My daughter Payton took this picture of me with Ainsley. It makes me happy because this was the day we were heading to see Katy Perry in Ottawa. It was our girl’s week in Montreal and Ottawa, right before the kids went to camp. It was also a reminder that your arms are never empty when you are a mother. That is one of life’s biggest blessings.
Looking for a fun adventure in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico? Canopy River Tours is the perfect way to spend a day exploring rain forest from above. If the flip flops fall off, they will most definitely plummet 600 feet to their demise in the Sierra Madre mountains. I find myself wondering: will they whirl like maple keys do, or dive straight down into a rocky canyon below? Together? Or one at a time? Flip flops were the first questionable choice we made this morning. I am excruciatingly hopeful that this two hour zip lining Canopy River Tours adventure is not the second. Comfortable…
(I just found this in my drafts file as I was travelling by train this week with my kids. My older daughter was sleeping on the train when Ainsley asked me to tell her a story from my childhood and I quickly remembered going to African Lion Safari every single year until I was in high school. It is such a memorable backdrop for so many of the times I spent with my Mom and brother, that I knew when I was a parent I would also take my kids to see this awesome destination. This is a story I…
They tell me I am a veteran because this will be my third tour of Blogher. I don’t really feel like a veteran, because the word makes me feel kind of old and I am definitely not that. (Cough) Anyways, as I head off to my third Blogher conference I wanted to share a few things I have learned about this epic conference experience. Each conference is precious and they all have their own merits and strengths. Type A was my first ever. Blissdom Canada is always inspiring and special. Mom 2.0 was a great experience for me this May…
UV Protective Sunwear is extremely important if your family spends any time outdoors at this time of year. There are a few great options for UV protective sunwear. This is one of my favourites. In the summer time, when the weather is hot, and even when the weather is not, we spend a ton of time outdoors. This year we have a pool and we are swimming almost daily. There isn’t a lot of shade out by our pool and naturally, in this beautiful summer weather, skin protection and sun safety rank extremely high as priorities. The kids know the…
This summer I am excited to have my iPhone App Cascade to help fill my down time. It’s a fun new Match 3 game that will happily fill my summer with a bit of gaming. Right about this time of year when travel time, summer blogging conferences, and family vacation takes precedence over round the clock working, I start the hunt for a fun new diversion. After all, cottage time equals road trips, sometimes as a passenger. That means my iPhone is never far from hand. I have several killer apps I rely on when I feel like tuning out and turning off…
I am the lucky mom of girls. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Girls are an amazing responsibility and also a joy to parent. They move through life with hearts wide open, sometimes needing tiny reminders to guard their emotions. They absorb experiences and breathe them forward at school, at home, and as they grow outward into the universe of possibilities. This summer our universe took us to Montreal girl’s trip. Post contains affiliate links as a service to my readers. I receive a small commission from purchases made via qualifying links. Our First Trip to…
Canopy River Tubing is the subject of this photo essay today. At the end of a brilliant day spent zip lining and swimming with dolphins, Payton, my 12-year-old, at that time, had the chance to tube down a river in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The excursion was at Canopy River, and it was a solid two hours adventure. Highly recommend. More about that later. Together we travel often as a family but this was one of our first ever Mother – Daughter Trips. Wordless Wednesday is a photo meme. Link up your recent photos, or a photo that is meaningful to…
Seasonal entertaining sometimes is a challenge here. I am anything but a natural at entertaining. But summer, plus a house with a pool, and half a dozen birthdays, anniversaries and celebrations here at the Schuck house all add up to numerous chances to practice getting summer seasonal entertaining just right. This year, our new house, new neighbourhood and new pool are all beautiful opportunities to build new friendships, cement old ones and have a summer that is memorable for everyone. My kids have had multiple summer pool parties with friends already and we are getting the hang of that. Plus…
The beef cheek taco seizes your tastebuds and stops you in your tracks. You think: “Wow, I am eating beef cheek on the street in Puerto Vallarta and it is unimaginably tender and moist.” Who knew? But the beef cheek taco is just one surprise on the Vallarta Food Tours evening taco tour. Surrender to the Experience These are things you learn when you surrender to the sense of adventure that travel brings: 1. Street meat can be magnificent. 2. The architecture in downtown Puerto Vallarta is regal and dignified. 3. It’s possible for a man…