• Travel

    London’s Double Decker Bus Sightseeing Tour

    September 2, 2009 - By 

        For months, we have seen London’s Double Decker Bus Sightseeing Tour around town and thought wouldn’t that be fun to do one day.   This morning, keenly aware of the passing days of summer I woke both of my kids up and told them we were once again going on a surprise adventure. (These are truly one of the best parts of parenthood.) What is London’s Double Decker Bus? I had secretly planned to take them on the Tourism London’s Double Decker Bus Sightseeing Tour. The 1969 Bristol VR leaves every day of the summer through until September 7th…

  • Travel

    A Canadian Blogger in the U.S.A. #travel

    August 24, 2009 - By 

    I have never really thought of myself as a big Canuck, though I’ve lived here all my life. In fact, perhaps I’ve been delusional, but I have always thought that if the right opportunity presented itself, I’d jump ship. I’d pack my things, leave my double double, take my chances with nonexistent health care and move to one of the less scary states in the great U.S of A. In fact there are some states I have even found myself daydreaming about. Alabama sounds lovely, Florida sunny, Southern Carolina, whoot! Texas and Arizona are obviously sizzlin’ and California, well what’s…

  • Travel

    14 Things You Must Have on a Family Road Trip

    August 10, 2009 - By 

    Heading out on another family road trip which means I have some packing to do. Since we started this great foray into family travel my husband and I – well mostly I – have learned a few things about the tricky business of travelling with tots in tow. My first tip for travelling with children is planning, planning and then planning some more. When we flew to Disney last year it was my daughter, Ainsley’s first flight. She was four and, for those of you who don’t know, she has sensory processing disorder, which means life is often too loud,…

  • Travel

    Rainy Day Family Fun on the Bruce Peninsula

    July 21, 2009 - By 

    What to do when you are at the cottage and the rain starts? Well why not visit the Bruce County Museum? There’s plenty to do and see for kids of all ages. Plus the exhibits are always a hit. Here’s one more reason to visit the Bruce Peninsula. I have spent all my summers from the time I was a tot heading to the beach with my family, often winding up at a rental cottage hanging out and enjoying the summer months near Southampton. But only last year at the ripe old age of 40 with my children in tow…

  • Parenting

    London International Children’s Festival

    June 7, 2009 - By 

    Another June and another series of great London festivals set to unfold. One of the greatest draws of living here in this other London – the many festivals that dominate the summer parks and outdoor spaces. My DD – 5 – and I hit the 19th Annual London International Children’s Festival yesterday on its final day. My daughter, as always, enjoyed it, but I have to say this year although it’s still worth the trip I was even more disappointed than usual. And it wasn’t just me. Thriftymommastips talked to half a dozen other parents at the festival who all…

  • active family travel

    London Ontario: The Other London

    June 1, 2009 - By 

    This is my TOP Ten greatest hits for the other London aka London, Ontario, my home. I have lived in several southwestern communities, small liberal artsy towns like Guelph and Kitchener, the lovely technical hub and home of Oktoberfest and I’ve grown to love them all. But London is another story. If London were a child it would be one of those kids with a face only a mother could love. It takes time to get to like this oddly backwards Conservative Reform uptight dot on the map. After almost 10 years of life in the other London (London, Ontario)…