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Showing posts with label Summer Activities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Summer Activities. Show all posts

Nerf Super Soakers ~ Review

Each year the kids have been lucky to try out new Nerf Super Soakers by Hasbro, this year wasn't any different. With the warm weather well underway we have been enjoying our summer outside! Our favorite places are the park, beach or just out in the yard with some water guns. 

This year my daughter was excited to try out the Nerf Rebelle Super Soaker! This soaker is a bow & arrow type one that is white and pink. Made fun for the girls in their Rebelle line of Nerf products. My daughter couldn't wait to get outside and test out her new toy to soak her brother with! 

This Nerf Rebelle Super Soaker is a 3-stream soaker that holds 25 oz of water and can blast up to 35 feet. All you need to do is fill up the chamber and pump the soaker to blast your opponent!

My son is loving the new Nerf Super Soaker FlashFlood Blaster as it holds 23 oz of water and is very compact and easy to hold. He loves to fill it up and chase his sister around the yard. This soaker can hit a target 38 feet away but P is learning that his sister can move fast out of the way. The FlashFlood Blaster also has 2 separate nozzles! One for a Flood Strike and one for a Flash Strike. Prepare to get soaked!! 

Visit Hasbro's website to learn more about these Nerf Super Soakers and the whole line up of fun Nerf products! 

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I received the above products for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Camping with Coleman Youth InstaClip Screen House ~ Review

Last week our family spent a full week on holidays together. This is a huge thing for us as usually hubby can only get a few days off at a time and sometimes that is even hard to get. This year we had a whole seven days together with the kids and we packed those days full!

We started our vacation with the kids soccer tournament. The kids did a fantastic job and it was a beautiful day for the tournament. Coleman had us covered for our seats and our beverages from 8:30 am to 2pm. The kids played back to back games all day!

We spent some time camping at Murphy's Point Provincial park at the beginning of the week. Coleman had us covered with their coolers, seats and this lovely Youth InstaClip Sceen house the kids set up under to read and play while we were at the campsite. We spent a lot of the time at the beach in the sun the first day.

This screen house was super easy to put up. Hubby and I put it up fairly quickly for a first time and the kids had their chairs and camp table under before we even had the pegs in the bottom. They were more than ecstatic to have a lil place of their own. My daughter was especially happy to keep the bugs away from her. 

Of course I thought I would have plenty of time to get a photo of the kids under their screen house but I waited for day two of camping and it rained. Here is a picture of it put up on our lawn. It went up a lot faster the second time around. 
Here is some information on the screen house.
·         6 ft. x 5 ft. footprint to maintain a well shaded area on a sunny day
·         5 ft. centre height for youth to stand and move
·         Insta-Clip™ technology for easy assembly  
·         No-See-Um mesh keeps tiny insects outside  
·         Roof air vents keeps shelter cool in hot weather
·         Polyester material with water-resistant coating shields from rain
·         Centre hub strengthens shelter for windy conditions  
·         Pocket organizer holds personal items for easy access  
·         Available at Wal-Mart, MSRP:  $46.88

We had a great camping trip but hope that next year our trips will not have us rained out each time. Thank you Coleman for helping us with our camping fun! 

For more information on Coleman products visit Coleman Canada website, "Like" Coleman on Facebook or Tweet them @ColemanCanada 


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I received the above product for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

This Summer Get Soaked with Nerf!

Now that the hot weather is here to stay for a bit they kids are always looking for fun ways to stay cool. Each summer the kids can't wait to pull out the Nerf water guns and this summer isn't any different.

There are some fun new Nerf water toys out this season! Check out the new Nerf Super Soaker Barrage. This is one major soaker that will be guaranteed to soak your friends from head to toe. The chamber holds up to 84 ounces of water! It is BIG! Even though it is big it is easy to pump and fire. Be prepared it is a bit heavy when full but my 8 year old boy had no problems chasing his sister around the yard with this soaker! P loves that it has 3 soaking modes and they are easily changed by a turn of the nozzle. He was able to do this while chasing his sister and myself.  Get ready to hit targets up to 38 feet away with the Distance mode!

For A the new Nerf Rebelle Dolphina Bow Blaster was a HUGE hit. She absolutely loves it. Once she got the hang of holding it upright when pulling the lever back then pushing it forward she was great. Chasing her brother around to "soak" him was a blast also. It has an easy to load chamber that holds up to 25 ounces of water.

I know the kids will have a Blast this summer with the new Nerf Soakers! 

Visit Hasbro Canada website!


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of Hasbro Canada. I received the above products in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Day Tripping with Coleman Canada

Last week we took the kids on one of our yearly day trips during the summer, the water park! We have been doing this for three years now and each year the kids have been looking forward to it when there is an early sign of spring. I think they even start this year talking about going to the water park in the dead of winter, while there was still huge snow piles on in the yard.

