A few years ago I met with The Home Depot at a blogging conference and they had a campaign for a faucet. I jumped on it because I wanted to a change to the kitchen and sometimes even the smallest change gives our space a new feel. Shortly after I was looking at all workshops they offer for kids and the variety of workshops for adults.  I love the DO IT HERSELF workshops because I personally have felt intimidated in DIY classes where it was primarily men and I also like that they recognize that there are women doing DIY projects. It's a great way to be encourage women to try DIY projects.

Naturally when we scammed and decided to do the interlocking in our driveway ourselves  and it was back to home depot for rental equipment and majority of what we needed for the project.

Most people who’ve met me in real life knows I’m a minimalist, nothing comes into our come that we don’t need. Denys thinks this should include my shoes but I maintain that I need all those pairs.

In the spring I was travelling a lot for work and one day I walked into our home and saw a giant mess at the front of the house. The kids stuff was all over the ground and everything was beginning to pile up in the hallway. I was frustrated. I asked the kids why they didn’t put their things away and they said because they would need it again soon and they didn’t want to bring their things to the laundry room and back everyday. I realized the the system we had was unrealistic for busy times and was setting them up for failure.

That same week, I saw another opportunity with The Home Depot and I reached out about building something that would make it easier for the kids to manage and would be useful for the whole year.

We built a bench with four storage units.  Each of us have our own box which is big enough to fit the school bag and other things they might need on a regular basis.

I love that it adds perfectly to our space and we were able to stain it to match the floors.  It’s easy for the kids to put their things away and I love that when I walk into the house it’s neat and tidy.  

Below is a summary of the steps and the materials you'll need. 

Material list

• 4 large wooden crates: https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.13-inch-x-18-inch-x-10-inch-wooden-crate.1000820665.html
  
  

• Our local store was out of stock so we got them from IKEA instead
  
  

• 1 sheet of ¾ plywood: https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.34-inch-x-4-feet-x-8-feet--maple-plywood.1000861144.html 
  
  

• 5 2x2x8 pine boards, I used simple framing lamber: https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.2x2x8-framing-lumber.1000173732.html
  
  

• Pocket hole wood screws for softwood 2 ½ and 2 inch: https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.8-1-14-inch-square-maxi-loc-head-coarse-zinc-plated-steel-pocket-hole-screw-100-pack.1000711142.html
  
  

• Wood glue: https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.probond-max-wood-glue-236ml.1000685603.html
  
  

• Kreg Jig kit - for making holes:

• simple one https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.kreg-jig-mini-kit.1000711136.html

• More advanced: https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.jig-k4-master-system.1000709334.html

• Power tools. This Ryobi 4 tool combo is a very good value for any homeowner: https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.18v-one-li-ion-cordless-4-tool-combo-kit-with-2-15ah-lithium-batteries-charger-bag.1001041682.html

• Measuring tape and a pencil

• For finishing I used wood conditioner, stain and lacquer: https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/categories/decor/paint/interior-stains-and-finishes.html

Steps to do it yourself

• Cut the board and wood to your measurment
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Use Jig kit to drill holes
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Connect the boards to form a frame
  
  
  
  
  

• Attached Top and Bottom shelves
  
  
  
  
  
  Finish edges
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Sand

• Apply wood conditioner to make staining even
  
  
  
  
  

• Apply wood stain 2-3 coats

• Apply wood lacquer to finish 2-3 coats,
  
  
  
  
  
  Here is a  looks again at our before :( 
  
  
  And After! 
  
  
  

And we've already started o the next project! I’ve decided to create a simple storage unit for kids hats and mittens and their stuff.  But first, hubby refused to paint until our youngest was 6. He is now 7 and that means the next order of business is painting our walls. I cannot wait to get a fresh look on our space. 

Our family got back from our annual trip to the fern resort this year was a little bit different in the past because now we are a blended family so we had some extra children in tow but the experience was the usual awesomeness!

