Checking out the Celebration of Light with the family? Here’s your chance to cross making dinner off your list: enter to win a special picnic dinner for eight courtesy of Whole Foods valued at $72. Whole Foods has created a healthy family-friendly menu designed specifically to enjoy before watching the fireworks and available at $9 per person. With this much food, you can bring your family and the grandparents and a couple of cousins too!

But even if you’re not planning on going to the fireworks, these meals are a great option for packing for any picnic. I’ve got kids under five who can’t stay up for the fireworks, so tonight we’re hitting the outdoor pool and will be munching on a couple of these choices. Stay tuned for a review.

Although not all Whole Foods locations have these menu options (Cambie and Park Royal most definitely will), here’s what you can expect.

Whole Foods Market Special Fireworks Picnic Menu

Baguette Box

• Choice of Caprese, Curried Chicken and Basil, Black Forest Ham or Hummus and Grilled Vegetable
• Spinach and Strawberry Salad
• 365 Italian Soda
• Two Bite Brownies or Cookies

Crunchy Chicken Box

• Crunchy Baked Chicken
• Choice of (two) Picnic Potato Salad, Macaroni Salad, Tailgate Coleslaw or Cabbage Crunch
• 365 Italian Soda
• Two Bite Brownies or Cookies

Vegetarian Box

• Sweet Potato Quinoa Cakes
• Tofu Skewers with Miso BBQ Glaze
• Spinach Orzo Pasta
• Caprese Salad
• Baguette
• 365 Italian Soda
• Two Bite Brownies or Cookies

Fiesta Box

• Choice of (two) Quesadillas: Grilled Chicken & Peppers, Grilled Vegetables & Cheese or Smoked Mozzarella & Spinach
• Chips and Salsa
• Agua Fresca
• Two Bite Brownies or Cookies

How to Enter

To enter, simply enter a comment on our Facebook page letting us know which menu option you like best (don’t worry, you can still make a final choice if you win!), as well as who you’ll be bringing with you to the fireworks. For an extra entry, you can also enter a comment on this article on VancouverMom.ca. Picnic will be available for pick-up the afternoon/evening before the final fireworks event on Saturday, July 31.

Related posts:

1. Whole Foods Fireworks Picnic Menu Review
2. Whole Foods: Fabulous Find For Vancouver Moms
3. Little Nest: A Treasure On The Drive That Kids Will Love

Here’s your chance to win a $500 shopping spree from Agoo Apparel. Adorn one child with a full wardrobe, or pick a few outfits for all your kids – and their cousins too! Scroll down for details!

10 Reasons to You’ll Want to Have Agoo In Your Life

1. Athlete inspired. Agoo is made with fabric and technologies fit for the most active athletes – including your kids.
2. Mom designed. As a busy mom of two, owner and designer JB Owen-Sacalis knows what moms need: clothes for quick diaper changes, clothes that will last and clothes that are functional.
3. Awesome sun protection. Agoo’s clothes have 50+ UV protection.
4. Stain resistant and extremely washable. You can even clean them with a wet wipe if your child spills something on them.
5. Fast drying. Kids can play at the beach, get soaked and be dry in about 30 minutes.
6. Did I say beach? Agoo can double up as swimwear! It’s also resistant chlorine and salt-water.
7. Four-way stretch means that the clothes will move with your kids and still retain its shape.
8. Wick-away fabric to keep your child cool. Even when baby falls asleep in her car seat, Agoo will help keep her from overheating.
9. Terrific base layer. Agoo is perfect for underneath a warmer fleece layer.
10. Agoo is based and designed right here in Vancouver.

Entering is Easy

1. Check out the clothes on AgooKids.com.
2. Visit VancouverMom.ca’s Facebook page and enter a comment, telling us why you like Agoo.
3. For extra entries:
   1. Visit Agoo’s Facebook page and say that you saw this giveaway on VancouverMom.ca.
   2. Tweet this message to your followers (be sure to include @vancouver_mom in your tweet to qualify):
   3. Enter a comment on this article on VancouverMom.ca.

That’s it!

Open only to Canadian residents. Closes on August 2, 2010. Winner will be randomly selected using Random.org.

