GUEST BLOGGER KID HIKE SERIES – SAYRES LAKE, MISSION BC

We have partnered with some great brands from around North America to bring you some outdoor kid hike locations that you can enjoy with your children.  Today we are featuring a location in beautiful British Columbia: Sayres Lake, Mission with Elaine Tan Comeau Founder of Easy Daysies.

Location: Sayres Lake, Mission, BC

Getting There:
From Lougheed Hwy, Mission area, turn onto 287 Street heading north towards 96 Avenue, 287 Street turns into Wilson Street. Continue on Wilson Street passing the Ruskin Dam, at the next junction turn right onto Dewdney Trunk Road. Just before the Stave Falls Dam turn left onto Burma/Florence Lake Forest Service Road which is a gravel road, travel to about 12 km where you turn right onto a small access road down to the recreation site.

Best Time Of Year To Visit:
Spring to Fall, May-October

What To Bring:
Your Roo Rain Gear in pouch form ready to take on any rain or wind, water bottles, a picnic, swim suit and good hiking shoes or sandals!

Points of Interest:
Make sure to walk around the gorgeous lake to snap a few great shots!

Tell Us About Your Hike/Walk:
You definitely want to bring your camera as well as it is truly scenic. The walk is easy and great for kids of any age. This park is dog friendly as well, which is great for us (new puppy owners).
 

Thanks Elaine for the Kiddie Hike Location, the great pics, and the excellent write up!

Check back soon for another guest blogger’s outdoor hike location, and don’t forget to visit Elaine’s website for fabulous visual schedules & daily planners help kids co-operate and be more independent.

Get Ready for FUN! Roo Rain Gear Packable Waterproof Poncho

Some of you may already be familiar with the convenience and versatility of our Roo Rain Gear waterproof poncho, but for those of you who aren’t we put together a fun video of how to pack down your poncho after a fun jaunt in the rain.

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Dog Lovers

Small treats on Valentine’s Day is just a small way to show your loved ones you care.  Here are some gifts for the dog lovers on your list to show them that you love them, and that you care about what they love.

1. Nothing is better than a puppy and some wine, show your loved one that there is nothing wrong with having a drink with the dog, with this wine glass from 2809 Design.

2.Everyone loves a wiener dog! Give you Valentine something to squeeze when you’re not around with these adorable Dachshund throw pillows from Room Craft on Etsy.

3. Warm your Valentine’s heart and hands with these dog gloves from Talking Loves. A cute and practical gift any dog lover would enjoy.

4. Treat your love and their dog to matching rain ponchos from Roo Rain Gear. These waterproof ponchos are made from 100% recycled plastic bottles and fold up into a tiny  pouch for carrying ease and convenience.

5. Who doesn’t like a Sir Mix-a-lot reference?  This “big mutts” ceramic coffee mug from Giftcovery is sure to bring a laugh to your loved one on Valentine’s day.

How to Stay Warm this Winter

A big concern for parents and kids alike is keeping warm during the winter months.  Whether you are standing outside watching your child play football in the rain, or playing outside in the snow with the kids, how you dress can directly affect how much fun you have.

Below are a few tips to help you stay warm and enjoy the winter months.

1. Wear Silk or Wool 

Many people think of silk only as a summer fabric, but the truth is it should be a staple in your winter wardrobe.  Silk actually regulates your body temperature keeping you cool when it is hot and preserving your body heat when it is cold.  It also has moisture wicking properties to help keep you dry and warm.  Since it is soft and light-weight it is comfortable to wear under your clothing so you don’t feel like the Michelin Man all winter. You can often get silk in different weights for lighter or more extreme temperatures. (pictured above is a long sleeve silk top from Bella di Notte)

Similar to silk, wool has the same ability to keep you warm when it is cold outside and cool when it is hot. It can also absorb up to 30%  of it’s weight in water without feeling wet. Wool undergarments can usually be found much cheaper than there silk counterparts. I still wear my Italian undershirts that my mom made me wear when I was young, which I hated, under almost everything in the winter because it keeps me the perfect temperature throughout the day. (Pictured above is a wool undershirt from Grace Textile)

2. Avoid Cotton on the Skin

Cotton absorbs moisture like a sponge and takes a long time to dry.  Cotton will absorb any sweat and keep your body cold, which is why if you are playing sports, or doing any physical activity it is best to keep cotton away from the skin.   It is much better to wear a moisture wicking fabric as a base layer such as silk, wool, or polyester.

3. Wear a Waterproof Layer 

While silks and wools are good layers to keep close to your skin, your last outer layer should be a man made waterproof layer to keep you dry from the elements. There is nothing worse than standing outside watching your kid play sports in the rain while trying to balance a camera, coffee cup and umbrella.  That is why our Roo Rain Gear waterproof poncho, made from recycled plastic bottles can help to save the environment and you from becoming a wet mess.

