• family - Health - infertility - Parenting

    Two: A Family Documentary for 2013 #creatingfamilies

    “I think what gay means is two people of the same gender who love each other. At least that’s my understanding of it.”  – Roman and Nyro. I rarely review films, or documentaries here, but I received an interesting invitation this week to the International Premiere of the Annual Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival. I couldn’t go in person, but I am more than a bit in love with the concept of this documentary Two: The Story of Roman and Nyro.I needed to share because I know my readers would want to see this beautiful story of family. In the…

  • family

    What You Miss Most When A Loved One Dies

    After a loved one dies the things you miss surprise you. Small sucker punches all day long to the heart. They creep in the week after the funeral and you think I had no idea I would miss that.          Sensory Things After a Loved One Dies Of course you miss her smell, and it is visceral, the way you seek it, find it lingering on her shirt, a blouse, a blanket, even on a pair of sunglasses. That was my Mom. That was how she smelled and I never really noticed it until right this second.…

  • beauty products - Giveaways

    Tria Beauty Series – Post 7 – #Giveaway

    Well, my lovelies for the past several months I have been teasing you with the promise of a grand giveaway. First I tested this Tria At Home Hair Removal Laser device out. I put it through the paces and tested the safety features. I took you through all the features. I also noted clearly that it does not hurt. It is effective, efficient and inexpensive. What’s that? You don’t believe me? Well, think it through. How much does it cost to go to the dermatologist’s office to get that hair removed? How much does electrolysis cost? Yes, that’s right, this…

  • FASD - parenting - special needs

    Sari Therapy Riding #wordlesswednesday #ldnont

    A girl and her horses. She loves them all and could not live without Sari therapy riding. In 2010, I went to a workshop in Alberta that stressed how mental health and disability, and brain injury such as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, was not currently done well through traditional therapy and cognitive behavioural approaches. I already intuitively new that but it was nice to have confirmation of it from the experts. I learned at that conference that many people were having success with animal assisted therapies and therapy riding too. So I started looking into it when I got back…

  • Giveaways - Health - Travel

    Dear Mom Camp Series -May- #MuskokaWoods

    Dear Mom:  Now I know we’ve covered most of this already and I know you’ve got some of my camps booked. And the end of school is coming fast now, in fact so fast I can almost start my countdown. But Mom, I really have to show you something cool. Remember Muskoka Woods? Well, it was one year ago when we got the awesome weekend to visit and try the big swing. I loved that place. The food was good, the counsellors Tippy and Brillo were amazing. But wait, here’s the cool part. I was playing on my iphone tonight…

  • family - special needs

    Medicare Part D Costs #Walgreens Prescription Savings #ad

    (This is one of two sponsored posts for Walgreens. Thanks to Walgreens for trusting thriftymommastips to tell the story of caregiving and Medicare Part D. I was compensated. My opinion is all my own.)   Nobody wants to be on medication. And yet, here’s the rub. Pretty much every person I have ever met or cared for, within my family and extended family, has needed the help of a prescription to fix, or maintain health. Sometimes medicine is vital to your health. Sometimes it is crucial that you become your own advocate. Health care is one of those domains where…

  • beauty products

    Tria Beauty Series – Post 6 – At Home Hair Removal

    For several months now I have been posting about my Tria At Home Hair Removal Laser 4 X. Last week I finished the extended period of testing. I have to say I loved this product and will continue using it at home. It’s simple, effective and affordable (if you consider that a trip to the dermatologist’s office for laser hair removal will run hundreds). It is also safe. In fact I wrote a whole entire post about the Tria At Home Hair Removal safety features here. So this is my last post before I offer you the giveaway.  My daughter…

  • Giveaways

    The Gift of Writing for #FathersDay #giveaway

    It’s that time of year again. Father’s Day. There are actually few occasions that stump me entirely, but Father’s Day is always challenging. I like to choose gifts from the heart. Something that is long-lasting. Something that can be used and also treasured. One year I bought my husband a barbecue for his birthday. Other years I have simply gone with clothing, or tickets to an event. But generally speaking Dad is the hardest guy to buy for – at least in my family anyways. Dads don’t really need a lot, or want a lot even, but at the same…

  • family

    Shake It Up – I Heart Dance Review

    A couple of trips ago, with my kids in tow we stopped in Orlando and ended up with one of those fabulous TV station deals in the motel where we stayed. You know the kind? All Disney Family channel, pretty much all the time. My kids were in heaven. That’s when they discovered Shake it Up. I didn’t mind the show even in the slightest because the two main characters are quirky and just different enough to make me want to watch with my kids. One of the characters struggles with a learning disability. She has a mother who is…