|
Well September has descended upon us and it is time to get ready for school!
Here are some links that I have used to get everything ready remotely from Germany for KJ to start school this week in Vancouver…
UNIFORMS:
oldnavy.ca or oldnavy.com
the Gap is on the same site
if you are needing grey wool pants my friends swear by Marks & Spencers in the UK
LABELS: for waterbottles to clothes to shoes:
Emilypress.com
Or
Mabelslabels.com |
If you currently use plastics in your home, be sure to open your windows regularly to let the fresh air in to reduce the amount of toxins in your air. Off-gassed toxins are denser and fall lower to the floor where your little ones are. That’s why it’s wise to open your children’s bedroom windows for a few minutes before they go to bed every night.
When plastic is heated, toxins may be released. Never heat plastics. Avoid microwaving plastics and do not put plastic containers in the dishwasher. Also, never use toxic-laden plastics for hot or wet food storage, and plastic toys that may go into your child’s mouth.
If you find yourself “jonesing” for some sun in a European winter, than the Canary Islands are a great choice. Since 1960 the islands have had a boom of tourism (approx. 10 million visitors per year) and thereby have offerings of every preference and budget. There are seven islands in the group but the main ones for vacationing are Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote. For our one week getaway we chose Tenerife, specifically because it had the only hotels listed on the www.kiwicollection website that were also in the preferred hotels group and Leading Hotels group. We booked through my fav, www.ltur.de. A quick and friendly 4 hour plane ride on tuifly and we arrived. 15 minutes via shuttle brought us to our final destination, the Bahia del Duque. The main building is quite impressive, with an open five floor atrium and welcoming staff in spanish themed uniforms carting you around the property. You can choose from a menu of linens which reminded of the wonderful Palazzo Sasso in Amalfi Coast and towels are soft and plentiful. The building design is a splendent group of 19th century villas with impressive grounds containing several pools, an outdoor chess area, a pond of swans and fish, tennis courts and a stunning standalone spa complex. The spa is to die for, one of the most impressive I have ever experienced. You can pay 35 euros to enjoy the Thalassotherapy salt water pools, waterfalls, Haman, Sauna and gorgeous chill out beds or go for one of their main treatments, pilates (on reformer), private gym training sessions or yoga classes. It is quiet and rarely used giving you the luxury of exclusivity, calm and bliss. The food is impressive with over eight restaurants. Our favourite was La Brasserie, the french bistro followed by La Trattoria, the italian offering and then the fine dining Las Aqua restaurant – a surprisingly good offering for hotel restaurants. Even the Chateau Briand in the Bengal buffet was fantastic. The new asian cuisine was forgettable as well as La Hacienda, La Tasca and the food at the beach club (however the setting and view is pretty spectacular). The kids club for 3 years and up was set up really great. With a play area, outdoor area with bakes and balls, table soccer, air hockey, mini house, flatscreen for movies and theatre stage. The staff seemed to do lots of fun activities with the kids too. But kids have to be potty trained! The hotel is right on the Duque beach which is public (all of the beaches in spain are) and has quite a surf. One downfall is the beach is run by a private company thus you have to pay and anyone can come and rent the loungers which I found surprising. It’s a very family friendly hotel which in this class of offering is wonderful for us and maybe not so exciting for those that don’t have little ones! Demographic wise it was mostly Dutch, UK vacationers, Spanish and a peppering of Germans, Russians and other nationalities. Overall very respectful guests and no issues. Other hotels in the area of interest were the Mirador and the Sheraton. The Thai spa affiliated with Iberostar Anthelia also seemed like a zen zone of inner peace with authentic thai masseurs and a drop in water experience for 25 euro. Loved our stay but they definitely need to heat their salt water pools, sort out their upcharging for the halb-pension guests, rethink their 26 euro per hour babysitters and enable the guests to use the loungers at the beach without having cash on them. Highly recommend it, let me know if you had some good experiences too! http://www.bahia-duque.com
This weekend here in Mainz, Germany ( as well as in Cologne and other cities) is Rosenmontag, Fasching, Carnival. Everyone is dressed up here in Mainz to see the parade (over 5 hours long!) and to get in the spirit we have to be dressed up and cheer Helau! as they throw candy and treats off the wagon. We were fresh back from Tenerife and hadn’t prepared ourselves for costumes so here are some ideas that you can whip up at home. Some ideas for last minute costumes?
1) Cowboy: do you have red handkerchief, a cowboy hat, jeans and some cowboy boot? Then you are in business! For a female tie your hair in braids, top it with a shirt tied at the waster for boys, use eyeliner to make a mustache.
2) Pirate: after Pirates of the Caribbean, pirates are all the rage right now. Take a handkerchief and tie it around the head and a scarf around the waist. Black high boots, black pants and a white oversized shirt. Black construction paper and a string for an eyepatch and away you go!
3) Beachcomber: Take an oversized shirt and rip it up and smear a little black paint or shoe polish on it. Tie it with a string and an empty bottle or coconut!
4) Hawaiian Hulu: Take a garbage bag and tape it to a sash or belt. Cut it into strips around your waist. Then a hawaiin shirt or bikini top with some shells of big beads. Flowers around the hair for girls or a bandana around the head for boys.
Viel spaß. Helau!
I have a very picky eater. When he likes something he devours it and wants more, more, more! And then the next day or week he doesn’t like it anymore. Yesterday I found “piccolini” pasta from Barilla which has 25% zucchini and spinach in the pasta. Golden! He ate it up with tiny pieces of a seasoned lamb steak cut in and tossed with the cooked pasta. For a side, cubes of avocado served in the skin. Bon Appetit! 
We have just arrived from a 10 hour flight from Vancouver to Frankfurt on Lufthansa. I normally take a night flight on BA so that the little guy sleeps but this time no such luck! How did I survive it? With a few of these tips below:
1) Get a knapsack or kids trolley for your toddler and pack in it:
2) A couple bottles of milk and a bottle of water. Snacks like nuts, rice cakes, pretzels, a yogurt, cut up apple, a container of his favourite pasta, nuts, and some yummy bear vitamins (something chewy for take off and landing to protect his ears if he doesn’t feel like drinking)
3) A new toy or his favourite toys: cars, trucks, crayons, colouring book, reading books, sticker books, his own DVD player or Ipod loaded with games and movies. He likes controlling his own device as much as watching a movie and is not too keen on the headphones.
4) A change of clothes for you and your child. Murphy’s law – when you haven’t packed a new shirt for yourself is when they throw up or spill on you. It’s happened to me twice. Yuck!
5) 3 – 4 diapers and lots of wipes
6) Anti bacteria wipes to wipe down your area – windows, knobs, tables, arm rests…
7) Single hand foldable stroller like the McLaren – great for when they fall asleep and you can put them in right out of the plane while you get to the terminal on those bloody buses, get your luggage and rental car.
8) Teddy bear or blanket. Makes them feel more at ease to fall asleep on the plane.
Bon Voyage and Happy Travels
