December 21, 2018

Did You Know? Fun Facts about Reindeer


When people think of reindeer, they often visualize Rudolph and his team of friends flying through the midnight sky pulling the big man's sleigh. But, there is so much more to these fascinating Arctic creatures than stories have told. 

How much do you really know about this northernmost deer species? 

Here are 10 Fun Facts About Reindeer to impress your family and friends this holiday season.


In North America, reindeer found in the wild are actually called caribou. The word reindeer is only used to describe those that have become domesticated, or live close to people (such as Santa). However, in Europe they are all reindeer regardless of living in the wild or captivity.

Caribou are the northernmost deer species, found in the Arctic tundra and northern forests of North America, Europe, Asia and Russia.


Male caribou are called bulls, and as an adult average 350-400 pounds. Mature females, called cows, are smaller and average 175-225 pounds.

Caribou have the longest documented migration of any terrestrial animal. Like most herd animals, they must move to find adequate food, often traveling up to 3,000 miles or 5,000 km between summer and winter ranges in a single year. 

Caribou are a members of the deer family (which also contains elk, deer and moose). However, unlike other members of the deer family, both male and female caribou grow antlers. Antlers are made of bone, and when they are growing have a fuzzy covering, called velvet, which contains blood vessels carrying oxygen and nutrients for bone growth. When the velvet dies, the blood supply to the bone is cut off, causing the antlers to shed. This happens yearly. (As opposed to animals with horns, which grow with the animal throughout their entire life.) 


Caribou shed their antlers at different points in the year based on their sex and age. Adult bulls generally shed their antlers in late fall, early winter, after they have mated. Adult females and younger caribou carry their antlers much longer, often throughout the winter. Females' antlers don't fall off until after Christmas, which means Santa's reindeer are most likely all female. 


Caribou are built for the cold. They have a short, stocky body that helps conserve heat, and long legs to help move through the deep snow. Their winter coat contains hollow hair which traps air and provides insulation from the cold. 

Caribou are ungulates, which mean they are cloven-hoofed and chew cud. Their feet are built for walking in deep snow, as they have large, concave hooves that spread widely to help support them in snow and soft tundra. Their feet also function as paddles when they swim and as a scoop when looking for other lichens and plants in the snow.


Their scientific name is Rangifer tarandus, which comes from the Old French rangier, meaning “reindeer” and ferus ¸which is Latin for “wild and untamed”. The name "caribou" is French, and comes from the words "Mi'kmaq qualipu" meaning “snow shoveler,” referring to its habit of pawing through the snow for food.

Caribou are traditionally vital to indigenous northern people throughout much of their range. They are often hunted for subsistence and provide a rich source of red meat, a high protein food supply, and materials for the manufacture of handicrafts and artwork. Their hides are also uses for warmth, and often made into blankets and various articles of clothing.

Did you learn something new about reindeer? I'd love to hear your favourite fact!

*All photos property of To & Fro.
 
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December 11, 2018

6 Tips for Winter Self-Care


*This post is sponsored by Bayer®. To make sure Bayer® products are right for you, always read and follow the label

Winter is coming... in 10 days. Can't you believe it? 

With the change in the calendar, comes the change in cold weather. And that cold winter air can be pretty harsh on our bodies - itchy skin, dry eyes, chapped lips and a stuffy nose are just the start of winter woes. Check out these 6 simple tips and tricks to beat the harsh effects of the coldest months.

6 Tips for Winter Self-Care

6 Tips for Winter Self-Care

1. Don't forget to moisturize.

From skating to snow shoeing and snowy walks, winter is full of fun activities. However, we all know the cold can take a toll on our skin. In the harsh winter months, you should be paying more attention to your skincare routine. Try exfoliating more, limiting hot water and using a moisturizer. DERMAL THERAPY® body lotion is one option to help relieve dry, cracked, and itchy skin. With alpha hydroxy acids, it helps to replace old dry skin to reveal new skin and will help keep your skin smooth during the winter.

