Kobo Aura HD Takes You Back to School! Review & CONTEST (~OVER~)!

Earlier this year, I wrote Do We Need Paper Books Anymore?, which was also republished on The Huffington Post.  While the article did attract many comments from people who are sentimental to books, we can all agree that paper books are greatly on the decline due to e-readers, tablets, smart phones, and other electronic reading options.  In addition, paper books are not an environmentally friendly option, requiring the destruction of trees to create a book.  And most persuasively, you can carry around a library of virtual books on an e-reader, but try that with paper books in your book bag!

I agreed to test out a Kobo Aura HD, my first real e-reader ever.  Yes, I already own a tablet, laptops, and smartphones, so I have done some e-reading on these devices.  But what would the experience be like on a Kobo?  Since I have summer reading all queued up for August, and I know that the kids will have lots of back-to-school reading to complete come September, I thought that I was up for the challenge.

The Kobo Aura Arrives Powered On!

My Impressions of the Kobo Aura HD

Once my Kobo Aura HD was delivered to me, my impression was "why, this is small!"  I guess that my point of reference was to the Apple iPad 2, which does have a larger screen.  Then, as I lifted it out of its box, I thought "this feels about the weight of a book, maybe a bit heavier"  I held the e-reader in my hand, and its thickness felt the way that a book does when I'm at the half-way point through my reading.  I did find that it fit comfortably into either one or both of my hands, and that I did not have to bend back pages to keep the new book from closing (joke).

When I looked at the Kobo Aura HD's screen, I did a double take, as it ships to the recipient turned on.  But what I loved about it, is it is extremely muted to look at.  It had been a concern for me that it would be glaringly bright and be hard to look at.  This is absolutely not the case, and the brightness can be increased if you prefer it otherwise, or if you read at night.

Looking inside the Kobo shipping box, I was a bit perplexed that it comes with only a USB charger and not a regular wall charger.  This means that out-of-the-box, you will have to charge your Kobo Aura HD using your computer's USB port.  Like my Samsung Galaxy S3 charger, I would have preferred a hybrid wall plug/USB charger.  I do use my HP laptop a lot, but I still find this charging option a bit inconvenient.  What would happen if I needed to charge my Kobo but had not brought my laptop along?

The Kobo Aura Muted Look Is Easy On the Eyes

Getting started on the Kobo Aura HD, I found the onscreen instructions very easy to follow.  I did have the choice of either connecting my Facebook to the Kobo, or creating a Kobo account without using my Facebook account.  Easy enough.  

The instructions for navigating the Kobo while reading were also easy: touch anywhere on the right hand side (or swipe right) to flip ahead, touch anywhere on the left hand side (or swipe left) to flip back, touch the centre of the Kobo to make the "home" icon appear, click the "home" icon to go to the main dashboard (housing the library, bookstore and reading life), long-hold any word you see to make the dictionary definition pop up, and long-hold over a sentence or paragraph to either highlight the passage or add a note.  There is a button to brighten/darken the screen, put the e-reader to "sleep" or shut down, as well as a port to connect the device to USB.  There is a slot that allows the Aura to expand from 4GB to 32GB with a Micro SD card.

I did have a bit of a challenge navigating around the built-in Kobo Bookstore, which did not seem to provide the same options that are available on KoboBooks.com.  For example, I had a hard time locating any free books to try out, and the built-in Kobo Bookstore seemed to only display books that could be purchased for money.  There also seemed to be no way to filter my search results by price, or by any other options.  I did not like that none of the books in the Kobo Bookstore contained a book synopsis.  (For those who are interested, here's where you can find millions of FREE Kobo eBooks!  There is a special place for them!)

Home Page & Storefront of Kobo Aura

As a newbie, it took me a while to figure out how to procure books for the Kobo, especially free ones.  I tried Amazon.com, but quickly learned that Kindle books are not compatible with the Kobo.  When I finally stumbled upon KoboBooks.com online, the browsing options were definitely better than the built-in Kobo Bookstore in Kobo Aura.  However, once again I could not find free book options, and instead searched for such books by listing all available books from "lowest to highest".

