Thanksgiving-Ready

Get Thanksgiving-Ready at Costco

laugh, LIVE By September 19, 2018 No Comments

Growing up in Nova Scotia, I always spent Thanksgiving at our farmhouse built in 1763. The dining room has an exposed log wall and harvest table. Each of Norman Rockwell’s ‘Four Freedoms’ are framed in the room, making it a magical place to give thanks. Though I won’t be at the Farm for this year’s Thanksgiving holiday, I’m going to take a lesson from the Freedom from Want print. I will not only plan our festivities early but do my shopping for myself and my home in a stress-free way at Costco!

I am thrilled to be hosting a fabulous shopping event for Moms on Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at the Downtown Vancouver Costco Warehouse from 9:30-10:30am.

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Strengthening a family

When a Turnkey Vacation Strengthens Your Family

International, ROAM By September 18, 2018 Tags: , , No Comments

The past few months have been challenging. We have a tween testing the parameters of independence, friends with terminal health issues and an unpredictable work schedule. Drifting away from each other only exacerbates the stress. The kids needed separation from unreasonable peer influences and we needed to pull our two boys back into our arms. Holding kids close can be tough when bullies, sports demands and homework pressure take over. We needed to reign everyone in and reconnect – get the little birds back in the nest for a while so that they could regain security and stay true to themselves.

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Zapped reflective clothing

Play Hard. Be Seen.

GEAR, style By September 17, 2018 No Comments

The darkness is coming. And I don’t mean anything Death Star related (for once). Canadian winters mean extreme temperatures and less than 9 hours of light on the solstice. While snuggling up by a fire is perfectly acceptable adult entertainment, our kids tend to want to do more extreme activity – even when it’s dark. A lack of light can cause more problems than dips in mood. When we can’t see kids crossing the street in the rain or chasing a wayward basketball at dusk, parents worry sick about their safety. Thankfully, mother and awesome designer Scarlet Kux-Kardos founded Zapped. The Zapped Outfitters collection of edgy and rugged waterproof clothing, reflective shoes and hats features custom-designed fully reflective fabric that is embedded with glass beads that reflect light at night!

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2019 Honda Pilot Elite Exterior

Tweaking the 2019 Honda Pilot to Fit a Family

auto, GEAR By September 11, 2018 No Comments

There’s nothing quite as thorough as when you test a vehicle you are actually considering purchasing. And having an off-road track too. That’s always helpful. In need of a new Mom car that doesn’t make me feel unsexy, old or timid, I flew off to California to see how the 2019 Honda Pilot could fit into the life of an active family.

Though tech, styling and storage are usually at the top of my list, in the drive portion of the evaluation I was really looking for pep in the transmission. My current vehicle is having trouble shifting, and these lags make me immediately nervous. In my post-40 years, challenges like this don’t induce anger but heightened insecurity, and a jumpy driver is an unsafe driver. (It’s easier to get a good car than a good therapist).

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Japanese Restaurant Viva Azteca

17 Tips for Rocking your Sunwing Vacation with Viva Resorts in the Mexican Riviera

International, ROAM By September 7, 2018 No Comments

Our family just returned from falling in love with the Viva Wyndham Azteca through Sunwing Vacations. While our getaways are usually complicated, this time we went to one place for the entire thing – sunwing.ca. Not only is Sunwing a full-service airline, but they provide transfers, evaluate hotels, ensure value in their excursions, and allow you to book everything in one place. Typically, it can take a few days to get acclimatized and relaxed as your vacation begins. We don’t want you to miss an ounce of pleasure or relaxation, so the kids and I put together a few tips and tricks that could help you milk every second of your getaway.

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Outdoor movie night

Hang on to Summer with an Outdoor Movie Night

FAM, kids By September 7, 2018 No Comments

The outdoor movie night concept has entertained families for generations. I remember watching old black and white family movies on reels with a huge screen as a little girl. Thankfully, technology has advanced and these fun evenings aren’t so much of a production – so to speak. The invites, snacks and technology are now the easy part. The only challenge is choosing the film! Here’s what we used for a recent impromptu event.

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Last minute back to school

Last Minute Back to School Organizing

FAM, kids By September 5, 2018 1 Comment

When it comes to ‘Back to School’, I slump into sadness at another summer gone. In a way, though, September can be a time of rebirth and renewal, and a great opportunity to get the family organized. This year we have a few tricks up our sleeve to transition seamlessly into school and work life. Here are a few ideas we are implementing this year in order to streamline and succeed!

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becauseyouteach campaign

Rewarding our Mentors #BecauseYouTeach

grow, LIVE By August 31, 2018 No Comments

I remember them all. Mrs. Connelly taught me cursive and made me want to use it to write great stories one day. Mr. Grant praised me in front of the whole gym class for finishing a race with my leg bleeding even though I came last. Miss Tanner found math riddles in her spare time, and that year I crossed the arithmetic threshold and became fascinated with Fibonacci, perfect squares and golden rectangles.

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There’s Nothing Fishy About Summer Fun

Canada By August 13, 2018 1 Comment

We all wistfully count every summer moment with our kids, knowing that there will be a time when there are no more long, lazy days. Sometime in August, though, a chorus of ‘I’m Bored!’ rings through the house. The blowup backyard wading pool has lost its intrigue and you are breaking all of your parenting rules by caving in to extending their gaming time on a daily basis. By now, camps are all full and also expensive. Take a deep breath, because there are some amazing options!

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Reduce Single-Use Plastic

How to Reduce Single-Use Plastic

LIVE, nourish By July 31, 2018 No Comments

Single-use plastic is a huge issue in our society, and we have all grown up with the convenience it provides. Unfortunately, our environment, oceans and animals are being adversely affected by its disposal. Every minute, one garbage truck of plastic is dumped into our oceans. This amount will increase 10x by 2020. Looking around my house, it feels next to impossible to eliminate all plastic, but every solution has a beginning. I am choosing to begin with trying to reduce single-use plastics like straws, bags and water bottles.

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