Konifer Wooden Watches
Konifer Wooden Watches
Disclosure: We received a watch to test in exchange for this blog post. All opinions are our own.
For this review, I enlisted the help of my husband, David.
Here’s what he has to say about the wooden watches by Konifer.
I’ll be honest: I stopped wearing watches several years ago because I got fed up with wearing them. If I needed to check the time, well, there was my phone or other electronic devices and, besides, the last couple of watches I had were chunky, heavy, metal-band affairs that were, well, a pain in the… wrist.
I tried the Konifer wooden watch at Laura’s request, and from first setting eyes on the Konifer collection at their website I was intrigued.
The watches themselves are beautifully fashioned from wood, which means that every watch is unique – the grain and shape of the wood is different for every single one.
I picked the Navigator Army, purely because I liked the colour, and it arrived in only a few days from the date of order.
I really, really like this watch, for the following reasons (I admit, some of them are down-to-earth practical reasons, while some are “feeling” reasons):
1. It’s a substantial watch – and it feels substantial on my wrist.
But, because it’s made of wood, it is astonishingly light, to the point where it feels more like a bracelet than a watch. That feeling I used to get with my older, metal watches? Not with this one. At all.
2. It’s made, beautifully, out of sandalwood, which means that it gives off that wood’s very pleasant but subtle scent when it’s on my wrist.
3. It’s easy to adjust the band. Several spare links are included in the box and it’s a very simple matter to pop out the holding pin, insert (or remove) links and reattach the pin. It took me about two minutes to set it up just to my liking.
4. Konifer says on their website that the watch has “natural style” and, yep, that’s how it makes me feel when I wear it.
My professional life revolves around environmental studies so I feel like my one-of-a-kind Konifer wooden watch really reflects my attitudes toward the environment, in a way that a traditional watch, or even more a tech-heavy watch like a Smartwatch, simply wouldn’t.
Plus, I really like the fact that for every watch they sell, Konifer undertakes to plant a tree through the WeForest initiative, which has planted more than 13 million trees since it started in 2009.
So, all in all, I am very happy to recommend Konifer watches.
The company is eco-conscious and they offer watches that are stylish, unique, and very comfortable.
I’m pretty sure they’re durable too: even dropping my Navigator in a river on a recent kayaking trip did it no harm (although I’d not recommend doing this too often!).
Visit Konifer Wooden Watches to find men’s and women’s watches, rings, belts and even sunglasses from this Quebec-based company!
Free delivery around the world!
Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum
Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum
If you didn’t know this place existed, you’re not apt to stumble upon it! And, that would be a shame!
A friend recently told me about her trip to the Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum to check out a chair that a family member had made.
It sounded like an interesting and quaint place to explore so we stopped to check it out on the way home from the Eastern Shore. We are sure glad we decided to stop in!
Here’s What the Website Says
The Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum is a community museum dedicated to preserving and interpreting Cole Harbour’s agricultural past, and to developing an understanding of plants, animals and farming today. It is owned and operated by the Cole Harbour Rural Heritage Society, a registered charity which relies heavily on community support, volunteers and donations.
ADMISSION IS BY DONATION so plan to come often and reconnect with your rural roots!
About our Visit
When we arrived at the museum, we picked up a map and brochure at the main entrance.
This enabled us to have a self-guided tour around the heritage farm.
There were several buildings to in to explore farm life over the past 150+ years.
There were lots of hands-on things for the kids to do and touch from carding wool to playing old-fashioned games like crokinole
or chess under an apple tree.
There is also a small playground area where kids can swing or go on an ox-yoke seesaw.
Or play with other old-fashioned games!
The brochure included information about each of the buildings and even had a search and find activity for each location!
There were so many displays of farming equipment.
And farm animals to visit.
The Rose & Kettle Tea Room
Inspired by the beautiful Victorian verandah of the Harris House and its plentiful roses, the Rose and Kettle Tearoom has been the heart of the Farm for over 20 years. All proceeds from the tearoom and gift shop go back into running the museum.
Definitely plan on stopping for lunch or afternoon tea. I wish we had!
The menu is available here.
Plan your Visit
We took about an hour to visit the Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum. This did not include time for a meal or tea.
The Farm Museum is open seven days a week from May 15 to October 15. Throughout the winter months by appointment for research, resources and inquiries.
Admission is by donation. Please be generous!
- 902-434-0222
- 902-462-0154
- May 15th – October 15th:
Weekdays & Saturdays: 10 am – 4 pm
Sundays & Holidays: 12 pm – 4 pm
This is about 1hr 15 minutes from the Valley.