After I made several free book selections, I realized I had to "sync" my Kobo Aura in order for the new books to appear in my library.  Once synched, all my books appeared--except for the two children's picture books I selected.  I synched two more times, and even attempted to add another children's picture book, but the books did not appear.  I'm still not sure why these books are not appearing in my Kobo Aura library, although the books are listed in my KoboBooks.com library.

When I was searching for paid e-books, I was able to find many of the books I was looking for.  However, I did not notice a way to reserve a new release that had yet to be published online.  I think that this would have been a nice feature.

Meet the Kobo Aura HD Family!

Once I tried out one of my new e-books, I did enjoy the experience on the Kobo Aura HD very much.  Reading was effortless, and the default font and layout of the book was very similar to reading a paper book.  The clarity of the words were also excellent.  There is an option to change the default font, as well as font size, line spacing, margins, and justification.  

I did like how muted the "page" colour was, and it is a greyish-beige colour, rather than the whitish colour of a printed book.  I find the muted grey colour of the Kobo Aura easier on my eyes than a printed book.  If you are used to paper books, I think that you will find switching to the Kobo Aura not a stretch at all.  From a tactile perspective, the Aura screen was smooth and yet slightly grainy at the same time.  The surface was not the same as a tablet, and I liked this subtlety.

When I needed to put my book down, the Kobo Aura remembered my place (without a bookmark, of course), and I could easily switch between books.  I thought that the "reading life" feature of the Kobo was pretty cute, as it records your reading stats like total hours spent reading, page turns, average minutes per session, book progress (including by chapter), etc.  Fun stuff for those who enjoy personal statistics.

Some may say that I'm silly, but I was sorry that the book cover on the Kobo Aura was not in colour.  Naturally it was not, as the Aura is a grey scale device.  However, I thought I would put that out there, as I had not realized how much the book's cover had influenced me previously.  Though, I can quickly admit that the cost to add colour to the device merely to have a colourful cover would not have been worth the price.

The Kobo Aura HD can be purchased for $169.99 CDN, and is available in espresso, ivory or onyx colours.

BUY a KOBO AURA HD or other Kobo Model HERE!

Check Out the Koba Aura HD Specs:
Size - 175.7 x 128.3 x 11.7 mm (6.91 x 5.05 x 0.46")
Weight - 240g (8.4658 oz)
Processor - 1 GHz; 20% faster than other leading eReaders.
Display - 6.8" WXGA+ Pearl E Ink Screen.  ClarityScreen+: 265 dpi, 1440 x 1080 resolution.
Connectivity - WiFi 802.11 b/g/n and Micro USB.
Storage - 4 GB.  Option to expand up to 32 GB with a Micro SD card.

BACK TO SCHOOL WITH KOBO AURA!
The Back to School season is just around the corner!  My kids were expected to do oodles of reading homework last year, and I anticipate this even more so this school year.  Check out these literary works, all available from the Kobo eBookstore!

Children’s Classics: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Charlotte’s Web, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Best of Brit Lit: Pride and Prejudice, Oliver Twist, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre

Shakespeare Studies: The Merchant of Venice, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, Hamlet

English Class Reads: Diary of Anne Frank, The Outsiders, The Chrysalids, The Lord of the Flies, 1984, The Catcher in the Rye,Heart of Darkness

Other useful eReading resources available for students from Kobo include:

-Access to Cliff Notes-like summaries like “Quicklet on J.D Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye”

-Downloadable books to learn another language like French, Spanish, German, and more

-Ability to borrow titles from local libraries!  Yes, you can borrow e-books from libraries now!

CONTEST (~OVER~)

FIVE WINNERS: Kevin L, Amy H, Seham M, Amy C & Judy C.

WIN 1 of 5 Kobo Minis from the SnyMed Blog!  Yes, I'm giving away FIVE Kobo Minis to my great readers!  (Please note, the Kobo Mini is different than the device I have reviewed in this blog post.)  Contest open to Canada, ends Tuesday September 3rd, 2013...just in time for going back to school!

How To Enter:

Leave a COMMENT below stating what you would like to read on your new Kobo Mini, OR where you would read with your Kobo Mini.  Then, use the entry form below to entry the contest.  GOOD LUCK!

WIN 1 of 5 Kobo Minis! CANADA - Ends Sept 3, 2013!

Canada Post ePost Keeps Your Bills Together!

