I love a good holiday party, and by New Year’s Eve, I’m always ready to leave the turkey and hot buttered rum behind. Life as a mom is busier than I had expected – but it has given me a new reason to continue to fill my home with friends, family, and good food. The joy my daughter brings everyone in my life is reason enough to put together a great New Year’s Eve party, and then once she goes to bed, Mom gets to let her hair down just a little!

There are a few key ingredients to set the stage for an amazing New Year’s party, so follow these suggestions, and you are only steps away from an effortless, easy, fabulous party to ring in 2012!

Throwing a Glamourous New Year’s Eve Party

1. Have a cocktail ready for your guests as they arrive. Something fun for the kids is nice too!
2. Lay out platters for all night grazing.
3. Dinner should be simple and easy.
4. Always have a surprise up your sleeve for the countdown.
5. Send everyone off with something memorable – it keeps your party going.

1. Have Cocktails Ready

I love to serve drinks in mason jars because it’s just so sweet and unexpected. This year my cocktail of choice is Pimms and Ginger because it is so nice and refreshing. I love it over the winter as a nice break from all the red wine at parties.

2. Lay out Platters

A great antipasto or cheese platter goes a long way without having to cook anything. Bosa Foods carries everything for a one stop cheese platter shop. Talleggio and buffalo ricotta are showstoppers and add something unexpected to the mix. Be sure to check out the aisle with preserves, and pick out some olives there also – I prefer pitted olives for parties, as it eliminates having to spit out a pit. The only rule for cheese platters is to have them heaping with goodies. It’s more inviting than a sparse one – so use a smaller platter if necessary. Pick up some crostini’s, some fig preserves, and arrange everything with some roasted nuts, grilled veggies, roasted garlic, grapes, and whatever you like. As soon as your guests have their drinks in hand, they will wander over to the cheese platter and start picking away!

3. Simple and Easy Dinner

For dinner this year I’m feeling quite rustic. Nothing is simpler than a glazed bone-in natural ham served with potato rolls, an assortment of mustards, and pickled vegetables. I’m going to bring it out for dinner and leave it out all night. Each party-goer can slice their ham and pile it in a potato roll with whatever toppings their heart desires! Use a simple glaze on the ham, pop it in the oven and pull it out an hour or so later. Serve it on a big cutting board with a nice sharp knife and all the accompanying sides. Everyone will go back for seconds and thirds as the night progresses and the drinks keep flowing. For the fancy mustards and pickled veggies, make the trip to Gourmet Warehouse. It’s one of my favourite stores in the city. As for the potato rolls, any nearby bakery should have them!

4. The Countdown

The champagne toast is the best part of New Year’s Eve. I think Liberty Wine is the only place to go. It doesn’t hurt that they offer a case discount, but they can always recommend a wine or sparkling in your price range. My go-to choice is Blue Mountain Winery’s Brut. Each bottle of champagne has enough for six flutes of sparkling, so plan accordingly. If your budget can take it, a refill after the first toast is always a nice touch. There is a superstition that after the stroke of midnight, 12 lucky grapes should be eaten to represent the 12 coming months. They look darling in your champagne flutes on a skewer or a rosemary sprig if you are daring enough. They say the sweet grapes represent a sweet month in the coming year, and the sour ones supposedly predict a less than perfect one. It’s a fun way to bring everyone together and a lovely tradition to bring in the New Year!

Immediately after the toast, bring out something to satisfy the sweet tooth – chocolate dipped strawberries served on vintage silver trays are my favourite. They really lend a glamorous feel, and are such a wonderfully decadent but easy item to prepare! Kids always feel so grown up and special when they are included, so for the big kids, serve them a champagne flute with sparkling juice for the toast and a chocolate dipped strawberry also!

5. Send Something Home

Send your guests home with little treats to remind them of the great time they had the night before! This is a great chance to get your kids involved, to craft or create something special. Remember to treasure the moments where everyone is laughing and sharing, the kids are running around, and you’re all enjoying time together. Memories last a lifetime, and a beautiful New Year’s Eve party is the perfect setting to build them.

Perienne Sadler is the owner, chef, and operator of Cove Fine Foods, a high end casual gourmet café, bakery, and catering company in Deep Cove, North Vancouver. She has a one year old little girl. She lives a life filled with beautiful food, family, friends, and experiences while being a mom – which always comes first and foremost. You can also find her at Cove Fine Foods on Facebook.

