• beauty products

    Tria Beauty Series – Post 6 – At Home Hair Removal

    May 18, 2013 - By 

    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

    May 17, 2013 - By 

    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

    May 16, 2013 - By 

    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…

  • family

    Breathing Through Grief

    May 14, 2013 - By 

    These were the trees outside my Mom’s retirement home one short year ago. Today, they are starting to bloom again, but she will never see them and that shatters my heart. Same for the tulips and the flowers and the robins in my yard. I am not sleeping well, or doing anything else well right now. For those of you who don’t know, my Mom passed away suddenly May 5th. Her funeral is already a bit of a blur.  As for me, my chest hurts, my appetite is gone. I haven’t taken a true breath in almost two weeks. I move…

  • infertility

    Canadian Infertility Awareness Week #creatingfamilies

    May 13, 2013 - By 

    One in six. Staggering really. One in six couples in Canada struggle with infertility. Until this past year,  when we took to social media in droves and started sharing our stories, few were even talking about infertility in our great country. Progress comes fast sometimes courtesy of twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and various other social media tools. Now, we are talking and tweeting and sharing stories. We are building awareness and education. So this year during Canadian Infertility Awareness Week May 19 to 26th we are encouraging people to build our messages. Make a difference. Blog for social good and help…

  • Health - infertility - Parenting - parenting

    Memories on #MothersDay #ABHC4IVF #ABPOLI

    May 12, 2013 - By 

    This year marks my 12th Mother’s Day.  That is nothing short of a miracle for me. I mean motherhood itself is often thought of as miraculous and wonderful, and a little bit magical sometimes too. But when you wait, and struggle and pass through the sad hallways of infertility hoping and banking on science, faith, community services like Children’s Aid, and friends to help you through to the other side well, then you know that when you get the honour of actually being a mother, it will be magnificent. Twelve years ago I had my own mother to share Mother’s…

  • family

    For Grandma – on #MothersDay

    May 11, 2013 - By 

    Yesterday my daughter asked me if we could keep the messages on the phone from Grandma so we can hear her voice. And I cried. Not knowing it would be the last time we might hear her, I erased them all last week. On Sunday my mother, their last living Grandmother, passed away unexpectedly.  I will miss a million things about her this weekend. My first Mother’s Day without my Mom. Today we buried my Mom, listened to tributes from her sister-in-law and brothers. And my brother and I both found strength to say a few words about a great…

  • Giveaways

    Tip Top Shoe #giveaway

    May 8, 2013 - By 

    Are you a shoe gal? Are shoes your babies? Do you baby your shoes? Well, Tip Top shoes has a great solution to help protect your heels. Tip Top Shoes are the invention of experienced wardrobe stylist and shoe collector Kelly Lyles. Lyles was style consultant for many years with various brands, magazines, TV outlets, record labels and celebrities. Her idea was born when she noticed her Chanel boots had a crease in the toe. Not that I ever had a Chanel pair of boots, or ever will, but I empathize with this nasty boot affliction and have had same…