• FASD - Health - Parenting - special needs

    It’s almost Back to School Time. Hold Me.

    August 22, 2014 - By 

      shutterstock Is that the sound of my sanity snapping? I think it could be. Here I am ALMOST at the end of August. In denial? Sure. Freaking out? Absolutely. WHERE DID MY SUMMER GO? So here it is, almost back to school time. The most wonderful time of the year. Right? RIGHT?? You know that commercial with the “That Was Easy” theme. Press a button and send them back to school with new supplies and then do a little happy jig that summer is over. Well, I kind of wish they had a version of that for special needs…

  • Technology

    Brand New App Release – Panda Pandamonium

    August 21, 2014 - By 

    I almost couldn’t write this post. Ask me why. Go ahead. I actually couldn’t stop playing Panda Pandamonium long enough to work. Panda Pandamonium is just that cute and that fun. Seriously addictive gaming, and have you seen the adorable little panda bears? I love them. It seems like Big Fish Games Inc. has a permanent corner of my iPhone carved out just for their creative diversions. So what’s unique about Panda Pandamonium? Well let’s start with the concept: Panda Pandamonium is a free mahjong inspired game. Now that’s different. I don’t play a lot of mahjong but I know…

  • active family travel - family

    The Beach #WordlessWednesday linky

    August 20, 2014 - By 

    Every summer we travel to the beach with kids. Most summer vacations mean that we all get together and meet up with cousins in Georgian Bay, Ontario’s cottage country. It’s not possible every single year but it is something we enjoy doing as often as we are able. The beach is a happy relaxed place where we can always connect with family and just chill. Last week we went to the beach with my bother-in-law and sister-in-law. The highlight of that type of break is always all about seeing the cousins play together. This year there was swimming, but as…

  • Ontario infertility chat
    infertility

    Five Questions And Answers About Ontario’s IVF Public Funding Commitment #Ohip4ivf #onpoli

    August 19, 2014 - By 

    Some of the members of Conceivable Dreams Infertility patients in Ontario have come so far in two years. Two years ago most infertile people in Ontario struggled, took out second mortgages and sometimes worked three jobs to pay for the in vitro fertilization. In vitro fertilization was only covered by the Ontario health care system for one condition – bilateral tubal obstruction. That condition impacts only a very small percentage of females diagnosed with infertility. Now Ontario infertility patients have a commitment of public funding for one round of IVF. That’s a huge deal for all Ontario infertility patients wondering…

  • family - homes

    Office Chairs That Work #InkscrblrATWork

    August 15, 2014 - By 

    This is the second post in a series about decorating my new home office. Thrifty Mom Media headquarters is now almost 100 % complete. I have maybe two more things to hang on the walls and I am still hunting madly for some drapes that are the right size and colour. Then it will be complete and all will be right with the world.   The final office space BEFORE Office Chairs – now resides in my daughter’s room I have been a freelancer for several years and so I have worked at home in one capacity or another for…

  • active family travel - family - parenting - special needs - Travel

    Five Tips for Train Travel with Special Needs Children

    August 12, 2014 - By 

    I love to travel by train – usually. I can work all the way and my wasted time is minimized. Plus, typically train travel is very economical. This summer my kids and I travelled to Montreal and Ottawa by train. That’s a substantial amount of time spent riding, and also a lot of transferring to different connecting trains. We travel every year by train together at least once. As some of my readers know special needs kids require a bit more planning when travelling anywhere, in any mode of transport. I have one anxious child, and another with a brain…

  • family - Health - parenting - Travel

    Cottage Road Trip Memories #travel

    August 11, 2014 - By 

    Cottage Road Trip From the time I was a baby I spent my summers at the cottage. I have seen the pictures of me sleeping in the portable crib, and I remember the many years we took this week for family time, indulging in the opportunity to grow together. The routine of road trip and cottage travel is well mapped on my memory, etched on my skin in every single freckle and carved deep in the veins that lead to my heart. A school teacher relishes summer like no other professional I have ever known. They seize it and wring…

  • Health

    Falling off the Fitness Bandwagon – An Update

    August 10, 2014 - By 

    shutterstock images Right now I am beating myself up. Why? Because I’ve had a lazy summer in terms of fitness routines. I am, in fact, pretty mad at the blogger butt I have developed over the summer. Or should I say pissed at self for allowing blogger butt to creep in, or out, if I want to be accurate about it. So what happened? Work has been plentiful. The summer has been filled with great travel opportunities and I have a few brand new clients that have the adrenaline flowing here already. I started the summer strong. Remember this?  I Ran…

  • butterscotch_pudding
    Food - Giveaways

    Back to School Butterscotch Pudding #giveaway

    August 9, 2014 - By 

    Bring on the butterscotch pudding. By the end of September every parent around will be searching for new lunch ideas and snacks to pack in children’s lunches. It doesn’t take long to run out of ideas each school year. But this year I have a great butterscotch pudding snack I am happy to have found for the kid’s lunches. Puddin’ SqueeZ pudding on the go snacks that will clearly kick things up a notch. Let’s be honest. Back to School is not my favourite time of year. Reason number one: the fall signifies the start of the miserable weather slide that ends…

  • Food

    French Onion Soup Recipe #100FootJourney

    August 8, 2014 - By 

    I don’t know about you, but one of my favourite soup recipes is French onion. I frequently order French onion soup for lunch when I go out. Sometimes it is very good and sometimes it is disappointing when big chain restaurants attempt the recipe using small scraps of cheese and croutons. If I see French onion soup on the menu I have to try it at least once. It makes me think of home and childhood. French onion soup was my mother’s all time favourite soup. Funny how food can conjure up a feeling, emotion or memory. That’s precisely the…