4. Keep your feet Dry

Investing in a good waterproof shoe/boot will keep your feet dry and warm. Don’t underestimate the sock either. As mentioned above, stay away from cotton and try wool or fleece on your feet. (Pictured above are Sorel waterproof snow boots, available in kids and adults)

5. Wear a Hat

A large amount of your body heat leaves your body through your head so it is important to capture that body heat by wearing a winter hat. I personally love winter hats, and they are my go to fashion  accessory in the winter.

Hope these tips help you to stay nice and cozy this winter.  Comment below or tweet us (@rooraingear) if you have any other great tips to staying warm during the winter season.

 

Sources:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Why-Cotton-Will-Kill-You
http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/hiking/wool-when-wet1.htm
http://www.bigskyfishing.com/snow-boots/keep-feet-warm.php
http://gocanada.about.com/od/canadatravelplanner/tp/keep_warm_in_winter.htm

 

Funny Dog Products

We took a long time to think of a simple yet practical design for our Roo Rain Gear dog ponchos.  The product had to make sense for the dog, as well as the owner, and had to take into consideration the daily routines of both.  Not to mention style and the environment had to be considered.  We are happy to be able to bring you a product that does all of the above. For a video on how the dog poncho works click here

Here are some other dog products that may have struggled with the challenge.

The Puppy Purse

  

The Tread Wheel

The dog Umbrella

 The Poo Trap

Hope we inspired a laugh, or two.  Happy Thursday!

Guest Blogger Kid Hike Series – Lincolnia Hill Neighbourhood, Alexandria, Virginia

Many of you may have made it your New Year’s resolution to get outside and be more active with your children, which we think is great! We have partnered with some great brands from around North America to bring you some outdoor kid hike locations that you can enjoy with your children.  Today we are featuring a neighbourhood location in Alexandria, Virginia from Sarah W. of Sarah Wells Bags.

Location: Lincolnia Hills Neighborhood (Alexandria, VA) (aka Our Own Backyard!)

Best Time of Year to Visit: Beautiful in the Spring and Fall

What To Bring: On this rainy day we brought our Roo Rain Gear for Maddy and an umbrella for mom!

Points of Interest: We are lucky to have forest areas in our neighborhood, which gives us tons of places to explore nature.

About our Hike/Walk:  Maddy and I decided to take a walk through our own neighbourhood for a new perspective on where we live, viewing it during a rain storm. We made a point to stay away from most of the paved areas where we usually play and trekked through the banks of trees and around (well, into!) the muddy puddles. Maddy loves jumping in puddles! She loved her Roo Rain Gear poncho because it makes a really fun flapping feeling when she jumps up and down, like she has butterfly wings. It was interesting to see where the rain collects during a storm and we discovered a spot near our house where you can find the biggest of all mud puddles. Usually on a rainy day, we stay inside; this time, it was awesome to change it up and say “hey, it’s raining, let’s go out and play!”

  Thanks Sarah for the Kiddie Hike Location, the great pics, and the excellent write up!

Check back soon for another guest blogger’s outdoor hike location, and don’t forget to visit Sarah’s website for discreet and stylish breast pump bags.

Eco-friendy Christmas Decorations

The Christmas season is filled with bright lights and festive decor; however, the growing importance of Eco-friendly and sustainability raises the question of how to celebrate the holiday season without draining energy bank accounts.  Here we have put together some options in order for you to celebrate a free Christmas.

1. Solar Powered LED lights – try using this environmental version of the classic Christmas lights.  PHILIPS offers a solar powered LED option that doesn’t require any wiring hassle.  Simply set up the solar panel in a position that allows for charging during day light hours, then wait for dusk to fall, and voila!

2. Rosemary Christmas Tree – Living trees are a better option to an artificial tree, but how about one that you can leave on your table and use for creating flavourful dishes.  This rosemary Christmas tree from Pro flowers is a great option for some festive decor in the kitchen, or anywhere else around the house.

3. Battery Operated LED Lights – Another option instead of the classic Christmas lights are these battery operated LED lights from GE Energy Smart available from Home Depot. They comes in a 16.3 ft. lighted length, and use D size batteries power supply. The control box even includes a twinkle function.

4. Battery Operated Wax Candles – Candles create a great, electricity-free festive environment during the holiday season, but if you are worried about lighting the house on fire you can choose these battery operated versions made from real wax from Brite Star. They flicker in real time and come with a built in timer that allows the candle to stay lit for 8 hours and off for 16, so it can last for the whole season. They operate with 3 AAA batteries.

