May 24 weekend is upon us! It’s my most favourite time of the year; Canada’s first long weekend that unofficially marks the start of summer. Check out this list of Victoria Day fireworks, celebrations and holiday openings!

QUEEN VICTORIA’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

• Where: Fanshawe Pioneer Village
• When: Monday May 20, 2012
• Time: 1:00 pm
• What:  Nineteenth century games, historical speeches and vintage baseball
• Cost: $7.00 per person – children under the age of 3 are free
• For more information: Visit Fanshawe Pioneer Village

 CAMPERS VICTORIA DAY BBQ

•  Where: Fanshawe Conservation Area, Recreation Centre field
• When: Saturday May, 18, 2013
• Time: 11:00am to 4:00pm
• What: A ‘welcome back campers’ BBQ, everyone is welcome
• Cost: Fanshawe Conservation Area admission
• For more information: fanshaweconservationarea.com

FANSHAWE OPTIMIST FIREWORKS

• Where: Fanshawe Conservation Area
• When: Monday May 20, 2012
• Time: Dusk (note: sun is estimated to set at 8:47 pm)
• What: See the largest fireworks displays in the London area! Arrive early to get a good viewing spot.
• Cost: Fanshawe Conservation Area admission
• For more information: Visit Fanshawe Conservation Area

 OTHER VENUES OPEN ON MAY 20

London Children’s Museum: 10:00am to 5:00pm

Storybook Gardens: 10:00am to 5:00pm (Splash Pad opens May 18)

Eastpark Golf Gardens: Intencity 11:00am-9:00pm, Go Karts 12:00pm-7:00pm, Golf Activities 8:00am-Dusk

London Spray Pads: All Spray Pads open May 18, 2013

As always with City Mom round-up posts, please feel free to share a Victoria Day Weekend event you know of in the London area by leaving a comment below.

Happy Victoria Day!

By now, many of us are accustomed to photo editing software; these multimedia tools allow the average photographer to create above average photos with the use of easy editing tools. There are many choices available for us to choose from and sometimes that can be overwhelming.

Another issue seems to be that once you get the hang of one tool that started out free, they begin charging you and not everyone is willing to pay.

Well, there’s a new tool on the block and that is fotor.com.

ABOUT FOTOR

Fotor was launched in May, 2012 (happy birthday Fotor!) and has from the beginning brought powerful, easy to use photo editing tools into the hands of anyone and everyone with an internet connection.

Fotor uses cloud computing to provide a suite of image processing tools ranging from basic cropping to automatic photo enhancement to fun add-ons like frames and text. Fotor has made professional-level photo editing accessible to everyday users through an easy to use and understand interface.

FOTOR WALKTHRU

The best way to speak to fotor’s abilities is to walk you through a photo editing session.

Here’s a photo that could be really nice; a father and his daughter strolling in the woods on a beautiful, sunny day. Bad news is that the photographer (me) is just your average click-happy individual who visually can see a great shot, but can’t capture it with the lens.

After opening the photo, tools on the left show up with easy to understand icons that when hovered over, show what the icon is used for.

Basic Edits

From here you can do things such as 1-Tap Enhance which detects the correct settings for the photo and automatically enhances it. Alternatively, you can manually enhance the pictures with options like crop, curve, rotate, tone and colors. In basic mode you can also resize your image and straighten it if you’re like me and get the angle of slightly.

Effects

There are so many effects to choose from that I advise you to check them all out yourself. Some of my favourites for this photo are Mini-Oven, Sunlight Spots, Hot Fudge Sunday and Yellowish. Overall there are 57 effects to choose from, all free.

Frames

Adding frames to your photos can really make them stand out, especially for us bloggers. There are over 60 frames to choose from, as well as the ability to add your own border, shadow effect or gallery frame.

One item I miss here is the ability to use the eyedropper tool  to select a custom colour from within your photo. This is a feature I use with other photo editing software that saves a ton of time on finding the perfect matching frame colour.

Clip Art

Now here is where it gets really fun! Adding clip art to your photos can be effective when using your photos to mark special occasions, as gift or as greeting cards. Clip Art in Fotor is really easy as you can search by ‘label’ for the prefect collection suited to your theme. You can choose from 50 different categories of clip art.

Text

A tool I use a lot for editing my photos for blogging is the text tool. I really like Fotor’s version of this feature. First you add your text into the text area and then you’re able to play around with it in terms of font style and colour. Again, I find I miss the eyedropper tool here to customize my colour choice. Hopefully this is something Fotor will carry out soon.

