Canada Day Long Weekend Events in Red Deer and Central Alberta

 Looking for things to do this Canada Day Long weekend?

Red Deer has finally announced the alternative plans for Canada Day!
Events will be held at the Collicutt Centre.

Afraid you might miss out on the awesome International Food booths? No worries, they will be located on the North Side of the Collicutt. 

All the entertainment we have come to know and love will be on a stage they will set up on the East Side of the Collciutt Centre.

The East entrance is where you will be able to access the washrooms in the centre.

Going to be in Sylvan Lake this weekend? They have the rescheduled drive-in movie The Goonies planned for 10:30 p.m. at the Canadian Tire parking lot.

On Canada Day in Sylvan Lake, there will be a barbecue, the March of Canadians which will end on the pier, And you can have birthday cake!

Have Kids? How about trying Hat Painting! There will also be an activities area with bouncy apparatus, clowns, temporary tattoos and more cake!

The day winds down with the unofficial illuminated boat parade, where boaters traditionally light up the water with their boat lights. Fireworks are planned to start at 10:30pm on Monday evening.

Lacombe
There will be free activities at the English Estates Centre, a pancake breakfast, a kid’s cash sand pile, face painting and industrial equipment on display.
As well the fireworks are planned to be let off at Cranna Lake

Blackfalds
Tayles Water Park will have CUPCAKES at 1 p.m. again at 8 p.m. at the All-Star Park followed by dusk fireworks, 10:30 to 11 p.m.

Want to see more fireworks? Innisfail will have their Canada Day Fireworks display on Sunday.
On Canada Day, the Innisfail Historical Village will host entertainment, kids activities, a teepee celebration, food, cake and ice cream.

Hi! I'm new here...

Let me introduce myself...

I am Tanya, your new momstown mama for Central Alberta. I am the mom of 2 gorgeous girls, and our family is expecting a new little one at the beginning of September, so apparently I am looking to be very busy!

My husband is Paul, aka momstown papa, and he will be posting on here occasionally to give his unique perspective on life in Central Alberta.

I attended my first momstown moms night out last week at East Side Mario's and met a few of you there, and if we weren't formally introduced, I was the very pregnant lady! ha ha. I also attended my first park hopping playdates and met a couple of the ladies there as well. Small turnout, but it was holiday Monday, I hope to see many more of you next week at the Blackfalds Spray Park!

My goal in August is to get the hang of things with LOTS of help from Alison, as well as meet as many of the momstown moms and families as I can. I can't promise that I will remember your names though... but I will get better!

I am also busy working on our 4th birthday party! I am so excited about what we have in store for all the moms and families in Central Alberta that day! We have face painting from Candy Faces, bouncy house from Big Bounce Inflatables, cupcakes from Yummy Custom Cakes, a demo class from Kindermusic Korner and Jo Dumont Fitness Training. Suzanne from First Blush Photography will be wandering around taking pictures of your little ones having a blast, which you can later purchase from an online gallery if you choose. Joanne from Bold Beauty will also be set up with a Little Fingers Little Toes for any little girls who would like their nails done!

I look forward to seeing you around town!

June Winners!

We gave away lots of cool stuff in June as usual!

Congratulations to Michelle L. who won our monthly contest - an 8 week Mamacise session and a Mommy Motion 10 pass from City Motion!

Natasha H. took home the "My Fair Lady" gift basket from our event at Lush in the Bower Mall.

Robin P. & Leslie got to see The Bridesmaids on us this month at our Mom's Night Out at the Movies monthly event.

Ashley C. won a copy of Hot Rod Hamster by Cynthia Lord courtesy of Scholastic Canada at our Construction Party.

Niki B. won our Father's Day message board contest by telling us what a great Dad her husband is!  She'll be able to treat him to dinner at The Wok Box with a $25 Gift Certificate.

Megan L. & Tara K. each took home a $25 Gift Certificate to The Toad & Turtle at our Mom's Night Out for June.

