The Dive & Swim Mermaid Dora from Fisher-Price Does Not Disappoint!

Can you see the excitement and suspense on this face?  What a great way to start the morning, with a big brown box that comes for a 3 year old Dora fanatic!  She was so excited, and didn't even know what was in there yet.......  Watch her open the box and discover her new Dive and Swim Mermaid Dora from Fisher-Price in the packaging - and this video was not scripted, this is exactly how she reacted :)

Just as the packaging boasts, this Mermaid Dora actually dives into the water, and swims the backstroke!  Even I was amazed watching Dora swim a couple of lengths of the bathtub, it was neat.  She is like an Olympic swimmer, performing the back stroke like a real professional. Its a good thing there is no assembly required for this toy, because this 3 year was anxious to get straight into the bath with her new swimming Dora.

I must include a disclaimer of honestly that says this child is a hard-core Dora the Explorer fan.  I am pretty confident we have everything Dora in this house, and probably 2 of the everything.  I don't think there is anything we don't have.....well we didn't have a Mermaid Dora, which now compliments her collection.  Dive and Swim Mermaid Dora was quickly toted around everywhere, and she got lots of swim time not only in the bath, but in the swimming pool at Great Grandma's place, the beach and the backyard pool!  

See Mommy, I wet her hair!

Look Mommy, we match!

I kept missing Dora with the camera when she would dive in, but she definitely dives in with ease and grace.  And its so easy!  You just fold her tail under and rest her on the edge of the bathtub - then press the very end of her tail and in, and off she goes!  She dives in head first and flips herself over to her back and starts swimming. (you just need to wind her arms up first before pushing the tail for diving).  The squeals of delight that echoed from the bathroom watching Dora do the back stroke was so so so cute.  Pure Joy! 

Mermaid Dora freely swimming in the bathtub - unassisted.

My daughter held Dora in the bath like she was a mom herself teaching her little one how to swim. It was so cute watching her teach, discover and have fun all at the same time. They swam beside each other, raced and creating a whole lot of splash!

2 Dora's to Swim With Mommy!

With a new Dora toy to enjoy, all the other Dora bath toys had to get in on the fun too.  Can you see Boots hiding on the soap dish in the background?  He was having fun diving in too :)

I know that if we hadn't received this toy from Fisher-Price, we would have definitely been buying it for her.  Most little girls love Mermaids and if they are a Dora fan too, this is a must-have! 

5 Steps to Tackle Lice When it Hits Your House

Guest Blogger - Dawn Mucci, Lice Squad

What To Do When Head Lice Hits your Family?

1.      Don’t panic but act quickly.  Get your hands on a good lice comb and some natural treatments.  Education and accurate information is key.  Lice Squad Canada can direct you to many options. 

2.      Begin treating and combing.  I recommend that you treat every 4^th to 5^th day with a pesticide free solution and that you comb every second day for two weeks.   If you are thorough on your first comb through you can eliminate most of the infestation.  However, you need to do a two week follow up to interrupt the life cycle of the head louse and to prevent being re-infested.  Chances are you may be in contact with the source that gave you head lice during that two week period so follow up is required. 

3.      Environmental Care.  There are four simple ways to tackle your environment.  Vacuum area exposed to the head, dry heat items exposed to the head or set the items aside for 24 to 48 hours.  Lice will die without a blood mean after 24 hours.  No need to bag up toys and items for two weeks.  There are some environmental sprays and cleaners but I would avoid those with a pesticide base.   Remember that lice are living on your and not in your environment.  Your time is better spend combing and nit picking than cleaning. 

4.      Report.   Don’t let the STIGMA associated with head lice stop you from advising your child’s school, camp, day care or other families that you have been in contact with.  If you don’t do this you stand a good chance of getting the lice back from its original source.  It is the stigma associated with head lice that perpetuates the problem and the right thing to do is not let the stigma keep you from doing what is necessary to stop the spread.  You must be open and honest and let others know so they too can check and treat if necessary.

5.      Follow up.  Even after you do your two week course of treatment it is a good idea to Take a Peak Once a Week.  If you catch a lice infestation early you will have more luck getting rid of it before it becomes too overwhelming.   

I started Lice Squad Canada to put an end to the STIGMA associated with head lice and to stop the over use and abuse of pesticides on children and our planet.  This is what I experienced as a mother myself when I first went through it with my own kids and it is what I went through as a child.  I was traumatized by head lice in both cases and I felt alone, dirty, frustrated and angry.  I don’t want this for any parent or child in 2011 or beyond.   This has become my mission and it truly is the most meaningful work that I have ever done in my life.  Some may think what I do for a living is gross or odd but it provides me with great joy and fulfillment and I actually have allot of fun with it!    

 

 

Celebrate Being Canadian in Waterloo Region! Your Guide to 2012 Fireworks & Festivities!

