Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in toronto, CN

Mom Time: The Baby Formula

by Katie

June 22, 2009

Every so often, I like to cover something at Toronto Savvy Source that isn't for the kids but for the moms/parents. I like to write about things to do when a baby sitter has fallen from the sky or one needs some alone time / sanity break. Personally I like to catch a film whenever I get some of that precious kid-free time and I've been keeping my eye out for good looking movies. The following one caught my interest mostly because it's refreshing when a film can take an overdone topic (in this case pregnancy) and twist it into something new. By all sounds of it, the film The Baby Formula does just that.

This comedy follows a lesbian couple who desperately want to have their own biological baby and set out to get it done. With the help of a lab technician friend, both women end up pregnant by sperm made from each other's stem cells (for the record: real life science has figured out how to theoretically do just that.) Anyhow, the couple announce the pregnancies to family members which results in some pretty crazy reactions, mostly due of the fact that there is no father involved.

That fact right there is something I can't really wrap my head around which makes me want to see the movie even more. Another detail that caught my interest: both lead characters were actually pregnant during the filming and in fact, one of the actor's water broke during a scene about her water breaking (now that's acting!) But seriously, I appreciate that the actors were very in touch with their roles and it must translate across the screen. What a refreshing change from prosthetic bellies and lack of swollen limbs.

The Baby Formula is showing exclusively at AMC Yonge & Dundas - check website for showtimes. Sounds like a funny switch from the usual pregancy film and I'm always up for an interesting comedy with twists, how about you?

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Please Share: Favorite Movie Snacks for Stay-At-Home Movie Night

by Katie

May 25, 2009

These days, seeing a movie in the theatre is rare treat only done in times of free babysitting. If it wasn't for the free babysitting, movie night probably wouldn't fit the budget. But we are movie fans so we do reserve the theatre experience for movies that deserve big screen (like the most recent Star Trek - we were not disappointed) while waiting for the majority to come out on DVD.
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Travel Favorites: Movies for Travelling

by Katie

May 18, 2009

In my travelling adventures involving Gigi I have actually learned a few things: always pack wet wipes, always have some bribes special treats on hand, carry extra shirts & pants, and always pack movies. I never really thought I'd have to go the movie route when on vacation but it only took one plane ride sans visual aids to convince me that travelling without it is a bad idea. Don't get me wrong, we have tried other things to get her through a plane ride but a movie has proven best. It's hard to colour when the laptray is too high and listening to a book is difficult when the plane is too loud (literally -- sometimes it's impossible to hear anything above the engines.)

Anyhow, we have a pretty good kid-friendly movie collection at home so I usually let Gigi pick out a favorite and then I pack a few extras. I also always pack the iTouch because many of the latest releases of DVDs also include a digital copy for portable devices. We have two of Gigi's top choices on hand and she can use her own headphones to listen.

Also when we are on the road, a movie can sometimes provide me with a much needed sanity break, especially when travelling solo with Gigi. Those ninty-odd minutes sometimes can rejuvenate me just enough to not feel so screechy.

Our top choices for travel movies are:

Wall-E: Great environmental message in this movie and Wall-E and Eve are the cutest robot couple hands down. This is one of the movies that is available digitially.

Horton Hears a Who: Horton is an elephant who does everything he can to save the teeny-tiny inhabitants of Whoville. Warning: Vlad (not the one who bakes cookies) is a little scary the first time around; I think vultures don't make for very popular children's characters. This is other movie we also have the digital copy for the iTouch.

Kung-Fu Panda: I can watch this multiple times and still find it funny each time. What can I say? I love Po and Master Oogway. Gigi likes to pretend she is Master Viper or Master Tigress which is pretty entertaining to watch.

Toopy and Binoo: Gigi loves this show, I think it's funny, and there is a feature that allows all episodes to play back to back without having to return to the menu between shows. These shows are really great little adventures that focus on Toopy's imaginary world where just about anything can happen.

What are your "most likely to buy some sanity time" kid-friendly movies?

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What's Going On This Weekend In Toronto

by Katie

April 16, 2009

Riverdale Farm is hosting an Earth Week event. This Saturday morning, between 9:30 and 11:30, the Buildings & Grounds Committee and volunteers are planting two hundred trees and shrubs on the property. Gigi and I were just there today and I just love that this farm is right in the heart of the city for everyone to enjoy.

Also going on this weekend is Sprockets, The TIFF For Children.  Movies this weekend start at 10 am and end late afternoon. At the Canada Square location there will be additional activities available for film patrons; hands-on stations including make-up and Green Screens are there to inspire junior film makers and stars. Schedule information (including recommended age groups for viewing) and ticket purchase can be all done online.  Festival runs until April 24th.