6 Tips for Winter Self-Care

2. Stay on top of dry lips

Like your skin, your lips can also take a beating. Exfoliate your lips twice a week to help prevent chapping. You can do this at home with a simple homemade sugar scrub (sugar plus olive oil). Before you go to bed, make sure you apply a thick lip balm to bring back some of the moisture you may have lost during the day. 

3. Fight congestion

A stuffy nose and cold weather go hand-in-hand, and this can really dampen your day. Sleeping with an extra pillow to elevate your head, using a humidifier and taking hot steamy showers can help clear your congestion. You can also try a nasal spray like hydraSense® Medium Stream (100mL), which works by flushing out recessive mucus accumulation, relieving congestion caused by colds, allergies, environmental pollutants or upper respiratory tract infections. hydraSense is made from 100% naturally-sourced seawater and is free of any medications or preservatives. 

6 Tips for Winter Self-Care

4. Stay hydrated

You may be great at staying on top of your water intake during the summer because of the heat, but it is just as important to stay hydrated during the winter. Don’t forget to carry around a water bottle and drink regularly throughout the day.  Don't enjoy drinking water? Add some fruit or (my personal favourite) lemon slices for a bit of flavour. 

5. Combat dry eyes 

Cold winds and dry indoor heating are a recipe for eye discomfort. Make sure to give your eyes breaks during the day by looking away from your electronics or wearing glasses instead of contacts. hydraSense® Advanced for Dry Eyes Long Lasting Relief (10mL) is one option for effective, long-lasting relief for your irritated eyes. It is preservative-free and contains sodium hyaluronate, a clinically proven naturally sourced lubricant.   

6 Tips for Winter Self-Care

6. Get your rest

Less sunlight and the chaos of the holidays can often make you feel tired, so getting a good night’s sleep to restore your energy is especially important during this time of year. Try your best to stick to a consistent sleep schedule. If you have a hard time getting to sleep, try a relaxing night time routine, such as reading a book or gentle stretches. 

With fun outdoor activities and the holidays, the winter is an exciting time of year! Don’t let the harsh weather hold you back from doing what you love. 

What are your best winter care tips? I'd love to hear!




*This post is sponsored by Bayer®. To make sure Bayer® products are right for you, always read and follow the label

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Winter Self-Care Tips

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December 6, 2018

Holiday Gift Guide: (Almost) Every Type of Guy in Your Life


Is there a guy in your life that you’re having a hard time finding that perfect gift for? Check out To & Fro's Holiday Gift Guide for (Almost) Every Type of Guy in Your Life - a few of my husband’s tried and true favourites, plus a few new ones that I know he is going to love.
Holiday Gift Guide: For (Almost) Every Type of Guy

Lets face it, guys are hard to buy for. Period. And when it’s a guy that has everything, well, the bar has been raised.

Does this sound familiar for that guy in your life?

To help you out, I’ve sourced a mix of unique products and gadgets that will suit all of the dudes in your life. Whether he loves music, fashion, getting outdoors or anything in between, I've got you covered. You’re (almost) guaranteed to find something for the hardest person on your list below in the Gift Guide for (Almost) Every Type of Guy in Your Life.

You may also like these Gift Guides:
Toddler
Toronto Experiences
The Outdoorsy Gentleman
Baby Sleep Essentials
Animal Children's Books

Holiday Gift Guide: (Almost) Every Type of Guy in Your Life

The Music Lover: FABRIQ Riff Speaker

The FARIQ Riff packs incredible sound in a fashionable, functional WIFI or Bluetooth-enabled speaker. Connects with Amazon Alexa at the tap of a button and can work with multiple FABRIQ speakers throughout your home to create the ultimate sound experience. 