I had mentioned earlier on the blog, that July has been one of the busiest months of my life!  First, a family home came up for sale on my birthday.  After trying to buy a house for over 2-and-a-half years, we went through the frantic process of bidding (we're in Toronto), and were surprised when we actually got the house!  Next, we rushed to put up our previous house for sale in under a week--with 5 kids aged 3- to 8-years old underfoot!

Then, it was off to the cottage for 7 days while the real estate agent showed our current home.  Finally, we returned home to 6 or 7 offers on our house (like I said, we're in Toronto), and sold it in a heated bidding war the same evening.  Oh, but there was one catch: we're moving in under one month!  PHEW!

When reality quickly set in--a new house, a new mortgage--I realized that there were many important details that needed to be tended to.  For example, I had to source about 100 moving boxes, (I'm yet to find a mover), forward scraggling mail, and the dreaded change of address for credit card bills, water, gas and electricity bills...and more!    

I started to go through my wallet and bill drawer to see what mail needed forwarding.  Lengthy calls were made to half a dozen companies (waiting on hold, etc) to alert them that I would be moving.  Luckily, some change of address information could be made online.  However, I quickly discovered that if my billing cycle did not coincide with my moving date, then I was out of luck and would have to call back later (if I remembered).

Missing bill payments is unacceptable to me, so I began to consider other options.  Going paperless sounded like a dream to me, until I remembered how many legitimate e-mails regularly go to my spam folder.  SIGH!  The bittersweet joys of moving!  Then Canada Post's ePost was suggested to me, and it sounded like a good option.  Specifically, it's an online mailbox where you receive all your bills paperlessly.  The best part about it, is they are kept all together in one place for easy reference.  I love that less invoices means that fewer trees are cut down to make paper.  

It took me seconds to sign up for a free ePost account, and then I was set to go!  The sign up only asked for standard information that I already knew by heart like name, address, and to select a username and password.  Easy!

Then it was time to set up my bills on ePost, which was also simple, as I had prepared my old paper bills beside me.  I quickly found Rogers and 407-ETR, and set them up.  Again, it asked for basic account information such as account number, postal code, and other information that I had printed on my paper statements.  

ePost redirected me to the originating company's website (ie: Rogers), and my identity as an account owner was verified before granting access to ePost.  Immediately after my account was verified by the billing company, it appeared in my "mailer" folder with an "approved" status.  The hardest part about this process, was remembering the usernames and passwords I had used on my other online accounts!

After I set up 2 different bills, I noticed that not all my bills were available on ePost.  For example, none of my utility bills or credit cards were listed as available options, as well as my property taxes.  My feedback for Canada Post would be to keep up the good work and add more utility companies, credit card companies, and property taxes by region.  With more companies added, this service would be invaluable!

Although all of my bills were not able to be registered by using ePost, I am very pleased that 2 of them will be consolidated online for me and I will not miss either of these bills during my move!  Making a move is hard enough on its own, without the stress of missed and late bills looming over my head!

Check out my Google + album HERE about Canada Post's ePost service!

Have you ever tried Canada's Post ePost service?  How do you receive and pay your bills?

Have YOU Tried Shelf Safe Milk? Milk Unleashed!

Shelf Safe Milk Doesn't Need Refrigeration!

With 5 kids aged 3- to 8-years old, this year I will have 4 kids in school--which will equate to 4 school lunches to make!  I want my kids to receive the proper nutrition while they're at school, but in my busy household I also need quick options.  That is why Milk Unleashed is a worthwhile choice for school lunches, at camp, or on the go.  Milk Unleashed is a shelf safe milk that does not need refrigeration, and is good for about 6 months until opened!

"Long Shelf Life - It's Udderly Simple!"  When I first learned about Milk Unleashed, it was hard concept for me to grasp that milk could be shelf safe and sit in a cupboard unrefrigerated.  However, the process to make shelf safe milk is really not complicated: the Grade A fluid milk is ultra pasteurized and sealed in special Tetra Pak cartons.

With shelf safe Milk Unleashed, I have lots of options when feeding and snacking the kids out of the house.  For example, I can grab some cartons to enjoy after the kids' swimming lessons, instead of stopping by the drive-thru for beverages.  I can tuck a carton inside my purse, and pull it out when my toddler needs a pick-me-up between meals.  Or, even in the house, it is useful to have on hand when the refrigerated milk runs out like clockwork!  

