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Game Review: Super Mario Galaxy 2 is Way Too Much Fun

June 1, 2010 | 10:45 AM

Yoshi is back in Super Mario Galaxy 2!

If the game reviewers are to be believed, the newly released Super Mario Galaxy 2 (for the Wii) is nearly a perfect game. Collectively across all reviewers, it’s garnered a rating of approximately 98 out of 100. How is it possible for a game to live up to such hype? Couldn’t it just end up the video game equivalent of Avatar? Praised so highly and so much that by the time you actually get to see it, it’s completely underwhelming?

That was my concern as I unwrapped Super Mario Galaxy 2. And for the first few levels, it seemed exactly like Super Mario Galaxy the first. Fun, yes, but I was expecting something more.

But then the ’something more’ showed up and drove any initial disappointment off the couch out of the room and out the back door. Before I even realized what was happening, I was having the most fun on the Wii that I had had in a long time. Gameplay is fast and smooth, levels are creative and challenging (without being impossible), characters are varied and entertaining, and the world of the game just seems so, well, vast. And, unbelievably, the more you play, the more fun it gets!

All of the characters you know and love are back: Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Princess, the Toads, Goombas and, most exciting, Yoshi! And many of the new friends from the original Super Mario Galaxy—such as the Lumas—are back, along with some new faces. And new power-ups mean that you can play as Cloud Mario (who can create and float on clouds), Rock Mario (who can roll and smash into enemies) and Hot Pepper Yoshi (who moves at super speeds). Plus, improvements to P2 play means that the second player, playing as a Luma floating alongside Mario, can do more than just collect the star bits made famous by the first version: the second player can also freeze and defeat enemies and grab out-of-reach coins and goodies.

It’s easily one of the best games to be released for the Wii to date, and will keep kids and parents entertained for hours. Just make sure you pay attention to your little Luma friends, who often remind you that it might be time to take a break.

–Megan, editor of canadianfamily.ca

Tags: Nintendo, Review, Super Mario Galaxy 2, Video Game Review, Video Games
Posted in Entertainment, Reviews | No Comments »

Book Review: The Book of Awesome

May 25, 2010 | 9:59 AM

It probably won’t make your top ten list or incite any type of personal revelation, but it is the type of book that you’ll continuously pick up, read a bit, smile, maybe even chuckle and put back down. You don’t need a bookmark; in fact it seems like the type of book that is better read when you just flip to a random page.

The chapters generally last anywhere from one or two sentences to ten pages, and they always end in “AWESOME.” But despite its basic conversational tone (it was created from a blog by Toronto-based Neil Parsricha of 1000 Awesome Things, who just recently hit his halfway point), and the lack of anything really informative or influential in the book, it does, however, have the power to inspire you to remember the small stuff, and how awesome it can be (“Sleeping with one leg under the covers and one leg out,” “Hanging your hand out the window,” “A good floss after a tough steak”).

Notable entries include: “Ordering off the fast-food menu:” We have yet to test the accuracy of this, but apparently Starbucks has a short cup, perfect for mid-afternoon fixes (without the jitters that accompany your second tall or grande of the day). “Strategic trick-or-treating:” Rich people are cheap, wear running shoes, use the buddy system and win big with after-hours treating (7-9 p.m.). And a relatable rant on the importance of “Backseat car windows that go down all the way.” AWESOME!

So on the Tuesday after our first (pre-)summer long weekend allow this light-hearted read to remind you that while you’re stuck in an office with bad air quality and too much work to take a lunch-time stroll, you can add potato chips to your sandwich, which is AWESOME!

Tags: Canadian, Review, Starbucks, Toronto
Posted in Reviews | No Comments »

Guest Post: Best Salon For Kids’ Haircuts In Toronto

May 11, 2010 | 2:59 PM

Haircuts For Kids, Not Melon Heads

For the last two-and-a-half years, I’ve put off taking my daughter, Isla, for her first haircut. Born with a full-on Clooney Caesar, I’ve instead allowed it to flourish into a wavy mane far too abundant for a child her age. I suspected I would eventually drag her to one of those places like Melonhead, where she would perch in a car or airplane, distracted by a Dora DVD. But before I could resign myself to that, a better option presented itself: Buzzcuts and Ponytails ($30 a cut), the kids-only Sundays at Toronto’s swishy Hair on the Avenue. Also on offer? Blowouts for mommies ($29).

