Ottawa: Come Play with Peekaboo Beans

*The following is a sponsored post from Peekaboo Beans, a wonderful Canadian company making ethical children's clothing for children who love to play!

For some moms, heading back to work after maternity leave is an easy decision. But for others, more time at home with the little one (or ones!) is the best choice for the whole family. Money is often an issue, which is why many mothers (or in the case of some families, fathers) look for income opportunities that allow flexibility to stay at home with the kids.

Peekaboo Beans, a Canadian children's clothing company, wants you to learn more about work opportunities for stay-at-home parents (dads, this includes you too!) Peekaboo Beans sells adorable clothing that:

• kids love to wear
• holds their value
• is made in an ethical fashion
• is great for children with sensitive skin 
• is free from harmful toxins
• is super comfy and FUN to wear!

Here are two amazing opportunities this weekend to have FUN and LEARN MORE:

Meet Peekaboo Beans Breakfast

Join Peekaboo Beans Founder & CEO, Traci Costa this Saturday from 9-10am at La Charette (460 West Hunt Club at Merivale) for an informal breakfast and coffee chat to learn about the Peekaboo Beans Independent Play Stylist opportunity. Traci will talk about what it looks like to own your own rolling retail boutique and it’s earning potential. If you LOVE it as much as we do, you can stay for a day of training! (optional)

As an Independent Play Stylist, you can have a home-based business and be the parent who can juggle family and career with confidence. Better still, you can:

- Sell a children's clothing brand that you can feel good about

- Be part of a mission that believes in PLAY and nurtures children near and far

- Be part of a community of parents, friends, coaches and other support people

-Achieve your ideal work and life balance with Peekaboo Beans! 

Register by clicking here

We can't wait to meet you!

Ottawa! Come Play With Us!

Bring your kids and join Peekaboo Beans stylists, customers and our Founder & Director of Play, Traci Costa, for a Pop-Up Play Date this Sunday. 

When: Sunday November 29th, 9:30am - 11:30am
Location: Monkey Around Play and Learning Centre, 1650 Queensdale Avenue, Ottawa

Hope to see you all there!

Connect with vicky@peekaboobeans.com for more information.

“Play is the only way the highest intelligence of humankind can unfold.” ~ Joseph Chilton Pearce

Prepare to be Dazzled: Christmas Lights Across Canada

Christmas lights are going on all around the city. My toddler loves pointing out all the brightly lit houses as we drive by. We tend to get our lights up and on by December 1st, although our backyard tree has been twinkling away for a couple of weeks now. The shorter days can make us all a little grumpy (ok, fine, it might just be me,) but I smile every time I look outside and see our little tree lit up. It's tough when the sun goes down at 4:30 p.m.

Despite the warm and rainy weather we've been having, preparations are underway for Christmas in downtown Ottawa. Crews are busy getting lights ready for the Official  Illumination Ceremony on Parliament Hill on December 2nd at 7 p.m. This is a launch that marks the 31st edition of The Christmas Lights Across Canada (CLAC) program*, which will run from December 2, 2015 to January 7, 2016.

The program was launched in 1985 to highlight landmarks along Confederation Boulevard, including Parliament Hill, National Capital Commission (NCC) sites, national museums, institutions, monuments, embassies and other prominent institutions. These beautiful light displays add vibrancy to the Capital during the LONG winter months and kick off the holiday season in Canada’s Capital Region.

In December, most provincial and territorial capital cities hold an illumination ceremony, and I love to think of all the lights going on together across our beautiful country.

Not only will you see the town sprinkled with 100,000 extra lights this year, but there will be a new winter lightscape projection show that will be presented on Parliament buildings every night from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. through until January 7th. Just like the amazing show that gets put on every summer, you will see a projection onto Parliament, including holiday images, lights and enhanced pyrotechnics. The kids will be blown away!

Come join Kids in the Capital on December 2nd as we watch the illumination ceremony together. There will be a large screen which will air holiday wishes from all 13 Premiers and
a performance by Measha Bruggergosman. PLUS, free hot chocolate and Beaver Tails - yum!

So to help get out of your November funk, let's brighten things up a bit and celebrate the beauty of Canada!

Will you join us on December 2nd? 

*This is a sponsored post from the Christmas Lights Across Canada Program brought to you by the Government of Canada. All opinions are our own.

An Epic Holiday Outing in Ottawa

*This post is sponsored by Shenkman Arts Centre, who we LOVE for their amazing children's programming. It's true that Kids in the Capital may be a little biased about Orleans...perhaps because the whole team lives here!

What do the Shenkman Arts Centre, pizza and Santa's Parade of Lights all have in common? On November 28th, these three things will come together for the ultimate family holiday experience in Orleans!