Related posts:

1. Profile on JB Owen-Sacallis of Agoo Apparel
2. Agoo Is Looking For Kids for a Photo Shoot
3. Ready For Anything: Dressing Your Baby for Any Weather

A few weeks ago, we asked VancouverMom.ca readers if they used a balance bike to help train their kids on how to ride a bike. Here is what some of you said on our Facebook page:

“My son started riding a bike when he was 4. My grandkids were 5 and 6. The other day I saw a 3 year old on the balance bike. I was so amazed. I highly recommend them. They help kids with coordination.” – Iris

“We have a balance bike and love it!” – Felicia

“The best investment for young children! Really, don’t waste money on tricycles – invest in a run bike and avoid that ‘tippy’ adjustment period of training wheels, etc.” – Suzanne

“We have the wishbone bikes and they are awesome.” – Kyrani

“The balance bikes are hugely popular and come in both wood and metal versions. Have to say we skipped them in our family as the boys went from training wheels to regular bikes at 2 and 3. Now they are 3 and 4 and are enjoying the skate board bowls without training wheels to mom’s horror! Good thing for elbow pads – need full body pads though lol! – ” Kirsten

Want to win a balance bike for your child? Our friends at WheeBikes are giving away a Strider balance bike to a lucky VancouverMom.ca reader!

To enter, simply visit WheeBikes.ca and tell us what your favourite colour is on the VancouverMom.ca Facebook page. For an extra entry, comment on the WheeBikes facebook page that you saw this contest on VancouverMom.ca. Winner will be randomly selected using Random.org on July 16. Giveaway only open to Canadian residents.

Related posts:

1. Balance Bikes for Kids: A Buying Guide
2. Balance Bikes: Some Popular Brands
3. How to Teach Your Child to Ride a Bike

This production is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil, combining two circus traditions: acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor.

Between strength and fragility, laughter and smiles, turmoil and harmony, KOOZA explores themes of fear, identity, recognition and power. The show is set in an electrifying and exotic visual world full of surprises, thrills, chills, audacity and total involvement.

VancouverMom.ca is giving away two tickets to KOOZA!

To enter, simply enter a comment below.

Think you’ve missed your chance? Tickets are still available!

Buy tickets now.

To view more photos of Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA, visit VancouverMom.ca’s Facebook page.

Related posts:

1. Vancouver International Children’s Festival
2. Once Upon A Fairy Tale: Dances That Live In Your Imagination Ballet
3. The Baby and Family Fair 2009 – October 24th and 25th

I was surprised to learn that Vancouver has been home to the one most decorated and diverse dance institute’s in the country since the late 1970′s, Goh Ballet Academy. Established by National Ballet of China’s Choo Chiat and Lin Yee Goh, the academy was created to pursue technical and artistic excellence - both customary traits of ballet dance. What makes Goh Ballet different is their dedication to raising cultural awareness in the dance community and around Vancouver. Over the years, Goh Ballet has trained generations of dancers whom garner respect and accolades, and perform for anticipatory audiences, both locally and internationally. But despite the international recognition, Goh Ballet continues to be about community first, reflecting Vancouver’s cultural diversity and serving as an inspiration to aspiring young dancers who want to transition from student to professional.

This June, Goh Ballet will be showcasing the talents of their students with two unique perfomances, one in particular aimed at families. On June 18th and 19th, follow little Miss Muffet, Jack and Jill and all of your other favourite nursery rhyme characters in Once Upon a Fairy Tale: Dances that Live in Your Imagination. This collection of charming and enchanting tales will be perfomed by the Goh Academy’s Junior School. Also, on June 17th, the Senior School will perform, Then and Now: A Process of Artistic Interpretation, featuring stunning original choreography in addition to excerpts from renowned classics such as River and Swan Lake.

What: Once Upon a Fairy Tale: Dances that Live in Your Imagination Ballet

When: 7pm, June 18 & 19, 2010

Where: Vancouver Playhouse

Tickets: Goh Ballet 604-872-4014 | info@gohballet.com

Giveaway alert! VancouverMom.ca readers have a chance to win a family pack of four tickets to see Once Upon a Fairy Tale: Dances that Live in Your Imagination! Entering is simple: just leave a comment below telling us why you love the ballet.