Approximate retail value: $49.99 USD

The Fashionista:  Conscious Step Socks

Available at Ten Thousand Villages, Conscious Step makes fair trade organic socks with an artisan partner in New Delhi. The company was created to bring more awareness to the problems faced by the world today and the organizations fighting these problems. Their Socks for a Cause campaign matches a sock design with a non-profit organization, including planting trees and sending children to school). (Picture below: Socks for Oceans)

Ten Thousand Villages creates opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to our markets through long-term, fair trading relationships.


Approximate retail value: $20.00 CDN (through Ten Thousand Villages)



The Outdoorsman: Kamik Hudson5 Boots

Kamik’s Hudson5 men’s boots are a three-season boot perfect for city life. Their timeless, outdoor-inspired look coupled with the 3M Thinsulate insulation for warmth make them perfect for our Canadian winters. Feet will stay dry thanks to the weatherproof leather uppers and waterproof, lightweight rubber bottoms. The outsoles offer superior traction and maximum stability in all conditions, perfect for shovelling the driveway or playing outdoors with your kids.

If you love Kamik’s boots, then you’ll also love their new initiative - #FreeYourPlay. The #FreeYourPlay movement is Kamik’s invitation to encourage parents to step outside the overcrowded repetition of their family’s daily routine and to rediscover an offline-no-agenda creative balance with their kids! Learn more about it, here. 


Approximate retail value: $150.00 CDN
The Unreleased Stories is a special, all new collection of 13 stories by the beloved – and greatly missed –Stuart McLean. Laugh along with audiences from across the country as they enjoy stories about Canada’s favourite fictional family: Dave, Morley and the kids.

Approximate retail value: $32.80 CDN


The Adventurer: Knockaround Sunglasses 

Knockaround Sunglasses are perfect for the weekend adventures weekend adventurer who wants to be hard on their gear, but not on their wallet.

Knockaround is an industry leader that pioneered the affordably priced, high-quality sunglasses category more than ten years ago. The company offers superior value by providing products of comparable quality to premium brands at a much lower price. They are the perfect crossover shades, designed to integrate with an active lifestyle and take the wearer from fishing and hiking, to running and climbing, to cycling and paddling, to camping and hunting. Their eight stylish frame shapes just as easily segue into a day at the beach or a Sunday backyard cookout. They’re constructed from super lightweight, polycarbonate material and all feature FDA-approved, impact resistant lenses with full UV400 protection.

Approximate retail value: $10.00-$30.00 USD, depending on style

The Family Man: Other Life Lessons

In the picture book series, authors and Canadian moms Meaghan Hadwyn and Niki Snjaric tackle tough topics such as grief, entitlement and working moms. Their hope is to have a positive impact on children’s mental health by introducing difficult life lessons early on. They believe that life is a crazy, beautiful and incredible adventure but there are speed bumps along the way and moments that can be hard or unexpected. With their honest children's books, they share with children, as well as adults, the often-unspoken truths and struggles all of us face as we grow. Because if life is an adventure, we’re all exploring it together.

They are also donating a portion of all profits from the books to children’s mental health initiatives.

Approximate retail value: $11.99 CDN each or $30.00 for bundle of 3

The ConnoisseurPremium Cocktail Kit - The Old Fashioned

This handcrafted cocktail kit makes the perfect gift for any occasion or celebration. It's not just a gift, it's an experience. Each kit contains the premium ingredients needed to prepare six perfectly tasting Old Fashioned cocktails.


Approximate retail value: $28.99 

The Foodie: Wireless Remote Digital Cooking Food Meat Thermometer

Take the guesswork out of grill mastery with this thermometer that’ll let you track temps on your smartphone. The ThermoPro TP20 wireless remote thermometer with dual probes monitors food and/or oven/grill/smoker temperatures up to 300 feet away, enabling you to enjoy your company without continuously excusing yourself.

