I fell in love with it from the get go. Actually, I think I loved it even before I saw it (my son was singing it all through dinner - "I got Dorothy in a tank and I ain't afraid to show it... I'm Elmo and I know it").
We must have replayed it a gazzilion times that night. My family loved it so much, I wanted to share it with you.
Kids, look at these crayons,
Kids, look at these crayons,
Kids, look at these crayons,
Uh-huh.
I make art.
I dare you not to have this playing in your head all day long.
“Love the animals: God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy.” – Fyodor Dostoyevsky
February is Heart Month, and Global Pet Foods is asking you to open yours to the homeless animals in your community.
(image via Wikipedia)
Their seventh annual Show Us Your Heart campaign aims to raise money for local animal shelters. Each Global Pet Food store across Canada has chosen a local shelter to support, so any money you donate goes directly to the homeless pets in your area.
Here are just a few places that will feel the love:
In Sydney, N.S., ABAS Society, an animal rescue for abused and neglected dogs
In Saint John, N.B., Earth Spirit Horse Rescue, a group dedicated to saving horses from abuse, neglect and slaughter
In Crossfield, Alta., animal rescue shelter Tails to Tell
So how do you get involved? There are several ways:
Visit your local Global Pet Foods store between now and Feb. 14 to donate in person. (Global and Hill's Science Diet will give $1 for every donation they receive.)
"No room at the inn, but you can sleep in my stable." Sounds biblical, I know. But those words were actually uttered to me by Helmut, owner of a small auberge in the the little out-of-the-way mountain village of Gimmelwald, Switzerland.
It was the end of a long day, and I had to sleep somewhere. It wasn't as bad as I anticipated. I climbed up into the loft above his stable - only to find half a dozen other tourists. And that's when a voice piped up through the dark, "Hi there, we're from Ontario. Do you speak English?" I remember feeling surprised but sheepish. There I was, back-packing around the world and I run into folks from my home province.
It never surprises where I'll run into other Canadian travellers. When we take to the big highway we're apt to end up anywhere. But we do have our habits, which is mirrored in this recent list compiled by Hotwire.com, a discount travel site, based on the habits of Canadians who travelled on Family Day weekend 2011 (the third Monday in February).
Here's their list of 10 most popular destinations for Canadian travellers:
Canadians love New York City. Everyone needs to see Lady Liberty at least once in their lifetime. (Photo: Derek Jensen)
Three Canadian cities made it to the list: Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, along with a few American cities (New York, Orlando) which are perennial favourites among Canadians.
The cafe scene and street life of Montreal are tops in Canada -if not the world (Photo: Bonjour Quebec)
If I could choose a weekend getaway from this list my number one pick (on this snowy day in January) would be Las Vegas (not for the gambling strip but for the day trips to the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam). Vancouver and Montreal would tie for second (if I could transplant Stanley Park in the heart of Old Montreal I'd move in a nano sec). My third pick? Well, I'd have to say Minneapolis because (a) I've never been there and (b) to out why it appeals to so many Canadians.
Stanley Park, Vancouver. My favourite city green space in all of Canada (Courtesy: Thorfinn Stainforth)
I mean, who comes into work on a Monday and boasts about having gone to Minneapolis for the weekend? Maybe I'm out of the loop. I'd love to know what I'm missing.
So why do Canadians love New York so much? For me, it's an equal mix of Broadway shows, the sites (everyone's gotta get a close-up of Lady Liberty at some point) and the personality of New Yorkers. They're a breed unto themselves - direct, helpful, blunt, a unique urban chutzpah.
Have you been to New York? What's you're No. recommendation?
I've always said, and will continue to say, the best thing you can give your children are memories and your time. Those moments together of laughter, that's what they will cherish - along with an evening of dragon slaying!
We were invited to embark upon an epic journey - the only one of its kind in Canada. MagiQuest - It's a journey fraught with mystery and filled with magic.
Cool or what?
We entered a world of MagiQuest, a live action, interative adventure game that had the whole family casting spells, vanquishing goblins and yes, slaying dragons. With a simple wave of a wand, siblings united, parents and grandparents were a welcomed force in the quest.