There are over 300 fonts to choose from for text editing. This is something that I have not seen in other photo editing software; almost every font imaginable. You can also scroll through the list with your text selected and watch it change as you scroll down.  This is a big feature in my opinion as it save on a lot of trial and error time.

Brushes

There are three brush types to choose from; Color Splash, Mosaics and Big Aperture.

Color Splash

Allows you to bring focus to a particular part of the image by gray scaling everything except the area you select.

Mosaics

Turn selected parts of your photo into pixellated mosaics.

Big Aperture

Perhaps my favourite feature here, you can increase/decrease the aperture of the lens to change focus and sharpness.

Compare

The compare feature is definitely my favourite one. This is not something I have been able to find in other photo editing software and it is the key to good photo editing.

By selecting compare, you are able to see a side-by-side view of your original photo and the new state after you’ve applied edits. This way you are able to see if you’ve really improved your photo or not.

Save & Share

Now that you are finished creating a wonderful work of art you can save your photo in a few different ways. Save in .jpg or .png file format, or share directly to your favourite social networks.

PHOTO COLLAGE

Now here is perhaps where Fotor stands out the most; the ability to work with multiple photos. Check out all the different and fun ways to create photo collages.

Template

Photo Stitching

Montage

Shape Collage

PHOTO CARDS

Again, another priceless feature that you don’t find with other software out there; the ability to create custom-made greeting cards with your photos.  And how timely for Mother’s Day.

HDR PHOTOGRAPHY

Fotor also offers HDR Photography, (High Dynamic Range) which takes three photos with different exposures and combines them into a single image to bring out the best light and tone in each part of the photo.

Fotor.com is the first photo editor offering HDR features online so you can capture highlights, shadows and striking details without the need to download software.  This is not an area that I amvery skilled in working with so I encourage you to check it out yourself. It looks like it can do some amazing things!

OVERALL IMPRESSION

I love Fotor.com for editing my photos. There are so many extraordinary features that you can’t find anywhere else and because of this, it will likely be my one stop shop for my future image manipulation needs. There are a few items that I miss in fotor.com as mentioned above that I do hope to see implemented in future versions.

FOTOR APP

Fotor isn’t just for PC users, you can also download the fotor app from iTunes.

CONNECT WITH FOTOR

Get started today for free at fotor.com and follow along with the Fotor team on Facebook and Twitter.

I’d love to hear what you think of this tool as well! Happy editing!

Disclaimer: I was compensated for this post, however the opinions are 100% my own and are in no way influenced by fotor.com.

I am loving my experience in the Power Stroller group for many reasons, including all of the reasons I mentioned in my last post. Another reason I love Power Stroller is that it was originally founded in order to help raise money for under privileged children in our local schools.

“Many children in our communities are going hungry. In fact, numbers are staggering. 1 in 5 families live below the poverty line in London, Ontario alone.”

The program through Power Stroller is called Fit Mummies for Hungry Tummies. Working along with The Children’s Nutrition Network in London, Huron-Perth Eat & Learn Program in Stratford and the Elgin Community Nutrition Partnership in St. Thomas, Power Stroller’s goal is to take some of the burden off families who might be struggling to make ends meet by donating a portion of their proceeds to these programs.

Five weeks after getting the ‘OK’ to exercise after having my baby, I am noticing great results from the Power Stroller class with Bernice Robinson. Unfortunately, I was on vacation and missed a few classes in the beginning, but even still, while I haven’t lost any weight on the scale, I have definitely gained muscle definition.

This means that I have gained muscle and muscle weighs more than fat, so while the scale hasn’t changed yet, my confidence in my progress has! Meeting the other moms in the group and hearing about their experiences as new moms has been really reassuring as well. It is nice to know that we are all in the same boat and are going through the same challenges and experiences.

The group is so mom and baby friendly that just this past week, one of the moms stopped during our circuit training to nurse her son! Bernice informed her of the rest of our route in the park and she was able to catch up to us and continue the workout.

NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION

Each week we discuss a new nutritional topic such as proteins, good and bad fats, water and even where to buy healthy foods that you can’t always find in your regular grocery store. Bernice also posts recipes and additional workouts to the powerstroller.ca website each week as well.

NEW SESSIONS STARTING SOON

If you’ve recently had a baby, or you’re just looking for a new fitness program for the summer that is child friendly, you can start out fresh with all the other moms in the next upcoming session starting the week of May 27 at various locations around London, St. Thomas and Stratford.

