvet  coauthored  this  book  with  Chicken  Soup for  the  Soul’s  publisher  and  editor-in-chief  Amy  Newmark.  You  may  know  Brooke  as  the  former  co-host of  Dancing  with  the  Stars,  the  host  of  Chicken  Soup  for  the  Soul’s  Hidden  Heroes,  and  a  contestant  on  the 2016  season  of  Celebrity  Apprentice.  Brooke  is  one  busy  woman,  and  this  book  is  close  to  her  heart.  She says,  “I  believe  in  the  power  of  saying  ‘no’  to  too  many  material  possessions  and  to  schedules  so  crowded with  ‘obligations’  that  we  crowd  out  time  with  our  families  and  friends.  Enjoy  this  collection.  Be  inspired. I  know  you’ll  come  away  filled  with  ideas  and  enthusiasm  for  the  new  life  you’ll  carve  out  as  you  reduce the clutter in your life, literally and figuratively, and experience The Joy of Less!” This  is  a  new  kind  of  book  for  Chicken  Soup  for  the  Soul—a  new  topic  for  its  fans  and  stories  that  are both  entertaining  but  also  filled  with  usable  advice  and  easy-to-implement  tips.  Key  inspirational  quotes and  tips  from  each  story  are  also  pulled  out,  magazine  style,  and  featured  throughout  the  book.  You  can’t help  but  be  inspired  to  get  to  work  on  de-cluttering  and  simplifying  your  own  life  after  reading  these stories.

ABOUT CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL Chicken  Soup  for  the  Soul,  the  world’s  favorite  and  most  recognized  storyteller,  publishes  the  famous Chicken  Soup  for  the  Soul  book  series.  With  well  over  100  million  books  sold  to  date  in  the  U.S.  and Canada  alone,  more  than  250  titles,  and  translations  into  more  than  40  languages,  “chicken  soup  for  the soul”  is  one  of  the  world’s  best-known  phrases  and  is  regularly  referenced  in  pop  culture.  Today,  23  years after  it  first  began  sharing  happiness,  inspiration  and  hope  through  its  books,  this  socially  conscious company  continues  to  publish  a  new  title  a  month,  but  has  also  evolved  beyond  the  bookstore  with  super premium  pet  food,  television  shows  and  movies,  and  a  variety  of  other  digital  content  and  licensed products, all inspired by stories, as it continues “changing the world one story at a time®.”

Waldorf Salad Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup chopped apples

1/3 cup non-fat vanilla yogurt

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons honey

1 tablespoon walnuts, chopped (optional)

1 cup chopped pears

1 cup grapes

Serves: 1

Cooking Time: Under 15 minutes

Instructions:

Place fruit in a serving bowl. In a separate bowl, combine yogurt, cinnamon and honey. Spoon over fruit and mix thoroughly. Serve immediately. Walnuts are not included in nutrition analysis.

More recipes? Visit our website at www.thrivenaturals.ca.