Approximate retail value: $59.99 

The Kodiak Plus Ultra is a waterproof, dust & dirt resistant, rugged power bank for your electronic devices. Your phone, GoPro, or other small electronics can get that additional power without the need to find a wall outlet. Additionally, the built-in 100 lumen LED light system has a hi-beam, low-beam, and SOS/strobe mode to help illuminate pretty much any situation. It's the perfect accessory to your digital life.


Approximate retail value: $69.95 USD



What are your favourite gift ideas for the guys in your life? Will any of these be under the tree this year? I’d love to hear!






Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
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December 4, 2018

Our 24 Days of Kindness for Preschoolers Challenge


As parents, one of our greatest hopes is that our kids will turn out to be good people. But, how exactly do you get started in teaching your little ones about the importance of being kind? Check out this 24 Days of Kindness for Preschoolers challenge.

24 Days of Kindness for Preschoolers

If you follow me on Instagram and watch my IG stories, you would have heard when I announced that we were joining Kate and Emmett from Emmett’s ABCs in their 24 Days of Kindness for Preschoolers challenge.

Copying those around them is what toddlers do best. And since being kind is a learned behaviour, we as parents can do our best by practicing kindness ourselves. When it comes to teaching kindness, we have the powerful opportunity (and responsibility) to lead by example. 

Kate and Emmett developed their own list of daily challenges to complete between December 1 to 24, which can be found here. However, as Morley is not currently in school, we slightly adapted our daily challenges to fit our current lifestyle. 

Here are our 24 Days of Kindness:

  1. Smile at someone new.
  2. Share a toy.
  3. Share with mom and dad.
  4. Give someone a compliment. 
  5. Write a kind note to someone.
  6. Give a friend or family member a hug.
  7. Let someone have the first turn.
  8. Help give a younger sibling a bath.
  9. Tell a store cashier that you appreciate them.
  10. Buy a toy that you would love and them donate it.
  11. Take food to the dogs at the local shelter.
  12. Wish someone Happy Holidays.
  13. Make a handmade gift for someone you love.
  14. Call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while.
  15. Pick up a piece of trash.
  16. Hold the door for the person behind you.
  17. Talk to someone new (with mom and dad’s ok).
  18. Give extra snuggles to your family pet or sibling.
  19. Let your sibling play with one of your favourite toys.
  20. Tell your mom or dad something you love about them.
  21. Help make dinner.
  22. Make a bird feeder and put it up.
  23. Choose three toys that you’d like to pass along to another little boy or girl.
  24. Recycle.
24 Days of Kindness for Preschoolers

Not only will these daily challenges help to teach our toddler kindness and its importance, but it will also to help develop her social skills. She’s an extremely social little girl (when she wants to be and around “her people”) but this challenge will break her out of her shell and force her to interact with strangers (with mommy and daddy's ok), of all ages. There are also lots of days that involve sharing, because as a toddler, that's not always easy thing to do. 

We may already be a few days into December, but it’s never too late to start or to practice kindness.

Start them young. Together, we can make the world a better place with acts of kindness both big and small. 

How do you teacher your children kindness? I’d love to hear!


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November 29, 2018

Toddler Road Trip Tips


Planning a road trip with your family? Check out these helpful tips for ensuring a smooth ride on the next road trip with your baby or toddler.

Toddler Road Trip Tips

Have you ever heard the one about “happy toddler, happy car ride”?

No?

Ok, so maybe I made it up. But, anyone that has taken a road trip with a toddler knows it is the absolute truth.

Planning a road trip with your little one(s) can seem like a daunting task, but it shouldn’t be scary. While it may take a bit more planning that if it were just the two of you, the memories you will create with your family while on the road will make it all worth it. 

These tried, tested and true tips for a road trip your little one(s) will ensure a smooth ride for all.

Timing

Plan the road trip around the kids’ napping schedules. For us, we plan around our toddler’s nap schedule since our 3 month old can sleep anywhere at any time. It’s hard to fight the car nap.

