Spring Break Staycation

Ahhhh, Spring Break.  It's like a love/hate relationship, right?  It always starts out feeling like a vacation and by the start of the second week, you're wishing you could drop your kids off at school, haha!

All kidding aside, I actually long for the days off I get with the kids because hubby and I usually work for the majority of the break.  This year, we took off the last couple days of the second week and decided to make the most of our 'staycation'.

First on our list?  One of our favourite attractions on the west coast:  Science World!

Being at Science World brings back so many memories of my childhood and, while its been renovated since then, a few of the original exhibits are still being featured (remember those science demonstrations on the main floor, or that majestic treehouse on the upper level, or that structure that takes photos of your shadow?).  It's such an amazing feeling to be able to share those experiences with my own children and also see first-hand how Science World has evolved since then.

I'd say you could typically get through all of the exhibits and shows within 3-4 hours.  However, if you're a visitor to the city, you may want to spend an entire day there to make sure you have ample time to get the full Science World experience - which will probably include a showing at the largest OMNIMAX dome screen in the world (tickets available here)!

Our favourite part of Science World?  The feature exhibition never fails to impress - the Science of Ripley's Believe It or Not! was pretty amazing in a weird/gross/cool way that you'd expect from Ripley's Believe It or Not!  Can you believe there was a man that was nearly 9 feet tall??!  It was pretty insane to see "him" in person and Zoë was more than willing to take advantage of a quick photo op:

The other galleries that were amazing (not to mention informative) was BodyWorks and the Wonder Gallery, which is geared towards ages 0-5.  You should also be prepared to spend a majority of time in Eureka! - an interactive playground that's seriously fun for all ages.

Next up on our staycation intinerary was Western Canada's largest indoor carnival, PlayDome at BC Place!

As the kids get older, this place seems to get more and more fun.  Both of them are at the age where they truly enjoy the rides and the joy on their faces.....well, we all live for that, right?  Fast forward to a week later and Jadon is still talking about his "exhilarating" experience on the Hellavator (I think he used the words "scary" and "terrifying", which means it was that good!) and how he couldn't stop shaking afterwards (see it was that good!).

PlayDome is a fun Spring Break event for the entire family that is geared more towards school-aged kids (in my opinion).

We also checked out the Vancouver International Auto Show, which turned out to be Jadon's "best day ever".  I'll post more about that on the blog later, but for now, here's a little sneak peak:

Finally, we ended our Spring-cation at the Vancouver Aquarium.  It seems every time we go to the aquarium, we end up discovering something new!

My tips for the aquarium?  Be prepared to spend time at each exhibit and gallery searching for those little and big fish, mammals and creatures.  You never know where they might be hiding!

Our favourite galleries would have to be the Graham Amazon Gallery (where you actually feel like you've stepped into an Amazon rainforest) and Treasures of the BC Coast.  For kids 0-8 years old, make sure you check out Clownfish Cove - an interactive play area which explores the oceans around us.  Speaking of Clownfish Cove, don't forget to check out the Canaccord Financial Exploration Gallery which houses the informative 4-D Theatre that's suitable for all ages!

While we initially didn't plan much for Spring Break this year, it's obvious that we didn't waste any time either!  A lot of our daily activities were last minute decisions - just the way we've always lived our lives.   I've always been a huge believer that spontaneity keeps life interesting and definitely not boring at all.  Oh, and we managed to squeeze in a birthday party, Easter egg hunts and a trip to the movie theatre.  Needless to say, I may need a vacation from our Spring-cation, haha!

What was the most memorable moment of your kids' Spring Break?  I'd love to hear all about it in the comments below!

Disclosure:  Our family received complimentary entrance tickets to Science World, PlayDome and the Vancouver Aquarium in exchange for this blog review post and social media posts.  All opinions are my own and do not reflect the views or opinions of Science World, PlayDome, BC Place or the Vancouver Aquarium and/or their associates.  

Experiences

As the kids grow older and our house becomes more saturated with stuff, I've come to the conclusion that experiences are far more valuable than material items.  The anxiety that plagues me on a daily basis when I get home after a long day of work and see the overwhelming sea of toys and junk the kids have collected over the years is almost unbearable.  I'm so tired, I don't even bother with it.  And then by the end of the week, it's OUT. OF. CONTROL.

And repeat.

Okay, so this post may sound like it's leading into a 'how to organize your life' post or a 'DIY toy storage' post but, no, it's none of the above.  This post is all about experiences - one that we took our kids to last weekend that has been a yearly tradition dating as far back as I can remember!

Whenever our kids are given the chance to experience something, I've found that the need for conversation opens up and they end up learning (and retaining!) from their experience and using those tools towards their daily realities.  It also makes for some very interesting morning commute debates!

Last weekend, we had the chance to take Jadon and Zoë to the first Honda Celebration of Light fireworks show of the year and watch it in style from the amazing (and very convenient) YVR Observation Deck.  Compared to last year where we arrived early and were able to take in the pre-firework festivities, this year we were running late due to some home renovation work.  Thankfully for us, it didn't really matter what time we got to the beach - our seats were reserved!  The only drawback was that it was dusk and I missed out on the natural light (photo wise).  Ah, the life of a blogger!

While we didn't get any blog worthy photos of ourselves on the YVR Observation Deck this year, we definitely had the time of our lives (hopefully you were able to catch the action on my Instastories - @swankmama!).  The kids slept SO good that night and recounted their experience multiple times the following day and during our Monday morning drive in the city.  There's nothing like a little bit of firework magic to spark that imagination!

