livinlifewithstyle

5 Activities to do as a family at Blue Mountain Resort!

September 14, 2018

A few weeks ago, my husband and I had our 10 year wedding anniversary. To celebrate, we decided to go back to where he first proposed to me, which was at Blue Mountain Resort. We absolutely loved it there the first time we went, and couldn’t wait to head back! We took the kids with us as well to make it a fun, family vacation, and of course to show them where we got engaged.

Blue Mountain Resort was so thoughtful, and kind, and made our stay extra special. We wanted to stay in the Rivergrass homes, because that’s where we stayed when we got engaged, and they actually looked up our old reservation, and put us in the exact same home!! They even had a bottle of wine, and chocolates waiting for us.

The last time we were here was in the winter, so it was so nice to go during the summer time, and experience some of the summer activities they had to offer. Here are our Top 5 activities we did together as a family during our trip to Blue Mountain Resort:

#1- Open- Air Gondola.

This is a MUST! The views are stunning from the top of Blue Mountain looking down at the Village. They have a lookout point with Muskoka Chairs to sit on, so you can relax and take in the view. It’s so peaceful, and quiet at the top. They have walking, hiking, and biking trails too on the mountain. There are bike lifts that will take your bike up to the top, so you can ride down. You can also hike up the mountain by foot, and get a one-way gondola ride back down as well.

#2 – Mill Pond Activity Centre

The Mill Pond is located in the heart of the village, so it’s a very popular spot. We sat and had lunch at Northwinds Brewhouse & Kitchen which was near by, and than relaxed in Muskoka chairs by the pond. We also went on paddle boats around the pond, which the kids loved!

3.- Cascade Putting Course

My kids love mini-putting, so we had to do this one for sure. The putting course was 18 holes, and had one of the best designs we have ever seen. The holes were a perfect challenge for all of us, and the landscaping was so gorgeous. You were surrounded by natural limestone, beautiful grasses, and little rivers throughout the whole course.

4. -Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster

This was hands down our favourite activity! So much fun! I think we all went on this ride like 5 times. This ride is over 1 kilometer long, with a lot of twists, and turns at speeds up to 42 km/hr. Super fast ride, but so much fun. This is a very popular ride, so the lines can get pretty long in the middle of the day. I suggest getting up early, and doing this ride first thing in the morning when it opens. That’s what we did, and there was no line at all.

5.- Plunge! Aquatic Centre

We couldn’t of had a better weekend when we went to Blue Mountain. It was so hot, and this activity was a perfect way to cool down. It’s even perfect for those rainy, or cooler days, because part of the pool was indoor as well. They have everything from an indoor water playground, to water slides, rope swings, and hot tubs…and we used it all. The kids loved the playground, and slides. My husband was in the hot tub quite a bit, and I tested out the rope swings which were so fun.

They have family change rooms, lockers to keep your valuables in, and complementary towels.

To make things cost effective, Blue Mountain does offer an Active Pack for overnight guests, which saves you 25% on all Base Camp Attractions which are all the ones we did above. It’s definitely worth it.

For more information on Blue Mountain such as pricing, lodging, and other activities they have to offer, visit their website here

Disclaimer: Thanks to Blue Mountain Resort for partnering with me on the this post.

Surprise Trip to The Shaw Festival!

August 30, 2018

Both my kids birthday’s are so close together- like 3 weeks apart to be exact. Every year I always have a hard time trying to decide what to get them for their birthdays. They get so many toys from family and friends, so I always like to get them something different, and a bit more special. So this year, we decided to surprise them with tickets to see The Magician’s Nephew at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake. We thought it would be a fun day trip that would make a memorable experience for them, and something that we could all enjoy together as a family to celebrate their birthdays.

We kept the whole thing a surprise until the day of. We got the kids up early, put them in the car, and told them we were taking them on a little road trip to somewhere fun for their birthdays. They were so excited, and loved the suspense!

Once we arrived at the Shaw Festival to pick up our tickets for the show, we told the kids everything we had planned for the day. They were so thrilled! My son LOVES plays, he has been to a few over the years for school trips, and always enjoys them.

