Page 47 – Ottawa Mommy Club

National Baby Safety Month With Dreambaby

Family

Lyne Proulx

-

September 25, 2018

From the moment they enter this world, a baby is one of the most precious gifts and parents do whatever they can to provide them as much love, affection and security as possible. September is National Baby Safety Month! Dreambaby knows that safety is very much top-of-mind for parents the other 11 months of the year as well, now is the time shed light on the importance of keeping littles ones out of reach of any risk of danger or injury in your very own home.

Dreambaby® is all about safety! It’s is an internationally renowned child safety brand available in more than 100 countries. Dreambaby® prides themselves on manufacturing top quality, durable, and cost-effective items to ensure safety, health, and comfort for every young family. Their products are designed not only to make your home safer, but also to make life easier for you and your family. Whether it’s in the kitchen, bathroom, car, or out and about, Dreambaby® can help put your mind at ease with award-winning safety gates, locks, latches and more. Dreambaby® cares about our customers and are passionate about safety!

SECURITY GATES

Dreambaby® Boston Security Gate

Pressure mounted Boston Magnetic Auto-Close Security Gates are made from durable metal, with an Auto-Close feature that allows it to close from any angle at all, even if the door is only slightly ajar.

Magnetically auto-closes from any distance
EZY-Check lock indicator
Smart Stay-Open feature
Optional one-way stopper for stair use
Swings in both directions
CAD $89.99 (White)| Available at Toysrus.ca, WalMart.ca, Amazon.ca and Bestbuy.ca

APPLIANCE & ELECTRICAL SAFETY

Dreambaby® Paintable Coverplug

Dreambaby® Paintable CoverPlugs prevent children from inserting their fingers or other objects into electrical outlets. They’re universal, easy to install, and fully paintable. Covering the whole outlet, they have a plain white surface that suits most decors and doesn’t draw attention.

Paintable face
Patented design
High quality

CAD $5.99 | Available at Well.ca, WalMart.ca

LOCKS AND LATCHES

Dreambaby Sliding Lock

Dreambaby® Sliding Locks are the fastest and most secure way to lock cupboard and cabinet doors and keep small children safe from what’s inside. They are suitable for D-shaped handles and require no installation. Simply push down and slide the lock tight against the handles

Made from hard-wearing plastic
Easy to move from one room to another if needed
Keeps toxins and other dangerous object out of reach
CAD $8.99 (3 pk) | Available at Bestbuy.ca, Amazon.ca, Well.ca

Dreambaby Safety Catches

Dreambaby® Safety Catches are strong, ,easy to install and provide quick access for adults while making it almost impossible for children to get into cupboards and drawers that may contain harmful objects.

Suitable for top drawers and may be used on lower drawers where there is a top drawer divider to which they may be fitted
Sleep, subtle design means they are hidden from view
CAD $6.99 (12 pk) | Available at Bestbuy.ca, Amazon.ca, Well.ca

DOORS AND WINDOWS

Dreambaby® Ezy-fit Door Knob Covers

Dreambaby® Door Knob Covers are easy for adults to grip, squeeze and turn but too difficult for small children to operate.

They snap easily onto most standard door knobs
No tools required
Easy to install, reuse and move around from room to room
For added safety on door knobs, with push-locking buttons, simply close lid over button to prevent door being accidentally locked
CAD $6.99 | Available at Bestbuy.ca, Amazon.ca, Well.ca

ANCHORS

Dreambaby® Flat Screen TV Saver

Dreambaby® Flat Screen TV Savers prevent potentially serious accidents by anchoring the television to the wall or furniture with adjustable, heavy-duty straps. Dreambaby® Flat Screen TV Savers were specifically designed to help prevent injuries that can occur when curious toddlers accidentally push over a heavy television.

Easy installation
Screws into holes already in back of TV set
Attach to wall or entertainment center
Simply check the straps occasionally to ensure they are still taut
Much less expensive than a wall mounting kit and a necessity for those unable to wall mount their TV
CAD $12.99 | Available at Bestbuy.ca, Amazon.ca, Well.ca

Dreambaby® Furniture Straps

Every modern home is bound to have some heavy furniture or appliances around the household which can cause serious injury if knocked over. Dreambaby® Furniture Straps were specifically designed to help prevent injuries that can occur when curious toddlers accidentally push or pull over heavy pieces of furniture.

