Free kids meal at Montana's Cookhouse

My daughter's third birthday is quickly approaching! Although birthday celebrations are supposed to be fun, I have this distinct memory last year of my daughter's birthday dinner. We went to The Pickle Barrel, she didn't touch her $7 meal and she wanted to pretend to be a puppy – I know, what an evening!

So I'm ecstatic to have received an email from Montana's Cookhouse for a free kids meal for my daughter's birthday! Well, if she acts up, at least dinner would be free for her, right?

All you have to do is click here, fill in the online form and press submit. You'll get an email sent to you!

Just note: the free offer is valid one week before and after your child's birthday.

Share your restaurant deals with other parents below.

A family guide to the pros and cons of Chudleighs (Milton, Ont)

A few weekends ago, my husband and I decided to take our almost-three-year-old to an apple farm. We thought, why not try Chudleighs? It's close by and we were craving fresh apple pie. (C'mon, tis the season!)

Overall, we had a fantastic time. (My daughter asks to go back everyday!) However, I have to do my baby-savings duty and list both the pros and cons of Chudleighs.

Pros

1. The pony rides are decent!
They're $3 a pop, BUT you're not riding around a dinky circle. In fact, the pony rides are being conducted around a little trail - neat huh?

2. Lots of fun photo ops
Throughout the area there are retired tractors that kids can sit on and pretend to drive. (Here's your chance to take cute pics!)

3. Free tractor wagon rides
And what I like about these rides is that they're not too short, not too long - toddlers don't seem to get antsy on these (mine was A-OK and she loves to move!).

4. The petting farm has a variety of animals
There were horses, pigs, goats, chickens, bunnies, donkeys – I might be missing a few on this list. Point is, the petting farm is entertaining and very clean.  Not once did we step on animal poo. 

Alas, the cons...

1. Admission
Thank goodness we did our research because ... admission was $11 each if you're over the age of 4! I know, aiya! Phew, good thing my daughter's not "of age" yet. Which leads to the next con...

2. You still have to pay admission if you're just there to pick apples and not "play around." Um...enough said about this one.

3.The pies are pricey
We paid $10 for one fresh apple pie. However, I found out a few days later that my mom bought a fresh, same-sized apple pie at the Brampton, Ont. farm Al Ferri & Sons for approximately $4! 

Bottom line: Fun for the whole family, suitable for toddlers and young children – just be prepared to dish out cash.

Have you been to an apple farm this season? Which one is your fave and why? Post below.

NEW! Gerber Arrowroot Biscuits coupon

Sure, arrowroot cookies are for babies and tots, but is there an adult who doesn't enjoy this cookie once in a blue moon?

That said, I just noticed that Save.ca has a $1-off coupon for Gerber Arrowroot Biscuits - click here to check it out.

And if you don't have a Save.ca account, take the minute to get one - it's worth it!

Now that xmas is around the corner, I'd love to know your thoughts on saving money. Do you save funds on decor, gifts or photos? How about greeting cards? Share your thoughts below.

10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Giving Birth

1. Light sleepers do not need to splurge on baby monitors.

2. Every baby is different. Repeat: EVERY BABY IS DIFFERENT. Just because your friend, sister, mother, aunt, grandmother, whoever thinks that something is "best for your baby," it doesn't mean it's the best for your baby. Go with your gut.

3. It takes time to feel comfortable leaving the house with a baby. Try "baby steps" (no pun intended!) like going for a walk to get the mail, walking around the block the next day, then taking a trip to the mall.

4. A nursery doesn't have to have matching Winnie The Pooh bedsheets. Trust me, the baby doesn't care and when you haven't slept in weeks - or months - you don't give a damn either!

5. If you have a newborn and you see baby food-related items on sale, don't stock up.

6. Before you give birth, try to make meals in advance and freeze them.

7. Don't feel like you need to entertain guests when you have a newborn. Invite people over when YOU are ready.

8. Ask for help. You're only human. If someone offers to help out, take the offer.

9. Leave the dishes for later. Honestly, if you have the chance to nap, take it! The dishes can wait.

10. It's okay to cry. You don't have to hide your feelings if you're frustrated - all new moms feel the same!

Can anyone else add more to this list?

The Minimalist Guide to Christmas Shopping for Kids in Ontario

I KNOW it's only September, but in the blink of an eye, you know it'll be Christmas! So now's a great time to announce that the Samko & Miko Toy Warehouse sale in Toronto and Markham is happening!

You'll find some cool deals on toys and books by Hasbro, Disney, Fisher-Price, Crayola, etc, and I know a lot of moms (and grandmas) swear by this sale.

Here are the details:

Date: Sept 21-Dec 22, 2013

Hours: 
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Wed: 10am-4pm
Thurs: 10am-8pm
Fri: 10am-8pm
Sat: 10am-5pm
Sun: 11am-5pm
 
Locations: Click here to find the closest one to you

Have you been here before? What did you think?

Infant CPR: Is it worth $40?

Here’s a special post from my guest blogger, NewMamaKira – tell me what you think!

No, this is not NewMamaKira's baby

 
A few weeks ago, I enrolled myself in an infant CPR class at the Toronto store Baby On The Hip and it cost $40.

So why did I decide to take the course rather than stock up on $40 worth of baby stuff? Well, with being on mat leave for a year, I would have the most face-to-face time with my son; hence higher probability of being present if an emergency was to happen. I wanted to have the knowledge to equip myself to handle these situations and to act calm and react in a swift and responsive manner. 

So was it really worth it? Actually, yeah, it was great. It was taught by a Toronto EMS paramedic and upon completion of the course, I had a certificate from the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Not bad for an hour-and-a-half course, am I right? 

This is what the course covered: 

• How to assess and do CPR if a loss of consciousness occurs for infants, toddlers and adults.

• What to do if your infant, toddler or an adult is choking.

• How to use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). 

And of course, the class was hands-on and we practiced with dummies of both infants and adult sizes.

As for the logistics of the day, they don’t recommend bringing your baby because they don’t provide childcare. (Which makes sense.) However it was just short enough for me to get back home without providing too much stress on my hubby! 

These are techniques a parent wishes he or she never wants to use. But in an emergency situation, it’s good to know how to react to either your own child or someone else’s. While $40 is a lot and I could’ve bought a mega pack of Pampers instead, infant CPR knowledge is priceless.

Click here if you want to learn more about workshops available at Baby On The Hip.  

Need a break? Here's a free event for the whole family

As my two-year-old daughter was attempting to achieve front rolls in the Erin Meadows Library, this notice caught my eye.

Honestly, it had me a Starbucks coffee... and cake. If you can't read it, some of the highlights include:

• Games
• Arts and crafts
• Starbucks coffee and tea
• Family storytime
• Cake! Cake! Cake!

Also, Magician Scott Dietrich will be there, but I believe admission to that magic show is $3.

It's happening on September 7, 10am-4pm.

Erin Meadows Library is located at 2800 Erin Centre Blvd., Mississauga, Ont.

Any free events coming up in your area? Post them below to share.