Shenkman proudly presents the Mermaid Theatre production Goodnight Moon & Runaway Bunny. Halifax's Mermaid Theatre has earned international acclaim for its unique interpretations of the works of Eric Carle (The Very Hungry Caterpillar), Leo Lionni (Swimmy, Frederick & Inch by Inch) and Sam McBratney (Guess How Much I Love You). They bring books to life on stage, using puppets and original music. A huge hit for children ages 3 - 8.

Our copy of Goodnight Moon is so well-loved. The binding has come loose and the little board book has been chewed many times by a drooly toddler. But at 3 and 6 years old, my girls still get a kick out of this bedtime story. And although we haven't read it, I hear that Runaway Bunny is equally charming - a story about a little bunny's pretend tale about leaving home.

The show starts at 4 p.m., but you may want to get to Shenkman a bit early to check out their annual Baz’Art Holiday Sale. This art event is FREE and starts at 11 a.m. (you may find some great Christmas gift ideas!)

And if THAT weren't enough, Orleans has its annual Santa's Parade of Lights running that evening! To make the Goodnight Moon & Runaway Bunny show extra special, Shenkman is putting on a pizza dinner for concert goers before you head over to see the parade.

So whether you live in Olreans or out in the West end, you definitely want to plan to spend the whole day in this part of town.

Buy Your Tickets

Head over to the website and you'll get all the info. Tickets are $26 for premium seats and $21 for regular. The pizza dinner is $5 per person. And of course, our beloved Parade of Lights is free for all!

Will you be there? Comment and let me know, as I'll be there too!

2015 Holiday Gift Guide

As a child, I loved flipping through holiday gift guides - the Sears one was a big hit in our house. Endless toys and possibilities! 

But now that I'm an adult, I've realized the value in giving quality gifts - something that is well-made and one of a kind. This year we're focusing on LESS; making more memories instead of collecting more stuff.

Instead of making sure we have X number of gifts for each person, we're picking really special things for our family to gift. In thinking about quality over quantity. I've collected a great list of gift ideas that you can use too! All of these businesses are Canadian, and some are local (VERY local....as in, the man behind the curvy board lives in my home!)

Waldorf Curvy Boards

It may seem self-serving to promote my husband's products, but we definitely see the value in a Waldorf-style curvy board. The prototype that my husband first made last year became a big hit for both our girls. It can be used for sliding, climbing, balancing and pretend-play. He ended up selling that first one (and many more!), and so there will be a brand new board sitting under the tree for them on Christmas day. Cost: $120 (no tax) Order yours by sending him a message through is Facebook page: Tom of All Trades

The Sweetest Digs Co. Prints

I just met Gemma Bonham-Carter at the Blissdom Conference, and when I checked out her website and Etsy shop, I was blown away!  Gemma is the Queen of DYI, and her blog is full of amazing posts on DIY projects and interior design. She also designs and sells prints, pillows and other accessories. We've chosen a few for you to check out! There's this beautiful print, perfect for the young girl in your life. Or maybe a throw pillow cover for the couch? My personal fave is her watercolour maps - if you're searching for a gift for a traveler, this would be a great option!

Knitted Hats for The Ottawa Food Bank

Rainbow Dash

Sheila Dubois (who is also Lara's mother) knits hats every year, donating the entire purchase price to The Ottawa Food Bank. This year there are many options - iBallistic Squid (that's a Minecraft thing), a Ninja Turtle (colour requests are possible), Rainbow Dash, Minions and Creepers. Adult hats in plain colours are also available. All hats are $20 and you can order on Facebook by leaving a comment on a hat you're interested in and Eric Dubois (Lara's dad :) will get back to you with payment and pick up or shipping options. 

Sheila was able to donate over $1500 to the Ottawa Food Bank last year - let's help her do it again this year!

Mabel's Labels

Kids in the Capital has been a fan of Mabel's Labels since way back when! I have my stack of stickers in a drawer, which I use on everything from underwear to water bottles to shoes. Lara also has their ID bracelets which she uses when they're on vacations so that her cell phone number is securely attached to kids who have a hard time always staying close to their parents.

They've got some great holiday gift ideas, including a personalized "My Adventures with Disney Frozen" book and mini sets that make great stocking stuffers. 

Canvas Pop

I LOVE canvases. Last year we realized that our walls were too bare, so we ordered a number of large canvases of some of our favourite pictures that we've had taken over the years (including the one above!) They really brighten a room!

Lara picks a favourite photo from each year and has it printed as a 16 x 24 canvas for each set of grandparents for Christmas presents each year too.