Did you know that one carton of Milk Unleashed has 9 essential nutrients, including calcium, vitamins D, B12, zinc, niacin, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and riboflavin?  It is also a source of 8 grams of protein.  Although it may seem hard to grasp, shelf make milk is real Grade A milk, with no preservatives or additives.  Read here to learn more about the nutrition of shelf safe milk! 

As stated earlier, the milk does NOT require refrigeration until it has been opened--and it is just like the nutritious, wholesome milk that we already know so well!  One of the greatest benefits of shelf safe milk is that is ultra portable, and there is never that worry that the milk will spoil when kept at room temperature.  Try that with regular milk!  Click here to find out where to purchase shelf safe milk!  

Follow Milk Unleashed on Social Media!

Milk Unleashed Website (English)
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Milk Unleashed on Facebook

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Milk Unleashed on YouTube

This blog post is part of a paid SocialMoms and Milk Unleashed blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own.

Have you ever tried shelf safe milk?  What is your favourite way to enjoy milk?

Disney's Teen Beach Movie & CONTEST (~OVER~)!

Disney's Teen Beach Movie Comes to DVD July 30th, 2013!

Does your teen or tween enjoy music and dancing?  Do you like your child to watch clean movies that are free of swearing and grown-up content?  Then check out Disney's Teen Beach Movie, coming to DVD on July 30th!  

Teen Beach Movie is about teenagers McKenzie and Brady who are enjoying a carefree summer of surfing and young love, until McKenzie must leave to go to a career-oriented high school.  Brady begs McKenzie to stay and follow her own heart.  But while McKenzie ponders the path her life should take, her surfboard glows magically--and she and Brady are transported into a surf movie called "Wet Side Story"!

Anyone Want to Play Beach Blanket Bingo?

Teen Beach Movie is quite nostalgic and a parody of surf movies of the 1960s.  All the characters are dressed in retro beach clothing, and break into song and dance at the drop of a hat.  It definitely is a feel-good movie summer movie, with musical sequences that are fun to watch.  Needless to say, by the end of the film, McKenzie decides to follow her heart--and take charge of her own life.  

Although my kids are aged 3- to 8-years old, all kids did watch the movie through to the end (both boys and girls).  My 8-year old and almost 7-year old both got the most out of the movie, although I did hear a big "yuck" at scenes in which a boy and girl were holding hands, I exchanging a kiss.  Get your copy of Teen Beach Movie on DVD July 30th, 2013!

Follow Walt Disney Studios Canada on Social Media:

Walt Disney Studios Canada on Facebook

Walt Disney Studios Canada on Twitter

CONTEST! (~OVER~)

WINNERS: Angela M. & Leanne M.

How To Enter:

Leave a COMMENT below, stating if you've ever tried surfing OR what was the most fun way you've ever spent your summer.  Then, use the entry form below to enter the contest.  GOOD LUCK!     

WIN Disney's Teen Beach Movie on DVD! CANADA

My Review of Santa's Village, Discount Coupon, & CONTEST (~OVER~)!

Santa's Village is Located in Bracebridge, Ontario (2 Hours From Toronto)

As a child, I had a long-standing envy of my brother because my parents had taken him to Santa’s Village in 1971—before I was even born!  Year after year, my parents would play the filmed footage of my 3-year old brother at Santa’s Village feeding the “reindeer”, doing time-lapse photography tricks on park benches, and getting shoulder rides from my dad.  How unfair: my parents had never taken me to Santa’s Village—never mind that I hadn’t been born then!

Ever Wonder Where Santa Gets His Elves?

Well, all that changed this summer when I had a chance to take my family of 7 to Santa’s Village in Bracebridge, Ontario.  I wondered what it would be like to go with the kids to Santa’s Village, as the old school tv commercials ran through my head: “Everyone loves Santa’s Village!  Everyone wants to meet you there!”, or something to that effect.  I wondered if it would be very Christmas-y.

The Main Gate at Santa's Village

When we arrived at Santa’s Village, about 2 hours from Toronto, what struck me was how quaint it was.  It runs alongside the Muskoka River and is surrounded by rugged Ontarian nature.  The parking lot was intimate, not the usual parkade in which you have to remember your letter and number.  There was a short line up at the main gates, not a throng of bodies, which was a nice change for me.  Rudolph’s Roller Coaster Sleigh Ride sped by us up in the trees, which made the kids even more eager to get into the park.

