families Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

Best Zoo Webcams to Watch Right Now

Paula — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 15:15:21 +0000

Clearly, we can’t get to the zoo right now, during the pandemic. But what if you could bring the zoo to you? These Zoo Webcams do just that! Do the kids want to watch and learn about their favourite animals and species right now anyways? Are they concerned about their favourite zoos or the animals there? Well, let them watch some of these Zoo Webcams and they will be entertained for hours over the next few weeks. Oh I know there are so many potential puns and jokes to be had regarding zoos and kids and families. Bringing the literal zoo into your zoo at home! LOL. Or maybe this one: bringing animals to your little animals? Meh, we are all just trying to do our best right now and these are some excellent resources that can help all of you. Some of the Best Zoo WebCams Around the World I can honestly say I saw pandas this morning and they were up and walking around thriving. SO great. What a way to start the day! Listen, this is a no pressure thing right now entirely. For me, at my house, it’s about maintaining sanity and positivity and staying busy. I enjoy seeing the pandas and other wildlife on the webcams – it makes me happy and is a perfect way to launch a potentially challenging day. Super Grateful for These Right Now My gratitude exercise right now, is actually thank goodness for webcams and technology. I can be in San Diego at the zoo or in Atlanta or Kansas City. That is exceptional. The Smithsonian! Canadian Zoo Webcams/ Recording and Youtube This list is smaller than I had hoped and not for lack of trying. Let’s just say, I am kind of surprised that more Canadian zoos don’t have webcams up and running. Maybe, something they need to look at for future. Toronto Zoo has Youtube resources, so that’s certainly something. Love that zoo, so if I am wrong and you know they have live zoo webcams, please drop me a line or a comment. Thanks! Hit subscribe so you don’t miss any of the updates. Wilder Institute / Calgary Zoo PandaCam. WOW the Calgary Zoo has an impressive leg up on conservation efforts now leaning hard into a global mission that is admirable. Greater Vancouver Zoo – Youtube. Not Exactly Zoo WebCams, But Still AWESOME Nature in Its Glory Not a ZOO BUT even more Wildlife in their habitat. This is my new favourite actually. Relaxing and Educational These Zoo Webcams can be relaxing, or educational right now. While I started watching these during the peak pandemic years, I have updated them for 2026 and still enjoy popping in from time to time to see what’s changed. Enjoy these when you are hunting for something to keep kids occupied. My new favourite is the polar bears on Explore.org above.

The post Best Zoo Webcams to Watch Right Now appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

