• green mountains and sugarbush resort from high atop one of the runs
    Travel

    Celebrate 60 Years at Sugarbush Ski Resort Vermont

    April 22, 2019 - By 

    Update – in November 2019, Sugarbush Ski Resort Vermont announced they’d been sold to Alterra. Win Smith told me in an email: “Alterra is focused on sustainability at all their destinations both in terms of doing responsible things but also in advocating for initiatives to deal with the growing climate crisis.  Sugarbush has been doing this already and will have a greater voice as part of Alterra.” Alterra Buys Sugarbush Ski Resort The sale is expected to go through January 7, 2020. Staff will retain their jobs, the reaction to the announcement has been positive and current staff will all…

  • Travel

    Don’t Miss – Prohibited Items Banned From Cruises

    April 16, 2019 - By 

    Prohibited items on a cruise ship can land you in hot water if you forget to check what’s allowed and what is not. SO, don’t forget to check the specifics of your cruise line before you head to port. Some cruise ship prohibited items are completely obvious to most of us. I mean logically most people know not to bring any sort of weapon, however there are some items that might surprise you. When traveling, knowledge is power, and it’s just as important to know what not to bring on board a cruise ship as it is to know what…

  • Food

    Getting Rid of Fruit Flies – 6 Natural Approaches

    April 16, 2019 - By 

    Getting rid of fruit flies. If you have a kitchen, then chances are, you’ve Googled this. These pesky little critters can come into your home via a bad piece of fruit you got at the store or even just follow you in when you open the door. Fear not! Getting rid of fruit flies is easier than you think. 6 Tips on Getting Rid of Fruit Flies Getting rid of fruit flies naturally is better for you, your family, and the environment Rather than putting out baits, trying sprays, or calling a pest control service, simply follow these tips, and…

  • smores_cookies
    Food

    Easy Gooey Homemade Smores Cookies

    April 15, 2019 - By 

    Homemade Smores cookies are my latest easy family treat. OH MY, is there anything much that is yummier than melted chocolate and ooey gooey marshmallow? I can’t think of much else that is as melt in your mouth tasty as this little chocolate flavour punch. Nothing evokes a camping state of mind faster than a mention of homemade campfire smores. But, let’s be honest it’s not always super simple to set up a campfire and start roasting those smores. So what’s a sweet tooth to do? Well, how about smores cookies? Homemade Smores Cookies What’s your favourite camping memory? We…

  • family

    How to Avoid Skunks When Camping

    April 13, 2019 - By 

    Last year we discovered that we love camping. You might recall that we took an RV Trip which was amazing! We were new to camping. For sure we had done camping many times and stayed in a yurt before too. Because we were newbies we did some research on wildlife and camping tips and tricks. One of the things we read about was avoiding bears when camping in Ontario’s Parks and what to do if you encounter one. And, of course, we also read about how to avoid skunks. If you are camping around forests, wooded areas, rivers or streams,…

  • family

    Inexpensive Business Cards with Basic Invite

    April 10, 2019 - By 

    Inexpensive business cards are always on my short list of things I need to refresh as a business. Business cards in general are extremely useful tools when you are an entrepreneur. But keeping your costs down without sacrificing quality is important too. As we head straight into conference season it’s important to plan ahead and have some business cards at the ready. You never know who might want to connect for any number of reasons, and having business cards on hand is the first step in making a connection when I’m out and about. That philosophy has served me well…

  • family

    7 Common Camping Mistakes Beginners Make

    April 8, 2019 - By 

    We have been cottagers all my life and we have done many memorable glamping trips, including this one to Norfolk County where we stayed in a gorgeous safari tent. But camping, well that was one we came to later in life. Seems to be our way. Late bloomers perhaps? I mean I only learned how to ski in my forties with my family and I banished my fear of heights in my mid 40s too. Finally, I realized we were missing a lot of opportunities to travel affordably by out ruling camping all of the time. So, now we camp…

  • harmony of the seas cruise ship docked in port and a family of three in front of the ship. Mom and two younger teens
    Travel

    The Harmony of the Seas – Epic Fun Cruising

    April 5, 2019 - By 

    Updated with more details in April 2019 This year, we took a family cruise on the Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas. The biggest cruise ship on the water at the time. As most cruisers know the biggest is only the biggest for a season, if that. But we didn’t choose The Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas for its size. We bought in this time for the laundry list of amazing activities on board and the ports of call. Cruising with teens needs to be fun, which means you need to opt for a cruise ship with a lot…

  • Travel

    Vermont Family Resorts – All The Pretty Things At Okemo Mountain Ski Resort

    April 2, 2019 - By 

    With bountiful pristine snow-covered deciduous trees, sprawling Green Mountain views, long, wide, memorable alpine trails and a tiny, quirky, local downtown area, Okemo is one of the prettiest of all Vermont Family resorts we have visited yet. Located in Ludlow, Vermont, Okemo rewards visitors for braving the cold and embracing an outdoor lifestyle. A few weeks ago we set off on an epic family road trip. First stop was Okemo Mountain Ski Resort, in South-Central Vermont, where we stayed at Jackson Gore Inn. Vermont is always a spectacular choice for families, hardcore skiers and snowboarders. There are so many great…

  • yellow_sunflower
    Health

    Best Environmentally Safe Ways to Keep Pests out of your Garden

    April 1, 2019 - By 

    Your garden can be a calming, relaxing, and rewarding experience. You get to grow your own food and know that your food is coming from a healthier place than what you might find in your local grocery store. When it comes to having your own garden there are pests that can arrive to threaten your crop. If you have pests hanging around your garden and you are searching for some of the best environmentally safe ways to keep them out, then you’ve come to the right place. Check out my list of the best environmentally safe options to keep those…