I-SPY: Allan Gardens Christmas Flower Show 2013

Christmas Flower Show 2013 going on until January 12, 2014

I visited Allan Gardens Conservatory on December 28 (it is open daily, 365 days, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Their Christmas Flower show is a great time to visit. 

Here's a little i-SPY game I did with some photos I took during my visit. I suggest you print this game and ask your whole family to spot these plants. Enjoy! (More below about a nearby family restaurant and a cute café.) 

More Christmas fun here.
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For a bite before or after your visit:

One block east of Sherbourne (186 Carlton Street at Bleecker Street), you'll find Chew Chew's Diner, an all-day breakfast restaurant with a train theme. Check their lovely mural on the east side of the building. Inside, posters are lined by the booths to make you fell like you're looking at the landscape along the track.

One block further east is The Scullery cute café (200 Carlton at Ontario Street), open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, closed on Tuesdays. They make everything but the baguette on the premises. (I can't wait to try their rose petal granola.)

Downsview Park Christmas lights 2013

The Christmas lights display in Downsview Park, as seen in December 2013, before the ice storm! (Update Dec. 28, 2015: Downsview Park website and Facebook page make no mentions of the lights but the nice staff at True North Climbing within the park confirmed that the Christmas lights are up in 2015)


Click here for more information and tips about the Downsview Park Christmas Lights.

Christmas Story at Holy Trinity: Baby Jesus does it again!

Yesterday, baby Jesus stole the show during the last performance of the Christmas Story at the Church of the Holy Trinity.


Any mother can't watch the Christmas Story (2014: in its 77th edition) without wondering how stressful it must be to handle one's baby during a live performance. What if baby Jesus starts to bawl when offered myrrh by one of the Wise Men? 

Well, when it happened yesterday, a "servant" appeared and quietly traded the cute baby for a doll. Problem solved. No baby was harmed during the performance. (Jesus was back, all smiles, in the following scene. A real pro.) 

Years ago, when I attended this show, twins were playing Jesus. Another way do deal with that kind of situation. 

TOP-5 paper snowflakes crafts on Pinterest

Do you remember how the time slowed down as we approached Christmas when you were a child? 

Here's an idea to help your kids kill some time before Christmas.
How about helping them make paper snowflakes to decorate the windows, or the trees, or the bathroom for the holidays (imagine your guests surprise when they enter your Christmas Wonderland bathroom!).

Here are my top-5 favourite crafts on Pinterest. Click on the photo to access the direct link to the original source of the crafts. And note that there's more on my Paper snowflakes Pinterest board at pinterest.com/NathaliePrezeau (you'll need a Pinterest account to have access to the posts).

This craft includes 26 snowflake patterns.

Who knew junk mail could look so good!

No direct link for this one but you get the idea. Lovely and cheap gift decoration.

One of these situations where there can't be too much of a good thing.

I don't know about you but I still have filters for my previous coffee machine.

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last minute suggestions and fun bits!

http://www.paperkawaii.com/2011/12/09/paper-snowflakes/

My TOP-5 lists about Toronto Christmas Market 2013

I wrote five posts about Toronto Christmas Market at The Distillery. It's now over but The Distillery shops are still there and so are the little yellow lights and the tall Christmas tree and the fire pits at night and the artists studio at Case Goods Warehouse and...

Click on the image to see photos and details. 
Note that the stores' inventory has been depleted by massive shopping! Not all the items I describe will be there but it gives you an idea of the kind of offering you'll get.

Getting the most out of family photos

I know of a cool dad who found a way to make Friday Movie nights even more fun for his family. 

He inspired me so much (read about his idea here) that I decided to take the time to finally gather all the photos I could find of my kids in their Halloween costumes to surprise them with a special viewing. (By the way, if you're looking for inspiration for Halloween costumes, check out my Pinterest board on Halloween costumes) 

Visit my website www.torontofunplaces.com for weekly outing suggestions.