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Posts by: mamapicks

  1. What to do this weekend…

    Enjoy an Easter Egg hunt at Puck’s Farm, (Shomberg) on Saturday (10am-5pm).  There will be a small petting zoo, pony & hay rides and plenty of Easter related fun and games.

    Enjoy  the Maple Syrup Festival at Bronte Creek (Oakville) which includes a wagon ride to a heated pancake house (pure maple syrup, YUM!).  Pancakes are extra.  Costumed interpreters demonstrate how to tap maple trees in order to make maple sugar and maple syrup.

    If the weather is as pleasant as it was this week, go to the Beaches and enjoy an incredible playground and walking or riding bikes on the boardwalk.  If your little ones are fans of dogs, I think they outnumber people at the Beaches :)

    See Judy & David live at the City Playhouse in Thornhill with the show titles Red’s in the Hood.  Don’t worry if you haven’t purchased tickets in advance, there usually are plenty left if you call the theatre on the day of.

    Have a pancake breakfast at the Casa Loma with Robin Hood and Maid Marion.  Limited tickets available for Sat. March 13th & 20th.  Other Robin Hood related events will take place all week for March Break.

    Posted in Activities & Events, This Weekend.

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    By mamapicks – March 19, 2010

  2. Yo-Yo Pro Clinics at Mastermind Toys

    …and save $11 on the Raider Roller-Bearing Yo-Yo this week ($7 ea.)

    Posted in Deals, sale.

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    By mamapicks – March 17, 2010

  3. 30% off at the Gap!

    Posted in Coupons.

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    By mamapicks – March 15, 2010

  4. March Break Fun @ The Promenade Mall

    Kids Yoga with LuluLemon, arts & crafts, Rainbow Cinema promotions, a dance class and family manicures all take place at the Promenade Mall this coming week.  Check here for more info.

    Posted in Uncategorized.

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    By mamapicks – March 14, 2010

  5. Toonie Matinees

    This March Break, take the kids to a matinee at any Empire Theatre location for only $2!  For show times across Canada, click here.

    Posted in Uncategorized.

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    By mamapicks – March 12, 2010

  6. Like the Monte Luca Glider but for Less!

    Isn’t it gorgeous?  I searched high and low for an upholstered nursing chair with a descent price tag….and potential for use later on in the kid’s room or family room.  The Monte Luca glider normally retails for $995.  The one I found (The Emily Glider), is nearly identical to this one, made by a Canadian company and available in great colours.  On sale now at the Kids and Baby Furniture Warehouse for $659 AND, you get another 10% off by printing the coupon from their website bringing the price to $592 + tax.  You will notice that the validity of the coupon has not been updated on the website but it will still be honoured by Barbara at the store – she is so sweet and helpful!

    Posted in Deals, Decor, sale.

    1 comment

    By mamapicks – March 11, 2010

  7. What to do this weekend…and March Break

    Have a pancake breakfast at the Casa Loma with Robin Hood and Maid Marion.  Limited tickets available for Sat. March 13th & 20th.  Other Robin Hood related events will take place all week for March Break.

    Go to Kortright Conservation Centre (Woodbridge) for their annual Maple Syrup Festival.  This is a fun festival with all kinds of activities, wagon rides and ponies.  Come early, otherwise the car queue to enter the parking area can get really long.  As well, bring your own sandwiches and snacks because their food selection is limited.  Picnic tables are available outdoors.  Click here for a schedule of events.

    See a show this March Break  – Max & Ruby, Pinkalicious, Robert Munsch,  Yo Gabba Gabba (enter code MUNO on the Ticketmaster website to get $5 off your tickets), The Monster Under the Bed (ages 6+ at the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre)

    There are also special March Break activities at the ROM, CN Tower, Bata Shoe Museum and the Science Centre.

    For more indoor fun, you can also try Wizard World at Exhibition Place.  I haven’t heard any reviews about this…so no guarantees!

    Posted in Activities & Events, This Weekend.

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    By mamapicks – March 10, 2010

  8. Is your baby keeping you up at night?

    So is mine.  A good friend’s words help me keep it all in perspective.  Her motto is now my own:  My baby is doing what he is supposed to be doing. And thank goodness for that.

    Posted in Uncategorized.

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    By mamapicks –

  9. Mabels Labels Coupon Code

    By far, Mabel’s Labels rank high on the Mamapicks chart of useful kids’ products.  You can label everything from shoes to clothes with your child’s name.  The weather is looking so good…and it makes me want to label sand toys (!).  Enjoy 15% off your order with coupon code KIDS and you might get a little surprise with your order as Mabel’s Labels is celebrating their 7th birthday and adding goodies to random orders until March 17th!

    Posted in Coupons, Gifts, Personalized.

