• Parenting

    National Adoption Awareness Month

    November 24, 2010 - By 

    As many of my readers know, ours is a family formed by adoption. I would quite simply not be a parent, if not for this unique and wonderful way of forming a family. I am forever grateful to the London Children’s Aid Society for helping us to become parents. November is National Adoption Awareness Month and today I head to Ottawa, with good friend LeeAnn to speak to the topic of adoption and permanency planning. It is a topic that currently has the eyes and ears of the federal government. Tomorrow I will try to convey all that is needs…

  • family

    Monday Mingle: November 22. The Day The Kid Did It

    November 23, 2010 - By 

    This is my Monday Mingle, hosted by Jennifer over at EightyMPHMom.com. My daughter did a better job than I did on my early take of this, so today she is running the show. Have an excellent week and wish me luck in the House of Commons talking adoption and permanency options for children in care. Happy Turkey Day, my American friends!

  • Parenting

    Friday Finds and Christmas Kickoff: How Do You Save Money at Christmas?

    November 12, 2010 - By 

    With gas prices rising and little good news on the grocery shelves lately, I am finding it hard to get too excited about Christmas. Not to be a Debbie Downer or anything, but prices are not coming down and cost of living seems to keep increasing. So, I wondered what are you doing to save money this Christmas? I buy all year round and put gifts away even in July. That’s one way I save. Also this year I am tightening my budget for magazines. (I think if I added them up I would have close to 10 magazine subscriptions here. I…

  • Giveaways - parenting

    Maple Leaf: Natural Selections: Giveaway

    October 31, 2010 - By 

    Once in awhile there comes a product I just have to share with my readers, friends and family and I discovered this one a couple of weeks ago at Shes Connected. Maple Leaf Natural Selections are natural slections deli meats from the makers of Maple Leaf products. The first and only deli product approved to make a natural claim in Canada. We sampled some of these yummy all natural cold cuts at the conference in Toronto a couple of weeks ago and last week I purchased some for my family to try. Dianne of @those2girls says they are the only…

  • family

    Best Use of Social Media During an Election Campaign Award

    October 26, 2010 - By 

    Picture courtesy of Wiki Commons, by Rico Shen There was a stunning upset and a race that was neck and neck. And then a collective intake of breath heard in many houses this morning when their Free Press finally arrived on the doorstep. London declared its new Mayor Joe Fontana in the wee hours of the morning. Fontana’s name has long been associated with politics and he was, for many years, an MP here. Longtime Mayor Anne Marie De Cicco conceeded defeat, perhaps hurt by her opponent’s platform of tax cuts, perhaps damaged somewhat by her husband Tim Best’s arrest and subsequent unfortunate headlines.…

  • family

    Kleenex Handtowels: Your Turn

    October 26, 2010 - By 

     Mom Central Canada sent me a batch of these new Kleenex handtowels last week and I am supposed to use them and get back to the company about them next week. But they’ve prompted debate in my house. See I personally kind of like them, because cold and flu season is endless here and these throw-aways are simply more sanitary than regular hand towels. The box is cute and decorative anf suits the room and I don’t feel they are any worse than paper handtowels in restrooms. They are thicker and nicer and one sheet does the job. Also…