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Tips for a great off-season family day trip – With Freedom Mobile

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Thanks to Freedom Mobile for sponsoring this post.

Day trips don’t have to be limited to the summer months. In fact, a day trip is a great way to break up the monotony of any season.  It’s not quite ‘tourist season’ yet, but you can still find fun things to do as a family such as great museums, awesome indoor pools and hot springs which are open all year long.

To have a successful day trip in the off season, it’s even more important to have a network you can trust. Freedom Mobile has been expanding their home network and is rolling out Extended Range LTE.

We put this to the test with a trip to Alberta’s dinosaur capital, Drumheller. Below, you can find tips for making your off-season day trip with kids a success as well as learn how my iphone X from Freedom Mobile handled being outside of our home network.

1. Plan before you go

Check the weather and the road conditions, look-up the operating hours of the place you are planning to visit and get an estimate for how long your drive should be. The Royal Tyrrell Museum for example is open year round, but Fossil World is only open seasonally.

2. But stay flexible

There’s no need to stay set on your original plan. Sometimes things don’t take as long as you expect, or you may see something that looks really cool while you are there. You can easily check hours, find directions and look up reviews on the go. We ended up stopping at a couple of roadside attractions on the way home. It was super easy to get directions from Drumheller to where they were located in Irricana.

3. Pack an emergency kit and warm clothes and blankets

This is always a good idea but when there is potential for chillier weather or poor road conditions it becomes extra important.

4. Have activities for the kids in the car

Even if your trip is only an hour or so it can feel like a long time for the kids. Or for you, if you have bored, bickering children. It doesn’t have to be much, a new activity book, car bingo sheets, tablets or a movie can all do the trick. Younger kids may enjoy having a few hand held toys like cars or dinosaurs and some families really enjoy listening to audio books together or playing car games like eye spy.

5. Don’t forget snacks and water

Even though your trip might not be long, you’ll save money, time and your sanity by packing some snacks and water along with you.

6. Bring cords and extra batteries

Although newer phones like my Iphone X have a much better battery life than older phones, it is still a good idea to have the ability to charge your phone. Not only is this important in case of emergency, your also don’t want to miss a cute potential photo op because your phone has died.

7. Check for apps to make your visit even better

More and more places are creating their own apps to enhance your travel experience. The last time we were in Drumheller, we rented audio-sticks so we could listen to an audio tour of the Royal Tyrrell Museum. We didn’t realize it until we got there, but now they have an app that you can download onto your phone for free instead.

The verdict:

Throughout our trip to Drumheller and back, my Freedom Mobile away network was there whenever I needed it. Although there were a few short stretches of on a minor road we took where I did lose connectivity, this was no different from my husband’s work phone which is on another network.

We used the phone fairly heavily (which is pretty normal for us) – we checked road conditions, got directions, searched google for an article about the different dinosaurs figures around Drumheller, downloaded the Tyrrell Museum audio-tour app, made a call home and more.

I’ve tried Freedom Mobile for 6 months now, and it’s been trouble free. Although we spend most of our time in Calgary, it’s great to know that it can handle our road trips too.

11 Great Salads to Take to a Potluck or Feed a Big Group

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12 Great Salads to Take to a Potluck or Feed a Big Group - talkinginallcaps.com

1. Southwestern Bean Salad 

Bean salads can often be quite bland but this one is definitely not. Using canned beans makes it easy to prepare and helps the salad stretch a long way.

Southwestern Bean Salad - 12 Great Salads to Take to a Potluck or Feed a Big Group

2. Rice Salad with Roasted Red Pepper and Herbs

Using brown basmati rice will keep the nutrient content of this salad but keep the soft texture that you get from white rice. You can easily feed a big crowd with this fresh salad without a lot of work.

Rice Salad with Roasted Red Pepper and Herbs - 12 Great Salads to Take to a Potluck or Feed a Big Group - talkinginallcaps.com

3. Fresh and Easy Pasta Salad 

This is not your typical pasta salad but it is just as easy to make. This salad uses salsa as a dressing, pumping up the flavor and reducing the calories too.

