• family - Travel

    2016 Personal Travel Reflections

    Every day is a gift and an opportunity to live, love cherish, explore and grow. Sad celebrity deaths and strange politics aside, I choose to celebrate 2016. As a consultant, tech, health and Canadian travel blogger, as a business person and a Mom, this past year exceeded my expectations. These are my personal travel reflections as the year ends. Travel was my 2016 word of the year. And I challenged myself to travel once a month every month for 2016. So how did that go? It went amazingly. I earned a prestigious Shot @ Life fellowship and travel journalism flourished. Here…

  • active family travel - Health - Travel

    Livingstone – The History of the Gem of Zambia #TTOT #travel

    Livingstone, Zambia is known as the Gem of Africa, with good reason. This October I visited Zambia and saw this gorgeous city up close. We stayed 3 nights in Livingstone, a stunning city with strong history. This historic city in Zambia has its own rich story worth discovering. And, it is also friendly, welcoming, and one of the most beautiful cities you could wish to see. The History of The Gem of Zambia In the 1890’s, the British took control of the northern area of the region via Cecil Rhodes’ British South Africa Company. The focus of their activity was mineral prospecting,…

  • active family travel - family - Travel

    Stylish and Safe Travel Bags for Your Next Trip

    My older daughter is taking a big trip in 2017 with a youth theatre group she belongs to. This Christmas we’ve tailored a few of her presents so that she can use them when she travels. She’s already getting several travel guides and a few clothing items she needs. I think she will also be thrilled with one of these adorable Forever Young Stylish and Safe Travel Bags from Beside-U. Now, my daughter doesn’t actually know she’s getting this one for a Christmas present. This is her sister modelling it in the photo. There are so many beautiful safe travel…

  • active family travel - Travel

    Seven Questions To Ask Before Choosing a Cruise Line

    This season I have been running a cruising series here. I know it’s fun to plan holidays as soon as the cool weather hits and some of us are big travel planning junkies. (WINK) I write a fair bit about travel and one of the things first time cruisers ask me most is what cruise line should I choose? That’s a hard question to answer for another person without a few basic facts. Do a bit of brainstorming about your needs and your travel style before you start searching in earnest. Asking yourself these seven questions before you choose your cruise line…

  • family - Giveaways - Travel

    Don’t Forget to Pack These for Holiday Travel #ChurchandDwight #Giveaways

    Let’s be honest holidays can be very stressful and overwhelming for many. So it helps to have a plan. This year we are planning a trip again soon. So shortly after we do our family gathering and entertaining here we will head off for some rest and relaxation. I am excited about that. But I know many families find the holidays and travel exhausting.  I have found it helps to prepare. Also it helps to have a few necessities from Church and Dwight on hand during the holidays. First, keep the stain remover at home and handy for when unexpected messes happen.…

  • active family travel - family - Travel

    Explore New York City with these Amazing Travel Guides #TTOT

    Explore New York and everything it has to offer with two great travel guides. I recently picked up both of these travel guides because my daughter is headed to NYC in 2017 with her theatre group. Planning is half the fun of travel. NYC is an epic trip and I want her to enjoy it while also feeling prepared and independent. I happened across DK Eyewitness Travel Guide New York City and DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Top 10 New York City. Both books have amazing information that I hope will help make my daughter’s trip wonderful. Explore New York City with All…

  • active family travel - family - Health - Travel

    Long Flights – Staying Healthy on Extended Flights #travel

    Long flights can be intimidating. For some people, they’re annoying. Still others just adjust the seat back and sleep or take the time to read. Whatever long flights mean to you personally, there’s one thing that they mean to everyone. Possible health concerns. A lot of people don’t think of this, but sitting for such a long period of time can open you up to all kinds of health issues ranging from uncomfortable to deadly. How to Mitigate the Health Effects of Long Flights There are a few things you can do to help stay healthy on extended plane trips.…

  • active family travel - Health - Travel

    Tracking the White Rhinoceros – A Safari Adventure in Zambia

    Even now, our safari adventure in Zambia seems surreal. Moments ago, we met a truck full of Zambian security employees armed with guns inside a reserve and sanctuary. Now the group of us walk single file on foot behind an armed escort tracking a white rhinoceros. This field, this sanctuary, is silent but for the sound of us walking and the occasional comment from our leader. Stick together, never run, follow instructions and you will be okay. Sun Setting The sun begins a slow surrender into the horizon, casting an incredible glow on this safari adventure. It is our last night in Zambia. We…

  • active family travel - family - Health - Travel

    Jubilee Ministries, Lusaka #TTOT #vaccineswork

    I have learned many tricks to keep from crying. But none of them work in this community in Western Lusaka, Africa. On an October day when still jet lagged we meet three Zambians changing Lusaka one heart at a time. Making an impact by ministering to the needs of Zambians in a community that sits on the outskirts of Lusaka. This is a neighbourhood devastated by AIDS and HIV. And this is the story that breaks my heart the most during our stay in Zambia.   It’s our first day here and we have travelled all over Lusaka, Zambia. We started…

  • Travel

    Canadian at Par – 5 Ski Resorts That Don’t Break the Bank

    Canadian at par. Those are the sweetest words any Canadian can hear when they’re travelling to the U.S. The Canadian dollar is often very low compared to the U.S. dollar. What that means for Canadian travellers is that we often pay far more on our trips to the States. This post has been updated to reflect 2020 information.  At an exchange rate of 1.3 to 1.4, we can pay hundreds more for trips to the US versus trips to Europe or even domestic getaways. Sometimes that means staying in country and not visiting the US at all. BUT, that doesn’t always…