CITY MOM DISCOUNT CODE

BONUS: All City Mom readers that sign up for the upcoming 8-week session will receive a 15% discount!

Until next week,

You read that right; cookies without the guilt. I know it`s hard to believe right? But it is true.

It’s the Italian secret; enjoying the finer things in life without compromising on health or the waistline! MiSURA products are made with this ancient philosophy.

ABOUT MiSURA

MiSURA is an Italian based company that makes cookies, crackers, biscuits and pastas. But their products are not your usual grain-based food items.

MiSURA’s line of no-sugar-added, high fibre, high protein products make for a great snack and meal for your whole family. Finding snacks that are better for kids and still appeal to their specific tastes is often challenging. The cookie aisle in the grocery store is stacked with tons of options that may appeal to your children, but may not necessarily align with your prescribed diet for them. That is why I like MiSURA.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the MiSURA products:

No Sugar Added Biscuits

• Low-fat, yoghurt shortbread cookies
• 85% less sugar that most popular cookie brands
• 1 g of fat per each cookie
• 0.1 g of sugar per cookie

Spaghetti

• 13 g of protein per serving
• 7 g of fibre
• 2.5 g of fat
• 3.5 g of sugar
• Made with 99% Whole grain Durum semolina

Whole Wheat Toasts

• Only 30 calories per slice
• Only 5.3 grams of carbohydrates per slice
• 0.4 g of fat per slice
• Low sodium
• High fibre

OUR FAVOURITES

We received a number of the MiSURA cookies and biscuits. Among our favourites were the No Sugar Added Biscuits in both cocoa and regular flavours, the No Sugar Added Pomegranate biscuits and the 6 Cereals Biscuits. To be honest they didn’t last very long in our pantry.

All the biscuits are delish dipped in milk, but especially the cereal biscuits. Little S enjoyed eating the cookies as an after-school-snack, and I felt good about serving them. With no added sugar and the added fibre, I felt confident in sharing them with her.

BUY MiSURA PRODUCTS

MiSURA products are available in major grocery retailers and independent stores. Look for the MiSURA logo to know you’re buying healthy and tasty snacks for your family.

CONNECT WITH MiSURA

Visit MiSURA at misura.com and Like them on Facebook (Note, your like is worth 3 entries in the giveaway!)

WIN IT

One City Mom reader will win an awesome MiSURA basket brimming with Misura’s most popular products including:

• 1 Misura apron
• 1 package of Misura No Sugar Added Oat biscuits
• 1 package of Misura No Sugar Added Cocoa biscuits
• 1 package of Misura No Sugar Added Petit biscuits
• 1 package of Misura Whole Wheat Toast
• 1 package of Misura 6 Cereal biscuits
• 1 package of Misura No Sugar Added Pomegranate biscuits
• 1 package of Misura Whole Wheat pasta – penne rigate
• 1 package of Misura Whole Wheat pasta – fusilli
• 1 package of Misura Whole Wheat pasta – spaghettini
• 1 package of Misura Gluten Free pasta – spaghetti

Please use the Rafflecopter form below for contest entry and rules.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Ladies, grab your best girlfriends, your tea length dresses and your fascinators for a unique event all about you!

YOU’RE CORDIALLY INVITED

You are invited to attend The High Tea Soiree…an elite & tres chic experience for mamas:
SHOPPING | DELICIOUS TREATS | LIVE CELEBRATION VIGNETTES | TEA LOUNGE| MAMA BEAUTY BAR

• To: The High Tea Soiree
• When: Sunday May 26, 2013
• Time: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Where: Intercontinental Yorkville Toronto Hotel
• What:  A curated boutique event for mommies showcasing the top purveyors in the baby, toddler & mama industry. Enjoy shopping, delicious treats, live celebration vignettes, whimsically modern high tea seating, and a mama beauty bar.
• Dress: Tea Party Upscale, Business Casual (no jeans or runners)

ABOUT THE HIGH TEA SOIREE

The High Tea Soiree is a lavish affair and the first boutique event in Ontario for mommies.

At this plush show, guests will be able to browse and shop for the finest essentials for a modern parenting lifestyle while being treated to formal high tea seating, pampering stations and curated shopping; a true personalized shopping experience.

