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surviving a bff breakup

It’s Not Me, It’s You: Surviving a BFF Breakup

self By May 26, 2016 Tags: , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

We’ve all had relationships that didn’t work out, for one reason or another. Maybe he liked to go out more than you, or you liked to borrow his underwear, whatever—we (eventually) accept that the relationship wasn’t meant to be, they weren’t The One, maybe learn a lesson or two about ourselves and what we really want, and ultimately, move on. Friendships are different. Sometimes they fade when life gets in the way, sometimes you grow apart because you’re headed in different directions. It doesn’t always mean you love each other less, it just means your activities aren’t compatible any longer. But sometimes, a friendship can end abruptly and without warning, leaving you with the same bitter hurt, despair and resentment that comes with the terminal end to a romantic relationship. Here’s how you deal, with some tips for surviving a BFF breakup.

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Canadian Tire Kayak Slider

Building Community with a Kids Kayak

FAM, kids, pets By May 25, 2016 Tags: , , , , , , , , 92 Comments

I remember many shopping excursions to the United States with my mom—outlet stores filled with clothing and jewelry were thrilling, and buying unique back to school supplies made me feel like I was in a candy store. As I have aged, shopping is still a delight and yet my store preferences have evolved. As a new homeowner I would get excited about tools, and then after my kids were born I visited garden centres and kids’ gear shops more and more frequently. As a super busy Mom and business-owner, I now demand a ton from my shopping experiences. The stores must provide great value, include many items that I need, and allow me to research my purchases digitally. I have honed my passion for shopping and no longer trek south of the border to get my heart palpitating.

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Moms and wine. How many glasses is too many?

Moms and Wine: Best Frenemies?

FAM, LIVE, nourish, self By May 19, 2016 Tags: , , , , , , , 3 Comments

Like many women, as I entered my 40s, I began fighting with my weight just a little bit more. My jeans are too tight, even my clothes from last year are snugger than I’d like. The worst part (and one I hate to admit, but I will to you guys) is that I know that what’s really responsible for the added pounds is wine consumption.

I definitely enjoy the occasional glass of wine here and there, but when I’m stressed (this happens often), I tend to drink even more than usual. Obviously, a lot of us do: Moms and wine have become a boring cliché, a too-obvious meme. We use wine as a crutch when our lives get out of hand, as a symbol to make us feel like we’re in control. Just glancing at a few wine labels at the liquor store, it’s frighteningly obvious that too many wine companies are marketing to the ‘stressed-out-mom’ demographic, like me.

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Just like dad, captured and printed on HP Envy

Give Dad the Gift of Good Times, with the HP Envy 7640

FAM, home, kids, tech, toys By May 17, 2016 No Comments

Still riding the feels from a wonderful Mother’s day, I am full swing into getting ready for Father’s day! Gifting Moms is a piece of cake compared to the monumental task of finding or *gasp* making something with the kids that their dad will actually, a) recognize as an actual thing, and b) like enough to actually put into circulation. This is no small endeavour, and should never be taken lightly because, come on, ladies, a super fab father’s day gift raises the bar for next year’s Mother’s Day, amirite?

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Helping teachers understand to understand your child's learning disability

Getting the Teacher on your Learning Disabled Child’s Team

FAM, Featured, grow, health, kids, LIVE By May 16, 2016 Tags: , , 11 Comments

When you have a child with a learning disability, it’s easy to start looking at the school system as the enemy. And while it’s true that the system isn’t perfect—leveraging the school staff as part of your team will help you all work together towards your child’s success. Here are some ways you can get everyone on board with the same program:

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Get Outdoors with these Awesome Kids Books

Get Outdoors, Baby: 7 Books to Introduce Kids to Nature

baby, books, FAM, GEAR, grow, health, kids, LIVE, play, Uncategorized By May 12, 2016 1 Comment

Spring is here, and with it the almost audible hum of energy that comes from children who have been cooped up inside too long. We all know the importance of limiting screen time, but did you know that letting a child experience nature can help alleviate anxiety, depression and attention disorders? The lure of laptops and tablets can make it hard to sell today’s children on the great outdoors. Sometimes they need a little help stimulating their imaginations. Here are seven books to do just that.

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Dream Big Princess

Dream Big, Princess

Disney, FAM, kids By May 10, 2016 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments

Though Disney has received criticism for some of their Disney princess characters of the past—exaggerated in dimension, with tiny waists and huge eyes, they didn’t represent “real women” in shape. Despite this talk, however, I never looked down on these characters or their stories. Then again, you can find me on any given day flipping through pages of numerous fashion magazines, feeling inspired and proud of my gender, not angered at the logistics of airbrushing.

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The best gift ideas for mother's day are free

Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day: Free and Priceless

baby, FAM, kids, self By May 5, 2016 2 Comments

Mother’s Day is on our doorstep and the gift guides are everywhere we turn. Don’t get me wrong, fancy gifts are awesome, but for me, the best Mother’s Day prezzies don’t have a price sticker on them. So, for my lucky number 13th Mother’s Day (and with three kids to celebrate it), here are my five gift ideas to give any mom on her special day. And they’re all totally free.

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Looking for great educational animated series for your toddlers? We've got you covered. And many happen to be available for free!

10 Fun Educational Animated Series for Toddlers

FAM, GEAR, kids, tech, toys By April 30, 2016 Tags: , , , , , 51 Comments

Nothing would please me more if I could just plop my kids in front of the television for hours on end, guilt-free. Thankfully, we live in a great age where we can entertain our children while they learn a little something. My favorite place to find great educational animated series  for free is Netflix. I also take full advantage of Xfinity On Demand, PBS Kids, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, and DVDs.

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