New Year’s Eve Party, Part One: The Recipes

Pimms and Ginger

It wouldn’t be a New Year’s Eve party without cocktails!

Ingredients:
1 Bottle Pimms No. 1
1 Case Canada Dry ginger ale
2 Big juicy oranges – cut into wedges
2 Big juicy lemons – cut into wedges
Ice

Instructions:

• Fill glasses three quarters full with ice cubes.
• Fill up halfway with Pimms.
• Fill up almost to the top with ginger ale.
• Squeeze an orange wedge and lemon wedge into the drink and put wedges in.
• Stir and enjoy!

Glazed Bone-in Ham

Turkey is so last weekend.

Ingredients:
1 Bone-in natural ham
Maple syrup
Dijon mustard
Brown sugar
Sea salt
Pepper
Chicken stock

Instructions:
Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.

Hams come in many forms – any will work, but my preference is a fresh, all natural, bone in ham. They come cured, partially cooked, or fresh. The cured hams are ready to eat, but improve drastically with a little love. Partially cooked hams need to be roasted to temperature, and fresh hams have to be cooked all the way. Most bone-in hams are sold with the outer skin removed. If your ham still has it on, don’t be intimidated – cut off the outer skin using a sharp knife. Trim the fat layer down to an even thickness all over, and score all over in a diamond pattern. The quality of the ham is vital – call us at Cove Fine Foods (778.340.1919) and we can order a Sloping Hills all natural bone-in ham for you. They’re raised naturally in Qualicum Beach.

In a bowl combine a heaping dollop of Dijon mustard with a handful of brown sugar. Thin out with a generous drizzle of maple syrup. Add a few pinches of salt and pepper. Set aside.

Place your bone in ham in a roasting pan with a cover. Generously rub the Dijon mix over the scored ham. Pour enough stock in the bottom of the pan to just cover the bottom. Cover with a lid or foil and place in the oven. Cook for an hour to an hour and a half or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees on an instant read thermometer. Baste occasionally. Remove from the oven and let rest for 20 minutes prior to serving.

Place rested ham on a cutting board, slice off a few slices, serve with warm potato rolls, mustards, aioli’s, and/or any pickled vegetable for crunch and saltiness!

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

What’s a New Year’s Eve party without dessert?

Ingredients:
1 Large container of the biggest, reddest, juiciest strawberries you can find
1–2 lbs Callebaut dark chocolate, chips or pieces
Fresh mint sprigs – optional

Instructions:
Using Callebaut dark chocolate is vital – it is the only chocolate that I ever recommend using for this dessert. Trust me on this one. Superstore carries it in their bulk section, and Gourmet Warehouse carries it in their baking section.

Wash strawberries and allow to dry completely. Place a cookie sheet lined with parchment or wax paper to the side.

Place your chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Place over a pot with simmering water in it, and stir slowly to evenly melt all of the chocolate. When tempering chocolate, be careful to ensure any of the moisture from the steam or water doesn’t make its way into the chocolate. This can cause your chocolate to sieze up.

When the chocolate has melted evenly, turn off the heat and remove the bowl from the double boiler. Carefully holding each strawberry by the green tops, dip into the melted chocolate and rotate to coat evenly leaving a section of red strawberry exposed on the presentation side for a pretty look. Place each strawberry on the lined cookie sheet, presentation side up. Dip all strawberries in the chocolate and place on the cookie sheet to dry. Place in the fridge to set the chocolate. Remove from fridge when completely hardened, and place on a nice platter before serving.

Garnish with fresh mint leaves.

This can be done the day before the party, reducing your stress level considerably.

Up next? We put the recipes together and throw a glamourous New Year’s Eve party!

Perienne Sadler is the owner, chef, and operator of Cove Fine Foods, a high end casual gourmet café, bakery, and catering company in Deep Cove, North Vancouver. She has a one year old little girl. She lives a life filled with beautiful food, family, friends, and experiences while being a mom – which always comes first and foremost. You can also find her at Cove Fine Foods on Facebook.

I love books. I read books like most other people breathe. I want to pass the love of reading on to my daughter who is two and a half (known hereafter as The Poptart), but up until now she hasn’t shown much regular interest. She likes books and she likes looking at pictures, but she doesn’t really have the patience for a book; she likes to move and do stuff that is interactive.