Launching an Affordable Retirement Lifestyle at the Beach – #ParkbridgeLife ad

Paula — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 11:40:43 +0000

Ever wonder if an affordable retirement lifestyle is a myth? Might be closer than you think actually. I like to think we know Wasaga Beach and Parkbridge properties pretty well. My family and I stay there every single year. In fact, sometimes twice a year. Lakes of Wasaga Cottage and RV Resort is one of our personal favourites. We stay in one of the heated chalets every February. After a long day of brisk air over on scenic Blue Mountain, their chalets are perfection. A couple of weeks ago my daughters and I, along with my good friend Margarita and her son, headed up there for a blogger’s weekend. We shared a lot of laughs, some good food and a sunny hot weekend at the beach. It turned into a really great girlfriend’s weekend. In fact I have not seen Wasaga Beach that busy in years! When we stayed at Wasaga Pines in August we had cool weather, so we welcomed the heat wave. So What are Residential Communities? This time around we also learned a bit more about Parkbridge’s residential and affordable retirement lifestyle communities. Where Can You Find Affordable Retirement and Residential Land Lease Communities in Ontario? For a few of my friends, my readers, and their extended networks of family and friends, retirement is not that far away. But there’s a lot to consider. Will you have enough money? Are you downsizing from a large 3 or 4 bedroom home with stairs to a condominium, or a beach home? What does retirement look like? Is it even possible to retire at the beach? An Inside Look Recently we had the chance to tour one of Parkbridge’s affordable retirement and residential communities while staying in Wasaga Beach. And we heard a bit more about the benefits and the costs associated with retiring here. Affordable retirement and affordable home and cottage ownership is definitely an option at Parkbridge, because of the land lease arrangement. Some Parkbridge Lifestyle Community Facts: Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities are located throughout Canada. There are over 120 Parkbridge residential and retirement communities across the country. They are a Canadian company. Leader in land lease communities in Canada Affordable options for home and cottage ownership as well Why Land Lease? So why land lease at Parkbridge? Well, there’s no better way to build an affordable retirement really. Land lease means you own your home, but not the land. If you live at Parkbridge, because someone else owns the land, much of the maintenance is taken care of for you. No lawn cutting? No Snow shovelling and no worrying about water or waste water systems. As well, Parkbridge also builds and maintains infrastructure such as sidewalks, roads, and community centres on the property. At any one of the Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities you will find lovely parks, ponds, trails and pools. It’s a relaxed vibrant lifestyle community on its own. An affordable retirement lifestyle at Parkbridge goes hand in hand with bustling social atmosphere. Each home is private. Owners can spruce up their houses as they wish. (as long as the maintenance people can still cut the lawn – FYI that means no garden gnomes) Communities are a diverse mix of retired couples, singles and widowers. That can be beneficial for widowed women in particular. Because they are safe, affordable communities, many widowed women flourish. The atmosphere provides opportunity to build new hobbies, sports interests, and friendships too. Sometimes that’s all that’s needed to live a bit longer independently. Did I Mention The Beach? One of my favorite things about the Parkbridge properties in Wasaga Beach, is the proximity to the beach and the Collingwood area. The communities all have common social spaces like the pools, community centres and the gathering areas for picnics. And many of these retirement and lifestyle communities from Parkbridge also have extremely active social calendars. Cycle around the property safely. Go for a swim, or take part in the many seasonal activities offered too. Each community has their own unique activities. Cottage Ownership is Attainable Too Parkbridge also has affordable cottage ownership options. To be honest that’s very appealing to me. Cottages are managed much the same way at nearby Lakes of Wasaga Cottage and RV Resort and that makes it affordable to buy. I mean imagine a cottage where you never had to mow the lawn? Building vibrant communities and providing affordable retirement options So to recap there are multiple options with Parkbridge Resorts and their land lease arrangement. Buy an affordable retirement home. Purchase an affordable family home Rent a cabin or cottage at one of their Cottage and RV Resorts or Marinas. OR you can buy a cabin, cottage, or chalet at one of their Cottage and RV Resorts and Marinas. Affordable Retirement at the Beach is Possible Together, we always have a great time at Parkbridge properties. For rental or for stays that are meant much longer, Parkbridge is a great option. So if you never thought you could build an affordable retirement dream at the beach, or buy a cottage there, think again. It might be easier to achieve than you think. I attended a blogger’s weekend at Parkbridge Resorts Lakes of Wasaga. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful.

The post Launching an Affordable Retirement Lifestyle at the Beach – #ParkbridgeLife ad appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

