There's No Place Like Home

This week momstown was off to see the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz at the Royal Alberta Museum. 

A fun and interactive exhibit with something at each stations to entice and occupy our toddlers.

A definate hit among the kids was Tornado Alley where they could make their own tornado with the touch of a button.

Musuem staff also treated the kids to storytime and craft time where we made these cool Lion masks to take home.

At the end we click our heels and said, "There's No Place Like Home", so that's where we headed for naptime!

Looking for fun things like this to do with your kids?  Try out momstown!  Register now for a free trial membership and join us on our next adventure.

Let It Snow

We said Let It Snow, and snow it did. Our first snowfall of the year was honored with this Snowflake Craft I tried at home with my toddler as an experiment.

What you Need: 

Coffee Filters
Scissors
Felt Markers
Spray Starch


What to Do: 
Cut a square out of each coffee filter. Fold into triangles, like this, and create snowflakes.

Have your child color each snowflake with a variety of colors. The more marked up they are the better. 

Place Snowflakes on a cookie sheet and spray with starch until the colors run together. 

Let dry overnight.

 Decorate! We hung these in my daughter's room as the start to our Christmas decorating around the house!

Looking for more fun craft ideas to do with your kids at home?  Check out the momstown arts and crafts blog full of great ideas for little kids!

Give the Gift that Lasts All Year

Do you know a mom or mom to be who lives in Edmonton South, Edmonton East or Sherwood Park? 

Give her the gift that lasts all year, give her the gift of fun, friendship and support with a momstown membership.

momstown memberships make great gifts!  Just $45 per year, or $30 for 6 months.  Order your momstown Gift Certificate now and receive the actual certificate in the mail in time to give for Christmas this year.

Psst. already a momstown mama?  Pass this on to someone you love and they just might top up your membership for another year this Christmas!

My House, Your House, Check out This House

momstown chapters across the country are doing crafts this month with the theme of My House, Your House.  In Edmonton we decided on a craft of a different sort of house.  One from way up North, further North than we are! 

Check out these Marshmallow Igloos. 

What you need:

Styrofoam cup
Mini White Marshmallows
Styrofoam plate (small)
Icing Cement

What to do:

Icing Cement With an electric mixer, beat 2 large egg whites, 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar, and 2 teaspoons water until frothy. Mix in 3 cups sifted powdered sugar; beat on high speed until icing is stiff, 5 to 10 minutes. Use, or cover up to 8 hours. Makes about 1-1/2 cups. 

Cut the top off the styrofoam cup.  You are left with the base of the cup which when turned upside down becomes the base of the Igloo.

Cover the cup with Icing Glue and place in on the styrofoam plate.  Have your child cover the cup with mini marshmallows to create the Igloo.  Place glue in front of the Igloo on the plate to build the doorway.

A simple craft that is almost as much fun to make as it is to eat while you are working on it!

Join us next time, for more crafts and fun with momstown Edmonton-South by registering for your free trial membership.

Our craft was adapted from the Marshmallow Igloo Craft shown at Ehow.com

Lazy Lasagna, momstown Style

We told you last month about the momstown Big Cook which took place at the end of September.  Since that time momstown families have been busy, with everything BUT cooking.  We've been enjoying the fruits of our labour.  Easy meals, no prep, little time in the kitchen.

We've also been discussing, at length, on our message board our successes and failure, tips and trick and the best way to prepare and serve some of these meals.

One of my favorites so far has been the Lazy Lasagna, a favorite because of the momstown message board adaptation.  So much my favorite I must share!

Mix together in a bowl all of the ingredients from your favorite lasagna recipe.  We used The Big Cook recipe, but one like this, or your tried and true favorite would work too.  Make a double, triple, quadruple batch and freeze the mixed ingredients in zippered freezer bags, 1 for each meal.

When you are ready for a quick and easy meal (when aren't you ready for that) defrost the bag of lasagna in the refrigerator overnight.