This? Is why we are prisoners of the Wiggles.

We don’t have a set bedtime routine that includes reading a book. But we collect them for The Poptart and read them to her when she asks. So when VancouverMom.ca asked me to review some board books for toddlers, I jumped on it. I was given six books to review (thank you), and I’ve classified them according to how my tot liked them, since she’s the (un)captive audience.

Romeo & Juliet and Pride & Prejudice by Jennifer Adams

Board Books Based on Classics

Romeo & Juliet is in the “Little Master Shakespeare” BabyLit series. I was a little surprised when I looked at it because I was pretty sure they died at the end of the original and it didn’t seem quite appropriate for a toddler book.

Likewise, Pride & Prejudice is in the “Little Miss Austen” series. Again, I was a little surprised because the original has some fairly adult themes and concepts.

Ultimately, though, these are both counting primers. Using key concepts from the two classic works of English Literature, they teach the numbers one to 10 with things for toddlers to count. The concept of using items and things from the stories as a very early introduction to classical works is interesting.

In my Jungle and In my Ocean by Sara Gillingham and Lorena Siminovich

Board Books with Finger Puppets

Now these books were a hit. They each have a little finger puppet attached to the book so you can move it around and make Monkey and Dolphin sounds while you’re reading. The Poptart was more interested in the puppets and the pictures than in the moral of the story which is about the little creatures joining their families at the end.

Of course the pictures were awesome, especially with toddler narration: “Dolphin eat da fish! Dolphin eat da squish!”

Good Morning, Toucan and Good Night, Owl by DwellStudio

Board Books with Design Sense

These two books were the biggest hits of all. They’re both lift the flap books, and follow the morning or nighttime routines of the Toucan or Owl. The bright colours and the interactive nature of the books made it really easy to get the Poptart interested. She especially likes exposing the creatures hiding behind the flaps.

It also led to a discussion – inasmuch as you can have a discussion with a toddler – about toucans and birds. And a toddler obsession about birds.

Well, I suppose birds are cheaper than ponies, right?

Anyways, go. Buy these board books for your toddler. They’re good and can keep the busiest toddler in the world (aka The Poptart), focused on a book for a few minutes.

What are your favourite board books to read to your toddlers?

Nicole is mom to the Poptart (a two and a half year old whirlwind) and partner to Darren (a network engineer). She lives in Maple Ridge, works in Vancouver, and blogs at Resolving Timeline Issues occasionally, usually when the Poptart is climbing on her head.

The candy displays have been set up for weeks now, and every day that passes is one fewer to figure out what my little guy should be for Halloween. There’s a lot to do before October 31st rolls around, but one seasonal activity families should bump to the top of their list is a visit to the Pumpkin Patch at Richmond Country Farms. After all, no one wants to be seen without a jack-o-lantern on the big day.

A Festive Feeling at the Pumpkin Patch

Just off highway 99 in Richmond, the Pumpkin Patch offers much more than just pumpkins. Tractor rides, a corn maze, and live music are among the official attractions on offer, but this all ages event provides a host of sights and experiences that most city dwellers don’t come across every day. From the moment you enter the farm property, pumpkin patch patrons are greeted by smiling faces and warm welcomes; the festive feeling is certainly contagious.

The Pumpkin Patch experience starts with a stroll past some of the farm dwellers — goats standing atop a mini mountain of hay, and young calves who seem quite curious about the passersby. After purchasing your tickets for entry ($11 per person, which includes a pumpkin and carrying bag, children three and under are free) a costumed farm hand, who acts as both the official greeter and the unofficial tractor traffic controller, ushers you on towards the grandstand. There, guests are welcome to park their posteriors on hay bale seating and take in the musical and comedic stylings of the house — or rather, barn — band. The talented and spirited group covers a variety of musical genres, tweaking the words to some familiar tunes and selecting other songs that suit the season (and spice mix) just as they are, like Neil Young’s “Cinnamon Girl”.

Your Jack-o-Lantern Awaits

The musical talent spreads past the main stage and onto the tractors, which are your chariots to the land of the pumpkins. The banjoed and fiddled guides on the brief but scenic ride to the fields lead passengers in a classic sing-a-long. Princess Pumpkin makes an appearance at the conclusion of the tractor ride and then the muddy fun really begins. And it is muddy, so heed the warnings and make sure that you and your little pumpkin pickers are wearing rainboots (and bring a pair of clean shoes to change into afterward).