Fresh and Easy Pasta Salad -12 Great Salads to Take to a Potluck or Feed a Big Group - talkinginallcaps.com

4. Orzo Salad 

Another fresh take on pasta salad, this salad uses tiny orzo pasta and mint to make a nice light side dish.

Orzo Salad - 12 Great Salads to Take to a Potluck or Feed a Big Group - talkinginallcaps.com

5. Mexican Street Corn Inspired Quinoa and Corn Salad

Looking for something a little different? This salad has just the right amount of heat.

Mexican Street Corn Inspired Quinoa and Corn Salad -12 Great Salads to Take to a Potluck or Feed a Big Group - talkinginallcaps.com

6. Kale, Quinoa and Black Bean Salad

Want a salad just bursting with nutrition? It’s hard to beat this one. It makes a ton so you can easily feed a large group.

Kale, Quinoa and Black Bean Salad -12 Great Salads to Take to a Potluck or Feed a Big Group - talkinginallcaps.com

7. Retro Cauliflower Salad with Easy Homemade Thousand Island Dressing

Cauliflower has never tasted so good as in this creamy salad with cheese and tortilla chips.

Retro Cauliflower Salad -12 Great Salads to Take to a Potluck or Feed a Big Group

8. Rainbow Fruit Salad

This fruit salad is easy to put together and makes a large bowl full without a lot of work. Substitute the fruit for what’s in season and you can’t go wrong.

Rainbow Fruit Salad - 12 Great Salads to Take to a Potluck or Feed a Big Group - talkinginallcaps.com

9. Asian Lentil and Mango Salad 

A little bit sweet and a little bit crunchy, this salad is a definite break from your everyday salad. It keeps really well so you can make it ahead of time or enjoy the leftovers the next day.

Asian Lentil and Mango Salad -12 Great Salads to Take to a Potluck or Feed a Big Group - talkinginallcaps.com

10. Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad 

Quinoa makes a perfect base for a little bit of a twist on the traditional Tabbouleh salad.

Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad - 12 Great Salads to Take to a Potluck or Feed a Big Group - talkinginallcaps.com

11. Salad on a Stick

Want a salad that you can eat without utensils? Try one of these options for a salad on a stick.

Salad on a Stick -12 Great Salads to Take to a Potluck or Feed a Big Group - talkinginallcaps.com

Tips for Having Budget Friendly Fun With Kids in Cooler Weather

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Thanks to Freedom Mobile for sponsoring this article

Sometimes, winters here in Calgary seem to stretch out forever. I find keeping the kids entertained on a budget to be easy in the summer, but this task seems way harder when it’s cooler outside.

I have a tendency to stay inside resulting in stir crazy kids, climbing the walls. To help you out (and me!) I’ve compiled a list of ways to have fun with the kids in cooler weather while keeping your budget in mind.

1. Skating

One of my favourite ways to enjoy the cold weather with kids is to take them ice skating. In Calgary, you can find community run outdoor skating rinks as well as a number of city run rinks and ponds and they are all free to use!

Although helmets and skates are required you can often find second hand skates pretty inexpensively. Some rinks even have skates available to rent.

Many indoor rinks also offer public skating and is it usually pretty inexpensive too.

2. Swimming

Public swimming is one of the cheapest things you can do as a family. The best thing about going in the outside of the summer is that for a little while you forget how cold it is outside. But don’t forget to bring a toque for afterwards!

3. Libraries

For free, indoor fun, it’s hard to beat the library. Not only are they full of great books, they also offer great free programs for all ages. In the last few years, Calgary’s libraries have been getting more kid friendly as well. All of the libraries now have at least some toys and games for kids and several have Early Learning Centres for kids 5 and under to play and learn. Hands down the best place to drink your coffee while the kids entertain themselves.

4. Tobogganing

I think tobogganing is my kids’ favourite winter activity. It’s also super cheap – you can find plastic sleds for under $15 and the hills are free! Make sure the hill you are sledding on is free of obstacles and has a long, flat, hazard free runoff at the bottom.

