• best_ways_to_celebrate
    parenting

    What are the Best Ways to Celebrate the Last Day of School?

    May 31, 2018 - By 

    What are the best ways to celebrate that last day of school? There are many ways to mark the accomplishment of finishing another year of school. This school year has flown by. June is almost here! There is nothing quite like the excitement of a child who is climbing off the bus after the last day of school. It truly is a landmark day for both kids and parents! They have completed another grade and you have survived an entire school year – hopefully unscathed. It’s the great time for both of you to celebrate. So what are some ideas…

  • Travel

    Educational Books from Lonely Planet Kids Encourage Exploration

    May 30, 2018 - By 

    Educational books are always top on my packing list when it comes to keeping kids occupied on trips. These types of books help broaden a child’s horizons and keep them interested in learning. We’re planning a road trip or two this summer and as any diligent parent who travels with family knows the key to successful road trips is preparation. That’s why I’ll be loading the van up with resources for the kids to stay busy. Gadgets will help of course and some of my free printables always make the trip. But this summer I am bringing some excellent educational…

  • fairmont_le_chateau_frontenac
    Travel

    Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac – Modern Amenities in an Old World Castle

    May 29, 2018 - By 

    Nestled inside the walls of Old Quebec lies the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac. Originally a castle, this stunning building is now one of the most luxurious, memorable hotels in Canada. I stayed at Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac while I attended the Women in Travel Summit being held there, and I can say without a doubt that it was one of the most scenic and luxurious hotels I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting. Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac Perfectly Combines Old World and Modern Day The Fairmont began as a castle, and as such, it has some unique rooms, which I…

  • ontario_pioneer_camp
    family

    Find Your Strength at Pioneer Camp Ontario

    May 28, 2018 - By 

    Every January my youngest daughter begins the camp countdown to Pioneer Camp Ontario. That’s six or seven months of anticipation before the eventual August drop-off every summer. In many ways this camp is the gift that keeps giving all year long. Of course there’s the week at camp, or lately the two weeks there and the enjoyment, independence and creativity she gets every single year attending Pioneer Camp Ontario. But long after camp itself, every single year Ainsley comes home inspired, engaged, confident, calm and grounded. How Did We Discover Pioneer Camp Ontario? Just two summers ago my family was…

  • Giveaways - Health

    Fighting Allergies in Our Home with Oreck Tru Response

    May 25, 2018 - By 

    Fighting allergies all year round can be a challenge. Between outdoor allergens in the warm months, and year-round indoor allergens, my family is on constant guard against the allergies we all have. That’s right, every single person in our house suffers from allergies. We get it all – itchy eyes, runny noses, persistent cough, scratchy throats, the whole bit. That’s why I’m excited about our new Oreck Tru Response air purifier. It helps us fight allergies in our homes year round. Fighting Allergies All Day Every Day The thing I love about our air purifier is that it’s on constant…

  • sageunay_family_adventure
    Travel

    One of a Kind Saguenay Family Resort with Wolves

    May 24, 2018 - By 

    Waking up to wolves and bison and sled dogs is a bit surreal. But, you need not be a fictional character from a Canadian novel to make this wildlife experience happen. You can entertain your wild side and get spiritual too at a Saguenay Family Resort called Ferme 5 étoiles in Sacre-Couer-Saguenay, Cote Nord Region of Quebec. This family friendly destination in Quebec Nord region is comfortable, unique and open all year long. Recently I stayed there with friends while on a press trip. From the moment we arrived to the second we left we were enamoured with the rescue…

  • transition_to_high_school
    family

    How To Move Teens on to High School when Change is a Huge Issue

    May 23, 2018 - By 

    Do you have teens with special needs or simply inflexible teens? Do they have trouble adjusting to change? Me too. This September my youngest starts high school. Why is that a big deal? Well, my younger daughter has a host of diagnoses. She has an IEP (individual education plan), technology for accessing the curriculum, FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder), sensory and learning challenges, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) all related to that. Combine all of that with a difficulty adjusting to change. Ainsley has difficulty adjusting to life changes. That is extremely typical for kids and adults with FASD…

  • quebec_city_food_tour
    Travel

    One of a Kind Walking Feast – Quebec Food Tour

    May 22, 2018 - By 

    This post contains affiliate links as a service to my readers. If you make a purchase via one of the links I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  A Quebec food tour is a wonderful way to learn history and get an insider’s view into where to eat when visiting the city. The food in Quebec City is a curious blend of multiple influences from Europe and aboriginal peoples in Canada. That makes the food scene exciting, unique, and worth investigating, which is exactly what we did recently when visiting Quebec City for a womens’ travel…

  • origin_of_butter_tarts
    Food

    The History of Canada’s Pastry – The Origin of Butter Tarts

    May 21, 2018 - By 

    Butter tarts are delicious. They’re a national treasure. I could eat them all day. Seriously. I mean who couldn’t? Think about these little delicious Heavenly tarts. Butter tarts are amazing little snack sized tarts filled with a mixture of melted butter, brown sugar, egg, and sometimes walnuts or raisins. They are simply perfection. Butter tarts are a little bowl of Heaven that is, in my opinion, the best recipe to ever come out of a Canadian kitchen. Today, I honour the tastiest treat in the history of Canadian treats by telling you a bit about the origin of butter tarts. Of…

  • Printables

    What’s On Your List – Summer Bucket List Printable

    May 18, 2018 - By 

    Summer is one of my favourite seasons. I love winter because of ski season and outdoor sports. Ski season is everything in the winter months here. But the warmer months, when my pool is open and the beach is just a drive away…well that’s also all that and a bag of chips. To me spring and fall are just shoulder season. Definitely not much for me there. But summer well that’s golden. The problem with summer is it flies by so fast you can hardly get a grip on it. It is gone in a blink. So how do you…