• family - Travel

    My Week Away from Twitter – Mostly #travel

    April 27, 2013 - By 

    I’m baaaack. Yes, Twitter you magnificent little vehicle for messaging, connecting, advertising, marketing, promoting and building friends I am back. I took a week off twitter, well mostly off twitter, Facebook, blogging and other social media, because of these guys. We haven’t had a vacation in over one year and let’s just say it won’t be that long next year. Kids grow too fast and Mom and Dad well, with work, school, extra-curriculars and so forth we were just a wee bit overextended there at the end of March. So I jumped at a holiday booked for us. I prepared…

  • Giveaways - Travel

    Parker IM Gift of Writing and #MothersDay #giveaway

    April 21, 2013 - By 

    This Mother’s Day has me thinking hard about what to give, or share with my Mom, and the many Moms I know. Flowers? Well, that’s a given. Dinner out? That’s a standard date every Mother’s Day especially since my Mom moved to London. But beyond that, what says: “I love you and thanks.” When I was a teenager and my Mom was hunting for something unique to give me, she would often buy a fancy keepsake pen, the kind that lasts and is built to be treasured for years. When I graduated my Mom gave me a small gift cheque…

  • Health - parenting

    Five Ways to Get the Kids Outside and Active

    April 19, 2013 - By 

    Once the gorgeous temperatures replace the nasty overcast snowy days it seems logical that children will naturally seek time outside away from screens, exploring. But, what if they don’t? We all want to encourage our children to be active. We all want them to be healthy. And most of us also want our children to engage with the environment, disconnect and just play outside. If your kids are at all like mine, they can all too easily fall into this pattern of forgetting to seize the moment. Too often they reach for the TV remote, or the computer, or the…

  • family

    Kisko Freezies #LinkedMoms twitter party RSVP

    April 18, 2013 - By 

    Q: What’s more refreshing than a Kisko Freezie after the big game? A: A twitter party about Kisko Freezies, in which you can also win $300 worth of prizes.We are so happy to bring to you this great brand, a Canadian icon Kisko Freezie pops, as our guest May 8th at 8 p.m. EST. Kisko is well known at schools, because of their fundraising potential, and if you have kids then you probably also know they are 100 % safe for kids with peanut allergies. They are the go to Freezie pop for so many events and occasions.  LinkedMoms, @inkscrblr…

  • family - Health

    Dear Mom Camp Series – April – #MuskokaWoods

    April 15, 2013 - By 

    Dear Mom: This month for our third post about Muskoka Woods I am not going to hound you, or remind you about signing me up. I know you are looking after that and I can’t wait. Soon I will start my end of school countdown. I am getting so excited. I am going to let you talk this month here because I know you have a lot to say and I know you are still thinking about whether Ainsley can manage overnight camp yet or not. So, over to you and Tada!  (I always wanted to say that.) Your daughter,…

  • Health

    My Fitness challenge $100 Lululemon #giveaway

    April 14, 2013 - By 

    I am an active mom. No two ways about it. With two very busy girls, I have to stay active. Fitness and healthy living are ways of life here. Ever since I turned 40 I have noticed a few things: metabolism slows, maybe not the second you hit forty, but I tell you it does, slowly and surely. This winter, I worked out consistently, ate the same as ever, and yet, I cannot shred this five extra pounds that settled on my hips and butt. That doesn’t make me happy. I work out to maintain health, stay fit, slender and…

  • Food

    #Linkedmoms Kisko Twitter Party – Join us -May 8th

    April 14, 2013 - By 

    A few of my favourite Kisko Freezie flavours Well, woohoo it’s time for a party announcement!! This is your official Hold The Date for: May 8th at 8 p.m. EST. The Linked Moms (@Downshiftingpro) and me (@inkscrblr) are featuring Kisko Freezies as our guests. I like Kisko Freezies because they are free of allergens and tasty to boot. Nothing cuts that sweaty post soccer game win, or helps you celebrate that black belt trophy, like a Kisko Freezie. Free of all major allergens: nut free, dairy free, soya free, gluten free and egg free. That means they are school friendly. Also…

  • family

    Before You Ask Bloggers to Write For Free #blogging

    April 12, 2013 - By 

    A collage of a few of the brands I work with, or provide social media strategy for, as a business at thriftymommastips.com (Every week my email in box fills up with perplexing public relations pitches and blogger outreach programs. Many of these go unanswered. Then today I also received a telephone call – follow up from a local London company – that asked if I need more information about an email in order to post a tiny discount code for my readers free. I am compelled to share a letter I recently sent to a contact about the business of…

  • Health - parenting

    Bra Shopping is a Metaphor for My Life

    April 11, 2013 - By 

    The Bra is a metaphor for my life.  I took my Mom to get her perm today. Phone bonging all the way with emails coming in fast and furious, tweets and Facebook updates, last minute travel things to care for and the threat of freezing rain. Two hours it takes for a perm to set from start to finish and well with my iphone in hand, hint of bad weather – which makes my mother extremely nervous – and numerous gift cards burning a hole in my wallet I thought I might as well stay and shop at Masonville Mall…