Special Needs Families in Ontario Need to Know This Now

Paula — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 11:50:40 +0000

Special needs families in Ontario struggle. If you are a special needs parent in Ontario, regardless of the diagnosis, you are struggling in some way. The emotional and physical burdens of parenting a child or youth with special needs, are draining. FULL STOP. Now add financial stress to that. Extra programs, time off work, specialty therapies – all of these cost a lot of money. Sometimes that is literally your grocery money. Other times it is your retirement plan. Financial costs are a huge strain to Ontario special needs families. There are some programs that help. Not everyone knows about them, but you need to know how to access these programs now. Don’t waste another minute. Get started applying. There are waitlists for one or two of these programs. There is time and energy involved and I know you are already exhausted. BUT your family needs this now. Special Needs Families NEED TO Know About These Programs NOW: ACSD – Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities FACTS: ACSD is income Tested. If your family income is over a certain level you might not qualify. BUT, you need to check anyways. When my daughter was small and we were struggling to get her a diagnosis we were a one income family. That was a hardship. We needed this support in order for me to be able to get her what she needed in the community. The ACSD program will also give your child some health and dental benefits. Check if you qualify for ACSD at your regional office. Your child must be living at home and under 18. This is intended for families that are low to moderate income. See link above. Amounts vary depending on your family income and severity of disability but can be $25 to $470 a month. Special Services at Home Although this one has been challenging historically because of waitlists and inadequate support personnel. (we waited 4-5 years for my daughter to get off the waitlist) That’s actually more reason to get on the waitlist now. If you have a child with special needs of any sort in Ontario you know all about waiting. GET on the list for Special Services at Home now. NOTE: The Ministry web site indicates that you can do both of these forms above on your own. However, I found that was not the case for many families. I used to help adoptive families fill them out. When I filled ours out years ago the VON locally called us to redo chunks of it, so maybe start there. Call your area VON office for help and guidance on this one. This Special Services at Home (or SSAH) program changes often. We had a support person for Ainsley for a couple of years but then she moved. She has not been replaced yet. I know many families with amazing support workers who are paired with their children and take them out weekly for soccer or swimming, just to give everyone a break. However, because we have no actual worker anymore, we are able to access this fund to help pay for Ainsley’s Therapy riding lessons and camp too. INVALUABLE. Here is the SSAH application form. You can use this for a respite or support worker. Currently you can wait for the VON to match you with that worker, or try to hunt one down yourself. Disability Tax Credit This is a Canadian tax credit program as taxes are federal government domain. You will need a doctor, or nurse practitioner, to sign off on whether your child has a recognized disability or not. You must fill out a Form T-2201. See below for the link. The good news is this is retroactive. So if your child was diagnosed with autism or FASD in 2009, but didn’t get this form signed by a doctor until 2014 they will retroactively apply the credit so that you might receive a refund payment lump sum. First find a good doctor or nurse practitioner. Some refuse certain disabilities. Be clear on how the disability presents and how it impacts daily life and what you need. Then submit the form. Form T-2201 If you are like me at all then you might need to find someone with tax law knowledge for guidance on this. Certainly at tax time be sure your tax person, or accountant has experience with disability tax credits. That is vital. Ask upfront. RDSP – Registered Disability Savings Plan (think RESP for children with special needs) If your child has a disability and receives the Ontario Disability Tax Credit then you might want to set up an RDSP for them (Registered Disability Savings Plan) – You can have an RESP and RDSP at the same time for the same child. Check with someone reputable about how to invest in an RDSP. There are significant incentives from the government here. So for instance we started one for one daughter a few years ago at the suggestion of my financial advisor. This is a matching grant – so if you add money yearly, then the government adds to that. To open an RDSP here’s what you need to know. Click on the government link to RDSP forms here. This is a fund to help support your child when they are over 18. This is About Your Special Needs Child: Over the years I have heard many special needs families say I don’t want a handout. Or it feels like a cash grab. GET OVER IT! You pay taxes. Any conversations related to your child with special needs are about getting what your child needs now. This is not about you. It is about your child with special needs. My child needs therapy riding. My child needs an RDSP for the future. The future for children with special needs can be very worrisome. While I am at it on the topic, please be sure you have a will and have given longterm future for your child serious thought.

The post Special Needs Families in Ontario Need to Know This Now appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