Canvas Pop is a great option because it's Canadian, easy and they often have great sales. Sign up for their newsletter and then wait for 30-40% off, or use our affiliate link to purchase!

Peekaboo Beans

I first learned about Peekaboo Beans when I got to know Vicky Bisson, a local Peekaboo Beans Stylist. I love this company because they make practical, comfortable clothing for children that are designed to last. My daughter wears holes in her other pants in a matter of weeks!! Peekaboo Beans want children to get out and be active! The clothing is also soft, without scratchy tags - great for children with sensory issues.

City of Ottawa 

Give the gift of play! I LOVE this idea for birthday presents, and Christmas would be even better - activities are so expensive when you have more than one child in multiple classes. Purchase a gift certificate for a child or parent, and help them to be healthier and more active!

Tag Along Toys

We love our local Ottawa toy shop (with a location on Bank Street and one in Kanata). Lara has already been in several times because she loves that they have a great array of the big hit toys, as well as ones that are really educational for her kids. All things crafts, including building Darth Vader, r2d2 or creating a felt purse, will be big hits with her kids. Her aspiring inventor is also getting some inventor specific stuff!

Don't forget the colouring books - good for adults and kids alike!

My Stow-n-Tow

Another local company run by two Ottawa moms! They create these super cute totes that can be multi-purpose at the holidays. They can be an alternative to gift wrap waste and then they can be used for so many reasons: transporting spare clothing or lunches (Lara's kids have them for this because they're impervious) or for storing different kinds of toys or for bringing treasures on car rides or trips.

They have a great array of sizes and patterns. And they're fun!

Just Play Toy Rental

Give the gift of new toys every month with a toy rental service! 

Instead of buying them all kinds of new toys, your kids won't ever get sick of what they have because toys get changed on a monthly basis. Just Play has toys to climb on, toys to build with and toys that will let your children's imagination run wild. Perfect for kids under 6 who are outgrowing toys faster than you can buy or afford them!

Ausome Ottawa Bracelets and necklaces

Ausome Ottawa is a non-profit organization that helps enrich the lives of families living with autism through sport. They're selling gorgeous bracelets and necklaces to support the charity - at a great price. 100% of the proceeds from the Ausome Bracelet go directly to Ausome Ottawa!

These make sweet gifts for family or for kids. Bracelets are $15 each or 2 for $25 and necklaces are $25 and you can buy them on their web site.

Monkey Mud Pottery - Where Pottery Meets Art

By Tracy

This time of year my weekends are often spent at local artisan and craft shows, shopping for others and for myself. It’s a great way to get my Christmas shopping done while having fun and supporting local businesses. 

One thing I used to pass by while shopping at these shows is pottery. It wasn’t because I don’t like it (in fact it was quite the opposite!), but because I already had a lot of pottery, and I figured I didn’t need any more. I received a lovely pottery teapot as a gift early in my marriage and I have wonderful pottery mugs I use on a regular basis. I also have your standard pottery platters and bowls.

It wasn’t until I was introduced to the uniquely beautiful pottery creations of Monkey Mud Pottery that I fell in love with pottery all over again. Owner and master potter, Michèle (known as “MEGG” in the pottery community) takes this art form to an entirely new level by leaving behind the traditional pottery teapot forms, and instead focusing on whimsical houses, one-of-a-kind bowls, and never-before-seen candle holders, angels, and vases.

MEGG spends most of her days in the pottery studio or in her at-home workshop, tirelessly sketching out ideas, dreaming in shapes and colours, and thinking about how she can transform her love of architecture, nature, and animals into timeless pieces of art. Her overall theme or vision is a result of travelling the world, combined with her love of experimenting and creating new shapes.

Monkey Mud pottery pieces make the perfect gift or keepsake, and are always the topic of conversation at dinner parties (guests always ask me where I got my ‘little house’ made by Monkey Mud Pottery). Another thing that makes MEGG’s pottery so special is that you can’t buy it at just any old big box store. She has regular clients and customers who place special orders, she has a Facebook page where she posts her latest creations, and she is often seen at local artisan events, such as the Old-Fashioned Christmas and Outdoor Artisan Market at the Goulbourn Museum on November 22nd.

But MEGG’s pottery isn’t just for Christmas. I have gifted her bowls as baby gifts (some are perfect for baby’s first foods) or pet gifts, and many of her creations are ideal for the fairy-believing child in your life. My favourite items are the whimsical houses, which light up with a candle, or stand alone to tell their own story, as well as the “town bowls,” which MEGG tells me represent the different cities and towns she has visited across the world.

For more information on Monkey Mud Pottery, including a gallery where you can view some of MEGG’s pieces, visit her website, follow her on Facebook, or email her at: monkeymudpottery@gmail.com.