VENDORS

While there are too many amazing and relevant vendors that will be in attendance at The High Tea Soiree to list here, you can have a sneak peek here:

• Club Mom
• whim + whistle archival co.
• the cocoa cakery
• T•LANGHANS

THINGS TO NOTE

• Parking will be available on the street, lot or Valet Parking
• Your little ones are more than welcome to attend with you, but as this is a mommy’s day out for shopping, pampering and mingling, it is suggested that you make this a day for you and truly experience the event fully with the beauty stations, high tea seating & more
• If you are bringing a stroller, VIP Stroller Parking is available; complimentary to reduce traffic jams on the event floors & ensure everyone has a wonderful boutique experience
• You are encouraged to make an appointment for the Mama Beauty Bar treatments to ensure you are not ‘standing in line’ and waiting for your turn; this way you can walk around, enjoy the event and come back at your scheduled time to be pampered!
• Children aged 12 to 16 must purchase and Adult Ticket (for food & beverage purposes)
• Children 4 and under are free
• A special prize will be awarded to five ladies who will have the most stunning outfit – party dress, fascinator and gloves

GET YOUR TICKETS

Tickets for The High Tea Soiree are only available online, before the event. You can visit highteasoiree2013.eventbrite.ca to reserve your spot.

Cost: $26.00, Children 5-11 $13.00, children 4 and under are free.

What your ticket includes:

* Tea Lounge with assorted teas and buttermilk scones with Devonshire cream
* Entrance to the Mama Beauty Bar and all treatments (value $250)
* Mini Consultations with industry experts
* Access to over 50 hand-picked baby, toddler and celebration professionals
* Live Inspiration Board
* A copy of Help We’ve Got Kids + Swag Bag
* Automatic entry to win fabulous prizes

Note:  Everyone who buys a ticket will be automatically entered into a draw to win an UPPAbaby 2013 G-LUXE; Denny (red) stroller.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Check out The High Tea Soiree on Facebook and follow @CocoLilyMag on Twitter and Facebook for more information on this fun and exciting event.

Gather up your ladies and get gussied up and enjoy this one-of-a-kind mommy-focused event!

Photos courtesy of Katie McVey Photography.

There’s nothing cuter than little girls dressed up in tutus, flowery head bands and princess wands. Or little boys decked out in adult-looking fedoras and neck ties. And what makes them even cuter is when these accessories are handmade with love and care. That is why I jumped at the chance to review BellaCoco Designs from right here in London.

ABOUT BELLACOCO DESIGNS

They say it’s all in the name and this trendy baby accessory store didn’t get its name by accident; loosely translated Bella Coco means beautiful pumpkin which is the pet name Mary-Ann Fougere coined for her twin daughters.

Mary-Ann found herself at a loss when searching for cute barrettes for her daughter’s Christmas photos. The accessories she did find didn’t fit the image she was looking for. She wanted to adorn her girls in something a little less baby-like and a little more chic; something that even Mary-Ann might wear herself.

In the end, she couldn’t find what she was looking for so she decided to make them herself and BellaCoco Designs was born!

LET’S GO SHOPPING

From tailor-made tutus created with North American, soft, luxurious tulle to Kanzashi Flowers (a Japanese origami style) to lead-free hair clips, there are a variety of trendy accessories for young girls at BellaCoco Designs.

And we can’t forget about the boys; BellaCoco Designs also carries neckties, suspenders and newsboy/fedora hats for the little guy in your life.

THE “MIA”

When I told Little S that she was able to sit down and view pictures of colourful tutus and pick one out of her very own she was thrilled! Her choice was not an easy one given that there are 12 styles to choose from (and you can order a custom design but she didn’t know that). She finally chose The “Mia” which came as no surprise knowing her love of all things purple and fuchsia.

The product exceeded our expectations! Little S sure feels like a princess in this fun outfit. It is clear by examining Mary-Ann’s work that she takes pride in her creations and prioritizes quality.

BUY IT

The wide range of BellaCoco Designs products can be viewed and ordered online. You can also follow along with BellaCoco Designs on Facebook and Twitter.

CAPTURE IT

On Saturday, June 8th, 2o13, you can participate in a fun photo shoot with your little ones. BellaCoco Designs and Robert Russell Photography have partnered for a unique opportunity to capture your little princess in a BellaCoco Desgins Tutu. See details below:

WIN IT

One City Mom reader will win a custom-made Tutu from BellaCoco Designs. Open to Canadian residents. Please use the Rafflecopter form below for full rules and regulations and to enter the giveaway. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Photos courtesy of Sandra Dufton Photography

On Monday night I attended LaineyGossip and vitaminwater Canada’s The Faculty of Celebrity Studies event here in London. I was thrilled to be on the roll call list for this intimate and informative gathering.

