Monday, January 31, 2011

SATURDAY! SATURDAY! SATURDAY! BE THERE! BE THERE! BE THERE!

...and with that; the eager, beckoning call for Monster Jammers every where, we went! And oh what a time we had! Now to set the scene a little, myself and my man-date, Jordan, are not you're typical Monster Truck fans. Well, at least not since we were ten! But we found ourselves quickly sucked into the high voltage energy and we hungrily took in all Monster Jam had to offer! Ah, the sights, the sounds, the smells! All of it potentially lethal if consumed at too great a volume, in too short a time, but it is also electric with intensity and truly entertaining! At least once we smartened up and bought some ear plugs!

Being Monster Jam virgins, we had no idea as to what the evenings itinerary would entail. I mean, we had SOME idea that stuff was going to get crushed and we were going to cheer and “Boo” until our throats we hoarse with hot exhaust! But I enjoyed the variety of events which lead to an over all kick-ass night!

The first event is one on one, short-track racing in which all the competitors get two laps and two jumps to prove their worth in the shortest amount of time. This is where we discovered that after three or four starts, in the front row, your ears turn into a centre of white, hot pain! (Ear plugs people! I can't stress this enough!) Right away you could notice the distinct line between the meek and the masterful! AMSOIL SHOCK THERAPY, driven by Rick Rabb, and Tom Meents' MAXIMUM DESTRUCTION, and of course the only monster truck EVERYBODY knows; GRAVE DIGGER driven by Charlie Pauken were clear crowd favorites and already showing the guts and determination needed to dominate in this sport. When the fumes settled, MAXIMUM DESTRUCTION was declared victorious!

Event number two is the free-style competition. This is where the hotter the transmissions got; the more the crazier the Monster Jam fans frenzy would become!! And when GRAVE DIGGER THE LEGEND (I know, totally crazy; There are two kinds of GRAVE DIGGERs! I don't really get it.) came crashing down after a seriously gutsy jump and nearly destroyed the entire back-end of his '51 Ford Panel Van Monster Truck, he was crowned the winner, though his close relative GRAVE DIGGER forfeited his points to wow the crowd with yet another GRAVE DIGGER in a duet with fellow driver Tony Farrell.

And just as it seemed the Monster Truck fun was coming to a close, into my life strolled ROBOSAURUS! That's right, the 42', 30 ton fire breathing half robot, half dinosaur, enjoyed what I can only assume is a small snack for such a beast. He ripped through two cars (literally in half!) and, all the while, you could feel the heat on your face from his fiery breath! And as if this evening wasn't already chock-full with sensory overload, we were also introduced to JET QUADS! These half ATV, half jet engine beauties couldn't even get up to speed inside the Rogers Centre, but the few showy laps they did were loud enough to make you wish for some more bare-ear Monster Truck action! The evening was nicely topped off with a good, ol' fashion smash up derby where we picked the winner right off the hop! What appeared to be some sort of mid-'80's station wagon driven by Mitch Clark son ripped through his competitors and claimed his broken, tangled metal victory!

All in all, this was a super entertaining night of everything you'd expect from Feld Entertainment's Monster Jam with one pleasantly unexpected exception. The professionalism, sportsmanship, and showmanship of all the driver's really shone through in all the events and even after when it was announced that they would stay until the last autograph had been signed!

Bravo men and women of Monster Truck! I take off my mesh-back hat and salute you! Thank you for fulfilling my inner ten year old's dream of seeing stuff get crushed by trucks with huge wheels! It was AWESOME!

***Again, this was written by Grant... he is loving the reviews.***

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Group Fitness Classes with Toddlers and Preschoolers

After having my first daughter, I signed up for Stroller Fitness and Baby & Me Fitness classes. I loved them both and continued them until I had to return to work. I lost all the baby weight before returning to work and I had enough energy to get through the day. My daughter also loved the classes, and it was nice to have that time with her since it was benefiting both of us.

Once I returned to work, I also starting working part-time as a personal trainer. I introduced Mommy & Me fitnuyouess classes to the club I was working at and continued to workout through my 2nd pregnancy.

It was not until after I had my 2nd daughter that I had a hard time getting back into shape. I could not find a class that would allow me to bring both kids to the class and my daughters hated the gym daycare... and they would go ANYWHERE but there! That is when I realized that there were no classes for moms and their kids once the kids turned 16 months old! Even Stroller Fitness classes would not allow toddlers! So, I decided to start my own business and offer the classes myself. It enabled me to work with my kids by my side, but it also gave a lot of moms the opportunity to exercise with their kids close by. I started by offering Baby Fitness classes in a local church basement, and added Stroller Fitness classes in the local park once the weather warmed up. I designed the classes so that the moms with young babies could wear and incorporate the kids into the workout or so the moms with the older toddlers and preschoolers could get in a great workout, while their kids played in the attached playroom. The classes slowly gathered interested and I am now offering classes in the Beaches, Upper Beaches and Leslieville. I am looking to expand into other parts of the East End of Toronto, but it all takes time to gather enough interest.