Armed with our wands, an extra ounce of courage, and some really cool wizard names, we enbarked on our adventure at Great Wolf Lodge, Niagara Falls. My boys were set in character, not Harry Potter, but Sir Swordhand Darkeyes and Sir Shieldheart Littleknight.
The game is incorporated into the lodge's hallways, landscape and lobby. Medieval characters are flowing throughout the enchanted woods, forgotten halls and tangled woods.
It was a little confusing at first, and we probably didn't follow all the rules, but for a 6 and a 4 year old it was just awesome to make treasure chests magically open, framed photos speak and items light up all in a wave of a wand.
Needless to say, they didn't complete their quest. They got so easily distracted with the other adventures offered at the lodge. Story time in the lobby, Cub Club, Northern Lights Arcade, and oh yeah, the Water Park (again, again, and again)!
So many decisions.............................................for a little wizard.
So for now, we bid thee adieu, till next time.
Image via Wikipedia
Don't forget to "Like" them on Facebook to be kept up-to-date on all upcoming events and alerted to the 48 HOUR sale.
Sometimes when I'm bored, I ask myself the tough questions in life. Like, What is love? And sometimes, the universe responds. This week, my friend Tina at work sent me an email with a link, saying only “Read it and weep.”
It's a story about a married couple. The husband has a debilitating heart attack and has to be moved into an assisted-living facility. She falls in love and marries someone else, then moves to be with him. But get this, they move her first husband, too, so he could still be a part of the family.
I bawled my eyes out because it was so touching. As part of his marriage vows, her new husband promised to always love her and her daughters, adding, “And I promise to always help you provide compassionate care for Robert [her original huband].” Let me know if it makes you cry or if it’s just me. http://wapo.st/AbDNeI
I'm pretty sure this is love. Or is it? Is it just guilt? Is it simply compassion? Maybe. But it is also a testament to the bond that love creates between two people. And now, another person, her new husband is helping her to achieve what many people really could not even envision. And that's the power of love.
When you marry someone and say, “I promise to love you no matter what until you die,” does that really mean forever, through anything, through a debilitating heart attack? Or does it mean a 72-day marriage like Kim Kardashian's? Would I do it? I want to say yes, but I don't have the courage to answer that right now and I truly, really hope that I'm never forced to make that decision.
Helene Campbell, a determined young woman who is awaiting a lung transplant, asked Justin Bieber to help her spread the word on organ donation.
In October, with her lung function at 24%, she found out that she would need a transplant and was recently placed on the organ donation list. Along with her mother, she moved into an apartment near Toronto General hospital and is awaiting the call. It could be weeks, months or even years away.
Justin responded to Helene's request with this tweet ...
help spread the word for @alungstory http://www.alungstory.ca/ #BeAnOrganDonor.
It took less than 36 hours for the pop star to raise awareness for the cause. Since his tweet, online registration is up over 600%.
This is a beautiful example of courage, optimism and wisdom. Because Justin has a huge following, he is able to reach out and influence his friends, they influence their parents and it’s this kind of domino effect that can reap positive results.
And this isn't the end. It's just the beginning. Although Helene's need for an organ donation is immediate, the result of donors signing up today will help beneficiaries 10, 20, 30 years down the road and beyond.
Helene, you're an inspiration to us all. You're a beautiful woman inside and out and you're going to change the world with your optimism and your infectious smile.
Here’s a question to ponder: If you’re an airline, how do you simultaneously accommodate passengers who wish to fly with their cats while also ensuring that people who are allergic to the animal don’t suffer?
Oh, just cancel my flight. No way the plane has this much leg room (image via Wikipedia).
It’s a question Air Canada, Jazz and WestJet have been mulling over since late last year. In December, the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) ruled that the airlines had to modify their policy on allowing cats in aircraft cabins. (The policy counted a cat in his crate as one piece of carry-on baggage.)
The decision came about after three passengers who suffer from severe cat allergies issued a complaint. The CTA ruled that the airlines must do one of two things:
ban cats from being on the same flights as passengers with severe cat allergies (“severe” in this case meaning respiratory problems, not just sneezing and a running nose); OR
upgrade all of their planes’ air filters AND ensure a five-row buffer zone between travelling cats and passengers with allergies.
