-
The Simple Art of Walking
Or How I Don’t Want Your Pity Walk Became Let Me Get a Sweater and My Shoes) With gyms closed for much of the past year, I have discovered the value of the simple art of walking. We walk in all the weather, sometimes alone but often together. That’s been a highlight of this year actually. Walking. Discovering the art of walking has been an unexpected positive in a year too full of negatives. The Art of Walking It started as a way to get the kids moving and a means for me to get my steps in for the day. Way back in March, when the pandemic was new…
-
Your Mask is Completely Inappropriate and What Happened Later
A week or so ago I wrote this Your Mask is Completely Inappropriate post for CBC Parents. Here’s what happened afterwards. As some of you probably already know, I freelance and publish content in many other spaces. This year, a lot of that content has appeared on CBC Parents. Happy to hang my hat there sometimes. An Excerpt From My Recent Post on CBC Parents This past week we were walking through a grocery store near my home when my teenage daughter spied something scrawled on a face mask. In fact, I heard her speaking to a stranger before I even saw why. So Why Did She Speak Up? This…
-
How to Create a Fun Winter Scavenger Hunt
A Winter Scavenger hunt is a great way to get outside and have some fun, with social distancing in mind of course. It’s easy to find ways to get and be out of doors when the spring and summer months are here. But winter gets a bad wrap that way. Post may contain affiliate links as a service to readers. I receive a small commission from purchases made. Getting Outside in the Winter When my kids were small we deliberately hustled them outside even in the winter months. In our yard, we built igloos and raced down the slide on the outdoor climbing structure and treehouse that we had dominating…
-
Enjoy This Meatless Light and Easy Pasta Bake
Why not make a pasta bake tonight? It’s an easy and family friendly dinner option that’s perfect for meatless Mondays. Post may contain affiliate links as a service to readers. I make a small commission via qualifying purchases. Fighting Dinner Boredom Dinner fatigue is real. So, every night it’s the same old thing. Finding time and interest in making dinner around here is a big challenge some nights. There are nights when I look up from work and go UGH, seriously I have zero interest in making dinner for anyone tonight and I’m not even really hungry. Literally this was me this week. Teenage Daughter to the Rescue Teens are…
-
New Orleans Beignets Three Different Ways
New Orleans beignets are legendary. They are synonymous with the destination and just one of those things you need to sample when in NOLA. The city of New Orleans is known for its spirited nightlife, raucous bachelorette parties, and an abundance of internationally inspired foods. Perhaps nothing is more synonymous with NOLA though than beignets. Everyone makes them and has their own slightly unique take on the fluffy doughy sweets. New Orleans Beignets Recently, I went in search of New Orleans best beignets and what I found might surprise you. So, what’s all the fuss? And more importantly, what are beignets anyways? To be completely transparent, before we visited Louisiana…
-
Make These Tasty Toffee Espresso Cookie Bars
Is there anything that I love more than toffee? Well, maybe toffee espresso cookie bars. Oh, now caramel goodies and lemon treats could also give those a run for their money. But I am sure you will LOVE these tasty and easy to bake cookie bars. Bake Up Some Toffee Espresso Cookie Bars Cookie bars are the perfect combination of a bite-sized treat and a cookie. Cookies are in fact one of my favourite little snacks in the world. I existed on those and Rice Krispie treats for much of first year university. I didn’t learn to eat healthier until later in my life. Having kids who watch my every…
-
Photo Showcase for the Digital Age
This Nixplay photo showcase post was sponsored by Nixplay and I received product in exchange for consideration here. A photo showcase is a great way to show off your favourite memories. From family gatherings and trips to those memorable get-togethers with friends, a photo showcase allows you to share your most cherished memories with anyone who visits your home and always keeps those moments in your heart. There was a time when showcasing my photos meant I had to devote an entire wall to several photos. That’s a great way to do it, but when you run out of walls or if you don’t have a lot of wall space,…
-
Cute Children’s Christmas Letter to Santa Writing Prompt
I think we can all easily recall that time during childhood when we believed wholeheartedly in magic and in Santa Claus. Back before pandemic was even a word in our daily vocabulary, as children we wrote at least one creative and joyful letter to Santa each year. Dear Santa Letter Writing an annual letter to Santa was something I looked forward to for weeks before Christmas. It was my chance to plant suggestions in my home, and send them directly to the North Pole. As an adult, I have enjoyed many years of creating that illusion for my kids. I kept that tradition going for years longer than it actually…
-
How to Bleach Dye a T-Shirt in a Few Easy Steps
So, a few weeks ago my daughter was all about this bleach dye phase. We had seen it on several sweatshirts and hoodies and thought that it looked cool, but the finished product always seemed expensive. So, we wondered if we could do it ourselves. How hard could it be? Post may contain affiliate links as a service to readers. I receive a small commission off of purchases made via qualifying links. Then we saw t-shirts and long sleeved shirts in Michaels one day on sale. Fate. Serendipity. Whatever you want to call it. It’s all good and it clearly was a sign that we had to do this craft.…
-
Fun Elf Notes and Adoption Certificate
The fun elf notes and elf adoption certificate shared today are free for your family to use and enjoy. This year, probably more than ever before, we need a little fun and frivolity. Of course, this year that also needs to be safely executed within the parameters of social distancing and Covid. Elf Notes and Elf on a Shelf Printable Activities post contains affiliate links as a service to readers. I receive a small commission via qualifying purchases. But you know who is not in lockdown? Santa Claus and your Elf on the Shelf. That’s why I thought these adorable elf notes and elf adoption certificate would come in handy…