• Safe Travel Bags
    active family travel - family - Travel

    Stylish and Safe Travel Bags for Your Next Trip

    December 23, 2016 - By 

    My older daughter is taking a big trip in 2017 with a youth theatre group she belongs to. This Christmas we’ve tailored a few of her presents so that she can use them when she travels. She’s already getting several travel guides and a few clothing items she needs. I think she will also be thrilled with one of these adorable Forever Young Stylish and Safe Travel Bags from Beside-U. Now, my daughter doesn’t actually know she’s getting this one for a Christmas present. This is her sister modelling it in the photo. There are so many beautiful safe travel…

  • explore_NYC
    active family travel - family - Travel

    Explore New York City with these Amazing Travel Guides #TTOT

    December 13, 2016 - By 

    Explore New York and everything it has to offer with two great travel guides. I recently picked up both of these travel guides because my daughter is headed to NYC in 2017 with her theatre group. Planning is half the fun of travel. NYC is an epic trip and I want her to enjoy it while also feeling prepared and independent. I happened across DK Eyewitness Travel Guide New York City and DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Top 10 New York City. Both books have amazing information that I hope will help make my daughter’s trip wonderful. Explore New York City with All…

  • gemmies
    family

    Gemmies Crystal Creations for Crafty Kids #TMMGG16

    November 9, 2016 - By 

    Gemmies Crystal Creations are the craft du jour for crafty kids this year. If you have a crafty tween or teen then you know the struggle. I am always hunting for things to keep them busy. Oh it sounds nutty, but my thinking is this – give them crafts and things to keep their hands busy and they will be less likely to build baking soda volcanoes in the bathroom. Laugh it up, but that’s exactly what my kids would do. Craft kits like Gemmies Crystal Creations are crucial to my sanity. In fact, craft kits are a big part…

  • pom_pom_wow
    family

    Pom Pom Wow! – For the Tween or Teen Girl on Your List #TMMGG16

    November 3, 2016 - By 

    Are you shopping to please a crafty teen or tween girl this holiday? Then I have the perfect gift for you. Pom Pom Wow is a quirky, fun, craft kit with potential for hours of enjoyment. I should know – my girls have been decorating everything with Pom Pom Wow! since the kits arrived here a couple of weeks ago. Who doesn’t like Pom Poms? Pom Pom Wow! has numerous different kits and accessory bundles. We received several to try out. My daughter Ainsley, 12, got her hands on the Pom Pom Wow! Decoration Station one night after school. Now,…

  • snapchat-safety
    family - parenting - Technology

    Online Safety and Snapchat

    October 27, 2016 - By 

    Online safety is a big deal, and Snapchat has become one of the more concerning apps for parents of tweens and teens. Because users of SnapChat can specify a time frame that a picture will stay on the server, online safety is a concern with this app.   What is SnapChat ? For those of you who don’t know, SnapChat is a video messaging app which allows users to take photos, videos, and add text or drawings and then send them to other users. This media – known as “Snaps” can be set up with a time limit on how long…

  • adoption_life
    adoption and tweens - family - Parenting - parenting

    This Reality Show Called Adoption Life

    September 23, 2016 - By 

    “I’m thinking about adopting.” At least once a week I read a message like this from someone wanting information about adoption. I am open. I talk and write about adoption here often. Friends know I will always answer. And I do. I find them resources, or answer their questions about why, or how long, or where do I go? Sometimes I simply let them know that the wait is worth it. I answer the questions one by one and hope others will follow through and discover all that I love about adoption. There are many roads to parenthood. BOTTOM LINE. There…

  • xbox_one
    family - Technology

    New Family Friendly Titles COMING SOON From XBOX One #X16CA

    September 15, 2016 - By 

    Recently we were invited to the XBOX One Media Showcase in Toronto’s Distillery District. It was the second year I attended and spent some time getting to know which new family friendly XBOX One games are coming soon. There are a few surefire hits on the way to stores soon. You’ll want to put them on your list for the holidays if not before. This year as always there were dozens of exciting new games at the XBOX One Media Showcase. From the Minecraft games set up inside the showcase room to the thrill seeking extreme winter sports game Steep, which…

  • willland_outdoors
    parenting

    WillLand Outdoors Backpacks That Bring It #BTS

    August 31, 2016 - By 

    Whether it’s school or travel there’s always a reason to have a good quality backpack at the ready. I am thrilled this year to have WillLand Outdoors backpacks for the kids as they return to school, and as we embark on our fall and winter travels. My oldest daughter started grade nine last year with a super fun anime style backpack that she bought at the beach with her babysitting money. It was adorable. BUT…and we all saw this coming…it broke before Halloween. It was fun and cute, but cutesy isn’t always what you need when you lug massive math…

  • 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…

  • headphones
    Technology

    Make Back to School Rock with Monster Headphones #BTS

    August 26, 2016 - By 

    It’s the most musical time of the year. Kidding. Moms and Dads might feel like dancing but tweens and teens, probably not so much. But this year my girls felt like dancing when these Monster headphones arrived for Back to School season here at my house. These beauties landed in my office when the kids were at camp and I was super excited to let them pick which ones they each wanted when they returned. Post contains affiliate links as a service to readers. I receive a small commission via qualifying purchases made.  Remarkably they both opted for the opposite ones that I…