• Parenting

    Adoption Myths and Facts – NACAC conference

    August 18, 2009 - By 

    Those kids are all someone else’s problem. There are no babies available in Canada. You might be better off to adopt internationally. We have all heard adoption myths and facts and they are in fact often completely false. If you think you know what’s up after watching a tv show about adoption or a series featuring an adoption plot line, think again and do your own research.  The Myths and Facts From NACAC This post is about adoption myths and facts. It kicks off a weeklong series of posts about adoption inspired by the NACAC conference I just returned from…

  • family

    POSH pedicure lounge review

    August 11, 2009 - By 

    One of thriftymommas favourite local indulgences is POSH pedicure lounge at 101Wellington Street, my main reason to travel to downtown London. It is the girliest, prettiest  pedicure lounge one could ever envision. A place my daughter would like to remodel our house to resemble. Thankfully she doesn’t control the credit cards. Hot pink and leopard spotted decor are beyond feminine. Pedicures run $37 for adults and $35 for teens. Mother daughter manicures and pedicures are a fun way to be pampered together. Children under 12 get pedicures for $23.50. Posh does adorable girly birthday parties for your pop princess or teen diva. The party…

  • FASD - Parenting - special needs

    My response to: Am 630 Edmonton CHED – re: FASD

    August 5, 2009 - By 

    In a post issued today by Bob Layton, an Edmonton radio talk show host there was a mention of Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Actual terms used were “fetal alcohol babies” and “mentally deficient souls.” This came to thriftymommastips’ attention by way of FASLINK, an Internet listserv that helps connect and support adoptive and biological parents to children with diagnosed and suspected FASD. Naturally given the closeness of this topic to my heart, the fact that my five-year-old has FASD and many of the children of the people in our adoptive parent’s support group are struggling to raise kids with this brain…

  • family - Parenting

    Child, Youth, Infant, Toddler? At What Point is a Child a Youth?

    August 4, 2009 - By 

    Is a child a youth or is my youth no longer a child? Sometimes, I think it’s a bit like the chicken and egg question. At what point is a child a youth? I received in the mail the other day confirmation of my daughter Payton’s enrollment in a workshop we’re doing in the United States this coming month. It had details of her conference itinerary and some other basic stuff outlining all the fun things she’ll be doing while Mommy speaks and does a writing workshop at a conference. How Did This Happen? But the thing that jumped out at…

  • family - Travel

    East Park Golf and Waterpark

    August 3, 2009 - By 

    Thriftymommastips decided to take her family for a holiday weekend adventure at a nearby waterpark in London, known as East Park, 1275 Hamilton Road. While the weather Saturday was lovely and the waterslides excellent the adventure was not inexpensive, so be forewarned. East Park offers many different packages and many different activities but for the holiday weekend a special family of four for $50 deal was advertised in the newspaper. The deal caught my eye and we figured we’d give the waterslides a whirl. Now it should be noted that we had no complaints and spent all day at the…

  • family

    Ribs, Staycations and Princesses

    July 31, 2009 - By 

    Looking for something fun and cheap to do with the family this weekend in and about London, Ontario then look no further than Ribfest in Victoria Park. Ainsley and I overheard Grace FM mentioning that Ribfest started yesterday and so we made it our mission to go check it out for thriftymommastips. It was the first time ever that I’ve made it downtown for the festival and despite the hideous search for parking and annoying construction on nearby roads, we were pleasantly surprised by the event. Between the delicious food, the fun amusement park rides, the face-painting and princesses we enjoyed the music…

  • Parenting

    Somebody Else’s Daughter book review

    July 30, 2009 - By 

    Somebody Else’s Daughter, by Elizabeth Brundage, caught my eye at the London public library several months ago but I was too busy to read it then, so when I spied it again at Indigo on sale and in paperback I was one happy camper.  Book also available on Amazon – BUY NOW LINK – > Somebody Else’s Daughter Now I am a busy gal and is super selective these days about what she reads so I applied my three tests of whether a book is worthy of my time and this one won them all. Is this Book Worth My Time…

  • orphan_movie
    Parenting

    Orphan Movie – Time to Change the Script

    July 24, 2009 - By 

    Orphan movie hits theatres today from Warner Brothers. I’ve been asked to comment half a dozen times this week in print media and on TV regarding adoptive parents concerns. Basically, the movie shows a negative portrayal of older child adoption. The latest media is in today’s (Friday July 24th) Globe and Mail in the life section, so go buy the paper now or look up on line. A channel also interviewed me in my role as cofounder of the Canadian Coalition of Adoptive Families. The Orphan movie protest began a couple of months ago over negative language used in the previews.…

  • family

    Backyard Science Experiment Photos

    July 20, 2009 - By 

    Summer 411 Summer 411 is in full swing here, and I have to say this is one of the best ideas I’ve had yet. At the beginning of the summer I looked up a number of fun backyard science experiments my kids and I could do and it’s been a real highlight for us. Most of the experiments are quite cheap and several are worth repeating. The last week of school I settled on about 12 experiments and took my five-year-old grocery shopping for all the ingredients. She proudly told random strangers, “We’re doing science experiments” which was a good…

  • family

    cameras and cottages

    July 19, 2009 - By 

    Just back from a week at the cottage up north on Lake Huron. Not a bad trip with the kids and Mommy survives yet another road trip. But sadly my Sanyo camera did not. Half way through our week at the beach shooting pictures of my gals frolicking in the waves my one-year-old pink purse-sized Sanyo digital camera died. The lens stopped closing and opening and the message Lens error began appearing. So what’s a good Mommy to do and how did I get this picture, you ask? Well, Fisher Price to the rescue. Over the remainder of my week…