• road_trips
    Travel

    Getting Road Trip Ready for Spring and Summer

    May 14, 2018 - By 

    Road trip ready is a motto I live by. As a travel writer, I take many trips, and when spring and summer roll around, I’m on the road pretty often. In case you are not familiar with the life of a travel writer or travel blogger here’s a sample of what it’s like sometimes. Wednesday morning email or call comes in asking you to be in Quebec, or to drive to cottage country Friday around noon. Drop everything, pack and drive or fly. Not a lot of time for planning. Which is why I strive to be travel ready and…

  • whale_colouring_page
    Printables

    Whale Colouring Page Printable

    May 9, 2018 - By 

    Have you ever been whale watching? That’s one of my travel bucket list items and I just can’t seem to shake the feeling that I really must do this some day soon. Timing is critical of course. You have to choose a destination and a time when whales are active. I suppose BC is probably a consistent bet that way. But I am typically in BC for conferences and not for leisure. Then again there’s always Quebec and the Maritimes out East. I’d definitely love to spend more time there. For now this whale colouring page will do. whale_colouring_page_adult_printable One…

  • cruising_with_teens
    Travel

    How to Make Cruising with Teens Enjoyable For All

    May 7, 2018 - By 

    Cruising with teens is an entirely different animal than cruising with other adults or with young children. Teens are in a weird, in between stage of their lives where they aren’t really children anymore, but they aren’t yet adults either. What Makes Family Cruises with Older Kids Unique? This leads to a feeling of not belonging on some trips. They’re either too old to enjoy the rides, attractions, and programs that are geared towards the younger kids, or they’re too young to enjoy the adult activities. This can leave them feeling at a loss for what they can do, where…

  • stem_camp
    family

    STEM Camp – The Perfect Way for Kids to Spend the Summer

    May 2, 2018 - By 

    STEM Camp is an amazing way to keep the learning spark lit all summer. Over the years both of my kids have benefited from summer camp. Summer camp is a wonderful way to stay engaged and excited about learning even when school is out. And the social benefits of camp are strong too. Summer camps are a wonderful way for kids to mingle with their peers in a fun, safe environment, and STEM camp adds an extra layer to that experience. So what’s unique about this camp. Well, this is no indoor routine classroom setting. This camp offers a setting…

  • off_season_disney_world
    Travel

    Planning an Off-Season Disney World Vacation to Save You Money

    May 1, 2018 - By 

    Believe it or not Disney World doesn’t have to be expensive. One excellent way to enjoy all that Disney offers while still maintaining a budget is planning an off-season Disney World Vacation. Visiting your favorite Disney location on the off-season not only reduces the crowds, it also saves you money. Keep the following Disney travel tips in mind when planning the trip. You’ll probably save even MORE money… YAY! This is actually the only way we have ever done our trips to Disney. I am a deal hunter when it comes to planning affordable family vacations and I need to…

  • mothers_day_gift_guide
    Giveaways

    The Happiest Mother’s Day Gift Guide Yet

    April 30, 2018 - By 

    Mother’s Day is almost here which means it’s time for my Mother’s Day Gift Guide. This day can be a wonderful time to celebrate. But a lot of people have a terrible time trying to figure out what to gift their mom. You may know your mom very well, but the problem is she probably has a lot of things, so what’s a daughter (or son, as the case may be) to do? Don’t panic, I’ve got you covered with my Hallmark Mother’s Day Gift Guide this year. There’s a little something here for every kind of Mom and every…

  • Printables

    Positive and Cheery May Colouring Page Activity

    April 29, 2018 - By 

    Well, hello there May. I have been missing you. What could be more positive or relaxing than a May colouring page activity? I know many of you love the printables and colouring pages here, so it’s time to share this happy printable page with you too. May heralds the start of summer adventures, so bring it on. Mother’s Day is also in May and I enjoy having time to spend that day with my family. That’s one of my favourite things actually. Dropping all the work and other stuff and having lunch or dinner with my family.       If…

  • instant_pot_chicken_chimichanga
    Food

    Wildly Good Instant Pot Chicken Chimichangas

    April 26, 2018 - By 

    Instant Pot Chicken Chimichangas are so cheesy good, with a kick that you can’t help but want to make them again and again. If you enjoy Mexican food with a bit of heat then this is for you. While I have to pace myself with foods like this, I truly love them every so often. Easy Instant Pot Recipes Are Golden The Instant Pot has revolutionized cooking for so many people recently. Between it and the air fryer I am not sure how we ever cooked meals before. Anyways this is one you are going to need to pin for…

  • save_on_grad_dresses
    family

    How to Save on Grad Dresses and Prom Dresses

    April 25, 2018 - By 

    Is it possible to save money on grad dresses or prom dresses? Absolutely. No need to break the bank just because it’s graduation time or prom time. Hard to believe, but my youngest is graduating grade eight in June. Which as we all know means shopping and potential to ruin the budget. But shopping for prom dresses and grad dresses doesn’t need to break the bank. Here’s how we saved money on grade 8 grad dresses for both of our girls. I’ve been a bargain hunter most of my life. It’s extremely rare for me to pay full price on…

  • robot_baby
    parenting

    What Happened One Crazy Weekend with Robot Baby

    April 23, 2018 - By 

    On Friday I became a grandma. My oldest daughter became a Mom and Ainsley an aunt. Which by default then made my husband a grandpa. Robot Baby Lucas joined our family this weekend. And it was nostalgic, fun, comical and a little bit crazy bringing a pretend baby home. But it was also a whole lot more than that too. The road to toy robot baby Lucas began last year when Payton, then 15, told me she wanted to take a parenting course at school. She was giddy over the prospect of having Robot Baby for a weekend in grade 11. Initially I…