To make the salon tot-friendly, the flat screen at reception plays cartoons, tiny robes (!) and cups of hot chocolate are provided, and there’s a mini DVD player and jar of candy at each cutting station.

While the plan for a trim didn’t exactly shake down as hoped—she flat-out refused the robe, requested a programming change on the portable TV, and proceeded to shriek and flail when a towel was placed around her neck—it was the acquisition of a lollipop (spied in the hands of the much more amenable five-year-old Cleo) and the patience of stylist Tara Lorenzoni that finally accomplished the goal.

Ah, bribery. There’s nothing it can’t achieve.

Haircuts, $30, Buzzcuts and Ponytails at Hair on the Avenue, 416-922-0112.

—Lesa Hannah, beauty editor of FASHION magazine

Tags: Adventures in Parenting, Buzzcuts And Ponytails, First Haircut, Guest Blogger, Salon
Posted in Great Finds, Guest Blogger, Reviews, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Review: New Starbucks Snack-Fulls

April 15, 2010 | 11:48 AM

There’s something you should know: I have a problem. I’ve never met a bread I didn’t like. So when things get rough, bread is my default, the bad boyfriend I just can’t leave. And lately we’ve been in trouble. If an errand needs running, a baguette is mine.

Starbucks Snack-Fulls, $4.25

Diapers for daycare? Check. Baguette? Check. Brought my lunch. But, oh, it would be better with baguette. Forgot after-daycare go-home snack? A baguette for my dumpling. Thursday is the evening I single-mom it, so salad on the way home, and then baguette! (Actually, we make it a baguette and cheese night, because you know, the cheese will neutralize the sugar in the bread and the, er, butter. Loads of it.)

The good news is my other bad boyfriend, Starbucks, of endless-lattes love, now has the perfect last-minute kiddie snack.

Meet the Snack-Fulls: this adorable container (so fun to unpack!) is stuffed with raisins, organic apple slices, mozzarella cheese stick and Annie’s Bunny Grahams. (And for older kids, the package is lined with games.)

Good for baby, good for mummy. And while my pudgy dumpling’s fingers and sweet dimply face no longer smell of yeast (woe be mine), his health and my waistline are a little bit safer. Is Starbucks now a mum’s best friend? Think so.

Check out the other mommy-wooing currently on offer at Starbucks:

• Peter Rabbit Organics
• Organic dried fruit
•Gluten-free chips
•Lucy’s allergy-free cookies
• Rockabye Baby! CDs

—Melissa, CF’s lifestyle editor

P.S. Bring in a reusable mug to Starbucks today (April 15) and get a free brewed coffee!!

Tags: Food Idea, Healthy, Review, Snack-Full, Snack-Fulls, Snackfull, Snacks, Starbucks
Posted in Food Ideas, Reviews | 2 Comments »

Review: Method Laundry Detergent

April 7, 2010 | 10:17 AM

When I first saw the new Method laundry detergent, I was skeptical. $17 for a 50-load bottle? It didn’t seem like a deal, and though I like Method, it’s never been a brand I’d go out of my way for. But a few months later, I’m still on the same bottle and now on the Method bandwagon.

Small bottle, big results

I used to pick up a jug of detergent every couple weeks, by habit, just adding it to the grocery cart, assuming I’d run out. But now I don’t need to. No more schlepping! Needless to say, I’m a convert.The reason it lasts so long? The pump top means you don’t have to squint for fill-to lines or dump way extra detergent in because it’s a big load. (Confession: I totally used to be a dumper. The dirtier the load seemed, the more I would pour in.) All this takes is two squirts for a small load, four for a regular and six for an enormous load.

Performance wise, it’s measured up, too. While it doesn’t work perfectly for make-up or curry, it does take out raspberry and blueberry stains, and the dispenser tip is perfect for spot cleaning and stroller stains. And the best part? It’s a one-hand pump, meaning you can hold baby with one arm, and do laundry with the other. Brilliant.

