• family

    #LinkedMoms Hard At Work #Blogher13 #WordlessWednesday

    This conference circuit is hard work. Just sayin’. Actually, this is me with my good friend Margarita Ibbott, also my business partner at Linked Moms. Who are Linked Moms? We’re the gals chatting every Wednesday night at 8 p.m. EST. Join us weekly. Sometimes we talk about pressing parenting issues, health, special needs, travel or what tickles our fancy. Sometimes, we have guests and sometimes our chats are full scale twitter parties.

  • Back To School - Health

    My Back to School Fashion Rant #BTS

    My daughter is not a Barbie. She will never fit into skinny jeans. She is my first born. My heart. A talented, kind-hearted, perfectionist who rocks pretty much everything she does. (with exception of ballet, which she could never get the hang of, and one tiny area of math called measurement ) She is not a Barbie. She is not standard issue. She is a beautiful, smart, healthy, athletic kid.  Payton swims like a fish, just got third place at a dive meet in town, sings soprano with an acting troupe. She loves science and drawing and collects other kids…

  • parenting

    How Do I Get Rid of Monsters?

    How do I get rid of Monsters? Every single parent knows there comes a time when you ask yourself how do I get rid of monsters? How do I get my child to stop thinking there are monsters hiding in the closet or under the bed? How to get rid of monsters is something you will get good at. Trust me.   We have found several ways to get your child to sleep again. At one point my youngest was super convinced there were monsters hiding in her closet. Luckily that passed, but not without a bit of work on our part.…

  • parenting

    Great Mystery Box #Giveaways #Canada Only

    A slew of Canadian bloggers teamed up to bring this great giveaway to you this month. I couldn’t resist sharing it and bringing this opportunity to my readers at thriftymommastips.com. Here’s what you need to know.  This amazing and fun mystery giveaway runs from August 1st – 15th. You can enter for a chance to win one of 4 amazing mystery boxes filled with surprise goodies you’re gonna love!  Each box contains specially themed-filled, brand-new goodies (save for media reviewed items, such as books and DVDs,) including:  Baby ($500+ value), Kids ($250+ value),  Health & Beauty ($500+ value),  and the…

  • family - Travel

    Win a Family Trip to Syracuse ARV $950

    Welcome to the Syracuse Family Getaway Giveaway! This Giveaway is made possible by the Syracuse Tourism Organization! HOSTED BY: OTTAWA MOMMY CLUB CO-HOSTED BY: CANADIAN BLOG HOUSE ~ JOURNEYS OF THE ZOO ~ LIFE IN PLEASANT VILLE ~ SHANNON’S VIEW FROM HERE GETAWAY PACKAGE: 1 room with 2 double beds for 2 nights at Double Tree Hotel by Hilton for a family of four with buffet breakfast for four each morning based on availability. Valid through 4/30/14 4 Tickets (2 adult & 2 children) to the Pole Position Raceway in DestinyUSA 4 tickets (2 adult & 2 children) to the…

  • family

    #DIY How to Tie Dye: Ten Easy Steps

    Before the girls went to camp and I headed off to Blogher’ 13 in Chicago, we had a week of manic hunting for things to do that would keep them busy enough not to kill or eat each other. I mean, we had a fun week of unscheduled activity. AKA crafting. This is one of the fun things we did together. Ainsley actually loved it so much she got all sweet and cuddly and cute.  Believe me when I say that is worth all the T-shirts in the world. 1000 times over.  How to Tie Dye: 1. Buy 100 %…

  • family

    Cousins #WordlessWednesday

    Wordless Wednesday is a photo linkup. Last week we had the opportunity to get the kids together with their cousins. There’s something about being with your cousins that brings out the monkey in every child.

  • active family travel - Health - infertility - parenting - Parenting - special needs

    Hoping for Okay: Sending A Special Needs Child To Camp

    Sending kids with special needs to camp is never simple. You have to vet camps hard to find one that might be capable of handling your children. Oh I know most make mention of inclusive policies and such. But, I have seen how this works in practice sometimes and it doesn’t. So, forgive me while I hold my breath and pray that this camp works this time. This morning, I woke fingers crossed and holding my breath. Today I have both kids at camp. No fires to put out. No demands beyond work. No calls from the camp stating: “What…

  • family

    Business Blogging Part 2: Why Like Us on Facebook is Not a Social Media Strategy

    Like Us on Facebook is not a Social Media Strategy for Business. There’s a sweet little spa down around the corner from my house that I frequent from time to time. I enjoy it there. It’s quiet. The owner is calm and the atmosphere soothing. Business trickles in and out and it is never overbooked. When I get a paraffin pedicure I can relax because it is so quiet. Recently, I noticed their sign out front was changed to read: TRIPLE A Spa (not its name) Like Us on Facebook. I have driven by it daily and walked by it…

  • family - parenting

    Science Girl #WordlessWednesday Linky

    This is Payton. She loves science. She is also a trained observer and a very intense sensitive kid. She hollered the other night when we were putting dishes away from dinner. “Come quick! You have to see this!” Sometimes she drives us all the tiniest bit nutty with her dreamy creative side that means she is always drawing or reading when she should perhaps be listening or cleaning her room. This time it was worth it. The cicada seen here was shedding its exoskeleton right in front of our eyes. This morning it was gone.  This is a wordless wednesday…