The Pumpkin Patch offers two gigantic fields to survey, so there is most definitely a pumpkin to suit even the most discerning jack-o-lantern aficionado. But before you select your prize gourd, test your orienteering skills and try your hand at navigating the corn maze, keeping a close watch on your toddlers lest they lose your scent and take up with a tribe of ne’er do well scarecrows. Once you’ve made it through the other side and taken the return trip on the tractor express with your pumpkin, reward your efforts with one of the fresh, complimentary spartan apples on offer. And if nature’s bounty doesn’t fill you up, treat yourself to mini donuts and hot dogs from the concession stand.

The Pumpkin Patch is a fabulous and festive way to celebrate autumn and escape city slicker life, if only for an afternoon. You’re guaranteed to leave with a smile on your face, a country lilt in your ear, and an orange hard-shelled squash just waiting to be hollowed out and turned into a spook-tacular jack-o-lantern. For details, including hours of operation and directions, visit the Pumpkin Patch online.

Anna Silver is the mom of a 18 month old boy named Levon and has been living in and loving Vancouver since 2000. One of Anna’s favourite things about being a mom is being able to share with her son all of fun and action Vancouver has to offer. Having “hiked” local trails since he was six weeks old, Levon is well on his way to sharing Anna’s zest for life and sense of adventure.

Pumpkin Patch at Richmond Country Farms

www.countrypumpkinpatch.ca
12900 Steveston Highway, Richmond

Picture yourself last Halloween, running around with your kids, shoulder to shoulder with other last-minute shoppers, fighting for the last Spiderman costume. Now, picture yourself in front of your computer, mouse in hand, clicking around for 30 minutes and getting everything delivered to your door. That’s how simple it can be. Why not choose to experience only the relaxing and fun side of Halloween?

To help you out, we spent some time looking for the best Canadian online stores where you can find everything you need. The perk is you get to spend more quality time with your family at Halloween. You might also find some unique pieces that you can’t get anywhere else. What’s not to love?

Halloween Decorations and Tableware

The Party Monkey

Online party supply store.

Shipping: $12.95 for BC, no local pickup.
Return policy: 10 days return or exchange.
Payment: Visa, Mastercard and American Express
We like:

• The site is moderately user-friendly.
• It’s a local store.
• The site tells you how many pieces are left.
• They have a large selection.
• Great clearance section.

Discounts: Big anniversary sale in October.

Green Treats and Party Supplies

Green Planet Parties

Eco-friendly party supplies.

Shipping: From $12.95, plus a local pickup option in Port Moody or Vancouver.
Return policy: 14 days for return or exchange.
Payment: Paypal, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, money order and cheque
We like:

• The site is very user-friendly.
• Great product selection.
• Cute store design.
• It’s local and it’s green!

Handmade Masks

Her Flying Horses on Etsy

Quality handmade costumes for pretend play.

Shipping: From $2.50 (depends on item and quantity).
Return policy: within 5 days of receipt upon approval first.
Payment: Paypal, Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express
We like:

• The site is extremely user-friendly.
• All the Etsy functionality, including customer feedback and filters.
• Clear pictures.
• Product originality.
• Custom items option.

Personalized Cards, Stickers and Tags

Honeybunch

Personalized gifts for babies, new moms, big kids, birthdays.

Shipping: $12.95 for BC.
Return policy: 21 days for return or exchange.
Payment: Paypal, Visa, Discover, Mastercard
We like:

• The site is very user-friendly.
• A wide range of products that can be personalized.
• Cute store design, with nice, clear images.
• Simplicity of the browsing.
• Great “search for a wishlist” function.

Promo Code: First time newsletter subscribers receive an instant coupon code for 15% off their first order.

Dress Up

Scholar’s Choice

Oldest and largest distributor of educational materials and toys in Canada.

Shipping: $10 or free for orders over $100 (Canada only).
Return policy: 30 days for return or exchange.
Payment: Visa, Mastercard
We like:

• The site is extremely user-friendly.
• Large product selection.
• Special member pricing.
• Ability to shop by theme.
• Birthday party registry.
• Dress-up packs.