My Little Elves Snacking on Gingerbread Men!

At the front gate, and everywhere else inside the park, the staff were friendly and helpful.  Some may say this does not matter, but to me excellent customer service elevates a theme park and makes me want to come back.  Once inside the park, elves hats could be purchased for the kids at $5 each.  It was a sweltering hot day, and yet my kids loved wearing these green and red-striped hats with elf ears! 

A Playground at Santa's Village

As we came upon Mrs. Claus’ Bake Shop, the kids were suddenly hungry for gingerbread cookies—but no one wanted to share!  Even my husband treated himself to a coffee.  Across from the bake shop, there was a wonderful playground with tunnel slides, which the kids enjoyed very much.  I loved that all through Santa’s Village, there were plenty of photo opportunities.

Rudolph's Roller Coaster Sleigh Ride Roller Coaster!

The kids insisted that we try Rudolph’s Roller Coaster Sleigh Ride, and there was absolutely no line up, which was the same case for most rides we visited on the Tuesday morning.  All my kids aged 3- to 8-years old rode the roller coaster (accompanied by adults).  The ride was themed by Rudolph the Reindeer guiding the flying “sleigh”.  After the ride concluded, the kids wanted to go again, although I didn’t have the stomach for it.

Enjoy a Ride on the Santa's Village Train!

My littlest guys begged to go on the train ride, which runs through the Santa’s Village park.  It was a great ride to take early on, as it shows all the upcoming attractions that shouldn’t be missed.  If you have a Thomas the Tank Engine fan, I would absolutely recommend this ride (open to adults and children alike).

Can You Guess Which Reindeer Is Rudolph?

Next, we rushed to visit Santa’s Reindeer.  I suddenly felt even with my brother, who had gotten to see these same deer in 1971 (joking)!  The kids loved petting them, and it was very cute how they had their reindeer names on the outside of the fence (Rudolph, Cupid, Dasher, etc).

Visiting Santa In His Summer Home at Santa's Village!

Can you guess who we got to meet next?  It was Santa Claus himself in Santa’s very own House!  The house was filled with gifts, Christmas trees and decorative lights.  I had the option of purchasing a commemorative photo, or of photographing Santa and my family with my own camera.

See Lots of Elves at Santa's Village!

There was a 3D Theatre, but we were so busy that we didn’t have the chance to stop by.  We passed the beach area and new Spray & Play splash pad, deciding to save it for the end of the day.  It was a scorching hot day, and would be a great way to cool off the kids (more on this later).

Christmas Ball Ferris Wheel at Santa's Village!

The kids really loved the amusement park portion of Santa’s Village.  There was a really impressive Christmas Ball Ferris Wheel, Red Barron Bi-Plane Ride, Jumpin’ Star Kiddie Dropper Ride, and lots more.  Before starting the rides, we decided to enjoy a real boat ride on Santa’s Summer Sleigh – Riverboat Cruise!  The boat was captained by Captain Ricky, a veteran of 32 years at Santa’s Village!  2013 is his last summer of service, and then he will retire. 

Enjoy a Boatride on Santa's Summer Sleigh Boat Cruise!

Santa’s Summer Sleigh boat cruise on the Muskoka River was lots of fun and lasted at least 10 minutes, which is phenomenal by any theme park’s standards.  It was great to get the kids out on the lake and enjoy the surrounding nature.

Burnin' Up The Track at the ATV Peddle Cart Atrraction!

Did you know that Santa’s Village has an ATV Peddle Cart track?  It’s like tricycles on steroids!  My kids really went nuts on the ATVs and didn’t want to leave.  I loved how it kept the kids active and engaged at the park.

Take To The Sky On The Red Barron Bi-Plane Ride!

Santa’s Village also had 2 bouncy castles, a carousel...and I already mentioned the Red Barron Bi-Plane Ride!  In a previous blog post I mentioned that I love Red Barron rides, as I fondly remember such a ride from my childhood!  It’s so cute how the kids get to fly their own airplane, or can team up with a sibling.

