Traveling with young children

Traveling with kids can be challenging at the best of times – let alone during the holiday season. So here’s a few tips from Baby Bargainista contributor Rebecca on what to pack besides your patience.

• A couple of weeks before the trip put away several smaller toys/books that seem to be your child’s favourite. This way when you bring them out be happy to see them and (hopefully) won’t get bored too quickly. Ensure any toys with noise have volume buttons for both your sanity and the sanity of others around you.

• Take a tour of your local dollar store and look for little toys and items that can keep the kids occupied and won’t break the bank if they get lost or left behind at Grandma’s house. Stickers keep my 17-month daughter occupied for a good 10-15 minutes at a time.

• If you usually water juice cups down, consider filling the cups half full of ice ahead of time so that you water down the drink while keeping it colder/fresher longer.

• Pack lots of batteries if you are taking any kind of electronic devices. It’s always better to have more batteries than more complaints of “Mommy my batteries are dead. I’m bored.

• Buy some (lightly) scented disposable diaper bags to have on hand as if you have to change a stinky diaper without a trash nearby – you don’t know how long you might need to carry that stink-bomb around!

If you’re flying:
• It’s okay to pack snacks/food – just not liquids, unless it is milk or formula in which case should be in the diaper bag. Packing your own snacks and food not only ensures you have food when you want it, but it saves some money.

• Make sure all medicine – including Children’s Tylenol or Tempra is also packed in a clear plastic bag and in easy reach.

• Look for stroller lines and try to mark out elevator locations ahead of time if you can.

If you’re driving:
• A great idea to have to help with snacks and keeping little hands busy is a travel tray for for those in forward-facing car seats. A friend of mine got some for her kids for a long drive they took over the summer and kept everyone occupied with arts and crafts. She also said it made snack times a lot easier and required less stops.

• Similar to looking for stroller lines – try to plan and/or find rest stops ahead of time – keeping in mind that not everything goes according to plan and sometimes you can’t plan when nature’s going to come calling. It’s also important to note that not all roadside rest stops stay open year round. Check with tourism boards for more information.

• Besides toys and books, make sure you pack extra warm stuff for you and the kids – or a shovel or two that can not only keep kids occupied but can help get you out of a situation if you are stranded.

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Help spread the joy with Magic Santa and you may win a Disney vacation

Magic Santa is a free online video service that lets you make a personalized video message from Santa for the kids in your life. You can either make the video online or use their mobile service. You can also share a link to your child’s video with family and friends on Twitter, Facebook or by email. I made one for my 12-year-old on my iPhone in seconds. Even though we don’t celebrate Christmas and he’s old enough to know the truth about Santa, he was mesmerized and impressed by how much Santa knew about him.

Support Kids Help Phone
The service was launched by Sympatico.ca last month and in turn, they’re donating $0.25 for each video made to Kids Help Phone, up to $50K. Making a Magic Santa video message is such an easy way to help support this wonderful organization that does so much to help kids all across Canada – free of charge. Last year, Kids Help Phone counselors responded to more than 235,000 individual phone calls and web posts from kids in more than 2,500 communities. All contact is confidential, the service is available 24/7 365 days/year and callers are treated in a compassionate and non-judgmental way.

Wanna chance to win a vacation to Walt Disney World?
All you need to do to enter is take a photo or video capturing your child’s reaction to his or her Magic Santa video and submit it through the Magic Santa contest site by December 19. A random draw will be made on December 21 and one lucky winner will receive a $10K travel gift certificate. See the fine print for details. Pretty sweet Christmas gift, eh?

Have you made a Magic Santa video message for your children? What did you think? If so, did you enter the contest?

Full disclosure: Sympatico.ca is a client of Echo Communications. I’ve been part of Echo’s team for this campaign

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Jenny’s family visits Great Wolf Lodge

In this week’s baby bargainista column, Jenny shares her family’s mini-getaway experience (and great tips) at a nearby resort.

With fall upon us and summer vacation just a distant memory, my husband and I were feeling a little cabin fever and decided it was time to take the family on another “staycation.”