Keep in mind that babies and toddlers do not have the patience or attention span for super-long road trips that you might. As they grow, so do their attention spans, allowing them to sit in a car for longer stretches. But until that time, if your road trip is going to be a long one, plan for frequent stops to stretch your legs. Break it into manageable segments with stops for playing, eating (including nursing the babe) and regular potty breaks (if your toddler is potty training). 

Packing

When packing the car, if you are travelling with another adult, leave space in the middle of the back seat in case one of you need to join your child(ren). Whether its to calm a fussy baby or read a few stories with your toddler, take the time in the backseat to bond with your kids. 

If you drive a vehicle that does not have a separate trunk, be sure that all items are secure so that if there is a need to stop suddenly, items will not fly into the front of the vehicle and potentially hurt the passengers. 

Create a car kit, filled with activities for your little ones (see: Activities)

Toddler Road Trip Tips
Toddler Road Trip Tips

Snacks

Snacks, snacks and more snacks. You can never have too many snacks.

Put snacks in separate containers and provide them one at a time to avoid overwhelming youngsters.

For safety reasons, be sure to bring snacks that you know your child could eat. The last thing you want it for your child to start choking while strapped into their carseat in a moving vehicle.

Some of our favourites include goldfish, granola bars, baby carrots and hummus.

Music

Music is one of the best tools for keeping families content and entertained during a family road trip. 

A few of our current favourites that always get the whole family singing:
I Like to Move It - Crazy Frog
Who Let the Dogs Out - Baha Men
Let It Go - Disney’s Frozen
Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) - C+C Music Factory

Note: These will probably change as our little one gets older and starts to understand the meaning of the lyrics. But until she loses that innocence, they’re a good beat to get her moving and grooving in her seat. 

GoogleMusic has some great family-friendly playlists, including my personal favourite, Disney sing-a-longs.

Activities

For when they are awake (or if they don’t sleep at all), activities are important to keep them occupied. 

Whether it’s a quick trip to the store or a three hour road trip to visit my parents, our toddler always has to bring her “stuff”. Within reason, we let her pack her own backpack. It usually includes her iPad, a colouring book and crayons, a few Shopkins and some other random toys.

If your toddler enjoys some screen time, be sure to bring along your iPad and some toddler-friendly headphones (such as these). Our toddler’s iPad is loaded with all of her favourite apps. Check out her favourite apps, here.


>> You may also like: Traveling with a Toddler: Busy Bags 

Toddler Road Trip Tips

Comfort 

This usually includes a blanket, the stuffed animals of the week and her PawPatrol travel neck pillow (which doubles as her dolly “breastfeeding” pillow at home).

Extra Supplies

Motion sickness, blowouts and spills are bound to happen. Make sure you have extra diapers and wipes, clothes, towels, garbage bags, snacks and lots of water, just incase. If your child suffers from motion sickness, a bucket may also be a good addition to the car emergency kit. 

Safety

Of course, your number one priority during a road trip (especially with a baby or toddler) is to arrive at your destination safe and sound. 

Before setting out, be sure your vehicle is up-to-date on any oil changes or scheduled maintenance. You should also keep a roadside emergency kit in your car filled with bandages, medicines, a flashlight, and other useful items (including the extra supplies, listed above).

Another thing you should never hit the road without? The proper car seat for your little one.

When it comes to vehicle safety, we don’t mess around. Especially with this scary and eye-opening car accident experience when Morley was just 7 months old.

Toddler Road Trip Tips

Now that she is bigger and forward-facing, we only trust the best when it comes to her car seat, and that is the Diono Radian 3 rXT ($399.99 Canadian MSRP). This all-in-one convertible car seat accommodates rear facing children (5-50 lbs), forward-facing (22-65 lbs) and those in a booster seat (50-120 lbs). 