When we head to the water park we plan it as a whole day trip. We leave early, usually by 8:30am (park opens at 10am) and we make the almost hour and a half trip to the big slides! Preparing for our day trip we pick up lots of snacks - crackers, fruit, veggies, cookies, juice, and we make sure to pack a loaf of bread, sandwich meat, cheese and some condiments to make sandwiches at the park. Now one of the most important things to remember when we pack is that we will be in the heat all day and so will our food. For safety we pack a cooler with tons of ice packs to keep the items cold. This year we have the chance to try out the 16 QT Excursion Cooler by Coleman Canada
Click image to enlarge
The cooler got pack to the top with food and some ice packs and away we went for a day in the sun.
P and hubby headed straight to the "big" boy ride this year as P was taller than required and there wasn't a huge line yet. A and I went to some of the more tame rides for two and then meet the boys. This is what happened to P on that ride, I think it was because he is skinny mini and the ride tube wasn't wet yet. His back got pinched hard but he said it didn't hurt. It looked worse than it was! 
When it was time to eat we pulled out all our lunch stuff and found everything still nice and cold. We had a quick lunch and headed back to the slides to finish off our day at 5pm and head back home. When we got home the ice packs were still cold! I am super impressed with the new Coleman cooler and will be using it for all our day trips. 
Thank you Coleman Canada for keeping our food nice and cold all day. Visit Coleman Canada on Facebook or connect on Twitter.

Can't wait for next year when we head off to the water park again and maybe even go to a new park! 


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of Coleman Canada. I received the above product in exchange for an honest review.*~

Family Camping Trip 2013!

Last weekend we spent the weekend tent camping with the kids for the first time. We have "camped" in a cabin a couple summers ago and the kids have stayed with the grandparents camping in their trailer but this is the first time we have taken them tent camping. We were not sure how this would go but we figured they are at the age that it should be super enjoyable and both hubby and I missed camping. We have been having a hard time to coordinate our vacations but this year we managed to get a few days together and decided to get a camp site at a provincial park not too far from home.

We arrived Friday afternoon to set up our tent, chairs, screened tent and then headed out around the camp ground to explore.

The camp ground we stayed at was a nice big camp ground with 3 or 4 "sub" camp areas. We picked a camp site near the outhouse and one of the beaches but it was a hike to the comfort station which wasn't a big deal as we are camping and swimming.
We set up our new Coleman chairs around the fire pit and made a early dinner the first night as we wanted to explore more and attend a presentation about sharing our earth with endangered species. The kids have new chairs that they just love. P has a new blue constellation quad chair and A has the new purple star quad chair. The chairs are just the perfect size for kids and are easy for them to move, fold up and carry where ever they want them to be put. I also got a new chair this summer that is from the Coleman Sport Quad Chair line and is the nicest colour of purple! I love the chair but missed the side hanging pocket that we have on our other Coleman chairs. I was super comfy chilling by the fire at night and roasting marshmallows.

The presentation on Friday really opened my eyes to the fact that we don't have to go far to have endangered species. We have them in our own back yard. This was sad to hear what we as humans have been doing to harm the animals and bugs. My daughter was actually really sad as we learned about what has been killing the brown bats but then at the end of the presentation the kids got a chance to check out a grey snake that was about 6.5 feet long! This park has lots of snakes and I am super glad I can say I saw 2 the whole time there, 1 baby on a hike and the one at the presentation.

Saturday night we went to a presentation about the Micca mines and learned more about what Micca is used for. After getting back to our camp site we pulled our cozy chairs up to the fire and made some S'mores before bed.

Sunday morning arrived way to fast as we all were enjoying ourselves and taking in the nature around us. Relaxing and being technology-free minus my e-reader. I know I know but I wanted to read on my vacation and all the review books I have are e-books at the moment plus it made it easier for me to read in the tent without waking anyone.

D told me on Sunday morning when I woke that we had been robbed over night. I started to panic and he went on to tell me that a raccoon had stopped by for a visit. I had asked him if we should put the one bag in the van and he thought it would be safe in our screen tent. Nope it wasn't safe the raccoon got the last few peanut butter cups, graham crackers, a banana and a few slices of whole wheat bread. That guy got all the good stuff and left the rest.

All in all we had a fabulous time and I want to Thank Coleman Canada for our new comfy chairs that really helped us enjoy a cozy seat at the fire pit. We will be enjoying many more camping trips next summer. We can't wait!

Check out  Coleman Canada on Facebook and on Twitter @ColemanCanada


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of Coleman Canada. We received product in exchange for an editorial post. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Five Ways to Enjoy Canada Day

Today we have a guest post by Peter Able is a freelance content writer from Toronto. He specialized in art, travel and entertainment. His passions in life include, art, photography and mango sorbet.