The Cole Harbour Farm Heritage Museum is such a lovely place to explore, you would have no idea that it is in the heart of the city of Cole Harbour, minutes from Dartmouth!
As you tour the farm, in the background you get the juxtaposition of the old and the new with the farm in the foreground and Walmart in the background. How quickly life has changed.
Let’s not forget our rural life, and keep our heritage alive. Take time to visit the Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum!
Royal Conservatory of Music National Teachers’ Directory
Royal Conservatory of Music National Teachers’ Directory
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post from the Royal Conservatory of Music to bring awareness to the number of highly qualified music teachers in your area. I strongly believe in music education for children and am happy to promote the RCM. All opinions are my own.
Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything. ~Plato
There is no question that music is not only good for the soul, but also for brain development.
Research shows that participating in music study benefits both brain structure and brain function. Just like well-exercised muscles protect the bones and joints, reduce blood pressure and increase energy levels, music education produces bigger, better-functioning brains – a benefit to people of any age.
Dr. Sylvain Moreno, lead scientist for the Centre for Brain Fitness at the Rotman Research Institute says musical training impacts a set of processes in the brain that are related to a whole host of other activities, from intelligence and reading to the ability to focus and do well in school.
The benefits of music education include improved language abilities, increased emotional resilience, increased empathy, increased attention span and focus and increased self-confidence. Many researchers have also linked music lessons with improved IQ and academic performance.
There is no doubt, children who learn music have an academic advantage.
Growing up, music was always a big part of my life. Throughout high school I played French horn in the band, and was part of the now Annapolis Valley Honour Choir. These were some of the best experiences of my life, and the friends I made here are still close to me.
Music, and the friendships formed from it, had a huge impact on my life.
One of my regrets, though, is that I did not take my piano lessons seriously. I only casually studied for three years, so can only play the bare minimum today.
Today, there are so many gifted music teachers around us, so offering your child a top-notch musical education is not hard. It can be challenging, however, to find the right music teacher, but the Royal Conservatory has tools to help.
Visit the National Music Teacher Directory and see which teachers is available in your area.
The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) is one of the largest and most respected music education institutions in the world, providing the definitive standard of excellence in curriculum design, assessment, performance training, teacher certification, and arts-based social programs.
But, you don’t have to take my word for it! I called upon my musical expert friends for their thoughts on the RCM program.
“My son has been involved in a number of different piano programs, but 5 years ago we decided to switch to RCM because of their reputation.” ~ Jacklyn, mother
“I would recommend anyone who is serious about becoming proficient at the piano to do RCM repertoire, even if along with other studies. The RCM route provides students with all they need to develop good keyboard skills. This includes good graded repertoire in multiple styles that has been developed over many years, as well as accompanying technical requirements and studies which develop the technique required to play more difficult repertoire. I believe that with this system there is a higher ceiling for student’s talent.” Steve Roe, Piano teacher with Roeboat Technology Services & Education
“The benefits of following the Royal Conservatory system is the over-arching structure it gives to the learning process – in a similar way to how proper universities are ‘accredited’, there is a consistency across provinces to the RCM structure. Not only is it useful if one ends up wanting to apply to university music programs, but also it helps to avoid “holes” in one’s musical education (not all piano teachers are created equally, and they can tend to focus on one thing at the exclusion of other things they don’t find as interesting.)
Coupled with the best teacher available in the area (to avoid bad habits early on), going through RCM provides a better ‘guarantee’ that money invested in lessons will deliver some measure of specific returns.” ~Tom, gifted pianist
So, just how do you go about finding this best teacher available? Use the National Music Teacher Directory.
Simply go online, pick your discipline (instrument) of choice, enter your postal code, and how many kilometers you are willing to travel, and a list of teachers in your area will pop up. It’s that easy!
When to start?
“I would start students as early as they are able to take it seriously and devote themselves to the practice; ages 6-8 depending on the individual.” ~ Steve Roe
Start investigating now a music teacher for your child for the fall.
“The most remarkable skill my son has gained through RCM is a thorough knowledge of music theory. This understanding has enabled him to easily extend his knowledge of music to multiple instruments and singing.” ~ Jacklyn
Happy music making!
Free Kayak Rentals in Middleton
Free Kayak and Canoe Rentals from Middleton Recreation
If you are looking for a fun FREE family outing, then head to Middleton to take advantage of their FREE kayak and canoe rentals!
On all summer until September 30th, there’s still plenty of time to take advantage of this great opportunity!
The boys have always wanted to try kayaking, after getting a taste of it at their friend’s cottage. I wasn’t sure if they would be able to sign up for a kayak tour, or if they would even like it that much, so when I heard about the free rentals, I knew this would be the perfect way to get their feet, or paddles wet!
