• family - homes

    On the Move #ldnont Painted Hallway Reveal

    November 15, 2013 - By 

    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

    November 13, 2013 - By 

    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

    November 12, 2013 - By 

    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

    November 11, 2013 - By 

    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…

  • adoption_collage
    Health - infertility - Parenting

    November is National Adoption Awareness Month #Wordless Wednesday #onpoli

    November 5, 2013 - By 

    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…

  • family - parenting - Travel

    Max & Ruby in the Nutcracker Suite

    October 31, 2013 - By 

      When my kids were small they adored Max & Ruby on Nickelodeon. My girls still enjoy seeing live entertainment and Centennial Hall, London, has often been a space where we built happy family memories. If you ask me Centennial Hall is the perfect size for events that are somewhat intimate, welcoming, warm and family friendly. Our last show might have been The Backyardigans there I think.  Over the past decade there have been many great Koba Entertainment productions witnessed and experienced by our family. There’s something about these entertaining productions that makes kids of us all. Max & Ruby,…

  • Health - Parenting - special needs

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

    October 29, 2013 - By 

    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?

    October 25, 2013 - By 

    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…

  • Parenting

    National Adoption Month – and I See Me Books Giveaway

    October 24, 2013 - By 

    This I See Me Books Giveaway contains affiliate links as a service to readers. November is National Adoption Month, so I wanted to feature some adoption friendly merchants and brands here. Look for more this coming month. I found I See Me quite by happenstance. National Adoption Month and Merchandise I See Me has an incredible array of personalized products that you can order for your child. That’s pretty fun and unique, but what really got me excited was the Adoption section on their web site. It’s not overtly specific to adoption only. But it is applicable to adoptive families,…

  • family - homes

    What Makes a House a Home? – On The Move Series

    October 22, 2013 - By 

    I’ve been wrestling with this question a lot here lately. What makes a house a home? We have been in our London home for 14 years now.    We adopted our girls and started a family, launched careers, paused careers, watched, helped, travelled, threw dozens of birthday parties and created moments to remember. We got sick, then got better. We made friends, lost friends, saw loved ones pass away. We planned, we sang, we cooked, we celebrated and we grieved. We grew together. Now, we have grown to the point where we need to move. We have outgrown out neighbourhood…