• watermelon chunks in a deep blue bowl with spoon sticking out and set on the grass
    family - Food - parenting

    Best Melon Recipes

    April 24, 2015 - By 

    Nothing screams summer like ripe melon. Cantaloupe, honeydew, canary, watermelon. Such a sweet special treat that begs to be eaten outdoors. I personally enjoy all of the melon varieties. But my favourite is honeydew. Or maybe canteloupe. How about you? You will find one or two great new things to make with melon here on the best melon recipes roundup. Best Melon Recipes: I am pretty traditional with melon. When we eat it we typically just have it sliced or chunked, or placed in a fruit salad. I love the Melon White Chocolate Shortcake Parfait and the Watermelon salad in…

  • great slow cooker recipes
    family - Food - Health

    25 Great Tasting Slow Cooker Recipes

    April 23, 2015 - By 

    What do I love more than my slow cooker? My family actually. But that slow cooker comes close to number one on my list of favourite things in my kitchen. My slow cooker gets a crazy workout each week. It takes raw ingredients and fashions them into something while I am not even watching. That is kitchen magic. I rely on that thing so much especially during the winter months. I love my slow cooker. Maybe you are like me and you find that your slow cooker works beautifully, but you are tired of the same old slow cooker recipes.…

  • best-dolphin-excursions-Mexico
    active family travel - family - Travel

    Dolphin Kisses – Last June in Mexico #WordlessWednesday #travel

    April 22, 2015 - By 

    Last year we were lucky to attend a Puerto Vallarta, Mexico media trip together. Our family has travelled a few times since and this dolphin excursion that Payton and I went on in Puerto Vallarta remains one of the highlights of the last 5 years for my older daughter. I have seen numerous swim with dolphin excursions up close in the last year as we travelled. This one was the best, most humane, cleanest and best run dolphin excursions that I have ever seen. You can read my full travel story about Dolphin Discovery here in the travel section of…

  • children's-allergies
    family - Health

    Allergy Symptoms – What to Look for in Children

    April 22, 2015 - By 

    If you child seems down all the time, has upper respiratory issues, or has chronic stomach issues, they could have allergies. If you suspect your child may have allergies, here are some common allergy symptoms to look for. It’s important to document any suspected allergy symptoms to have a better idea of whether or not your child does, in fact, have allergies.   Allergy Symptoms There are different allergies that have various allergy symptoms to watch out for. While this list of symptoms is in no way a substitute for a visit to the doctor, it is a way to…

  • 15 great gardening ideas
    family

    15 Great Gardening Ideas

    April 18, 2015 - By 

    15 Great Gardening Ideas will help you make the most of your outdoor space this year. This post also contains an affiliate ad at no extra cost to you.  Spring is here! I love growing things. It is one of the passions I only discovered when I bought my first house with my husband. Until then, I joked I was a serial plant killer. I could kill pretty much any houseplant given to me. BUT, given an outdoor garden and a genuine yard, that all changed. I started off growing the things I loved and quickly found that I enjoyed…

  • simply-scrumptious-apple-cinnamon-muffins
    family - Food

    Simply Scrumptious Apple Cinnamon Muffins #GayLeaMom #Giveaway

    April 18, 2015 - By 

    I have been looking at Gay Lea Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Spreadables for a long time wondering what I could use it on, or in. Then last weekend I really had a craving for some muffins, so I decided I would whip up a muffin recipe using the Gay Lea Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Spreadables. What I ended up with was entirely scrumptious so I thought I would share. This Apple Cinnamon Muffin Recipe is pretty simply to make and what I love about it most is that the Gay Lea Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Spreadables product gives it a…

  • teen_mood_swings
    family - parenting

    Face Time and Weird Conversations You Never Dreamed You’d Have #Teens #tweens

    April 16, 2015 - By 

    This is another entry in the ongoing teen/tween mama diaries. Life is never dull with teens and cell phones. Raising digital kids is a special kind of universe. I heart my beautiful kids. But they also drive me around the bend regularly and sometimes on purpose, I think. I strive to not be mental from it, and yet there are days when I look in the mirror and think who is that frizzy-haired, wild eyed maniac mom looking back at me. Then I realize it’s me and start thinking up ways that I can get back at them when they…

  • chicken piccata recipe
    family - Food

    One of my Favourite Dishes: Chicken Piccata Recipe

    April 16, 2015 - By 

    One of my favourite dishes ever to order when we go out is this: chicken piccata. I love the flavour combinations of capers and lemon and wine with chicken served on a bed of noodles. Of course there is always just a tiny hint of olive oil in the mix to make this dish, and the chicken, super moist and succulent. I wish I had a dish of it handy right now actually. This, and chicken masala, are two chicken dishes I could exist on. No question, chicken is a staple in many family homes at dinner time. It is…

  • family - Health - parenting

    Five Earth Day Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

    April 15, 2015 - By 

    Everyone should know a few Earth Day Facts. Climate change is a matter of great interest to many globally. We have been talking about the environment, the climate and Earth Day here for several weeks. One of my kids is working on an assignment that has an environmental component so this is top of mind. These Earth Day Facts are not well known to many, so they might be new to you too.   Five Earth Day Facts You Probably Didn’t Know Earth Day has been around for a long time, (the 70s) but it seems like it just started getting…

  • losing a pet
    family - parenting

    Farewell Hope The Guinea Pig – Losing a Pet

    April 14, 2015 - By 

    I know I am not supposed to have favourites but this little critter was my fave of all the guinea pigs. Hope was just a tiny little thing when we brought her home from the pet store. She was Payton’s guinea pig. She sadly passed away on Easter weekend. It was a really sudden event. Farewell Hope Losing someone or something you love is never easy. Losing a pet can be super sad for kids. My daughter was heartbroken. For those of you who remember we have had a slew of guinea pigs here at our house. The kids each…