5. Transit

As an adult, taking the bus or train is not particularly exciting but kids always seem to love it. Kids 5 and under are free, which helps keep the costs down.

Pick a destination that you don’t normally go and make the trip part of the experience. The Devonian Gardens, Olympic Plaza’s outdoor skating rink and the new Central Library are all easily accessed with Calgary’s C-train.

6. Lesser Known Attractions

Big attractions usually mean big money – look for some smaller/lesser known attractions instead. Not only do they tend to be cheaper, but you may find a hidden gem!

Great options in Calgary include Youthlink the Calgary Police Museum, Spaceport at the Calgary Airport, Bow Habitat Station and Military Museums.

7. Stay Home But Add a Little Sparkle

Sometimes you don’t actually need to go anywhere. You just need to do something different to make your yard seem fresh. Try Snow painting, build a snow fort, make dinosaur snow prints, or create an obstacle course.

8.Keep your Phone costs down with Freedom Mobile’s Big Offers

When I am out with the kids, I use my phone a lot. Whether it’s finding information, taking pictures and videos of the kids, amusing the kids while we wait or chatting with my friends because I finally have a few minutes of peace while they play.

Until I switched to Freedom Mobile, I thought the high cost I was paying was just something I had to accept. But now, this Freedom Mobile’s Big Gig Offers, I’m getting all the data and service I need at a price that’s actually affordable.

I absolutely love this new iPhone X. The photos I’m taking with it are so good people have mistaken them for professional photos, and I’m loving that they’ve given me more data than I’d ever use. Freedom also doesn’t charge me for going over my limit (if it ever does happen), which would definitely be helpful in case my kids decide to watch Dinosaur Train with my WiFi turned off.

Dinosaur Birthday Party!

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My youngest is currently obsessed with dinosaurs. I have learned so many new dinosaur names this year! Planning his dinosaur party was super fun. The kids were 3 and 4 year olds so I didn’t want to do anything too complicated or involving party games because I don’t really like them.

Decorations

We bought some dinosaurs for the wall from Party City and Open A Party.

We found these sparkly hats at the dollar store along with some foam sheets. I cut the foam into triangles and hot glued them onto the hats. We had more hats than we needed so the hats doubled as decorations.

“Loot Bag”

The kids also got a dinosaur tail (6 for $36 at Open A Party). These were adorable. Some of the kids loved them and others wanted nothing to do with them. They doubled as the loot bag.

The Cake

I am far from an expert cake decorator. My best looking cakes involve putting toys on the cake. Luckily, we have lots of little dinosaurs toys, making this cake pretty easy.

Activities

First each kid got to adopt a little toy dinosaur. My older kids helped fill out an adoption certificate and give each of the dinosaurs a check-up.

Next we rescued some dinosaurs that had gotten trapped in the ice. We mostly used warm water and eye droppers. If I was to do it again, I would make sure that the ice wasn’t quite as thick. I ended up running them the tap at the end to finish them up.

Finally, I had bought some dinosaur fossils and wrapped them in baking soda dough (which is just baking soda mixed with water). My plan was to have the kids get them out using vinegar droppers, but they were just too big. Instead we dropped them in a container of baking soda and watched them fizz. It was pretty entertaining.

Afterwards, each kid got a Jr Paleontologist certificate to celebrate their fossil find.

Happy Birthday Robbie!

It Just Works – Sponsored by Freedom Mobile

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Thanks to Freedom Mobile for sponsoring this article

When Freedom Mobile asked me to try out their mobile network and write about it, I was pretty excited. I wasn’t super impressed with the network that I had been using and I thought this would be a great opportunity for me to try it out and share my experiences.

But there ended up being a big problem. While I was supposed to be trying it out, I hardly thought about it at all.

Impromptu Photos

One of the first things I did was take the kids out to review a new playground. I’ve been using my phone more and more for my photography so having a phone with a great camera is super important to me. The playground pictures and videos I took were great but what I really want to talk about is the photos I took of my kids. At the end of our visit the kids were hanging around a tree goofing around. I pulled out my iPhone X that I got from Freedom Mobile (they have great handset options now) and took some spur of the moment portraits. They turned out really well, especially for impromptu pictures. 