Prior to the show we attended a fun hands-on workshop, and helped create The Magician’s Nephew. It was a 1 hr interactive workshop where the kids got to build a keepsake prop, create a soundscape, learn a song from the show, and discover what a Dream Detective is. They even got their own Dream Detective badge which they were super excited about!

The cost of the workshop was only $5 with the purchase of a show ticket. It was held at the Court House on Queen Street, which was walking distance to the theatre, so it was very convenient. I highly recommend attending this workshop, it was so much fun for the kids. For an extra $5, it’s totally worth it. Plus, by attending the workshop, and learning one of the songs in the show, the kids felt extra special singing the songs in the show – unlike the others in the audience.

You can even participate in a Backstage Tour as well for only $5 more with purchase of a show ticket. That’s something I am definitely interested in doing next time.

Once the workshop was over, we walked back to the Shaw Festival for some lunch at their Cafe. They had a selection of sandwiches, salads, soups, and desserts to choose from. It was nice to sit outside on their patio, relax, and enjoy a bite to eat before the show.

They also have a 15 minute intermission half way through the show, and the cafe was open for that as well if you wanted a snack, or something else to eat later on.

When we walked into the beautiful theatre and took our seats, I looked around and could see there wasn’t a bad seat in the house. The stage is wider than the rows of seats, so it looked like everyone had a great view of the performance.

The Magician’s Nephew was such a good play. It’s all about a young boy, and his friend, who sneak into his odd uncle’s study and discover these rings that can transport them into another world. So, when the Uncle catches them, he decides to test the rings out on the kids, instead of using guinea pigs. Along the way, they awake a sorcerer that is very powerful, who tries to destroy the earth. You’ll have to go see the play to find out how it ends, as I don’t want to give everything away!

A perfect show for families to enjoy. It was so creative, and the acting was amazing! We loved all the costumes, props, and how they interacted with the audience as well.

After the show, we stayed in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and took the kids out for dinner. It was such a gorgeous night! We got to eat outside on a patio, walked the streets, and did a little shopping afterwards.

I can’t wait to take the kids back to The Shaw Festival to see another show. They had so much fun, and it’s a great memory for all of us to remember.

I was even thinking next time, we could bring both sets of grandparents, so they could enjoy the show with the kids as well.

The Magician’s Nephew is playing until Oct 13. To book a show, or for more information on The Shaw Festival, visit their website here.

Disclaimer: Thanks so much to The Shaw Festival for Sponsoring this post. All thoughts, and opinions are my own. Photos of the play courtesy of Shaw.

Providing lunches to those in need thanks to Dempster’s!

August 21, 2018

Disclosure: I have partnered with YMC and Dempster’s and have received compensation for this post. All opinions are my own.

It’s that time of year again. Back-to-School they go. Back to routine, early mornings, and back to making lunches. My kids lunches differ from summer to school time. During the summer, they prefer hot meals like hot dogs or chicken fingers. However, during the school year they only want sandwiches for their lunches.

When buying their bread this school season, I’ll be picking up Dempster’s! Not only because they are Canadian, but when you buy any Dempster’s product, they will donate bread to a local food bank in need. Isn’t that so nice to hear? Knowing that my food choice is helping to give back to other families in need makes me feel so happy.

My kids love all kinds of sandwiches for their lunches. They love ham & cheese, turkey & swiss, but their absolute favourite are jelly sandwiches! They could eat jelly sandwiches everyday of the week if I let them, lol!

To add a little fun to their sandwiches each day I like to use cookie cutters. I usually buy a couple of new ones each year to give them a variety, and keep them interested. I either get them from Amazon, or at my local grocery store.

I make their lunches in the mornings, so they are nice and fresh to eat. Once the kids wake up, they get to pick their choice of cookie cutter for their sandwiches. They have so much fun deciding which one to choose, and love showing all their friends at lunch time. The teachers even have fun seeing which one they picked too!