I still have my youngest come with me to the class once a week, but the rest of the time she is in Nursery School. I am lucky enough to be able to keep my kids with me while I work and I love it. My oldest is in JK now and only gets to come to the classes on PA Days, and she asks constantly if she can come. They both love playing with the other kids and babies.

I love teaching the classes. Some moms are more determined to lose the baby weight than others, but they are all looking for a welcoming, social atmosphere and I try my best to offer that. All the kids (my own included) have good days and bad, but overall, it is a mom and kid-friendly class and we all have a great time!

I started my business as a way to help moms that have a hard time finding the time, energy and money to exercise. My own kids are growing quickly and soon I will not have either of them tagging along to the classes, but I will continue to offer these classes in order to help the moms out there with kids over 16 months of age. Of course, babies are welcome as well. I have moms that started with me 4 weeks postpartum with their first baby and are now still with me with their 2nd child (some still on the way)! It is great to see the babies and families grow!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam - coming to Toronto



Looking for something to do this weekend? The Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam is coming to the Rogers Centre this weekend (January 22nd & 23rd) and it promises to be a fun show! Filled with roaring engines and plenty of crushing, the top trucks from the Monster Jam line-up will entertain fans with jumps, stunts and thrills! Some of the line-up includes...

  • Grave Digger driven by current Monster Jam Freestyle Champion Charlie Pauken
  • Maximum Destruction driven by 8 Time world champion Tom Meents
  • Grave Digger Legend
  • Ironman
  • Shock Therapy
  • Excaliber
  • Black Stallion
  • Iron Warrior
  • Rap Attack
  • Michigan Ice Monster
  • Ground Pounder
  • Meet ROBOSAURUS, a 40 foot tall 30 tonne mechanical dinosaur. Feel the heat of 20-foot flames.
The show is family-friendly and I have a feeling kids of all ages will love it (even the big ones). For more information about the show, check out http://www.monsterjam.com

USE THE CODE BLOG and SAVE $5 PER TICKET!!!

Monday, January 17, 2011

Mickey & Minnie's Rockin' Roadshow... ROCKED!

Disney's Mickey's Rockin' Road Show, well, ROCKED! Full of Disney magic, energetic fun, and a great story line that kept the kids and parents entertained! Oh and watch out for Donald's big “KA-POW” finish (he gets it right eventually!!)

We were lucky enough to meet Mickey and Minnie before the show, at least most of us did as our 2 year old is still a little wary of larger than life costumed characters, and our oldest daughter's only question was as to why they weren't talking with any one? I thought it was to save their singing voices for the big show and told her as much, but I thought their faces would remain motionless during the performance, but somehow, once on stage, they came to life! With eyes and mouths that moved to the music and brought some added magical realism to the already action packed show! With scenery that moved with the characters and Donald's a fore mentioned “KA-POW” finale, we were all really impressed with the Disney magic brought to the stage! Though, I must say, with two Disney on Ice performances under our belts, we weren't really all that surprised!

The other element I really liked about Mickey's Rockin' Road Show was the energy Mickey and all his friends brought to the audience. I mean, shows always boast about bringing crowds out of their seats to clap and sing along, but this one really hit the mark! Well not for OUR kids, they were all to happy to sit back and let the magic come to them! We did our best to entice them by making fools of ourselves, but we certainly weren't alone as the whole rest of the venue was alive with interactive singing and dancing (including a 10 minute active warm up to get every one's wiggles out!). Kids were encouraged to answer questions and shout out things that they noticed to help Mickey, Minnie and friends gather what that they needed to put on a talent show for all to enjoy! This left no room for attentions to wander or bums to squirm!

The Road show included lasso, juggling, and other circus style tricks with Toy Story's Woody, Jessie, and, of course, Buzz Lightyear! Winnie the Pooh's pal Tigger entertained every one with what Tiggers do best: BOUNCING!! Cinderella sang her way into everyone's hearts and she even brought her step sisters along for some tone deaf comic relief! And, of course, Mickey Minnie, Goofy and Donald, with some guest hosts to help all the fun along, brought all their own special talents in a truly Rockin' Road Show! And watch out because when Donald gets his “KA-POW” right, you may be pulling it out of your hair for days! Depending on where your seats are!

We can't wait to see what Disney has to offer in next season's line up of shows as we hope to enjoy these events as much as possible while our girls are still young enough to freak out at the mere mention of Mickey (or maybe more so Minnie) Mouse! Our only tough decision will be with Ice or without! Maybe both!