Freezer Friendly Organic Fall Flavours #ad

Paula — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 11:29:04 +0000

This is a sponsored post. Fall routines are in full swing again and mealtime can be a challenge. It’s hard to make creative and healthy food quickly enough to feed a busy family. I know it is a struggle. But, there are a few things I have found that can help with the process. Preparing meats, sauces and even vegetables can help save time during the week. An hour or so on a Saturday or Sunday morning sometimes takes a bit of the sting out of busy weeknight dinnertimes. Fall Dinner Timesavers Wash your vegetables on the weekend and place them in small portions in containers in the fridge. Brown up some meat and prepare sauce ahead of time on the weekend and place it in the freezer for later. Plan out a few nights or maybe even a week’s worth of meals. I am not suggesting that you cook them on a Sunday or anything. Let’s be realistic here. But, you can sit down and decide if pasta night is Monday and Taco night is Tuesday and Wednesday is a casserole for instance. Then shop accordingly. Get the Crock Pot out and throw a meal together in the morning. Use your Instant Pot. Classic Meat Sauce As families everywhere adjust to busy schedules, a classic meat sauce is also a food prep staple – and for good reason, it’s protein-packed, crowd-pleasing and, most importantly, freezes well and can be reheated within minutes. Just boil your noodles fast when kids get in and warm up the sauce (see recipe below) and you have a speedy, healthy dinner. Organic Pork Saves Money and is Healthy Too Pork is an economical solution to feeding any family and is the perfect flavour complement to the bounty of Canadian produce available in autumn. Instead of a turkey this Thanksgiving, you might contemplate something different like Cranberry-Rosemary Braised Pork Shoulder, Honey Mustard and Apple Stewed Pork Shoulder or Almond, Honey and Dijon-Encrusted Pork Tenderloin. Maybe a Maple Bacon Cheesecake for dessert. All of these recipes are available at www.dubreton.com. Did you know Organic Pork is: humanely raised antibiotic and GMO-free In fact, organic pork is good for your family, the environment and your budget too. DuBreton® pork has organic and Certified Humane® certifications. For a twist on a classic recipe try duBreton’s Extra-Meaty Spaghetti Sauce. Find more great Organic pork recipes at www.dubreton.com. Delicious meaty sauce that is made with organic pork DuBreton®, the largest producer of organic and Certified Humane® pork in Canada and North America knows organic meat can be confusing to some. That’s why they took part in a survey of 1000 Canadians recently by MARU/Matchbox. Some key findings: Almost one-third of Canadians (30 percent) say they purchase organic meat. 20 percent of Canadians say they understand organic meat and how it’s produced and 31 percent of Canadians either know nothing, or are confused about organic meat. While many Canadians choose organic meat, unfortunately, 41 % of these consumers are frustrated with the lack of organic meat options at grocery stores. This post was sponsored which means I have been compensated. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful.

The post Freezer Friendly Organic Fall Flavours #ad appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

Adoption and Family Tree Free Printable Activity for Kids

Paula — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 17:43:58 +0000

The Adoption Family Tree Printable is unique and intended to help kids visualize and process their place in the family and maybe even their understanding of adoption as a social phenomenon. Our kids often give new meaning to the proverb it takes a village to raise a child. Adoption and adoptive families are different. In more ways than most people can imagine. Once I wrote about some of the challenges of being an adoptive family here on CBC web site. Adoption is Not Like It Is In The Movies. Our kids often come with more challenges throughout life. They sometimes begin their lives with a loss that can remain with them forever, carried around as a constant grief. They often have a team of people supporting them. Think about it: birth parents, foster parents, social workers, adoptive parents, grand parents, aunts and uncles. It can be confusing for adults even so of course it is challenging for kids too. With domestic adoptions there are often three parties at least: foster parents, birth parents and adoptive parents. How Does This Unique Adoption Family Tree Printable Help? The triad is common to adoption and adoptive families. Each member is important to the child. It’s helpful when they are young to give them concrete ways to help them visualize how they fit into the adoption triad, just as it is relevant to all children to figure out where they fit in their traditional family tree. I hear often from adoptive families because I volunteer as an adoptive parent support group leader in my city. I am also an adoptive parent and I have many friends who are the same. We empathize, talk and build solutions to parenting problems that are adoption related. Curriculum Challenges Some of these issues are related to curriculum that doesn’t make note of kids with differences, or children who joined families via foster care or adoption. One of the very first adoption issues that will raise its head is the Family Tree assignment in grade school. Now, my family tackled this one very differently when we are there, in grade 1 or 2. I can tell you that our teacher was a partner that year and she was very sensitive to adoption. That might not always be the case. Sometimes you might need to develop your own creative strategies to questionable assignments on the curriculum that have potential to upset your child. So, I have a solution to that. How do I help my adopted child with their family tree assignment? For Family Day I am sharing numerous family related activities and printables. My wonderful artist built a traditional family tree and we shared that yesterday. Have fun downloading and printing that one out. I was almost going to leave the Family Day printables package as it was when I suddenly thought why not add an alternative family tree for adoptive families like ours. There are WAY too few resources for adoptive families like ours so why not build some? With adoption the path to forever homes is different, and sometimes it is lengthy and winding, but doing an activity like this together can remind your child of how they fit in your family and why they are here and all the people who love and care for him or her. Diverse Families Should Be Celebrated To print this Adoption Family Tree out to do at home you can right click the tiny images above in this post and save and print them or you can download and print the PDF right here: family tree 2 PS Do not forget the leaves for the Adoption Family Tree Printable. tree leaves PS Here is the traditional family tree printable if you want that one too. I always recommend using the PDF to get access to the full sized, clear, image. More Instructions: Have your child print the names of all his important people in the adoption triad and keep the conversation going. This is so important!