Related posts:

1. Picking a Ballet School for Your Preschooler
2. Bellies to Babies Celebration
3. It’s Getting Hot In Here: The Vancouver International Salsafestival

I’m always on the search for kids music that doesn’t drive me mental. At first, I thought I could just rely on the music I like, but I find myself fast forwarding through songs that aren’t appropriate, for fear that someone will think my child is saying something different than “Don’t phunk with my heart.” My husband’s father is an excellent musician who’s produced some wonderful tunes for the girls (the most recent an incredibly sweet Valentine’s Day song). I also have The Johnny Cash Children’s Album and my kids (and my husband and I!) adore it. I’ve also heard that the Barenaked Ladies’ Snacktime is also a great choice for kids.

One local kids music group that should be on your music player is Bobs and Lolo. Recently nominated for a 2010 Juno award, Bobs and Lolo and their videos played on Treehouse and it’s easy to catch them around the Lower Mainland since they play a lot of local events and festivals. I’ll say my kids adore the music (and they do!), but my husband tells me that I should admit that I’m really the superfan of the house. My four-year-old gets downright giddy whenever she sees them on TV and yells “Bobs and Lolo are on!!!” so that I can come and watch with her.

VancouverMom.ca had a chance to catch up with Robyn Hardy (Bobs) and Lorraine Pond (Lolo), who do everything together – including answer our questions! Find out how they got together, what inspires their songs and what’s in the duo’s future.

What were you doing before Bobs and Lolo?

Before we started our musical adventures, Robyn was teaching grades four and five at Lynn Valley Elementary School in North Vancouver. Prior to teaching, Robyn completed a degree in linguistics at the University of Victoria and a Bachelor of Education at UBC. Lorraine previously worked in the fields of environmental education and non-profit fund development. Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Human Kinetics (Exercise Science) from UBC. Following the completion of our post-secondary adventures, both of our parents were just as confused by the direction of our career paths as we were… it all worked out though!

Tell us about how you two met and the inspiration behind Bobs and Lolo.

We first connected at a Girl Guide camp on Vancouver Island when we were both around eight years old. After a fun-filled weekend of campfire sing-alongs, silliness and laughter, our friendship was sealed! While we remained at different elementary schools, we ended up filtering into the same highschool (Dover Bay Secondary) in grade nine. Our friendship continued to grow from there and we began to singing together in the school choir as well as studying piano with the same music teacher. We also hit the courts together as power forward (Bobs) and shooting guard (Lolo) on the Dover Bay girls’ basketball team. Go Dolphins Go!

Any “big break” story to share?

Our biggest “break” to date has definitely been the broadcast of our music videos on Treehouse TV. We feel so fortunate to have been able to (a) get our On Your Feet DVD in front of the right folks in Toronto and (b) have them LOVE our content! The opportunity to connect with families across the country through Canada’s only national television network completely dedicated to preschoolers has been amazing. While the partnership with Treehouse is still relatively new, the TV exposure has already opened up new performance opportunities for us, and we’ve been able to build our CD and DVD distribution beyond Western Canada. We’re hoping this is just the start and we’ll be able to keep things go, go, growing in the upcoming years.

How do you come up with the songs?

Our song-writing process can really be broken down into three stages (this sounds way more formal than it really is!):

1. A creative sit-down to flush out and develop a really solid album theme and subsequent song overviews – generally best accompanied by a good bottle of wine!
2. Writing the lyrics, composing the melody and mapping out the basics of the song structure – this is the really fun part!
3. Meeting with our producer to solidify the feel of the song and map out vocals arrangements, instrumentation etc. before hitting the studio – this is where the song ‘magic’ happens!

What is a typical collaboration like?

Our collaborations involve a lot of back and forth to share and elaborate on the song ideas, before expanding and arranging the pieces into fullly developed recordings with our producer.  Co-writing is something we both enjoy and it is one of our best creative outlets behind-the-scenes!

How would you characterize your music?