And the solution doesn’t appear to be as simple as people just leaving the family feline behind while the rest of the gang flies to Maui for a sunny holiday. For some people cats act as “emotional support animals” – basically, they’re not only a pet, but also a service animal. As such, the animal is permitted on the flight as long as the passenger can provide a note from a certified mental-health professional.
Having had time to consider their options, Air Canada finds its hands tied. As reported in The Calgary Herald:
“Air Canada says that with the exception of its Dash-8 fleet, it is ‘prepared to implement the accommodation suggested by the agency’ – namely, to upgrade the air quality and to create a cat-free buffer zone of five rows between a person with a disability as a result of their cat allergy and cats carried as pets in the cabin.
With its Dash-8 fleet, Air Canada said cats who are deemed as pets would not be carried when there is a passenger ‘with a demonstrated allergy to cats that amounts to a disability.’
But a ban on a cat classified as an emotional support animal on Dash-8 flights could put the airline ‘in breach of other legislative requirements.’”
So, indeed, what’s an airline to do? Let Fluffy fly, but be prepared to revoke his boarding pass for some Dash-8 flights (and if he does fly risk the possible – but probably unlikely – scenario of the cat breaking free from his crate and commandeering the cockpit). Or keep Fluffy grounded and risk breaking the law.
Do you travel with your pet? And what do you think of this situation: Should the rights of the passenger with allergies come before the rights of the passenger who requires the presence of their pet to travel in comfort?
You want to do your part for the environment, but is paying a little extra for an eco-friendly set of wheels worth it? While the price tag on these cars remains higher than their non-hybrid cousins, some provinces offer rebates for buying hybrid or electric vehicles.
But what we wanted to know was how they drove. This past fall, we took five green vehicles for a spin. Here’s what we thought of our rides.
Suggested price: $27,200 (base); $38,500 (premium) What it is: full hybrid: its electric motors are powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery pack and a 1.8 L four-cylinder engine. Note: premium gas required. Fuel economy: 4.3 L/100 km city; 4.8 L/100 km highway Nice to know: The climate-control system uses an electric compressor, meaning you don’t need the engine to run the air conditioning. Review: "I fell hard for this car. The comfy interior has a surprising amount of legroom, even in the back. One huge bonus: the hatchback design and fold-flat seats let you cram in anything from suitcases to 2x4s. Running the car in Eco mode drained its pep, but Power mode allowed normal acceleration when zooming onto a busy highway. I loved watching the display to see how often I could get the electric motor to take over. It made me want to start hypermiling!" – Tina Anson Mine, executive editor, Food & Books
Suggested price: $29,999 (base); $34,499 (premium) What it is: full hybrid: its electric motor is powered by a lithium-polymer battery pack and 2.4 L four-cylinder gas engine. Note: regular gas required. Fuel economy: 5.5 L/100 km city; 4.6 L/100 km highway Nice to know: Designed for highway driving, the Sonata can reach up to 100 km/h in electric-only mode. Review: "The zippiness of this car is a pleasant surprise. I expected a hybrid to need time to switch operating modes, but it reacted just like any other vehicle and, in some instances – like when I accelerated to merge on the highway – it performed better. I also enjoyed the extras. If you know where to look, the computer tells you how "green" you're driving. The one downside is the size of the trunk; since that’s where the battery is stored, space is limited." – Erin Poetschke, managing editor
Suggested price: $34,499 What it is: full hybrid: its electric motor is powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery pack and a 1.4 L four-cylinder gas engine. Note: regular gas required. Fuel economy: 4.6 L/100 km city; 5.4 L/100 km highway Nice to know: The interior seating is made from 85 per cent post-industrial materials. Review: "It’s a good thing the dashboard lit up when I turned the car on; otherwise, I never would’ve known it was ready to go – it’s that quiet! It rode just as smooth as a non-hybrid when I took it for a spin through the city streets and later on the highway. With the fun displays tracking my eco- status, I made it my mission to improve the car’s fuel economy from when I got it on Friday to when I turned it in on Monday. Mission accomplished! My only complaint: For vertically challenged drivers like myself, seeing out the rear-view mirror is a strain on the neck." – Wendy Graves, senior editor, Life
