HRM Parent Blog

Traditionally, the arrival of a new year has been a time to look back at the past, and more importantly, to the future. And every year on January 1st, hundreds of millions of vows are pledged to make positive changes such as:

-I will lose 20 pounds this year.

-I will no longer eat fast food.

-I will work out every day.

-I will stop smoking.

While our intentions may be good, research shows that within six months the majority of us will have returned back to our less-than-healthy habits.

So why do we have such problems making and sustaining positive changes in our lives? Often it boils down to one or two common mistakes we make with those resolutions – we set unrealistic goals and we adopt an all-or-nothing attitude. In short, we set ourselves up for failure.

The good news, though, is that you can make and maintain healthy changes in your life. And you can do it by adopting a new, two word motto: just try.

How many times have you told your kids to ‘just try’ something they didn’t think they could do?

-Don’t know how to tie your shoes? Just try it.

-Don’t know how to ride a bike? Just try it.

-Don’t know how to write your name? Just try it.

I recently met a woman who had made a commitment to start taking better care of herself. She had never been to a gym before, could barely make it up a set of stairs without gasping for breath, had never attempted to eat well and didn’t know how to cook healthy meals. She felt overwhelmed and intimidated and didn’t know where to start. The advice she was given, which made all the difference in the world to her, was that simple, two word motto. Just try.

-Try incorporating weight training into your normally cardio-heavy workout routine.

-Try alternating between jogging a block and walking a block when you walk the dog.

-Try a new group fitness class, even though you don’t know ‘the moves’.

-Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

Just try. And when all else fails, try again. Follow the simple advice you normally give to your kids and, odds are, you’ll end up surprising yourself by what you can accomplish.

Dalplex, Dalhousie University's main fitness and recreation facility, has been proudly serving the community for over 30 years, offering a wide variety of fitness, wellness and recreation programs and classes for adults, children, youth and seniors.  Visit their website or follow them on facebook.

Yes, you read that correctly.  We're squeezing in another giveaway before the holidays and we're thrilled that it's from Owlkids!

Owlkids is dedicated to encouraging a life-long love of reading. They publish a family of magazines — Chirp (ages 3–6), chickaDEE (ages 6–9), and OWL (ages 9–13) — and great books for kids of all ages!  You may remember them from when you were young, I know I do!

Owlkids Books wants to celebrate the season by giving gifts away! This awesome prize pack contains 4 award-winning books, perfect for any child on your holiday gift list. 

To enter for a chance to win this amazing book prize from Owlkids Books, first visit Owlkids on Facebook and wish them a Happy Holidays on their wall, then post a comment on this blog telling us your favourite kids book.

Simple as that.  But in order to get the prize pack delivered before the holidays we're closing the contest on Thursday Dec 15th at 6pm (AST) so hurry up and get your entry in for your chance to win this great prize package worth over  Only one entry per person.  We'll contact the winner via email and post their name on our Facebook page.

Good Luck and Happy Reading!

Whooo-whoooo loves owls in the nursery?  We do ... and we love the gorgeous Skip*Hop Treetop Friends bedding set that they are giving away to one lucky HRM Parent member!  

Friendly forest animals, bold colours and detailed stitching add whimsical style to your decor. The prize package bedding set includes a 250-thread count cotton sateen comforter with embroidery and cotton-linen appliqué, a printed bumper pad, a soft crib sheet and stylish cotton/linen crib skirt. The matching round sateen/plush velour pillow is also included. Welcome to the forest, little one!

Entering is easy, just tell us what you love most about Fiddleheads Kids Shop in the comments section below.

If you want to stay in the loop on all the great products and deals from Fiddleheads, be sure to like their Facebook page , bookmark their website or better yet, head to the shop to see for yourself.

Contest closes Sunday Dec 4th at 9pm (AST).  One entry per person.  The draw will take place on Mondays Dec 5 and the winner will be contacted via email.  Total retail value of the bedding set: $289.98.

A big thanks to Fiddleheads for this fantastic prize – just in time for the holidays. 

The Dynamic Diagnostic Assessment is Oxford Learning’s best tool for understanding a child’s complete, personal learning style and focuses on their future and total potential.  Plus it’s interactive and fun.  There’s no stress, no anxiety and it’s a safe environment for your child to open up and show their capabilities.

To enter the giveaway, simple post a comment on this blog telling us what your biggest concerns are when it comes to your child’s education.   Don’t forget to like Oxford Learning on Facebook as well to stay up to date on the great information they share and learn more about what they can offer your child.

The contest closes Oct 25th at 9pm (Atlantic Time) and the winner will notified via email and their name posted on this blog.  Open to residents of HRM only.

Good Luck!

PLEASE NOTE: This contest is now closed.  Congrats to our winner Jessica Bradstock-Young and her family who will be enjoying 3 months at Dalplex.

Yippeee!!!   It’s that time again and we are SO excited for the latest HRM Parent giveaway.  Not only is it an awesome way to get the family together for some fun, but also offers a great opportunity for everyone to stay active. 

That’s right - we’re giving away a Three-month Family Membership to Dalplex! 

There’s so much for the whole family and Dalplex .  Enjoy the weight room, fitness classes, Fun Zone, squash and racquetball courts, indoor track, family skating (seasonal) and of course, the pool.  The list goes on and for three months our lucky winning family can experience it all.

Entering is easy.  Just post a comment at this end of this blog telling us about your families’ favorite physical activity that you could do at Dalplex . The contest closes on Friday Oct 7th at 9pm (Atlantic Time) so get your entry in for your chance to win.

Prize value of $354. One entry per family.  The winner will be notified via email and their name posted on this blog. Open to residents of HRM only.