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The Food Basics I Want It All Winners May Surprise You
Food Basics I Want It All was a giveaway I first told you about back in June. The I Want It All event was set to coincide with the celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday. Customers had a chance to win 150% off their receipt to spend on that extra something that they all really want. As a special bonus, Facebook fans who answered the question “How would you Have it All?” on the Food Basics Facebook page would have their wishes fulfilled. Well, the Food Basics I Want It All event has closed, and winners have been announced. You will be as surprised as I was at the beautiful gifts…
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Getting on Track with Sharpie and Paper Mate #SpreadJoy #Giveaway
I have partnered with YMC and Sharpie/Paper Mate and have received compensation for this post. All opinions in the post are my own. Getting on track for the school year is especially important when the kids hit junior high and high school. Every year is important, but it seems like time is starting to run out when your kids hit high school. Grades, volunteering, extracurriculars – are all incredibly important for college and university admission. This year it’s crucial the kids have everything they need to stay on task. Sharpie and Paper Mate offer tools that make getting on track and staying on track easy. Getting on Track with Team Payton…
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31 DIY EASY Fidget Spinners
Unless you live under a rock, you have most definitely have heard of, or seen fidget toys and fidget spinners. Maybe your kids have some. Maybe you are a teacher and the kids are making you a bit batty with their fidget spinners and fidget toys. We have a couple of fidget toys here and they are fun. I confess I have also used them when my kids aren’t looking. In fact I bought my younger daughter two of these and also gifted a set to a little girl we know for her birthday recently. But you don’t have to buy them. If you are crafty, you could make your…
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Three Resorts with Adaptive Ski Programs for Special Needs
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. Children with Special Needs Can Shine 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 I want to celebrate. Resorts with Adaptive Ski…
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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 a child with alcohol related neurological damage. Once upon a…
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Ontario Pioneer Camp Blogger Weekend #PioneerCamp16
My kids have been campers for years. For the past few years I have heard great things about Ontario Pioneer Camp. But until recently we had no experience with the camp ourselves. That changed last month when we drove to Huntsville in the stunning Muskoka area of Ontario and took part in Ontario Pioneer Camp Blogger’s Weekend. What a fun weekend it was! Camp is a big investment. It’s an investment in your child. It’s also an investment in you as a parent. BUT, before you book any camp you need to know what to expect. Camp is one of those rites of passage that relies on Word of Mom. How…
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Report Card for Superheroes #specialneeds
Congratulations. Give yourself a massive high five. A hug, a pat on the back. You made it. You are superheroes. You deserve an A plus on the only report card that matters. You did it. Another school year down. Another grade gone by. You didn’t break. You deserve A pluses in every subject. Superheroes look like this: You are all heroic. Building exceptional kids with extra human strengths. Your kids are Iron Man and Wonder Woman, Spiderman and Black Widow. They are superheroes. I know them well. Two of the biggest superheroes I know are living here in this house. They have extraordinary powers and strength. They are learning to be resilient and…
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Great Sensory Toys – Ultimate Booger Battle #Giveaway
Spring is here and summer is clearly on the way so bring on the messy, outdoor, fun. Bring on the water play and sand play, puddles and mud and booger battles….wait, what? Let’s be honest here, kids love boogers as much as they love spring and summer and outdoor messes. So they will also love sensory toys like the Funrise Toys Booger Balls Ultimate Battle Pack. You have to think like a kid to appreciate this one. Also please note this is clearly 100 % an outdoor toy. DO NOT do this in the basement, or without adult supervision. Also pay attention to the end because I have one of…
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I Vote For Special Needs Travel #travel
One of the things I love most about travel is that travel is different things to different people and it is what you need it to be. It is slow, or fast, or multigenerational or empty nest, or foodie, or adventure. It can also be special needs travel. There are as many ways to travel as there are travellers. This month I am joining 30 other travel bloggers to celebrate all kinds of travel. It’s my second year doing this travel blogger series. You can read each of the amazing posts about travel on wordtraveling.com. Special Needs Travel My daughter, 4, boomerangs up and down the stairs to a waterslide…
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Creative Teaching – Seven Inspiring Educators Using Microsoft Technology
Educators who model Creative teaching with technology in the classroom are inspiring to their peers, and their students. They set an example of what is possible and they nurture an engaged and inclusive classroom. When teachers take an approach to learning that’s outside of the box, it sparks a great love of discovery and learning in our children, especially those with unique or special needs. Instead of staring at a page in a text book, children can explore in new, interactive ways. Creative teaching can help nurture all children’s strengths, and Microsoft is front and centre building inclusive programs and classrooms. Last week I shared a bit of information about my daughters and…