We decided on Great Wolf Lodge, an “indoor water park resort,” because our 5-year-old adores swimming, it’s less than a 2-hour drive (the maximum nap time our 10-month-old will sleep), and we figured if the water park got boring we could visit any of the other great attractions in the Niagara Falls area.

We needn’t have worried. We ended up spending all day, every day in the water park, except for meals and sleeping! Unlimited access to the water park is included in your stay, which is just one of the pros of staying at this family-friendly resort.

Pros
• At check-in you’re given a wristband, which functions as both the key to your room, and a charge card (only adults can charge) – infinitely convenient, as you don’t have to worry about misplacing your key or cash while in the water park, and even our 5-year-old soon became adept at scanning the band to get into our room.

• Every night at 8 p.m. there’s story time in the lobby – arrive early for this don’t-miss event to see the lobby floor packed with kids, and enjoy the theatrics from the live storyteller! (The picture above is taken during Saturday night story time)

• Towels are provided in the water park – they’re a bit small, but at least you don’t need to lug wet towels back to your room.

• The water park features lots of different pools and many sizes of waterslides for all ages, from tot to adult. Our 5-year-old enjoyed the slides in the tot pool and our 10-month-old was delighted with the waves in the wave pool.

• There’s both a snack bar, and a licensed bar in the water park for when you inevitably get peckish.

• There’s an arcade, too, which keeps older kids entertained after the water park closes in the evening.

Cons
• The single in-house restaurant’s dinner buffet is quite carb-heavy, with barely a cooked vegetable in sight, and costly for its limited selection (although kids 3 and under eat free with an adult dinner).

• Although the water park is staffed with lifeguards, there is limited actual supervision – it’s not a daycare centre, after all; you’ll want to keep a close eye on young ones.

• Lineups for the bigger waterslides can be longer than expected, especially on busy Saturdays. Expect to wait 10 minutes or more.

Tips:
• Save money by bringing your own food for breakfast and lunch – every room has a fridge and microwave and you can easily make a “picnic” meal in the galley kitchen.

• Bring more than one swimsuit so you don’t have to put on a wet bathing suit after lunch.

• Bring a robe, cover-up, or an extra-large t-shirt; and, crocs or shower shoes for walking back and forth to your room. The hallways feel chilly after the warmth of the water park!

• Hit the water park early – at or close to opening at 9 a.m. daily – to secure a table near the pool your kids are likely to use most, so you can supervise while seated.

• If you can, get a room on the first floor, the same level as the water park, for ease of travelling back and forth to your room.

We had a fantastic time and would definitely go back!

Hidden gems in Ann Arbour

Wondering why I’ve been so quiet lately? My family was on a road trip to Chicago with a stopover in Ann Arbour, Michigan.

As you know, no vacation is complete without a visit to at least one local treasure. And we found one in Vault of Midnight Comics Books and Stuff. It was no surprise this place has a 4.5 star rating on yelp.

This comic lovers’ dream is a haven for indie comic book creators. Don’t you just love this sign on a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf designated for local talent?
There’s also a 6’ tall, 100 lb Uglydoll on display that you can custom order and have delivered to your home directly from the manufacturer. Apparently, it arrives in a box the size of a fridge.

We had a lovely dinner at Grizzly Peak Brewing Company – it was perfect family fare with tasty food and a descent children’s menu. One day I’d like to go back with Mr. B and dine on the patio of one of the lovely restaurants on Main Street. The food looked and smelled delicious. We had no idea that it was named one of the best Midwest food towns by Midwest Living Magazine earlier this year.

Ann Arbour’s Foodie Nation


Oh ya, and there’s one more cool thing about Ann Arbour – all the cafes seem to have free wifi.

Did you find any hidden gems this summer?

Baby-friendly sightseeing in Toronto

In this week’s baby bargainista column, Jenny shares her summer staycation experience and tips for venturing out with your little ones this summer.

