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.  

Super Car Obsessed with the Vancouver International Auto Show + a Giveaway

I'm not sure what it is about eight year old boys, but are they all 'super car' obsessed?!  It seems the only conversations I have with my son nowadays is whether I prefer a Bugatti over a Lamborghini - literally from the moment we wake up to the minute he falls asleep.  Actually, I think this obsession started years ago now that I think of it:

What he doesn't know is that we're taking him to the Vancouver International Auto Show next week.  I can't wait to see his face when he finally sees all of his dream super cars under one roof!

The 98th Vancouver International Auto Show returns Wednesday, March 28 - Sunday, April 1, 2018 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.  Tickets are available here or you could win your way in with us!  (hint:  BCAA members get a special discount)

{Win It!}

The Vancouver International Auto Show is generously giving one of my readers a chance to win 4 entrance tickets to the Auto Show (valid any day from March 28 - April 1, 2018)!  To enter, please follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is open to Canadian residents only and ends on Monday, March 26, 2018 at 9pm PST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  All opinions in this review remain my own and do not reflect the opinions or views of the Vancouver International Auto Show, Vancouver Convention Centre and/or their affiliates.  We received a tickets to the Auto Show in order to complete this announcement post.  Note that SwankMama does not accept responsibility for sponsors that do not fulfill their giveaway duties.  Winner will be contacted via email and will have 24 hours to respond, otherwise, a new winner will be chosen at random.

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.

Celebration of Lights from the YVR Observation Deck

Just when you thought summer couldn't get any better, Vancouver's much-loved yearly tradition is just around the corner!  I have many memories of watching the Celebration of Light over the years - from when I was a young child making my way through the crowds with my parents to my teenage years when I made the trek downtown via the SkyTrain with my first cup of spiked Slurpee from 7-Eleven (don't tell me you've never tried it!) to enjoying the show with my own kids and creating new memories of the magical "fire in the sky" show.

Last year we had the time of our lives of watching the Honda Celebration of Light fireworks show from the (very) family-friendly YVR Observation Deck:

I can't rave enough about how amazing our experience was watching the show from the YVR Observation Deck and, next weekend, we get to do it all over again!  Everything about it was geared towards families and people who want to watch the fireworks up close and personal, but also have their personal space.  Here are some of the amenities you have to look forward to when you snag your exclusive tickets to the observation deck:

• reserved seating (perfect if you have younger kids or are running late!)
• access to a cash bar and food service (yaassssss!!)
• dedicated washroom facilities
• all-ages licensed area, with an alcohol-free zone upon request (we definitely won't be requesting that, haha!)
• background music and fireworks soundtrack broadcast during the show
• wheelchair accessible

Tickets are $49 plus applicable fees and are available for purchase via TicketLeader for the July 29th, August 2nd and August 5th shows.  

Hope to see you there!

xo,

kristina

Celebrate the Holidays with Image Optometry

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, which could not be more true.  As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to appreciate the little things in life that may not have mattered as much to me in my 20’s.  I’m talking one-on-one lunches or date nights with hubby, ten minutes of alone time (that would be me in the shower), or just taking in the beauty of my surroundings.

I’ve been near-sighted since grade school and my vision has always been closely monitored by my optometrist with yearly eye exams.  It’s been very important for me to ensure that my kids receive the same care, since vision-related issues can be hereditary.  For now, our optometrist has recommended that Jadon and Zoe both limit their screen time to 20-30 minutes a day, in hopes that it will correct Jadon’s slight prescription for far-sightedness and prevent him from having to wear glasses at such a young age.  Zoe is also being closely monitored, as her myopathy (muscle condition) may affect her vision/eye muscles in the future.

