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A Smugglers’ Notch Summer – Open Your Eyes to Something New
We were hosted media guests at Smugglers’ Notch this summer. My opinion is all my own and also truthful. Have you ever seen a Luna moth? They have an impressive wingspan, a lime green colour that makes them look almost bioluminescent and streamers trailing behind as they fly. If I’d never seen this moth, I’d still believe all moths drab and grey. Looking Through a Different Lens If I’d never experienced a Smugglers’ Notch summer I might have missed seeing all the fun ways you can play at a ski resort when the snow has long since melted. Sometimes, a different lens is all you need to see something seemingly…
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Fifty New Things From the Year I Turned Fifty
Last year was the year I turned fifty. Just saying that is both liberating and a bit scary. I come from a long line of women who didn’t EVER discuss their age. So, neither did I for most of my adult life. There was a time when I was so incredibly ill with Crohn’s Disease, an inflammatory bowel disease that is incurable, that I was very certain I wouldn’t live past 40. And then 40 came and went and 41, 42, 43 and so on and I was still here. Huh. Imagine that. A Bit of History The Internet didn’t exist when I was at my sickest ever with acute…
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What are the Best Cities to Visit on the Fourth of July?
It is not really the Fourth of July without a display of fireworks at night to make a spectacular end to the celebration. Fireworks shows take place throughout the country during the Fourth of July. Most cities make a huge deal of Independence Day and rightfully so. However, there are a few cities across the United States that outdo the other cities when it comes to spectacular fireworks displays. Take Note for Independence Day So take note of these for this year or next and make a plan to be there during July 4th celebrations! Where is the Best City to See Independence Day Fireworks? You may be wondering what…
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Cruise Etiquette No-No’s to Avoid
Cruise etiquette is crucial to an enjoyable cruising experience. When everyone on the ship is on their best behaviour, all of the cruise guests have the best time. However, there are always a few cruisers who either disregard some major cruise etiquette infractions, or just don’t know them. Don’t be that girl, or that guy. There are some things on a cruise that you just shouldn’t ever do. I’ve seen many of these play out and honestly you are not making any friends by hogging all the loungers on the deck and then disappearing for the day to eat or drink at the bar. Also, it’s great to relax and…
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Puerto Rico’s Family-Approved Destinations For Under $200
Guest post by Andrea Barnhill of Weekend Wander Club It’s a perfect dream to spend bright and lazy summer days just lying in hammocks under palm trees or walking barefoot in the sand while the water splashes softly against your skin. Not too far away, you can hear children’s squeals of delight, giving you peace of mind that they’re safe and enjoying nature at its best. Puerto Rico’s Family-Approved Destinations at Under $200 You can have all these experiences and more in Puerto Rico, the largest territory in the Caribbean Sea that’s still part of the US. For US citizens, it’s an easy destination and a two-hour flight from Miami.…
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Rent An RV Directly From Owners – Win a Dream Trip!
This post has been sponsored by RVshare, which means I received compensation. Just last fall we took our first ever RV trip. It was something we had been talking about forever. When we got started we fell hard for the RV lifestyle. That RV road trip through Northern Ontario was one of our favourite family adventures. But we don’t own an RV and yet we’d love so much to do this again some day soon. If you are at all thinking the same thing, you might be excited to hear about an RV rental that can help you experience the RV lifestyle. Rent Directly From Owners RVshare offers RV rentals…
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Valcartier – The Largest Winter Playground in North America
Setting – the largest winter playground in North America. We are flying down Everest, a human chain of inner tubes, each of us squealing deliciously, eyes squeezed shut, hearts drumming loudly in our ears. The vertical plummet straight down, as soon as the gate lifts, has me clutching even harder to handles on either side of my tube while simultaneously also wrapping my triceps around my younger daughter’s boots and grounding us both. All that planking at the gym literally paying off right now in this moment as we scream all the way down. At the bottom, when the ground levels out and the tubes finally slow to a halt,…
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Practicing Gratitude – 85 Things I am Grateful for Today
Lately I’ve been having a hard time with a few things. It’s been a challenging year so far and there are a lot of moments when it’s easy to slide into a funk. A BIG ONE. The kind you can’t slip out of easily. When everything black and white that was pink, or red or blue yesterday is now grey and grossly misshapen. Parenting teenagers is NO fun some days. Sometimes they suck the air out of a room with borrowed drama, angst and mood swings. Occasionally you look at them and wonder where the cute kid went. There are days when you struggle to see the baby that slept…
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Where in Canada Can You Stay in a Hotel Made of Ice?
I wake on a bed of ice, intricate carvings of a basilisk surrounding me, light subtly creeping through a snow ceiling and polished bricks of ice. Outside this crystal ice palace, the world is still and silent. The kids, in the bed beside ours, just a few feet away are still snugly bundled, not yet stirring. Beside me, wrapped in a burrito sleeping bag, is my husband. I hear the familiar rise and fall of his breath. What Can I Expect Overnight at Hôtel de Glace Quebec? I squeeze my eyes shut a moment longer, listening with my whole body to the sounds of morning in an ice castle. A…
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Useful and Fantastic Gifts to Get for Hikers
This post contains affiliate links as a service to readers. Are you a hiker? Know someone who loves hiking and exploring? Wondering what presents make the best gifts for hikers? Well I have a few ideas for you to give your outdoor fitness junkie any time of the year. Here’s some extra motivation: Extra 30% Off Outlet Orders $100+ Code: MAY30 If you are considering a gift for a loved one who likes to be outside, or enjoys hiking and camping, here are a few ideas that any hiker will enjoy any time of year for any occasion. They are basic items that are appropriate for someone who likes to…