Mini Golf In And Around The Greater Toronto Area

Sebastian and I wrote a post together! His latest favourite activity is mini golf, so we have played a ton of mini golf this summer. I thought it may be helpful to put together a list of the mini golf courses we've tried along with Sebastian's thoughts of each.

Toronto

Scarborough Family Golf Centre
18 holes, outdoor
Cost - $6.00 for children, $7.50 for adults

My thoughts - I'm starting with my favourite. This medieval-themed course is well-maintained, and each hole has unique challenges to work through. The staff is also super nice. We were there on a day when the course was busy with a children's camp and though Seb and I didn't mind at all, they offered us a complementary game because of the crowds. The ball is not "collected" at hole 18, so you can play through the course multiple times if you want.

Sebastian's thoughts - I loved hole 18 because it goes up, and I loved seeing the ball go down the squiggle paths.

Putting Edge
18 holes, indoor
Cost - $9.50 for children, $11.50 for ages 13+

My thoughts - This one is fun for a rainy day. I'm sure we'll be back in the winter sometime as well. If you've never been to a Putting Edge, it's glow in the dark mini golf, which is pretty fun for kids. There is also a small children's arcade. The balls are collected in the last hole, so you can only play through the course once.

Sebastian's thoughts - I loved it because my shirt glowed white and blue. I also loved the arcade where I won jackpot.

Centreville
18 holes, outdoor
Cost - 5 tickets for 9 holes, 9 tickets for 18 holes, free with a season pass. 

My thoughts - I was super annoyed that we had to use tickets for Sebastian to play mini golf here after we bought him the children's day pass. The course is pretty minimal and not worth the cost. We only paid for 9 holes, and thankfully they let Rob and I just walk the the course while Seb played.

Sebastian's thoughts - "I was sad I only could play 9 holes, and it was too easy."

Collingwood

Farmer's Pantry
10 holes, outdoor
Cost - $7 per person (gives you access to all of the grounds of the farm)

My thoughts - Farmer's Pantry is a family-run orchard with children's activites in the summer. In addition to mini golf there is a cedar hedge maze, animal petting area, and u-pick fruits. We gathered up some delicious raspberries the day we were there. The mini putt holes are spread out throughout the orchard for you to find. You can play the holes as many times as you'd like.

Sebastian's thoughts - I liked number 10 because it goes onto the grass if you don't golf it the right way.

Georgian Bowl
18 holes, outdoor
Cost - $2 per person 

My thoughts - This course is perfect if you have a little one who doesn't care about keeping score or fancy courses. It's not particularly well-maintained, but it's two dollars, and you can go around as many times as you'd like.

Sebastian's thoughts - I liked it because it of the last level where you had to get it up high on number 18. 

Niagara Falls

Dinosaur Adventure Golf
36 holes, outdoor
Cost - $6.99 for children, $9.99 for adults

My thoughts - This was a fun course right on Clifton Hill. There were water obstacles, caves, and sand traps on some of the holes which made this course stand out from the others. Dinosaur Adventure Golf has two 18-hole courses, and you choose one to play. The ball is collected at the end, so you can only play the course through once.

Sebastian's thoughts - I love that I got a hole in one. I liked when daddy got a hole in one in the rock. I got past the sand trap in my first shot.


Next up, I'm hoping to try out the mini putt at Playdium, and we'll also probably try out the course at Blue Mountain sometime soon. I'll update this post when we do!

xo
Jenn

The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine - Book Review

It has been awhile since I've read a good psychological thriller, and The Last Mrs. Parrish is one to keep your eye out for this fall. It is the debut novel from Liv Constantine (the pen name for sisters Lynne and Valerie Constantine), and I devoured it in just a few days.

The story begins with Amber Patterson. A manipulative woman determined to worm her way in between a power couple from Connecticut. She has her eye on the prize. She wants money, power, and to be the wife of Jackson Parrish. To do this, Amber befriends Jackson's wife, Daphne, and schemes her way into their family. She has Daphne's absolute trust and grows close to Jackson.

But Amber's own secretive past may spoil her plans, and not everything may really be as it seems in the Parrish household.

The Last Mrs. Parrish is a fast-paced thriller with many twists and turns. The initial build up with Amber's schemes makes her a protagonist you will love to hate. She's devious, deceptive, conniving in every way, and completely unapologetic for her behaviour.

As the story builds, it is told with dual perspectives which I always love in a novel. It works so well to give us more insight into this multi-layered story. And as Amber's plan comes closer to fruition, the person victorious by the end of the dramatic conclusion may surprise you!

This was an excellent debut, and I look forward to reading more from these authors. The Last Mrs. Parrish is out October 17th and should absolutely be on your fall to-read list! Read Chapter 1 here.

xo
Jenn

Disclaimer - I received a copy of The Last Mrs. Parrish from HarperCollins Canada. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

Sebastianisms Vol 4

Chatting with a 5 year old is often pretty adorable. He's at a stage where he does a lot of self-talk and self-encouragement. Here are a few gems we've overheard recently.

"I'm making such beautiful pictures that you can't even believe!"

"I'm pretty incredible, right?"

"I'm getting a roll." (He meant to say that he was "on a roll".)

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These are a few things he's said to us lately:

"You're so kindful."

"It really appreciates me." (He meant "I really appreciate it.")


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Lastly, my dad was teasing him a few weeks ago, and he said "Your nose is bigger than the whole house." To which Sebastian replied, "Your nose is bigger than the whole university!"

xo
Jenn


For more, here are Sebastianisms vol 1, vol 2, and vol 3.

The One Piece of Lingerie You'll Actually Want to Wear

I recently got rid of nearly all of my lingerie. I tossed out 4 little nighty things that I had accumulated around the time of my wedding.  I rarely wore them. They felt fun for about half a second and then I just felt self-conscious and cold. They basically resembled this:

I kept only one. It's the Lace T-back Tank Dress Chemise from Fleur't

It's super soft, long enough to feel comfortable (it hits just above the knee), and has this magic elastic built into the fabric and the lace. This chemise is especially supportive for ladies with large busts. Yes, I just said "supportive" when talking about lingerie.

The hot pink colour I bought a few years ago isn't available anymore, but I love this dark-denim colour. There is also a light-lavender colour that happens to be on sale if you prefer it.

So, you're welcome. I promise you, when you slip this nightgown on, you'll feel sexy, comfortable and you'll want to wear it for you, not just for your partner.

xo
Jenn