While I’m not a die-hard celebrity gossip fan, or smuthound as Lainey refers to “them”, I do dabble in the occasional chinwag when it comes to certain celebs. But The Faculty of Celebrity Studies was about more than just celeb blather.

THE REFRESHMENTS

Before we dive into the juicy details let’s start with the food and drink. The food was amahzing and something to be talked about on its own; add the fun vitaminwater cocktails and well you’re skipping right to the head of the class!

Check out this fun vitaminwater cocktail:

• 1 part Sour Puss Raspberry liquor
• 1 part Smirnoff Raspberry Vodka
• 2 parts go-go Mixed Berry Glaceau vitaminwater ZERO
• Ice

CLASS IS IN SESSION

Dean Lainey started us off with a conversation about privacy and social media. The other students in the class (mostly women) had a wide range of opinions on the topic and a really healthy debate resulted.

We talked about Tiger Woods and his recent request for privacy in regards to his relationship with Lindsey Vonn. After Tiger posted his “Sears portrait” type photos of him and Lindsey on Facebook, he requests privacy for their relationship. Seems like an oxymoron no?

Next, we moved onto the Afflecks; the all American, perfect suburban family. Likely the most photographed family on the planet but does that happen by accident? Apparently not; Lainey shared that 85% of the photos captured of celebrities and their kids do not happen by accident.

In most cases, the celeb’s publicist will tip-off the paparazzi where the couple and their kids will be. Check out the field day this paparazzo had with Jen and Ben and their children.

Photo from laineygossip.com

So why do the Afflecks do this? Is it fair to their children who at this point have absolutely no say on their lives being shared with the world? And what are they marketing here? The American dream; motherhood?

CELEBRITY MOTHERHOOD

Focusing on Jen and Ben and their growing brood led us into the discussion of celebrity motherhood and society’s obsession with it. Motherhood isn’t a new thing; we’ve been doing it for millenniums so why the sudden fascination?

I’m not sure that we decided that night and Lainey has her theories, but there’s no doubt about it; the masses are fascinated with famous moms and their babes!  Take the website nessaleebaby.com for example, where you can actually choose to narrow the product search down by selecting “Shop by Celebrity”.  Are we that obsessed that we want to mimic their mothering choices?

We associate celebrities with prestige and if Christina Aguilera is pushing her son Max around in an OrbitBaby stroller then we want to do the same; this shows we’re in-the-know and we can afford expensive items like the stars. And the point of this; I’m not really sure as I opted for an average priced stroller because let’s face it, I’m an average mom.

THE JUICY DETAILS

The conversation didn’t end here.

Lainey gave us a Q&A period where we could ask anything about anyone! It was a true dirt-dishing-session. I learned a few things about a few certain people that I didn’t know before.  It’s all top-secret info of course but let’s just say that a certain gorgeous-eyed actor has a lot of talent in the bedroom but lacks luster in the personality department!

CLASS DISMISSED

As the evening came to an end we were invited to take home some of the new vitaminwater Zero and of course we received our diplomas that indicated our success in completing the Hollywood Playbook Course with Dean Lainey!

What are your thoughts on celebrity gossip? Why do you think society is so obsessed? What do you think the media has done to motherhood?

LittleEcoFootprint’s April delivery of eco-friendly, non-toxic mama and baby items continued to exceed my expectations.  Again, this month’s box is filled with practical and useful items that are safe and healthy for both me and my baby.

A CLOSER LOOK

Earth’s Berries Soap Nuts “Mother Nature’s Detergent”: Not only are these natural detergent and softener “nuts” environmentally friendly, they make doing laundry economical too! You can reuse the nuts for multiple loads of laundry!  Then you can add them to your compost since they are biodegradable.  They are gentle enough to us on my baby’s clothing. Retail: $5 + a 10% discount code for www.earthsberries.com/

Maple Hill Dryer Balls coupon for $7 off:  Now that you’ve done your environmentally friendly wash, you will want to follow that up with an environmentally dry!  Maple Hill Dryer Balls cut down drying time and are good for hundreds of loads.  Retail: $10 www.maplehilldryerballs.com

Prana Machu Pichu Nuts & Fruit Mix:  This deliciously organic “trail mix” is not your typical one.  It is made up of exotic dried fruits and nuts from around the globe that contain many vitamins that are sure to be healthy for a breast-feeding mama like me.  Retail: $5 (per trail mix package)+ $10 discount code for www.boutiqueprana.com