Don't forget to check the momstown Contest blog regularily - there are always great new contests being posted up.  Don't miss your chance to win!!

Happy Birthday Canada!

We gathered in the park yesterday for our second annual Canada Day Potluck Picnic.

The sun was shining, and the Poplar Fuzz was flying - but the kids still had a blast running around, playing at the playground and burning off tons of energy!  The food was amazing - as per usual at a momstown potluck!

Happy Birthday Canada - enjoy the long weekend with your families & soak up the sun while it shines!

This one's for the boys!

What does every little boy love?  Trucks!  Construction vehicles - or anything that makes noise and is big to be exact.  We celebrated all things construction at our monthly craft party this month - and gave the boys a chance to shine.  They each brought their favourite trucks - and had some fun being boys!

Then we got crafty with some popsicle sticks and playdough.  Building... whatever!  We ended up coming home with a porcupine and a picture frame - gotta love the creativity of a 5 year old, and the funny faces he makes when he's told to 'smile'!

We then had some more free-play time - where my 5 year old once again got creative with the puzzle mats.

Congratulations to Ashley C. who took home a copy of Hot Rod Hamster by Cynthia Lord courtesy of Scholastic Canada!  We'll be giving away a new book each month as a part of momstown.ca's focus on early literacy!  Join us next month for Fun at the Beach!

Picasso's In The Park

We hit the park last week for our first Picasso's In The Park of 2011.  After being rained out on our first try for this ever popular event - we hit it just right with a fantastic sunny day!

The kids donned their spiffy paint smocks - and we let them lose with the finger paints.  What better place than outside - where they can really get in there and make a mess?

Then we hit the park for some playtime for the kids!  A great morning of fun in the sun - bring on summer!

We'll be doing this once a month through the summer (and as far into the fall as the weather holds out) - so make sure your membership is active so you can join in the fun!  If you're not yet a member - register now for your two week free trial period!

Cookin' up a storm!

We did just that this past weekend at our first ever Big Cook event here at momstown Central Alberta.  What's a Big Cook you ask?  It's just that - a few of us got together and assembled a TON of food to stock up our freezers with pre-made food.

We each took care of the preparation for one recipe ahead of time, and came with everything pre-chopped and ready to go.  Here's what 18 Lbs of cooked ground beef looks like... all ready to go for our Lazy Man's Lasagna!

Then we gathered together to assemble our meals.

A great meal is perfected with a great bottle of wine, and the perfect addition to the big cook was the Generation Seven Wine provided compliments of Chateau des Charmes.  Kristin took home the door prize - a bottle of red, and a bottle of white - congratulations!

At the end of the afternoon we each had 12 meals to take home to our freezers.  We sat down and enjoyed another glass of wine knowing that next time the mad "what are we having for supper?" hour was upon us - we would have the answer!!

We'll be doing this one again for sure!  Make sure you join us and keep your eye on the calendar!

Join the momstown movement!

momstown Central Alberta is FOR SALE!

Wanted:
An aspiring mom entrepreneur who is intrigued by the momstown concept to join the momstown movement in Central Alberta.

momstown Central Alberta was launched in January 2010 and has since had a huge impact on the lives of over 800 moms of young children in Red Deer and surrounding areas.  The time is right for a new entrepreneurial minded mom to step in and take the community to new and exciting places!  The sky is the limit! 

The momstown Mission
Connecting neighbourhood moms. One community at a time.

momstown.ca is here at the right time and the right place. momstown is part of the social networking wave that is changing the way the online world operates and how society is behaving, learning and most importantly, parenting.