This summer, instead of attempting to navigate the logistics of travelling with a breastfeeding 6-month-old, we decided to save time, money, and aggravation, have a family staycation and do some sightseeing right here in Toronto.

There are so many things to do, and so many places that we’d been promising ourselves (and our 5-year-old) that we’d visit “soon”! We picked two that are great value for the money (Centreville and Ontario Place) and one VERY touristy spot that was a special request by our 5-year-old: the CN Tower. So this week, I can’t offer you any money-saving tips, but I can help you to save time and aggravation by sharing what I learned.

Our first destination was the CN Tower. If you decide to go with the kids, there are a few VERY important things you should know:

1. Go first thing in the morning, when it opens at 9am, and you won’t have to wait in line. Otherwise, you’re looking at anywhere from a half-hour to a 3-and-a-half hour lineup just to get on the elevator – never fun, even less so when you have little ones in tow!

2. Aside from the main lookout area, the Tower is not stroller-friendly. One has to take narrow stairs down to get to the outdoor lookout and the glass floor, and the Skypod observation deck can only be accessed by narrow stairs from the elevator deck. Bring a carrier or wrap and leave the stroller with security at the bottom.

3. There are no baby-changing tables in the washrooms, and no seating (except in the restaurant), making breastfeeding a challenge. Desperate times call for desperate measures: when our baby got hungry, I copped a squat in a corner of the Skypod, whipped out a blanket to cover up, and commenced the World’s Highest Breastfeeding. Be prepared to do the same if the circumstances demand it!

Our next stop was Centreville. Obviously very kid-friendly (although they really need more washrooms)! Again, a few things to know before you go:

1. Again, go early to avoid lineups at the ferry, and for the rides!

2. The ferry is very stroller-friendly, although you’ll be restricted to the enclosed lower deck; if your older kids want to check out the view from the upper deck, arrange ahead of time which adult will accompany them to avoid holding up the line on the stairs while you discuss the matter!

3. The main ticket/ride pass kiosk is right at the entrance to Centreville, and almost always has a huge lineup. Here’s a little-known tip: the Town Hall Office also sells tickets and ride passes, and the lineup, if any, is MUCH shorter as most people (ie tourists) don’t know about this alternative.

Finally, on day three we hit up Ontario Place. Also very kid-friendly and stroller-friendly! However, they need more and bigger washrooms – I could barely fit our collapsible stroller in to use the baby-changing table. And more seating around the park would be greatly appreciated – I spotted many moms with tiny infants seated here and there on the grass or concrete to feed. Again, a couple of things to know:

1. Wear your bathing suits under your clothes and bring a change of underwear, so that when the kids get hot and tired of going on rides, you don’t have to wait in the lineup for changerooms before the little ones get cooled off in the water park area.

2. When it comes time to change into drier clothes, it’s worth lining up for the only family changing room – the male/female changerooms are crowded, with wet, slippery floors and NO privacy.

What are your best tips on seeing the sights around Toronto and the GTA with kids in tow?

Air Canada – makes a save and a happy customer

Image via Wikipedia

Until about 8 months ago, my airline travel was limited to once a year while visiting my kids at summer camp. I’d been flying WestJet and been perfectly happy receiving warm, friendly service from their cheerful flight attendants. I’d been hearing lots of negative chatter about Air Canada.

Last winter I flew to Vancouver and Halifax on family and business matters. I tried Air Canada again because they had the best combination of price and convenient flight times. Despite traveling in horrible snowy weather, they came through. Last month I had the pleasure of flying Porter – more about that experience in an upcoming post.

Air Canada had a great seat sale in February. Knowing we had to book flights to visit the kids this summer, Mr. B booked our tickets. Knowing very little would keep us away from visiting our kids, Mr. B didn’t arrange for flight insurance.

So, when camp cancelled visiting day this year because of H1N1 fears, we thought we were SOL. According to Mr. B’s research, we were eligible for a credit good for one year from the time of purchase (not the date of travel), we’d have to pay a penalty of $150 per return fare, and either pay the difference for a higher fare or lose the difference on a lower fare; and the credit was non-transferable.