As for me, I recently started experiencing discomfort while wearing my contact lenses.  I’m not going to lie – I’m an avid user of contacts and I’m not shy about it!  I do have a pair of glasses, but prefer to wear them in the evenings only as they can get quite uncomfortable throughout the day around my ears (having hearing aids doesn’t help either!).  A few years back, an optometrist found bumps under my eyelids which were caused by prolonged use of contacts.  Fast forward a few years and it seemed that the bumps had returned with a vengeance.  A visit to my optometrist last week confirmed my suspicions and also showed something that had never happened before:  my prescription had a slight change – for the better!  Could this mean that my eyes are leaning towards 20/20 vision with each visit to my optometrist?  Probably in my wildest dreams, but at least I have reassurance that my eye health is in great hands!

About Image Optometry

Aside from being the official eye doctors of the biggest sports teams in BC, Image Optometry is the largest, most affordable eye care company in BC. They pride themselves on providing affordable eye care and a unique service to their customers by allowing them to try on glasses and contacts before they commit to their purchases.  Think online prices with bricks and mortar service!

Vancouver Canucks Christmas Deal

Are you thinking of what to gift to your loved ones for Christmas?  Image Optometry, the official eye doctors for the Vancouver Canucks, BC Lions and Vancouver Whitecaps teams, are offering a Christmas deal that you cannot miss!  

Book an eye exam between now and December 31, 2016 for $89.95, and you’ll receive a free pair of glasses, if needed.  Bring a friend for an eye exam at the same scheduled time and receive a pair of Vancouver Canucks tickets* to one of the following games:

Jan 4th - Canucks vs Coyotes

Jan 15th - Canucks vs Devils

Jan17th - Canucks vs Predators

Feb 2nd - Canucks vs Sharks

Feb 4th - Canucks vs Wild
Feb 19th - Canucks vs Flyers

March 9th - Canucks vs Islanders

March 16th - Canucks vs Stars

*Appointments for the Canucks ticket deal must be booked by December 31, 2016

bittersweet beginnings

While it feels like we had just gotten adjusted to our new digs (for one month - more on that in another post), the past couple weeks were all about adventuring around our temporary neighbourhood, which is surrounded by a rich history, plenty of parks, accessible transit and River Market at Westminster Quay (formerly Westminster Quay Public Market).

It was so fun to discover with the kids that we had the world in our own backyard.  We're a couple blocks away from the nearest Skytrain station, River Market, and a park with two playgrounds, a spray park, beach volleyball, hammocks, a concession stand and more.  And we can't forget the trendy and quaint stores that line the historical streets of downtown New Westminster.  I think that's what I really fell in love with.  The history of the city (also, thanks to Pokemon Go and its Pokestops, we're learning a lot more about the city's history!).

We've also been blessed with hot summer weather the past couple weeks and we've taken full advantage of it!

I'm definitely going to be sad leaving this neighbourhood today, but I feel like it's a start to a new beginning.  We sold our townhouse and are on our way to a rental property while we wait for our purchase to close in a month.  From there, we'll start renovations and will soon make another house our home.  To say that this day is bittersweet, is an understatement.

Stay tuned for more on the move!

xo,
kristina

PS:  Make sure you follow along on Instagram (@swankmama) for "real time" updates!

fireworks

It's been a while since we've enjoyed a full day out with the kids, without having to look at rentals, dealing with selling our townhouse and negotiating our newest property purchase.  Not to mention doing some last minute touch-ups to our townhouse to make sure it's in good shape on completion.  More about the craziness in another post...

Saturday was the day that was all about family.  Okay, I lied.  My morning started with a couple of appointments to look at rental properties for us to live in while our new house is being renovated.  There's not very many landlords that are willing to rent their suites out for 3-4 months, so it's been a LONG and tedious task.  After practically wasting my morning, I picked up the rest of the family for a second and third appointment.  The plan was to go home and start some of the touch-ups at the townhouse, but we ended up driving by a street festival and obviously we had to go!  By this time, my phone battery was dying (thanks Pokemon Go!), so I didn't get to take any photos (I guess I should start bringing my camera with me).