There is no day quite like Canada’s Birthday. My childhood experiences of Canada Day evokes colourful memories; literally “colourful” memories. Colour seemed to have been everywhere, from the carnivals, festivals and parades to the fireworks, and air shows. The purpose of a national holiday is to not only bring the nation together, but also one’s family. Towering high above all of my emotions looking back on past Canada Days, was the feeling of happiness throughout my family –  whether we’d been embroiled in arguments the night before or not. From childhood, to being the father of my own family in adulthood, this tradition has continued and still proves to be true. Here are five things for a family to do on Canada Day.

Granville Island

It is only most fitting that Canada Day is spent at an infamous Canadian landmark. Granville Island is just this, boasting a plethora of theatres, restaurants, shops and of course, the Granville Island Public Market.

It is practically the complete family day trip destination. On Canada Day, the Island celebrates by
putting on nothing short of a show. As a frequent visitor of the Granville Parade in my childhood, Canadian pancake breakfasts (I greedily always ordered two, only to struggle to finish one), performers and live music were enjoyed by the whole family during the Granville Island Canada Day parade.

Kingston’s Rideau Lakes Studio and Garden Tour


There are many reasons that make spending Canada Day 2013 in Ontario’s Kingston the ideal
choice. Firstly, let us speak on the Rideau Lakes Studio and Garden Tour that will take place there
this Canada Day. Featuring hand woven and quilted items, pottery, woodworking, decorative stone
work, decorative painting, watercolour paintings and oil and acrylic, this workshop tour is both great
fun and a fantastic place to leave with a gorgeous piece of pottery for your home.

As it is open from 10am to 5pm, you can afterwards hop along to a drum circle at Ben’s Pub at 105
Clergy Street, which will take every Sunday from Canada Day until October 15

Kingston hotels can be found online for those looking to spend their Canada Day weekend there.

An Exclusive Family Occasion


Here’s a secret: some of the most memorable family days, are those spent exclusively amongst the
family. A barbeque in the garden, the television on in the front room and one’s family occupying the
whole house; a good few of my past Canada Day experiences involved such simple but cozy affairs.
However you and your family like to have fun, celebrating Canada Day indoors can be the best way
to do it.

Canada Wonderland


Ok, nothing spells out family activities more than theme parks. Furthermore, nothing spells out family fun more than fireworks. Put the two together and you get one of those childhood experiences that stick in your head through old age.
At around 10pm every Canada Day, Canada Wonderland puts on a spectacular fireworks display
(unless the weather doesn’t permit it).

Toronto Ribfest


Who here eats meat and doesn’t like ribs? Food is the way to everyone’s heart and no special day
would be complete without a special meal.

Toronto Ribfest, hosted by the Rotary Club of Etobicoke is a massive festival in Centennial Park, with
an array of different foods and of course, ribs! From rides and live music, to carnival games and
fireworks, Ribfest is one of the key places to be on Canada Day. The best bit about it (other than the
ribs) is that is runs for an extended weekend!



Time to Dust Off the Bike

Or so I thought it was time to dust off the bike after it has spent almost 7 years in storage. I have been thinking about getting the bike out for almost a month now as both of the kids have kicked their training wheels and have been able to maneuver their own bikes.

I also thought it may be good for Molly to get more exercise by running beside me as the kids and I bike around the neighborhood. Molly can go for long walks, we usually walk 4-5km and still can have tons of energy at the end of it. I am not a runner but I love to bike and thought this would be another great idea to get back into shape after the winter. 

I dug out the bike from deep in the dark basement and pulled it outside to see the light of day. The tires were beyond flat and had to be pumped. I decided to take it down to the community rink to test drive around the parking lot. Remember people I haven't been on a bike in almost 7 years! All was going well until my break didn't seem to come off after I used it. I got off the bike to see what was wrong and my tire had a HUGE bulge and then POP! There went the tube in the tire. I figured after such a long time sitting it would have some problems, maybe need some oiling but I never have seen a blown bike tire. 

I will be waiting until my hubby gets a chance to take a look at it and see if he can get it into working order before I back out of biking.


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

10 Things I Love about Summer!

I LOVE Summer and decided I would write a 10 things I love about Summer list to share with you. Do you love summer? What do you love most about it?

10 Things I Love about Summer
  1. Sunshine! 
  2. Swimming at the beach with the kids
  3. Enjoying my morning coffee out on the patio
  4. BBQ & Picnics! (I have been trying out some new BBQ recipes on Marvelous Mommy Meals)
  5. Nice evening walks or just sitting outdoors (except for the mosquitoes)
  6. Water fights with the kids
  7. Watermelons 
  8. Strawberry picking and tasty strawberry recipes

Marble Lake Lodge Review

In June my family and I took a nice weekend away at a cottage. The first real camping experience my children have had. This was also another fab find on a Daily Deals site. Two night stay during the week for $75 a value of $271! The catch? This coupon deal needed to be used in June and between Sunday to Thursday. Marble Lake Lodge is where we found a really good deal.