Since we really only use air travel during the summer with a very specific purpose, having a credit through next February wasn’t much of a benefit. My sister told me about having to cancel a flight on Air Canada last year and after asking for an extension, she was given an extra three months.

I called the airline this morning to see if there was anything they could do to help. I explained the situation and the customer service representative (CSR) told me in no uncertain terms since Air Canada didn’t have an H1N1 policy there was nothing he could do. No extension, three-month or otherwise. He lectured me about buying cancellation insurance. I was getting annoyed. I asked to speak to his supervisor. He raised his voice and told me his supervisor wouldn’t do anything different. I told him I didn’t care and I wanted him to escalate the call. The next thing I heard was a dial tone.

After I got over the initial shock of a CSR hanging up the phone on me, I called back. This time a friendly woman helped me and offered to extend the credit period by three months. I asked if she’d consider extending it until the end of July. She explained she couldn’t. I thanked her, told her I still needed to deal with the rude CSR and asked to speak to her supervisor. She kindly obliged me.

The first thing I asked the supervisor was whether or not calls are recorded. His answer: “Sometimes”. I told him about my experience with the first CSR and how I found him to have an abusive manner. I was brutally honest about my airline travel habits and recent exceptions. I confessed that my tone was curt in response to the CSR in question and that although I wasn’t abusive, I may have elevated my voice out of frustration. He was sympathetic under the circumstances. He understood both my difficult predicament and my disappointment with the service.

Within seconds he not only found evidence of the recording, he identified the CSR, told me they worked in the same office and I got the distinct impression he wasn’t a team player. He didn’t have listen to the recording. Without missing a beat he offered to refund our non-refundable tickets in FULL!

To be clear, I was told the refund wasn’t because I had to cancel our flights etc. It was an apology for the poor customer service. And to that I said, “Thank you!” and before we ended the call, a refund confirmation appeared in my inbox. Now that’s what I call service. Air Canada made a fan out of me.

What I’d like to know is how much money companies lose apologizing for poor customer service? Have you had a similar experience? Did you take poor service at face value or did you escalate the call and if so, what happened?

Toronto’s plastic bag tax starts tomorrow

Starting tomorrow stores in Toronto will have to start charging customers a $0.05/plastic bag tax, in accordance with a new city by-law.

Over the past year or so, I’ve been bringing shopping bags with me most of the time I go grocery shopping. I’ve also been making a special effort to take shopping bags to the mall or outdoor shopping districts. Sometimes it’s tough to anticipate just how many bags I’ll need in advance and what size is most appropriate.

Fortunately, I’ve been building up quite a collection. Seems like almost every retailer has a branded reusable bag for sale these days. Not to mention some help thanks to my sister and Mr. B. They’ve been buying me classic shopping bags during their travels.

I’m still drooling over an amazing reversible printed cloth bag I saw at Holts today but the $400+ price tag was way out of my range. And no, it wasn’t one among the sale items, which now are 40% off though June 18.

What’s your favourite shopping bag and what do you think of the new tax?

Loving my Golla laptop bag

Thanks to a generous friend and laptop bag expert extraordinaire, I have a couple awesome laptop bags. Although I don’t need to use them daily, I do use them regularly.

Lately, I’ve been traveling and attending conferences more than ever. I needed something with enough room for my laptop but also for my gadgets (digital camera, Flip video recorder, iPod Touch, cell phone, mic, etc.), related geek paraphernalia and room for things I usually carry in my purse.

On Boxing Day, I was at Future Shop while one of my guys was looking for a reason to part with his money. There was an entire stand dedicated to Golla laptop bags and sleeves for 50% off. I found a great laptop bag/knapsack like the one I’d been eying on a friend last summer, for less than $40.

I grabbed it and haven’t had any regrets. It has several compartments. The one for my laptop holds it perfectly secure. There are all kinds of zipped pockets and pouches for my stuff, plus I can travel in comfort and style.

What features do you look for in a laptop bag?

Check out Funchico.com for contests and discounts on laptop bags and sleeves.