—Melissa, CF’s lifestyle editor

Tags: clean, detergent, Laundry, Method, Review
Posted in Reviews | 4 Comments »

Best Ever Kissing Board Book

February 12, 2010 | 3:07 PM

Quack, quack, quack!

There’s a new baby in the barnyard, and each animal wants a chance to tickle, feed, serenade and kiss the baby: “I sang to the baby! Did you sing to the baby?”

If you like Karen Katz, this isn’t for you. There’ s no schmaltz or sentimentality that appeals to adults only.

But there is an incredible abundance of joy and love that the author conveys thorough the simplest baby-captivating illustrations and toddler-friendly rollicking prose.

And I can attest that my son has loved this since about three months, while I have loved it since sight.

Because all the best books end in smooches. And a lot of quacking.

I Kissed the Baby! by Mary Murphy (Candlewick, $9)

—Melissa, CF’s lifestyle editor

Tags: Board Books, Kissing, Reading, Review
Posted in Reviews | No Comments »

Review: The Sweetest Stamps Ever

January 26, 2010 | 3:17 PM

Sweetest stamp I've ever seen

Um, do these Craft Pudding stamps not make you want to have like a dozen babies already? Well, maybe not twelve, but at least one named Noa, one named Olivia and one named Isis. Oh, and a boy! I wouldn’t mind Alexi.

I’ve used them before here, but I recently ordered a Sebastien one and the stamps have since become one of my go-to gifts. Magda hand-carves each wooden stamp based on the photo you send her. We chose Max’s striped turtleneck as the base, and she perfectly captured my son’s lopsided grin, the contour of his chubby chipmunk cheeks and his happy-go-lucky hair. In fact, it’s possible I like his stamp self even more than the real life version of him.

With ours, we personalized thank-you card envelopes, valentines, photo backs and Post-its. We’ve even made labels with it (a great solution if your kid’s name is Audrey, Owen or Grace, or any other of last year’s top names). And now that my son’s learned the word “mine,” I think we’ll start stamping his books. And his crackers. If that works, I may even consider getting a “Mummy” stamp, and labeling the bed. The whole thing.

Custom name rubber stamp, $23 US, Craft Pudding.

—Melissa, CF’s lifestyle editor

Tags: Baby, birthday present, gift, mom, shower gift, stamps, toddler
Posted in Great Finds, Reviews | 1 Comment »

Jishaku: a Fun, Suspense-Filled Family Game

January 25, 2010 | 9:32 AM

Photo by Carlo Mendoza

It’s a rainy morning here in Toronto, so we’re thinking about indoor activities today. And although this game is meant to be played indoors, it is far too exciting to expect that indoor voices will be used! Learning to harness and manipulate the power of magnets, the players of Jishaku try to place their magnets without attracting any of their opposition’s magnets.

Three different ways to play the game offers a full serving of suspense and focus as players watch the subtle movements of all the magnets in response to the one they are trying to place. The instructions are simple and allow the kids to get right down to zapping and buzzing their magnets to their opponents. Almost as amusing to watch as it is to play, this game will enthrall the entire family.

Our testers, Ben, 9, and Michael, 5, of Cambridge, Ont., are excited to finally have a game where Daddy’s large hands are such a disadvantage. They are currently battling it out for the title of “Magnet Master” (and aren’t above nudging the box or blowing the magnets closer together to achieve it).

Tags: Ages 9 to 12, Family Tested, Games
Posted in Reviews | No Comments »

Review: The Very Best Stay-Up Mittens

January 14, 2010 | 12:17 PM

One little mummy lost her mittens, and she began to cry…

Sometimes it’s the little things. Like realizing just after you’ve hopped onto the streetcar, babe in arms, that one lonely mitten was left lying on the street. The good news, my friends: my daycare pick up is now 25 percent easier, and there are approximately 75 percent fewer women bad-momming my son’s cold, naked hands.

baby all weather

I’ve finally found the perfect mitten! There’s an exclamation mark here because I’ve got a commitment problem. I need to know every product out there at every price point and read every review, before I can even start considering a purchase. And while my inability to make a quick decision left us bootless in December, the good news is that all the adorable colours and embroidery of Mimitens are still available. (And far fewer lost singles are hanging off tree branches across the city.)

