Click here for BBQ recipes that would go great with these salads.

Apple-Cheese and Toasted Walnut Salad

Honey-Lime Berries and Greens

Corn And Black Bean Salad

So here are some Parent Club fun facts (pay attention – this might be on a trivial pursuit card one day!)

The original Parent Club logo (2007) had a lighthouse on it.  A beacon to families everywhere perhaps?  No, the theme of the site had lighthouses and that is where the logo inspiration began.

Parent Club was named “Parent Club” because I thought that parenthood had all the aspects of a book club without the books.  Adults gathering (virtually) sharing, drinking, eating, traveling, ranting, reviewing, and many other verbs.   Thus, the idea of a book club morphed into Parent Club.

Want to know what Parent Club is about?  I wrote this post all about that.

And amongst the posts in that 1,o00 these are two favourites…

Mourning A Baby is my most personal (and I still cry when I read it).

5 Things To Take To A Blogging Conference (a solid go-to list)

THE WHERE:  World class zoo located in Toronto.  Lots of parking.  Stroller and wheelchair rentals available.  Very family friendly – restaurants, picnic areas, restrooms and baby change stations.  Open 364 days of the year.

THE DEETS: A super family field trip where you can see lions, tiger and bears (and more!  Seriously, we spent 6 hours at the zoo and didn’t see all the animals.  The Toronto Zoo has over 5,000 animals).  Meet the keepers and learn from them about specific animals, what they eat and their habitats.

HANDS-ON DISCOVERY:

Stingray Bay

Touch real stingrays at Stingray (yes, it’s safe – we tried it).  Explore Zellers Discovery Zone; featuring the Kids Zoo, a dynamic, Splash Island (a two acre splash pad), and the Waterside Theatre.

Ride the zoomobile, conservation carousel (pictured), camels and ponies

MEMBERSHIP:  A year’s pass membership pays for itself in 2 visits!

MUST SEES:  polar bears, gorillas, and the elephants (before they move!)

Put all your kid travel activities in a resealable bag!  This way each child is responsible for their own belongings. Packs easily in a bag.  Easy to store under a car seat or in the pocket in front of you in an airplane.

Kids Travel Activity Bag

This one was for our trip to California…in it I put:  gum (for the airplane), colors-to-go, ipod, head phones, and dsi.

If you need ideas for snacks for travel – click on my Healthy Snacks for Kids and Travel post.

There is an onsight private school (accredited with the Ministry of Education) for siblings and even the sick kids to attend so that they can continue their education during times when they need to be close to a hospital.

Ronald McDonald House Toronto Playground

Ronald McDonald House Toronto Kitchen

Ronald McDonald House Toronto Dining

Ronald McDonald House Toronto Laundry Room

The fantastic facility houses a library for families to read together, a meditation room for families to find quiet, a business centre complete with computers and photocopiers so that families can stay connected when they are disconnected.

The average stay at Ronald McDonald House Toronto is 35 days.  That is a long time to be away from home – in a my-child-is-sick situation.  The family appreciation, support and kindness Ronald McDonald House offers families is priceless.

One of the Moms speaking that day (her 4-year-old daughter has Cancer) said something I will never, ever, forget…”There are more important things than work”. 

I came away from visiting Ronald McDonald House Toronto thinking…family and health are the most important things in the world to me.

Easy grilling recipes for your family or even a larger crowd.

Glazed Beef Tenderloin with Herbed New Potatoes

Grilled Salmon with Sugar Snaps and Corn

Grilled Bacon-Cheeseburgers (Crowd Size)

With the upcoming BATTLESHIP: The Battle For Earth Begins At Sea movie set to release in a few weeks…watch for all new Battleship activities.

Hasbro has the The classic “board game”, a delux edition and KRE-O sets in the stores now.

Based on the official trailer (above) I call this action movie for older kids and tweens.

This month I’m sharing an easy family activity…Get Mom In The Picture This Mother’s Day!

Is Mom the family paparazzi?  Is there any photographic evidence, at all, that she was present at the school recitals, birthday parties or family vacations? Forever behind the camera and never in front?  Get Mom in the picture for Mother’s Day!
This is an easy, inexpensive family activity you can do at home.  Break out the digital camera, group yourself together and set the self-timer (why didn’t we think of this before?!). Or give your smartphone to your spouse, friend or neighbour and have them snap some family pictures.
Family pictures don’t have to be the traditional ‘parents-sit-on-chairs-kids-stand-at-the-sides-now-everyone-SMILE’ pictures. Unconventional family photos can be great keepsakes.  Consider these untraditional family photo-ops:

• Sitting on the bleachers at your local outdoor field
• Lying on a picnic blanket at the park
• Cuddling together on the couch
• Reading a story together
• Sitting together on the front steps

The beauty of taking your own digital family pictures is that is it low-cost (you can always delete the fuzzy ones).

Switch Up! 
Give the kids an activity (to keep them busy while Mom relaxes on Mother’s Day!) with a MOM, I LOVE YOU mat.
You will need:

• Construction paper (any colour)
• Markers
• Glue
• Printed photographs
• Clear contact paper (available at hardware stores)
• Scissors

Have the kids arrange and glue their favourite pictures of Mom on construction paper.  Using markers, have them write a special note to Mom (I love you, World’s Greatest Mom, Happy Mother’s Day…whatever they like).  Be sure the child writes his/her name on the artwork!
Using scissors, cut contact paper (it comes in a roll) to the size of the construction paper.  Peel the paper backing off of the contact paper revealing the adhesive.  Line the contact paper up with the art-laden construction paper and lay it down, flattening the contact paper to eliminate any bubbles.
Mom can take the MOM, I LOVE YOU mat to the office and pin it to her corkboard.  She could use it at home as her kitchen table place mat.  It’s so light and flat, she could even pack it in her overnight bag on her next trip!
Moms are the family memory keepers.  This Mother’s Day…make something memorable for her to keep.
Caroline Fernandez shares family friendly activities and tips on her site Parent Club.

THE WHEN:  Opens in Toronto May 15 (great Mother’s Day gift idea!)

THE WHERE:  324 Cherry Street, Port Lands

THE DEAL:  When ordering tickets be sure to ask about special pricing for young children — as low as $29.50!

What do horses dream about? The same thing we do: Freedom.

Stir 2 cups of rolled oats with 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tsp ground flax seed, 1/4 cup wheat bran, 1/4 cup raisins, 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips.

In another bowl whisk, 1 egg, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 1/4 cup melted butter, 1 tsp vanilla. Stir into oat mixture.

Line a 9 in square glass baking plate (or a glass pie plate will do!) with parchment paper. Pat oatmeal mixture, into an even layer, into plate.

Microwave, uncovered, on high, 6 minutes. Cool before cutting.

Recipe adapted from an old Chatelaine recipe