:10 Minute Manicures

If you’ve been following the blog for a while, you’ll know I’m pretty low maintenance when it comes to my beauty regimen except when it comes to my nails. I love mani-pedis. So when I found myself with a long wait at the airport en route to Vancouver last Friday and spotted the :10 Minute Manicure kiosk, I had to check it out.

The service was fast and friendly. The polish selection is adequate and it’s private label so don’t expect to find your favourite shade of Essie or OPI. I missed the hand massage I’m used to at my regular salon – I could have splurged for one for an extra $7 but didn’t bother.

As for the final results, my nails looked great for the first day but that didn’t last long. Two days later, I had chips on 6 nails! I was on vacation, so it wasn’t like I was doing housework or working away at my keyboard. I usually can stretch a manicure for a week with fewer chips when I’m at home.

:10 Minute Manicure is a chain from Florida with five Canadian locations, three of which are at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, one at Ottawa International Airport and another at West Edmonton Mall. Manicures $20, various nail care, massage and teeth whitening services are also available. Their website says you can walk-in or call in for an appointment. However, in Toronto, they just seem to take walk-ins on a first-come-first served basis (i.e. customers were unable to make appointments even while at the airport).

Have you seen any interesting services or shops at the airport lately?

Weekly Wish – Come sail away with me

Last week I received an invitation from none other than Stuart MacDonald, founder of Expedia.ca, also affectionately known as one of the meshies, to the pre-launch of his latest adventure – a new kind of cruise company – tripharbour.ca/tripharbor.com.

Before last Thursday, I’d never considered taking a cruise. The idea of being stuck on a big ship in the middle of the ocean with a whole bunch of strangers and shuffleboard with Julie and Captain Stubbing at the helm was all way too Love Boatish for me. Besides I’m an outdoorsy kind of person and the thought of not having my feet on the ground wasn’t very appealing. Not to mention having no idea how to choose the right cruise at the right price.

Well after seeing the Tripharbour.ca beta, all that’s changed! I spent the entire presentation wishing I were on a ship at sea in the middle of some exotic body of water. If you’re a cruise newbie like me, Tripharbour.ca makes it easy, every step of the way.

The site itself is friendly and inviting. If price is your major concern, you can just click on the sale! tab to find the latest bargains. By far, the most appealing feature of Tripharbour.ca is the community. And, believe me there are many other appealing features with this online travel company. As the site grows, more people will be sharing their experiences, photos, tips and other important bits on information for cruise lovers and prospective cruise guests like me.

The geek in me loves the filters – or sliders as they were called at the launch – you can use to refine your search. They make playing around with various scenarios to help you choose the right vacation just so easy.

So this week, I’m not hiding it very well. I’m long overdue for a real vacation and I’m wishing for a cruise. Of course if and when I go I’ll be checking out Tripharbour.ca, now available for boarding.

Tip of the Week - avoid hotel glasses

I was standing in line at the drugstore and a woman told me I should bring my own glasses and towels next time I stay at a hotel.

A video immediately came to mind. Perhaps you’ve already seen this exposé of hotel room cleaning practices. Since it’s popular time of year for sun or ski vacations, I thought I’d post it just in case you haven’t ...

Tip of the Week - free parking at the Bay Queen St.

This week’s tip is courtesy of Kathryn from That Kathryn Girl. Did you know if you spend $25 or more at the Bay Queen St., you can park for one hour free (weekdays only) at the Bay-Adelaide Centre? The parking entrance is on Richmond St. just west of Yonge. An underground walkway will take you to the Bay.

Do you have any free parking tips to share this holiday season? I think a parking feature would also be a great addition to MizPee (last week’s tip).

Tags: free parking, Kathryn Lagden, MizPee, That Kathryn Girl, the Bay

The Body Shop rocks at Rockland

I just returned from a weekend in Montréal. Fortunately, I had lovely visit with family.

I didn’t have much time to shop but we did take the boys for a quick trip to Rockland. After a bite at Eggspectation, we did a bit of shopping and my son found some VANS for $30 off.

