• Giveaways

    Follow Friday and Freebies

    September 17, 2010 - By 

    For those of you in London, don’t forget Doors Open London is this weekend and LOLA too. Doors Open means you can visit for free a number of area attracions that normally would cost money!!! So what are you waiting for? I have three giveaways going on right now. Also Eden Mills Writer’s Festival is this weekend and I may – depending on the weather – have a fast trip Sunday to the lovely little village where writers and readers meet annually. Over at http://www.thriftymommasbrainfood.blogspot.com/ I am giving away a copy:of 1. Embracing Your Second Calling2. Dork Diaries.Also here, there…

  • advocacy
    family - Parenting

    Advocacy – WIN THEN BUILD Philosophy

    September 13, 2010 - By 

    This is something I share when I do workshops throughout North America on advocacy. But because I know so many friends with children who can use this information I thought I would post a tipsheet on the topic. I call it the WIN then Build philosophy of advocacy. I run a non profit (Canadian Coalition of Adoptive Families http://www.canadiancoalitionofadoptivefamilies.ca/) in which I often use these tactics and I am a Mom and I have a child with special needs. This is what works my experience. Of course there’s more than one way to make things happen but this worked well…

  • school_lunches
    family

    SIX Questions and Answers about School Lunches

    September 8, 2010 - By 

    So your baby is about to start school and she or he is staying for lunch. That opens up a whole new world of school lunches. I have a bit of experience with thousands of school lunches over the years and I wanted to pull together some questions and tips that I often get asked by friends whose kids are just starting kindergarten. A friend of mine prompted this post as she found it helpful last week when I emailed her in response to a question she had about school lunches and leftovers.   Six Questions about School Lunches Q1: What lunch…

  • family - parenting

    Activity Tax Credits, Mommies and What About Seniors too?

    September 8, 2010 - By 

    I am all for activity tax credits and fitness tax credits and anything that keeps kids active and fit and healthy. I can back that any day and, in fact, I would. I spend well over the $500 a year allowed by the federal fitness tax credit each year – $1,000 for a disabled child. I have some extremely active children and they need a lot of martial arts/ basketball/ swimming/ skating/ music/ drama etc. I claim every year the maximum I can and I tell every new parent I know to take advantage of the federal credit. It makes…

  • Travel

    Blue Mountain Collingwood and Plunge!

    September 7, 2010 - By 

    Blue Mountain Collingwood is a spot I haven’t visited since I was maybe 12 years old. When the opportunity came up to check out Blue Mountain this past weekend we were curious to see how things had changed. With my Lay’s Chip Trips once again, we were able to save a few bucks on this trip. In total a day for four at Plunge is about $42. We saved on one free child’s admission. It was a lovely treat to stay in Weider Lodge at the base of Blue Mountain and Plunge was a hoot. I’d very much recommend this…

  • family

    Monday Mingle

    September 6, 2010 - By 

    Whoops almost forgot to give a shout out to my friend Jennifer over at 80 MPH Mom who started this vloggy fun on her blog. So Happy Monday Mingle. Make some new friends.

  • parenting

    Labour Day Thrills on The Cheap

    September 6, 2010 - By 

    Well, this is just a speedy post. Lucky for you my lovely readers. I was sitting here trying to sort out my nasty book blog template thriftymommasbrainfood that went insane on the weekend and I happened to think well there are a few small things I should pass on to you. Here is the top of the list. If you are the brave sort of Mommy who ventures out to restaurants with your kiddos on occasion –  I am not talking McDonald’s here, then you will want to know this. The best day of the year to take your children…

  • Travel

    Wings of Paradise: Family Travel and a Butterfly Rescuer

    August 31, 2010 - By 

    This summer you will want to check out this little gem near Cambridge. Wings of Paradise Butterfly Conservatory is a perfect day trip for kids who are school aged. First catch of the day. Payton lands one easily at Wings of Paradise near Cambridge. Ainsley waited and waited. At first the butterflies swirling around her head were really making her nervous. Then she started to get a bit more comfortable and, when her sister proudly landed one carefully on her finger, well, my competitive six-year-old was not be to outdone. Here little sister finally had her moment. The Blue Morpho…

  • family

    Friday: Back To School Edition

    August 27, 2010 - By 

    Holy Shopping Batman! There are some incredible deals happening this weekend and some excellent freebies in and around London area too. Oh and it’s a follow Friday thing again here too.. So read on… Gap Give and Get program is on this weekend. It started Thursday and runs through until end of Sunday. 30 % off anything you buy at Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy. The bonus here is that the Gap gives 5% of what you spend to various non profits including Canadian Aids Society. Rainbow Cinemas at the Galleria has their annual birthday event this weekend and…

  • family - family travel

    Back To School Last Hurrahs

    August 26, 2010 - By 

    Payton and Ainsley in the cool room at Great Wolf Lodge Great Wolf Lodge- Niagara Falls Father’s Day at Bingeman’s Park – Kitchener Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum – Niagara Falls Well, less than two weeks to school starting here and I am on a mission. We’ve had a fabulous summer of fun activities like the excellent Great Wolf Lodge weekend on Canada Day. Many thanks to Lay’s Chip Trips and Mom Central Canada. As a Trip Advisor, I have seen a lot of fun Ontario sites and enjoyed a few deep discounts. All that for the price of a few…