Thank You…

thanks

After an amazing run of 18 years, we are sad to inform you that Whats' UP Magazine will not be published in 2013. It has been a wonderful, fulfilling journey and we've loved growing up with our readers. To each of you, all the best and here's to a year of new and exciting things! … [Read more...]

Five Tips for Planning a Successful Holiday Party

Holiday Decor

I am so excited to be joining the What’s Up Families blogging team, and I look forward to dishing about one of my favourite subjects: parties! Next to my small family, food and parties are two of my biggest passions.         I’ve been an event planner for four years, and have organized everything from at-home dinners for two, to weddings for 100. But my very favourite parties to put together are the ones I host for … [Read more...]

Party like a Rock Star!

band

Whether your kid is the next Justin Bieber or you’re just looking for a fun change of tune, why not hold your child’s birthday party at a music recording studio? While magicians, puppet shows and indoor play zones are always reliable options, we’ve all been there and done that before. A birthday party at a recording studio is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a chance to learn about one of the coolest industries around. Euphonic Sound … [Read more...]

Spooky Spiderweb Jars

spiderwebjar_4a

These sweet yet spooky decorations make great candy holders for Halloween. Here are simply directions for creating your own.               Supplies: •    Paper and pencil •    Scissors •    Glass jar •    Black paint and paint brush •    Black glass paint Instructions: 1. Wash and dry your glass jar. Paint the lid black and set it aside to dry. 2. While the lid is … [Read more...]

Frightfully Fun Costume Parties

dressup party1 copy

Dress-up parties just might be one of the very best parts of Halloween. Most children excitedly anticipate the season in which they can adorn their bodies in outfits and faces in make-up, and play the part of their favourite costumed character. Whether you’re planning to host a fête this year, or simply attend, we have plenty of options to assist you with your magical masquerade event. 1. Determine your guest list: Decide if it’s for … [Read more...]

Elmer’s Decorative Yarn Ball

Yarn Ball

If you’re looking for a fun way to get creative with your kids this fall while sprucing up your home décor at the same time, try these unique yarn bowls. Perfect for holding items on your Thanksgiving table, Elmer’s product manager Alicia Buter says they can be colour coordinated to match your existing décor or spiced up with autumn colours.   Materials: One roll of yarn in each colour you’d like to incorporate, Elmer’s … [Read more...]

Fabulous Fruit Dishes

Fruit

The de rigueur fruit cup on every breakfast plate or convenience lunch is old news. Filled with nothing but oversize chunks of melon, the odd grape, and a mushy strawberry the fruit cup is enough to turn anyone off fruit salad.       Don’t despair. I’ve got a few ideas to bring you back to fruit salad, right when the season just begs us to eat nothing but fruit for dinner. Or, if you are my husband, fruit salad with … [Read more...]

It’s My Party Appetizers

Veggie Tray

I get it, we’re busy folks these days. But there is more to party food than what comes on a black plastic tray.Here are some suggestions for making the most of your time, and your shopping to come up with some homemade treats for your next party.         Lose the Tray Even if you do need to buy your veggies, fruits, or cheeses at the grocery store, take a few minutes to up the presentation factor. Thread fruit onto … [Read more...]

5 Simple Party Ideas for Spring Birthdays

Birthday

My oldest son was born in April, and as the only non-January birthday in our four person family, we eagerly embrace the opportunity to host an outdoor party for him, provided the weather cooperates. Thankfully it usually does, and the kids couldn’t be happier to hang outside for two hours, running through obstacle courses, playing in the dirt, and catching a few tossed balls. Spring is one of the easiest seasons in which to plan a birthday … [Read more...]

Take a walk on the wild side with an adventure-themed birthday party

Birthday

For my son’s ninth birthday we organized a party befitting for most active pre-teen boys; a spy adventure around our neighbourhood, complete with  top-secret files and a scavenger hunt that kept them in hot pursuit of clues for longer than we expected. It was an unusually warm April, and the mild temperatures and sunny skies meant hosting such an event outdoors was feasible. It was a fabulous party, and effortlessly put together because of … [Read more...]