Wouldn’t it be great to save on water bills? Depending on where you live, paying for water can be quite costly. The good news is that it’s possible to save on water bills, simply by making a few changes in your daily routine. Better yet, it’s probably easier than you anticipate ways to save money on water bills. And of course that also helps conserve water which should be everybody’s job. Use Your Dishwasher Efficiently If you own a dishwasher, you’ve already taken the first step toward saving money on what you pay for water. Despite what many people believe,…
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This post is part of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers #catholicteachers sponsored program. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. This post reflects my personal opinion about the information provided by the sponsors. It’s high school registration time. That’s right, this month, I registered my youngest daughter for high school. That’s huge. Any parent of a school aged child knows, we agonize over where to send our children and often we also wonder if they are ready. When your child has special needs you worry even more. As hard as these huge decisions are, I feel pretty…
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Let’s face it with the cost of electricity, the news about climate change, and the impact on our environment, most of us need to find ways to conserve. Greening your home is not as hard as it sounds. Start with a few small changes and make them habits, then build on that. It’s not really an option anymore to avoid conserving or recycling. Everyone needs to do their part in achieving a more eco-friendly lifestyle. There are many ways to reduce your carbon footprint and be green within your home, and today I am going to share a few easy…
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Wondering how to get your kids invested in the true spirit of the season? There are several easy ways kids can give back at Christmas. Here are a few that have worked for us. My girls are sensitive compassionate kids. When others are hurt, it hurts them too. My oldest girl, in particular, my creative Type A, is an empathetic soul. Her report card always contains comments about “a kind, caring girl who always helps others and makes friends with new students. She is first to care for her friends when they are hurt.” Showing You Care is…
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You can run but you can’t hide. Holidays are a whirlwind of photographs, events, parties and gift exchanges. Even when you think you aren’t being photographed well, chances are good that some well meaning relative is capturing the moment for Facebook, Snapchat or Instagram. Long gone are the days of hiding embarrassing holiday photos in a drawer. Everybody has a cell phone and everyone has social media too. Whether it’s Instagram, Facebook or everything in between, you can’t hide from an onslaught of holiday photos. So, what’s the secret to selfie success, holiday photobombing or staged group photos? Be prepared.…
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Is there anything cuter than a reindeer at Christmas? Well, maybe children opening their presents and absorbing all that wonderment. Reindeer cookies and crafts are fun for all ages. Even if you aren’t the savviest baker on the planet, chances are you can make several of these adorable festive reindeer treats. When I was a child my favourite Christmas movie was Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Seeing them on TV or at the movies is fun when you are small. Many times we have seen them at African Lion Safari and other zoo, amusement park areas. Somehow reindeer in real…
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Weeknight dinners are sometimes a thorn in my side. Oh, I enjoy cooking sometimes, don’t get me wrong. The problem is that although I love to cook, my schedule generally makes cooking more a hassle than a culinary experience. And I am the first to admit that I don’t always naturally know what goes together in terms of spices and flavours. In fact I do better with a recipe in front of me. Kind of like my youngest daughter. We both love to cook or bake together but we fail at meal planning often and we really are not super…
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Are you a caregiver for someone with unique needs or health care challenges? I see you. I know you miss many social events, or family gatherings. Perhaps you stopped work entirely to care for someone you love. Or you switched to part time, freelance or contract. Chances are good you have missed your own doctor’s and dentist’s appointments. Maybe, you woke up so bone weary one morning you drove down the street without your glasses. Maybe you forgot to take your own medicine. How do I know any of this? Been there, done that. For years my life has been…
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On the final stop of our girl’s getaway trip to Florida we headed to St. Augustine. None of the four of us had ever set foot in St. Augustine so we were excited to see the city. We were also tired. There was a lot of driving involved in visiting three cities in six days and we were crossing our fingers that St. Augustine would be comfortable and accommodations would be quiet, restful and clean. The St Augustine Tryp Hotel didn’t disappoint. It was a lovely, clean, newer space. Tryp is a brand owned by Wyndham and it is affordable…
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Getting sick is the worst. Nobody enjoys cold and flu season, or even allergy season for that matter. I should know, my daughter and I get sick far too often. Ever since my children started preschool, they have been exceptional, maybe even gifted – at sharing germs. If there is a bug or flu circulating, my daughters and I WILL get it. We’re sickness magnets especially at this time of the year. Getting Sick is Just Part of Life For our family, getting sick during the fall and winter season is sort of inevitable. If you have kids you feel my…