• valentines_gifts
    family

    Valentine’s Gifts for all Your Loves #LoveHallmarkCA

    February 9, 2017 - By 

    Truth be told I was feeling a bit sad and nostalgic this Valentine’s Day. My kids are older and Valentine’s Day no longer holds childlike magic for them. My youngest daughter and I had a chat recently about her feeling too old to write out Valentine’s cards any more. BUT, then Hallmark sent a batch of their cute and fun Valentine’s Day Treasures for 2017 and I am OVER THAT entirely. Valentines gifts from Hallmark are timeless. There are cute items to suit all ages and all of your many loves. There is a gorgeous wristlet this year that is FOR…

  • family

    Valentine’s Day Bouquets – The Classic “I Love You”

    February 3, 2017 - By 

    Valentine’s Day bouquets are the classic “I love you” gift. They’re a wonderful way to show someone how much you care. The wonderful scents. The beautiful blooms. The colours. Flowers, especially Valentine’s Day bouquets, are the most romantic thing in the world to me. They’re so classic, and they have this way of making me feel appreciated, loved and cheerful. Sigh… I love them. The Best Valentine’s Day Bouquets If you’re going to give a bouquet as a Valentine’s Day gift – and you should – make sure you get the best of the best. I love Teleflora bouquets. Their…

  • healthy_habits
    family - Health

    Healthy Habits to Get You Through the Winter #ChurchandDwight

    January 30, 2017 - By 

    Healthy habits are important all year long, but I have to say, they’re even more important during the winter. Winter is when all the worst germs come out to play. By now everyone I know has had the colds, the flu bugs and even pink eye (TWICE in my case). However, if you practice healthy habits, you can help stave off the onslaught of all those nasty bugs and feel as good as possible all season long. Simple Healthy Habits You can Start Today These healthy habits can be started immediately and can help you feel better now and later. When…

  • cruise_wreckers
    active family travel - family - Travel

    6 Cruise Wreckers – Things That Can Ruin Travel Plans

    January 24, 2017 - By 

    This post may contain affiliate links as a service to my readers. If you make a purchase as a result I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.   Cruise wreckers can jeopardize your entire trip. Don’t let that happen. There are numerous things you should know before you cruise, and I have written about many tips and tricks. But cruise wreckers can make or break a cruise for you. For instance, if you do this one thing wrong then you might miss your sailing entirely and that would be the worst possible way to begin a vacation.…

  • cruise_checklist
    active family travel - family - Travel

    Cruise Checklist – 5 Things to do Before The Cruise

    January 17, 2017 - By 

    A cruise checklist like this one is essential to starting your cruise out on the right foot. You look forward to that holiday and you’ve saved for months. Don’t let a lack of preparation ruin it. Before you cruise, you should have all of your ducks in a nice, tidy row to ensure that your time is spent relaxing and having fun and not trying to work out unnecessary kinks in the trip. Successful cruises, like many amazing trips, often are the result of weeks of planning. I mean that’s often a huge part of the fun. Having a cruise checklist…

  • gluten_free_crockpot
    family - Food

    25 Gluten Free Crockpot Dinner Ideas

    January 14, 2017 - By 

    Post may contain affiliate links as a service to readers. I don’t know about you but I love my slow cooker. It’s a year round powerhouse. With a busy schedule like ours I need to set it and forget it. And let’s be honest is there anything nicer than the aroma of a stew cooking all day? Anything cooked in the crockpot fills the house with the sweet smell of something delicious for dinner. I know my crew loves coming home to that. I know a lot of my readers are gluten free, some by choice and some out of…

  • mindfulness
    family - Health

    MINDFULNESS – What’s Your Word of the Year?

    January 12, 2017 - By 

    Mindfulness – it’s the quality or state of being aware or conscious. To me, it’s being here, present, grateful and aware. My word of the year for 2017 is mindfulness, because I think that personally everyone in my family can work towards being present, when together or even when on their own. Being open and mindful of all our blessings daily as they happen is a gift. Every year I try to come up with a word that will guide my personal and professional life. It’s not a resolution exactly, but a mantra or philosophy. It helps me to move…

  • adaptive ski
    active family travel - family - family travel - FASD - parenting - special needs - Travel

    Adaptive Ski Programs for People with Disabilities

    January 10, 2017 - By 

    Children with special needs face challenges that other kids don’t. Whether their disability is physical, mental or neurological, children and adults with special needs require extra support with certain activities. Many ski resorts are getting excellent at meeting this need. I have seen some adaptive ski programs at family friendly resorts like Smugglers’ Notch in action. Some are super impressive so I thought I would share a list for families like ours. Adaptive Skiing Shines at These Ski Resorts Children and adults with special needs face barriers too many places still. So when I find a resource with adaptive or inclusive programs sometimes…

  • winter_driving
    active family travel - family

    Winter Driving Travel Tips – Staying Safe in the Snow and Cold

    January 9, 2017 - By 

    Winter driving tips are super important for so many areas of the world. It’s that time of year. The weather is frigid, the snow is falling, and along with all of that, the ice is here. Traveling in winter is about staying safe and protected from all of these things – ice, snow, and cold. These winter driving tips will help you get where you’re going and get there safe. Winter Driving Tips to Keep You Safe In my opinion, one of the biggest contributors to winter accidents is that people forget that you need to approach driving differently in…

  • family - Health

    Cure Holiday Hangover – Realistic Resolutions for a Healthy 2017

    January 5, 2017 - By 

    This post has been generously sponsored by Bayer.  The start of a brand new year is something to celebrate. A brand new start, or a clean chapter. But let’s be honest holiday hangover is also very real. You’re still tidying up the decorations, in the midst of cold and flu season and your health is bound to take a hit. So stack the deck and prepare for a month of hard work, fighting back with realistic resolutions. Instead of resolving to do something huge – like weight loss or dramatic fitness overhaul – how about several small but attainable resolutions. Let’s start…