What impressed me most was the display of products from The Body Shop at the mall’s information desk.

While people were waiting in line for assistance, they could check out a few samples from The Body Shop. Rockland and The Body Shop were offering an interesting promotion. Customers purchasing $100 or more in mall gift certificates were given a free gift pack from The Body Shop ($50 value). What a smart partnership, I wonder why other malls haven’t thought of doing something similar? I’ll bet some smart shoppers were buying gift certificates just to get the free gift. What do you think?

Tags: The Body Shop, gift certificates, Montréal, Rockland

After a Fashion - second season premiere

Okay, so maybe I'm a bit underwhelmed by Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice and my other guilty TV pleasures this season but an evening with some of my gal pals in Second Life never disappoints.

Last night, I went kimono shopping in Japan, hung out with friends, picked up a new outfit, got a new hairdo including colour and highlights for only a loonie (or about $250 Linden dollars, the Second Life currency). Hmm, I meant my avatar, Paradise Wunderland, did. When was the last time a night out with your friends cost only a dollar?

I’m curious to see how tonight’s episode of Law & Order: SVU, titled “Avatar” pans out. I suspect it will depict the shady side of virtual worlds, which is quite different from my experience.

If you’re smart, you’ll try out Second Life (or another virtual world) for yourself before passing judgement.

Have you spent any time shopping in Second Life yet? What did ya think? Leave a comment

Technorati tags: online shopping, Second Life, virtual worlds

Michelle Yorke Jewellery Designs

I discovered Michelle Yorke’s jewellery during my trip to Halifax. While at Lady Luck, a wonderful accessories shop located at the Historic Properties, I found a display case of Michelle’s collection. It reminded me of the fabulous Anita Cuff. It was my first full day in town and I wasn’t ready to part with my money.

I learned Michelle was a regular at the Farmers’ Market on Saturday mornings. The market is a favourite brunch spot whenever I’m in town, this visit was no exception.

Thanks to my aunt’s pre-brunch scouting, I found Michelle’s table. I felt like a kid in a candy store – she had a ton of stuff – there was everything from bracelets, to rings, watches, hair accessories, necklaces and watches. Every piece is made by hand from beads (glass, semi-precious stones or wood) intricately woven together with nickel-free stainless steel. Best of all, she offers it at wholesale prices. I picked up a great watch and a barrette.

I saw other pieces of her collection in a couple other galleries at higher prices. She has made quite a name for herself throughout the province. She’s been a member of the Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council since 2001, I can see why. I’ve had nothing but compliments on my watch. Best of all, it’s a one-of-kind piece of art from my hometown.

Technorati tags: Halifax Farmers’ Market, Historic Properties, Michelle York Jewellery Designs

Muggle muddles: a lesson in blogger relations

I was vacationing in Halifax on July 20. It was pouring so we saw the late show of Hairspray at Park Lane. It ended just in time for the start of the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows party at Frog Hollow Books - a wonderful indie bookstore. Inside, Harry Potter fans were having a wonderful time all dressed up, playing games and indulging in treats made especially for the occasion. The festivities spread a bit outside the store too.

With my cell phone camera in hand, I thought I’d get a shot or two and share the goings on. Unfortunately, that’s not all that happened. After I took a pic, a security guard popped out of nowhere. He demanded I remove the picture from my phone and stood over me until he was satisfied I did. Bummer! Apparently, Park Lane has a policy forbidding photographs.

In this day and age, they need to get with the program. The world is changing. Just think of how much free (and positive publicity) they are missing by not letting bloggers and other social media enthusiasts snap a few photos.

Technorati tags: blogger relations, cameras, digital photos, Frog Hollow Books, Park Lane

Cows ice cream: a tasty treat

Cow's
Originally uploaded by espodek

No trip to Halifax is complete without a walk along the waterfront, a visit to the Historic Properties and a stop at Cows for ice cream. Choose from several yummy flavors, many with “cow” in the name.

