Posts Tagged ‘Family Fun’

Clever gift ideas that will save you time!

Here we are!  Christmas……Christmas…..Christmas……. I can honestly say is one of my favourite times of the year.  It’s not the gifts, it’s not even the actual day, it’s the whole season.  It’s the get-togethers, the music, the yummy baking and hot apple cider. For some of us, it’s the snow and the decorations for others it’s the escape down south.  The smell of the turkey and the anticipation of the stuffed tummy coma right after in front of the fireplace with no guilt what so ever is part of what makes Christmas a fun time of year. We don’t count calories because we don’t care after all it’s the holidays..

When it comes to guilt though this year I am hearing a lot about the subject of gifts.  (more…)

Recycle old Christmas cards into beautiful ornaments.

Recycled Christmas Card Ornament

I’ve always found it hard, once the holidays are over, to toss the beautiful cards that I’ve received.  Most of the time, I hang onto them. Often, I stumble upon last year’s greeting cards while unpacking Christmas decorations for this year’s tree.  Shoved in the bottom of the box, there they usually are!

If you’re like me, and teeter between wanting to toss them and wanting to keep them, here’s a crafty way to make use of them as well as a great project for the kids.

The instructions are as follows:

1) Simply take a ruler and divide the greeting card (front and back) into equal vertical strips (from top to bottom of the card’s cover picture).

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Party Planning…The good, the bad and the ugly!

Parties……..People seem to think that because I am an professional organizer, I automatically organize parties.  Nope!  This is a stress I love to live without at this stage of my life.  Sad I know, because when I throw myself into party planning mode, it can be a lot of fun.  However, it is all consuming, I fret about all the little details, I don’t relax because many other things get put on the back burner which really shouldn’t.  Sometimes I can’t wait for it to be over so that I can relax and get going with what really needs to get done in everyday life!!!  Am I crazy?  YES I AM! This is life!  This is what is important, getting together with friends and family is just one of our rewards for working hard. Maybe I should consider hiring an event planner, after all my reasons to avoid planning parties are the driving force for event planners.  My problem with this though is that I am a control freak and the event planner would probably fire me.

I think my daughter will end up being the party planner-decorating diva of the family.  She keeps me on my toes.  This year I was (more…)

NEW: More Time Moms has Party Supplies!

Planning a Party? Now you can select from six beautiful themes online! Browse the themes, then simply buy online, it’s that easy.  If you want to get your hands on the hottest partyware, then start planning early!

From the basic cups, napkins and plates through to designer cupcake kits, beautiful centerpieces, dye-cut hats & loot bags and invitations, there’s everything you want to celebrate birthdays, showers, tea parties and Halloween too. We  even have assembled party packs from the Basic to the Ultimate to simplify your party planning and make your party memorable. Visit www.moretimemoms.com and join the party!

 

Back to School: Is it the most wonderful time of the year?

Back to School! Back to making lunches! Back to homework! ARGHHHHHHHH

This year there is no back to school excitement coming from me. ‘It’s the most Wonderful Time of the Year’ is not being sung by me. However it would appear I’m the only one as my daughter, Rachelle is excited about going into grade six. My youngest son, Max is going into grade five. My oldest, Jonathan is in his first year of University and my second son, Greg is enjoying the life in his second year of CEGEP.

Usually by this time I feel this urge of excitement for a new stage and getting back to an orchestrated routine.  No, this year I want more summer, more down time, more canoeing and lake time. I would welcome more time-freedom with no obligations.  Am I completely alone on this? (more…)

Rained Out!

We have been experiencing an unrelenting period of grey skies and rain this summer.  One of the girls at the coffee shop optimistically told me that August will be better.  I hope so because it’s all we have left.  We’ve been trying not to let it get to us and so far, in spite of the rainy summer, the kids and I have come up with a few activities to pass the days. Try one of these activities or let us know how you keep spirits high when the rain comes.