Helps prevent furniture from toppling over on to playful children
Easily screw installation
Simply check the straps occasionally to ensure they are still taut
Minimum of two straps required per piece of furniture. Heavier objects may require three or four straps
CAD $8.99 | Available at Bestbuy.ca, Well.ca, WalMat.ca

Dreambaby® Furniture Anchor

Dreambaby’s ® Furniture Anchors were specifically designed to help prevent injuries which occur when curious toddlers start pushing and pulling on furniture. Using just a few screws in the solid parts of the furniture and the solid parts of the masonry, stud, or beam the anchors conveniently secure furniture in an upright position.

Dreambaby’s ® affordable and easy-to-install anchors keep furniture from falling and tipping over, preventing the terrible injuries that these accidents can cause as well
Perfect for bookcases, tallboys, dressers, display cabinets, end tables, side tables, and more, these versatile anchors are ideal for almost any room and configuration
CAD $14.99 | Available at WalMat.ca

Do you want to check out all of the products? Checked out Dreambaby’s ® website to find more products they have available and to connect with them on their Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages to learn about their latest news!

Disclaimer: I received products from Dreambaby to promote this giveaway.

Travel Tips When You’re Driving Far to Get to Disney World

Travel

-

September 25, 2018

23

Travel Tips When You’re Driving Far to Get to Disney World

Each vacation you take is full of memories to last a lifetime. From the car ride itself, to the actual destination and fun activities you have planned, you are sure to have plenty to reminisce about. A trip to Disney will certainly be a vacation to put down in the books, however a long, daunting car ride may have you thinking twice about experiencing Disney. Don’t let a long road trip put a halt on the magic of Disney. Here are some great travel tips to follow when you’re driving far to get to Disney World!

Car Travel Tips to Get to Disney World

1. Pack the Right Snacks

It is a no brainer that you are going to need snacks on any road trip, however there are right and wrong foods to bring. While you may be thinking about snacks that are going to make the smallest messes, you also want to make sure that you are packing healthy, protein filled snacks, not just candy bars, energy drinks and bags of chips.

2. Pre Trip Car Maintenance

One of the most important tips, before you embark on your road trip to Disney, is to take your car in to the shop for a little maintenance. Get your oil changed, if it is due for one, have your fluids and windshield wipers checked, and topped off, and check the pressure in your tires. There is nothing worse than getting stuck on the side of the road, miles and miles from home, and miles and miles away from your destination.

3. Frozen Water Bottles

While we are on the snacking topic, let’s talk about ice. Save yourself some space in your coolers by freezing bottles or jugs of water to replace bags of ice. You will not have to deal with dumping melted ice during your trip, and as the water thaws, you will have extra drinking water handy.

4. Save Electronics as Last Resorts

The only thing kids love about long car rides is the extra time they will have playing electronics. But eventually they will tire of them and end up whining a little sooner. Instead of handing over the electronics as soon as you get in the car, wait an hour or two. The kids can keep themselves busy with other toys or books they have brought, and afterward bury themselves into the electronics, because honestly, who would want to go from playing games to drawing and colouring?

5. Have a Disney Playlist

After hours of being in the car everyone is bound to feel a little drained, and ready to be at Disney already. At this point it is a good idea to pull out your Disney playlist. Hearing your favourite Disney songs is sure to put everyone into an upbeat mood again, in eager anticipation of walking through those magical gates.

Big Batch Turkey and Chard Chili Recipe

Recipes

Pieces of Me

-

September 20, 2018

220

Canadian Turkey wants to make planning meals for Canadian families easier and delicious with helpful tips and their fabulous turkey recipe ideas. You will love this Big Batch Turkey and Chard Chili Recipe from Canadian Turkey!

Back-To-School is a time of the year when families start to rev up their schedules. Our lives become hectic with lessons, practices, meetings, and playdates. All of these events make getting healthy meals that are budget-friendly for our families more of a challenge.

A power-packed protein

Prepping meals. For many, this may sound like a tall order to fill due to the tasks parents have to do to get through busy day. Picky eaters and dietary restrictions also adds more onto this worry. Parents want to provide balanced nutrition in every meal with all of these issues facing them. Canadian turkey wants to help make this process easier for families to do.

Did you know turkey is packed with protein? Each 100-gram serving provides about 30 grams of high quality lean protein. Turkey also has nutrients such as vitamin B12 (helps to keep your nervous system working well), selenium (an antioxidant mineral), and zinc (helps to strengthen the immune system).

