Hosting an Art Party with Tracy's Art Studio

By Amy

I have always made a point to host my daughter's birthday outside of our home. Partly because we keep the mess out that way, but also because I'm not very creative when it comes to dreaming up activities for my own kid, let alone a small group of them. 

Hosting a birthday at another location also limits the number of guests she can invite, which makes things manageable. 

For her fifth birthday she originally wanted a skating party, but I pointed out that some of her friends might not be able to skate, and suggested maybe we find something else. While we brainstormed I remembered there was a new place that just opened not too far from where we live: Tracy's Art Studio. 

My kid loves arts and crafts.

I did a quick check of Tracy's website and found out that she does host birthday parties, talked to the kid and decided to book it. 

On the day of the party all we had to do was show up, bring some munchies and the cake. Tracy's Art Studio has a large, nicely decorated activity room in the back with a large table for all the kids to sit around.

And the floor is perfect for jumping up and down waiting for your guests to arrive too...

When all the guests had arrived Tracy's handed out clay for the project they were going to do – making clay dogs. The kid got to pick this as her birthday activity out of a list, they also could have painted, done drawings, or worked with mixed media.

When the dogs were all done Tracy's took them off to put them in her oven and the kids got to eat and chat and play a bit. All the plates, utensils and cups were provided, and for an extra cost they will put together loot bags for you with some more great art supplies for the kids to take home.

After the party we decided that the kid could also attend the March Break camp at Tracy's. Now I'm considering booking one of her art parties for MY birthday. 

Tracy's Art Studio is on Iber Rd. in Stittsville. She offers classes as well as parties and camps. 

Reinventing Goldfish Crackers

Who here has a kid that does NOT like Pepperidge Farms goldfish crackers? Anyone? Bueller? That's what I thought...

Those tasty little buggers (ahem, crackers) are totally addictive. Even I've had trouble stopping myself from eating the whole bag. Kids love them because they're small, they're shaped like fish AND they're super salty (about 10% of your child's daily intake of salt).

What you'll need: The Supplies

Old cheddar cheese

Butter

Rice flour

Xanthan gum or guar gum

baking powder

baking soda 

milk

Parchment paper

Cookie sheet

Goldfish cracker cutter

Many years ago I had a friend with a severe allergy to MSG (monosodium glutamate) - the stuff they add to Chinese food, which makes the flavour slightly addictive. She told me that any ingredient labeled "autolyzed" or "hydrolyzed" contained naturally-occurring form of MSG. And lo and behold, our tasty little fishy friends contain this flavour enhancer.

Although the dangers of MSG have been debunked, there's still some stigma attached to the "crack of the food world," isn't there? Since then, I've made sure to read labels - it's not so much that I think this tiny amount is going to harm my kids in some way....but why does it need to be there in the first place? Why can't we just bake with flour and cheese? 

This information, coupled with the fact that my daughter is now eating mainly gluten-free, I decided to look around for a healthier version of these crackers. This recipe is perfect! The crackers turned out tangy, salty (but not too salty!) and crispy. My girls actually declared that they were better than the store-bought version, which makes me happy :)

If you're hoping to try these yourself, here are a few tips:

Goldfish cracker cutter

1) You'll need a goldfish cracker cutting shape. You can find one on Amazon and a couple on Etsy, but my handy husband made me one with a little bit of sheet metal.

2) Even with a cutter, you will slowly die of boredom cutting one million tiny fish out of this dough. I eventually gave up and just used a pizza cutter to make square cheese crackers. I've decided that the little fish will be a special treat :)

3) If you're doing gluten free, follow the recipe exactly. Beware that the dough is extremely crumbly, and you have to be careful how you transfer the fish onto your baking sheet. If gluten's not an issue for you, there are other recipes on our Pinterest board (I haven't tested any of these, so can't vouch for them!)

4) Stand guard of the oven - seriously! These little guys cook in about 5-6 minutes. 10 seconds too much and you'll end up with burnt fish.

5) Use a good quality cheese. I used an old cheddar with no added "modified milk ingredients." The flavour and texture will be so much better!

Happy Fishing!

Disclaimer: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links

Listen to Your Heart

THIS....this video. I love it so, so much!! I shared it weeks ago, and I'm still so happy to see it making the rounds on Facebook and Twitter, with Elizabeth Gilbert posting about it just yesterday.

Gilbert tells us to "dance, run, swim, box, chase, fight...just get your heart working somehow. And definitely get your freak on while you're doing it."

I love that she's focusing on heart health. The message of the video is about loving our bodies at any size, but also about working it.