Discounts: If you become a member for $10, you get 10% off and more on special days.

Pumpkin Pie

Super Delivery

Online grocery delivery with wide variety of brand names.

Shipping: $5 to $8 or free with purchases of $120 or more.
Payment: Cash, Discover, Visa, MasterCard and American Express
User-friendly
We like:

• The site is very user-friendly.
• Grocery deals section.
• Wide selection of brands.
• Organic aisle.
• Flexible delivery time, including a same-day option.

Where do you do your online shopping for Halloween?

Emilie Sarkissian owns Apricot Culotte, an online store selling affordable European baby clothing. She carries previously loved baby clothing directly imported from France, and end of season baby clothing at up to 50% off retail value. To keep up-to-date on her latest news and specials, follow Apricot Culotte on Facebook.

I got a huge wake up call one day when my kids and I were having our daily dance party in our home to the sweet dance beats of Usher. Up to this point we were fairly open regarding the music our kids listened to, but they were so young that they just liked the beats and didn’t care too much to what was said in the songs. It helped us as parents too, so we didn’t always feel stuck listening to kids music filled with nursery rhymes all day. We never listened to what people would say were “explicit” lyrics, but would lean on mostly pop, easy listening styles and the odd Michael Jackson, as well as some classic wheels on the bus for short drives to the mall.

At the time our kids were one, three and five years old, and this particular day, we got quite the shock when our oldest started singing the lyrics to an Usher song word for word. Don’t get me wrong – I enjoy the odd Usher tune. But this seemingly harmless dance tune had lyrics that were completely inappropriate for any child – and even most self-respecting adults – to be singing. That was the day Usher left our building!

Choosing Appropriate Kids Music

As a musician and songwriter, I believe the power of music and lyrics can and has shaped cultures and generations, and from a very early age influences the young minds of our children. Music can also affect how children view life, careers, and relationships. Many of us parents know about much of the kids music that is out there, but often the trendy music that plays on every radio station, YouTube channel and MP3 player finds its ways to young ears. How do we effectively choose kids music that is positive and parent-friendly?

I guess you could say I’m a bit old school, but I want to raise my boys as gentlemen that learn to treat women with respect, and I want to raise a daughter that knows she is beautiful and confident no matter what. I choose to be actively involved in what my kids hear and see. It’s normal to just go with the flow, so I encourage you to “be weird” and raise the standards for your kids! There are many great songs to listen to, so go ahead and make some family-friendly play lists as these songs may turn into anthems your kids will sing and recite for the rest of their lives.

People all over the world still talk about what they grew up listening to, or what their parents listened to. As parents, we have so much influence – sometimes even more than we even know. Here’s a taste of some local artists that have my stamp of approval. Go ahead, take a listen!

Kid-Approved Artists from my Four, Seven and Nine Year Old

Vancouver Artists
These are listed in no particular order. My own label Emerton Records puts out some awesome, family-friendly music, so I’m starting with them.

• Grace Sng – Let Love Find You EP
• Cathy Hardy – Love Shines Album
• Marika – Never Stop Dreaming – Single
• Ryan McAllister – Music for a Rainy Town
• Zaac Pick – Fierce Wind

Non-Vancouver – But Still Awesome – Artists

• Demi Lovato – Unbroken
• Owl City – All things Bright and Beautiful
• Garth Brooks – The kids love the fast stuff!
• Manafest – The Chase – A great Canadian artist out of Toronto – if your kids love hip hop and rap this is the guy for you.
• The Beatles – Can’t beat the classics!

What about you? What kids music does your family listen to? Do you opt for traditional kids music, or do you kick it up a notch, and how do you decide what’s appropriate?

Marika Siewert is a wife and mom of three incredible children, CEO of Emerton Records, a professional recording artist, songwriter and producer, and loves to empower, encourage, and equip people in to the direction of their dreams.

Know Your Star Wars History

The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force is written as an ancient training manual for the Jedi that is passed down from Master to Padawan through the generations. This particular book was an artifact found in a salvage scow and is now in the possession of Luke Skywalker. Luke, as readers of the Jedi Academy books may know, has now started his own Jedi Academy on the planet of Yavin 4, and is therefore understandably interested in maintaining the history of the Jedi.