Suggested price: $41,500 What it is: electric with extended range – when the battery is depleted, a gas-powered generator kicks in. Note: premium gas required. Range: between 40 km and 80 km on electric power (depending on driving style and conditions); up to 580 km total Nice to know: If you only use the car for short trips and are diligent about charging it, you may never need to use the gas engine. Since this actually isn’t good for the vehicle, the Volt will occasionally ask for permission to turn on the engine to keep it fresh. Review: "I was initially intimated after my how-to lesson on where to find power stations to plug the car in and how to “power up” at home. But after 10 minutes of driving, I realized this is one of the coolest vehicles I’ve ever driven: it’s electric first, gas second. I liked the centre-stack LCD screens that are touch-sensitive, highly interactive and easy to use. While the price tag is high, there are cash-back incentives through government programs. Combine that with your gas savings and suddenly the cost is a little more palatable." – Susan Antonacci, editor-in-chief
Suggested price: $38,395 What it is: full electric Range: up to 160 km on a full charge (depending on driving style and conditions) Nice to know: The “Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians” system gives a whole new meaning to safety. With no internal combustion engine, the car is quite quiet. At speeds slower than 26 km/h, the car will emit an “approaching sound” so pedestrians know your car is nearby. Once the car reaches at least 31 km/h, the car becomes “audible” on its own. Review: "The first thing I noticed about the Leaf? No tailpipe. It felt good driving away and not leaving a trail of carbon dioxide in my wake. A quick switch over to Eco drive mode improved my mileage but made for a slightly bumpier ride. The eco display system not only showed me how much distance I had left with the charge, but also how much more I could have if I turned the air conditioner off." – Wendy Graves, senior editor, Life
Do you drive an electric or hybrid vehicle? And if not, how would you rate your interest in trying one out?
Festival cities are curious places. You know, those towns and cities which draw mega crowds for a stellar annual festival but when that particular event is over, well, there's not a lot to do. Party's over. It it's time to go home folks.
I remember spending a November weekend in Stratford, Ontario, home of one of the world's' most prestigious Shakespeare Festivals and one of my favourite getaways during the summer and early fall, and it felt like a ghost town. It wouldn't have surprised me to see tumbleweed bouncing down the barren windswept streets on the heels of a ghostly MacBeth.
But some cities keep the party going - year-round. Take Richmond, British Columbia, for instance, which is in the midst of hosting an exciting roster of events to celebrate Chinese New Year, including 12-course banquets (Peking duck two-ways, Pan-fried tiger prawns, fried live crab, sticky rice, shredded jellyfish, bean curd roll, braised bamboo shoots), dance performances, concerts, dragon festivals and prayer ceremonies at the Buddhist temple.
But if you're not in the Richmond area within the next few weeks, don't despair, the city's flourishing Asian heritage is an integral part of the cultural (and physical) landscape life every day of the year.
Traditional Chinese dance performance (Courtesy: Richmond Tourism)
If you're on a driving trip that takes you through British Columbia or if you're in Vancouver for a family vacation, take a short side trip to Richmond (and I mean short - you can get there in 20 minutes from Vancouver) and devote a few days to exploring British Columbia's fourth-largest city.
And on the food front? I hear echoes of any Asian country I've visited. Chinese dim sum, Korean twist potato, Japanese takoyaki balls, Filipino talent shows, Chinese karaoke contests, beautiful statues of Buddha, dragon dances, xiao long bao (soup dumplings)...
Richmond, B.C. offers a year-round buffet of Asian food from China, Singapore, Korea, Japan, Malaysia...
I'm certainly not the first scribe to insist that the best way to get to know the culture of any place is to ramble (preferably with an empty stomach - so skip the western-style buffet in your hotel or mountain of waffles served in your B&B). Just hit the street and bring an empty sack or knapsack because you will do some serious shopping.
1. The Golden Village:
There are more than 200 Asian restaurants and eateries in Richmond, B.C.'s Golden Village
First-timers to Richmond typically get one bit of advice: head to Alexandra Road, known locally as Food Street. You'll be in the heart of The Golden Village:. Within a four-block radius of the Golden Village, near No. 3 Road, you can choose from more than 300 shops, three Hong Kong-inspired malls, Asian specialty grocery stores, electronic outlets, jewelry stores, art galleries, stores dedicated to Asian designer fashions, and no fewer than 200 restaurants. One of my Hong Kong-born neighbours in Toronto tells me the Golden Village in Richmond reminds her of home.
