Social Media Monday: Starting a blog

by Brie You've decided to give it a try. I mean, why not! But now you actually have to figure out how to blog. Where to start?

The first thing you need to do is pick a blogging platform. There are two popular platforms for you to choose from: Blogger and Wordpress.com. The great thing is that both of these platforms are easy to use. I mean, even I can do it!

I started Capital Mom on Blogger because that was the first platform I came across when I discovered blogs. I wanted something free and simple, and it was both. Blogger is made for people that don't know anything about technology, so that was a perfect choice for me. I found it easy to navigate, user friendly and I liked that it was linked to Google. Since I started blogging Blogger has expanded the template designs available and now there is a greater variety and more customization available. 

Wordpress.com is equally as easy to use, although the dashboard may look more intimidating, and after hearing good things about it Lara and I decided to try it for Kids in the Capital. Wordpress has a large array of template options and seems to be easy for designers to customize. We had heard it was easier to move to self-hosting with Wordpress.com and we did find it easy to do. Well, as easy as moving text and dealing with technology can be.

If you are looking to self-host or expect to have a large readership, you might want to start with Wordpress.com. If you are wanting to have ads or Google ads from the start then Blogger may be a good option.

Here is some of the feedback I got over Twitter when I asked why people chose the platform they did:

AMotherhoodBlog: @kidsincapitaltried blogspot found it limiting. Heard good about wordpress thru Twitter, moved & love it.

KGrayDonald: @kidsincapital when with what I liked visually, was easy for me to use, and seemed to garner the fewest complaints :)

lana_stewart: @kidsincapital For me: lots of widgets/add-on and free themes to choose from and modify. And then my host made it a one-click install.

No matter which you choose, starting a blog is easier then you think. Both platforms are easy to navigate. Just click through to Blogger or Wordpress.com and give it a go. The hardest part might be picking a name and deciding what to blog about!

Here's a tip: think carefully about your blog name and URL. Even if you think that the blog is just for you or your family you may one day find yourself sharing it and then regretting the URL. Unless you want to be redirecting the link forever or exporting the blog to a new site, make sure you pick a name and URL you love!

Are you thinking of starting a blog?  Have questions and don't know where to start? Leave us a comment!

Do you have a blog? Why did you chose our blogging platform? And tell, us have you ever regretted your URL? :-)

Brie is the mom of a 4 year old daughter “the girl” and 2 old son “the boy”. You can read her blog at Capital Mom.

The People In Your Neighbourhood

by Erin We have great neighbours.

Did this happen by chance? Maybe, but we did put some thought into it when we were looking for our current home 2 years ago.

One Sunday Hubby and I were making our usual rounds of open houses when we found it...our new home (or so we thought). We were so excited! The price was right and the newly renovated kitchen was just the icing on the cake. As we drove home we discussed putting in an offer. In his excitement Hubby suggested that we get in the car after supper and drive over to "our new neighbourhood" to go for a walk.

As we set out on our walk that evening I knew almost immediately that this place was not for us. The look on Hubbys face told me that he felt the same way. It just didn't feel right, not to mention the groups of teenagers roaming the streets smoking and using not-so-nice language (at 6 pm!).

After that Sunday we took a whole new approach to house hunting. When I would find something that looked promising I would drive around the area at different times of day (I was on mat leave so I had some time on my hands). I wanted to see if the people who lived in the surrounding homes had kids our age. I wanted to see if the people were talking to each other and if they were out in their yards in the evenings. When I was "researching" our current home I felt good about it, even before I saw the inside of the house.

We are so grateful we went for that Sunday evening walk.

Several evenings a week the kids will get together and play street hockey while parents either supervise or join in on the action. During the summer there were many impromptu barbeques and backyard playdates. If Hubby is away I know there will be someone to mow the lawn and keep an eye out for us. If we are away for the evening our neighbours will take care of our dog, and we do the same for them. We get some great hand-me-down toys and clothes too.

It is great to go outside your neighbourhood to find things to do, but it can also be pretty awesome to have a hockey tournament right outside your front door, a gourmet meal in a nearby backyard and a helping hand being offered before you even have to ask. 

If you don't know your neighbours - go meet them! I hope yours are as great as mine.

Erin is mom to 2 (almost 3) year old “Miss K” and 7 month old “Mister J”. You can read her blog at My Suburban Adventure

Sunday October 17th 10am- 3pm The Glebe Community Center 175 Third Ave @ Lyon St in The Glebe

Tool Cake - Drill

by Sara My dad bakes all the birthday cakes for our boys.  He started baking cakes for the boys when the firefighter turned 2.  He has made a train, a front loader, a guitar, a milk tanker truck*, a camera (someone turned 30 this year), and a dinosaur.  Our family and friends have come to anticipate a different cake at every party.  He scours the Internet and books for ideas but now also has to appeal to the whims of the firefighter, who is 4, and likes to choose* the shape of his cake. 

Last year on my dad's birthday we made an aquarium cake.  We wanted to do something special for our master cake creator.  Plus, every so often, I like to show off my domesticity to my family.

We recently celebrated my dad's birthday and it was up to the firefighter and I to make him a cake.

I will admit to using a cake mix.  We prepared it according to the instructions but substituted 1/2 cup of applesauce for the 1/2 cup of oil.  After baking the cake I froze it so that it would be easier to carve and ice. 