Mimitens are Thinsulate-lined and water-repellent, and, most amazingly, never come off, whether pulled over or under coats (or our style: shoved-up, scrunched inside). Too, the cotton/bamboo is Oeko-Tek certified, and part of profits go to charities like Right to Play and Sick Kids.

Yep, well worth the $29. But if you’re still not convinced, these are the words of our family tester review:

“These mitts went over really well. They stay on Felix’s little arms and aren’t super-puffy, so each squeezed through his snowsuit wrists no problem. He’d usually be tottering around with his paws stuck in the coat. Poor guy.”

Jacquelyn Francis, mom of 20-month-old Felix

PS: Thanks to the lovely mummies behind Mimitens, we’d like to offer you the chance to win one of these: baby mitts, hat, scarf or mittens. To win, send an email to win@canadianfamily.ca with the subject line “Gimme Some Mittens!” and share your best tips for avoiding lost-mitten syndrome.

—Melissa, CF’s associate editor

Tags: Babies, Best, easy, fleece, mittens, non slip, Review, stay up, thinsulate, toddler, toddlers, waterproof, Winter
Posted in Great Finds, Parenting Solutions, Reviews | 4 Comments »

Video Game Reviews by Kids: Jonas, The Video Game

January 5, 2010 | 1:06 PM

What with the recent weddings and so forth, the Jonas Brothers are all over the entertainment news these days. Good news is, they’re also all over video game consoles, for those who are fans or just dreaming of being the next musical heartthrob. The new Jonas video game ($34) for the Nintendo DS allows players to play as Ben, Nick or Kevin, and use their musical prowess to keep fans under control, rock out on stage and experience all kinds of adventures with familiar friends and music from the show. Nine-year-old Benjemin of Cambridge, Ont., offered to test Jonas: The Video Game for us, along with help from his buddy Nic, also 9.

Benjemin loved the game, stating it was awesome, and he particularly enjoyed playing guitar to wake up the brothers, and would recommend it to both boys and girls, thanks to the guitar-playing aspects.

Mom Sara kindly transcribed some of the conversation between Ben and Nic during game play, which we hope provides insight related to how much our testers enjoyed the game:

Ben: “Awesome! I amped it with enough juice!” (Meaning: he played guitar well enough to charge the Stellavator.)

Nic: “You have to do it [play guitar] in a time limit. That sucks.”

Ben: “Oh, I get it. It’s smart. Makes you think fast.”

Nic: “Nic loves this game and he is a game freak. Aww, dude. There is a huge stereo here. Amp it with more power!”

Ben: “Whoa. You get to sew your clothes after the fans adore you? The hotties practically stripped ya!” (Meaning: If you’re not doing so well, Jonas-mania gets out of control and, adoring fans mob you.) “Cool, you can change their outfits. Make him all fancy, make him all dress code-ish.”

Nic: “I’m going to put him in Scottish pants. No, no. He’s going to school in PJs.”

Ben: “Oh cool. Send him to school naked!”

(Much giggling ensues.)

Nic: “I wish I was him.”

Ben: “That’s all Nic dreams about; having girls scream and chase after him.”

Find more video game reviews here.

Tags: Entertainment, Reviews by Kids, Video Games
Posted in Entertainment, Reviews | No Comments »

Game Review: Super Mario Galaxy 2 is Way Too Much Fun

Book Review: The Book of Awesome

Guest Post: Best Salon For Kids’ Haircuts In Toronto

Review: New Starbucks Snack-Fulls

Review: Method Laundry Detergent

Best Ever Kissing Board Book

Review: The Sweetest Stamps Ever

Jishaku: a Fun, Suspense-Filled Family Game

Review: The Very Best Stay-Up Mittens

Video Game Reviews by Kids: Jonas, The Video Game

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