• Inside a colourful restaurant in Alkmaar Netherlands. A woman is seated at a table in the foreground. There are cherry blossoms that are pink hanging from the ceiling off of a fake tree with twinkling lights and brown brick walls that make it look cozy. In behind a server is waiting on a table and the restaurant is about half full but not overly crowded. The server appears to have Down syndrome
    Travel

    How to Enjoy Travel When Things Don’t Go to Plan

    October 26, 2026 - By 

    Your vacation doesn’t have to be perfect to be perfectly enjoyable and memorable. I was reminded of that recently when I was going through my old photos and videos from that time we visited Alkmaar, The Netherlands, not far from Amsterdam. If anything, that trip down memory lane was also a good reminder of how to enjoy travel when it threatens to be less than magical. Our First Huge Europe Adventure Post may contain affiliate links as a service to readers. Purchases made via qualifying links may mean a small commission for me at no added cost to you. Amsterdam,…

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    Health - parenting

    Fall Footwear Guide to Keep Moving

    October 23, 2026 - By 

    The fall season has never been my favourite but most of you know that by now. However, every fall the brazen red leaves, the trees spinning a gradient of greens, golds and oranges in one lovely package and the chilly temperatures bring me a little bit more joy. Maybe we mellow with age? Maybe I am just learning to find the joy everywhere because life is simply happier that way. No matter the season, I am determined to keep moving and I know many of you are too which is why I am sharing my Fall Footwear guide with all…

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    Health - parenting

    Holiday Gift Guide: The Ultimate Slipper Edit

    October 20, 2026 - By 

    When the temperature drops, a chill hits the air and you just want to hang out indoors with a cup of tea, it’s time for house shoes aka comfortable slippers. Nothing says holiday comfort quite like sliding into a fresh pair of ultra-cozy slippers. Whether you are shopping for a secret Santa, updating your own winter lounge setup, or looking for that crowd-pleasing gift under the tree, warm footwear is a guaranteed hit. My Favourite Slipper Picks Here are two standout pairs that deliver exceptional style, warmth, and total relaxation this season. This is the first post in my Holiday…

  • family

    Why The Kuru Quest 2 Hiking Boots Are an Instant Classic

    October 12, 2026 - By 

    For years, Noah clung to the same battered pair of hiking boots. You know the type—the ones held together by sheer willpower, memories of past summits or camping trips, and soles worn down so smooth they hardly create a barrier between you and the dirt trail anymore. The Emotional Weight of Footwear My youngest was always that kid, the one who wore boots out. The cutesy rain boots as a child were done to death and falling apart before Noah would move on to the new pair. The winter boots, well those would be falling apart with holes and leaking…

  • parenting

    Summer Lessons 2026: You Don’t Need to Earn Rest

    September 16, 2026 - By 

    This summer I was driving to the beach to go camping when one of my young adult kids hit me with a life update that sent me reeling and made me incredibly angry. Like cartoon plumes of smoke coming out my ears mad.  Parenting Young Adults is Also Hard When your kids are newborns you think this is the hardest stage, the most enjoyable but also the hardest. Then they turn one and you think wow I did it and the next hard thing occurs and the toddler stage is a challenge but the threes will be simple, right? AND…

  • parenting

    All Canadian Games to Play on a Rainy Day

    September 10, 2026 - By 

    This August and September so far has seen its fair share of rainy days. You know where it is not fun to be when it is rainy? The cottage! Generally speaking a cottage is a smallish space where you share bedrooms. Unless you are super wealthy and have one of those McMansion cottages that celebrities are always renting in Muskoka, your space is at a premium. The goal is to be outside. Unless you are sleeping, you are outside enjoying the gorgeous beaches, trails and forests. So what do you do if it rains for hours or even days at…

  • parenting

    Comfortable Lightweight Shoes for Everyday Moments

    September 8, 2026 - By 

    We are loving all of the new lightweight shoes in stores lately. Why is that? Well summer and fall are active seasons for our shoes. These days, we are out walking, hiking and camping and in fact we generally just live outside as much as possible. Lightweight shoes that are easy on and easy off make a difference to how fast we get outside and they are just so much easier in general. I received product for consideration here. My opinion is all my own and it is truthful. Post may contain affiliate links as well. I mean we are…

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    Learning to Read and Find the Verb Task Cards

    September 3, 2026 - By 

    It’s no secret to most of you that I love languages and reading and the written word. Language arts, as they used to call it at my school when I was growing up, was the subject I excelled at and couldn’t get enough of. Even still, I am the person lining up to get all the books at the library. Find the verb task cards is one tool that can help kids identify parts of speech. Are you a Reader Too? My holds list is almost always full of three books at a time and my to read bucket list…

  • little girl counting dollar bills beside a white piggy bank and her mom is helping her looking intensely at the dollar bills. Closet behind them and they are dressed in light clothing. Girl has denim top on and her mom has a short sleeved white and navy striped top. Navy stripes are thin
    Printables

    Comparing Numbers Task Cards

    August 28, 2026 - By 

    We all probably recognize that math can be a hard task to master. But comparing numbers is a fun little subject on its own inside of the standard math curriculum that every single child who attends school will have to learn at some point. Comparing numbers task cards activity is an easy way to commit this greater than or less than concept to memory. Why Do We Learn This? Learning to compare numbers is a foundational mathematical skill that builds number sense. This is important for so many reasons but mostly because it shifts mathematical understanding and learning into a…

  • Travel

    What to Expect at Stonehenge

    August 25, 2026 - By 

    When my oldest daughter Payton graduated this year from university with her undergraduate degree, I knew we had to plan an epic adventure together to mark the occasion. Since we loved Scotland so much last fall during Reading Week, we decided London would be logical and it just made sense. We still had our UK electronic travel visas, because they are valid for two years from the time you receive approval. Beyond that, we were both dying to see a few unique landmarks like Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and Stonehenge. So we were off to the UK again! Our Unforgettable…