1. Plan a Treasure hunt

This requires a little advance prep, but it’s always a big hit with kids. Stash clues around the house (adjust difficulty based on kids’ ages; use picture cues for little ones, tricky puns for older children), directing kids to hunt for a hidden prize.

2. Put on a Show

Help the kids stage a play or talent show. Give them a theme or opening lines to get them started or pull out costumes to get everyone started.

3. Go to Video

Film the kids’ Play or talent show and put it on youtube.  The kids will love it and it may go viral!

4. Bring the Outdoor Games inside

Play basketball with a soft foam or sponge ball, or just wad up some newspaper; the hoop can be any basket or receptacle (either hung on the wall or resting on the floor). Have kids shoot from different parts of the room or in different ways, in an indoor version of HORSE.

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Congratulations to all our winners!

snowmanWe are so pleased to announce more winners in the More Time Moms Contest.  Thanks to all who entered.  Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Week of December 13th

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Daily Winners Keep Rolling In!

presentsIf you haven’t already heard about our More Time Moms Christmas contest.  It’s not too late to participate. You can win an MTM Family Organizer! One a Day, everyday! To enter, place an order or leave a comment on our blog. We are drawing a name every day for the next 30 days. You can still enter, the contest ends December 24th.

Congratulations to our daily winners so far!:

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Preparing for the Holidays

SnowmanDon’t worry, it may be early to some of you but if you’re like me and everyday is filled to the gills, planning for Christmas couldn’t be early enough.  This year I decided to get ready a little earlier.  We have made the ‘what I call’ mistake in the past few years to put up the Christmas lights in minus temperatures. We pull out the ladders and I send my ‘always looking for an adventure’ husband on up in the hypothermic inducing temp to unfold the magical Christmas scene I have created in my mind.  Yes, Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year.  It isn’t just Christmas day, it’s the whole season. It’s the feeling I wholeheartedly embrace.

I have finally decided at my ripe age of 40 to let go of what is supposed to be the rule and just go with the flow of how everyone close to me is feeling.  The last thing my husband and I wanted to do on Christmas day last year was to spend half of it in the kitchen, so we didn’t even make a Turkey.  We went out for walks, dreamed, talked, and skated on the lake along with the kids tobogganing down our hill with just a few injuries. (Note for me this year, bring some helmets up to the lake) Coming in, sitting in front of the fire, watching a Christmas movie and munching on goodies made for one of the best Christmas’s I can remember.  Nothing was planned, nothing was rushed, and we embraced every moment, we were so present.

My goal this year is to create a similar feeling my family enjoyed last year…….what does that mean?  I NEED TO RELAX!!!  I am an organizer with a self diagnosis of OCD. I like things to be just so and I will waste time getting it just so to the point where I have sincerely missed out on some special moments others have clearly enjoyed.  This year the leader in me will let others lead the holiday…..to a certain point.

On a practical note, in addition to using More Time Moms Christmas Countdown checklist, I have decided to ask myself the questions I need answers to in order to have as much of a special stressed free holiday as possible.

Holiday Time Management

Before I plan the holiday activities, I need to check my Family Organizer.  Are children going to be involved in exams during the season or are the exams after the holiday? How about the kids activities around Christmas i.e. parties, concerts and plays.  What about their regular sport activities?  Do we have to go to all the events because I would like to do what we used to do a few years ago and drive around in pyjamas, yes pyjamas drinking hot chocolate and looking at all the wonderful Christmas lights!

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Halloween: Be Creative and Resourceful!

It’s that time of year again, where the kids are planning their costumes and already  making requests to have friends accompany us on our Trick or Treating adventures.  I have developed a love/hate relationship with this holiday that is so beloved by the kids.

When our oldest son Jacob was one, my husband came home from work on Halloween night to proclaim that he was ready to partake in the festivities and bring Jake around the neighborhood to visit and enjoy his first foray into Trick or Treating.  Secretly, I was horrified that my baby, who was still breast-feeding and just precariously walking, would be exposed to the Halloween horrors of candy.  “Where’s his costume?” he said.

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