One of my favourite things for the kids that I love about Fern Resort is the activities!!  We have three active boys and the programming for children allows them to have an awesome time while as parents can also enjoy some downtime.  I always take a picture of the daily activities and keep it handy with me and the kids come and go as they please.  Our sons enjoyed zip lining for the first time and were able to take their time learning without having to be rushed.  As a family we enjoyed morning shuffle board.  It seems that around every corner there is something fun to be done!! 

Food at Fern resort has greatly improved; although it has always been awesome in my opinion. The service staff was on point and even those in training made every best effort to attend to our needs.  We really enjoyed going to the children’s buffet and focussing on getting the kids fed and then we send them off to kids club so we can enjoy our adult dinner. Any special requests that were made were able to be accommodated.  I enjoyed being able to purchase a bottle of wine and have it safe for me to enjoy slowly at every dinner.  The poolside buffet is a great option for those wanting to remain casual mid day and enjoy poolside food.  

As a blended family now with four children, we also thoroughly enjoyed the connecting rooms in the main inn. We were able to put the children and one side leave the door open and be connected to them on the opposite side giving us space and privacy and two bathrooms!! 

My kids are already asking about our next trip to Fern - this is a family tradition that we hope to keep forever!! 

--Connie Butera

Check out Ramara Community Manager Mary's slideshow video blog!

Thank you Fern Resort for an amazing weekend! It really is the ultimate all-inclusive family getaway close to home ❤️ Hopefully this video blog does it justice ☀️🌊🌮🏄🏼‍♂️👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 🏊‍♀️ #SummerAtFern 

We got to Fern late Friday afternoon and checked in, which was fast and easy. Once we settled into our room we met up with friends and wondered around the resort for a little while until it was time for the kid’s dinner. The kid’s buffet was amazing and had everything that our very picky bunch would eat. They loved choosing whatever they wanted and I loved not having to cook. Win Win!

One of the perks of Fern is that it’s got a kids club. This is something that we were a little apprehensive about at first, as this was our first time using anything like it. I’m usually really nervous about leaving the kids with anyone new. You know how it is...between the mom guilt and the worry that if you’re not with your kids something terrible might happen. It’s taken me almost 6 years to get up the nerve to hire a babysitter so that we can go out on a date night (which maybe only happens once a month at best).

I sometimes feel annoyed at myself with how much fear or guilt I allow into my thoughts. I have to remind myself that it’s ok to want some time without them, but I felt guilty wanting them to go to kids club so that I could eat a meal in peace, read a book or go for a walk with my husband. I wasn’t going to let all that stop me so I brushed off those feelings, prepped the kids and off they would go. No Fear! No Guilt!

As expected our 6 year old went without issue. She was excited and ready to run right in with her friends! Our 4 year old was hesitant but with a little coaxing and his sisters hand, off he went. Then came the baby (14 months) - she cried, but I expected that and it was only a little bit of tears. So off she went. I’ll admit that I kept checking my phone and made sure my ringer was all the way up just in case. When we picked them up they were excited to see us but not because they wanted to leave, but because they had so much to talk about in the 2 hours they spent in the kids club.

In the morning they were pumped to go back. I've never seen my kids eat a meal so fast! It usually takes a lot of pleading and maybe some bribing but not at Fern. They gobbled down breakfast and were off to play.

It seemed like there was a new activity every 15 minutes and the kids couldn't have been happier. Between pony rides, driving jeeps, jungle gym, sandbox, wagon rides and really I'm not sure what else, but needless to say the kids were in a rush after every meal to get back. Our baby didn't cry after the first day, but she insisted on bringing her lovey along (once a white unicorn but now its a funny shade of grey even after being washed). She also loved playing a game where she would toss her now grey unicorn into the sandy water and make the lovely girls caring for her pick it up. She thought this was hilarious! Even though she can walk, she prefered to be held most of the time and the wonderful staff was happy to oblige. The amount of staff they had on hand to take care of all the kids was amazing. There was no shortage of help and you always got the sense that the staff was happy to be there with all the kids. This really allowed my husband and I to enjoy some of the adult activities, things like boating, axe throwing, swimming, batting cages, zip lining etc!

