• high school
    family - Health - parenting

    Decision Time – Our High School #BTS Update and What We Decided

    September 9, 2015 - By 

    Remember back in August when I wrote about how torn we were in deciding which high school my daughter would attend. We had always planned for her to attend the local French immersion public high school that everyone from her elementary school goes to. Well, almost everyone. We did all the preparation and she did the weekend sleepover event there too. She registered and we were waiting on her schedule to arrive when I realized that a smaller Catholic high school that is closer to our house also offered French immersion. So late last June we raced over there and…

  • empower_your_child
    active family travel - family - parenting - Travel

    My Beach Entomologist #WordlessWednesday

    September 8, 2015 - By 

    Have you ever met a teenage girl that’s fascinated by bugs? Well I live with one. It’s true. This is my girl at the beach last month. It’s normal to find her picking bugs up out of the pool before they drown. It’s also completely normal to find yourself on the receiving end of a conversation about arachnids and all the various trivia facts she has ever collected about them. Just this weekend we were sitting watching a movie together when I spied a tiny spider spinning a web in front of me. She naturally put him in her hands…

  • family - Health - Parenting - parenting - special needs

    These Five Things I Hope For You The Night Before School Starts #SpecialNeeds

    September 8, 2015 - By 

    It is not the most wonderful time of the year. It’s the night before school starts and frankly that means many of you, my friends, the people I know who parent kids with unique needs, will not be sleeping well. I know you. I see you tweeting and posting and worrying quietly behind closed doors whether this will be the year your child will be understood. Has the IEP been read? Will your child even be able to get into the school physically? Will he cling, or cry, or wave happily. I know you are worrying yourself sick the night before…

  • family - Giveaways

    Sometimes Love is a Card – Hallmark Seven Card Challenge Giveaway #LoveHallmarkCa

    September 7, 2015 - By 

    When I was young I never understood the power of a card. I got several every year, marking each special occasion in my life. But what did they represent? I didn’t really understand until I became a Mom. Now I get it. Sometimes Love is a card. My own Mom penned many beautiful cards for me over the years. I have several I have kept. Now that she is gone, they are visual reminders of how much she loved me and how often she thought about both of her kids, and her grandchildren too. The card aisle at the grocery…

  • 10 All-Natural Home Pest Control Solutions
    family - Health - homes

    10 All-Natural Home Pest Control Solutions

    September 7, 2015 - By 

    Home pest control doesn’t always mean calling a service. If you’re not fond of the idea of chemicals, or you don’t like the idea of those little mice being killed, all-natural home pest control solutions might be an avenue to try. Using these all-natural home pest control solutions, you can be pest free without fear of harming your family, your pets, or the environment. All-Natural Home Pest Control Solutions That Work Insect Repellents There are several options for all-natural insect control to repel insects. All of these options are completely natural, safe, and non-toxic to anything except insects. Simply mix them…

  • affordable_vacuums
    family - Giveaways - Health

    What Would You Do With a Walmart Dyson DC33 Origin? #Giveaway

    September 4, 2015 - By 

    For years I have oogled and envied my friend’s Dyson vacuum cleaners. But the price tag has just seemed a bit out of reach for a thrifty shopper like me. At least, until very recently. This summer Dyson emailed to let me know they had a new version of their well known beautiful workhorse of a vacuum. This version, the Walmart Dyson DC33 Origin, sells for a very manageable price, just under $400. It’s also available at Walmart. So, I had to see it for myself. The Walmart Dyson DC33 Origin is a gorgeous looking vacuum cleaner. Hard to say…

  • Leaf crafts and activities
    family

    Fun Family Leaf Crafts and Activities

    September 3, 2015 - By 

    Fall is approaching, which means the leaves are changing colours and soon will be falling everywhere. Why not use some to make fun leaf crafts? As lovely as it is when the leaves change colours, it can be a bit of a mess when they fall all over roads and lawns. In our old neighbourhood, at our old house, we had so many leaves. We bagged them for days on end. It was so much work. We had some huge trees in our yard. In the newer area where we live now the trees are just a little bit younger…

  • family - Giveaways - parenting

    Tweet Up a Storm With Little Live Pets #Giveaways

    September 2, 2015 - By 

    I’ve had my eye on these Little Live Pets for quite a long time now. When I heard they had owls available I was hoping to get one for the girls. Their old school mascot was an owl. And really who doesn’t love owls? They are quirky and fun. These talking pets are hours of awesome. Just place them in your palm and listen to the adorable songs. We received Nightstar Owl mother and Baby and Little Live Pets Tweet Talking Birds. I also have one Tweet Talking Cockatoo Bird to gift to one lucky reader too, so pay attention…

  • in vitro fertilization alberta
    family - Health

    IVF Math in Alberta – How Does IVF Funding in Alberta Save Money? #abhc4ivf #abpoli

    September 1, 2015 - By 

    IVF Math really isn’t that complicated. Areas of the world that fund in vitro fertilization, with a stipulation of single embryo transfer, save money. The above IVF funding in Alberta infographic breaks it down. In 2013 the Government of Alberta commissioned a report done by the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health to review the province’s approach to IVF. That report indicated the province could save as much as $179 million over the course of 18 years if single embryo transfer were publicly funded and IVF regulated. Alberta, like much of the rest of the country, is forced to…

  • homework-tips
    family - parenting

    5 Tips to Help with Homework

    September 1, 2015 - By 

    Sometimes, all a child needs for help with homework are clear expectations and an area conducive to studying. If you want to give your child help with homework, I have some tips that can help ensure that homework time is a productive time for your child. Help with Homework – Easy Steps for a Better Outcome There are a few things you can do to help your child maximize his or her homework and/or studying experience. With these tips, you’ll have a space all set for productive study, and you’ll have clear expectations for your child and their academic performance.…