According to an introduction written by Luke Skywalker, the manual was passed from famous Jedi such as Yoda, Count Dooku, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Darth Sidious (among others). One of the best parts of this book are that all of the previous owners of the manual have made “hand-written” annotations in the margins. These notes provide a peek into the mind of young Jedi that would later go on to become great Jedi, or members of the Sith, and it’s a fascinating read indeed.

Book Review: What’s the Verdict?

The manual is filled with Jedi history and lore of the Order, the ways of the Force, description of lightsaber combat, and discussions on the dangers of the Dark Side. I was particularly interested in the section on force-resistant species as well as the detailed illustrations of force-wielding animals. In fact, if the handwritten notes of former Jedi are the best part of the book, the illustrations are a close second. The book was created in collaboration with Lucasfilm and used respected Star Wars illustrators to showcase never-before-seen elements and details about the Star Wars galaxy.

The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force is a book for Star Wars fans who are familiar with the extended Star Wars universe. If you’ve seen every movie (even the dreaded prequels) a number of times, and possibly read at least a few of the many Star Wars novels, this book should not be missed. However, even a true Star Wars geek such as myself can admit that this book isn’t for everyone. My husband, for example, didn’t understand the appeal. That said, this is a book that will be deeply appreciated by many, and I, for one, am glad I read it.

Buy the Book

The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force is available in two editions: the regular edition has a cover price in Canada of $22.95, while the heavily tricked out vault edition has a suggested retail price of $116.95 (but I found it listed as low as $42.75 on Amazon.ca).

Marilyn Belsham’s first crush was on R2-D2, and she rarely passes a day without reminding her kids of Yoda’s best life lesson: Do or do not, there is no try. She writes about parenting, food and the domestic life at her site, A Lot of Loves.

Hunter: Cycling Vancouver from 18 Months Old

Ever since my partner Lawrence’s son Hunter started making overnight visits to Vancouver at around 18 months old, he’s been a cycling baby. Our vintage purple Norco trailer was one of the first things we bought for him, off Craigslist for $100. Plus, the “grape pod” carried all the other stuff that goes with the baby, like the diaper bag, toys, blankets, groceries, handbag, laptop…or maybe that’s just me.

Hunter loved his helmet, but he was a little nervous the first time we put him in the trailer. By the second trip, though, he was calm and happy. For our cherry blossom ride this spring, he brought his little piano (a present from my mum), and played and sang for most of the day.

Bicycle Seat Love

For a day-long ride, we’d probably still take the trailer, but for the six block trip to the supermarket, or to school or daycare, it’s definitely overkill. For cycling Vancouver neighbourhoods we use our Co-Pilot bike seat, which we all love. Hunter thinks it’s awesome to ride with Daddy on the big bike, and the seat cushion just happens to be orange: his favourite colour.

Lawrence and I love how quickly and conveniently the seat slides on and off the rack that fits almost any bike, and the fact that we can be at the store in less time than it used to take us to assemble the trailer. Plus, at Bikes on the Drive this spring, the Co-Pilot was around $80.

Make a Fashion Statement with Bobike

For families that want to make their bike seat a fashion statement, a Bobike seat is the way to go. The company is based in Holland where they know about biking with kids! They offer two versions: the Bobike Mini is a front mount seat, has an optional little windscreen, and accommodates kids up to 35lbs. The Maxi goes on the back, can hold kids as much as 50lbs, and looks so comfortable I wish someone would ride me around in one.

The price for a Bobike is double what we paid for our Co-Pilot, but the construction, fastening, and style are all about double the quality. They are available at Saf & Benjamin in Yaletown, where the Mini runs for $185 and the Maxi is $200. The windscreen is $45.

Encourage a Healthy Lifestyle

Cycling Vancouver with your kids is an amazing way to spend time with them, and, trust me, you get used to the added weight. For a daily commute, it may seem like a hassle to go by bike, but there are bigger benefits to traveling sustainably than just the environmental ones.

As North American childhood obesity levels rise, and more and more kids are diagnosed with diabetes and other health issues, it makes sense to demonstrate healthy lifestyle habits. If your children see you riding a bike, and get to ride with you, they will be ready and more than willing to jump on when it comes time to get out there on their own.

Do you cycle with your baby or toddler? Share your top tips for cycling Vancouver with little ones in the comments!