The kids loved every minute of our weekend at Fern Resort and we as parents loved how easy everything was. When friends and family ask us “how was your weekend”, the first thing that we tell them about is the kids club. We think it's one of the best reasons to go to Fern and was our favourite part. They have such a great setup for families and for someone like me that tends to worry about stuff like that, it quickly put my mind at ease allowing me to enjoy some time without them. The resort has lots of wonderful features, but the kids club is what made it great for us!

This picture is so cute and also makes me laugh, because anyone that knows me knows how much I loathe sand. The kids came back everyday with shoes and pockets full. And that’s totally okay since they were having fun and I didn't need to see it happening.

Lots of shade to play in.

The pony rides were a huge hit.

The basketball courts were a lot of fun for the kids and hubby. 

The dinner crew. The waiting highchair with clean bib and cup were such a nice touch. I really appreciated not having to think about bringing that stuff with me.

The grounds at Fern Resort are so beautiful it makes for the perfect spot for family pictures.

The gorgeous sunsets from the beach. Is there anything better than sitting by the water and watching the sun set?!

Thank you Fern Resort and Life With A Baby for having us we made some wonderful memories and can’t wait to return! #summeratfern

When I heard that our LWAB training retreat was headed back to Fern Resort I was THRILLED. Last year was our first experience at Fern and my kids had been talking about it ever since. We actually live in Oro-Medonte so it only takes about 15 minutes to get to Fern and that's just the best thing ever when you have 3 kids who all hate being in the car! 

The ease of our trip began with booking, we just let them know of all our family's needs and they had it taken care of when we arrived. Our room had bed rails as requested, we had a booster seat waiting at our table for dinner, right down to already having a sippy cup ready for Lucas - it was perfect! From check-in to check-out we were met with courteous, helpful staff, and every need was met. Can't say enough good things about the service! 

On the Friday of our stay we spent most of our time in the pools. I love that there are multiple swimming areas so you never feel crowded. The water slide was a huge hit, I loved going down multiple times myself! We also checked out the mini-golf, basketball courts, trampolines, and of course Play Village for the kids! Dinner was a special treat because the kids had their meal from the kid's buffet and then we dropped them off at Play Village so that we could go back and have an easy meal with no one hanging off of us, whining, or rushing us! Doesn't happen often! Friday evening I was able to meet up with the other LWAB ladies while my hubby took the kids to a magic show and they LOVED it! 

Saturday was training day for the LWAB Community Managers and I was so impressed with the conference space allotted to us by Fern Resort again this year. The room was comfortable and spacious, the mini fridge was fully stocked with juice and pop and there was a Keurig for all those who wanted fresh coffee. I liked that the conference area was in a quiet area of the building so there were no interruptions but still beside the main building so checking in on the rest of my family was quick and easy and, most importantly, getting to lunch was no problem! 

While I was in training my husband had no problem keeping the kids busy without me. They spent a lot of time in the pool and then he took them to Play Village where they had their faces painted and they even got to ride ponies and go for a motorized jeep ride! The activities are endless at Fern! 

After dinner Saturday night we headed back to the pool for some swimming before getting ready for the evening show. The juggling show was so fun - the kids were completely amazed and paid attention through the whole show. It was so nice to have some family entertainment before bedtime and it made getting everyone to sleep a breeze - they were exhausted after a full day of activities! Sleeping in a hotel room with 3 kids is usually a huge pain and I typically get about 5 minutes of sleep the whole night but there's just so many activities at Fern that by the time everyone's head hit their pillows, they were out for the whole night and momma actually got to sleep too! I'd give a 5 star review just for that to be honest!! 