Waiting at the Doctor

We seem to have had an endless number of appointments this fall. Dentist appointments, doctor appointments, optometrist appointments. Playing eye spy out the window is fine (if you are lucky enough to have a window) but it gets old pretty fast. One of my least favourite things to do is try to entertain a three-year-old in a waiting room or empty doctor’s office. Thankfully, I was able to pull out my phone and distract him with YouTube. Baby Shark may have been endlessly running through my head for the next 3 days but at least I wasn’t pulling out my hair.  This would have been a great opportunity for me to evaluate the network, but I didn’t think about it at all.

Bedtime

My daughter has been having trouble settling at night since school started again this year, so I’ve been playing her guided meditations for kids. Even though my house is fairly small, there’s a dead spot in our WiFi network that happens to be in her room. Since Freedom Mobile has Big Plans that don’t cost big money, like the 10GB for $60 Big Gig plan that I’m currently on, I didn’t think twice about switching off the WiFi on my phone and running the video.

(In fact, for a limited time, Freedom’s Big Binge Bonus offers 100 GB of extra data when you sign-up for a $60/month, two year plan with a new handset. This data doesn’t expire and is automatically applied when you exceed your normal monthly limit, giving you even more freedom to use your data.)

Sharing with Family and Friends

When I’m not using my phone for blogging, I’m usually using it to connect with people. Sharing photos and videos, chatting, facetime, you name it. My kids love sharing all their big news with their family. My daughter lost her first tooth and couldn’t wait to show everyone. She loves showing everyone her cool new gymnastics moves, and I love that I don’t have to worry about whether I’m connected to a WiFi network before I hit share.

Exploring Outside

My kids and I spent some time exploring Nose Hill Park, finding new trails and geocaching. And despite using my phone extensively, I didn’t even think about the network. 

Hanging out at the Playground

When the weather was nice, my kids spent a lot of time at nearby parks. And so I spent a lot of time Facebooking while they played. Facebook is a surprisingly big data suck and few playgrounds have WiFi connections. It ends up being one of the biggest uses of my data consumption. But this fall, I didn’t think about it at all.

I hardly thought about it at all, but in retrospect, that’s exactly what I want in my network – service so reliable, I can focus my energy on more important things. It turns out, that the best kind of phone network is that kind that you don’t have to think about. It just has your back, whenever you need it. It just works. 

Eating Out With Kids at a Sushi Restaurant – Food Adventure Guide

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Taking kids out for dinner can be challenging at any time but going to a restaurant where they are serving food they are unfamiliar with can be even more of a headache. That doesn’t mean you have to give up on your favourite restaurants.

Tips for Eating Out with Kids in New Restaurants

  1. Go on a Food Adventure– try to make the outing seem like an adventure. Explore new places and new foods in a fun and relaxed way. My kids really respond well to the ‘food adventure’ process of exploring new food (click here for more information).
  2. Keep your expectations low – even if they hardly eat anything and hate everything, try to see going to a new place and trying something new as a win.
  3. Try to find something that you know they will eat even if it’s not ideal. You can usually find something, noodles, rice, bread, chicken etc that your kids won’t turn their nose up at. I see it as a gateway to trying new foods. Sure, a meal of Naan bread (for example) is far from perfect, but at least it’s a step in the right direction. If you can get them in the door, you’ll have more opportunities for them to try more things.
  4. Get things to share – having a big plate of unfamiliar food can be overwhelming. Get small plates for the kids and put out small portions. If they are reluctant to try things only put a small piece of one new item on their plate at a time.
  5. Try take out – this can take some of the pressure of a restaurant setting out of the equation. It can also backfire however, because the kids know that there are other things available at home.

Kid Friendly Things to Try at Sushi Restaurants

Different restaurants’ menus will vary but here are some ideas of things you may find. It can help to look at the menu online before going to the restaurant and plan out what you will order before going in.