How it Works
Middleton Recreation will be offering free canoe and kayak rentals from Riverside Park until Sept. 29. Call 902-825-8143 to reserve a canoe or kayak and safety gear.
There are 6 single kayaks available and 4 canoes. There must be at least one person 16+ to sign the waivers and be with the group.
Phone 902-825-8143.
Let them know how many boats you would like to rent, at what time, and on what day.
Meet the recreation staff at Riverside Park in Middleton. They will give you all the equipment and life jackets, give you a few training tips, and send you off down the river!
They have some XL life jackets that fit our 8 year old, but if you have smaller children, you might want to bring your own, or borrow them for free from the Red Cross.
Our Experience
To be honest, when we first started down the river, we had a bit of trouble. Boats flipped, and there was A LOT of complaining.
The kids had never really boated before, so they didn’t know what they were doing. Fighting the current, going up river was tough, too.
Luckily, the water was only about 18 inches deep in many spots, making it easy to stop and wait for each other to catch up.
Once we got going a bit, I was able to teach the kids a few basic strokes, based on my limited canoe training from Girl Guides. This helped a lot.
I was glad the kids had to work hard at it. Everything comes so easy to them, that they rarely have to work hard for anything. It was a great lesson in not giving up.
By the end of our hour-long journey, the boys were rock stars! They could manoeuvre around logs, turn directions, steer.
The day went from horrible to terrible to very bad to bad to ok to great! That’s what Daniel, 10 says!
Guided tours are offered every Thursday evening. Bring your own boat, or phone to book one in advance.
Halifax Planetarium
Halifax Planetarium, Dalhousie University
“That was the best day ever!”
“I’m so glad I am here!”
The words of excitement from the kids at the Halifax Planetarium didn’t stop all night long!
The boys in my family are fascinated by space. So, it all started when I booked us a family trip to the Deep Sky Eye Observatory near Yarmouth.
After making this post, my cousin said to me, “You know there’s a planetarium at Dalhousie, right?”
I had to investigate! I found the Halifax Planetarium located on the Dalhousie Campus!
Here’s what the website says
The heart of the Planetarium, a Spitz Model A-1 projector dating from the 1950s on indefinite loan from the NS Museum of Natural History, has been in its current location for well over 30 years.
Although the Halifax Planetarium is not as big as others in Canada, its size is ideal for small groups (up to 30) and allows for a close interaction between the operator and the audience.
The planetarium is housed at the Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science in the Sir James Dunn Building at Dalhousie University.
Our Experience
You would never know that tucked away inside an office building on campus, you would find this amazing planetarium!
We all sat around the dome. As the guide said, no seat is a bad seat, and it’s true!
The guide gradually dimmed the lights, as it takes about 15 minutes for our eyes to adjust to the darkness. Then, he got us to close our eyes, and imagine we were out in the dark skies of Keji. When we opened our eyes, there was a gasp from the crowd!
The image before our eyes was incredible! It was just like being outside amongst the stars.
For the next hour, the guide walked us through “Signposts in the Sky” pointing out how to find different constellations based on the Big Dipper. He was able to adjust the projection for different times of the night and times of the year.
The guide welcomed questions at any point from the audience, and the kids certainly took advantage of it. Because it was completely dark in the dome, the kids felt like they were having their own personal guided tour of the heavens!
It was an amazing experience for everyone there!
Tips
In the summer, it gets warm in the planetarium because of the enclosed space. Dress is layers.
Consider bringing a travel neck pillow or a sweatshirt you can roll up under your neck to make viewing the dome a bit more comfortable.
Observe the ages. This show is definitely meant for older children who can sit still for the hour-long presentation and can understand and follow the discussion.
Going to a Show
Shows currently run about every two weeks on Thursday evenings. Public shows will be posted as events on the home page of Astronomy Nova Scotia as they are announced.
Please note that shows are most suitable for ages 8 and up.
Shows run year round.
See Schedule Here
Private and Group Shows
The planetarium offers group shows to school classes and organized groups.
When I contacted the planetarium to book tickets for our large family group, organizers instead suggested that we book a private group show!
The planetarium holds about 35 people, so I put the call out to friends and family and we were able to fill the planetarium! This was definitely the best way to go about seeing a show! Because there were so many kids (8+) in the audience, they were able to gear the show towards them.
Tickets
Tickets are only $5 each for adults, and $3 or less for children (subject to change), with different pay scales depending on the number in your family. This makes and extremely affordable evening for the family!
To book your seat at a regular show or to inquire about a private group tour, contact the planetarium at planetarium@dal.ca.
