Ottawa's Farmer's Markets

One of the best parts of Ottawa in the summer is the availability of fresh produce grown locally. Last weekend, my girls and I had the opportunity to visit the Westboro Farmer’s Market to get some veggies and breads for dinner. Since the arrival of summer, the Farmer’s Markets are popping up all over Ottawa, in every part of the city. Not only are they a great resource for those who want to support our local infrastructure, but they are a fun way to get your kids involved in making (and actually eating) dinner.

If I’m honest with myself, I have to admit I have the world's pickiest eaters. Both are self-proclaimed vegetable haters. So, in order to help the situation, I told them that they could each pick and prepare a dish with their (ahem) favorite veggies. My eldest grabbed some asparagus (all the while laughing because it would make our pee smell). My youngest latched onto the zucchini. At first, she wanted to make fried zucchini but later settled on “baked” fried zucchini. A good compromise I thought.

We had a blast inspecting, choosing and then buying our dinner. Not only did they have fresh vegetables, baked goods and fruits but they also had crafts, treats and pottery, flowers and more. It was a great way to spend an afternoon.

The Ottawa Farmer’s Market in Westboro is located along the walking path of the Byron Linear Park, between Golden, Richmond and Byron Avenues and there are more than 65 vendors. It runs on Saturdays from 9:30-3:00. you can also find more Farmer’s Markets around the city on their website.

Do you shop at an Ottawa Farmer's Market? Which one is your favorite?

The Start of Garage Sale Season

If you’re anything like me you’ve got a whole bunch of junk you don’t use anymore. I know I’ve got a whole store-room full of old toys, baby furniture, books and games. That’s why I love the start of summer. Or as I call it “Garage Sale Season!”

This weekend is the Great Glebe Garage Sale. While I’m not in the Glebe, my parents are so for as long as I remember, we’ve gotten up early on Garage Sale Day to unload all the gently used things we just don’t want anymore. My brother and I used to spend hours tagging and pricing all the stuff and when my own girls were old enough, I got them involved in doing the same. Since they were small, my girls have always loved to sell lemonade and cookies to everyone who walked by.

This year is no different. We’ve already got all our stuff organized and we’re crossing our fingers that the weather cooperates. We’re ready to head out to sell our used treasures and perhaps find a few new ones of our own.

If you can’t make it out to the Great Glebe Garage Sale tomorrow, here’s  a list of some other ones around Ottawa in the next few months.

Are you hitting the garage sale scene this summer? Here’s to happy treasure hunting!

Why You Should Send Your Kids to Camp

Sending your kids to camp, whether it’s a day camp or sleep away camp, is a scary experience for most parents, myself included. It’s hard to entrust your most precious possessions to counselors, often kids themselves, and hope that they can calm your child’s fears and wipe away their tears as well as you can. As you’re considering your summer plans, I thought I’d offer my reasons why I think summer camp is the place to be when you’re a kid:

Responsibility: While there are counselors at camp to help children move successfully through their day, being away from home will give your child a strong sense of responsibility. They are expected to pick up after themselves, keep their areas neat and keep tabs on their possessions.

Independence: In today’s world, there are many helicopter parents who are afraid to let their children walk to the park on their own (ok, I admit I’m one of them). But at camp, in a controlled environment, kids get to feel that they’re on their own and responsible for making their own decisions.

Friendships: At camp, unlike at school, you create friendships out of shared experiences and a sense of mutual dependence. It’s an opportunity for your child to branch out from their regular circle of friends and learn how to connect with other kids in positive ways. It can also help teach them about diversity and tolerance of others.

Self-esteem: When a child learns and masters a new skill, they feel good about themselves. Camp is all about learning new skills and having new experiences.

How to work together: Whether it’s working together on a canoe trip or trying to win a camp-wide competition, camp is made up of a community of campers, counselors, instructors, and the camp director. At camp, your child will learn to live and get along with children from a variety of backgrounds

Learning to Slow Down: With no technology or electronic devices allowed at most camps, kids learn how to slow down, write actual letters, play cards, take walks and appreciate the wonder of the world around them. By unplugging and relaxing, they learn how to appreciate the slow lane for a while.

Whether your kids are 3 or 13, I think camp is a great place. In Ottawa, there are so many different specialty camps to choose from that it's pretty easy to find something your kid would be interested in. My two girls are going to sleep away camp this summer, as they have for the past few years. And even though I miss them terribly, I know that it's the best place for them.

Will you send your child to a day camp or sleep away camp this summer? Please share your favorite Ottawa area camps with us!

Capital Kids and Car Shows

By Kamerine Have a kid who loves cars? You're in luck: Ottawa hosts two car shows every spring. My lucky little guy got to go to both this year!

The first was the Ottawa Gatineau International Auto Show downtown. We had planned a family outing but were derailed when my daughter got sick in the car on the way there. I dropped of my 3.5 year old son and my husband and took my sickie home.

The boys had a great time exploring at the car show but the highlight for my son was actually the bus ride home. It was his first time on a city bus and he loved it.

The show itself lasts from Thursday to Sunday and has special events like a cruise night, family day and fun day. So many cars to look at including concept cars which are always so sleek.

The second show was the Ottawa Classic and Custom Car Show at the new Ernst and Young Center. This time the whole family made it. This show is smaller but has some really interesting custom cars with funky displays.

The big highlight were the Batmobiles, two of them, and a Batman statue that the kids loved. I loved seeing all the little kids dressed up like Batman. Coming in a close second was being able to sit in a police car and multiple race cars.

While not a typical outing, the car shows were adventures for my little family. We will definitely be back next year.

If you went I would love to hear what you thought!

Kamerine is mom to 3 year old Little J and 1 year old Baby K.  She documents her life with two toddlers, a husband and a cat at followk.blogspot.ca.

Giveaway Closed: Go Green with terra20

While some of you (lots of you, hopefully) have already heard of Canada’s first eco-friendly department store, we’re hoping that in the very near future many more will recognize the name terra20 and will want to experience the strength of their commitment to both the consumer and the environment.

These days, many of us are trying to live a bit more mindfully and shop a little greener. That means thinking about where the products we use come from, how they impact the environment and whether the products support fair trade initiatives by sourcing products made with fair trade ingredients. Living mindfully means thinking about where to shop and how and what to buy in order to leave the world in a bit better shape for our children and grandchildren. That’s where terra20 comes in.

Upon entering their store, you’ll be amazed by their warm and welcoming layout, with easy to understand logos and labels on all of their products to let you know what you are getting from an item. But even more than that, you’ll be wowed by their friendly and knowledgeable staff who are more than willing to answer any question you may have, no matter how basic it is.  You can chat with their resident eco-parenting blogger, stay for in-store demonstrations and take a visit to their huge eco-bar.  In fact, we’re so sure that your experience will be a great one that the folks at terra20 are giving two lucky Kids in the Capital readers a $50 gift card to help them start making more eco-friendly choices in their daily lives.

Giveaway Guidelines

In order for your entry to qualify you must answer the following questions in the comments below:

• Have you ever experienced terra20? If yes, what brought you into the store?
• If you haven't visited terra20 yet, why not and what would encourage you to do so?

One entry per household please. We want lots of families to have the opportunity to win. The winner must pick up the gift card at terra20 in a timely fashion. If it’s not picked up within 14 days we will draw again and choose a new winner.  The winner will be drawn randomly on Friday, May 30th, 2013