• family

    Max & Ruby in Nutcracker Suite #Christmas #Ldnont

    It’s pretty easy to get the kids in the mood for the festive season with so many fantastic family shows on the stage this time of year. We were fortunate to get family passes to see Max & Ruby this year in the Nutcracker Suite at Centennial Hall. Although my kids have outgrown Nickleodeon, I was excited to take them to see this show because of the Nutcracker Suite element. Max & Ruby were staples in my kid’s viewing schedule (LOL) for several years when they were preschoolers. Max’s stubborn streak and his tunnel vision still makes us laugh. He…

  • infertility - Parenting

    Sperm Donor Comedy Fertile Ground: Delivery Man

    I was invited to see the Chicago Preview of Delivery Man, the movie featuring Vince Vaughn. while I was in Chicago for a blogging conference recently. These are my impressions of the movie. I mean is anyone ever really ready for parenthood? This movie Delivery Man takes that notion and turns it into comedy with an infertility theme too. Vince Vaughn delivers the funny in every movie he does. Delivery Man is no exception. For obvious reasons, given the themes of adoption and infertility that I often tackle here on my blog Thrifty Mommas Tips, I was really curious to…

  • family

    Rainbow Loom – Tween Girls Gifts #TMMGG2013

    No question this one is the runaway hit of the season. My Aunt Pat bought a fabulous Rainbow Loomfor my girls way back in August when they had a sleepover at her new house. Ever since then the Rainbow Loom has been all I read about or see. You can count the Moms of tweens at centergy class just by looking at their wrists for the colourful bracelets.  So what’s the Rainbow Loom all about? It’s simply a cool plastic loom on which you wrap colourful elastics and design various fancy bracelets, necklaces, rings and ornaments. There is no end…

  • family - homes

    On the Move #ldnont Painted Hallway Reveal

    BEFORE This was our hallway before we started the massive decluttering and renovations here. We had wallpaper and toys and a big wooden coat rack that we liked. It was a hallway we lived in and raced through, a thoroughfare that was often lined with backpacks and homework and spare car seats.  When we moved in 14 years ago we wallpapered and put crown mouldings in and hung pictures and used the tiniest space in the hallway alcove as an office. My office was essentially a corner with a computer and two filing cabinets. Oh, and a chair too. When…

  • family

    My Hiking Partner #WordlessWednesday #ldnont Linky

    We have been on a quest to get our house ready for sale and life is very disrupted right now with boxes everywhere, toys in storage and a series of contractors coming in and out of our home. The other day we dropped an old toddler bed off at a friend’s house and discovered a beautiful walking trail over in Oakridge area. So we stopped the van, jumped out and took a hike. It must be noted this was the day my girl, 9, insisted on wearing high heeled clogs that are 2 sizes too large for her feet. I…

  • family - Giveaways

    It’s Christmas $500 Sears Gift Card #Giveaway

    It’s Christmas Giveaway Event Organized by: Mom Powered Media. Co-hosted by: Bay Area Mommy, My Dairy Free Gluten Free Life, Barbara’s Beat, Giveaway Bandit, Slick Housewives, Love Me Some Coupons and Coupons and Freebies Mom. Share your own posts, or favourite Christmas recipes, gift guides, Holiday Tradition OR DECOR PIC and craft FROM THIS YEAR OR PAST YEARS, ETC. OR SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS HOW EXCITED YOUR KIDS ARE TO See Santa this year. Link up your posts here. And don’t forget to comment here. MPM Network Bloggers are super excited to share their Christmas Recipes, Crafts, Decor Ideas and…

  • family

    Best Christmas Gifts for Girls #TMMGG13

    This is the debut entry in my 2013 Gift Guide. For more details or information on how to get your product included email me inkscrblr@rogers.com In the summer I had the amazing opportunity to be part of American Girl’s first ever blogger event. On my first trip to Chicago I toured the store, and got the full American Girl experience. Right now these beautiful dolls are also available in Canada. I can tell you these dolls get full marks for so many reasons. But if you have a girl aged five and up I’d recommend getting one of these high…

  • Health - infertility - Parenting

    November is National Adoption Awareness Month #Wordless Wednesday #onpoli

    November is one of my favourite advocacy months here because it’s National Adoption Awareness Month. That means multiple opportunities to remind people there are 7, 500 kids available for adoption in Ontario right now. That’s down since the Liberal government implemented a few changes to legislation. I’ve been advocating for adoption and child welfare issues for a decade now and I am all too aware that a few short years ago, the number of children waiting for permanent homes was closer to 10,000 kids. That’s progress. But, even one child is far too many.  This is my Wordless Wednesday post…

  • Health - Parenting - special needs

    How to Write an All About Me Booklet for Your Special Needs Child

    This All About Me Special Needs Book is one of my favourite tools for my daughter. I’ve had one for Ainsley for several years now and it is always well received by teachers, coaches and others who work with her regularly. These All About Me Special Needs Booklets work well when your child is young and unable to tell people what he or she needs. We used them often for Ainsley, especially at camp. The idea is that you can use them as a tool for helpers, teachers or support staff when dealing with a child who has medical needs…

  • family

    On the Move Series – Losing It and Where are my Pants?

    This week has been all about pants. Metaphorically, and literally too. See, I think the week took a turn for the worst when I couldn’t find my pants. My pants have gone missing. Decluttering is well under way and we might have been a bit aggressive packing. My jeans, my winter wardrobe largely packed away. My big girl business-y clothing with pants. I have chosen this experience, eyes wide open. Moving house is not easy, under the best of circumstances. Yesterday, I spent a whole morning really crunching numbers with a bank I will not name. No problem. I have no…