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Ramada Plaza Le Manoir Du Casino in Gatineau #travel
In the summer we visited the Outaouais Region of Quebec and stayed in Gatineau. Our first two nights we spent at Ramada Plaza Le Manoir Du Casino. The suite we were given for the two night stay was exceptional and the location was ideal for many different types of travellers. Here’s what to expect when you stay at Ramada Plaza Le Manoir Du Casino. We drove several hours and left early in the morning to be sure we made it to Gatineau in good time to start our day. Of course I had scoped out the Ramada Plaza a bit before we left and I knew a few details. There…
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Printable Fill In The Blank Teacher Notes for Back to School #BTS
It’s almost time for back to school, which also sadly means it will soon be time for school colds, and flu bugs and doctor’s appointments. This year, I’m prepared with these handy printable Fill in the Blank Teacher Notes and you can be too. These are ideal for those occasions when you have a sudden appointment in the middle of the school day. One of the first ever blogger conferences I attended featured a sponsor with the cutest pre-printed teacher notes. In fact, they were such a hit that I used them all year round. They simplified my job as a Mom. I attached a pre-printed note like these ones…
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Social Media Issues – How Ontario Teachers Navigate the Waters
Social media issues can be challenging. It’s a field that is in a constant state of flux. Facebook changes its algorithm. Twitter offers a new feed. One network wanes while another jets off into the stratosphere. And just when you think you have it all figured out, suddenly your high schooler comes home talking about some new chat service that nobody over the age of 20 has EVER heard of before. Social media issues can be a real danger to both children and the teachers responsible for their education. Teachers are the people who spend 5 to 6 hours a day with your child. They need to know how to navigate the…
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WillLand Outdoors Backpacks That Bring It #BTS
Whether it’s school or travel there’s always a reason to have a good quality backpack at the ready. I am thrilled this year to have WillLand Outdoors backpacks for the kids as they return to school, and as we embark on our fall and winter travels. My oldest daughter started grade nine last year with a super fun anime style backpack that she bought at the beach with her babysitting money. It was adorable. BUT…and we all saw this coming…it broke before Halloween. It was fun and cute, but cutesy isn’t always what you need when you lug massive math and science textbooks back and forth five days a week.…
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Playing Sports – Leveling the Field for Girls #PlayOnCA #Giveaways $60 ARV
My kids are both athletic young women. Staying physically active, playing sports and striving to do your best – well, that’s something we take to heart as a family. Whether it’s swimming, martial arts or track and field, sports matter to the health of both boys and girls. When kids get out on the field or the court, they learn teamwork, develop a better work ethic, get into better shape, and boost their self confidence. Unfortunately, girls are at a serious disadvantage when it comes to playing sports. With less opportunities and less variety, girls often have to take what they can get. Playtex Sport wants to change that and…
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Ontario Pioneer Camp Blogger Weekend #PioneerCamp16
My kids have been campers for years. For the past few years I have heard great things about Ontario Pioneer Camp. But until recently we had no experience with the camp ourselves. That changed last month when we drove to Huntsville in the stunning Muskoka area of Ontario and took part in Ontario Pioneer Camp Blogger’s Weekend. What a fun weekend it was! Camp is a big investment. It’s an investment in your child. It’s also an investment in you as a parent. BUT, before you book any camp you need to know what to expect. Camp is one of those rites of passage that relies on Word of Mom. How…
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Report Card for Superheroes #specialneeds
Congratulations. Give yourself a massive high five. A hug, a pat on the back. You made it. You are superheroes. You deserve an A plus on the only report card that matters. You did it. Another school year down. Another grade gone by. You didn’t break. You deserve A pluses in every subject. Superheroes look like this: You are all heroic. Building exceptional kids with extra human strengths. Your kids are Iron Man and Wonder Woman, Spiderman and Black Widow. They are superheroes. I know them well. Two of the biggest superheroes I know are living here in this house. They have extraordinary powers and strength. They are learning to be resilient and…
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Growing Pains and Grace Notes – Raising A Daughter
Look away if you aren’t the kind of person who likes sentiment. It’s been a long time since I posted one of these stories about my life, my kids, snapshots of us, the Growing Pains and grace notes inside the nutty every day chaos of parenting, and growing youth, not kids, not toddlers, young adolescents. My girls amaze me more than they know most days. Their strength is apparent to me, their Mom, and yet they very often don’t see it themselves. Some strange warped tween and teen girl mirror only lets them see first the tiny little mistakes, then the itty bitty fleeting things that are but a milli-second in the course of…
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Tips For How To Survive A Road Trip #Travel
A Family road Trip That Won’t Break the Bank Summer is the perfect time for a family road trip. It’s warm. It’s breezy. All the best attractions and sites are open. So how do you take a family road trip without breaking the bank? I’m glad you asked! I’ve put together some tips to help you save money on your next family road trip. How to Save Money on Your Family Road Trip Family road trips are almost always less expensive than flying to a resort and spending a week. They’re also far more intimate. It’s nice to head down the highway, seeing the sites and bonding as a family.…
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Most Popular Baby Names 2016
If you’re pregnant, you’re no doubt mulling over possible baby names. There are so many popular baby names out there. You could name your baby after a family member. Some people name their babies after television or movie characters. It seems that still others practically make up names for their babies. It can be quite a challenge, picking a baby name. The name we give a child will be the name they’re stuck with from the moment they’re pulled into the world until the moment they make their way out of it. It’s a big deal. If you’re not sure of a name or if the ones you’ve put forward to your partner…