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    By mamapicks – March 9, 2010

  10. Turn your child’s handwriting into a font!

    fonts

    The Boy is now writing.  He mostly writes lists of the names of the kids in his class.  He often makes a dotted outline of a letter for himself (just like on the worksheets at school) and then goes over the dots.  It’s quite charming.  I recently thought about capturing his handwriting style as it develops over the next few years and decided to look for a way to create a font for my computer called The Boy.  I found a website which generates personal fonts.  All you have to do is give your child (or anybody else you want to create a font for) the printable sheet to fill out the letters of the alphabet.  Then, you scan the sheet and the program generates the font for you.  This costs $9.95.  Click here to try it, it’s quite simple…and it’s a really nice way of saving your child’s handwriting, using it for various projects, and sharing it with them when they are older.

    Posted in Gifts, Ideas.

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    By mamapicks – March 8, 2010

  11. Mastermind Coupon

    Sometimes finding the right gift for the 7+ age group isn’t easy.  This coupon may help!

    Posted in Coupons, Gifts.

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    By mamapicks – March 5, 2010

  12. Special Preview Prices at Olly Shoes

    Posted in Deals.

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    By mamapicks – March 4, 2010

  13. What To Do This Weekend…

    You’re on your own this weekend as Mamapicks just had a baby boy.  I apologize in advance if the site is not updated regularly over the next week.

    Posted in This Weekend.

    2 comments

    By mamapicks –

  14. Pamper yourself…

    hair-coupon4

    There is nothing like a good cut or style to make a mama feel amazing… and there is nothing like a good deal to help us justify spending money on looking good.   Lena is an incredible stylist who works at the Finishing Touch Salon near Centre & Dufferin.  She is offering first-time clients an unbelievable price on Tuesday & Wednesday appointments.  $15 for a blow-dry and $35 for cut+blow dry.  Trust me, she is incredible and you’ll be back for more!  Just tell her that you are a Mamapicks reader.

    Posted in Deals, Exclusive Discounts.

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    By mamapicks –

  15. Toy Recommendation

    Once in a while, you buy a toy and it actually peaks your children’s interest for more than 1 day.  This one (Pipe Builders) has been occupying both The Boy & The Girl for over two  months!  Who would have thought?   They are always busy building letters, numbers, shapes and structures. I purchased the large tub of plastic pipe builders at an amazing American store called Lakeshore Learning (they supply educational toys, learning materials and craft supplies to schools, museums, playgrounds and regular families).  If by chance you are in the US, you must visit!  Some of Lakeshore’s products (Pipe Builders included), are available here in Canada through Wintergreen Learning Materials.  The set includes 240 plastic pieces and is well worth the purchase!

    Posted in Gifts, Ideas, Useful Info.

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    By mamapicks – March 2, 2010

  16. The Cry Translator

    I am so addicted to my iPhone.  I don’t own many apps – I just use it in order to get my e-mail, look up the weather in cities that my friends are frequenting (hoping that they are as cold as I am)…and keep my kids from having tantrums.   As #3 is due any day, my next technological investment just might have to be…The Cry Translator.  I remember this being discussed on Oprah.

    Apparently, there are five distinct cries made by infants: hungry, sleepy, annoyed, stressed or bored. These five cries are universal to all babies regardless of culture or language.  The translator is an iPhone application that reads your baby’s cries and translates his/her needs withing 10 seconds.

    I will let you know if it’s any good very soon…

    Posted in Cool Products.

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    By mamapicks – March 1, 2010

  17. Sale: Baby Mum-Mums

    4 boxes for $6 at Toys R Us until March 4th!

    Posted in Deals, sale.

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    By mamapicks – February 28, 2010

  18. Old Navy Fundamentals Sale

    Posted in Deals, sale.

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    By mamapicks – February 26, 2010

  19. DIY: CD Case Project

    Loved this idea of using plastic CD cases to display a favourite photo.  Check out the Country Living website for more details on how to do this yourself.

    Posted in Decor, Ideas.

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    By mamapicks –

  20. 40% off coupon for men’s styles at the Gap!

    Click on this coupon to print a copy.

    Posted in Deals, sale.

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    By mamapicks – February 25, 2010

  21. If you were a piece of IKEA furniture…

    …what would your name be?  A little silliness to perk up your Thursday.  Try it!

    Posted in Useful Info.

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    By mamapicks –

  22. Mamapicks Newsletter – Feb. 24th, 2010

    This is what has been happening over at mamapicks.com this week. Check out the website for other daily finds.

    DIY CD Case Project

    Loved this idea of using plastic CD cases to display a favourite photo.  Check out the Country Living website for more details on how to do this yourself.

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    What To Do This Weekend (Feb. 27th & 28th)

    Toons for Toddlers is a great family cinema experience for little ones (ages 2-5).  Enjoy reduced sound, better lighting and special features.  $5 pp.  This weekend, see In The Night Garden – Fun in the Garden.  For details about various times and locations, check the website.