2. Aberdeen Centre
Dragon Dance at Aberdeen Centre Mall
The humungous, glass-panelled Aberdeen Center mall (4151 Hazelbridge Way) is the place to go whether you're shopping for a Ferrari, Fazioli piano or food. Seasoned or neophyte bargain shoppers can lose themselves Daiso, a Japanese emporium bursting with housewares, cosmetics, clothes, garden tools, with many priced around the $2 mark. There are frequent cultural exhibits and, depending on the day, you can catch some live Asian entertainment, as well.
When you've shopped your feet off, and it's time to satisfy that rumbling tummy, head up to the third floor where you'll find a food court that seats 800. Nosh your way through Wo Fun’s famous Chicken Wings, Shanghainese meals, pho... If you're in the mood for a proper sit-down, you're in the right place. Two Vancouverite friends are effusive about the Beijing-style Shredded Pork at Northern Delicacy and the crab claw balls at Fishermen’s Terrace.
Dishware, collectibles, clothes, jewellery...you can buy almost anything at the Aberdeen Centre
A bonus for visitors: Aberdeen Centre offers a special Tourist Program for out-of-towners (you could even bag a free gift!)
International Buddhist Temple, Richmond, British Columbia
Burning incense, golden Buddha statues, ornamental fountains and manicured gardens are the lure for visitors to the International Buddhist Temple. Located on Steveston Highway, it's the second-largest Buddhist temple in North America, and is said to rank among the best examples of Chinese temple construction outside mainland China.
Each year, on New Year’s morning, the temple hosts a prayer ceremony and a vegetarian lunch for as many as 10,000 people.
4. Best restaurants?
Mouth-watering Peking Duck (Courtesy: Bluetofu)
If time is tight, I share with you a trio of Asian restaurants to try. There are three that seem to crop up in the Top 5 Faves of my informal poll of West Coast gourmands and foodies:
• Executive Chef Tony Luk of Jade Seafood Restaurant won Chef of the Year atHSBC Chinese Restaurant Awards. His winning dishes included Sauteed Geoduck with Egg Whites and Italian Herbs; Drunken Free-Run Chicken with Yunnan Wild Morel Mushroom Sauce.
•The Shanghai pork dumpling is a perpetual favourite at Shanghai River.
• A colleague based in West Vancouver regularly makes the trek to Richmond for the Beijing-style Shredded Pork at Northern Delicacy.
I'm always on the lookout for great Asian eateries anywhere in Canada? Got one in your area? Post below and let me know.
"I don't have much, so there's nothing to fight over"
"I'll only need a will when I'm older"
No more excuses. You need a legal will now.
You might not like to talk about death, tragic scenarios and heart-breaking possibilities but in order to protect yourself and your family, please make sure your wishes are fulfilled, with no error for misinterpretation and future challenges.
Step 1: Meet with a trusted legal advisor who will make the process easier. Save time and come prepared with questions, documentations and options.
Do your homework
Image via Wikipedia
On your list, should be (if applicable):
Naming a guardian for your children. First choice? Backup?
Choosing an executor. Will it be your spouse? Appoint someone else as co-executor?
Organ donation and funeral service. Any specific type of memorial or service you wish for yourself? Location? Trust me, this makes it easier for your children to know that they are doing as you wish.
Keep a list of the names and contact information of your professional advisors and bank information such as; physician, lawyer, accountant, financial account numbers and institutions.
Think about how would you want to divide your estate, with different possible scenerios. If only your spouse survives, if only your children survive or if no immediate family survives.
There is so much to think about. If you need some help to get started, use the Will Planning Guide offered by RBC . It's a good step. I'm filling my forms in now.
We've married our sumptuous butter chicken recipe with the ease of the slow cooker to create the ultimate Slow Cooker Butter Chicken. Food director Annabelle Waugh walks you through the steps in this video for a restaurant-worthy dinner every time.