You will need regular lasagna noodles, cooking spray and a crock pot.

Spray the bottom of your crock pot with cooking spray and place one layer of uncooked noodles into the pot.

Layer the noodles and mixture of lasagna ingredients into the crockpot.  Finish with a layer of noodles on top.

Pour approximately 1/2 jar of pasta sauce over the noodles until they are completely covered.  Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

During the last half hour of cooking sprinkle the top with mozzeral and or parmesan cheese.  Serve and enjoy.  This serves up the same as regular oven baked lasagna, only it tastes better thanks to the slow cooking method!

Thanks to all the momstown mamas who contributed on our message board!  We have a new and easy favorite in our house.

Do You Have an Ugly Floor? (CONTEST)

Calling all momstown mama's with ugly, ugly floors!  Now is your chance to get the floor you've been dreaming of compliments of Nufloors Sherwood Park.

How?  Enter the momstown Ugly Floor Contest.
 


 

 How do you enter?  Add a photo of your ugly floor to the Ugly Floor Contest photo gallery on the momstown Edmonton-South site! 

Not a member?  Signup for a free trial membership TODAY and enter to win this fantastic prize!

And the Winner Is.....

Congratulations to this month's winner Jennifer Oullette.  Enjoy your Alex Toys ABC Zoo!

Stay tuned HERE for details of this month's exciting contest sponsored by Nufloors Sherwood Park.

momstown Boo Bash a Smash!

What a day, what a party! momstown Edmonton joined together to party momstown style with an amazing event filled with giveaways, games, crafts, and of course Halloween treats galore!

We could not have done it without our stellar sponsors: Fisher Price, Whimsical Cupcakes, Beverley Sobey's, Presto Music and Snow Pea Portraits!

Some very lucky little munchkins took home fabulous toys from Fisher Price and everyone recieved loot bags, cake pops, and mini pumpkins!

Presto music kept us all doing the Monster Mash with their awesome music and dance class! A huge thanks to you all for making this event one to remember!

Interested in joining a momstown event?  Register with momstown for a free trial membership today!

Images courtesy of Snow Pea Portraits.

Silly Pumpkin Face

Armed with pumpkins, pipe cleaners, foam stickers, pom poms and toothpicks, the momstown Edmonton-South  group created Silly Pumpkin Faces today.  Don't they look great?

Join us for more momstown fun!  Our Boo Bash takes place this Saturday.  Register with momstown Edmonton-South for more details.

Haunt Your House

We've been busy at momstown and around our house getting ready for Halloween these past few days.

We added to our usual pumpkin decorating/carving night this year with a great idea from the momstown arts and crafts website.

Try these Pinecone & Felt Ghosts to Haunt Your House this Halloween.

Happy Halloween!

momstown Get's Lost

Lost in the corn that is!  We gathered to check out the Edmonton Corn Maze.  We entered the maze with clues in hand and were challenged to find our way out!

It really didn't matter how long it took to find out way out, once we found our way out of the maze and to the campfire where we enjoyed a good old favorite, the s'more!

Join us for more momstown Fall Fun by registering for a Free Trial Membership with momstown Edmonton-South!

momstown MINI's with Tangible Moments

The most glorious day of our short Fall Season just happened to be momstown's day for mini photo sessions with Tangible Moments last weekend.

An unforgettable day with the most beautiful fall backdrops all captured with momstown families by Maureen from Tangible Moments.

While we anxiously await the finished products we can share what was happening from behind the scenes on this fun, fall day.

Stay tuned to the Tangible Moments Blog for some sneak peeks of the Tangible Moments Family Photos!

A Big, Big Cook

Take 12 momstown mamas, 8 The Big Cook recipes, over 130lbs of chicken (plus a whole lot more ingredients) and what do you get? 

All of us mamas gathered on a Saturday afternoon recently for 2 hours to execute the momstown Big Cook and what did we take away?  Anywhere from 16 to 32 meals each, depending on our individual portion sizes, ready for the freezer. 

