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...]
Knockturn Alley, The Dark (and Spooky) Side of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios is broken into three areas -- there is a small slice of London, England (complete with Kings Cross Station and Platform 9 3/4s), then there are the shops of Diagon Alley (including Gringott's and the Leaky Cauldron), and just off of Diagon Alley you'll find the perpetually dark twists and turns of Knockturn Alley. If … [Read more...]
Over 220 Cartoons and Kids Shows to Watch in French on Netflix – UPDATED LIST, March 2019
My children are in a French Immersion school, which means eighty-some-percent of the day they are taught in French. My own French is not exactly stellar. I mean I have the basic "I learned this in grade school because I am Canadian" level of French, which my kids, who are in 1st and 4th grade, are already surpassing. Yesterday I was doing the dishes with my seven year old, … [Read more...]
Why You Want to Buy a Wand When Visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando
If you are wondering "Is buying a wand worth it?", "Do I need a wand to visit Harry Potter world?" or "Do I want to buy a wand before visiting the Wizarding World at Universal?" I've got answers for you (briefly; yes, maybe, and no -- buy your wand at the park!) If you are spending the day wandering around Diagon Alley at Universal Studios or in Hogsmeade within Islands … [Read more...]
In What Order Should I Watch Dreamworks Dragons?
My girls have spent the past month watching, (and rewatching) the Netflix exclusive How to Train Your Dragon series, Dragons: Race to the Edge. There is a bit of a Dreamworks Dragons obsession in our household. My kids can't wait to see How to Train Your Dragon 3, which was just released on DVD on May 2st. With the release of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, now … [Read more...]
My Life as a Sandwich… #SandwichGeneration
I'm part of the Sandwich Generation. Sandwich Generation. What a quaint term. Until quite recently it's not something that I thought applied to me. But now, blam, here it is, I am part of a multigenerational sandwich. A sandwich, something tasty and quick you serve up for lunch. What I pack into my kids' school bags every Monday to Friday. Pack I think is the key word … [Read more...]
How to Raise Your Child to be Bilingual
Speaking multiple languages in an increasingly globalized world provides an incredible advantage for students, children and adults working, studying or travelling abroad. For this reason, many parents are eager to develop a fluency of at least one other language in their child. Here are a few tips and tricks on how you can raise your child to be fluent in multiple … [Read more...]
Waterproof Adventures with the VTech Kidizoom Action Cam 180
I was offered a Kidizoom Action Cam 180 to review and I immediately said yes. I wanted the Kidizoom camera because it was waterproof and we had a big family trip to Orlando coming up. I wanted it badly enough that when I realized it wouldn't arrive in time for our trip, I ran out to Walmart and bought one. I wanted it because the camera was waterproof and we were planning on … [Read more...]
DIY Meeple Valentines for Board Gamers
The other day I posted a dozen meeple Valentines. Today I offer you a bunch more board game Valentine's Day images, with one big difference. These are all wordless. Ready for you to add whatever witty, romantic or cheesy Valentine's Day quip you … [Read more...]
Valentine’s Day Cards for Board Game Lovers
Ok guys, I've got something a little oddball to share with you today; meeple Valentine's for board gamers! I play board games. Often. Lots of them. I also like geeky, quirky, or retro Valentines. I decided it would be fun to take a bunch of board game pieces, shoot some photos and turn them into cheesy Valentine's Day cards. Like these, for example: It's … [Read more...]