• family

    Bus Safety for Parents and Kids #BTS

    Bus safety is something both parents and children need to be cognizant of. As we get back in to the school year, there will be lots of bus trips. Many of our kids will take the bus to and from school every day. There will be field trips. There will be parental chaperones on those trips. That’s why it’s important for both kids and parents to recognize how important bus safety is. Bus Safety Tips for Both Parents and Their Children As a parent, bus safety concerns me. Buses are gigantic, massive vehicles and they transport children every day. It’s…

  • Travel

    What Next? My New Travel Goals #travel

    It hit me on the flight back from Martin County, Florida this summer. As accomplished as I feel when I travel, and meet a new challenge and tick something off my list, I sometimes feel a bit directionless afterwards. Do you know the feeling I mean? Kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing, turtle nesting tours…On this one particular trip I did so many awesome activities that I had to stop and ask myself what next? What haven’t I done on a trip? Where haven’t I been? What are my new travel goals? Sitting there on the plane, exhausted from surfing lessons earlier that day,…

  • Back To School - family - parenting

    Printable Fill In The Blank Teacher Notes for Back to School #BTS

    It’s almost time for back to school, which also sadly means it will soon be time for school colds, and flu bugs and doctor’s appointments. This year, I’m prepared with these handy printable Fill in the Blank Teacher Notes and you can be too. These are ideal for those occasions when you have a sudden appointment in the middle of the school day. One of the first ever blogger conferences I attended featured a sponsor with the cutest pre-printed teacher notes. In fact, they were such a hit that I used them all year round. They simplified my job as…

  • family - parenting

    Social Media Issues – How Ontario Teachers Navigate the Waters

    Social media issues can be challenging. It’s a field that is in a constant state of flux. Facebook changes its algorithm. Twitter offers a new feed. One network wanes while another jets off into the stratosphere. And just when you think you have it all figured out, suddenly your high schooler comes home talking about some new chat service that nobody over the age of 20 has EVER heard of before. Social media issues can be a real danger to both children and the teachers responsible for their education. Teachers are the people who spend 5 to 6 hours a day with…

  • family - Food

    20 Gluten Free After School Snacks

    Can you believe it’s almost time for school to start again? What happened to summer?! It went by way too fast. But now that we are prepping for the kids to go back to school, one thing we need to think about is after school snacks. If you’re looking for snack ideas that are gluten free, for medical reasons or personal preference then you’ve come to the right place. I have a great round up of gluten free after school snacks right here. Gluten free after school snacks: There are many reasons to be gluten free. Maybe your children are…

  • Back To School - family

    Stylish Stationery and Quirky School Gifts #LoveHallmarkCA

    We all know Hallmark for cards and fun singing seasonal toys. But did you know that Hallmark has stylish stationery too? It’s true. This year Hallmark’s beautiful back to school stationery and one of a kind gifts have captured my imagination. This year these adorable Toe of a Kind socks showed up here and the kids flipped. UNI-Kitty is hilarious and so fun for my tween starting back to high school next week. And the Game On Toe of a Kind socks are super cute for my Pokemon and Minecraft loving tween. These couldn’t have been better suited to my girls. Ever since…

  • parenting

    WillLand Outdoors Backpacks That Bring It #BTS

    Whether it’s school or travel there’s always a reason to have a good quality backpack at the ready. I am thrilled this year to have WillLand Outdoors backpacks for the kids as they return to school, and as we embark on our fall and winter travels. My oldest daughter started grade nine last year with a super fun anime style backpack that she bought at the beach with her babysitting money. It was adorable. BUT…and we all saw this coming…it broke before Halloween. It was fun and cute, but cutesy isn’t always what you need when you lug massive math…

  • family - homes

    Fall Home Essentials for a Healthy Start #ChurchandDwight

    Back to school time is here which means it’s also almost fall. I’m sure by now you have thought of the notebooks and backpacks and back to school supplies. But there are a few other things I like to stock now too. Things are about to get crazy, so it’s time to prepare your family and your home with a few Fall Home Essentials. Kid’s schedules start to get nuts right about now which means the Mom and Dad Taxi is about to be overrun with requests. Busy, plus cold and flu season, plus extra laundry due to the extracurriculars…

  • active family travel - family - Travel

    How To Find a Pet Friendly Hotel #travel

    If you plan to travel with your pet, one of the most important things you can do is research a pet friendly hotel from the start. Don’t get stuck. The last thing you want is to set out on a road trip and  find yourself unable to locate a place to stay that allows pets. The bad news is extra fees for pets can be high. The good news is there are many resorts, airlines and hotel chains that now have pet friendly accommodations. You will want to research and find the best hotel for your situation and then book your room…

  • family - Giveaways - Health - parenting

    Playing Sports – Leveling the Field for Girls #PlayOnCA #Giveaways $60 ARV

    My kids are both athletic young women. Staying physically active, playing sports and striving to do your best – well, that’s something we take to heart as a family. Whether it’s swimming, martial arts or track and field, sports matter to the health of both boys and girls. When kids get out on the field or the court, they learn teamwork, develop a better work ethic, get into better shape, and boost their self confidence. Unfortunately, girls are at a serious disadvantage when it comes to playing sports. With less opportunities and less variety, girls often have to take what…