This meat is an excellent building block for meals solutions. It helps to keep your family powered up for busy and active days. Planning meals with recipes from Canadian Turkey help to plan breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks a simple task to accomplish.

barbecued turkey — Photo credit: canadianturkey.ca; Whole Barbecued Turkey on a table.

7 tips to help you plan ahead and make Canadian turkey your Back-To-School go-to protein

Are you not sure how to begin planning ahead to make your family’s meals packed with protein power? Here are seven tips that can help you get started with ease!

Scale Up– Turkey is a great option when planning to double or triple your favourite recipes. Scale your recipes so you can cook once and then freeze extras portions to have on hand when you need dinner or lunch in a hurry
Foolproff Favourites– Develop a series of go-to recipes that you know are easy to prepare and that your family will love. The Canadian Turkey website is packed with kitchen-tested recipes that are both healthy and tasty too. Turkey is so versatile and comes in so many cuts that you can find something for everyone’s taste and preference.
Plan Ahead– Try to cook with recipes where you can do some prep work ahead of time or plan to pre-cook some or all of the ingredients. Meal planning up to a week in advance is a great way to save time during busy weeknights.
Lean but Juicy– It’s hard to believe but with turkey, both white and dark meat is lean. That means you can enjoy any cut you prefer and feel good knowing you are choosing a healthy protein without compromising on flavour, tenderness or juiciness.
Change It Up– Turkey adapts well to all of your favourite flavour profiles and spice combinations. No matter what your family likes to enjoy, you can easily swapturkey into most recipes. Try cooking with turkey for your favourite meal of the day. You can serve it hot or cold, and it tastes great the next day, too!
So Much to Choose From– Turkey is a versatile protein, with so many different cuts of both dark and white meat to choose from, including ground meat, legs, drumsticks, thighs, breast steaks, breast rolls, breast roasts, drummettes, wings, sausages, and burgers. With such a wide selection, you can enjoy turkey at breakfast, lunch or dinner, with leftovers that taste delicious the next day.
Perfect for Penny Pinchers– Turkeys are generally larger than other poultry options and deliver a lot of meat for the price. Whole turkeys can be roasted for pennies per pound, and are a perfect choice for batch cooking meals or freezing leftover meat that can come in handy as everyday meal starters. Cuts like drums, breasts and thighs are larger, so you need fewer to feed the family or plan for leftovers.

Big Batch Turkey and Chard Chili Recipe

Since fall is all but here, a good chili recipe is always good to have on hand. Canadian Turkey has a Big Batch Turkey and Chard Chili recipe that makes planning meals ahead of time easy-peasy. This recipe also allows you to be resourceful because it can be divided it into portions. You do not have to worry about creating meals throughout the week.

Big Batch Turkey and Chard Chili

Canadian Turkey has a Big Batch Turkey and Chard Chili recipe that makes planning meals ahead of time easy-peasy and so delicious!

No ratings yet

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 3

Total Time 3 15

Course Main Course

Cuisine Canadian

Servings people

Ingredients

2 lbs ground Canadian turkey
1 tbsp olive oil
2 1/2 cups minced white onions
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp ground Italian seasoning
2 tsps sweet smoked paprika
3 cloves garlic crushed
1 litre turkey broth
1 can (540 ml) Navy beans drained
1 can(540 ml) Cannellini beans drained
1 can(540 ml) Chickpeas drained
1 cup corn fresh or frozen
1 cup roughly chopped Swiss chard

Instructions

1. In a non-stick pan or skillet, sauté onions and olive oil until lightly browned, 6-8 minutes.
2. Turn heat to medium – high. Add turkey and sear to brown on all sides.
3. Reduce heat and add spices. Add garlic.
4. Continue to mix to ensure turkey doesn’t stick and meat breaks up into chunks.
5. Transfer mixture to slow cooker.
6. Add broth.
7. Add beans.
8. Turn to low for 3 hours or high for 1.5.
9. If mixture is still watery and you are looking for a creamier texture, remove 1 cup of mixture and use a hand blender to puree. Add back to chili and stir to incorporate.
10. Add corn and chard for an additional 15 minutes to cook through.

Notes

You can use this recipe to create multiple meals to have on hand. Just freeze into family size portions and defrost when you’re ready to eat.

Keyword bbq turkey chili

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Energy and nutrition on your family’s plate

With Canadian turkey on your plate, you will feel good knowing you are providing your family with nutritious food. Turkey will give your family the energy they need to make through their high-octane days.