My kids aren’t the only ones that love sandwiches for their lunches. In a recent Dempster’s poll, they found that 77% of Canadian parents said they plan to give their kids a sandwich for lunch this school season. That’s why I think it’s great that every Dempster’s product purchased, 2 slices of bread will be donated to Canadian food banks this Fall, to help feed those who need it.

I also love that Dempster’s bread has been around for over 100 years. It’s made by Canadian bakers in 12 locations coast to coast. I love to support products made in Canada whenever I can.

It’s sad to think that more than 860,000 Canadians use a food bank each month. So when you’re shopping for bread this school season, think of Dempster’s and this amazing campaign that is helping families in need. It’s a simple action that will make a big impact.

To learn more visit https://buyalunch.dempsters.ca/

Show your support, and share across social media using #buyalunchgivealunch

Ashlynn’s Big Girl Room Reveal!

August 15, 2018

Ashlynn’s big girl room is finally complete, and I am so excited to show you guys how it turned out! I had so much fun decorating this space, I can’t even begin to tell you. Since we didn’t find out the gender for both our kids, we had a gender neutral nursery. We painted the walls a soft green, and added accents of yellow throughout the room. We used it for my son, and when my daughter was born we decided to keep the wall colour the same, and just switch out all the yellow, for pink. I just didn’t want to waste the money, and re-do the whole nursery when I knew I had big plans for her big girl room.

The moment I found out I had a girl, I already started dreaming about how I was going to decorate her big girl room. So here it is! It came out exactly how I envisioned it, and I couldn’t be more happy with the finished look!

I wanted the space to feel very soft, light, and girly. So first off, I painted the walls a light grey using Behr Premium Plus Ultra in the colour Campfire Ash. For lighting I didn’t want to put your average looking chandelier in her room, I wanted something unique, and different. I found this gorgeous white washed wooden chandelier from Universal Lamp, and it couldn’t be more perfect! It was exactly what I had in mind.

I found her upholstered bed on Wayfair. I bought a double bed in the colour beige which was nice and neutral. For her bedding I didn’t want anything juvenile looking. I wanted something that would grow with her, and look pretty, and feminine. I went with the Pintucked Bow bedding collection from Restoration Hardware in the colour Petal. It’s the most beautiful, soft, light pink that looks so pretty against the fabric on the bed. I also got this gorgeous Chiffon Floral Bed Throw from Restoration Hardware as well in the colour ivory. The pattern also comes in a decorative pillow as well, so I bought one as an accent pillow for her bed.

A lot of the little decor pieces in the room I got from Homesense such as the butterfly pillow, night table, lamp, bunny, and the butterfly artwork. As you can see throughout her room, I added some gold accent pieces like the gold angel wings. I found these from Michaels – which I thought would look really nice above her bed.

This white dis- stressed shelf is very sentimental to me. I used to own a flower shop before I was married, and bought this shelf to display home decor pieces that I sold in my store. It was such a beautiful piece that I took it with me once I sold the store. I had it in our basement for years, and finally found a perfect place to use it. This shelf looks so pretty in this space, and holds all her jewelry boxes, stuffed toys, etc.

The Lamb Rocker I purchased from Pottery Barn Kids when she was born. She just loves rocking on it every time she goes in her room.

The 2 Wall Shelves and the 3-Shelf Bookrack were also both from Pottery Barn Kids. The wall shelves come in 3 sizes- I got the 3” and the 4” in the colour simply white. The 3-shelf Bookrack is great because it doesn’t take up any space in the room, and holds a ton of books.

Another sentimental thing in her room are the cream flowers in the vase on her wall shelf. Those flowers were actually on my wedding cake. I had them sitting in a shoe box for almost 10 years, and thought they would tie in so nicely in the space.

Her growth chart hanging on the wall was from Little Monkey Designs, and the letter A on her shelf is from Hobby Lobby.

Probably one of my favourite pieces in the room is this custom toy box I had made from Whimsical Imaginings. I got one made for my son’s room as well, and it’s a great keepsake item. She does such an amazing job!

My little girl loves her new big girl room so much, and to see her all happy, and excited about her new room gives me so much joy.