VIDEO: Jumpin' Star Kiddie Dropper Ride!

(See VIDEO above.)  The Jumpin’ Star Kiddie Dropper Ride was an amazing miniature version of the adult ride, in which riders are hoisted up with legs dangling, then dropped down!  Of course, in this children’s version, the drops are a little less pronounced.  The kids wanted to ride again, but poor dad was a little too green for a second go!

Start Your (Foot-Powered) Engines!

I was really excited for the Swan Paddle boats—until I realized they were parent-powered!  Parents, here’s my advice to you: get the kids to peddle!  If you’re in a large group, ask for the foot-powered rowboat.  Life jackets provided for the kids.

Everyone Loves a Picnic!

If you’re planning on visiting Santa’s Village and looking for healthier food choices, try the Treat Retreat.  I was impressed that they had sandwiches on brown bread, yogurt, fruit, nuts, snack bars, milk, water, and juices.  It really made my day that I could feed my family with more healthful food—and at a theme park too!

Try The High Ropes At Elves Island!

Close to the Swan ride was the bridge to Elves Island, a massive playground for the kids.  I recommend that you stop by, and guarantee that your kids will enjoy it.  What made it unusual from regular play areas, was the giant overhead ropes course that were perfect for challenging the older child.  Set on the Muskoka River.

Petting A Goat At Santa's Farm Petting Zoo

On the bridge back from Elves Island, was Santa’s Farm petting zoo.  It was nicely shaded and the kids loved getting close to the animals.

Also part of Santa’s Village is Sportsland, an area of Laser tag, an arcade area, mini golf, batting cages, a picnic area, go-carts, bungee trampoline and rock climbing wall.

The Checkered Flag Is Mine!

Do I need to say that my kids loved go-carting?  Or should I say, that my husband loved it more?  Dad and the kids had a great time zooming countless times around the track.  Protective helmets provided.

VIDEO: Bungee Trampoline at Santa's Village!

It was hard to find a best part about Sportsland, as the racing cars were pretty great.  However, the bungee trampoline was a thrill-ride for the kids.  Each child was hooked up to a safety harness, and had a personal handler to assist him or her.  The kids took in some serious air, and my daughter was gutsy enough to do endless aerial backflips.  Don’t miss the bungee trampoline if you visit Santa’s Village this season!

Bring Your Swimsuit & Towel To Santa's Village!

VIDEO: NEW Spray & Play Beach at Santa's Village!

Last but not least, the kids cooled off at the Beach Area and the NEW Spray & Play Beach (splash pad).  I already had the kids in their swimsuits, but there was a family area had I needed to change.  There was a candy cane fountain spraying peppermint water (joke), and a candy-themed splash area that was fun and brightly coloured.  Nearby, there was a sandy beach and a cordoned off shallow area of the Muskoka River, so the kids could swim.  There were muskoka chairs for the adults, and fun was had by everyone!  Don’t go unless you want to get wet!

Visit Santa's Village in Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada!

My family really had a fantastic visit to Santa’s Village in Bracebridge, Ontario, and I would highly recommend it for you and your family.  We stayed for 6 hours in total (in +33°C weather), and would have stayed longer had the weather been cooler.  If you live in Toronto, the GTA, or Ontario in general, this would be a perfect trip to make as a family!    

Click Here For A Santa's Village Buy 1, Get 1 Admission 50% Off Coupon!

Follow Santa's Village on social media!

Santa's Village website 

Santa's Village on Facebook

Santa's Village on Twitter

There's Lots To Do at Santa's Village!

CONTEST! (~OVER~)

WINNER: Steven M.

WIN Family Passes (for 4 people) to visit Santa’s Village this season!  Passes expire September 8^th, 2013.  Contest ends Friday August 9^th, 2013.  Open to Canada.

How To Enter:

Leave a COMMENT below stating:  Have you ever been to Santa’s Village before OR  What would you say to Santa if you saw him during the summer? Then use the entry form below to enter the contest.  GOOD LUCK!

WIN Santa's Village FAMILY pass for 4 people!

Ontario Science Centre Game On 2.0 & CONTEST! (~OVER~)

Game On 2.0 Runs Til September 2nd, 2013 at Ontario Science Centre!

