• active family travel - Travel

    Ziptrek EcoTours – My Favourite Birthday Trip Yet

    August 29, 2017 - By 

    This is the birthday trip I will look back on when I am 90 and GRIN from ear to ear. Ziplining down Mont Tremblant with Ziptrek Ecotours was a brilliant adventure I will not soon forget. Ziptrek is a zipline tour with a difference and it is one of the most thrilling courses I have done so far. If you have ever been to Tremblant you know it is spectacular. Quebec is simply one of my favourite destinations and the Laurentians are a Canadian treasure. In fact, if you have not yet been, then what are you waiting for? In…

  • couples_resort
    Travel

    Couples Resort – A Romantic Anniversary Retreat

    August 22, 2017 - By 

    Couples Resort is romantic getaway for any couple that needs to relax and reconnect, without the kids in tow. Last week Jim and I dropped our youngest daughter off at camp in Muskoka near Huntsville. I had heard of Couples Resort and we hadn’t yet had time to celebrate our 25th anniversary, so I planned to surprise my husband with two nights away. We headed up past Algonquin Park after dropping Ainsley at camp and Payton at her aunt’s house. The drive from Huntsville was about 90 minutes. I’ve never been through Algonquin Park and loved seeing the Moose Crossing…

  • solar_eclipse
    family

    Five Things You Need to Know About A Solar Eclipse

    August 17, 2017 - By 

    A Solar Eclipse happens on August 21, 2017, and people are abuzz! While a solar eclipse is not an uncommon event, we won’t see another over Canada, the continental United States, and North America until 2024, so that’s a big deal.   TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE FACTS: If you’ve never experienced a total eclipse, there are things you’ll see and feel that may be a bit unsettling. Understanding what’s happening and why will make viewing the solar eclipse all the more interesting. Anxious children might benefit from knowing what to expect in advance.   The sky may look like it has…

  • london_ontario_lifestyle_bloggers
    family - family travel

    London Ontario Lifestyle Bloggers – Local Influencers

    July 5, 2017 - By 

    London Ontario Lifestyle Bloggers are actually quite a force of nature. In fact I have seen so many over the years since I began writing on line. As some of you know Thrifty Mommas Tips began in 2009. It was a way to get back into writing after a lengthy absence from my job as a journalist at the London Free Press. Happy to say I am still here and loving what I do. I attended an event in Arva last night and met a new blogger and we got talking. She asked are there many London Ontario Lifestyle bloggers? Well,…

  • butter_tart_recipes
    Food

    15 Outstanding Homemade Butter Tart Recipes

    June 30, 2017 - By 

    The number of butter tart recipes in Canada could fill a book on its own. I mean is there anything more Canadian than Butter Tarts? Every single Canadian Mom or Grandma has butter tart recipes to boast about. In fact butter tarts are one of my favourite desserts. They are even yummier than my second favourite – lemon tarts and desserts. So let’s talk butter tart recipes. Butter Tart recipes are generally pretty simple to find and if you start to ask around you will see that everybody has an opinion on what kind they love. Soupy, liquid, buttery gooey…

  • summer_road_travel
    family - Giveaways - Travel

    Be Prepared for Summer Road Travel

    May 24, 2017 - By 

    Summer’s almost here and that means summer road travel season is underway. There’s a part of me that’s counting the days until we can load up the van and drive somewhere new. Road trips are a tradition when the kids get out of school and we all take a collective deep breath. Nothing nicer to me than the easier rhythm of summer days. This July one of my girls will be working as a camp counsellor so our family will work around that schedule. Summer road trips are an important part of our family tradition here. In the last couple…

  • active family travel - family - Giveaways

    Linked Moms Parkbridge Life Twitter Party – Save The Date – April 26th at 8 p.m. #ParkbridgeLife

    April 18, 2017 - By 

    It’s that time of year yet again. The time to get started thinking about mapping out your summer schedule. Because summer is nothing if not short. And summer memories are built in a handful of weekends to keep you warm all throughout the rest of the year.   So please join Linked Moms for their annual Parkbridge Life Twitter party event. When: Wednesday, April 26th at 8 p.m. EST Prizes: a MINI stay at Lakes of Wasaga, in Wasaga Beach. And cash VISA card prizes to be announced soon. While everyone is welcome to participate, only Canadians can win prizes. Don’t…

  • 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…

  • visit_richmond
    Travel

    Visit Richmond, BC and Your Taste Buds Will Thank You #IFWTWA #RichmondMoments

    March 28, 2017 - By 

    Visit Richmond, BC, and your taste buds will thank you. This bustling city has so much going for it. Richmond is known for its beautiful waterfront, gorgeous sunsets, and vibrant city. It is the fourth largest city in British Columbia. It’s bustling with people enjoying everything from the arts to shipyards, but for me the biggest asset here is the memorable Asian culture, and food experience. Whether you are planning a trip near Vancouver, in BC, Canada, or visiting Richmond on its own, you will remember this city. Visit Richmond, BC and Find Something for Everyone Whether you’re a history buff, nature lover, pop culture…