5. Battery Operated Figurine – As long as we are on the battery buzz, this battery operated polar bear is a great addition to any lawn.  Instead of all those extension cords running across your lawn, and those pricey electricity bills, why not opt for this battery operated version available at Linen n Things.

Hope this post has inspired you to deck out your home with eco-friendly, sustainable holiday decorations. If you have more rain than snow for the Holidays, like we do in Vancouver, you can grab a Roo Rain Gear waterproof poncho, made from recycled plastic bottles, to keep you dry while you decorate your yard.

Guest Blogger Kid Hike Series – Stokes State Forest

We have partnered with some great brands from around North America to bring you some outdoor kid hike locations that you can enjoy with your children.  Today we are featuring a location in New Jersey from Kathleen P. of The Noblo.

Location: Hiking and tent camping at Stokes State Forest, NJ

Getting There: Stokes is a beautiful days drive from any part of New Jersey

Best Time of Year to Visit: any time of the year we go in the fall because we love to see the leaves changing colour

What To Bring: tent, lots of food, lots of blankets, lots of warm, clothes

Points of Interest: Stokes is beautiful – hills, rocks, streams, lakes

About our Hike/Walk:  We hiked along a ravine in the rain – thanks to Roo Rain Gear my little guy was dry yet able to jump, climb and run.  The kids found crayfish under rocks in the stream.  The leaves on the trees were colored red, orange, yellow and the ground was covered with leaves that had fallen.  It was a beautiful fall scene.

  Thanks Kathleen for the Kiddie Hike Location, the great pics, and the excellent write up!

Check back soon for another guest blogger’s outdoor hike location, and don’t forget to visit Kathleen’s website for an awesome solution to those fly away umbrellas, a great stocking stuffer for the travelling family.

Different Types and Varieties of Christmas Trees

Now that it is officially December, I think it is acceptable to talk about Christmas. Many of you will be trekking to the forest/Christmas Tree farm and choosing your family Christmas tree this weekend.  In order to help you with the excursion we suggest bringing along your Roo Rain Gear poncho in case of that spontaneous rain storm. We have also put together a description of some of the more popular Christmas tree varieties so that you can get an idea of which type of tree is best suited for you and your family.

 

1. The Douglas Fir

The Douglas Fir has soft, dark green needles that emit a sweet fragrance when crushed. These are one of the best smelling trees.  The branches are a bit droopy, but have a nice conical shape.
Strengths: Fragrance, Shape

2. Noble Fir

The Noble Fir has blue, green needles with a silvery appearance. These trees have strong branches that are great for heavy ornaments. They tend to last a long time, and are great if you want a tall tree. Strengths: Colour, Strong Branches, Longevity

3. Fraser Fir

Fraser Firs are dark blue-green in colour. They have a pleasant scent, and have good needle-retention. They have pyramid shaped branches that grow upwards.
Strengths: Fragrance,Needle -retention

4. Blue Spruce

Blue Spruce are bluish-grey in colour, they have a bad odour when needles are crushed. The trees are usually quite symmetrical and they have good needle retention. They also have strong branches excellent for heavy ornaments. Strengths: Colour, Strong branches,  Needle-retention

5. White Spruce

White spruce are bluish-green to green in colour. They have short stiff needles that emit a bad aroma when they are crushed. The White Spruce has the best needle-retention among the Spruce trees. They also have a good natural shape. Strengths: Needle-retention, Shape

6. White Pine

White Pines are bluish-green in colour. They have little to no aroma, but have good needle-retention. They are often very full, the needles are very soft, and the branches are weak.
Strengths: Needle-retention

7. Arizona Cypress

Arizona Cypress trees are gray-green in colour, and have soft pine needles. They form a steeple shape with lots of tiny leaves. Strengths: Shape 

8. Eastern Red Cedar

Eastern Red Cedars are dark, shiny green colour. Their compact branches form a pyramid crown. These trees are sticky to touch, and can dry out quickly; however, they have a nice scent.
Strengths: Fragrance

Which is your family favourite Christmas Tree?

Information taken from: http://www.realchristmastrees.org/dnn/Education/TreeVarieties/EasternRedcedar.aspx
http://www.pickyourownchristmastree.org/treevarieties.php

Roo Rain Gear CEO radio interview on What She Said

On November 14, 2014, we had the pleasure of being interviewed by the hosts of What She Said on Serius Xm Radio Station Canada Talks.  We had a great time gabbing about rain gear, potty training, and tips on how to follow your dream of becoming an entrepreneur.  Click below to listen to the full interview now.  Once you have listened you can enter this weeks Win It Wednesday on our facebook page to win a pack of Oops! Undies from our sister company.