We put a lot of energy into making our music educational, family-focused and listener-friendly for all ages. We want our music to engage and inspire children to learn more about the topic at hand, to care about the world around them and above all, to get up and dance! In terms of a specific ‘sound’ for our music, we often hear that we’re a good blend of Barenaked Ladies meets Indigo Girls…for kids! The Vancouver Province also once described as as the Radiohead of children’s music – we’re not really sure how to interpret this one, but we both agree that it’s a good thing!

What do you love about what you do?

Performing for young audiences is by far the best part!  The things kids say, the way they move and the endless energy our audience brings to our shows is rewarding, inspiring and motivating. We can both honestly say that we would not be performing or putting in the long hours behind-the-scenes without the kids cheering us on (parents too)!

Are either of you moms?

Not yet. Kids are definitely in the plan though! In a best case scenerio, we’d both get prego at the same time, keep performing as long as we’re able and then take a little break from the stage while we focus on being new moms. We’d eventually love to be able to take our families on the road with us and continue performing as much as  possible. We do recognize that timing things right and coming up with a plan that works for both of us (and spouses) could be our most challenging, albeit exciting collaboration yet!

Any funny stories to tell?

Our lives are full of funny stories: from travel adventures to show mishaps (thankfully no wardrobe malfunctions!) to the ups and downs of learning to run and manage our own business. The humorous anecdotes are endless!

Probably our best travel story to date involves a trip to Atlin, BC, for the Atlin Arts & Music Festival. We ended up flying into Whitehorse for a couple of shows first, and we were told that a bus shuttle would pick us up there to bring us back into BC for the Atlin event. Turns out that our “shuttle” was actually the mailman who also turned out to be the mayor of Atlin and the operator of the local SPCA. The drive into Atlin proved to be a memorable three-plus-hour adventure as we stopped in every small town along the route to drop off mail, toilet paper and even a few gallons of ice cream!

Travel stories aside, our most regular laughs probably come from the kids. As all parents know, preschoolers are bound to say the funniest things! Two of our favourite fan “quotes” happened during a 2008 fall tour in Alberta – our first time in the province. One little boy in Edmonton kept yelling at us during the show “thank you for coming to Canada!”, followed by another child who adamently thanked us for “coming out of his TV” to sing for him!

What would you like Vancouver moms to know about Bobs and Lolo?

We didn’t start our Bobs and Lolo adventures with a real plan – just a dream. It’s incredible to do something we’re really passionate about and begin to see tangible outcomes from our commitment to create a legacy for children through our work. The one thing we’d really like Vancouver moms to know about Bobs and Lolo is what an important role they have played in allowing us to be “Bobs and Lolo”. We really don’t think parents understand the impact of their support and encouragement. We still keep every email, file every Facebook message and box up every card, drawing and photo given to us by the kids. We received immeasurable encouragement to keep writing and performing from every mom that hired us for a birthday party in our first few years, and we still hold close every word of support we receive after live shows today. For every mom that has since bought a CD or downloaded a song for their kids or friends, you make it possible for us to keep working and doing what we love. Thank you!

What’s next for you?

We’re currently putting together some ideas for a fourth album that we hope to release in the Fall of 2010 (still at stage one!). We also have a lot of upcoming performances including our first mainstage feature at the Vancouver International Children’s Festival in May. We’ll also be heading out-of-province this Spring for the Canmore, St. Albert and Winnipeg Children’s Festivals and hitting the summer schedule hard with performances throughout Alberta (Calgary Stampede, Westerner Days and Capital Ex) as well as a return to the PNE in Vancouver at the end of August. We are also looking to continue building our relationship with Treehouse TV and hope to produce some new content with them down the road. Fingers crossed!

Anything else to add?

As we mentioned earlier, we get a lot of motivation and encouragement from our fans. We’re very active on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace, and we also regularly blog about stories from the road and current news flashes. We invite Moms and families to connect with us online through one (or more!) of these social media sites – we love the personal connection and it’s an extra treat when families send photos or share stories of their own. For info on how to reach us, our live show schedule, music and more, please visit www.bobsandlolo.com.