And not this weekend but coming up on April 28th, 29th, and 30th, is Dora The Explorer: Search for the City of Lost Toys at the Canon Theatre and I'm sure this is going to be a popular show. Because it's Dora, live and in person which may make my child's head explode. And of course Dora will be appearing with Boots, Swiper and I sense Tico might drop by (oh and Benny because it’s not a party until Benny arrives.) While it pains me to be so familiar and fluent in Dorology, I can concede that this spunky, yet annoyingly perky, and goody two-shoes girl is a better role model than many of the other commercial offerings out there. I may draw the line at dressing my child in Dora gear from head to toe, but I do have a soft spot for her show. In fact, I’ve learned more Spanish since becoming a parent than any courses I took in school.  For ticket information on the show visit the Ticket King website.
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99 Things To Do With My Daughter Before She Grows Up

by Katie

March 02, 2009

Way back when I started blogging for Savvy Source Toronto, I started a list of 100 things to do with my daughter in Toronto before she got too old to want to spend a weekend or evening with me. You just know that any day now she's going to figure out I'm not cool at all and ditch me for her friends.  So before that time comes, I've got to get cracking at this list.  The first thing I've done is update it.

I decided to break the activities into categories like Classes, Touristy, Festivals to be all organized (which for me is a major accomplishment these days).  Some a bit closer to the five and up age categories but it's nice to have this be a reminder.  Maybe I should print this off and put it on the fridge for those days when we are all saying "there's nothing to do."  In Toronto, there is always something to do.  I think my favourite category in here is the Farms for City Kids, we hit a few last year and had a blast.  Gigi loved the hayrides, I loved the fresh produce, and we both loved the animals.  Nothing beats escaping the city, even if it is only for a couple of hours.

1. National Ballet of Canada (Art, Film, & Drama)
2. Art Gallery of Ontario
3. Solar Stage Children's Theatre
4. Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People
5. National Film Board Mediatheque
6. CN Tower (Be a Toronto Tourist)
7. Centre Island
8. Ride the entire subway system
9. Canada's Wonderland
10. Hockey Hall of Fame
11. Medieval Times
12. Ontario Place
13. Honest Ed's
14. Kensington Market
15. Toronto School of Circus Arts (Art/Pottery/Circus Classes)
16. Glitter Pie Art Studio
17. Art Garage Inc.
18. Messy Hands Art Studio
19. Avenue Road Art School
20. Academy of Artisans
21. Cedar Ridge Creative Centre
22. Gardiner Museum Pottery Classes
23. Andrews Scenic Acres (Farms for City Kids)
24. Chudleigh's Apple Farm
25. Downey's Farm Market and Winery
26. Forsythe Family Farms
27. Whittamore's Berry Farm
28. Black Creek Pioneer Village
29. Taste of the Danforth (Festivals and Special Events)
30. Word on the Street
31. Nuit Blanche
32. Festival of South Asia
33. Sleepover at Toronto Zoo Serengeti Bush Camp
34. Sleepover at the ROM
35. Sleepover at the Ontario Science Centre
36. Sprockets TIFF for Children
37. bunch family parties
38. March Break Spring Fling at the Rogers Centre 
39. Royal Ontario Museum (Museums)
40. The Ontario Science Centre
41. Riverdale Farm
42. Todmorden Mills Heritage Museum and Arts Centre
43. Bata Shoe Museum
44. Campbell House Museum
45. Casa Loma
46. Crawford Lake (reconstructed Iroquoian Village)
47. Gibson House Museum
48. Fort York
49. Markham Museum
50. Toronto Botanical Gardens
51. Toronto's First Post Office Museum
52. Blue Jays game (Support the Home Team)
53. Toronto Maple Leafs Game
54. Toronto FC Game
55. Toronto Zoo (Animals and Zoos)
56. Bowmanville Zoo
57. High Park Zoo
58. Humber Arboretum  - Centre for Urban Ecology
59. Jungle Cat World Zoological Park
60. Mountsberg Wildlife Centre
61. Animals with Whimz
62. Richmond Hill Wave Pool
63. YogaBuds (Anything Active)
64. The Yoga Sanctuary
65. Plunge aquatic centre (Collingwood)

Obviously if you have made it down this far, you've figured out that I haven't made it to 99 yet.  I'm still working on it and am totally open to suggestions (help a girl out, would ya?).  Read more...

My Day Out: Wish List

by Katie

September 16, 2008

Today I'm keeping it simple here at Savvy Source Toronto - and when I say simple, I mean child-free. Today I'm suggesting some places in Toronto to enjoy a Child-Free Date ( all that I'd like to do and may just recruit friends or SB via this pos t). Each suggestion guarantees that I will find myself whine-free without a hint of Dora and Diego in the air for at least three hours ( unless at that  Read more...

One fish, two (thousand) fish

by Katie

August 19, 2008

I'm pretty sure the first time my daughter saw a live fish, it was one of those tanks in the grocery store - you know, the DOOMED fish. She thought they were cool and got a huge kick out of how they were swimming in the same direction. I don't have the heart to tell her why they are there but she will figure it out. We are full-on in the "WHY?" phase of questions and I know it's coming soon. Oh  Read more...