• family ski lessons
    active family travel - Travel

    Family Ski Lessons #WordlessWednesday #Tremblant #Travel

    March 11, 2015 - By 

    Well, if you already follow me on Instagram then you probably know what we’ve been up to. This past weekend we headed to Tremblant by plane, which was super fast and efficient by the way. Thanks very much Porter Airlines. Much to my surprise and enjoyment my kids began speaking French really well from the time we arrived at the airport. Our weekend was amazing and such a great chance to play together as a family. But more about that tomorrow. Stay tuned for the recap of the entire beautiful experience. I think this is another one that lends itself beautifully…

  • childhood_anxiety
    adoption and tweens - Health - Parenting

    Perplexing Childhood Anxiety Symptoms – Part 2 of a Series

    March 2, 2015 - By 

    For years we struggled trying to figure out why my daughter worried so much. And why she had so many stomach aches and headaches too. Then, when it became such a big factor that it interfered with her getting to school, we had to take action. Childhood anxiety is a challenge but it can be manageable with support and sometimes medications too. Here’s part 2 in my childhood anxiety series – on Childhood Anxiety Symptoms.   A Bit About Our Daughter We have a daughter with Generalized anxiety disorder. I started talking about her anxiety disorder several years ago when…

  • lettuce wrap
    Food

    How to Make Easy, Tasty, Gluten Free Oriental Beef Lettuce Wraps

    February 18, 2015 - By 

    These Oriental Gluten Free Beef Lettuce Wraps have been a long time coming to fruition. I have been thinking about lettuce wraps and gluten free wraps for quite some time. Finally I had the materials and the time and inclination to actually make them. In fact these gluten free wraps are so easy and tasty too. Plus they don’t leave me feeling all bloated and sluggish as wraps with gluten do sometimes. Where possible, whenever possible, I enjoy making gluten free meals and snacks. My stomach simply seems to respond in a much nicer way. In fact I am on…

  • Public funding for In Vitro Fertilization is Efficient
    family - Health

    Families Are the Future of Alberta: Public Funding For In Vitro Fertilization Is Efficient #abhc4ivf #abpoli

    February 14, 2015 - By 

      Family Is The Future: In some small way I started in Alberta. It’s true. When my Mom and Dad got married they had their honeymoon in Banff. From Ontario, they took the train through the Western provinces to stay in Alberta. For a truck driver and a teacher in their twenties, newlyweds, Alberta was glamorous and beautiful and different. It was the destination where they started to think of the future, together planning for a family that would come first in the shape of  a baby girl and then 2 years later, a baby boy too. Alberta is a…

  • Ontario Valentine
    family - Health - homes - parenting - Parenting

    My Ontario Valentine Or Ten Reasons We Stay #ohip4ivf #onpoli

    February 13, 2015 - By 

    Ontario is the province I choose to raise my family in, to build a business, to make my home. There was a time before we adopted our beautiful kids, when we were set to move to British Columbia. We priced it all out and were ready to go as a young married couple. But instead we stayed. There have been many occasions when I’ve contemplated moving to the United States and finding a way through that red tape so that I might work there. But still we stay. This Valentine’s Day, I wanted to take some time to reflect on…

  • Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening System
    beauty products - Giveaways - Health

    Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening System Review and Giveaway

    February 5, 2015 - By 

    Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening System works fast to build brighter, whiter teeth with a special personalized system that matches your teeth precisely. When the kit comes in the mail it contains a stamped envelope that you send back to the company with your dental impressions contained within. From the impressions the company makes two clear lab created custom made teeth trays that look like a bite guard. You then use those personalized trays to insert and apply the whitening gel for at home teeth whitening. The at home teeth whitening part is super simple. Smile Brilliant teeth whitening system is…

  • Martial arts for girls
    family - Health - parenting

    Why We Believe in Martial Arts for Girls #WordlessWednesday

    February 3, 2015 - By 

    Ainsley graded on the weekend again. Now she is a fifth level junior black belt. She started martial arts at the age of four. Two years ago she became a junior black belt. I am always impressed at how athletic this kid is. Martial arts gives her such a great outlet for her energy. She excels at sports and martial arts and swimming and everything sporty that she has ever tried, with a small exception of soccer league play which never worked because, hello wide open field and she has always just wanted to run. Some of you know both…

  • Printable Meal Planner
    family - Food - Health - parenting

    Free Printable Weekly Menu Meal Planner

    January 30, 2015 - By 

    Are you a meal planner? Or do you see your phone flashing 5 p.m. and hit the panic button? I am a bit of both. More manic panic meals than well thought out meal plans. So why should I be concerned? Well, I know it makes more sense to plan because it is budget friendly. There are thousands of bloggers talking meal plans. Need proof? Head on over to Facebook any night at about 5 p.m., or browse some blogs on a Monday. Menu Planning Monday is a whole thing. Until recently, I have taken a pass on this whole…

  • childhood_anxiety
    adoption and tweens - Health

    Five Things I Know About Childhood Anxiety – Part 1 of a New Series

    January 26, 2015 - By 

    In 2014 we spent a huge amount of time investing in educating our family about childhood anxiety. We took part in a weekly youth group therapy session to help parents and children understand and manage anxiety. It was gruelling and exhausting and, I hope, worth it. Every single Tuesday for several months my daughter and I drove to the children’s hospital in town and we learned how to successfully manage her childhood anxiety. We split into two groups every session. There was a parents group and a youth group. Eventually we all came together to discuss things together but the…

  • Health

    Five Ways to Cope with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

    January 6, 2015 - By 

    As seasons shift from fall to winter, there can also be a lot of climate changes and physical changes to your environment that are often hard to deal with for many. Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a mental health disorder that is triggered by less light during the fall and winter months and the change in seasons. Symptoms of SAD can range from mild to severe. For a lot of people, SAD, makes it difficult to concentrate, causes a mild depression and even saps energy. It is always a good idea to see a health professional to both diagnose and…