• parenting

    Last Chance for Back to School Week

    August 24, 2014 - By 

    Ainsley’s backpack is from Hilroy Canada Well here we are almost the end of August. Tear. Tear. Sad panda face. I love me a good summer break. Mostly, I love beautiful weather and gorgeous hot sunny beaches. But I can see the writing on the wall and it spells: Back to School. So this coming week is all about Back to School at Thrifty Momma’s Tips. This coming week, or two if I need to go longer with the amount of stuff I want to highlight here, will be dedicated to bringing my readers all the best products. The cutest…

  • FASD - Health - Parenting - special needs

    It’s almost Back to School Time. Hold Me.

    August 22, 2014 - By 

      shutterstock Is that the sound of my sanity snapping? I think it could be. Here I am ALMOST at the end of August. In denial? Sure. Freaking out? Absolutely. WHERE DID MY SUMMER GO? So here it is, almost back to school time. The most wonderful time of the year. Right? RIGHT?? You know that commercial with the “That Was Easy” theme. Press a button and send them back to school with new supplies and then do a little happy jig that summer is over. Well, I kind of wish they had a version of that for special needs…

  • active family travel - family

    The Beach #WordlessWednesday linky

    August 20, 2014 - By 

    Every summer we travel to the beach with kids. Most summer vacations mean that we all get together and meet up with cousins in Georgian Bay, Ontario’s cottage country. It’s not possible every single year but it is something we enjoy doing as often as we are able. The beach is a happy relaxed place where we can always connect with family and just chill. Last week we went to the beach with my bother-in-law and sister-in-law. The highlight of that type of break is always all about seeing the cousins play together. This year there was swimming, but as…

  • family - homes

    Office Chairs That Work #InkscrblrATWork

    August 15, 2014 - By 

    This is the second post in a series about decorating my new home office. Thrifty Mom Media headquarters is now almost 100 % complete. I have maybe two more things to hang on the walls and I am still hunting madly for some drapes that are the right size and colour. Then it will be complete and all will be right with the world.   The final office space BEFORE Office Chairs – now resides in my daughter’s room I have been a freelancer for several years and so I have worked at home in one capacity or another for…

  • active family travel - family - parenting - special needs - Travel

    Five Tips for Train Travel with Special Needs Children

    August 12, 2014 - By 

    I love to travel by train – usually. I can work all the way and my wasted time is minimized. Plus, typically train travel is very economical. This summer my kids and I travelled to Montreal and Ottawa by train. That’s a substantial amount of time spent riding, and also a lot of transferring to different connecting trains. We travel every year by train together at least once. As some of my readers know special needs kids require a bit more planning when travelling anywhere, in any mode of transport. I have one anxious child, and another with a brain…

  • family - Health - parenting - Travel

    Cottage Road Trip Memories #travel

    August 11, 2014 - By 

    Cottage Road Trip From the time I was a baby I spent my summers at the cottage. I have seen the pictures of me sleeping in the portable crib, and I remember the many years we took this week for family time, indulging in the opportunity to grow together. The routine of road trip and cottage travel is well mapped on my memory, etched on my skin in every single freckle and carved deep in the veins that lead to my heart. A school teacher relishes summer like no other professional I have ever known. They seize it and wring…

  • family - Health - Parenting - parenting

    A Mother’s Arms #WordlessWednesday

    July 30, 2014 - By 

    My daughter Payton took this picture of me with Ainsley. It makes me happy because this was the day we were heading to see Katy Perry in Ottawa. It was our girl’s week in Montreal and Ottawa, right before the kids went to camp. It was also a reminder that your arms are never empty when you are a mother. That is one of life’s biggest blessings. 

  • active family travel - family - family travel - Travel

    Canopy River Tours in Puerto Vallarta #travel

    July 25, 2014 - By 

    Looking for a fun adventure in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico? Canopy River Tours is the perfect way to spend a day exploring rain forest from above. If the flip flops fall off, they will most definitely plummet 600 feet to their demise in the Sierra Madre mountains. I find myself wondering: will they whirl like maple keys do, or dive straight down into a rocky canyon below? Together? Or one at a time? Flip flops were the first questionable choice we made this morning. I am excruciatingly hopeful that this two hour zip lining Canopy River Tours adventure is not the second. Comfortable…

  • family

    Five Things That Make Blogher Unique

    July 23, 2014 - By 

    They tell me I am a veteran because this will be my third tour of Blogher. I don’t really feel like a veteran, because the word makes me feel kind of old and I am definitely not that. (Cough) Anyways, as I head off to my third Blogher conference I wanted to share a few things I have learned about this epic conference experience. Each conference is precious and they all have their own merits and strengths. Type A was my first ever. Blissdom Canada is always inspiring and special. Mom 2.0 was a great experience for me this May…

  • family - Giveaways

    Seasonal Entertaining With Birch Lane #giveaway

    July 13, 2014 - By 

    Seasonal entertaining sometimes is a challenge here. I am anything but a natural at entertaining. But summer, plus a house with a pool, and half a dozen birthdays, anniversaries and celebrations here at the Schuck house all add up to numerous chances to practice getting summer seasonal entertaining just right. This year, our new house, new neighbourhood and new pool are all beautiful opportunities to build new friendships, cement old ones and have a summer that is memorable for everyone. My kids have had multiple summer pool parties with friends already and we are getting the hang of that. Plus…