Sunday morning we decided to fit in a whole bunch of activities - swimming of course and then back to mini-golf, trampolines, and then my 2 older boys got to try fishing for the first time. They had such a great time and the staff have endless patience for the amount of times they have to put new worms on the hooks for the kids (yay for me not having to do that too!). 

I thought we fit so much into our weekend away and then I saw photos of all the fun things that the rest of the LWAB crew had gotten to do and I realized that we hadn't even done half of the activities that were available! And yet we were SO BUSY and loving every minute of it! I really can't wait to go back next year to cross off some more of the activities from their list! Water skiing perhaps? Axe throwing? Our 2019 #summeratFern can't come soon enough! 

Ever since our first time at Fern Resort the boys have asked to go back each summer. We are extremely privileged to be invited again a third year in a row for the Life With A Baby training and retreat weekend. When they heard that we were returning to Fern they were so happy that we were able to bribe them with doing anything before the first day of arrival ;)

It’s All About Family!

For a family of five, it is often challenging to get a room that has enough space and beds for us. Since Fern is a family-friendly resort, some of their rooms are already equipped with in-room bedding. The pull-out loveseat in our room (still closed at the back corner in the photo) transformed into a single bed that accommodated us without having to bring in an extra cot or bed. How convenient!

Variety of Foods Available

Unlike most parents, we like to torture ourselves and insist that the kids eat and stay with us. Plus, every time I merely suggest that they eat first and go to the camps afterwards they freak out. I guess I should treasure these times when they still want to spend time with us. I know sooner than later they’re going to ditch us for their friends :)

Parents who want to have a relaxing dinner can feed their kids first at the “early bird” kids buffet starting at 5:30 PM and then drop them off at the daycare or camps for various ages. Then they can enjoy their meal in peace and harmony with the adults.

Keeping You Informed

As a planner of all things, I love that Fern has newsletters for the young and old. I love that they provide so much information so that you are able to do whatever fits your family.

Conference Facilities

If you are thinking of treating your staff for a family getaway along with training, Fern Resort is a great choice. They provided meeting facilities for our group. While the moms had their training and meeting in the conference room, the kids could either go to camps or spend time with their dads. Fern Resort did go the extra mile to make our group feel special. They even put the Life With A Baby logo on the conference package they provided for us.

Continuing to be the Best for the Guests

I must say I was very impressed with all the new touches made this year: colourful newsletters, a personalized conference package, in room wine glasses and corker, and a large variety of menu items. (Our family does not have any allergy or dietary restrictions but I was very impressed that they added so many different options for families who do.) I believe they take all the comments from guests to heart and make their resort better and better each visit!

Last but not least, it’s the staff that makes our stay so enjoyable every year. From the staff at the front desk to the dining room, every interaction has been pleasant and delightful. They have been friendly and helpful as always with my family and with our Life With A Baby group. Our family cannot wait to go back again soon!

Read our family’s first experience at Fern Resort - The Ultimate Family Resort!

About the Author:

Winnie Ng is the Events and Design Manager for Life With A Baby. She’s a busy mom of three who loves to plan events and cook. You can check out her food blog at www.memorabledishes.com.

My family and I recently visited Fern Resort for the first time for our annual Life with a Baby retreat. It was full of pleasant surprises! It was our first weekend away as a family of 5 so I wasn't sure what to expect.

Upon arrival and a very quick check in process, we were happy to see our room was all ready for us. Complete with a playpen that we had requested, two large beds, seating area with pull out sofa, extra blankets and pillows and a fully stocked bathroom with lots of face cloths and towels. It was so nice not needing to request more towels. There was also a spacious front closet which came in handy for our many bags, shoes and lifejackets. We had a great view of the pool area from our balcony.

