My family had a chance to test out some pretty cool toys from Zing. They sent us a pair of Hyperstrike bows and two Zax hand axes to check out. I used these new toys as an excuse for a family outing to the park. We took turns tossing around foam axes. We used trees as targets for arrows and axe. We shot foam-tipped arrows up arching into the sky to see how far we could … [Read more...]
First Time Home Buyers? Join the #MortgageSavvy Twitter Chat with @Tangerine
Disclosure: This is a partnered post with Tangerine Bank. However, all opinions and views on this post are 100% my own. Taking the leap into home ownership can be daunting. Buying a house is a huge milestone, one that has a ton of decision points. You may think deciding how many bathrooms you can live with and whether or not you want a pool in the backyard might be the … [Read more...]
The Worst Marriage Advice I Ever Received…
I remember being given relationship advice from some older women, back when I was in my 20s. My mom, my aunt, the older ladies at work, they all said variations on the same thing, "Don't marry a man expecting him to change." I mean, I understand the advice they were trying to impart. If some part of your relationship wasn't working then marriage wasn't going to change that. … [Read more...]
Playmobil How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Playsets, Review + Giveaway
In this household we love Playmobil. We also love the Dreamworks How to Train Your Dragon movies and TV shows. So, I'm sure you're not surprised to learn that I was ridiculously excited when I first found out that there are Playmobil How to Train Your Dragon playsets! Toys based off of the How to Train Your Dragon shows? Cool dragons? Characters from my kids' favourite … [Read more...]
10 of The Best Books for Kids to Read
We live in a time when there are so many new and exciting ways to introduce our kids to the world around them. Whether it’s faraway places, exotic animals, or the basic facts of life, a wealth of knowledge is readily available right at our fingertips. However, while tablets, television, and smart devices are great ways to explore the world, sometimes delving into new concepts … [Read more...]
Puerto Vallarta, Go For The Food…
Go for the food. Oh my goodness, go for the food. The food in Puerto Vallarta was consistently amazing. This was the first thing I ate after landing, lunch at the CasaMagna Marriott Resort (which has since been renamed to Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa) at their beachside restaurant, Las Casitas. For the location alone the meal was noteworthy. Las Casitas is open to … [Read more...]
Hysterectomy Packing List – What to Bring to the Hospital
Here I am resting at my mom's place, recouping from my recent hysterectomy, and I found myself thinking about all of the things I brought with me for my post-surgery hospital stay and all of the items I wish I had packed to take to the hospital with me. So, in case this proves helpful to anyone else that is preparing for a hysterectomy, based on my recent experiences here is … [Read more...]
Lagging Skills and Parenting in Limbo, Our Search for a Diagnosis
I wrote about how we've been parenting in limbo over here, waiting for a diagnosis for my kinda-sorta-maybe special needs kid. Well, this is part one in the story of our search for that diagnosis... Lagging skills. That's the term they used to describe my girl when we took her to the first round of specialists. She doesn't understand boundaries. She doesn't give other people … [Read more...]
WARNING: Take the Batteries Out of Your Kids’ Toys!
When is the last time you checked the batteries in your kids' toys? The other day I was at my mom's house hanging out with my third grader and we got a pile of TAG books out to read. I was still recouping from my hysterectomy and Gigi offered to read to me while I rested in a chair. Her plan, she informed me, was to read all of the books out loud to me and then to play … [Read more...]
Recipe for Pasta with Scrambled Eggs and Cherry Tomatoes
EDIT: I am resurrecting this old post from 2014 because I still love this simple, quick, "lazy carbonara" recipe (and so do my kids). If there was ever a day when I just wanted to curl up in the corner of my couch with a blanket it's today. Yesterday we spent the entire day pulling weeds and trying to tame the mess that is our backyard and now I am sore, sore and tired; … [Read more...]
My Kid Has Special Needs, Sorta, Maybe
I am a pretty open book on this blog. I tell you guys a lot about my life and the lives of my family, but a large chunk that I've left out is how one of my kids has special needs. Maybe. Kinda. Sorta. See, I haven't said anything because we don't have a diagnosis. For several years now I've suspected that my youngest daughter is something. I've thought that maybe she was on … [Read more...]
10 Easy Steps to Decluttering Today!
Spring has sprung and we feel the need to start opening windows and throwing out junk. That’s the way most people start thinking when it’s time for a good spring cleaning but we always seem to get stuck. We lose focus or lack motivation once we look at that spare room, the basement or the playroom. We become overwhelmed or we just don’t know where to start. So we start to … [Read more...]
Cool Freebie Alert – Saturday is Free Comic Book Day!
Tomorrow is Free Comic Book Day! Saturday, May 4th, 2018 That's right, tomorrow (or possibly today by the time you read this) you can get FREE COMICS just by walking into any participating comic book store! This year marks the 18th Annual Free Comic Book Day. I've managed to make it out pretty much every year, and it's always a fun time. Each store sets their own … [Read more...]
I gave my mom a toothbrush for Mother’s Day and she’s still speaking to me…
My mom just turned sixty-five last month, which pretty much makes her officially un-shoppable for. Truth be told, I've had a hard time for almost a decade now. Gone are the days when a box of Corelle dishes, a new toaster, or a gaudy knickknack would cut it as a gift. She has moved twice since my Dad passed away, paring down her belonging each time. I know, because she … [Read more...]
The 7 Best Kept Secrets of Toronto ComiCon
You probably already know that the Toronto ComiCon is an awesome place to meet your favourite comic book creator and get an autograph. You also probably know that the Toronto ComiCon is a fantastic place to go shopping for geeky goodies. And you probably already know that it's a great place to meet some of your favourite sci-fi and fantasy film and TV stars live and in … [Read more...]