Talia Erickson is a writer, cyclist and daycare administrator. Her flexible occasional childcare centre for 3-5 year olds is currently accepting applications and will open October 3, 2011. Find them at buddings.ca.

Guest post by Dave Doble.

For many students, the start of summer vacation brings a whoop of excitement and sigh of relief – a break from homework, reading and study. But for parents, that two-month learning time-out causes mixed feelings. While they love seeing their kids enjoy themselves, they fear some of the previous year’s learning may be forgotten come September.

The concerns are legitimate. The University of California undertook a study on what it calls “summer reading loss” in 2006 and suggested that a voluntary summer reading program while kids are out of school holds benefits for students in mitigating this loss.

Summer Reading Program

I’m the President and co-founder of Classroom Ready Inc., a current-event education publisher in Surrey. We agree that summer reading loss can be a problem, so we are providing an online home-reading comprehension program free to parents this summer, called Classroom Ready Interactive. The summer reading program offers students two current-events based articles to read per week over two months, along with a quiz to test their understanding of the articles and an interactive game. Recent topics include the federal election and the Royal Wedding.

I’m also the father of two elementary school children, so I understands parents’ concerns. As a former teacher in Surrey, I saw first-hand the summer reading regression each September. I could easily spot those who had read in the summer and those who hadn’t, which is why my team developed Classroom Ready Interactive. Kids are so computer-literate these days, so we thought a computer-based tool would be appealing and effective.

Surrey mom Tia McNeil agrees. She says the program is doing wonders for her son Liam, aged eight. “He struggled with reading through the year so I wanted him to continue reading during the summer. This program is great because it’s computer-based so it doesn’t feel like homework to him.” She also likes the fact that the feedback is instant. “It’s all very quick, and he retains the facts.”

The program lets users hear the text being read to them if they wish. And the game at the end is an incentive for completing the summer reading program.

Classroom Ready Interactive is tailored for students between from grades four to six, and ESL students in any grade. It’s firewall protected, and all information supplied about the student is confidential.

Editor’s Note: Another great way to keep your kids reading during the summer break is to visit your public library. Libraries offer summer reading clubs, as well as free activities, author visits and storytimes for children of all ages. Your children’s librarian will be only too happy to help your kids track down books that engage them and keep them reading.

Classroom Ready Inc.

www.classroomready.com | Twitter

If you’ve ever tried to work at home, you would know how challenging that task could be. Now add that with a whole family to take care of, including small children. Mom entrepreneurs are the new breed of super moms; they balance their business and family all under one roof. To work productively at home and take care of the family properly, here are some helpful tips to guide you through your days.

Make a schedule.

I can’t stress this enough. Preparing a daily and weekly schedule allows structure for completing tasks and keeping yourself sane. You know how much to plan for and how much not to plan for because you have your schedule to reflect whether you’re not doing enough or biting off more than you can chew.

Take a break outside.

It’s easy to be cooped up at home all day and all night. That’s why it’s important for mom entrepreneurs to go outside and get some fresh air. Take out the stroller with your baby to go for a walk along with the dog, and schedule these walks during your breaks. The fresh air will replenish your energy so you can keep the flow going throughout the day.

Make your lunch the night before.

When you’re cooking dinner, take some time to prepare a separate meal for tomorrow’s lunch. Sometimes leftovers are a good idea, but other times it’s nice to eat something different the next day than what you had the night before. I find the workload to be the same when preparing a big dinner with extra leftovers, compared to just enough dinner and a different lunch. But overall, this tip helps make your working day uninterrupted by not having to cook twice a day.

Stay focussed.

It’s easy to be distracted working at home, or sometimes we hope for an easier task. But the long-term return is well worth it, so try to control those stray thoughts of giving up. The only way to keep everything afloat is to keep going.

Relax and breathe.

The calmer you are about tasks to complete throughout the day, the more you actually get done. At the end of the day you don’t feel as stressed out balancing your personal life and work all in the same environment. Most importantly, make an effort to give yourself some me time. Time away from home, work and family is a tough task to do as most moms are very attached to their usual world. But you still have to make that effort to replenish your mind and body before you’re able to provide for others.

Joanna Kwan is a professional writer that dotes on family values and environmental issues. She reviews products for bassinetstyle.com, helping parents find the perfect bassinet for their family.