There’s more than ice cream here...
If you have a sense of humour and either love cows or want a gift for someone who loves kitsch (especially kitsch with a cow theme) then this is the right place.

Choose from several t-shirts, tanks, sweats, pjs as well and dozens of other tchotchkes. I think they mocked everything (or everyone from Old MacDonald’s Farm, Sydney Crosby and iPods to Lost, Pirates of the Caribbean and Grey’s Anatomy).

Have you been to Cows? Do you have a favourite treat you’ve discovered in your travels? Leave a comment.

Technorati tags: Cows, Halifax, Historic Properties, ice cream, tchotchkes

Weekly wish - Foreign Affair

Foreign Affair on Barrington
Originally uploaded by espodek

I just returned from a five-day trip to Halifax, N.S. and checked out lots of shops during my stay.

Foreign Affair is somewhat sentimental for two reasons:
• It was my favourite place to shop during my high-school years whenever I needed special something to wear. (FYI, I was born there and grew up in both Halifax and Toronto.)
• My grandfather's last store was at the same location on Barrington St. now occupied by one of two Foreign Affair shops in the downtown core.

During my high school and university days, Foreign Affair was always known for carrying fashions more comparable to what was available in bigger cities like Montreal and Toronto, yet still somewhat affordable.

Over the years, it’s become a high-end boutique carrying an interesting collection of designer fashions. Labels vary by store and include: Lida Baday, Missoni, Seven, Citizens of Humanity, Fidelity, Ella Moss, Elle Tahari, HUGO, Juicy Couture and many others.

So why am I including Foreign Affair as one of my Weekly wishes? Well, I was with Mr. Bargainista and I didn’t want to make him spend his vacation waiting for me to try stuff on.

Despite the big sale signs in the window, I resisted the temptation to go inside. Well sort of. I waited until the last hour of our trip then I took the plunge and went inside the Spring Garden Rd. location. What a mistake - the front of the store was filled with amazing stuff with huge markdowns. For instance, I saw $700 dresses for $125! Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to try anything on. I don’t know about you but I don’t usually see such big markdowns in Toronto.

So this week, although I usually say there’s no use crying over spilled milk, I’m admitting my regrets and wishing I’d left some time for shopping at Foreign Affair. On the bright side, I didn’t leave Halifax empty-handed. I’ll be sharing more of my Halifax shopping adventures soon.

Do you have a favourite store in another city? Do you regret not buying something on sale lately? Leave a comment.

Technorati tags: Foreign Affair, Halifax

Schwartz’s – smoked meat on rye for less than $5

There’s a reason I didn’t blog last weekend – I was on vacation. Last Thursday night, we packed up and headed off to Montreal.

Besides spending time with family, the boys had two requests:
• Shrek the Third; and,
• smoked meat sandwiches from Schwartz’s.

If you’ve never been to Schwartz’s before, it’s quite the culinary adventure. Diners line up around the block to have a quick bite in a 75-year-old deli packed with strangers. We shared a table with another family visiting from Toronto!

Trust me, little has changed over the years. The restaurant is essentially a hole in the wall. But who cares? At Schwartz’s, as long as you’re munching on a tantalizing original world famous smoked meat sandwich or rib eye steak, your palate won’t be disappointed. Neither will your wallet. At $4.95 for a delicious thick cut, generous smoked meat sandwich, this is one of the best buys in town.

Have you had a meal Schwartz’s? What did you think? Have you ever placed an online order? Share your experience and leave a comment.

Technorati tags: deli, Montreal, rib eye steak, Schwartz’s, smoked meat

Up, up and away!

If you're hankering for sandy beaches, warmer temperatures or a less-crowded visit to Disney or Universal, now is the time to book your getaway.

For instance, Sears Travel has some hot deals. Visit Orlando for just $29 round trip plus taxes and handling fees (total cost approx. $250)!

Only one condition, you gotta buy an extra ticket for me. :) But seriously, there are conditions - aren't there always - please check with Sears Travel for details.

photo credit: osiodmak on flickr

Technorati tags: Sears Travel, seat sales, vacations