Disclaimer: Some items in this post have been provided to me for review, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Our Visit to Centreville!

August 8, 2018

With summer in full swing, we are always looking for different places to take the kids to that are outdoors. Something that gives us a little exercise, but is also fun at the same time! So, a few weeks ago we decided to take the kids to Centreville on Centre Island!

This is our second time visiting Centreville at Centre Island. We took my son when he was younger, and now that my daughter is a perfect age, we decided it would be a great time to go again, so they both can enjoy it together.

What I love about going there is the experience for the kids. It’s like a mini trip for them. Since Centreville is on an island in Toronto, you need to take a ferry to get there. The kids loved that part! They got so excited to go on a boat- it’s such a scenic ride. The ferry ride is only 7 minutes, but to them it’s like an adventure, lol. For ferry schedules and fares click HERE. Once we got off the boat it was just a short walk to Centreville.

There is no admission fee to enter the amusement park, you just have to pay for the rides. There are 3 types of all day ride passes you can buy- under 4 feet tall, over 4 feet tall, or a family pass. You can buy a season pass if you plan on coming back more than once. If you or your child do not plan on going on more than 5-6 rides, the individual tickets are the way to go. If you buy online it’s cheaper too!

Bumble Bees Ride

Twirling Teacups

Merry go round

Ferris Wheel

Bumper Boats

Swan ride

Another thing I love about Centreville is that it’s a perfect size. The distance between most of the rides are steps from one another, which worked out great for the kids. My husband would watch my son on one ride, while I took my daughter on another ride, which was right next to each other.

Fire Engines

Log Flume Ride

Bumper Cars

Kiddie Boat

Touring Cars

Leapin’ Lily Pad

We spent a lot of time at this splash pad as well, so definitely bring bathing suits for the kids. It was a pretty hot day, so it was a great way for the kids to cool down.

I also recommend stopping by Far Enough Farm as well. They have over 40 different species of farmyard animals and exotic birds.

Pony Express

I think the kids (and us too!) favourite ride is the Centreville Train. It’s awesome because it gives you a tour of the whole park including “Far Enough Farm”. You also go over 2 bridges with water underneath, and through a dark tunnel. I think we went on it 4 times during our visit, the kids just loved it!

If you want to take a break from the rides, they also have a bunch of games you can play too! Both the kids won some games, and were so excited to each take home a stuffed animal.

There are many different places to purchase food while at the park. From pizza, hot dogs, fries, ice cream and much more. They also have a gift shop if you want to purchase a souvenir.

We ventured over to the pier this time around and we loved it! We regret not making time to go last year, because it was beautiful. Heading to the pier you pass some gorgeous fountains, gardens, and grassy areas for a picnic, or just to sit and relax on a bench. We walked along the beach together and the kids loved playing in the sand. They just didn’t want to leave!

If you are thinking about visiting Toronto, or have plans to come here soon, going to Centre Island is a must see! You also get the best view of the City too!

To purchase tickets for Centreville, find out the hours, or read more information on what Centre Island has to offer, visit their website HERE

Disclaimer: Thanks so much to Centreville for partnering with me on this post.

Pretty Floral Dress

August 1, 2018

Dress- Urban Planet(similar/ similar /similar ) Bag- Forever 21 (similar) Shoes- Marshalls (similar/similar) Sunglasses- Tory Burch

With the amount of heat waves we have had this summer, I feel like almost everyday I have been in a dress. This off-the-shoulder one has been one of my favourites to wear. Primarily because of the beautiful floral print on it, and of course the ruffle sleeves. It’s so pretty! Sometimes I like to use it as a bathing suit cover as well. It’s perfect because it’s nice and flowy, and easy to take on and off at the beach, or pool.

My round straw bag has obviously been my go-to, it’s just the perfect summer bag! I am on the hunt for a white round bag right now, so if you see anything out there, let me know!

We have a long weekend approaching, and I couldn’t be more happy about it. During the week has been crazy with swimming lessons, baseball, and appointments. I am looking forward to keeping this long weekend very low key. We might take the kids to a movie one day, but for the most part, I want to relax at home.