A guest blog post from Bargain Hunting Momma

 

Happy Canada Day! We are so fortunate to live in such a wonderful area with many fun and fabulous (and lots are FREE) events to enjoy Canada Day with our families. Whatever you do, take some time kick back this weekend & enjoy being Canadian. We are so blessed in this country so show your pride and scream it from the roof tops, wear red and white, wear silly hats, paint your face, wave your flags and show your pride. YOU ARE CANADIAN!!!!

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Canada Day Festivities Around Waterloo Region

As Canaada celebrates its birthday on Sunday, we are lucky to have lots of amazing choices of how to celebrate the day with our families!

DOWNTOWN KITCHENER CELEBRATIONS & FIREWORKS

Civic Square Sunday July 1st

6:30 – 11 pm Beer Garden, live music featuring The Trews!

10:30 pm – Fireworks Display

Free outdoor all ages event!  The downtown Kitchener BIA has partnered with the City to host an “Urban Canada Day” in front of city hall starting at 6 p.m., with live music by The Trews and other local artists. Fireworks will be launched off city hall at 10:30 p.m.

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 UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO CELEBRATIONS 

2pm – 10 pm Enjoy loads of fun with student-led festivities at the Columbia Lake fields off Columbia Street West in Waterloo beginning at 2 p.m. and running all day. Tons of live music, arts and crafts and children’s games & events. Admission is free, and parking is free in university lots.

10pm Fireworks Display (usually about 18 minutes long!)

RIVERSIDE PARK – CAMBRIDGE

8 am – The fun begins early with the annual fishing derby and goes all day  - music, a fishing derby, beer garden, petting zoo and a midway.

1pm – Canada Day Parade! One of the only ones in the area, begins at King and Bishop streets and runs along King Street to the park. *(The Cambridge parade will be aired by Rogers TV at 6 p.m. on Sunday and 3 p.m. on Monday.)

9:30 pm Fireworks Display – Brilliant flashes will light up Cambridge’s Riverside Park

http://www.cambridgecanadaday.ca/

 

RIVERSIDE PARK – GUELPH

Celebrate Canada Day at Riverside Park, courtesy of the Rotary Club of Guelph. The event runs from 11am-10pm, with fireworks starting at 9:50pm. Live bands all day – including the Royal City Big Band and the Overtones!
Canada Day activities include a petting zoo, duck races, children’s play zone, the Mid-way, pony rides, and inflatable bouncing games!  Suggested Donation: $2 per person or $5 per family

Click here for more info.. 

SCOTT”S PARK – NEW HAMBURG

 • Scott’s Park – New Hamburg (off Hunter Street)

10 am the fun starts – Celebrating 30 years of Canada Day festivities at Scott Park. Events include a car show, live entertainment, children’s games & activities, cake and a rubber duck race.

Dusk - Fireworks at dusk conclude a day filled with events.

Organizers advise visitors to park on nearby streets, as there’s no parking in Scott Park.

ELMIRA

Gore Park in Elmira will have live music and activities starting at 4 p.m. with official Canada Day ceremonies and a cake-cutting taking place at 6 p.m.

 

SPORTSWORLD CROSSING KITCHENER

SATURDAY JULY 30th –  10:30 am –  8pm Activities & Fireworks & Outdoor Movie at dusk

JULY 1st Canada Day – Activities continue! 10:30 am – 5 pm

Over 100 Firefighters from across Canada will compete in the Scott FireFit Championships. Cheer on our local Firefigthers and join in all of the fun. Opening Ceremonies on Saturday at 10 am Lots of activities for the kids on Saturday from 10:30 am to 8 pm and Sunday 10:30 am to 5 pm. FREE Family Movie Night and Fireworks on Saturday June 30 at dusk - Featuring entertainment by Dave FM, along with midway rides and buskers. Bring your own lawn chairs!  (Sportsowrld Crossing Stores will be closed on Monday July 2 to celebrate Canada Day.)

Where are the Fireworks?

*  Saturday June 30th at Dusk - Sportsworld Crossing

* Sunday July 1st, Canada Day:

 • Columbia Lake, Waterloo at 10 p.m.

 • Kitchener City Hall at 10:30 p.m.

 • Riverside Park, Cambridge at 9:45 p.m.

 • Scott Park, New Hamburg at 9:45 p.m.

What You Need to Know About Setting Off Your Own Fireworks

If you choose to light fireworks at home, Waterloo Fire Rescue says that

- a responsible adult should be in charge

- children should be closely supervised if they’re handling sparklers.

- Always read and carefully follow the directions on fireworks packaging

- keep a water hose or pail of water nearby when discharging them.

What’s Open – What’s Closed on Canada Day

 • Grand River Transit runs on a Sunday schedule (not all routes have Sunday service)

 • Many attractions are open, including The Museum, Joseph Schneider Haus, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, McDougall Cottage, Woodside National Historic Site, Waterloo Region Museum, Bingemans and the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory

 • LCBO and Beer stores are closed

 • All library branches are closed

 

Thanks to Bargain Hunting Momma for guest blogging for us and sharing all these family events!  Check her blog out for more family fun & living life on less.