Ontario Science Centre has always offered fascinating exhibits for the whole family.  I remember fondly panning for real gold in the late 1970s or early 80s!  Game On 2.0 is Ontario Science Centre’s current interactive videogame exhibit, running until September 2^nd, 2013.  The exhibit is a real walk down memory lane for some of us parents, and features vintage video games in fully playable condition!  Not only are they fully playable, the “arcade” is also arranged in chronological order by release date, and patrons are invited to play the games!  No quarters required!

Stand Aside Son! I'll Show You How It's Done!

My kids loved my games, but no one was as serious about gaming as my husband!  He is fantastic in video games, and his competitive nature really showed through.  What I found thrilling about the Game On 2.0 exhibit, was that the video games still endured, were still fun to play, and the music and graphics were still  addictive--although many were obsolete.

Pac-Man Was Still King 30 Years Later!

What I found particularly amazing, was that the most popular videogames were still lined up—over 30 years later!  I could not get near Pac-Man, and a there was a line up behind me for Centipede.

I Still Stink at Centipede 30 Years Later!

While visiting the Ontario Science Centre, my family also enjoyed the Flight of the Butterflies Imax movie.  It was a beautiful film about the migration of the monarch butterfly, and how one man spent a lifetime searching for the monarch butterfly’s winter home.  It’s definitely worth seeing!

Check out my past posts about Ontario Science Centre's Beyond Planet Earth exhibit, and an interview with Born to be Wild Imax film director David Lickley. 

Follow Ontario Science Centre on social media!

Ontario Science Centre Website

Ontario Science Centre on Facebook

Ontario Science Centre on Twitter

See Flight of Butterflies in Imax
at Ontario Science Centre!

Visit Ontario Science Centre to Get Your Game On!

CONTEST (~OVER~)!

WINNER: Nikki O.

WIN an Ontario Science Centre family day pass (admits 5)!  Ontario Science Centre is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  Contest runs until Thursday August 8^th, 2013 and is open to Canada.

How to Enter:

Leave a COMMENT below stating your favourite videogame of all time OR tell me what you think of butterflies!  Then, use the entry form below to enter the contest.  GOOD LUCK! 

WIN an Ontario Science Centre family day pass for 5 people!

Disney Junior Sizzles This Summer!

With the sudden heatwave in Toronto, we've tried to find cool activities for our kids!  We've cooled ourselves down by visiting the splash pad, by dunking in the lake, and by eating icecream.  But it's a nice treat for the kids to watch the Disney Junior channel in the air conditioning inside! 

The month of July is a great month for Disney Junior, including new episodes of your child's favourite shows, and wonderful Saturday Night Movies!

A Perfect Princess & Pirate Summer!

During the months of July and August, your child can watch Jake and the Never Land Pirates followed by Sofia the First, weekdays starting at 6:30pm EST, running all summer long on the Disney Junior channel!  A new episode of each show will air every Monday, so be sure to set your PVR!  Check out DisneyJunior.ca for great princess and pirate summer games and activities that your child will enjoy!

It's Princess Belle All Dressed Up!

It's no secret that my daughter love to dress up!  Ever since she was just 18-months old, she has loved dressing up like a princess.  In the photo above, she is dressed up as Princess Belle (dress shown from the Disney Store).  

Putting together a princess costume is very easy: just take a party dress or fancy nightgown in lieu of a Hallowe'en-type costume, and pair it with costume jewellery like a bobble necklace and bracelet ($1 from the dollar store).  In lieu of the real deal, you can make a beautiful crown out bristol board, construction paper, or cardboard.  Your child can paint it her favourite colour, and add beautiful touches like glitter, sequins, rhinestones or stickers.  Here are instructions for a basic crown, if you're looking for inspiration!    

Saturday Night Movies With Disney Junior Canada!

Check out this great list of movies from Disney Junior Canada, every Saturday night this summer starting at 6:00pm EST!  Watch commercial-free as a family without interruptions, and set your PVR to watch again later!

Saturday Movie Night at 6PM ET
on Disney Junior Canada!

A Bug's Life - Saturday July 13th, 2013 at 6:00pm EST

Tinker Bell - Saturday July 20th, 2013 at 6:00pm EST

*Winnie the Pooh Premiere! - Saturday July 27th, 2013 at 6:00pm EST

*Enjoy the premiere of this brand new movie!  Check out the Disney Junior Canada website for adorable Winnie-the-Pooh activities, including Pooh colouring sheets and the Pooh online games!  A great place to start if you're planning a Winnie-the-Pooh themed birthday party this season! 