Would you like to have additional tips, recipes and HOW TOs to make Back-To-School easier and tastier? Visit Canadian Turkey’s website to find your cooking inspiration! The recipe section contains many delicious recipes for full meals, snacks, appetizers, and kids favourites. There are also WHOLE TURKEY and CUT HOW TOs to give you a helping hand to get tasty, nutritious and versatile turkey on your table every day!

You can also connect with them on their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube pages for more ideas to see how #TurkeyMakesItEasy for Back-To-School!

Disclaimer: This post is generously sponsored by Canadian Turkey.

Get Crafty with Rock Painting

Crafts

Lyne Proulx

-

September 19, 2018

15

Remember the days when crafts were simple and required very few supplies? What happened to those days? If you’re tired of spending lots of money at your local craft store for supplies your kids don’t end up using, it’s time to rethink things. Let’s go back to the days when crafts were more about being creative and less about following instructions and spending a lot of money. How about rock painting!

These rock painting crafts are not only simple and fun, but require very few supplies. In fact, you could probably go out into your yard and find rocks waiting to be painted. If you don’t want to deal with washing dirty rocks, you can also find rocks in the craft section of many discount department stores. You can find stones in a variety of sizes. Whether you’re looking for stones to make a larger painting on or small pebbles to make jewelry with, you’ll find what you need. You can also find inexpensive paint and paintbrushes while you’re there.

Below you’ll find rock painting crafts that can be done by kids of all ages. This roundup offers both easy and intricate designs. If your kids love to paint, you can’t go wrong with these crafts. And, if they aren’t happy with the design they made, you can always spray paint the rocks a solid colour and let them start over.

While there are a number of expensive crafts that are fun for kids to do, there are also ones that are very affordable. These rock painting crafts will keep your kids busy for hours and there are so many to choose from. If you have a Dollar Tree in your area, you can find bags of rocks, paint, and paintbrushes for only $1 each. Stock up and let your kids be creative.

Get Crafty with Rock Painting

1. Hedgehog Painted Rocks – Easy Peasy and Fun

2. Geko Rock Stone Art Craft – The Inspiration Edit

3. Painted Rocks Creating Community Art

4. Conversation Hearts Painted Rocks – Views from a Stepstool

5. Hot Rocks Painting – The Relaxed Homeschool

6. Painting Rock Rings – Itst Bitsy Fun

7. Easy-to-Make Painted Rock Cactus – Rachel Teodoro

8. Rock Painting Mother-Daughter Activity – Slap Dash Mom

9. Get Outside with the Kids and Hide Painted Rocks – Long Wait for Isabella

Your Guide to Disney’s Toy Story Land

Travel

Lyne Proulx

-

September 18, 2018

9

You’ve heard about Disney World’s new Toy Story Land, but have you been there? Toy Story Land is the newest development at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and no one’s disappointed. If you’re making plans to head to Disney World, then you need to know the ins-and-outs of this new world. Here is your guide to Disney World’s Toy Story Land.

Your Guide to Disney World’s Toy Story Land

Places to Eat

It only makes sense to explore the places to eat first, doesn’t it? Disney World has the best ideas when it comes to eating. Toy Story Land has some awesome choices! Your first stop may want to be Woody’s Lunch Box. Because Woody knows what is good! You may want to bite into a S’more French Toast Sandwich or enjoy a side of Potato Barrels. The food is tasty and just what you need before you explore this exciting new world.

Encountering Characters

Isn’t the point of going to Disney World to meet your favourite characters? There’s no doubt that if you’ve seen Toy Story, you fell in love with those characters. While in Toy Story Land, you’ll want to run into Woody, Buzz, and Jessie. You can see them on a daily basis too! Make sure you take some time to encounter your favourite Toy Story characters. Don’t let the army of green catch you off guard as they march to the beat of their drums through this wonderful land.

Your Guide to Disney World's Toy Story Land — Venezuelan actress and TV host Gaby Espino (center) goes for a spin with her kids, Oriana and Nickolas, aboard Alien Swirling Saucers. Photo credit: Disney – Matt Stroshane, photographer

Your Guide to the Rides

So, you’ve had some time to meet a few characters and grab a bite to eat. Now it’s time to ride some of the rides at Toy Story Land. One of your first stops should be the Alien Swirling Saucers. These aliens will take you on a spin throughout outer space, so hang on tight. Hey, you may be the next person chosen by the claw, how exciting.

