Toronto: The Savvy Guide to November

November, November, how do we love thee? Let us count the ways (or at least let us find the ways to love thee first). Here are a few savvy tips on making the most out of this not-so-popular month.

DO
Catch Santa in his parade. (See, it’s getting better already.)
Why? Because your kids will love it and they will one day appreciate the fact that you stood around in the freezing cold for hours, holding a spot for them to see the big man himself (you might have to wait until they’re parents though).

GO
See Seussical running from November 7 to December 30 at YPT
Why? It’s a brilliant musical that brings together many of Dr. Seuss’ famous books and shares some great life lessons that both kids and parents will like.

GET
Some of your holiday shopping done ahead of time—just buy a few gifts now for the hard-to-buy-for people on your list  
Why? Because then you only have to buy the fun ones—like toys for your kids—closer to the holidays.

PLAY
Tomato
Why? Because it’s a funny, simple game that will have everyone in stitches. It’s fun to play at the dinner table, too. Everyone sits in a circle, and one person is ‘It’. Each person takes a turn asking ‘It’ a question. The only answer to every question can be ‘Tomato’. The first person to make ‘It’ laugh wins a turn at being ‘It’. Questions can be: ‘What color is your hair?’ ‘Tomato.’ ‘What do you brush your teeth with?’ ‘Tomato.’ You get the picture.

READ
Triangles by Ellen Hopkins
Why? It’s a compelling story of three girlfriends in the midst of their own personal midlife crises as they find themselves exploring sex, confronting marriage and adjusting to the roller-coaster reality of life. And we’ve got 10 copies to give away here, along with a guest blog post from the author herself.

APP IT
Pinterest
Why? Because we can now keep on pinning our fave cool images to share on our boards, linking to recipe ideas, clothing, books (and whatever else we find), while we’re on the go.

HELP
Strike Out Kids Strokes on November 10 from 9 am to 7 pm
Why? The Padden Family Paediatric Stroke Fund is holding its 8th Annual Event where you can get holiday shopping done while raising funds for a worthy cause—now that’s savvy.

SURF
KoodoNation
Why? Because it’s Canada’s first online microvolunteering community, making it even easier to give back—it’s all done online. You simply give your time when you have it, whether it’s a little or a lot, and they match your skills and interests with the needs of non-profits.

GREEN IT
Prepare your home for winter by looking for leaks around doors and windows
Why? If you feel the breeze, it’s time to let the caulking do the talking. On a cool, breezy day, take a trip around your house and stand near each of your windows and doors to feel for air sneaking through. A bit of weather stripping will help to keep the warm air inside and your energy bills more manageable.

DEAL IT
Savvy up your Facebook profile art with Lollipop Art
Why? It’s an opportunity to have a personally designed Facebook profile image, and it’s free for the first 100 SavvyMom readers who redeem this opportunity before November 1 (normally valued at $25).