• Disney on Ice
    family

    You are Never Too Old for #DisneyOnIce

    January 31, 2014 - By 

    Every year at this time we head to Budweiser Gardens in London to experience Disney on Ice. Last night we scheduled a night away from packing for our move and working (very busy month here) and we again went as a family to see Disney On Ice Passport to Adventure, playing through this weekend in London, Ontario. I’ve written about the Disney on Ice show here before and how it used to reduce me to a blubbery mess of tears every time we went – especially those first years right after we adopted. Payton was 2 1/2 the first time…

  • Food

    Super Bowl Cooking and the Pyramid Pan

    January 30, 2014 - By 

    Just in time for the Super Bowl cooking season, the Pyramid Pan has arrived to elevate your food game. The Pyramid Pan is unlike anything you’ve ever used before in the oven. It’s a healthy way to cut back on grease and will also help you keep those New Year’s resolutions to eat well and stay fit. I have one Pyramid Pan to give away to a lucky reader. Follow the instructions at the end of this post to win. Elevate Your Cooking Game This year at Super Bowl time when TV and couch potato status reigns supreme at your…

  • Parenting

    Five Tips for Special Needs Success on Valentines Day

    January 30, 2014 - By 

      Most kids love Valentine’s Day, right?   It’s that fun childhood occasion that magically combines treats, with parties, friendship, chocolate and sometimes fun crafts. I used to love making the little Kleenex box Valentine’s Day card holder every year as a kid. I would painstakingly choose the precise Valentine for the precise child according to sentiment and image on said card. I was all kinds of perfectionist at an early age.   So how is Valentine’s Day with Special Needs Any Different than a Usual Day?   But holidays, transitions, occasions that allow for any variation on routine can…

  • Food

    Olivieri Ravioli With Garlic Butter Sauce and Kale

    January 29, 2014 - By 

    This post was sponsored by Olivieri, which means I received compensation. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful. Olivieri Ravioli With Garlic Butter Sauce and Kale is the perfect meal to make this Valentine’s Day.       The Way to Your Heart It’s true what they say  – the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.  We’ve been married twenty years now, and romance is sometimes hard to find. That’s why I love this Ravioli with garlic butter sauce. Good Food is Something You Can Always Make Good food is still something you…

  • fitness_and_wellness_journey
    Health

    My Fitness and Wellness Journey Update

    January 28, 2014 - By 

    My Fitness and Wellness Journey Update is as much a progress check for me as it is for my readers too. So stick with me and I promise we can do this together. Okay? Here we are three weeks into my newly revamped fitness routine for 2014 and I thought it was time for an update. A progress check. My Fitness and Wellness Journey After 35!! First a bit of background. I have been working hard on getting fit since Ainsley was very small. I have always been sports averse. As in, I was the kid in grade school who…

  • family - Food - parenting - Parenting

    Are you Lucky? – Crack ‘N Win #Kindermom

    January 27, 2014 - By 

    We all view luck just a little bit differently.  Some people think you are lucky if you win the lotto. Some are at the opposite end of the spectrum thinking luck is only a thing that you build with hard work. You make your own luck. I am somewhere in the middle.  I work hard and I try to change the things that I can change in life and influence the world around me in a positive way. I’ve won a couple of awards for working hard doing that thing that I love – writing and telling stories. But I’ve…

  • family

    Monster Jam Truck Tickets #Giveaway #ldnont

    January 25, 2014 - By 

    Ainsley, my sporty girl, has an annual routine this time of the winter. It starts with Disney on Ice and ends with Monster Jam. No question she loves to see both, but Monster Jam is a kick in the pants for a kid who gets to spend the night watching loud trucks do tricks with her father by her side. Hard to say who enjoys this show more. Daughter OR Dad?  Monster Jam is coming to Budweiser Gardens March 8 to 10 in London, Ontario. Northern Nightmare will be there again. My kids love that truck. They love the drama…

  • Health

    Building Hope in Alberta For Infertility Patients

    January 23, 2014 - By 

    Are you 1 in 6 Experiencing Infertility?  Are you one in six? Did you even know that one in six people of reproductive age struggles with infertility? In Alberta that means too many people will remain childless. Too many will spend thousands of dollars on infertility treatment trying to get pregnant. Too many will be told they need in vitro fertilization if they hope to conceive. IVF and Success In vitro fertilization is one of the most effective types of assisted reproductive technology. IVF is a treatment by which the sperm fertilizes the egg in a lab dish. The resulting…

  • Health

    Banish the Eczema Itch Now

    January 21, 2014 - By 

    I haven’t itched all week. Why should you care? Well, if you are like me, you either have some experience with mild eczema, or you have a family member with that persistent itchy skin that won’t seem to go away. Did you know 20 % of the population will experience eczema? Did you know there are several different types of this skin condition which can be red scaly patches on your skin that end up cracking, rashing, or even oozing liquid? One common type is cradle cap. Another is contact dermatitis, which is often brought on by excessive handwashing. But…