On your way to the fireworks tomorrow?  There's still some 'save your spot' options to watch the show in style!

xo,
kristina


Disclosure:  The opinions and views in this post are my own and does not reflect that of Honda Celebration of Light or the YVR Observation Deck and/or their affiliates.  We received complimentary tickets to the YVR Observation Deck in exchange for a review post.

This Is Eight

To say that summer is finally here is an understatement!  We were hit with a heat wave over the weekend and totally unprepared (I'm sitting here writing this post at the mercy of my rotating fan - enough said).  We also celebrated a pretty special day on Saturday - Jadon's eighth birthday!!

I still can't believe my baby is 8.  He woke up telling me how he felt so much older and possibly a little taller, haha!  Oh, buddy, just you wait!  We had a pretty hectic day ahead of us, as we scheduled his party on his actual birthday.  Everything was running smoothly until we had to wait for hubby to get ready (anyone who knows Gary, knows).  

Anyways, one traffic jam later and (only) a half hour late to his own party, we finally showed up at a local trampoline park, Extreme Air Park.  Jadon has been dying to have his party there ever since his older sister's birthday a few years ago and, coincidently, we were just there for a birthday party a couple weeks ago.

Here's a few tips to know about having a party at Extreme Air Park:

• fill out your waivers before the party
• arrive early (like 30 minutes before your jump time).  This will give everyone time to check in and have the front desk organize payment, etc.
• make sure you count and keep track of your Extreme Air Sox as they are given to you
• ensure that your entire party has their Air Sox and time tags (a sticker with the time that they're allowed to jump until)
• bring a cooler filled with ice for any items that need to be kept cold (eg: ice cream cakes, drinks, etc.), as you won't have access to your party room until the allotted time
• bring a water bottle for the kids.  They'll be active for most of their jump time and they tend to get tired/thirsty fairly quickly!
• kids 5 and under need to have a paid parent to supervise
• make sure you let the Extreme Air Park team know the final number of your party to ensure that they reserve a room catered to your party size
• have fun!

Overall, the kids had a blast!  If you're looking for a place to tire your kids out, this is it!  With 42,000 square feet of trampolines and activities, including 3D dodgeball, zero gravity basketball, half pipe and a huge foam pit, there's definitely something for everyone (adults included!).

 

After the party, we headed over to the Dragon Boat Festival in False Creek to hang out with the family.  Then, we were homebound so Jadon could finally open up his presents.  Ah, the life of an eight year old!

xo,

kristina

Winter Refresh with Garnier Whole Blends

Disclosure:  Although this post has been generously sponsored by Garnier Whole Blends, the opinions and language are my own.

Every Mom can attest to this, I’m sure:  a 10-minute shower is like a brief, but long vacation.  You shut the door in hopes of getting those precious few minutes to yourself and pray that you won’t be interrupted by those little fists banging at the door screaming, “Mommy!  MOMMY!!  MOOOOMMMMMMYYYYYYYY!!!!”, as if in the two minutes you’ve been in the washroom, the world suddenly came crashing down.

I’ve been fortunate enough that my children do leave me alone in the washroom for the most part.  I’m sure it’s mainly because I put the fear in them early on that unless it was a matter of life or death, if they dared to knock on the door and bother me while I was taking that 10-minute shower, all hell would break loose! (not really, but it seems to be working just fine haha!).  As any mother knows, just 10 minutes of peace and quiet can do wonders for our sanity (can I get an AMEN?!)

Now let’s get to the good stuff.  This past Vancouver winter has completely wreaked havoc on my hair.  I’m talking Flyaway Central!  We’re normally used to mild winters with temperatures hovering around the freezing mark, but once it hits the minuses (Celsius, that is), Vancouver is in a state of emergency while the rest of our country mocks and laughs at us.  I tried absolutely everything to get my flyaways under control – conditioners, deep conditioners, leave in conditioners, styling creams, serums, you name it!  If they claimed to banish flyaways, I tried it!  

Well, I thought I did!  That is, until I was introduced to the NEW Garnier Whole Blends Moroccan Argan & Camellia Oils hair care line from Garnier.  Why Moroccan Argan & Camellia Oils extracts?  Both are rich in Omega 6 and Vitamin E – a perfect combination for dry, dull hair. 

I’ve used Whole Blends products before and couldn’t wait to try the newest addition to their Whole Blends product line.  And let me tell you – It didn’t disappoint!  The infused blend and rich aromas of Moroccan Argan & Camellia oils made my hair feel softer and healthier, and the Marvelous Oil leave-in oil was the icing on the cake!  Not to mention, it made my hair smell AMAZING (just ask my kids)!!  Plus, flyaways?  What flyaways?

The one thing I love about the Whole Blends line is that the products are paraben-free and contain only natural extracts.  Each blend is focused on a unique hair action such as healing, protecting and nourishing, which means there’s a perfect blend for all hair types!  Plus, Garnier has just introduced a NEW Legendary Olive blend with virgin-pressed olive oil focused on replenishing dry, depleted hair.

Want to get your hands on the NEW Garnier Whole Blends Moroccan Argan & Camellia Oils?  Head over to Garnier for a coupon and find your perfect blend online or in store.  Plus don’t forget to join the upcoming Twitter party on Thursday, February 16, 2017 at 7pm EST for a chance to win some of my favourite Garnier Whole Blends products and more fun prizes!