Winnie the Pooh Premieres Sat July 27th 2013 at 6pm
on Disney Junior Canada!

My family are avid movie watchers, and we love enjoying movies old and new together!  We first get the kids ready for bed, and then we begin the ceremony of choosing the family movie.  The kids take turns picking which title to watch, but when a turn is called into question, we take votes--and majority rules!  My kids love to snack, so cut up carrots and celery are a snack of choice, or sliced fruit like apples or oranges.  In my household, movie night truly is a family affair, and both mom and dad always participate.

What activities have you been up to this summer with your kids or grandkids?  Are you planning on watching Tinker Bell this Saturday on Disney Junior?  Or how about the premiere of Winnie the Pooh on Saturday July 27th?

Guess What You Can Win, Summer Lovers?

Can You Guess What You Can WIN?

This has been the busiest summer of my life, so I relish the thought of summer fun and relaxation over the next several weeks.  I always think of my readers, so I'm going to have a great contest coming up over the next little while that will let FIVE lucky readers a K---!

Do you know what SnyMed contest is coming up, and if so which MODEL?

Leave a comment below to let me know your guess, if you plan on entering, or how your summer has been so far!   

Despicable Me 2 a Riot for Kids...and Their Parents!

Despicable Me 2 Is In Theatres Now!

If you're the parent or grandparent of a child, you've likely been begged to see Despicable Me 2.  My kids are fans of the first Despicable Me movie, and I can vouch that they asked for months to see it.  We have watched the first movie a googolplex times at home, and the story, voice acting and humour hold up to repeat viewings.

My husband and I took our 5 kids, aged 3- to 8-years old to see a Despicable Me 2 advance screening in 3D, and quite frankly it was a riot for our whole family!  Children and adults alike were hooting and howling in the theatre, which is the ambiance that you want when viewing a kid's comedy.  One adult behind me was whooping so hard and fast, she had to deploy an airbag to calm herself.  The 3D was not overdone at all, and was used to add richness, depth and surprises to the movie.

Scenes Like This "Beach Bum" Scene in Despicable Me 2 "Cracked" Up the Audience!

Despicable Me 2 revisits Gru (Steve Carell) who has retired from villainhood to pursue a respectable career  in jam preserving.  He lives happily with his three adopted daughters Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier), Agnes (Elsie Fisher) and his little yellow Minion creatures, until Anti-Villain League agent Lucy Wilde (Kristen Wiig) tasers him (with a lipstick container!) and abducts him.  Gru then is taken to meet Lucy's boss Silas Ramsbottom (Steve Coogan), who recruits him to crack the identity of a mastermind villain--who has a serum that changes animals and humans alike into purple monsters.  

Can Gru find the bad guy before his yellow Minions are turned vicious and evil?  Can he also open his heart to love, and find a wife for himself and mother to his girls?  You will have to see Despicable Me 2 in theatres to find the answer to these, and other questions!  

There were so many laughs in Despicable Me 2, but the best laughs were Gru dressing up as a fairy princess for his daughter's birthday party, his Minion pretending to be a siren during an emergency (Bee-Da, Bee-Da, Bee-Da!), the Minions performing Village People's YMCA song, and another Minion showing his bum before diving into the ocean.  (Okay, kids will laugh at anyone's bum!)  The Minions did consistently get big laughs, so it's no wonder that Universal Pictures will be releasing a spin-off of Gru's Minions as the main characters in December 2014!    

According to my daughter, Despicable Me 2 was even better than the first.  She does have a point too: I'm hard-pressed to crown a winner between Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2.  What I can say is that Despicable Me 2 was a great family-friendly movie, and I would highly recommend it for those seeking a good laugh this summer!

Follow Universal Pictures Canada and Despicable Me 2 on social media!

Facebook: Universal Pictures Canada
YouTube: UniPicturesCanada
Website: Universal Pictures Canada

Twitter: DespicableMe

Have you seen Despicable Me?  Are you planning on taking the kids or grandkiddies to see Despicable Me 2 this summer?