How to Get There
The Halifax Planetarium is located in Rm. 120 at the south end of the Sir James Dunn Building.
Head to 6310 Coburg Road in Halifax and turn onto Lord Dalhousie Drive, which will take you onto campus.
The Sir James Dunn building is immediately on your left.
Free parking is available behind this building, starting at 4:30pm.
All of this can be seen on the Dalhousie Campus map
If you are looking for a unique and exciting experience with your family, definitely check out the Halifax Planetarium! You will have a STELAR time!
KartSTART presented by Toyota
KartSTART presented by Toyota
Disclosure: We received a free ticket for this event in exchange for a review. Would you seriously turn down this opportunity for your kid? All opinions are our own.
Early adoption of safe driving habits puts future drivers on the right track. That’s the aim of the KartSTART program.
“I’m going to get half my license today!” Daniel, 10, was so excited to go Go-Kart driving today, he was nearly jumping out of his skin! He even wore his Mario KART shirt to get ready.
Here’s What the Website Says
KartSTART presented by Toyota is a unique family driving education program that is designed to give teenagers and their families a true – real-world – understanding of the physics behind driving a motorized vehicle.
Our half-day course gives youngsters – 10 years and older – a driving experience in vehicles that fit them… go-karts.
Our driving experience includes: Professional Racing Kart, Qualified Instructors, Use of Snell approved Helmet, Use of CIK Racing Suit, Safety Driving exercise for the whole Family and a Catered Lunch. That’s a $250 value for only &79 + HST.
About our Day
Upon arrival we were treated to a pizza buffet. Friends who went the day before told us to go a few minutes early so there would be time to eat before suiting up.
Then, each of the drivers were given a suit
and a helmet before they were walked through the basics of how to drive the go-karts.
The entire session was completely safety orientated. Drivers learned hand signals from the coaches, they learned what to do in they “spin out”, and how to drive responsibly. It was VERY impressive.
“Now I know how a Storm Trooper Feels!”
From there, the drivers were taken out in groups to the racetrack. For us, we were at the Scotia Speedworld across from the airport in Halifax. We’ve been here lots of times for Monster Jam, but this was Daniel’s first time to be on the track!
One-by-one, each of the drivers were individually coached, and they were given a chance to test the brakes, and gain confidence.
Then, the drivers were divided into groups, by what appeared to be by age and ability. There were a few adults grouped together, and Daniel was with the youngest set of youth.
An instructor leads the group around the track, while other instructors are going by on ATVs to give advice and to make sure everyone is safe.
Each group stayed within their ability and comfort level, each going a different speed. Daniel was so nervous, he said at first, because he didn’t know what to expect.
To calm himself down, he reminded himself of a Spongebob episode where apparently, one of the characters is taking a driving test and says,
“Keep your eyes on the road. There is only the road.”
He also wrote a haiku to prevent him from getting nervous:
Driving a go-kart
at Toyota’s fun KartSTART
I am driving well.
Drivers get 2 15-minute sessions on the go-karts. The second time round, Daniel was a pro! He knew what to expect, they could go much faster, and he was so confident.
“I loved that so much!”
Other Fun Things
Also on site was a Virtual Reality program in one of the Toyota cars so you could learn about some other safety features.
And of course, he loved getting a certificate, printed photos and a swag bag for the day! I think it was the perfect recipe for a perfect day!
The Fun isn’t Just for Adults
To make it a full family affair, the adults got to cash in on the fun, too. I know my husband was feeling a bit jealous that he didn’t get to drive a go-kart!
The families that attend our kartSTART program are mentored in the latest safety developments in road cars. We exclusively use Toyota – well known for their commitment to safety – vehicles to demonstrate the safety systems contained within the vehicles. This gives the entire family a better understanding of how to make the most out of the STAR safety systems available to them in Toyota passenger vehicles.
Our goal at kartSTART is two things. Firstly, to give young drivers their first experience behind the wheel. Secondly, to give the entire family a better understanding of current STAR safety systems available from Toyota. Find out more about the Toyota Star Safety systems at www.toyota.ca
There were several Toyota cars on site for us to test. Being a boring family, we decided to test the Toyota Sienna. I’m really glad we did. What a great car! Video system, heated bum seats, and not too many buttons. Everything I like!
We even got to try the brake system with their professional drivers. As Daniel says, WOW!
Book Now
KartSTART happens from coast to coast across Canada.
Find a location near you.
The cost for the $250 value is $79 (subject to change).
The KartSTART program by Toyota is a wonderfully fun day worth checking out. You might not get half your driver’s license, but you do get a great experience and a chance to have a whole lot of fun!
