Adoption and Family
Parenting by adoption is bigger, louder, and often harder to start with. From the assessment and waiting process to the adoption probation period, it can seem endless and like it will never happen. Then you get the call and your life changes forever in a miraculous way. But what next? Sure there is often a honeymoon and parenting is a blessing no matter how you get there. It is a new adventure every single day. AND also adoption comes with numerous other ups and downs.
Find Your Supports Early and Stick With Them
Very often there's minimal support for adoptive parents and families after they leave the courthouse finalizing their adoptions. Consider this your supportive honest space where we share what's worked, what doesn't work, and all the challenges in between. Share your stories, learn and grow together.-
Useful and Fantastic Gifts to Get for Hikers
This post contains affiliate links as a service to readers. Are you a hiker? Know someone who loves hiking and exploring? Wondering what presents make the best gifts for hikers? Well I have a few ideas for you to give your outdoor fitness junkie any time of the year. Here’s some extra motivation: Extra 30% Off Outlet Orders $100+ Code: MAY30 If you are considering a gift for a loved one who likes to be outside, or enjoys hiking and camping, here are a few ideas that any hiker will enjoy any time of year for any occasion. They are basic items that are appropriate for someone who likes to…
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Five Easy Ways to Reduce Water Use in the Garden Now!
A hot, dry, summer can turn watering the garden into a daily chore. How many drought like summer seasons have you endured already? Are you forever out there soaking your plants while sweating like mad? Well, first of all stop. Second of all – gardening doesn’t need to be a chore, especially in the scorching hot summer months. Good water use practices can reduce the work and the water bill too. Here are a few ideas on ways to reduce water use in the garden this year. Five Easy Ways to Save Water and Grow Gorgeous Gardens This Season Use Lots of Mulch One of the most effective ways to…
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Stylish Sunglasses for Women from SmartBuyGlasses
Stylish sunglasses are a must for both looking good and keeping your eyes healthy. Two things that matter all year round actually. Recently I needed a high resolution business headshot to accompany a magazine feature. Simple enough, right? Wrong. I gave up on this endeavour because when I sat down to look for a high resolution headshot I realized all my photos featured me wearing ski goggles skiing or sunglasses hiking, walking, riding. Silver lining – I guess it’s good that I clearly protect my eyes all year round. Just not so great when hunting down a professional headshot. Start Your Summer in Style So in light of this minor…
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What are the Best Flowers for Kid’s Gardens?
Cultivating a love of gardening in kids can be a lot of fun! Any child can learn to enjoy planting and growing things. I mean what’s not to love – planting, playing in the dirt and watching your plants bloom. Making the garden an interesting and fun place will pique kid’s curiosity about growing things. Kids are notorious for being impatient, they don’t have the patience to remain interested in gardening while waiting a week to 10 days for seeds to germinate, they want results now. These flower choices are fast to sprout and will help hold a kid’s interest by offering something unique in terms of colour or smell…
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7 Ways to Manage Ant Control on A Camping Trip
Don't let ants spoil your camping trip. Try this instead...
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How to Avoid Skunks When Camping
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, in Ontario Parks or National Parks it is likely that…
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Inexpensive Business Cards with Basic Invite
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 over the years, but it’s also meant I’ve given out…
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7 Common Camping Mistakes Beginners Make
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 and glamp and go RVing, or skiing, or we stay…
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Advanced Skincare with Good Silicon+
Let’s be real – Advanced skincare is a term we hear all the time. Every beauty company on the planet seems to use that term, touting the latest and greatest inventions in beauty care. At my age and stage I often roll my eyes at commercials promising dramatic changes to skin. However, when Good Science Beauty approached me and asked me to try their gender-neutral Good Silicon+ line, I was curious to see it because of the gender-neutral angle. Their new line of products, driven by science and packaged cleverly, with sustainability in mind as well, is one that’s refreshing and unlike anything I have seen yet. I have been…
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Level Up Your Selfie Game with These Stylish Accessories
Velvet Caviar sponsored this post which means I received product for consideration. I have been hunting for adorable accessories for a long time and had almost given up on finding anything unique. As a travel writer and blogger I need function of course but also want stylish accessories and often have trouble finding them. But no longer! It’s time to level up my Instagram game taking the cutest selfies with this Blue Leopard Faux Fur Velvet Caviar phone case and my adorable new winter hat. Love that the clever new case provides full protection with shock absorbers, screen protection and bumpers while looking FABOOSH. Not that we ever fumble the…