• swim_training_gear
    family - Health

    Great Swim Training Gear by Finis

    June 29, 2016 - By 

    Pool weather is here finally and Finis has the best swim training gear for performance. This summer we are using Finis swim training gear to help take our swimming to the next level. We’re working on building endurance and having fun too. This weekend I got I back from my trip to Indian River and Martin County, Florida and my pool was finally back to normal. We were getting kind of impatient waiting for the liner to be done and the lights to be updated and the stairs had some work too. [tweetthis]Finis has all the swim training gear you…

  • indian_river_county
    active family travel - Travel

    12 Things To Do in Indian River County

    June 28, 2016 - By 

    Indian River County is a gorgeous, lesser known, area of Florida boasting many fun and family friendly activities. Until recently I had never visited this area of central eastern Florida, which is located about one hour south of Palm Beach International Airport. But this month I had the chance to tour Vero Beach, Sebastian and Fellsmere area to do some exploring and I wanted to share some of the many reasons your family should visit. The Indian River County area is one of the most biodiverse environments in all of North America. That means there’s no shortage of great outdoor learning experiences…

  • best_tires
    active family travel - family - family travel - Travel

    Sailun Tires Road Trip Stories

    June 27, 2016 - By 

    Summer equals road trips. It’s as simple as that. With school over, extracurriculars for the most part on pause, and the luxury of gorgeous summer weather stretched out in front of us, the family van is our ticket to freedom. The Beach? Quebec? Out East? Our West? Where will the road take us this summer? Now that I have the best tires for our vehicle, we are ready to embrace summer road trips. This summer we have numerous road trips planned. There are a couple of big ones, including one to Quebec’s Gatineau area. In fact We’ve already started our road…

  • Sebastian Florida
    Travel

    Captain Hiram’s Resort in Sebastian, Florida

    June 24, 2016 - By 

    Captain Hiram’s Resort is a quaint, quirky, comfortable little slice of the tropics in Indian River County, Florida. This unassuming beach resort is nestled into a tiny town called Sebastian, in Indian River County not far from Vero Beach. Drawing its flavour from Key West, and the colourful  islands of the Caribbean, Captain Hiram’s Resort is a sweet spot to stay and a bit of a secret, tucked away as it is, providing gorgeous views along the Treasure Coast and Sebastian Inlet, Indian River Estuary and Lagoon. Where is Captain Hiram’s? Captain Hiram’s Resort and Marina is a bit hidden, back…

  • mickey_cookies
    family - Food

    4th of July Mickey Cookies Recipe

    June 23, 2016 - By 

    It’s getting close to my favourite month – July. So much beauty in the summer months, living outdoors and picnicking with family. In Canada, we have Canada Day and I have anniversaries and birthdays here too. Much to celebrate and much to bake for too. If you are one of my United States readers then you also have a great deal to celebrate – like July 4th! There are a few iconic things, destinations, people, characters and events I think of when I think of the United States. Mickey Mouse and Disneyland are a couple of those things that are…

  • treasure_coast_florida
    active family travel - family - Travel

    Treasure Coast, Florida – Just What the Name Says

    June 22, 2016 - By 

    If you have yet to hear of Treasure Coast, Florida, we will forgive you. With a quirky mysterious history and stunning beaches it might not be one of the most common Florida areas, but it is definitely worth a visit. Covering three counties and some of the most natural environment in the state, Treasure Coast absolutely lives up to its name. There is no better place to enjoy the beauty of nature and the magic of coastal living than this part of Florida. Treasure Coast is a State Treasure This area of Florida is as beautiful as its name implies, offering…

  • Turtle_nesting_walk
    active family travel - family - family travel - Travel

    The Turtle Nesting Walk in Hobe Sound, Florida

    June 21, 2016 - By 

    It’s a sunny, humid, June morning. I kickstart my day by exploring Martin County, Florida on my own, at least until an afternoon rainy spell erupts. The highlight of my itinerary today is a turtle nesting walk in Hobe Sound. My ride, Nerissa, from the Martin County Tourism office, picks me up for dinner. I’ve been looking forward to this Turtle Nesting Walk from the moment I landed at Palm Beach International Airport. Hobe Sound, Martin County Florida Turtle Nesting Walk We take a leisurely drive through Jupiter Island, an extremely wealthy area of Martin County where celebrities, an ex-president’s family members,…

  • family - family travel

    Seven Road Trip Necessities This Canada Day #ChurchandDwight

    June 20, 2016 - By 

    Road trip season has begun in earnest around here, so I am stocking up on a few road trip necessities. Car and van trips can be equal parts fun and chaos. Stack the deck in favour of fun and be prepared for anything with these popular brands. This past weekend we headed to Muskoka and the Huntsville area for a weekend away at Ontario Pioneer Camp Blogger’s Weekend. We have several more road trips and plane trips in the works this season and I am looking forward to each one. BUT, I am also preparing for each because road trips…

  • nest_learning_thermostat
    family - homes

    Nest Learning Thermostat 3.0 – Saving Money Every Day

    June 20, 2016 - By 

    Nest Learning Thermostat 3.0 is a different kind of thermostat. It analyzes your usage information to make a heating and cooling profile based on your habits. The Nest Learning Thermostat 3.0 is smart technology and it makes your heating and cooling work for you while saving energy and money too. My husband and I have wanted a Nest for a few years now, so when the chance came to feature one here and install it inside our home, we were both thrilled with the opportunity to test a Nest and share with my readers.   Nest Learning Thermostat 3.0 – Next…

  • playmobil_waterpark
    family - homes

    Playmobil WaterPark Set Makes Summer Fun

    June 17, 2016 - By 

    The Playmobil Waterpark is one of my favourite new summer toys this year. Playmobil waterpark with slides will have kids flocking to your yard for creative play this season. This new, cheery and colourful set can be used both indoors and out. Summer is a great time to find the kids outdoors enjoying the weather, the parks, and people’s backyards. One of the things I love about summer is that children are often motivated to get outside because the weather is so nice. Even so, in the summer months I love to have some indoor and outdoor toys on hand for…