This post is sponsored by Hamilton Beach and may contain affiliate links. My kids are closing in on adulthood. Scary thought, right? Childhood goes far too fast. Right now I am faced with a whole lot of upcoming change and I’d be a liar if I told you that it doesn’t stress me out. The closer we get to college and university the more stressed I am about having all of our ducks in a row. Finances, grades, courses, preparation. In a few months, my older girl will start applying for university. She hopes and plans to go to school…
-
-
Jagged rocks of South Gap Lakes Trail are slick with Wyoming’s first snow of the winter. This morning this Ontario Canada girl left Vee Bar Guest Ranch near Laramie where the scenery was all golden light, faint autumn breezes and babbling brooks only to find winter here. Wintery Welcome I came to explore Wyoming and had zero intentions of finding snow. My city in southern Ontario nets more than enough snow from December through end of March that I need not hunt more down. And yet here in the mountains of Medicine Bow National Forest finding the first snow of…
-
Do you wake up most mornings still feeling tired? Are you concerned that your kids might not be getting the rest they need to do well at school? If so, you’re not alone. But don’t panic, here are some top tips on how to get enough downtime at night to keep your family happy and healthy. Sleep Quality and Family Well Being Why is rest important? Sleep helps the brain process information. If it doesn’t get enough, kids and adults might struggle with handling day-to-day tasks as well as they would after a proper night’s rest – both in school,…
-
Post may contain affiliate links as a service to readers.. Served hot or cold, spiced Chai tea has become quite popular in much of the world. In fact, spiced chai latte is the one drink I enjoy most from Starbucks. It is my go to drink there when I visit. I am a giant tea lover. But, if you know me at all then you also know that I don’t like to waste money. So, we do a lot of things with a frugal eye. That’s why I thought I’d figure out how to make an easy spiced chai tea…
-
Outstanding dining options are always on my radar when I travel, whether it be alone or with the family. For me, travel is often also about the food and local, fresh, options always add to any travel experience. One of my favourite parts of any trip is finding the best eats in the area or simply discovering something new. For instance, in 2017 we ended up at MINT just outside Waitsfield Vermont and we were collectively as a family blown away by the flavourful fresh vegetarian options. We are not vegetarians but we were keen to see how Mint had…
-
FUJIFILM Printlife sponsored this post, which means I received product or compensation. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could bottle time? All parents know that time slips by far too fast. You can’t stop time, so how do you slow it or capture it? The obvious answer is photos of course. But, for the most part our photos live on our phones. Sometimes, lately, I have a near panic thinking what if everything crashed and all my digital photos vanished. FUJIFILM Printlife created by FUJIFILM focuses squarely on inspiration, education, and awareness of the importance of printing digital photos. I’m…
-
This post has been sponsored by DK Canada. I received product for consideration here. Educational reads are vital to start and keep a love of learning in kids. Back to school is on everyone’s minds, so the time is right to nurture curiosity and spark interests in many topics outside school too. Remember, the kids will have plenty of textbooks at school. They will want some enjoyable alternatives at home. That’s why I look for educational reads that are fun when I buy books. Also, honestly it’s never too soon to start planning for holiday gifts either. I recently got…
-
Missouri Facts kind of captured my imagination when I was in the state with my daughter Ainsley. This midwestern state, ranked 21st largest state in the United States is also nicknamed the “Show Me” state. I didn’t know a lot about Missouri before we arrived in St. Louis and drove to Columbia. But, while there we picked up a lot of Missouri facts and trivia too. Of course, we stayed in Lake of the Ozarks and Fulton Missouri and had a great time too. A Few Famous People From Missouri Missouri boasts a large number of celebrity and famous names who…
-
We were guests while visiting Columbia Missouri. What is it about university towns like Columbia Missouri that makes them so vibrant and unique? Maybe it’s the youthful influx of students every year. Or perhaps it’s the energy and creativity. Have you ever noticed how university towns just seem connected and alive? Columbia Missouri is just that kind of space. This Central Missouri city is fun, creative, and flavourful with many reasons to visit and explore this destination. The art alone is worth the trip, as is the food. Art, food, youthful culture, outdoor activity and wineries? Do you really need…
-
I am a 2019 Hoover brand ambassador and, as such, I received compensation for this post.My opinion is my own and it is also truthful. In the summer, messes happen. I think we can all agree on that. Kids are home a bit more than usual, so having vacuums and cleaning tools handy and readily available can make all the difference. Luckily, Hoover Canada has a couple of great ideas to help with those end of summer messes. One of those cleaning tools is the handy little Hoover cordless hand vacuum. My one teen actually got extremely excited on seeing…