• trash_or_recycle_printable
    family

    Simple Earth Day Trash Or Recycle Game for Ages 3 and up.

    April 13, 2017 - By 

    It’s coming up to Earth Day. I don’t know about you but these days I feel more urgency than ever when it comes to Earth Day and changing some of our family habits. Are we greener than we used to be here? Yes, I believe so. Do your kids turn lights off, pick up litter and sort recycling? It’s never too soon to start teaching some of the recycling basics and this Trash Or Recycle game will help. The parent in me loves that schools in Ontario do a better job than ever of teaching energy conservation and environmental issues to kids.…

  • triple_chamber_challenge
    family - Giveaways - parenting

    If Laundry Makes You Cringe, Try This Triple Chamber Challenge #AHFreshPerspective

    April 12, 2017 - By 

    Someone asked me recently what I liked about laundry. I didn’t need to think hard about that because honestly there’s nothing I like about laundry. Nothing at all. Unless someone else does the laundry. Then I love it. I also love it when my clothes are clean and put away and ready to wear. Laundry is expensive and seemingly endless at times. Thank Goodness I have helpers. My husband and daughters help out. In fact my husband does three quarters of the laundry here. I do three quarters of the cooking so that’s fair. And my teens mostly help with the…

  • richmond_BC_dumpling_trail
    Travel

    Explore the Delicious Dumpling Trail in Richmond, BC

    April 11, 2017 - By 

    Did you know that dumplings are considered the original fast-food? Any idea what the differences are between dumplings? These are just a couple of the things you will learn on the self guided Dumpling Trail food tour in Richmond, BC. You can start every day hungry and finish feeling satisfied and well traveled when you embrace the authentic Asian cuisine and culture in Richmond. First Stops on Our Tour Inside an unassuming Korean restaurant hidden away off Westminster Highway in Richmond, BC, we begin our Dumpling Trail Tour. Kimchi comes first at Samsoonie Noodle and Rice. This is new, at least to me. It has more heat…

  • oral_health_care
    Health

    National Oral Health Care Month #ChurchandDwight

    April 10, 2017 - By 

    Did you know that April is National Oral Health Care month? It’s also the perfect reminder that it’s important to pay special attention to our teeth and overall oral hygiene, which can have a tremendous impact on our overall health. Did you know that poor oral health can lead to gum disease, which left untreated, can lead to the loss of teeth…and sometimes heart disease? Now that my kids are teenagers I discuss the impact of poor oral health care on them more than I ever used to do.  Both my girls are old enough to understand that there are…

  • sauteed_asparagus
    family - Food

    Sautéed Asparagus and Scalloped Potatoes – Simple Side Dishes Are Better With Butter #BornOnTheFarm

    April 7, 2017 - By 

    Sometimes I feel like butter is a dairy staple we take for granted. Butter makes sauces creamier, baked goods taste richer and it can elevate a recipe. But it never really takes centre stage. Just like side dishes. But Gay Lea butter can make almost anything better. It can improve a simple fresh vegetable like sautéed asparagus or add a twist to a new variation on traditional scalloped potatoes. This week was a brutally busy one with both girls in a martial arts tournament working as score-keepers and competing too. and it seemed like meals – good fresh home cooked…

  • fashion_angels
    family

    Fashion Angels Introduce New Spring Craft Kits for Tweens and Teens #TMMSG17

    April 6, 2017 - By 

    Fashion Angels is a company I’ve written about several times. If you’ve read any of those posts, you know I’m in love with the brand. This company is all about wholesome fun, and as a mom, I really love that. When I look at what constitutes entertainment these days, I’m glad that there’s a company like Fashion Angels out there that provides my girls with an outlet that lets them be creative. The only person who loves Fashion Angels more than me, is my youngest daughter. So when I heard that the company had released a new line of spring…

  • spring_gift_guide
    family

    Get Featured in Thrifty Mommas Tips Spring Gift Guide 2017 #TMMSG17

    April 5, 2017 - By 

    For the first year ever I am publishing a Spring gift guide. I often publish a Christmas gift guide, but this season spring is knocking my socks off. Numerous great products have already caught my eye and I want to share them here. Spring is the perfect time to get outdoors. Spring is Easter and birthday parties and eventually even longer days that lead to summer. It’s fun family gatherings and bike rides and hikes and spring gifts too. Many of the products featured here this spring, are quirky, creative and new. They make great presents for any number of…

  • Marriott_Vancouver_Airport_hotel
    active family travel - family - Travel

    Vancouver Airport Marriott Hotel in Richmond, BC

    April 4, 2017 - By 

    That’s right you read the title correctly. The Vancouver Airport Marriott Hotel is in Richmond, BC. It’s a quirky thing that several Richmond hotels are not identified as hotels in Richmond, BC. Such is the case here with this lovely hotel stationed about a 10 minute drive from the Vancouver Airport. The Vancouver Airport Marriott Hotel in Richmond is the best of both worlds. How is the Vancouver Airport Marriott Hotel the best of both worlds? Well, let me explain. It is close enough to the Vancouver Airport to make travel simple and convenient. A complimentary airport shuttle will take you…

  • women's health issues
    Health

    Frank Talk About Women’s Health Issues #NoShame #ad

    April 3, 2017 - By 

    This post is sponsored by Bayer. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label. If you ever visit this space then you know I am nothing if not frank and honest regarding women’s health issues. Whether it’s infertility or menopause, menstruation, or digestive issues, I have no qualms sharing personal stories. Sometimes telling your story helps someone else understand they are not alone.   Many women’s health issues and symptoms are swept under the carpet, even still in 2017. Women and men can often be reluctant, even embarrassed, to discuss health issues, especially intimate health.…

  • gear_giveaway
    family - Giveaways - parenting

    Share Photos of Your Daughter’s Old Gear to Win #PlayOnWinGear

    April 2, 2017 - By 

    I am a spokesperson for Playtex Sport and as such I have been compensated. This is my opinion and my story and it is truthful.  Is your daughter’s basketball jersey junk? Is that wrestling singlet sunk? Volleyball uniform vanish? Don’t sweat it. You can still save the day. Right now you could win a new uniform for your daughter, or grand-daughter. You might even win uniforms for the entire team with the Playtex Sport Gear Giveaways. This is one contest you will want to share. The Playtex Sport Gear Giveaways are happening right now on Instagram. It’s easy to enter. All you have to do is…