Nice to have some extra space in the room with 3 kids

Pool view from our balcony 

Meal times are a bit chaotic in my household but Fern made it easy even with our 3 kids! We were assigned to a table for our entire stay so we could just head to the dining room and be seated, no waiting or looking for some where to sit. A high chair and face cloth were waiting for our 1 year old every meal, this made it so easy to seat and feed him. The kids buffet is the best idea ever. As soon as we arrived we could order for the adults off of a more extensive menu, then head to the kids buffet for all of their favourites. Breakfast kids buffet had so many choices: fruit, toast, bacon, sausages, eggs, pancakes, hash browns and more. The kids ate way more then they do at home. All of the wait staff were so accommodating to everyone's needs, filling drinks, extra napkins, and anything else that you needed. We also enjoyed a barbeque lunch outside by the pool that had lots of options for everyone. My oldest was so excited to see tacos and corn on the cob were on the menu. They had high chairs outside as well, and a great view of the lake as we enjoyed our lunch.

The kids buffet kept everyone happy 

Shaded lunch with a view 

We had a first at Fern Resort when leaving our 1 year old at the play village nursery for a few hours. I get nervous leaving him with someone he doesn't know, but the staff really did reassure us they would call our cell phones if needed. Of course he was fine, playing with toys and even had a nap, must have felt comfortable there! My 3 and 7 year old loved the play structure, ball pit and got to watch a science show with experiments and a colouring keepsake. They had a large staff available to watch all of the kids ages 0-7 and a gated entry and exit so I had peace of mind that they would be safe and have fun. It was amazing to have some time to spend together relaxing on the beach while the kids were having a blast. Adult time and family time, you can have the best of both worlds at Fern!

This resort is really the ultimate place for a family getaway. They have so much to do and all the amenities to make your stay relaxing and enjoyable for the whole family. We can hardly wait for next summer to return to Fern Resort!

We were so excited to return to Fern Resort near Orillia for a third year with the Life With A Baby team. My 6 and 9 year old girls were beyond thrilled when we told them we were once again spending a weekend there.

Fern Resort has the distinctive honour of being where we took our first vacation as a family of five. Our youngest was just 10 months old on that first visit, and we were of course nervous, not knowing what to expect. The 90 minute drive for us was ideal for a family road trip, and we were thrilled to discover this gem of a family-friendly all-inclusive resort. They have thought of everything - from step stools in the bathrooms and public washrooms, high chairs and boosters ready at the tables, easy sleeping arrangements, an early kids' buffet, the various kids' clubs for all age groups, evening group babysitting - ALL included.

This year, Fern Resort did not disappoint - as we had been twice before, we wasted no time on arrival and headed straight to the boat dock to go fishing, explore the docks and go out on to the lake on a pedal boat, before heading in for dinner.

The next day was "work" for me with the LWAB Community Managers' training, whilst hubby spent the day with the kids at the pool. He was able to squeeze in some down-time when sending them to PlayVillage where they enjoyed the splash zone, sandbox, ride-on cars, pony rides, crafts and general play time.

For our second evening, we lined up all of our favourite activities from our previous visits. Right after dinner, we went on the Sunset cruise around Lake Couchiching. There is a small fee per person, but well worth the hour-long trip to see what the lake has to offer. The highlight was "bird poop island" - an island where the birds all go to poop, so no plant life can survive. Just saying the name had my kids bursting into giggles, firmly making it the 'highlight' of the cruise and forever cementing it in their childhood memories.

Each year the evening entertainment is highly anticipated. The shows are, of course, family friendly and the entertainers keep the audience of all ages engaged for the full hour. This year, the comedic juggler had us in tears with his antics. After the evening's show we gathered around the fire pit. We came prepared this time and brought along a bag of giant marshmallows and all the fixings for s'mores. My kids were in heaven!

It was a short weekend getaway but loaded with so many activities for everyone, we had such an amazing time - thank you Fern Resort for hosting the LWAB team again.

We recently had the experience to go to Fern Resort as part of a conference for Life with Baby. This was our second trip. We loved everything about it! We were there for a weekend, returned home, then went car camping the next day – Fern was so much easier than camping! While I enjoyed the camping trip, my Fern trip was so relaxing in comparison! 