The post Adoption and Family Tree Free Printable Activity for Kids appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

Generations of Hope Free Family Fun Day in Calgary #abhc4ivf #abpoli

Paula — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 13:31:00 +0000

A free Family Fun Day carnival celebrating healthy families formed after infertility takes place September 21 in Calgary. Generations of Hope, an infertility advocacy and awareness group, hosts this amazing event each year. This year Family Fun Day will take place in Calgary on September 21st from 11 to 3 p.m. Rain or Shine at Olympic Park. Infertility patient support and advocacy group in Alberta: Infertility impacts 1 in 6 people in Canada. Infertility is a complex health issue as recognized by the World Health Organization. Infertility patients all can benefit from finding a support group and connecting with them early in their journey. Studies have recognized this is one proven way to reduce stress during the infertility diagnosis and treatment process. Infertility can be isolating. Infertility can impact every area of your life. It is financially draining, mentally and physically challenging. Generations of Hope is an infertility patient support and advocacy group. Joining and taking part in their events helps patients through the journey. 2014 Event details: The Generations of Hope Fertility Assistance Fund is hosting their Family Fun Day at Olympic Park on Sunday September 21 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. rain or shine. Admission is free and organizers hope that Calgary families will come out to the event to celebrate and support the Fund. The event will feature fun indoor and outdoor events for the entire family with face painters, carnival games, stage shows, crafts, and a petting zoo. Family Fun Day 2013 was a huge success and organizers hope this event will continue to grow awareness for infertility issues in Alberta. Alberta Health Minister Fred Horne announced earlier this summer that the province is seriously looking at covering the cost of IVF procedures. The cost of IVF is currently not covered by the provincial government in Alberta. One round of in vitro fertilization can cost $7,000 or more when medications are included. Ontario recently approved their budget which includes public funding for one full round of in vitro fertilization with single embryo transfer. The Ontario IVF policy still needs to be developed but it is anticipated to be in place in 2015. Generations of Hope is still looking for additional volunteers for the day of the event. Join this important family event and you will find the infertility patient support you need as well. Follow our debate on twitter http://www.twitter.com/gensofhope Or join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/generationsofhope/ and on Pinterest too. Generations of Hope Fertility Assistance Fund helps raise money to make IVF happen for some couples who are unable to afford medical treatment. You must be undergoing treatment at the Regional Fertility Clinic to be eligible to apply for assistance. You can ask your family doctor for an application. I am community manager of Generations of Hope, and in that capacity I am compensated. I support this event and this issue and my opinion is 100 % my own.