**Disney's Mickey's Rockin' Road Show, well, ROCKED! Full of Disney magic, energetic fun, and a great story line that kept the kids and parents entertained! Oh and watch out for Donald's big “KA-POW” finish (he get's it right eventually!!)


We were lucky enough to meet Mickey and Minnie before the show, at least most of us did as our 2 year old is still a little wary of larger than life costumed characters, and our oldest daughter's only question was as to why they weren't talking with any one? I thought it was to save their singing voices for the big show and told her as much, but I thought their faces would remain motionless during the performance, but somehow, once on stage, they came to life! With eyes and mouths that moved to the music and brought some added magical realism to the already action packed show! With scenery that moved with the characters and Donald's a fore mentioned “KA-POW” finale, we were all really impressed with the Disney magic brought to the stage! Though, I must say, with two Disney on Ice performances under our belts, we weren't really all that surprised!


The other element I really liked about Mickey's Rockin' Road Show was the energy Mickey and all his friends brought to the audience. I mean, shows always boast about bringing crowds out of their seats to clap and sing along, but this one really hit the mark! Well not for OUR kids, they were all to happy to sit back and let the magic come to them! We did our best to entice them by making fools of ourselves, but we certainly weren't alone as the whole rest of the venue was alive with interactive singing and dancing (including a 10 minute active warm up to get every one's wiggles out!). Kids were encouraged to answer questions and shout out things that they noticed to help Mickey, Minnie and friends gather what that they needed to put on a talent show for all to enjoy! This left no room for attentions to wander or bums to squirm!


The Road show included lasso, juggling, and other circus style tricks with Toy Story's Woody, Jessie, and, of course, Buzz Lightyear! Winnie the Pooh's pal Tigger entertained every one with what Tiggers do best: BOUNCING!! Cinderella sang her way into everyone's hearts and she even brought her step sisters along for some tone deaf comic relief! And, of course, Mickey Minnie, Goofy and Donald, with some guest hosts to help all the fun along, brought all their own special talents in a truly Rockin' Road Show! And watch out because when Donald gets his “KA-POW” right, you may be pulling it out of your hair for days! Depending on where your seats are!


We can't wait to see what Disney has to offer in next season's line up of shows as we hope to enjoy these events as much as possible while our girls are still young enough to freak out at the mere mention of Mickey (or maybe more so Minnie) Mouse! Our only tough decision will be with Ice or without! Maybe both!

***This post is courtesy of Daddy... he loved the show so much, we wanted to write the blog post this time!***

Working... and working out... with my kids

I am a personal trainer, a group fitness instructor and of course, a mom. I was lucky enough to be able to start up my own business and include my kids in my work. Since my youngest was 10 months old, I have been training clients in my home-studio. There is an attached playroom for my girls (and any kids that come with my clients) to play in while I work and they have always come with me to my classes. My oldest is now in school, so she no longer comes with me, but my youngest is still there on the days that she does not have Nursery School.

We have our good days and our bad days, but overall, the kids are great for me. They understand that when I am with a client, I can not be as focused on them as they would sometimes like, but I am still close by to help them if needed. When I first meet with my clients, I explain that my kids will be with me during certain times of the day and I have been very fortunate with all my clients being very understanding with my kids. Some clients only come in the evenings, so they rarely even see my kids, but in general, my kids like to know who is with me, so they will come down for a visit every now and then, even if Daddy is home.

The hardest part of my day is trying to get paperwork done with the kids around. As great as they are if there is a client here, they just do not understand that when I am working at the computer, it is just as important. Getting my programs done, researching new exercises and, going through food logs, bookkeeping, marketing, creating new classes, finding good music to workout to for the classes, paying the bills and keeping up with the day to day office work that comes along with running a small business just does not seem important to kids. I can not blame them, but at the same time, it can be frustrating when I am trying to get something done in my office and they become needier than any other time of day! Even trying to have a conversation on the phone with a potential client can be close to impossible. Not sure why the phone is such a trigger for kids, but my youngest can not stand it when I am on the phone!

As for trying to get my own exercise in, it is tough. Since I teach classes and demonstrate the exercises for the participants, I do manage to get some exercise in, but it is hard for me to get the workouts done at home. Since I do not have a client with me, my kids feel it is crucial that they are all over me for this time.

Overall though, I would not change a thing. I love working with the women I work with, I love having the ability to schedule my work around my kids, and I love the fact that I am in control of where my career and business are going. I am happy with the small home studio I have in the Beaches for personal training and I am happy to rent spaces in Leslieville and the Beaches for my group fitness classes... for now. Once my kids are both in school, I am excited to spend more time expanding the business and hopefully getting a space somewhere in the Beaches or Leslieville.

