• family - Health

    Healthy Habits to Get You Through the Winter #ChurchandDwight

    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…

  • family - Health

    MINDFULNESS – What’s Your Word of the Year?

    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…

  • Health

    Hope and Progress in Zambia – Emerging Cooking Solutions

    We are sitting inside a small business with potential to change the landscape dramatically for Zambia. Emerging Cooking Solutions started in 2012 with a goal to make cooking safer. With a loan from the UN Foundation, Marion Peterson and Mattias Ohlson are changing lives for the better in Zambia. This is our first site visit in a five day tour of Zambia. We are here to see the impact of vaccines on the lives of children. I am traveling with a group of journalists who have each received a Shot @ Life fellowship to write about what’s happening in Zambia. The journey…

  • family - Health

    Cure Holiday Hangover – Realistic Resolutions for a Healthy 2017

    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…

  • family - Health - Technology

    Lif3 Smartchip – Keeping Radiation Away from Your Family #GetCellSmart

    Disclosure: This post is part of the YummyMummyClub.ca and Lif3  #GetCellSmart 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. Lif3 Smartchip is a new way to keep you safe when you use your cell phone. Why is that a concern? Well, cell phones give off radiation. It’s true. That means that every time you or a member of your family uses a cell phone, they are exposed to radiation. The idea of radiation exposure is a scary thought. What’s even scarier is that there is…

  • family - Health

    Five Reasons IVF Funding Matters to BC #IVF4BC

    It’s time for BC infertility patients to have accessible, affordable fertility treatment. What does that look like? Well, an IVF funding program can take many forms. A tax credit, a full round of funding, or a grant. In fact there are numerous different IVF funding models in place in four Canadian provinces. But BC infertility patients currently have no IVF funding program. That means BC infertility patients are worse off than many others living in Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick. There are currently four provinces in Canada that offer a fertility funding program for infertility patients. But, BC sadly is not one of…

  • family - Health - Parenting - parenting - special needs

    What Does FASD Look Like?

    What does FASD look like? This is one of the most searched phrases that lands people here on my site. So, I figured it was time to share a few facts. Some of you know that we adopted both of our daughters when they were small. Both of my kids have unique needs. My youngest girl has sensory processing disorder and Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. My oldest has anxiety disorder. I have a lot of experience as a parent of a child on the spectrum. Over the years I have also attended numerous conferences to gather information about how to parent…

  • family - Health

    Happy Anniversary to Ontario’s Fertility Program Twitter Party #IVF4ON

    Happy One Year Anniversary! This week we celebrate the Ontario Fertility Program anniversary. This past weekend was a glorious reminder that the Ontario Fertility Program works and helps many infertility patients access treatment. This year I have seen many patients find hope as they begin their funded round of in vitro fertilization in Ontario. And this weekend, a longtime member of Conceivable Dreams messaged me to let me know her cycle worked. She is expecting in the summer of 2017. Another longtime member, Cheryl in Barrie, (shown in pink below) posted pictures of her beautiful baby girl born just one week ago. These are…

  • Health

    When it Comes to Fertility – Be a Badger #MyInnerPower

    Recently someone asked me what my inner power might be…it took a few minutes for me to answer that one. I am hopeful, and I try to be positive, but is that my inner power? What exactly IS an inner power or super power? Is it strength? Is it courage? Yes, but not quite right. Is it faith? Resilience? I think it is a bit of all of that. But, my inner power is also something more than strength, courage, hope, positivity, resilience and faith. Back when I was working in a daily newsroom I had an editor who called me…

  • active family travel - family - Health - Travel

    Long Flights – Staying Healthy on Extended Flights #travel

    Long flights can be intimidating. For some people, they’re annoying. Still others just adjust the seat back and sleep or take the time to read. Whatever long flights mean to you personally, there’s one thing that they mean to everyone. Possible health concerns. A lot of people don’t think of this, but sitting for such a long period of time can open you up to all kinds of health issues ranging from uncomfortable to deadly. How to Mitigate the Health Effects of Long Flights There are a few things you can do to help stay healthy on extended plane trips.…