Activities

FERN: There was so much for the kids to do at Fern Resort. As part of the conference, I spent one day in a meeting. My kids were with my husband, and they went on a free pony ride (there were multiple sized ponies, so each child went on a different horse!!), they played at the kids club – climbing the climber and sliding into the ball pit! There was a splash zone, and many different toys. My children wanted my husband to stay with them, but others were there under the staff supervision.

Once the conference was done, I went swimming with the kids, then had dinner, and took my son on a kayak ride in their bay. It is great that it is all included in the package!

For the bonfire, it was started each night at 8:30. We were able to enjoy it as a group on the Friday, then some of our families enjoyed it on the Saturday night, and one friend brought marshmallows for us.

My kids, being 5 & 3, had never seen a juggler – I wasn’t sure what to expect – but my 5 year old was laughing so hard at the antics of juggler dad Craig Douglas! He did a great performance that kids of all ages were able to enjoy and understand!

CAMPING: While there was lots to do for children at the campgrounds, most of it involved us generating entertainment for them, by having scooters, wagons, and toys available. None of this was needed to pack for Fern.  

FERN: They went swimming in two of the three pools – they were mostly in the “deep” pool with my husband, but they spent some time in the children’s pool. The children’s pool is also where they have the adorable lounge chairs!

                Each of the three pools was a slightly different temperature – so when we got too cold in the “deep” pool (closest to the lake) then we moved to the middle pool! Then, we got out, got a drink, and the kids played in the children’s pool! The children’s pool is only a few feet deep and very gradual, so they could walk in, jump in and play on their own.

                CAMPING: While we were camping, the lake was very rough in the afternoon – causing waves and undertow that were knocking over adults. My son had fun splashing in the waves, but my younger daughter did not. When we went to the lake in the morning, it was calm for everyone to swim in.

                FERN: The kids also went fishing. We brought their fishing rods, but sticks and strings are available at the boat dock. Live worms are also available which we used on our kids rods (bonus – the staff put the worms on the hooks for the kids!). My son caught a fish on his first cast! It was just a little fish, but my kids were so happy that they didn’t care! My husband was very busy pulling fish off hooks for the next hour!

CAMPING: We tried fishing while camping, and there were no signs of fish, other than a dead one on the beach.

FOOD!!

FERN: As others have discussed, the food at Fern was great. To have a buffet with each meal, we would order our food off the menu, then get food from the buffet for the kids. This meant that they were not hungry and waiting for us. It would be my only complaint with Fern that food took a long time. For example, for breakfast they had an omelet, but can only cook a few omelets at a time. Thankfully, as the place is very kid friendly, once my kids were done they were able to squirm around and play around our table! There are extras that you can buy, such as popcorn for the comedian, and blender drinks by the pool!

CAMPING: Thankfully, my mother-in-law provided most of the food for our camping trip. However, it wasn’t eggs benedict with fresh fruit each morning! My in-laws camp out of a pop up trailer, so they had all the serving ware, but it was so much easier at Fern! We also didn’t need to lug water from the communal tap and wash our own dishes.

Packing

FERN: For Fern resort, we packed clothes, and puddle jumpers. We packed a few books, and tablets for the kids in the room.

CAMPING: We had to pack everything for camping! Linens, towels, tent, beds, pillows, in addition to our clothes. After Fern, I had one load of laundry. After camping, it took me days to finish all the blankets and extras we had packed! Even just going to the beach required a wagon full of stuff, where as at Fern, we just needed our swimsuits and puddle jumpers – we could get our towels at the front desk on the way!

So while I had a great time at both vacations, the trip to Fern was FAR more relaxing and even though I didn’t get any spa treatments done, I felt very pampered! I will certainly go camping again – we have two more camping weekends booked this summer, I will be wishing I was at Fern!