On average we spent approximately $170 each which made for a huge payoff.  Meals for as low as $5.31 are now waiting in our freezers for those busy days (read: everyday) when we need to throw something in the Slow Cooker and not worry about what we're making for supper!

Join the momstown fun by registering with momstown Edmonton-South for a Free Trial Membership.

And the Winner Is.....

Congratulations to this month's winner Angie.  Enjoy your family 4 pack of tickets to the Jurassic Forest.

Be sure to enter this month's contest (daily) for a chance to win the Alex Toys ABC Zoo compliements of The Baby Marketplace.  Good Luck!

Cooking with Kool Aid

Well, we weren't actually cooking with Kool Aid, but we were preparing with Kool Aid.

Kool Aid Playdough that is!  Playdough that smells way to yummy not to share the recipe.

1 Pkg of Kool Aid (the kind you add sugar to)
1/4 cup of salt
1 Tbsp Oil
1/2 Tbsp Cream of Tartar
1/2 Cup of Hot Water
1 Cup of Flour

Combine all ingredients except flour.  Mix Well.  Add flour and knead dough until playdough consistency.  Keep covered in the fridge.

This dough smells delish and is fun to play with too.

These are some momstown kids at a recent event trying out the Kool Aid playdough.





Recipe source: http://www.twinslist.org/toddler.htm

Fall Leaves

It was craft day at momstown and we made the most of the beautiful fall foilage by making a leaf art craft to hang in our windows at home.

Simple enough for a toddler to complete after a fun walk through nature collecting "materials".

     What you need:

     Clear Contact Paper

     Leaves, grasses, twigs and/or flower petals

     Ribbon

     Hole Punch

Simply lay a piece of clear contact paper, sticky side up, on the table.  You can tape the paper to the table to keep it from slipping.  Have your toddler place the leaves, grasses and flower petals in their own design on the sticky paper.

When they are finished place another piece of contact paper on top and trim the artwork into any shape you desire.  Punch a hole at the top and thread ribbon for hanging your new masterpiece in the window.



Join us next month when we decorate pumpkins for Halloween!

Contest Crazy

We are absolute contest crazy right now at momstown.  Here's a recap of whats on the table.  Enter them all!

The biggest and best right now, you'd be crazy not to enter to win these. Sunlight's Dirty Darlings Contest: Enter to Win a Maytag Washer and Dryer. $2,900 value.  Contest ends October 12th.

It's Wiggle Time!  Enter to Win a Family 4 Pack  of tickets to the upcoming Wiggles Live Show at Rexall Place. Contest ends October 4th.

Win it with momstown.  A $500 value prize from Heather Muse Photography.  This is a gorgeous prize package and you'll have pictures in time to give as Christmas gifts! Contest ends September 30th.

Our monthly contest, 5 more days to win a Family Pack of Tickets to the Jurassic Forest.  Contest ends September 30th.

Good Luck!

One Last Trip

We had one last, very chilly, trip to the zoo this week.  Fall was in full force and the daytime high of 14 degrees was not all happening while we there.

It may have been a cold day at The Valley Zoo, but it was one of the best days at the zoo.  The staff brought Lucy out for a walk and we got to see her up close!  It was exciting, not just for the kids!

And a few more to remember our day at the zoo.

Join us on another adventure by register for a free trial membership with momstown Edmonton-South!

A Busy Week in momstown

It started with a Movie Night and will end with a Weigh In.  It's a busy week in momstown Edmonton-South and I thought you might all like a glimpse of what we're doing!

Sunday night is momstown Movie Night - we headed out this week and got together to go see The Switch.  It was a pretty good lighthearted movie, oh and a night out for us mamas while the papas were at home putting littles to bed!

We're "meeting" virtually for a coffee break this afternoon while the kids nap.  We're always on the message board, but this is when we all jump on at the same time for an afternoon chat!

The Book Club meets on Wednesday to discuss two books from our summer reading list....and I actually should be reviewing the questions now instead of writing this post :P

We're planning a wild adventure at the Zoo this week, just as the weather warms.

Friday!  The weekend is here.  We've had two Baby Babble meetups and two Toddler Talk meetup where moms with kids of similar age get together for playdates and now we're ready for a night out. 

Mom's Night Out goes around the world and this Friday is Mexican night!  Great food and dancing!

Saturday is The Big Cook!  All the mamas will be busy shopping and prepping in anticipation of this event where everyone will go home with 32 meals ready to pop in the freezer for use over the next couple of months.  Yum.  Who doesn't love having supper ready to go in advance?

Saturday Night we're checking out the Pretty Mama Grand Opening Celebration at Devlins Cocktail lounge.  We don't usually have two MNO's in a row, but hey, we're willing to make exceptions ;)
Sunday is here and its time to face the truth.  The Get Fit Club has been going for a month and we're ready to weigh in.   Wish us luck!

And there you have it.  A busy week in momstown.  Still with us?  Perfect.  Register here and join us for some of these or our other fabulous events!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday is a chance to share a picture without any words and share a moment with you. Enjoy!

It's Wiggle Time (Contest)

momstown Edmonton-South is thrilled that The Wiggles are coming back to Edmonton for The Wiggles Wiggly Circus.

The Fab Four from down under are back with this year’s most anticipated family event. It’s the smell of “Hot Poppin’ Popcorn”! It’s the excitement of a “A Big Big Show”! It’s The Wiggles “Wiggly Circus Live!” Tour. Join The Wiggles, Captain Feathersword, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Henry the Octopus, Wags the Dog and all the Wiggly Dancers as they bring all the excitement of the big top with a wiggly twist right here in Edmonton October 16th.

And just for our momstown mamas - a chance to win a Family 4 Pack of Tickets to the show.  How?  Join us on the message for The Wiggles Contest thread.  Contest closes October 4th.

Not a momstown mama yet?  Register now for a Free Trial Membership and play along.  New momstown mama's enter the words "the wiggles" in the "how did you hear about us section" of the registration form and we'll extend your Free Membership until October 4th!  You might win this great prize!

Win it with momstown

The latest and greatest on the momstown contest board is from Muse Childhood Photography.  Check out their website to see some really fabulous photos.  And check out this fabulous prize package that they are offering up for a lucky momstown follower.

A complimentary photo session + a $250 print credit!  Wow!

How to enter:

1. Find the above image on facebook and tag yourself on the photo for 1 entry
2. Head over to Muse Photography on Facebook and "like" their page.  Come back to this photo and leave a comment that you did for 1 entry.
3. Subscribe to the Muse Newsletter for 1 entry.

Three great chances to win!  Good Luck!

Calling All Expectant Mamas!

Expecting Something Special? Or shall we say someone special?

Well congratulations! momstown Edmonton-South is for moms AND moms-to-be.  Join Us for our upcoming 6 Part Pregnancy Seminar Series starting September 16th.  Session are every other Thursday evening from 7 - 8:30pm. 

Our Seminars are presented by Labour of Love.  Our Series focuses on Pregnancy and Delivery and will include topies like Belly Love, Birth Basics, Be Prepared, Comfort Measures and more!

These sessions are FREE for momstown members. Not a momstown member? Guess what, momstown offers FREE memberships to first time expectant moms until their due date. Register with momstown and input "Great Expectations + your due date" in the "How Did You Hear About Us" section.

Non-members are also welcome at this event however pre-registration is required by emailing info.edmonton-south@momstown.ca

momstown Edmonton-South is an online and in person community of neighbourhood moms and moms to be.  Join Us!

Drum Roll Please......

Congratulations to this month's winner Angie.  Enjoy your family 4 pack of tickets to the upcoming Max & Ruby Show at The Jubiliee Auditorium September 18, 2010!

Be sure to enter this month's contest (daily) for a chance to win a Family Four Pack of Tickets to the Jurassic Forest.  Good Luck!