The post Generations of Hope Free Family Fun Day in Calgary #abhc4ivf #abpoli appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

Taryn and Tyler’s Infertility Story – #abhc4ivf

Paula — Thu, 01 May 2014 10:00:00 +0000

This is the story of Taryn and Tyler, both members of Generations of Hope infertility patient advocacy group, in Alberta. It is the story of how a girl Taryn, learned at the age of 14 that she didn’t have a uterus and would need extraordinary measures to help her become a parent, if ever she wished to have a family. There are too many stories of patients in Alberta with health conditions that have led to infertility. And yet this province remains one without any financial support for in vitro fertilization, which is one of the most effective but costly measures to help couples conceive. What hits me the hardest about the story of Taryn and Tyler is the fact that she was 14 when she first heard she was infertile. Maybe this couple breaks my heart just a little because I was 14 when I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, an incurable inflammatory bowel disease that also led me to a lengthy infertility struggle and numerous health care crises. Maybe it’s because lately when I think about infertility I think a lot about my daughters. My oldest girl is 12, soon to be 13. She is a healthy, wonderful, dreamy girl just like Taryn probably was at that age. Sometimes, when I watch these incredibly powerful stories of brave couples travelling this lonely and hard path to parenthood I can’t help but think What if? What if this was my child who needed health care help for any issue. Wouldn’t I knock on every single door to every politician’s office? Wouldn’t I insist on the treatment she needed? And wouldn’t I also move mountains and forgo sleep to get her what she needed? This Mother’s Day I wish for a few things. Flowers are always lovely, but not necessary. A charm for my Pandora bracelet would make me happy, because my girls usually shop for that kind of gift with their dad and that is priceless to me. But more than that – if I should reflect on motherhood and what the experience of parenting means for me my wish is simple – and it’s a common one for a lot of Moms I think. I want to leave the world a better place for my kids. I hope they do not to have to fight the battles I have had to face. I wish that life would rise up at their feet and meet them with open arms and loving hearts. I want them to have all the options in the world. Health, happiness and love. Infertility is a reality for 1 in 6 couples, many of whom are a lot like Taryn and Tyler. In Alberta public health care funding is not available for in vitro fertilization. (IVF) IVF is the gold standard of infertility treatment, but because it costs as much as $10,000 a cycle it is unaffordable to many people. In many other areas of the world there are funding options for people struggling with infertility, in need of IVF. In Belgium, Australia and New Zealand there is funding for IVF. In Quebec couples requiring IVF are permitted three rounds of IVF with the provision that only a single embryo is transferred. Why is that important? Because public funding coupled with single embryo transfer provides the best possible health outcomes for both mother and child. And in areas of the world where there is no funding for IVF, couples often resort to transferring several embryos hoping to increase their chances at conception. This leads to high rates of multiple births. How Generations of Hope Helps There is no clearer example of how infertility is a medical issue than the story of Taryn and Tyler. No clearer example of why infertility is not a lifestyle choice. Taryn and Tyler were both married young and they needed help to conceive. They received the financial help they required through a generous organization called Generations of Hope, based in Calgary, Alberta. I have written about Five Reasons why Public Funding for IVF Makes Sense for Alberta. And I will keep writing about this issue until the world is a better place for Mothers and their children. In Ontario today a provincial budget is being tabled with funding for IVF and recognition that infertility is a health care issue. That’s a powerful Mother’s Day gift for many hoping to become mothers in that province. It’s time for Alberta to make public funding for IVF a budget recommendation as well. This Mother’s Day remind your MLA in Alberta why it’s harder for some to become mothers and why public funding is necessary for the future of the province. Generations of Hope has been advocating for many years now. They need more voices sharing stories and helping to talk with MLAs. They need you to advocate so that your sons and daughters might not have to. I am community manager for Generations of Hope. I am compensated for that position. My opinion is all my own and I believe strongly that it’s time for Alberta to help make public funding a reality. You can follow Generations of Hope on twitter to learn more http://www.twitter.com/gensofhope/

The post Taryn and Tyler’s Infertility Story – #abhc4ivf appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.