The momstown Opportunity 

momstown.ca is a social networking, media and event business geared for moms with children aged 0-6 years old.  The goal of each momstown chapter is to connect neighbourhood moms both online and in-person with over 30 local, in-person events monthly.  Additionally, as a media company we invite and integrate brands and local advertisers into our mom dialogue.  With strategic partnerships with CBC Kids, Scholastic Canada and a study commissioned by the University of Waterloo on the benefits to mothers brought by momstown, we aren’t the only ones to recognize the value that momstown brings to a community.  momstown.ca is more than a website and different than any other work-at-home business.  We’re not just building a community-minded business but a national brand that connects mothers across Canada.

Are you searching for a business that is flexible and family friendly?  Are you passionate about children, parenting, and connecting with like-minded mothers?  Are you looking for a part-time income, a fulfilling way to contribute to your family and an at-home business you can be proud of?

momstown is a dynamic small business to run - fun event planning with revenue earned from advertising sales and membership fees.  It's perfect for a mom who wants to continue being the primary parent while owning a child-focused and mommy relevant business.

momstown may be the right choice for you!

Click Here for more information.

Are you ready to be a part of momstown?
If you are interested in this unique ownership opportunity and would like more information please email info.central-alberta@momstown.ca for more specific information. You can also visit our website at http://central-alberta.momstown.ca for a better understanding of momstown.ca.

Contact:
Alison Colton
info.central-alberta@momstown.ca
403-506-5054

Wanna get pampered?

Lush in the Bower Mall is the place to be!  The momstown mamas were treated to a night out to be pampered last week, and they loved every minute!!

 

We were treated to facials and foot & hand treatments - all using their fabulous product line which are all made by hand and smell fantastic!

Congratulations to Natasha H. who won the door prize, a My Fair Lady gift package!  Lucky girl!

Check out our event calendar - and join us for our next great Mom's Night Out!

May Winners

Congratulations to our prize winners for May:

Michelle L. won a Pinotage Facial & Spa Pedicure from Head Hunters Salon & Day Spa in Lacombe.  Lucky girl - enjoy!!

We gave away two door prizes at our monthly Mom's Night Out & New Member Meetup this month.  Kristin F. was the lucky winner of a $25 Gift Certificate to Las Palmeras, and Erika R. won a gift pack from Shaklee courtesy of Tania Vasquez.  A big thanks to Las Palmeras for hosting us - we're headed to the Toad 'n' Turtle in June - don't miss it!

Family Barbeque!

It's hard to believe after the week of rain we've just had, but the weather on the long weekend was perfect for our Family Softball Game and Barbeque!!

First we hit the park for some family fun on the ball diamond.  It turns out the shale was newly redone - so after the kids had fun kicking up some dust, we decided to move over to the grass to save the mama's sanity & washing machines.  The game was short-lived, and not really much of a game - but the kids had fun, and that's all that really matters!

Once the park on the other side of the fence was spotted there was no turning back...

So we packed it in and hit the playground for some more fun.  The dads chased the kids, while the moms enjoyed some uninterrupted time to chat.  We all marveled at how nice it was to play at the park when dad is around to do the chasing!

We then returned to Jill's house to have a visit with the 4 week old puppies.  Oh what a hit!  They are just so cute there are no words!!

After the puppies retired for the evening, it was time to eat!  So we hit the backyard for some hotdogs, hamburgers, salads & deserts!  It felt so nice to eat supper from a paper plate with my toes in the grass - it's about time!!  Check out the message board for our desert recipes (yum!) - and don't forget the momstown meals blog for lots more great summer recipes. 

The kids had tons of fun running around, and reaking havoc on Jill's basement.  But we didn't mind - because we were sitting in the sun, and it was her house ;)

We had so much fun that we've decided to do this once a month through the summer months.  Join us in June for a Father's Day Picnic!  You can assure your husband that there will in fact be other dad's there - it's Father's Day afterall!

Bullfrogs & Butterflies

This month, our theme party at momstown Central Alberta was all about bullfrogs and butterflies!  We even had two beautiful butterflies flutter in just to join in the fun!

We made some cute butterfly crafts out of coffee filters.  Check the momstown Arts & Crafts Blog for how to instructions.