Rolls

Not all kids will be willing to try sushi rolls, but your kids may surprise you so don’t completely discount them. Many kids enjoy the mild flavour and creamy texture of California rolls, the sweetness of Mango rolls or the plainer avocado, or cucumber rolls.

Other Things

My daughter wants nothing to do with rolls but sushi restaurants usually have many other options as well.

  • Miso Soup – if your child enjoys soup, they may enjoy the broth of mild flavoured miso soup
  • Edamame – similar in look to peas with a fairly mild flavour these can be a good option
  • Chicken Katsu – breaded chicken that may appeal to kids who love chicken nuggets
  • Chicken Yakitori – chicken skewer coated in a sweet sauce
  • Gyoza – pork dumplings
  • Yam Tempura
  • Noodle dish such as chicken fried noodles may win over kids who love noodles

Those are some of the things that have won my kids over at Sushi restaurants. What has your reluctant foodie enjoyed (or at least was willing to try!)?

Grandma’s Hamburger Soup – #52soups

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Hamburger Soup - #52soups

My husband’s grandmother used to make this soup and is one of my husband’s favorites. As he will tell you though, it’s not exactly the same as the way she used to make it (aka not quite as good) but it’s as close as I can manage to get. Like many recipes it has changed a lot over time. I actually have a copy of her recipe for Hamburger Soup but it hardly resembles what my husband remembers at all.

He remembers a spicy tomato juice that you used to be able to get but I can’t seem to find anything like that. Do you know of anything like that?

Anyway, the soup is pretty kid friendly and healthy for something that feels a lot like comfort food. This recipe is not precise so feel free to adjust it to your taste or what you have on hand.

Print
Grandma's Hamburger Soup - #52soups
 
Ingredients
  • 1 giant can of tomato juice
  • ½ cup of pot barley
  • a few large carrots
  • a few stalks of celery
  • 1 tetra pack of beef broth
  • heat of your choice (optional) I like using rotel but that is not readily available in Canada
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 1 or 2 cans of whole potatoes (or other potatoes if you prefer)
  • ½-1lbs of cooked ground beef
  • 1 large can of diced tomatoes
Instructions
  1. Add all the ingredients to a large soup pot. Bring to a boil. Set to simmer and cook until barley is fully cooked. Keeps well in the fridge and freezes well too.

Hamburger Soup - #52soups

Frank’s Buffalo Chicken Dip – no blue cheese

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Frank's Buffalo Chicken Dip - No Blue Cheese

My friend Merry, makes a Buffalo Chicken dip that I really love. But I’m not really in love with blue cheese. I’ve tried different things to replace it but nothing was working like I wanted. One day I came across a post by Julie from Dinner with Julie about making a dip for hot wings out of Bousin cheese and I had the answer. It worked perfectly and is now my new favorite thing to make for a potluck.

5.0 from 1 reviews
Print
Frank's Buffalo Chicken Dip - no blue cheese
 
Ingredients
  • 8 oz brick cream cheese
  • 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or chopped (I like using leftover rotisserie chicken)
  • ½ cup Frank's Red Hot Sauce (I used Frank’s Buffalo Wing Sauce (not hot sauce))
  • 2-4 Tbsp butter, melted (more butter will tone down the heat)
  • 1 package boursin cheese
  • ¼ to ½ cup mozzarella cheese shredded
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 300°F.
  2. Mix melted butter and hot sauce. Combine with chicken.
  3. Layer in a shallow oven proof dish - first cream cheese, then chicken mixture, then boursin and top with a light layer of mozzerella.
  4. Bake for until mozzerella is melted - about 20 minutes.
  5. Great served with tortilla chips, or you can use it as a veggie dip for carrots or celery. It's also super good on a bed of lettuce.

 

Frank's Buffalo Chicken Dip - No Blue Cheese

Haystacks – Cornflake and Toffee No Bake Cookies

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Haystacks No Bake Cookie - talkinginallcaps.com

One of my favorite treats growing up was my Auntie Betty’s haystacks. I got the recipe from her a few years ago, but I only made them this year after seeing my friend Merry’s similar recipe for No Bake Peanut Butter Crunchies. Not only were they as good as I remembered they were actually super easy to make too. After eating a few, okay a lot. I made another 2 batches to share with our neighbors.