Here is what we like about our Diono Radian 3 rXT car seat:

  • Sits upright and further back in the seat, giving more space for her legs and feet between the seat and the back of the driver seat.
  • As she gets older, the sides and seat bottom expand to accommodate a growing child with extra leg support and comfort.
  • Adjustable head support so that she can sleep comfortably. It is also reinforced for enhanced side impact safety.
  • Colours.
  • Fabric is easy absorbent, easy to remove and machine washable. (I know this first hand. Morley also has a Diono in her grandpa’s car. When she was younger, she had a projectile vomit incident. We were able to easily remove and wash the seat fabric.)
  • Perfect for airplane travel. Folds easily to be checked as luggage. If gate checking or using on the plane, it even turns into a backpack with additional straps for carrying ease). 

Do you enjoy taking road trips with your children? What are your tips and tricks to make them successful? I’d love to hear!






*Disclosure: To & Fro received product and/or compensation in exchange for this post, however, all opinions are 100% my own. This post contains affiliate links.
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November 16, 2018

Life, It’s a Bit of a Circus


*Disclosure: I have partnered with YMC and Dempster’s and have received compensation for this post. All opinions are my own.

As a new family of four, life is chaotic. With no sign of slowly down anytime soon. 

A “circus” is the perfect metaphor to describe us. 

Life, it's Like a Circus - NEW Dempster's Pull-Aparts

Yes, life as a new family of four is a bit of a circus. 

My husband is the magician. He works his magic to provide for our family. His days are long but he keeps the food on the table, the clothes on our backs and the roof over our heads with how hard he works. 

Our three month old is the clown. She keeps us entertained. She makes us laugh every day and reminds us to smile no matter what else is going on.

Our toddler, she’s the monkey. She’s messy, she's loud and she’s plain crazy. She’s everything a monkey is and more. Oh, and crafty. Man, oh man, is that little brain of hers smart.

And me? Not to toot my own horn, but mama bear would be the ringmaster - mastering our family's finances, schedules and life in general. I like to think I’m in charge, that I control the show and keep everyone in line. However, most days, it’s a real balancing act. Maybe I should take on the role of juggler instead…

Life, it's Like a Circus - NEW Dempster's Pull-Aparts

But back to that monkey. 

Not only are monkeys messy, loud and crafty, they also have immense amounts of energy. And with all of that energy, they’re always eating. Toddlers are the same. At least, my daughter is. She’s always eating. Girlfriend likes her food.

And as the full-time ringmaster/juggler and chef, I’m always having to come up with new snacks and meals to keep that monkey’s tummy full and happy. 

Turns out, my monkey is pretty easy to please when you find something she likes. Take bread for example. “Monkeys” like bread. She would eat it at every meal if she could. 

Life, it's Like a Circus - NEW Dempster's Pull-Aparts
Life, it's Like a Circus - NEW Dempster's Pull-Aparts

We recently took our monkey’s love of bread to the next level with the NEW Dempster’s Pull-Aparts - the sweet (but not too sweet) bun that is delicious, just the way it is. No need for butter, peanut butter or jam.

Dempster’s Pull-Aparts are the perfect snack at home and on the go, and they are now available at major retailers across Ontario. All you have to do to enjoy them is, literally, just pull them apart! There’s no wrong way to pull apart a pull-apart, even a monkey can do it!

Life, it's Like a Circus - NEW Dempster's Pull-Aparts
Life, it's Like a Circus - NEW Dempster's Pull-Aparts

But if we're like a circus, that means we're also a good team. And despite still trying to establish the foundations - we’re still learning our new routines, the ground rules and those new roles that come with them - our new family of four is just that, a team. Despite the craziness, we work well together. And only three months into this journey as a family of four, we are on our way to becoming a well-oiled machine. We have fun. We laugh loud. We love hard. We are one big happy family. 

Oh, and good food also helps.

>> You may also like: Celebrating Spring with the Perfect Toddler Tea Party


If your life was a circus, what roles would your family play? How do you juggle it all? I’d love to hear!

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