• Parenting

    Our Family Christmas Party #WordlessWednesday #adoption

    December 19, 2012 - By 

    The secret to a successful support group has been broken down and studied a lot in the last decade. Ideally annual meeting schedules should be divided: one third support, one third education and one third social. So, when a few parents and I transitioned our group of adoptive parents into a formal support group 5-6 years ago we took that to heart and made every third meeting a social affair. Christmas party, Easter egg hunt and summer picnic. This is our Christmas party. It’s often small, but an important tradition. Because when kids regularly see other kids who are just…

  • family - Health - Parenting - parenting

    Because Strangers Held My Baby First: Give to Children’s Health #MiracleMoms

    December 17, 2012 - By 

    I did not hold her first, but because they did, I hold her now. Before I even met my baby girl, she was here in the care of so many angels, nurses, doctors, strangers to me. The people hanging inside a framed picture on the wall of my eight-year-old girl would have been the first faces she saw, but as she struggled, her little body hurting, rejecting the world, others appeared swooping in administering. Her first few days were here, inside a NICU like this one at Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario. It is a place I had the honour…

  • family

    Boogie Wipes – Perfect for Children’s Colds – Review

    December 16, 2012 - By 

    I may be embarrassing my kids by saying this, but even today at 8 and 11 years old, it is still often like pulling teeth to get them to wipe their noses properly. It’s true. Something about the tissue making contact with sore noses, or sensitive noses, drives my children to the point that they avoid blowing at all. This makes both my husband and I crazy. (I mean seriously? Just blow your nose already.) Anyways, how happy was I to get a batch of Boogie Wipes in the mail this past week? Well, I was giddy and ripped the…

  • family

    Friday Finds and Don’t Forget to Give- Dec.14 #ldnont #MiracleMoms

    December 15, 2012 - By 

    Friday Finds are fast and furious this week because there are 10 days left before Christmas. The bundle of flyers in my mailbox today could act as a doorstopper. Honestly. Happy shopping and don’t forget to give also. This past week I had the amazing opportunity to tour Children’s Hospital and saw firsthand what the Children’s Miracle Network can do (more on that this weekend) But here in my shopping round up I wanted to take a second to say spend your dollars wisely this year and buy someone the gift of caring and health. Donate to the Children’s Miracle…

  • infertility

    A Holiday Story of Hope #Ohip4ivf #onpoli

    December 13, 2012 - By 

    Amedeo Cristiano This holiday season the Cristianos have something to celebrate. After several years of trying to conceive, surgery, emotional distress and a devastating miscarriage just last December, Amedeo and his wife, Mayra, are about to become parents. Amedeo and Mayra were married six years ago. They both work at American Express corporate office and live in Vaughn. The couple knew they wanted to have children early on and they began trying almost as soon as they were married. At that time they were in their early 30s and both were healthy. In preparation for parenthood, Amedeo quit smoking. He…

  • Food

    Look Who’s Having #winewithchicken

    December 12, 2012 - By 

    Part of the London crew – Cyn Gagen, Wanda Lynne Young, Me (Paula Schuck) and the fabulous hostess Margarita Ibbott Take four friends, an elaborate but manageable dinner party plan, a heavy dose of twitter, a dash of wine paired well with a great new chicken dish and marinate. What do you end up with ? – a bit of magic. Honestly when Margarita Ibbott, my charming and talented friend who boasts the nicest kitchen of all the people I know, asked me to join her for a #winewithchieken dinner party recently I was giddy. We four haven’t been in…

  • family

    #WordlessWednesday Last Shots of George

    December 11, 2012 - By 

      Last week our little friend George went to his new home. Some little boy who is getting this guy for a pet will be very happy. He was the sweetest little thing, but after three months and a clear indication here that he was a male, he needed to find a home. Our mommy G.P. is crazy fertile and has already had two litters. So say good bye to Georgie Porgie. Mwah!  

  • family - Giveaways

    Ten Year Journal 10+ #Giveaway

    December 11, 2012 - By 

      The gift of memories and preserving memories is such a treasure, that I couldn’t resist highlighting this special journal I received for review this year. Journal 10+ is a keepsake for anyone who loves to write, anyone who has memories to share, or wishes to help a loved one preserve some of their special moments for others to read in the future. Journal 10+ is a great present for that hard to buy for grandparent or parent, sister or brother this Christmas. It is a unique journal that carries lasting appeal. This year I will give one of these…

  • family

    Cooking With Kids–Delicious Rice Krispies Holiday Treats

    December 6, 2012 - By 

    It’s the most wonderful time of the year when it comes to baking. This week thriftymommastips.com got a great Rice Krispies kit filled with treats and goodies for making Rice Krispies holiday ornaments, so my kids and I had a lot of fun and got festive Cooking With Kids this week. By the way, I know I have referenced this before here – cooking and baking are great sensory activities, but did you know that the moulding and shaping of the Rice Krispies treats marshmallow and cereal mixture provides amazing feedback for kids with sensory processing disorder? Kids with sensory…

  • family

    It’s a wrap–#wordlesswednesday

    December 5, 2012 - By 

    My Wordless Wednesday post. This is my girls with grandma after Payton’s play last weekend at Original Kids. Law and Order was a funny musical about puns and Payton played two roles: a child who misbehaves named Larry and a belligerent ill tempered defence attorney.