Haystacks No Bake Cookie - talkinginallcaps.com

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Haystacks - Cornflake and Toffee No Bake Cookie
 
Ingredients
  • 225g of toffee bars (McIntosh) or caramels (approximately 1 bag or 4 bars)
  • 1 cup coconut
  • 3 cups cornflakes
  • 2-4 Tbsp milk
Instructions
  1. ) Melt toffee and milk over low heat stirring often
  2. ) When melted add coconut and corn flakes
  3. ) Mix well and drop spoonfuls onto wax paper
  4. Don't worry if the haystacks look a little loose, when they cool they will set into one piece.

Haystacks No Bake Cookie - talkinginallcaps.com

Haystacks No Bake Cookie - talkinginallcaps.com

Random Acts of Kindness You Can Do with Your Kids – Kindness Sticks #Sponsored

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Thanks to Shaw Communications for sponsoring this post. Check out the bottom of the post for more information about how your child can apply for a Kindness Sticks Grant to make a difference at their school.

Small acts of kindness show your kids that they have the power to make their world a better place and that even small actions matter. Doing small acts of kindness with your kids is also a great way to begin conversations about spreading kindness and empathy to those around them.

You can read our ideas for sharing kindness with people you know here [link]. Another way you can spread kindness is with random acts of kindness. Random acts of kindness are small actions that are intended to bring more kindness into the world. They aren’t done with a specific person in mind, in fact the recipient is often a complete stranger.

Here are some ideas for random acts of kindness you can do with your kids:

1. Pick up trash

Grab a garbage bag, put on some disposable gloves and head out to your local park, boulevard or other area that could use a little extra attention.

2. Paint kindness rocks

Write inspirational messages on painted rocks and spread them around your neighbourhood.

3. Be a snow angel

Shovel the sidewalk for one of your neighbours.

4. Buy a coffee

Pay for the coffee for the person behind you in line.

5. Donate books

Drop books off at a little free library or start your own!

6. Help the Homeless

Put together travel sized toiletry bags and give them to a homeless shelter

7. Hold a free lemonade stand

Put a twist on the traditional lemonade stand by giving the lemonade out for free or collecting donations to support your favourite charity.

8. Start a neighbourhood tradition

Anonymously drop off a little bag of treats at your neighbour’s house with a note attached that says “You’ve been Elfed” at Christmas or, you’ve been “Boo-ed” at Halloween.

9. Put change in a vending machine

Leave a surprise for the next person by pre-loading a vending machine with money for a snack.

10. Pass out stickers to kids waiting in line

Know a place where kids will be waiting in line? Offer them a sticker to bring a smile while they wait.

11. Create fun with chalk

Use chalk to create a game people can play on your sidewalk like hopscotch.

12. Help kids keep warm

Donate mittens or hats to your school for kids who need them.

13. Dry the slides at the park

Take a towel to your local playground after the rain and dry off the slides.

14. Make cards for a seniors home

Brighten their day with artwork and a kind message.

15. Blow bubbles at the park

Create some extra fun at the park by blowing bubbles. For even more fun, bring some extra wands and a dish so other kids can blow bubbles too.

Kindness Sticks Grant Program

Do you know a student who would like to make their school a better place?

With the Shaw Kindness Sticks grant program, Shaw is looking to partner up with students who have an idea to make kindness stick at their school.

If your idea is selected, your school could receive a Kindness Sticks grant of up to $5000 to make it happen. Be creative and involve your school.  Make sure your project is submitted before April 30, 2018, 5 p.m. MST.

Want to apply but not sure where to start? Consider the following questions:

  • How does my project contribute to a positive school environment?
  • What kind of budget does my project need?
  • How can people volunteer and get involved to make my project come to life?
  • Who does my project impact and reach?
  • How is my project creative and unique?

For more information go to the Kindness Sticks webpage.