Wednesday, April 25, 2012

East Coast Momma Entrepreneurs Unite!

I'm a huge fan of mom entrepreneurs. There's something extra special about women who dream up a strategy to fuel a passion for both business and family into a perfect web that works for her. All our momstown mamas are entrepreneurs who run their own momstown chapter as their own event planning and marketing business and I've learned so much from them all.

The momstown entrepreneurial force tends to inspire other entrepreneurs and many chapters host monthly networking and entrepreneur events to connect like-minded business moms.  In fact, momstown even won the Mom Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2011 and tries our best to mentor and help all mom entrepreneurs.

Hence, my immediate appreciation for the new East Coast Momma Collective that has sprouted up with the passion to unite business moms locally. Their philosophy is stated on the website and is one which is aspirational and so community focused:

"The East Coast Momma Collective (ECMC) is a coming together of Atlantic Canadian Moms who love to knit, sew, bake, decorate… create!" 


"The ECMC hosts 4 Craft Fairs a year in Halifax NS so these talented Moms can sell their unique products in a market-like setting, giving you the chance to buy one-of-a-kind locally made gifts. The ECMC – Fueling Mom-powered pursuits!"

Come on out to St Mary's Boat Club on June 24th 11am - 3pm to support local women in business and score some fabulous, unique items at the ECMC Summer Fair.


For additional inspiration - here are a few entrepreneurial blogs written by our very own momstown team about their insight into the work-at-home business world:
5 Ways to Run Your Own Business by momstown Hamilton
Finding Focus as a Work at Home Mom by momstown Barrie
Why Doing what your Love will repay you in Spades by momstown Edmonton South
Inspiration and Perspiration by momstown KW

Win a Bravado Breastfeeding Prize Pack


Looking for the ultimate in nursing comfort? Enter to win a fantastic nursing prize pack from Bravado Designs, including:  the Original Nursing Bra, the Essential Nursing Tank, a Breastfeeding with Bravado DVD, and nursing pads! What a prize!

Our main momstown mama reviewed the Bravado Bliss Bra and had great things to say about these fabulously designed, well made and comfortable bras.

Click HERE to Enter to WIN!

Friday, April 20, 2012

10 Springtime Family Fun Ideas

Here comes spring in Halifax and momstown has ideas to make the season as fun and family friendly as possible! Enjoy this top 10 list!


1. Blow Bubbles!
momstown Oakville has a great homemade recipe for bubbles! Blow as many bubbles as possible, hold competitions and practice together!

2. Nature Walk and collect found natural objects.
Gather pinecones, spot blossoming spring bulbs, count robins. Kids love collections and these nature items can kick start a collection. A hike is also great exercise for kids!

3. Earth Day Neighbourhood Clean-up
Pick a green space and arrive with a gloves and a garbage bag and get busy picking up litter like momstown Guelph did. It's a green and community lesson.

4. Bike Safety and Clean Check
Now is the time to blow up the tires, spring clean the bikes (set up a "car wash" station for bikes) and double check helmet fits. Now you're ready to ride! The Chain of Lakes Trail is a beautiful path to bike ride which starts at the Halifax Peninsula and goes right until Bayers Lake Industrial Park.

5. Fly a Kite
K is for Kite! Springtime is such a perfect time to fly a kite in a big open space! Run and the kite will follow!

6. Outdoor Finger Painting!
This is a momstown standard event - we call it Picassos in the Park and we love to get messy with loads of finger paint, long rolls of paper and lots of creativity!

7. Park Hop!
Make a list of all the nearby parks in your neighbourhood or even whole city and create a go-to map to visit them all this season. Make a  mini geography lesson out of it by showing your kids the map and locations. Older kids can keep track of the pros and cons of each park and keep a little rating survey so you know which parks to return to. Here's a list of all the playgrounds in the Halifax region by area, complete with a map!


8. Traditional Games
Hide and Seek, Hopscotch, Tag, Street Hockey..... all of these traditional outdoor games and pursuits aren't logical to our digital kids. Teach them how to play and play with them. You'll have fun too!




9. Build a Construction Site out of Sand.
Pull out the diggers and dump trucks and take them to the nearest sandbox, sandy park or beach along with some shovels and imagination. Such fun for all ages to build together. No one every tires of sand in their shoes!

10. Plant a Garden
Need family friendly garden ideas? momstown shared the top crops to plant with your children - fast growing options are lots of fun! Take a trip to the garden centre with your kids to get them excited and set the garden up together.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Halifax Easter Activities

Looking for Easter ideas, egg hunts and activities in the Halifax area? momstown Halifax is happy to share fun events in the HRM!

Easter Egg Hunt at the Farmer's Market
Hop your way to the Seaport Farmers Market for their second annual Easter bunny egg hunt! Tickets are $5.00 with the chance of winning the grand door prize.

11am -1 pm Register for the Bunny Hunt at the South door. Solve the clues and find the bunnies!
Eggs are hidden along the trail as well.
Toddler play area up on the Mezzanine with a puppet workshop in the afternoon.
Face Painting (free bunny face for those entered in the scavenger hunt)
Puppet Show (Times TBA)
Easter Craft Table  Fun for everyone. Make a bonnet!
 Illusions Rhythmic Gymnastics performances at 1, 2 and 3pm.



Meet the Easter Bunny
The Easter bunny is in town for a visit and wants to see you!  Head to the Bay Court at the Mic Mac Mall from March 26 - April 7 to get your picutred taken (1 for $7, 3 for $20 or 5 for $30) with everyone's favourite furry friend.

While you're there be sure to enter their daily coloring contest.  It's $2 to enter and all proceeds go to the Easter Seals Foundation of Nova Scotia

Decorate a Cupcake with the Easter Bunny
Drop by Centre Court at the Halifax Shopping Centre for a photo with the Easter Bunny! April 4th, 5th & 7th from 10am -2pm & 3pm-7pm.

Emails are free and you are welcome to bring your own camera! 4×6 prints are available with a $5 donation to the SPCA and will be available for pickup the following day after 5pm.

Our Bunny is Crazy for Cupcakes! Visit the Bunny between 10am and noon on Saturday, April 7th and decorate your very own bunny cupcake with a donation to the SPCA!


Easter Celebration at Veith House
Saturday Apr 7 2012, 10am-12pm
Veith House, 3115 Veith Street
We will be having an lots of fun for the family. Activities include an easter egg hunt, egg decorating, kids crafts and a bake table. Come out and support Veith House!

For Easter ideas you can creat at home, check momstown arts and craft. Or if you'd like to plan your own Easter Egg Hunt, we have the best tips on how to host one stress free!

Easter Crafts for Toddlers and Preschoolers

It's the week before Easter and means it's time to hustle and pull out the Easter decorations and craft supplies and get ready for the Easter Bunny! momstown has gathered our top 16 favourite Easter crafts to keep your little ones busy this season.





momstown Arts and Crafts has so many ideas to share with parents and kids looking for crafty Easter fun! Click on the idea below for instructions and ideas!


Baskets and Decorations

Eggs-ellent Ideas

Chicks and Bunnies