• mesothelioma
    Health

    Mesothelioma Awareness Day 2016 #ENDMESO

    September 26, 2016 - By 

    Until very recently I had never even heard of Mesothelioma. It was one of those extremely sad rare cancers that didn’t seem to generate a lot of stories or news. In 2015 and 2016 I heard a lot more about mesothelioma when a good friend’s father passed away of the disease. Recently, a survivor reached out to me with her moving story and I thought I’d share a few facts for Mesothelioma Awareness Day. This week September 26th marks Mesothelioma Awareness Day (MAD). Heather’s Story Heather Von St James is a survivor of ten years. She was a brand new Mom,…

  • genetic_testing
    family - Health

    Prepare for a Healthy Baby Now – When Genetic Screening Makes Sense

    September 21, 2016 - By 

    “I don’t care if this baby is a boy or a girl. I just hope he or she is healthy.” Almost every parent, or parent to be has uttered out loud, or thought to themselves, some version of this sentiment. Healthy baby first. Gender second. So what would you do to stack the deck in favour of having a healthy child? Eat better, exercise? Some of these changes are a no brainer. But what about genetic screening before you get pregnant? When does that make sense? Most of us know there are many things you do to help grow a…

  • playing_sports
    family - Giveaways - Health - parenting

    Playing Sports – Leveling the Field for Girls #PlayOnCA #Giveaways $60 ARV

    August 29, 2016 - By 

    My kids are both athletic young women. Staying physically active, playing sports and striving to do your best – well, that’s something we take to heart as a family. Whether it’s swimming, martial arts or track and field, sports matter to the health of both boys and girls. When kids get out on the field or the court, they learn teamwork, develop a better work ethic, get into better shape, and boost their self confidence. Unfortunately, girls are at a serious disadvantage when it comes to playing sports. With less opportunities and less variety, girls often have to take what…

  • stomach_cramps
    family - Giveaways - Health

    GI Upset – Buscopan Calms Cramps #Giveaway ARV $170

    August 16, 2016 - By 

    GI upset is something I’ve had trouble with for almost as long as I can recall. Most of my readers know by now that I suffer from terrible stomach cramps if I’m not extra careful about what I eat. Although I’ve learned to live with it and I have a huge toolkit of strategies to help after 30 years, GI upset can still be a huge drain on energy and it can turn a good day upside down. While everyone else in the family can eat whatever they want, whenever they want, I have to worry about what goes into my…

  • family - Health

    Natural Itch Relief for Bug Bites and Stings

    August 11, 2016 - By 

    Natural itch relief is something that’s always in high demand this time of year. Summer is prime season for flying beasts that bite and sting. They’re out there, waiting to feast on your blood or give you a painful sting if you accidentally make them feel threatened. You can try to avoid this uncomfortable part of summer, but chances are, you’re going to get tagged. So with that in mind, here are some natural itch relief methods that really work. Natural Itch Relief – 6 Ways to Ease the Itching and Burning Recently I returned from a travel writer trip, followed…

  • sunburn_treatment
    family - Health

    Sunburn Treatment – Soothing A Burn

    July 22, 2016 - By 

    Sunburn treatment is something everyone needs at some point. We’ve all been there and then we’ve all felt the miserable sting of a sunburn afterwards. Many of us are old enough to recall a time when sunburns happened and we didn’t really pay too much heed. Now, we know better. As parents, we try to teach our kids that burning their skin now is setting them up for possible cancer later, but sunburns happen even when trying to be careful. Here are a few ideas for how to maximize relief with sunburn treatment. Sunburn Treatment – A Little Old School. A Little New School There’s…

  • Rio Olympics
    family - Health

    Canada Global Nutrition Challenge #MyRoadToRio

    July 5, 2016 - By 

    It’s easy to take things for granted when you live in Canada. We have what we need. We live in one of the richest countries in the world. As a parent, it’s my job to challenge my family and my children to see beyond our backyard. I’m raising my kids to be global citizens who care and believe they have power to help change the world for the better. So, what does that look like? This summer as the Rio Olympic games get started, I’ll use the media coverage to find moments to talk to my kids about issues like…

  • stomach_cramping
    family - Health

    Keep Stomach Cramping at Bay

    June 30, 2016 - By 

    Stomach cramping has always been an issue for me. If I don’t watch what I eat, I’m guaranteed to have severe issues. It’s the opposite of fun and sometimes comes at me sideways when I am not even remotely in the mood to be sidelined with cramps. While everyone else is scarfing down hot dogs or funnel cakes hanging out at amusement parks, or what have you, I’m calculating how much grease is in all that delicious food, and how much I might pay for eating it later. Occasionally I forget, for instance when I am away doing a travel…

  • stay fit
    Health

    Stay Fit for Your Fabulous Forties and Beyond #LBL

    June 1, 2016 - By 

    It’s important to stay fit at any age. It’s even more important for us women after we hit our 40s. After 40, our metabolisms can begin to slow, our ability to burn fat can slow, and we lose more bone mass. Sometimes conditions like LBL (light bladder leakage) can keep you from feeling as if you want to tackle anything physical. But when we make an effort to stay fit as we age, we improve our physical, mental and overall health.   Stay Fit – 5 Easy Ways to Keep Yourself in Better Health   Staying fit doesn’t mean you have…

  • air_purifier
    family - Giveaways - Health

    ORECK DualMax™ Air Purifier – My Allergy Season Secret Weapon #Giveaway ARV $600

    May 20, 2016 - By 

    Something brand new and amazing has taken up residence in my bedroom. OH, don’t panic. This is a family friendly site. The sleek Energy Star qualified, Air 16 Oreck DualMax™ Air Purifier with Truman Cell Filtration System has found a home in our master bedroom and it’s helping to clean the air in my house. My husband has brutal allergies this time of year and he’s been stuffed up for weeks already. His allergies flare in Spring and are brutal again in the Fall months too. You know the kind I mean?  He has the close all the windows, leave the shoes…