Once the cake was frozen I cut it into three sections.  You have to work fairly quickly because it becomes more difficult to ice the cake as it thaws (bits of cake pull of with the icing).

We looked online for tool cake templates but couldn't find any.  Instead I found a simple clip art picture of a drill, enlarged it, and then printed it. 

I used each of the three sections of the cake for each section of the drill.  With the picture nearby I used a knife to cut the cake free-hand.  The firefighter stayed close-by to eat the cut-off bits of cake. 

After carving the top and middle we realized we had another section of cake so...

....we added a battery pack!

The firefighter had chosen sprinkles the day before so after icing the cake we did our best to replicate the different components of the drill. 

It took us less than half an hour to assemble and decorate the cake and Grandpa was thrilled with our creation.  And quite impressed at my ability to 'wing' cake creation and decorating.

Have you ever designed and created your own theme cake?

Sara is mom to 4-year-old ” firefighter” and 2-year-old “monkey”.  You can find her at her blog, My Points of View.

Sunday October 17th 10am- 3pm The Glebe Community Center 175 Third Ave @ Lyon St in The Glebe

Lowe's Build & Grow Clinics

by Joanne We have been renovating our house since we moved in 6 years ago.  Little by little we are making our Money Pit into our dream home.  Which means that we spend a lot of time (and money) in home improvement stores.  A few months ago, a Lowe's opened in Orleans so my husband eagerly went to check it out!  He came home excited and full of great ideas for our next batch of renovations.

On one of of many trips to Lowes since it opened we were introduced to the Lowe's Build and Grow clinics designed for children in grades 2 to 5 - they do not restrict the age of the participants - my 5 year old just loves every project and looks forward to the next.

There is a maximum of 50 kids per session and they are held every other week.  I suggest calling in advance or stopping by the customer service desk to inquire about the next available clinic.  Upcoming projects include Halloween theme - like a fun house mirror or Christmas projects like a Holiday Train.

Together we have made a firetruck, a ball and cup game as well as a school bus.   The kids enjoy building these great toys and are so proud of the finished project they made themselves!

Joanne the proud mom of Amélie (8 years old) and Mathieu (5 years).  She is new at blogging and you can find her at Our Money Pit.

Sunday October 17th 10am- 3pm The Glebe Community Center 175 Third Ave @ Lyon St in The Glebe

Letting them climb the walls

by Carly I work for an organization that occasionally requires me to hit the town with a bunch of pre-teens and teens on a Friday night.  We regularly schedule trips to places mom and dad may not be willing to visit – especially with their child and twenty-five of his closest friends in tow.

Recently we were scheduled to play indoor Paintball, only to find out the day before that the place had closed its doors.  In an effort to avoid a huge outcry of disappointment, we rallied the troops and talked the youth into trying out a new climbing gym.

The folks at Altitude Gym in Gatineau not only accommodated us at the last-minute, but they opened their doors a day prior to their official grand opening so our teens wouldn’t be left in the cold . . . literally.

When we arrived at their brand new gym at 35 boul. St-Raymond in Gatineau, they quickly ushered us into the Clip n’ Climb area.  Despite many, many years of planning outings for camps, youth groups and the like, I’d never seen anything like it.  You won’t have either, unless you’ve been to New Zealand - because right now, that’s the only other place where the Clip n’ Climb concept exists.

Altitude Gym is located in a former church and contains traditional rock climbing areas for all levels of experience, as well as a bouldering area.  As stated on their website, it’s a veritable rocktopia of climbing.

However the pièce de résistance, in my humble opinion, is found past the 17,000 square feet of climbing surfaces, in the  Clip n’ Climb area.  The sanctuary of the church has been transformed into a mecca of climbing fun for kids (and grown-ups!) aged five and up.  You’ll find over 30 amazing surfaces, each as unique as the one before.  In a briefing session in the former lobby of the church, staff will carefully explain the harness, the rules and get everyone set up.

Once inside, kids simply select the wall they want to try, clip their harness to the individual belaying system set up at each climb and wait for a staff to give the all clear.  Then it’s up and up and away!  Once they’re at the top, they can climb back down, or just let go for a graceful decent to the floor.  If they hit the ground a little too hard, not to worry as it’s extremely well padded with over a foot of cushy, springy softness – much like the floor at Cosmic Adventures, only thicker.

Parents can climb too or just watch, and groups can rent the mezzanine for parties or other events.  An hour in the Clip n’ Climb area will run you about $14 per person.  Factor in a little extra if your adventurous kids want to try the “Leap of Faith” or the “Vertical Drop”.  Our youth were exhausted after an hour of climbing and found the timing to be just right.  The enthusiastic and helpful staff only permit as many climbers as there are walls, so no one is ever left waiting.  Reservations are strongly recommended to ensure no one is disappointed on arrival and parents will be required to sign a waiver before anyone can play.

I’ve no affiliation with Altitude Gym at all, but immediately knew my four year old would love it.  Since he’s got a year to go before he’s old enough, I’m not showing him the photos until then!

Find them at www.altitudegym.ca. Call them at (819) 205-0959.

Carly has red hair and occasionally the temper to match.  She loves potatoes, rainy nights, photography, her husband and her 4 year old son, Jacob.  Probably in reverse order.   She also blogs.

Sunday October 17th 10am- 3pm The Glebe Community Center 175 Third Ave @ Lyon St in The Glebe