Giveaway alert! Bobs and Lolo will be giving away a copy of their DVD On Your Feet. Here’s how to enter:

1. Check out their music on Amazon. Listen to a few tunes.
2. Come back to this article on VancouverMom.ca.
3. Leave a comment below letting us know which song(s) you like and why.
4. Subscribe to the VancouverMom.ca newsletter (see the right column) with the same email address you’ve used to leave your comment.

Can’t wait to find out if you’ve won? Get your Bobs & Lolo digital downloads now from Amazon.

Related posts:

1. Fingerling Festival
2. Family Literacy Day: Sing a Song for Literacy
3. Vancouver International Children’s Festival

It was a bit of a winding path that led Gillian Pottinger to where she is today. She started out as an insurance broker, then moved onto creating one-of-a-kind girls’ clothing when her daughter was born. But it was really when she got back into photography that she was inspired to start Rhembein, a line of bright, fun and functional camera straps.

Having a camera often strung around her neck meant that she was well aware of how uncomfortable standard straps are that come with DSLR cameras. “The rubber backing was making my neck sweaty – ew!” says Gillian. She also saw some potential for adding a little flare – and was drawn to the idea of playing with fabric again. In addition to the neck strap, Gillian also makes a wrist/hand strap that allows you to cradle your camera in your hand while having it strapped around your wrist – and designed to just the way Gillian herself like to hold her camera. Neck straps sell at $25 to $30 and the Gilly wrist strap is available for $20 to $25.

A mom herself, Gillian is always looking for interesting items that are well-made and reasonably priced – “and washable!” Gillian adds. “It doesn’t matter how hard I try, somehow jam fingerprints show up on anything I really like.”

Rhembein camera straps are available online, but will soon be available at a few select locally owned children’s boutiques.

Rhembein

www.rhembein.com | Twitter: @rhumbein

Giveaway alert! Win one of Gillian’s Rhembein camera straps! Here’s how to enter:

1. Check out her site on Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/rhembein
2. Pick one a style that you like.
3. Come back to this page.
4. Add your comment below and tell us why you think Rhembein is so fab!

Related posts:

1. Saw us on Breakfast Television? Don’t miss this!
2. Easy Daysies: Family Routines Made Easy – and Fun!
3. Snug as a Bug Organic: Baby Bedding with Beauty and Brains

I have some pretty amazing kids. They are really outgoing and friendly, generous and caring. But my four-year-old is a bit on the sensitive side and my two-year-old is still learning the motions of routine. Each morning can be a bit of a battle, where my kids are wanting to get on the dress up, whereas we’re just trying to get them dressed and out the door. At night, I feel like I feel like I have a second profession as a negotiator, navigating through my kids’ incessant requests to do anything but get ready for bed.

Bring in Easy Daysies, created by teacher and mom Elaine Comeau. As a classroom teacher, Elaine would always have a visual daily schedule up in front of her classroom showing the children the shape of the day.  “No matter what age my students were we would go over the daily schedule together as a class each morning and they loved it!” Elaine adds that the schedule made her students “feel safe, confident, and in control of their day.”

I know exactly what she means. My two girls are immediately curious as I’m opening the Easy Daysies Starter Kit, which features large, bright magnets with “play/free time”, “bed time”, “dinner” and other activities, along with kid-friendly pictures for younger children still learning to read. A blank magnetic tile is available for you to customize, although my package comes with the add-on Family Activity set that includes magnets like “playdate”, “party” and “doctor”. Additional packs are available for purchase. I see value in buying the Potty/Washroom Routine set when my toddler is at that stage and think that the magnetic board would be good to hang in the bathroom for this purpose.

The kit also comes with a magnetic board that you can personalize with your child’s name using the included dry-erase pen and use to track which activities are still “To Do” and which are “Done”.

My preschooler starts arranging our schedule in the “To Do” column. Being a Saturday, there’s lots to do and we quickly find out that the board is too small to accommodate our entire day. We move over to the kitchen and both of my daughters enjoy sticking them on the fridge – because of course, what child doesn’t like magnets?

