• family

    Chocolate Free Playmobil Advent Calendars

    November 15, 2016 - By 

    We have enjoyed sharing advent calendars with the kids, from the time they were very small. But candy and chocolate advent calendars haven’t always appealed to me as a parent. I am pretty sure I once wrote about the time my daughter found her advent calendar gift from Grandma and ate the entire thing in 10 minutes. With Playmobil Advent Calendars you don’t have to worry about that. Playmobil makes some incredibly high quality toys. Their Playmobil Advent Calendars are every bit as amazing and unique as their toy sets. There are several options, from Christmas on The Farm to Christmas in…

  • broccoli_cheddar_soup
    family - Food

    OH SO Good Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe

    November 11, 2016 - By 

    Broccoli cheddar soup is one that I know many people love. Soups at this time of year are perfect for many reasons. They are easy to cook and sometimes easy to share. Cook them in a big batch and save some broccoli cheddar soup for later too. Serve this beauty in a bread bowl and it is really a scrumptious and healthy meal. Perfect for one of those chilly Fall, or Winter Days. I love soups in the cooler months because it seems like I am always cold then. Broccoli Cheddar soup is comforting and it warms everyone up. (Even…

  • family - parenting

    Conversations With My Canadian Kids About The US Election Outcome

    November 9, 2016 - By 

    It started this morning when my youngest got a text from a friend that stated: “The World is Ending.” “Mom, what does this mean?” “Well,” I said, “I believe she’s referring to the US election outcome.” Picture a giant question mark hanging between us. “Donald Trump won last night. It was close.” I think she said “No Way” or something to that effect and we ate breakfast in our home, in a suburb in Ontario, Canada. I told the news to my eldest daughter before she left for high school. Because I wanted her to hear it from me first. Throughout the…

  • gemmies
    family

    Gemmies Crystal Creations for Crafty Kids #TMMGG16

    November 9, 2016 - By 

    Gemmies Crystal Creations are the craft du jour for crafty kids this year. If you have a crafty tween or teen then you know the struggle. I am always hunting for things to keep them busy. Oh it sounds nutty, but my thinking is this – give them crafts and things to keep their hands busy and they will be less likely to build baking soda volcanoes in the bathroom. Laugh it up, but that’s exactly what my kids would do. Craft kits like Gemmies Crystal Creations are crucial to my sanity. In fact, craft kits are a big part…

  • shot@Life
    family - Health - Travel

    Every Child Deserves a Shot at Life -Vaccines Work

    November 8, 2016 - By 

    Every child should have a Shot at Life. All children have a right to health. But, in developing countries around the world many families face overwhelming obstacles to accessing life-saving vaccines. Shot@Life is an organization that helps and advocates for funding to deliver lifesaving vaccines to those in need. I visited Zambia as part of a fellowship with Shot at Life through the UN Foundation recently. It was an  amazing experience. Over the next few weeks I will share posts about that trip and the many clinics and aid organizations we visited. Yesterday I shared my first post about Preparing for…

  • pom_pom_wow
    family

    Pom Pom Wow! – For the Tween or Teen Girl on Your List #TMMGG16

    November 3, 2016 - By 

    Are you shopping to please a crafty teen or tween girl this holiday? Then I have the perfect gift for you. Pom Pom Wow is a quirky, fun, craft kit with potential for hours of enjoyment. I should know – my girls have been decorating everything with Pom Pom Wow! since the kits arrived here a couple of weeks ago. Who doesn’t like Pom Poms? Pom Pom Wow! has numerous different kits and accessory bundles. We received several to try out. My daughter Ainsley, 12, got her hands on the Pom Pom Wow! Decoration Station one night after school. Now,…

  • cold_Q
    family - Health

    Cold and Flu Season – Prevent Getting Sick with Cold-Q #ColdQtotheResQ

    November 2, 2016 - By 

    Cold and flu season is going to be vile this year. How do I know that? Well, that’s simple. My younger daughter and I have been sick on and off since school started! What started as a cough with my daughter spread to me. Then one of us had bronchitis. After that the two of us got a cold. Actually, we got the flu, but we thought it was a cold. Yes, cold and flu season is here, and it has not been kind, already. That’s why I got excited when I heard about Cold-Q. Make Cold and Flu Season Easier…

  • period
    family - Health - Travel

    Your Period and How Travel Affects It #travel

    November 1, 2016 - By 

    Your period is a normal function of your body. How your reproductive system is functioning can be an indicator of a bigger health issue. So it’s natural to be concerned if your very regular cycle is sometimes thrown into chaotic late, or abnormal heavy or even extreme light flow. Of course the first thing you wonder if your cycle changes or a period ceases to happen, is whether you are pregnant. But you might also start wondering if you have an illness. The truth is that if your period is late or you missed it all together while traveling, it’s probably JUST the traveling.…

  • snapchat-safety
    family - parenting - Technology

    Online Safety and Snapchat

    October 27, 2016 - By 

    Online safety is a big deal, and Snapchat has become one of the more concerning apps for parents of tweens and teens. Because users of SnapChat can specify a time frame that a picture will stay on the server, online safety is a concern with this app.   What is SnapChat ? For those of you who don’t know, SnapChat is a video messaging app which allows users to take photos, videos, and add text or drawings and then send them to other users. This media – known as “Snaps” can be set up with a time limit on how long…

  • oral_health
    family - Health

    Oral Health – Don’t Let the Kids Neglect Their Teeth This Halloween

    October 26, 2016 - By 

    Oral health is so important to our overall health, and it’s vital that we make sure our children have good oral health habits like brushing and flossing 2 to 3 times daily. This is even more important when Halloween rolls around. All that candy coming in may be tasty, but it’s also terrible for the teeth. This Halloween help your kids remember their oral health with Philips Sonicare and Furball Pal Sparkly. Oral Health for Better Health Oral health is key to keeping our entire body healthy. Did you know that poor oral health can lead to damage of organs…