Smith Farms Red Berry Lip Tint: Smith Farms is a line of all natural skin care products and this lip balm feels great on my lips and is natural enough to kiss my baby with as well!  Retail: $6 + 20% discount code for www.smithfarmsproducts.com

Re-wood Toys Boomerang Teether: This conscious creation for babies is all natural and non-toxic.  They make rattles, blocks stacking toys as well.  Retail: $11 + 20% discount code for www.re-woodtoys.ca

Wee Woolies Merino Beanie: Using pure merino wool from New Zealand, although designed and made in Canada, this little beanie hat is soft against my baby’s skin, and 100% natural.  Retail: $16 + 20% discount code for www.weewoolies.com

Again I feel fortunate to be a member of LittleEcoFootprint and receive all of these great products that I might not have known about otherwise.  Being a new mom, I don’t have a lot of extra time to research products myself so having these delivered to me monthly has been fabulous and I recommend signing up to any new mom as well!  Can’t wait for May’s box!

May’s shipment will be sent early so that it will arrive in time for Mother’s Day. Sign up today for that perfect gift to show the mama in your life you care!

Stay tuned…

Spring has sprung (for the most part), the grass is green (getting greener) and the birds are chirping! It’s time for a Spring Cash Giveaway!

I have partnered with some fantastic Canadian bloggers to host a giveaway for $115 cold, hard US cash and you can enter to win here on City Mom.

All you need is a PayPal account (free to sign up)! Giveaway is open worldwide.

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY 

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Good luck!

Travelling solo is something that is completely outside of my comfort zone and this fact has left those that know me well, scratching their heads. What would possess a mom of a young child and wife to jet set across the world alone?

I believe this quote really summarizes my inside desire to take this journey.

Without new experiences, something inside of us sleeps. The sleeper must awaken. – Frank Herbert

AWAKENING MY SOUL

Before becoming a wife and mother I was a huge fan of travel. I spent one year on a working holiday in Australia and another year teaching English in South Korea. From South Korea I traveled to Japan and Thailand. I had the travel bug and there was no cure!

Since those two experiences I have traveled yearly but nothing quite as exotic. So yes, I am craving the excitement of the unknown but there’s more that is motivating me to take such a huge step.After experiencing a really trying and stressful year I was left feeling accomplished but completely drained both mentally and physically.

Stress usually leads to poor health both bodily and emotionally and for me this was true. I turned to Yoga to help remedy these afflictions and not only did it help, it ignited a true love for the discipline.

When everything else in my world seems chaotic, yoga brings the calm. When I feel depleted, yoga rejuvenates me. When I feel achy and irritable, yoga restores me.

It is for these reasons that I wanted to immerse myself into the world of yoga for a period of time longer than an hour a day a few times a week. I wondered what an intensive yoga holiday might do for my psyche and how it might change my outlook on life.

SOUL SEARCHING

From as early as I can remember I have always been reliant on somebody. Whether it was my parents, friends or my husband, there is always someone to catch me when I fall. One of my deep-seated fears is being alone to fend for myself. And you know what they say about conquering your fears right?

Face them head on!

So taking this journey alone will help me to accomplish this goal and will provide some serious one-on-one time with myself.

SELECTING A YOGA RETREAT

Of course I did lots of research when choosing the retreat I wanted to attend. I didn’t start with my sights set on France but once I found it, my heart was set!

I finally chose to attend Kaliyoga in France. The romantic and historic looking hamlets grabbed my attention and wouldn’t let go. After finding this one in the south of France, nothing else seemed to compare.

Here are some things I focused on when doing my research:

1. Price
2. Style of yoga offered
3. Amount of yoga offered
4. The teacher
5. Other activities offered outside of yoga
6. Food
7. Location
8. Style of accommodation

PARIS

You can’t go to France without seeing the Eiffel Tower right? And like every city mom knows, you must experience as many cities in the world as possible to call yourself an urbanite! So, I’ll be spending two days in France’s capital city.

While I’ll try to hit as many famous landmarks as possible while in Paris, I will also make sure to take a lot of unscheduled time wandering, shopping and sipping on some fine French wine in a romantic cafe.

Be sure to check back at the end of May for a full review of Kaliyoga France and to hear more about my adventure.

What’s one of your biggest fears? How have you (or plan to) overcome your fear?

What location is on your bucket list?

Image courtesy of TeddyBear[Picnic] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net