Immediately we see results. My kids frequently check the board and take comfort knowing what is next. The morning goes more smoothly with both kids willing to get dressed. Later, there is no debate about turning off the television and coming down for lunch. I admit that I haven’t been bothering to brush my kids’ teeth in the morning (is that awful?) because the battle wasn’t worth it to me. My older one wonders why there are two “brush teeth” magnets and when I tell her the reason, both children started brushing their teeth in the morning without any fuss.

But the biggest benefit is really that Easy Daysies keeps my husband and me on track. I am not the most organized parent and this system helps keep both of us on the same page and communicating consistent messages to our children.

Easy Daysies

www.easydaysies.com | Twitter: @easydaysies | Facebook

Giveaway alert! Easy Daysies is offering a VancouverMom.ca reader a “Get Your Kids Organized” Prize Package worth over $50. Here’s how to enter:

1. Visit www.easydaysies.com.
2. Come back to VancouverMom.ca and enter your comment below, letting us know how your family would benefit from having Easy Daysies.

That’s it!

Related posts:

1. Entrepreneur to Watch: Elaine Comeau of Easy Daysies
2. Music to Your Ears: Finding Your Best Private Music Teacher
3. Get Yourself Together Organization Tips – The Kitchen

More than 2,500 dancers from 18 countries will gather on the West Coast for one of the most memorable and high-energy music and dance events. The highly anticipated festival will deliver world-class Salsa entertainment and instruction, March 4 to 7, 2010 at the Westin Bayshore Hotel in downtown Vancouver.

“We are thrilled to be hosting an international event of this magnitude with some of the finest dancers from around the globe performing, teaching and participating over the four days in the beautiful city of Vancouver,” explains Cheyenne Kamran, President. “The Vancouver International Salsafestival is an event designed with every level of dancer in mind – whether beginner or professional – who wants the opportunity to take their art to new heights, while experiencing the worldwide salsa dance movement in a fun and inviting setting.”

The festival boasts some of leading dancers from around the globe, including Canada’s very own breakdancing champions Now or Never:

Here’s Charlene Rose, Mayan World Salsa Champion, Top LA Female Salsera and choreographer for both So You Think You Can Dance and America’s Got Talent:

Arassay Reyes, best known as one of So You Think You Can Dance Canada’s Finalists in Season One, will also be at the festival.

Deeply committed to educating the public about the alluring Latin rhythm known as “Salsa”, in an inclusive atmosphere and at an affordable price, the Vancouver International Salsafestival will showcase the very best in Cha Cha, Reggaton, Bachata, Merengue, Salsa and more. Highlights of the Festival include:

• Three days of professional performances on three stages with leading dancers from around the world
• Two days of workshops with renowned instructors for all levels – beginner, intermediate and advanced
• International DJs spinning in multiple party rooms each night
• Live Latin bands
• Beginner Salsa Bootcamp – an easy “learn-salsa-in-one-day workshop” & evening event

Tickets for the Vancouver International Salsafestival start at $20 for single night events and $95 for the Beginner Salsa Bootcamp. Multiple day passes can also be purchased. Ticket information and ticket purchasing can be completed by visiting www.salsafestival.ca or by contacting (604) 771-4692.

VancouverMom.ca readers have a chance to win one of two pairs of tickets to the festival! Entering is simple: either comment below, letting us know why you’d love salsa dancing; or simply subscribe to our newsletter. Existing newsletter subscribers will already be entered.

Related posts:

1. Vancouver International Children’s Festival
2. Once Upon A Fairy Tale: Dances That Live In Your Imagination Ballet
3. Free 2010 Olympics Events

Christine Lang Blatny of BLUSH Designs, one of Vancouver’s 30 Essential Jewellery Designers, is right now working on a new cool and trendy piece – a long beautiful necklace to giveaway to a VancouverMom.ca reader.

To enter, all you have to do is sign up for our newsletter. If you are already on our newsletter, just send a tweet about this post to your Twitter followers.

Entries now closed. Thanks everyone for entering!

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1. Win a $500 Agoo Apparel Shopping Spree!
2. Giveaway! Photo Session with Shot in Vancouver Photography
3. Snug as a Bug Organic: Baby Bedding with Beauty and Brains