Then we had some tasty treats - yum!

And the kids played and got creative with the puzzle mats while the moms visited.

Our craft party for June is all about construction - so bring your little ones down for some fun, and a chance to win a copy of Hot Rod Hamster by Cynthia Lord courtesy of Scholastic Canada!

Moving Mountains

I've seen mountains being moved this week by an amazing group of women... mostly moms of young kids!  It's been an amazing thing to be a part of.

Our fellow momstown mama Jo Dumont and her team at Jo Dumont Fitness Training have done an amazing job with their Slave Lake Needs Everything Donation Drive!  JDFT is a very small business with a staff of only 5... yet they literally moved mountains this week!  Mountains of clothing & supplies... but still, mountains!!  Jo, Shelley and their team deserve some huge props for turning their gym into a warehouse for a whole week - and coordinating all aide efforts from all of Central Alberta!!  Even much larger businesses with far more resources & contacts in the community brought their contributions to JDFT - and the ladies there didn't even blink.  They just worked harder, rallied the community and got it done.  Other than some support from a few local radio stations - there has been a big lack of media coverage for this huge accomplishment.  So I'm just doing my part to put it out there - well done ladies!!  You are rockstars!

I've also seen lots of other momstown mamas working tirelessly this week!!  Big shouts go out to Jordana (serously lady - you and your family are hardcore!), Brenda, Tina, Robin, Cassi, Jill, Niki, Sheri, Sannah, Amy, Jenn, Melanie and all of the others that I might not have crossed paths with.  Some brought their kids in with them to teach them firsthand that helping others in need is SO rewarding!

They're headed up to Athabasca this morning with a whopping 5 semi-trucks FULL of donations - that have all been sorted and boxed up in their small gym.  Thank-you Jo for teaching us all what stepping up truly looks like!!  You are amazing!

Infant & Child First Aid & CPR Seminar with St. John Ambulance

We're doing it again!  Just for momstown!  We're pleased to announce round two of the Infant & Child CPR Sessions by St. John Ambulance, the leader in nation-wide CPR and First Aid training provides a brief 90 minute session on what you need to know to save your child’s life.

Do you know what to do if your infant or child is choking? Not breathing? Maybe you have your First Aid certification from years ago and need a refresher? Knowing the basics in an emergency can save a life.

Our workshop is led by an instructor from St. John Ambulance – Canada’s standard for excellence in first aid and CPR services. Our instructor will cover infant and child CPR, choking and prevention.

And guess what?  The best part of this offering is that its FREE.  That's right, all momstown members can attend these session at no charge.

Not a momstown member?  No worries!  Register now for a free trial membership and join us at our sessions.

Need more inspiration to join and take this workshop?  Read about a fellow momstown mama's experience highlighting the importance of learning the basics.

Donate to Slave Lake Fire Victims

Donate to Slave Lake Fire Victims

Our friends at Jo Dumont Fitness Training are accepting donations for the people of Slave Lake - who have been displaced from their homes due to forest fires in the area, which have destroyed half the town.

Donations of gently used household items are being accepted at the following locations:

Jo Dumont Fitness Training - #1 7810 50th Avenue

Kidz Rock Active Wear - # 5579 47th Street

Growing Like A Weed - 5202 54th Avenue


More details are available on the
Facebook Event

Park Hopping Playdates!

We welcomed spring to Central Alberta this week with the kickoff to our weekly Park Hopping Playdates!

The fog burned off just in time, and we took over the playground at Kin Canyon for some fun in the sun with bubbles - and of course, lots of fun in the playground.

I'm pretty sure my 2 year old went down the slide at least 25 times... and I had to drag him out of there!

We'll be meeting up at a different park in the Red Deer area each week through the spring, summer and as far into the fall as the weather holds up.  We'll be incorporating different themes every other week - including our ever popular Picasso's In The Park.  Check out our event calendar for details - and join the fun!