After the street festival, we headed to English Bay to watch The Netherlands work their magic at the Honda Celebration of Light.  Not only were we lucky enough to find parking right on the beach, but we were able to watch the fireworks from the family-friendly YVR Observation Deck (highly recommended!).  Tickets start at only $49 (plus taxes and fees) and include:

• Background music + fireworks soundtrack simulcast
• Access to cash bar and food service
• Dedicated washroom facilities
• Reserved bleacher-style seating
• All-ages licensed area, with an alcohol-free zone by request

There is also limited, complimentary accessible seating on the top deck of the YVR Observation Deck (must call for inquiries).  We brought the stroller for Zoe and was able to leave it with security in a gated entrance to the deck from the beach.

We caught all the fun on my Snapchat account (add me --> kristina.cross), including when I dropped my phone under the bleachers!  Don't worry...my phone is okay, but the experience Jadon and I had retrieving it was hilarious (think crawling through a space big enough for only Jadon haha!).  Gary couldn't stop talking about how watching the fireworks from the YVR Observation Deck was the best time he'd had at the fireworks....EVER!  I have to agree 100% and the cash bar was a great addition haha!

Make sure you reserve your tickets now for the next two showings:

• Wednesday, July 27th - Australia
• Saturday, July 30th - USA

The deck opens up for both showings at 6:30pm.  I'd recommend getting your wristbands first (from the top of the deck, accessible from the street), and then stroll along the beach and enjoy the food trucks before setting on the deck.  If you end up watching the fireworks show(s) from the YVR Observation Deck, I'd love to hear about your experience!

xo,
Kristina


Disclosure:  All opinions in this review remain my own and do not reflect the opinions or views of Honda Celebration of Light, the Vancouver Airport Authority, and/or their affiliates.  We received complimentary passes to the YVR Observation Deck in order to conduct this review.

zoe's special day + a giveaway!

You know those weekends that feel so fulfilling and successful (is that the right word?) that when you look back at it, you actually feel like you got something done?  This was one of those weekends.

Yes, it helped that it was a long weekend and, yes, it also helped that it was a special one for our family.   I almost can't believe I'm saying this, but Zoe just turned four.  FOUR!!  It just feels weird saying that since she's my baby, and now I look at her and she's this little person.  My mind is just blown.

Since we celebrated Zoe's birthday a couple weeks ago at a joint party with her BFF, we decided to spend her actual birthday at the Vancouver Aquarium with the entire family.  The night before, Jadon couldn't contain his excitement about his baby sister's special day and even helped me bake her birthday cake (all caught on Snapchat: kristina.cross).

The best part about our visits to the aquarium is seeing the magic of discovery through my kids' eyes. Everything is so new and amazing to them, and I just love that.  Speaking of new, the recent upgrades to the aquarium will have visitors of all ages in awe!

If you haven't been to the Vancouver Aquarium lately, you have to go!  There is so much to discover, see and learn - from the new Discover Rays exhibit (which, unfortunately, we ran out of time and weren't able to see) to the ever-popular dolphin shows to the 4D movie feature.  I promise the locals that the new aquarium is nothing like you remember it to be and I promise tourists will not be disappointed.

When it's time to finally relax (and while you're waiting for the 4D movie to start), I would highly recommend visiting the "Animal Rescue Centre" with your kids.  It's basically an enclosed play/educational area for kids to freely roam, and for adults to sit down and take a break.  Zoe had a blast rescuing her animal friends, while Jadon ran wild:

celebrating 60 years

The Vancouver Aquarium is celebrating it's 60th anniversary this June!  They've launched a photo contest to celebrate this milestone and encourage visitors to post their favourite Vancouver Aquarium memory to Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #vanaqua60.  Alternatively, entrants can upload their photos directly to their contest page.

{win it!}

Want to win your way in and see the new Discover Rays exhibit for yourself?  The Vancouver Aquarium is giving one of our lucky readers a chance to win a #DiscoverRays prize pack including two tickets to check out the exhibit!  To enter, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is open to BC residents only and ends on Monday, May 30, 2016 at 9pm PST.