If you haven't heard of Marble Lake Lodge, it is located in Cloyne, Ontario not too far from Bon Echo provincial park. It took us a couple hours to get there but it was a very nice drive. We booked Cottage #6. This cabin can have up to six people staying. It is a two bedroom with a kitchen/livingroom and a bathroom with a shower. We had out stay from Sunday to Tuesday the 12-14 of June.

Of course our trip away would be a cold one! When we arrived at Marble Lake Lodge we were early for check in, so we took a look around the area. They have a children's play structure (this has seen better days and even had a sign play at your own risk), lots of camping sites and a nice little beach area. They have paddle boats you can take out for a tour, They only have a few but we were lucky during our stay that no one was interested in them at the same time as us. The cottage I had believed was on the water and it wasn't. It was up on the hill not far from the beach though. I would prefer one on the beach which would be cottage #4 or #5. This way the kids can play in the sand and you can start the dinner on the BBQ or get lunch started. The cottage itself was nice enough for a cottage getaway. Nothing fancy or very modern but your to be camping and enjoying the great outdoors, right! No cell service there, well a little just enough to get a tease for who emailed me but not enough to read anything. Again we are camping and well I was on holidays.

Of course it was rainy and cool as it was still the beginning of June. I was fine with it but D was almost ready to pack up after the first day. Men, eh? We enjoyed a nice camp fire the first night with s'mores, yummy. The kids loved it. We went out paddle boating, the kids were brave enough to enter the water. They played in the sand. We went to Bon Echo for a couple hours before it started to rain. They offer a pass to the park (with deposit) when you stay in the cottages or camp ground. We also watched some movies they have that can be rented free of charge.

One thing I didn't like about our cottage was the bathroom was outside attached to the porch, which had windows that didn't close. With our stay being rainy and we were right on the water, it was pretty cold going to the washroom or for a shower. Plus at night it was hard for the kids to go out to the washroom if need be as we locked the entrance door. Overall though I would go back but I would go in July or beginning of August for nicer weather and I would also ask for cottage #4 or #5.

~*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post, it was written by Canadian Coupon Mom. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Bonnechere Caves Review

This summer our family decided to do a few day trips to some more local areas and we decided Bonnechere Caves would be a neat place that the kids might enjoy. My husband, D and I decided P would love it as he is very much into rocks, caves and fun science things.

A quick background to Bonnechere Caves, located in the Ottawa Valley in Eganville, Ontario. Bonnechere Caves are under a hill of limestone, the geologists have said it was a tropical sea 500 million years ago. Stalactites, or rock icicles formed at the rate of one cubic inch in 150 years, hang from the ceiling and the handiwork of nature is enhanced by electric lights. There are tons of fossils that are embedded in the limestone walls. Entombed in the rock and preserved forever can be seen fossils of coral and sea creatures alive long before the age of the Dinosaurs.

The caves are open from May -Thanksgiving weekend. The price is as follows:
Adults  $16.00
Seniors (65 +)  $15.00
Youth (13-17 years)  $13.00
Children (4-12)  $12.00
Under 4  free

Our thoughts after visiting Bonnechere Caves- I am signed up with a handful of Daily Deal sites that send out emails everyday. One day a Daily Deal coupon came for Bonnechere Caves 2 can tour the caves for the price of 1 at $16.00. We packed a lunch and snack and headed to Eganville, Ontario. When we arrived we took a quick tour of the water and bridge just outside the cave area, then headed in to pay.
A was free as she is under 4. When you arrive the staff let you know when the next tour is starting, tours during the summer run every 20 minutes. We had only 10 minutes until the next tour and we were all hungry. Instead we decided to head to the picnic area and have lunch.

We headed over to the tour area after having our lunch. There you meet your tour guide and hear more about the caves history and the fossils that have been found in the caves. This usually takes about 20 minutes and the tour guide asks people to guess about the fossils and adds humor to the stories. We then head into the cave where every 3 or 4 feet you stop and the tour guide gives more of the story of the cave. You can even walk through a tiny cave inside but if you are taller than 5'5 you may not want to as it is very low and I have to bend way down to go through it with P.

It is cool and damp in the cave but very interesting if you like rocks and fossils. The downside? It isn't a long tour about 45 minutes to an hour and the cost is pretty high for what you get. D and I both feel that it is a one time kind of trip. Once you see that caves it is neat but not something you would do again and again.

A few photos of our trip to Bonnechere Caves:





~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Canadian Coupon Mom, all opinions are honest and my own. This is not a sponsored post.*~

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