Jennifer Fontaine

TOMS Shoes Expands Giving in the U.S. to Help Children Dream Bigger! #OneForOne

Posted on September 9, 2013February 24, 2016 by Jennifer Fontaine

If you’ve been following Mommy Hiker for a while, you already know the importance social stewardship and volunteering play in our lives. As parents and as participant citizens of this great, big, beautiful world, we know it is our duty to impart to our kids the value of helping and caring for those who may need a little (or a lot of) support.

Whether it’s spending a morning picking up trash on a gorgeous Southern California beach, carefully sorting and packing grocery bags at our local food bank or joining a volunteer army to plant and expand native habitat to protect our animals and birds, we are always looking for ways to put into action our intention of instilling the feeling of pride for our land, experiencing other cultures and lending a helping hand.

TOMS shoes Gives Back in the US Tree People

Expanding Native California Habitat

Everyone at one point or another in their life has the potential to fall into two categories; the one who needs help and the one who gives help. Something as simple and basic as providing a pair of shoes to a child who aspires to play on the school basketball team or donating a pair of prescription glasses to an avid little reader can give a much needed boost a child’s often elusive and very fragile confidence.

This is why I am honored and blessed to have partnered with TOMS Brand Ambassadorship Program to support TOMS U.S. Giving Program! I am bringing this post and #OneForOne news to you as part of that partnership!

I believe all kids are born with the fundamental hunger to dream to their heart’s content, aspiring to greatness without hesitation and it is our job to encourage and support them in their most valiant efforts. Giving them the necessary tools to go out in to their community and create their own legacy that they find fulfillment, happiness and peace within is tantamount.

Happy Feet, Happy Kids

Giving is at the core of TOMS’ business and the company recently announced that it has given its 10 MILLIONTH pair of shoes to a child as of late June, ranging from their classic canvas shoe, a sports shoe and winter boots! Just imagine, if we had more companies like this, doing what TOMS does, the world would most certainly be a different place. A better place.

Since its first shoe donation back in 2006, TOMS has expanded its Giving Partnerships across more than 60 countries, handing out shoes where they will have the greatest impact. Trying to secure sustainable giving in the US has always been their goal and now TOMS has announced the procurement of Giving Partners in 35 US states allowing them to give at least 1 Million shoes by the end of 2014!

So many of our precious children in the US don’t have access to the support and resources they need to stay healthy and motivated. With the gift of these shoes, their self-esteem will rise along with their drive for achievement and hopefully their passion to pay it forward.

Founder of TOMS and Shoe Giver, Blake Mycoskie

We can all learn a thing or two from Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS. If nothing, he teaches us to lead by example (a lesson I learned early on in my parenting life). We are mirrors for our children. They watch our every move, evaluate our every intention and discern every decision, so why not show them a mirror of love, sharing and laughter. Show them the path you follow, where they can witness you reaching out to others, embracing the beautiful differences in mankind and you will revel in the beauty of them choosing their own open, free and loving path weaving through humanity.

Where have you taken your TOMS? Around the block? Around the world? Share your TOMS stories with us!

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[Food Series] Mediterranean-Style Halibut Stew

Posted on September 5, 2013February 24, 2016 by Jennifer Fontaine

So last week, I was in the kitchen cooking dinner as I do pretty much every night. I’m not a menu-maker when it comes to food at our house, I’m more of a meal composer. I look in the fridge about 4:30 pm and start feeling what tickles my fancy and make it up from there, deciding whether or not I feel like protein, what flavors I want to mix with which veggies, etc. That was the birth of this recipe. We loved it so much, it was so easy, nutritious and delicious that I just had to share it with you guys! Enjoy!

Ingredients
3 pounds of fresh Halibut
1 Spanish Onion
6 cloves of Garlic
1/2 of a large Heirloom Tomato
1 lemon
1 tablespoon fresh Thyme
1 1/2 tablespoons ground Mustard
2 Bay Leaves
1/4 cup of Olive Oil
2 tablespoons of Butter (optional)

Cut your Halibut into 2 inch cubes, thinly slice your onion and tomato, give your garlic cloves and fresh thyme a rough chop, then literally throw everything into a deep pot on medium heat, including the juice of the lemon. (Cut the lemon in half, juice it into the pot, then quarter each half of the lemon and throw it all in!) Let it simmer on medium, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes, then lower heat and let it cook for another 25 minutes to let all of the flavors come together. I served it over brown basmati rice, but it would be delish over pasta or just by itself! Enjoy!!

On a completely different subject, please check out this cool featurette we were interviewed for in which we discuss how we navigated the rough seas of our fertility challenges –> Read Article Here

[Guest Blogger Series] An Exclusive Mommy Hiker Hiking Trail Scavenger Hunt by Debi Huang

Posted on September 2, 2013February 24, 2016 by Jennifer Fontaine

I am such a fan of Debi Huang’s Go Explore Nature blog and am especially crazy about her wildly successful Scavenger Hunt Series, so when she agreed to do an exclusive Mommy Hiker Scavenger Hunt, I was ecstatic! I can’t wait to do this with V and I can’t wait to hear how much fun you all had doing it, too!

Hiking Trail Scavenger Hunt

Let’s face it, not every kid likes to hike. And even kids who do enjoy the trail can get tired, bored or have an off day every now and then.

So how do you keep the whining and complaining to a minimum when you’re hiking with kids? One trick that’s worked for us is to turn our hike into a treasure hunt – a nature scavenger hunt to be precise.

Together with my two sons (ages 5 and 8), I’ve created a hiking trail scavenger hunt that’s fun for the 10 and under crowd. Here are a few tips for making the most of your hiking trail scavenger hunt adventure:

Download A Printable Version of Debi Huang’s Mommy Hiker Scavenger Hunt HERE!

Bring the list – and something to write with – on the trail.

Most kids get kinda fanatical about crossing found items off the list, so be sure to bring along a pencil. Extra points for having a clipboard or something firm to write on, too.

Use multiple senses.

The items on this hiking trail scavenger hunt require kids to use multiple senses. For example, kids are asked not just to find specific items, but also to listen for things, feel things and touch things. This gives them a chance to experience nature with more than just their eyes.

Keep the adventure age appropriate.

Younger kids and those who don’t yet read will need some help to know what they’re looking for. Adults can also help point things out to touch, listen to and smell. If you’re solo parenting more than one child, try using pictures of items to find instead of relying on the list.

Older kids may enjoy snapping pictures of the items they discover. Or they might want to find a quiet spot on the trail to journal or sketch their findings.

Leave nature in its place.

Our one rule with nature scavenger hunts is that we leave all of the items on our list right where we found them. This helps support both curiosity and respect for the environment.

Focus on the journey, not the destination.

Hiking with kids isn’t necessarily about how many miles you log or the final destination. It’s about the journey. If your child is having fun exploring nature by searching for the items on the hiking trail scavenger hunt, relax and enjoy it! These are the moments that will instill a love of and wonder for nature long after the hike ends.

Enjoy a reward.

When you finish your hike, take a few minutes to enjoy something cool (or hot) to drink (or maybe a sweet treat). While you’re at it, talk about all the new and exciting things you discovered on your hike.

Armed with their own to-do list, most kids will venture far further than they you might expect. Happy exploring!
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About the Author

Debi Huang is a Los Angeles-based wife, mom and adventure guide for two young boys. Her blog at Go Explore Nature is all about getting kids and families outdoors and connected to nature in the backyard and beyond.