    Saturday is opening day for the new Bat Cave a the ROM.  Bigger, better, scarier.  Families will be able to view more bats and highlights include an audio-visual show that explores cave formation, how bats use echolocation and more, and a spectacular dramatization of bats in flight during a nightly exodus for food.

    If your kids are into trains, there is a great opportunity to see the Model Railroad Show at the Model Railroad Club (in Liberty Village) on Sunday, Feb. 28th.

    Something to do at home?  Bake cookies with your kids…  always fun, quality time!

    Check out more great weekend events on www.mamapicks.com

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    New To This World

    Love this fine art print, personalized for a newborn.  Created by an Australian designer (Freya Art & Design)…found on Etsy, of course.

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    Free Weekly Meal Plans

    What’s for dinner?  Ugh.  It’s not about whether you love to cook…it’s about being organized.  I do like to cook but figuring out what to prepare every day and making sure that the ingredients are in the house overwhelms me sometimes. Not to mention that I prepare separate dinners for my husband (who is a carnivore) and my kids (who have the pickiest palates).

    I have been using Wovenfare’s free weekly meal plans for quite a while now and I love the great recipe ideas and the weekly grocery list.  I don’t normally use the whole plan, but pick and choose the recipes that appeal to us.  I am going to start publishing their dinner ideas right here on Mamapicks every Thursday.

    Here are this past week’s recipes:

    Stuffed Pork Tenderloin, Cilantro Beef Meatballs with Sour Cream Sauce, Roasted Salmon with Butter, Dill and Garlic, German Style Pork Steak with Red Cabbage, Mediterranean Pizza, Chicken Fingers with Honey Mustard.

    Bon Apetit!

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    Time to replace your pots & pans?

    My mom recently got it into my head after pointing out that some of my pans were scratched and that Teflon is hazardous.  I am not much of a “green” mama so I am no expert on this kind of stuff.  Sometimes I even question recycling because I do want the weather to get warmer, I really, truly do.  However, the thought of Teflon in my kids’ scrambled eggs freaked me out.  I was on the lookout for a new set and found this great deal on Sears.ca.  Save $400 on this Henckel’s 10-piece set of pots & pans.  Regularly priced at $599.   Available for $199 until Feb. 26th.

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    Best of 2009 Series: Tree House Beds

    I think I need to start a new category.  Things I want but can’t have.  These amazingly-amazing loft beds are from a Danish company called Kids Factory.  Their site is in Danish with no English options but I can tell you in very plain English that these tree-house beds are very expensive and that shipping would be a bitch.

    		 bunk

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    There are many more deals, coupons and product features on mamapicks.com.

    Please forward this newsletter to your friends!

    Posted in Newsletter.

    No comments

    By mamapicks – February 24, 2010

  23. What to do this weekend…

    Toons for Toddlers is a great family cinema experience for little ones (ages 2-5).  Enjoy reduced sound, better lighting and special features.  $5 pp.  This weekend, see In The Night Garden – Fun in the Garden.  For details about various times and locations, check the website.

    Saturday is opening day for the new Bat Cave at the ROM.  Bigger, better, scarier.  Families will be able to view more bats and highlights include an audio-visual show that explores cave formation, how bats use echolocation and more, and a spectacular dramatization of bats in flight during a nightly exodus for food.

    If your kids are into trains, there is a great opportunity to see the Model Railroad Show at the Model Railroad Club (in Liberty Village) on Sunday, Feb. 28th.

    Something to do at home?  Bake cookies with your kids…  always fun, quality time!

    Visit Fantasy Fair at Woodbine Mall. This indoor amusement park which is made to look like a Victorian village has an antique style carousel, indoor Ferris Wheel, bumper boats and cars, express train and more.  There is also a soft play village with 3 levels and lots of slides. Open Sat. & Sun. 11am-7pm and someone just told me that if you come for the last hour, ride tickets are half price.

    Enjoy skating at the Shops at Don Mills (Donmills & Lawrence).  In the Town Square, you will find a great skating oval with lots of families skating outdoors.  Skating is free but you must bring your own skates.  There are lockers available behind the water feature.  Open Saturdays 9:30am-6pm and Sundays 11am-6pm.  Figure Skating performances will take place on weekends this month from 12noon – 2pm (public skating will not be available during these show times).

    Posted in Activities & Events, This Weekend.

    No comments

    By mamapicks –

  24. New to this world…

    Love this fine art print, personalized for a newborn.  Created by an Australian designer (Freya Art & Design)…found on Etsy, of course.

    Posted in Cool Products, Gifts, Personalized.

    No comments

    By mamapicks –

  25. Banana Republic: 30% off Event

    Posted in Deals, sale.

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    By mamapicks – February 22, 2010