Next up is Toy Story Mania!, can you feel the excitement? During this ride, you’re going to blast targets with this 4D shooting game! There is a lot of excitement happening in Andy’s toy box, during this ride.

Of course, you can’t miss the Slinky Dog Dash at Toy Story Land. The Slinky Dog Dash allows you to enjoy twisting, curves, and drops. Everyone in the family is going to love this ride!

With all these details in mind, it only makes sense that you head to Toy Story Land the next time you’re at Disney World. You’ve got a lot to do and see while there.

Which ride will you try first?

7 Effective Ways to Motivate your Kid

Family

Lyne Proulx

-

September 17, 2018

7

7 Effective Ways to Motivate your Kid

Whether it comes to personal progress or performance at school, motivation is the key that drives your little one to do better. So here’s a little help for you with just that! Here are 7 super effective ways to motivate your kid to give his best in whatever it is you’ve both aspired for!

1. Set Goals

You can never be too early to help your kid set goals for himself. Setting small goals helps your kid get a sense of direction and purpose, and will get him motivated in no time! Start with short-term goals and work your way up.

2. Bring in the Rewards

There’s nothing better than sneaking in a little reward to encourage your kid to perform best. It can be something as simple as a movie trip or a treat of his favourite ice-cream, but these little rewards work best and can help motivate your kid.

3. Appreciate & Encourage

Whatever the task is, appreciate your kid’s effort and encourage him to go for it, even if he fails. As a parent, your support is what will keep him going more than anything else. Encouragement is a kind of positive reinforcement that can help you connect with your kid on an even deeper level.

4. Bring in Some Competition

What could be better than spicing things up by introducing your kid to some healthy competition? Don’t let it go overboard though, and no matter what, never compare your kid to anyone else.

5. Embrace the Flaws

Remember that just like you, your kid has flaws too. Teach him to embrace and accept those flaws, and try to use it in a positive way that works for him and helps him achieve his goals. Setting unrealistic expectations from him and pushing him to become an all-rounder will only de-motivate him when he’s unable to hit those goals.

6. Encourage Progress

Your child is obviously not going to excel at everything he does, and during his moments of failure, all you need to do is to encourage him to continue trying and instill the values of persistence and patience. Teach him how to never give up.

7. Inspire & Plan Wisely

From watching motivational videos to reading positive books, you can do a lot to help your kid feel more driven towards his goals. Chalk out an action plan with him and stay interested and keep asking him about his progress. It will motivate him in ways you can’t imagine.

Do you have any tips to motivate your child(ren)? Leave a comment below!

Grandma’s Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad

Recipes

Lyne Proulx

-

September 14, 2018

35

There is never a bad time to serve macaroni salad… summertime… holiday time… you name it! Macaroni salad is kind of like meatloaf, when it comes to preparation. Everyone has their own recipe. And, if you ask nicely most people are willing to share their secret ingredients to their old fashioned macaroni salad!

I don’t know about you but this particular version of macaroni salad is one I truly consider to be “old-fashioned.” There’s just basic ingredients that go really well together and remind you of childhood picnics, camping trips or holidays at grandma’s house.

Easy macaroni salad recipe

Pasta salad is something that’s really easy to make and tweak to your liking. I suggest chopping the celery and onions into extremely small pieces. It’s the best way I know of to allow the flavour to permeate through the whole bowl. It’s also easier to get picky kids to eat it!

If you don’t normally buy olive oil, no worries. Your favourite variety of oil will work just as well. Olive oil seems to give this old fashioned creamy macaroni salad a little extra boost of flavour and it’s better for you, health-wise. I’m not too sure about using coconut oil. But, if you’re feeling brave, why not give it a shot?

Making this recipe for old fashioned macaroni salad definitely isn’t rocket science. You may have to alter the macaroni salad with eggs recipe a bit, the first couple of times, to finally get the taste to where you want it to be. Once to accomplish that, it’s a great “bring a dish to pass” option that almost everyone loves.

How to easily peel boiled eggs

To ensure your boiled eggs peel as easily as possible, try this. Add salt to the water. When the eggs are finished boiling (around the 12 minute mark) run cold water over them until they’re cold. Next, crack each one on the counter a couple of times and put it back into the cold water for about 10 minutes. This typically makes the peeling process super easy!

Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad Recipe — Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad