Let the kids get dirty! I start my gardening on the long weekend and the kids love to help me plant carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes. This year we are also going to plant a rainbow! If you want to try this too, all you need are the seeds of different-coloured plants, including red, yellow, orange, blue,… read more
I love reality television. I love The Jersey Shore, Jerseylicious, Duck Dynasty, Say Yes to the Dress, you name it, I have probably watched it and have an opinion on it. But, my guilty pleasure reality TV show revolves around tattoo shops like L.A. Ink and N.Y. Ink. I love these shows and it’s because… read more
Book sale. 7 year old girl wants 10 bucks. 5 for poster and 5 for book. Fine. Comes out of school lovingly clutching pastel coloured poster of puppies. Didn’t buy any books. (I thought this was the worst of it.) Can I have my change? I don’t have any change. I gave the money to… read more
The countdown to Mother’s Day has begun! Every day from now until May 13th, we will reveal amazing prizes to be won on our facebook page! On Mother’s Day we will reveal all of our lucky winners. Good luck everyone!
I have been in the wonderful world of Early Childhood Education for 10 years now and although advances in research and technology have come to change our understanding of childhood development, one thing has not changed: Play. By nature, humans are born to play. Playing is instinctive and fundamental to our existence. Research indicates that… read more
Everybody’s Making Excuses Recently, I was listening to a mom complain that her daughter had not learned ANYTHING in school– FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS! And guess what? She is convinced that this year will be the same. At the risk of sounding fed-up, I must admit that I do not blame this mother for… read more
Healthy eating is easier than we think! You don’t need to become a vegetarian nor a vegan to benefit from adding more whole grains, fruits or vegetables to your daily diet. While you might not know where to start, I’ve decided to include five easy tips to include in your daily lifestyle. Eat more carbs:… read more
It was 2 months before the due date of my third son. I was nesting away in the house by myself. I was trying to figure out if I was having another boy or a girl (we never found out) and if I should give all the boy clothes I’d been hoarding for 5 years away… read more
It dawned on me last night that I will be turning 36 years old in about a month’s time. It also occurred to me that a lady never reveals her true age, but who am I kidding, I’m no lady, I’m a Mommy! A real, honest-to-goodness, if-its-not-bleeding-than-you-are-okay kind of Mom! Nope, no lady here! … read more
Free Holiday Events in Montreal Fire on Ice The evening sky lights up with fireworks throughout the holiday season with themed Saturday night including Sleeping Beauty, Puss ‘n Boots, Alice in Wonderland and more. December 3, 2011 – January 7, 2012; Quays of the Old Port Skating at Beaver Lake Strap on your… read more
Hello Montreal parents! Does anyone else out there suffer from Seasonal Parenting Disorder? Signs and symptoms of SPD may include: *Lower back spasms due to daily snow pant struggles *Headaches due to debates with toddlers about the virtues of mittens vs. gloves *More headaches due to debates with older children about how they could have lost their… read more
Before I had my babies, I had such grandiose ideas about child-rearing. I didn’t understand why parents of young children were always complaining, tired and at their wits end. How could taking care of little kids be so difficult? Surely, they were doing something wrong. Funny how we remember our old ideas and opinions… read more
On January 17, 2012, Vanessa Percher aka “Veganessa” was interviewed the CBC Daybreak show to talk about the growing trend of Veganism in Montreal. Listen to a clip of the show here: vegan_private_chefs_2891424 Vanessa was also kind enough to share a vegan recipe with us, published in the Gazette last December. If you try this recipe, comment… read more
With mild temperatures in the forecast, it looks like a great weekend to head out to a winter carnival, or a play, or a workshop – there are lots of choices! Here are 5 ideas for what to do this weekend from the I Spy Montreal Weekend Guide. 1. Kirkland’s Winter Carnival hosts… read more
For most families, at this point in the school year, kid lunches are starting to get stale. Well not literally, but I’ll bet a lot of moms are starting to pack the same old boring lunches day in and day out. I love making lunches for my boys. For me, it’s a work of art…. read more
A few weeks ago I furtively checked online and found what I was looking for. Cleared my history to avoid detection by my husband and kids. I drove to my destination and parked in the back to avoid running into anyone I knew. Got out of my car furtively glancing around wishing I didn’t leave… read more
Parents, it’s winter carnival madness this weekend, with 10+ winter carnivals happening from Laval to Brossard. Temperatures look mild, and there’s sunshine in the forecast, so let’s attach our tuques! Go big: If you like the idea of the mega carnivals with tons of activities, head out for the last weekend of La Féte… read more
There’s a fresh batch of winter carnivals this weekend, including events in N.D.G., Montreal West, Dollard, Dorval, St. Laurent and T.M.R. If you want to make a day trip out of it, head for Repentigny’s Festival Feu et Glace, where there are extra bells and whistles, including fireworks and a ferris wheel. Other mega… read more
Valentine’s day is fast approaching, are you ready? Perhaps you need flowers for your sweetheart, cupcakes for a class of 20, dinner reservations, or even a baby sitter for the big night? Fear not, Mummieslist is here to help! Valentine’s Day Savings Valentine’s Day is the holiday to celebrate love and romance; but by the… read more
A while ago, I received 5 telephone calls that sounded like this: Parent: “I need a tutor for my child.” Robin: “Okay, can you tell me what subject your child needs help with?” Parent: “He needs help with math.” Robin: “What types of difficulties does he have in math?” Parent: “He’s unmotivated and homework time… read more
The annual Montréal en lumière festival kicks off this week, with a free, fun outdoor scene for families at downtown’s Place des Festivals. There are some new features this year, including a giant interactive slide, children’s shows and costumed characters. Plus, the ferris wheel is back! Also outdoors, check out the Ste. Anne de… read more
When I think about the word inspiration, I think about what has motivated me to work hard my entire life, what has led me down the path towards success and what has pushed me to accomplish my goals. As far as I can remember, I have always had one goal: to make a difference. Every… read more
Are You Ready For Spring? It may not seem like it, but Spring really is just around the corner. We have lots to look forward to and lots to plan – Spring Break, Spring classes and activities! Need some suggestions? We are here to help! We would also like to take this opportunity to welcome all… read more
March Break is almost here, so I Spy Montreal is here to help you map out a plan for the week, whatever your mood. Feeling active? Parc Jean Drapeau becomes a one-stop shop for outdoor activities, plus a market of local gourmet producers, during the Weekends Gourmands. Also, Montreal’s network of nature parks have… read more
Endless plane delays and re-scheduling of flights. Finally board. Sitting on tarmac. Flight attendant: “We are waiting for another crew. They are the ones who originally bid on this flight. But then they were late. So they called us in. We all had to show up, and get the plane ready. Now the other crew… read more
When my kids were small, I didn’t baby proof. I thought it was a lot safer to teach them how to go up and down the stairs safely instead of blocking their access to the stairs. Now that they are a little older, I apply the same philosophy to a different skill set. I would… read more
I admit, I have a UPS guy. Since my husband works from home, all business packages are delivered directly to my door. For someone like me who is at home with two kiddies all day, any adult conversation, even one that lasts 24.7 seconds, is quite welcome. Hellllloooo UPS guy! Now UPS guy is not… read more
We’re heading into the last weekend of March Break, so you may feel like you’ve been there and done that with the kids. But I Spy has added more events to the agenda. Did you know there’s an international puppet festival happening in Montreal? Did you know Chapters/Indigo bookstores are offering free workshops? Did… read more
Hello Spring! It might still be chilly outside, but spring time events are just getting started! As Spring Break/March Break starts to roll out, St. Patrick’s Day and Daylights Saving Time are very soon to follow… And when the weather takes a turn for the better, we begin to come out from hibernation as parties… read more
This weekend brings us the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Shrek: The Musical. Could things get any greener? Actually, if you look at the weather forecast, they definitely could. It’s supposed to hit 17 degrees on Sunday, and spring is right around the corner. This weekend looks like a great one for soaking up the sun:… read more
Recently I noticed a lot of pregnant women walking around the Montreal. It seems that spring is a popular time to give birth. It reminded me of when I had tiny babies and I felt nostalgic for those times. I remember when they all 3 turned six months and I started them on solid food. … read more
You can have a lot of fun with stickers – from decorating your smart phone or notebook to jazzing up the invitations for your event. In addition to these entertaining applications, check out some ways stickers and labels can make your day-to-day life a lot easier and save you a ton of time and hassle!… read more
The Easter Bunny is on the way, and mini farms are popping up at many Montreal shopping centres. Check out I Spy Montreal’s mini farm locator right here. It’s still maple season, and there are several ways to get your fix without doing a day trip to a sugar shack. This weekend, there are… read more
As promised in my last blog, I will discuss a very serious issue concerning all parents of young children. Yes, today I blow the lid off Play Doh. Literally! I have come to the conclusion that Play Doh, although a seemingly innocent children’s plaything, is actually a weapon of mass annoyance to all mothers. Don’t you go rolling… read more
Maybe your kids are all in school now, and maybe you’ve decided that this is the year you’re going to get creative – in every sense of the word. Maybe you’ve decided that you’re going to get off the fence and contribute to society. That you’re going to contribute to your household income. That you’re… read more
Albert Einstein summarized the problem with standards and norms perfectly: “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid.” Let me make something very clear: I do not believe in stupid or bad children. That being said, I do believe that… read more
These days, most people know that maintaining optimal health begins with what we eat. The problem is in today’s world everything is fast paced including food. In the olden days the mom would be home home cooking and keeping house all day long. There would be time to bake homemade breads and cook all meals… read more
There are high temperatures, but also showers in the forecast this weekend, so think outdoor activities for Saturday and indoor for Sunday. Here are five ideas from I Spy’s weekly newsletter: 1. The bears are up and at’em at the Ecomuseum, so how about helping staff prepare their breakfast? 2. The Silent Princess, a… read more
The force will be with us this weekend, with the opening of Star Wars: Identities at the Montreal Science Centre. The exhibition features props and costumes from the movies, as well as an interactive “create your own hero” mission for visitors. It’s best to buy your tickets online, because tours start at set times. If… read more
Ahoy Mummieslist mateys! The movie Pirates! Band of Misfits sails into Montreal theatres this weekend with swashbuckling fun. But if you’re more into song-and-dance, consider for the musical version of Beauty and the Beast at Place des Arts. For something in the middle, head to Pinocchio – the latest show from Montreal’s Geordie Productions. Also… read more