I would love to hear from other "mompreneurs" about how they manage to get their paperwork done with kids around! Being a work at home mom and running your own business is a whole other world and I am still learning the tricks to making it run smoothly on a personal and professional level... any advice would be welcome!!!

Friday, January 14, 2011

Mickey & Minnie's Rockin' Roadshow... another great show with all our favorites!



Well, we have done the Disney on Ice thing (twice) and the girls loved it! The question now is, are they going to love a Disney show that is not on ice? I am pretty sure they are going to love it. We have the poster on our fridge and they both start bouncing up and down, begging to go, every time they see it. The fun part is, we are going this weekend... and we are not telling them until we are at the venue! We are even driving there, just to throw them off a little. We have always taken TTC there and that is half the fun for them, but we have decided to drive this time and make the surprise last a little bit longer.

Feld Entertainment presents a Live Stage Production staring Mickey Mouse and Friends!

Disney Live! Mickey's Rockin' Road Show, will take your family on a fun-filled journey with Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy! As the crazy cast of characters embark on a talent search, adventure is inevitable. Your family will sing, dance and laugh along with all their favorite characters... and for the first time in Disney Live! history, Buzz Lightyear, Woody and friends from Disney/Pixar's Toy Story join the show!


"Families will feel like they are traveling alongside Mickey and Minnie as they set off on an exciting theatrical excursion, right in their hometown," Producer Alana Feld comments. "Disney Live! Mickey's Rockin' Road Show is a combination of hilarious escapades, hip music and modern choreography that fuse together to present the Disney characters like you've never seen them before."


As a special bonus, fifteen minutes before every performance, families are treated to the Playhouse Disney Pre-Show Party. This interactive experience features a live host as she gets the audience revved up for the show with fun video highlights from Playhouse Disney favorites "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," "Handy Manny," "Imagination Movers," "Special Agent Oso" and "Jungle Junction." The Pre-Show party is free to all ticket holders.


Of course, their is an offer for you moms out there to help you save some money. Use the code BLOG and save $5 per ticket!

The show runs from Friday, January 14th to Sunday, January 16th. It is a short run, so do not miss your opportunity to see it!

We are going to the Saturday morning show, so I will be back again on Saturday afternoon to let you know if it was a hit with the girls or not... I think we already know the answer to that!


Sunday, January 9, 2011

Disney on Ice - Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey

Well, it may have been in the middle of the Christmas craziness and my oldest may have had the worst sinus infection I have ever seen... but we made it! We took the girls to see another Disney on Ice Show this year. Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey was great! The girls, again, sat on the edge of their seats the entire show! They are now almost 3 and almost 5, but the show managed to keep their attention from beginning to end!

Goofy was a favorite from early on in the show... of course. The show included scenes and characters from The Lion King, Lilo and Stitch, The Little Mermaid... and the main event... Peter Pan! My youngest has not seen or read The Lion King yet and neither of them know the full story of Lilo and Stitch, but of course, they know the characters and the show is done is such a great, entertaining way, that it does not even matter if you know the full stories.

I figure that these shows will eventually no longer appeal to my girls. So, in the meantime, we try to take them as often as possible. Luckily, there are always great offers out there... you just need to know where to look. I have been lucky enough to have been provided these offers, so if you continue to follow my blog, I will always post the offers for these and any other shows affiliated with Feld Family Entertainment in the Toronto area.

Like I mentioned, my oldest had been sick at the time. She had been fighting a fever of 104 for 3 days leading up to the show. We were so worried we were going to have to miss the show... but, she woke up the morning of and seemed to be on the mend, so we decided to take her. She sat up through the entire show with a huge grin on her face (the most she could muster as her poor lips were so chapped from being sick and dehydrated). By the time we got on the streetcar to come home, she fell asleep on her Daddy's shoulder, but she was still happy that she had gone. All her energy went into the show and she slept most of the afternoon away, but none of us regret going. It was a great family outing for all of us and we even had the pleasure of meeting up with some friends there and having them over to the house for dinner.

I wish I could go into greater detail about how great the show was... but, my house has been under attack by the flu for the last few weeks and my version was mostly in the eyes, so it is taking a lot of effort to even write this post... but flu season with children in the house is a whole other post!

There is another great show coming up, Disney Live! Mickey's Rockin' Road Show! This is not a ice show, so this will be a first for my girls. They have only ever gone to the Disney on Ice shows... and my oldest had the chance to see The National Ballet of Canada perform The Nutcracker last year... a perk to having friends in the company. I am excited to see the show... and the girls do not even know we are going! So exciting!

I will be back again soon... as soon as my eyes recover and it does not take me an hour to get through a small post!

Hope you are all healthy! Keep taking your vitamins C & D and get enough sleep!