It's Women's Heart Week this week, which is fitting given that it's February - hearts abound! Did you know that 1 in 3 women die from heart disease or stroke? We're always talking cancer - breast, cervical, ovarian, but heart disease is the biggest killer of women. An article in the Citizen last November introduced us to Canada's first centre for women's heart health here in Ottawa.

Women often have the same signs and symptoms of a heart attack as men, but either ignore the signs or don't believe they're having a heart attack. Furthermore, as moms, we all know how busy we are thinking about other people - it's hard to focus on ourselves sometimes.

Signs of a Heart Attack

• Chest discomfort
• Discomfort in other parts of the upper body
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Light-headedness 

Check out The Heart Truth for more information, recipes, and a tool to assess your risk.

But as Elizabeth Gilbert said in her post, what's the one way you can ensure to prolong your life? By working your heart - engaging in something that makes it go boom, boom, boom!

So let's get out there ladies - into the pool, into the gym or whatever makes you happy. Check back on the blog soon, as I'm excited to introduce a woman who will tell us all about her own journey to health lifting weights. She'll give us tips on how to start weight lifting, which is definitely NOT just for men!

In the words of a great song by Cuff the Duke, "listen to your heart, baby, it'll be OK."

6 Best Places to Eat Chocolate in Ottawa

Mmmm, chocolate. Smooth, sometimes creamy, sometimes bitter; flavoured with salt, ginger, chili, cinnamon, you name it. The food of the Gods (seriously, I think it really WAS considered the food of the God of wisdom by the Aztecs - Wikipedia tells me so!)

I used to believe that all chocolate was created equal - I would eat my Easter chocolate bunnies, and scarf down those marshmallow-chocolate Santas without a second thought. As an adult I discovered the difference in quality of chocolate - the deep, rich cacao or the smooth Dutch-processed cocoa (yup, there is a difference between cacao and cocoa!). And I became quite choosy in my indulgences :)

Of course I will still eat the mini chocolate bars we hand out to kids at Halloween, but I don't find myself enjoying them much, other than to satisfy a sugar fix. These days I'm spending my money on great quality chocolates, some of which are Fair Trade (a wonderful book called Bitter Chocolate by Carol Off may have you swearing off non-Fair Trade chocolate for life!) So here are 6 great places to eat and purchase chocolate in Ottawa:

1) Ten Thousand Villages sells very yummy Fair Trade chocolate; I love their Easter bunnies for kids, and have also purchased ground cocoa and dark chocolate chips at their stores in Ottawa.

2) The Love of Chocolate Factory sells Leonidas chocolates, a Belgian company that has been making chocolate for over 100 years. These may not be locally made or Fair Trade, but I do love to support my Orleans neighbourhood businesses (and the chocolates are yummy!)

3) Truffle Treasures is a true local gem, with all  the chocolates made here in Ottawa and locally owned. You'll remember I featured them yesterday on the blog!

4) Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is centrally located, and boasts a huge selection of chocolates and cool treats

5) Purdy's Chocolatier is a Canadian gem that got its start in B.C. and has 64 stores across the country, with 2 stores here in Ottawa. Consumers who are considered about fair trade and sustainability of the product will be happy to hear Purdy's Sustainable Cocoa Program.

6) Stubbe Chocolates is a family-run business that originated in Germany, but moved to Canada in the late 1980s. Their website is drool-worthy, and I love the corporate event idea of making chocolates with your co-workers!

Where do you buy great chocolate?

Worth a Visit: Truffle Treasures

It's our weekly "Worth a Visit" series! Have an idea you'd like to submit? The only requirements are that it must be in the Ottawa region and kid-friendly! Email Misty at kidsinthecapital@gmail.com

I discovered Truffle Treasures when we first moved to Ottawa. In their old location along Richmond Road (still there, just a different building!) I was excited to find local chocolates handmade and oh-so-divine. Customers can choose from many different flavours of truffles, as well as bark, gelato and products made especially for the holidays (Valentine's Day is coming up!)

What I discovered a couple of years ago, and what keeps me going back there, is their AH-MA-ZING hot chocolate. This is hot chocolate like I've never tasted before - forget the chemical/watery stuff you can find at arenas all around town. This hot chocolate tastes like pure chocolate melted down, and then whipped with super creamy milk.

If you're looking for a special Valentine's dates with your little ones, consider a hot chocolate trip to Truffle Treasures. Just be careful, as this is HOT chocolate, and you will need to remove the lid and let it cool :) Just take a peek at all the various flavours of the drink you can choose from.

Have you been to Truffle Treasures with your kids? What did they like the best?