I've brought my kids on a family vacation to Florida twice now. Twice we've visited Orlando as a family. And I'm finding that I feel oddly guilty about it. See, when I was a kid we would visit Florida and stay with relatives. We'd fly down, or drive (24 hours straight, my dad was hardcore) to Bradenton, or Sarasota, stay for a week or two and head home. We chilled. A lot. We … [Read more...]
That time my 2nd Grader brought Whiskey to school…
I let my kid bring Whiskey to school. It didn't go well. To be clear, Whiskey is a cat -- a stuffed cat. I had reservations about Gigi bringing Whiskey to school, but apparently not for any of the right reasons. I was worried that her favourite doll might get ruined, that her long soft orange fur would get dirty from playing outside during recess, and that if I had to … [Read more...]
Flying Direct from Windsor to Florida with Porter: By The Numbers
Porter Airlines now offers flights direct from Windsor to Melbourne, Florida. The airport code for Melbourne International Airport is MLB, aka Major League Beaches, and Windsor is YQG, also known as Your Quick Gateway, hence it's like taking Your Quick Gateway to Major League Beaches. Okay, so right now you may be thinking, cute, whatever, but where the heck is Melbourne … [Read more...]
Alzheimer’s SUCKS and Here’s What We’re Going To Do About It
My father-in-law has Alzheimer's, a disease I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. In the nine years since he's been diagnosed, I've watched as one by one his hobbies and abilities have been robbed from him. His body is still tall and strong, but his mind has been eaten away by this heartbreaking disease. So that he can no longer play baseball, or go bowling, or play cards, or … [Read more...]
FREE Eyeglasses for kids ages 4 to 10, with Loblaw KIDS SEE FREE Program
Have you guys heard of Kids See Free? It's this awesome program by Loblaw that provides free eyeglasses once per year to kids ages 4 to 10 with a prescription. (This program is available across Canada in Loblaw grocery stores with an Optical Department. So, depending on what grocery stores you have in your neck of the woods, you can get access to this program at a Real … [Read more...]
Spontaneous Walt Disney World, Seizing the Evening at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
I know people PLAN Disney. They plan the heck out of Disney. They plan when they will eat, and where, and make reservations months in advance. They plan exactly which rides they're going to go on and what order they're going to ride them in. There is even some Fast Pass deal where you can register for rides ahead of time. Planned. Every minute. Out the wazoo. But something … [Read more...]
7 Life Lessons Learned While Kayaking with the Dolphins in Sebastian Inlet
I spent a morning kayaking in Sebastian Inlet Florida State Park, and it taught me a bit about motherhood, about being a caregiver, and about surviving my "sandwich generation" moments. Stick with me here guys. Life happens. It just keeps on happening. Kids. Aging parents. Health issues. STRESS. Non-stop worry and stress. I feel like my life has devolved into some sort … [Read more...]
Fundraising Made Simple with FundScrip
Guys, I have happened upon the coolest fundraising system ever. Every year my kids' school does this Fall fundraiser where they sell frozen cookie dough and overpriced jewellery and knickknacks. The first few years I felt pressured to take part. Every purchase was a disappointment I felt guilty for having let my kids hand these catalogues over to their gullible … [Read more...]
Settling the Back to School Jitters with the Goodness of Goldfish
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Goldfish Crackers. All opinions are 100% mine. My kids were nervous about going back to school this year. Up until this point back to school season has always been a time of excitement in our household, but this year both of my kids were far more anxious and scared than they were excited. It caught me off guard. I was … [Read more...]
Dinosaurs Alive at Canada’s Wonderland
A few years back I took my daughter on her first trip to Canada's Wonderland and she taught me a little bit about fun, about how the merry-go-round could be every bit as exciting as the thrilling roller coaster rides and about how wonderful it is to be able to experience an amusement park through your kid's eyes. During that trip, one of the highlights of our day was … [Read more...]
LAST CHANCE TO SEE: Magical Surprises in the Dragon Challenge Queue at Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando
One of the very cool things that I missed on our first trip to Universal Orlando was the queue for the Dragon Challenge. I want to tell you guys about this amazing space in detail for two reasons. First, because I think it is an often overlooked ride and one that any Harry Potter fan would LOVE the experience of walking through. Secondly, this ride is scheduled to close for … [Read more...]
Nigel and the Knight Bus, a Magical Moment inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
This is one of my daughters' most cherished memories of our visit to Universal Studios Florida. One rainy evening we stopped by to check out the Knight Bus and the conductor, a friendly chap named Nigel, chatted us up. The Knight Bus is a full sized triple decker bus sitting in the streets of London. just outside of Diagon Alley. It, of course, looks exactly like the … [Read more...]
Volcano Bay, Theming Behind Universal Orlando’s New Water THEME Park
I want to tell you about Volcano Bay. It's the new water park area that just opened up at Universal Orlando, and it looks pretty darn awesome (even to someone like myself who doesn't normally care for water parks). Actually, today I am out there somewhere exploring Volcano Bay, checking out the new water rides, and chilling in a cabana, but a little less than a year ago I … [Read more...]
Adventures in Raising a Junior Mad Scientist…
I have long suspected that I am raising some kind of Pinky and the Brain style mad genius. My youngest daughter has a, well, let's say a scientific bend. I also strongly suspect that if she knew that "taking over the world" could be a life goal, she would SO be on it. Gigi digs gears and cogs, robots, and things that whir and go. She wants to take everything apart and … [Read more...]
Sneak a Peek at the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium Gift Shop, at Universal City Walk Orlando
From the moment I set eyes on the new Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen, I knew I had to eat there. We stepped into Universal's City Walk area, and there was this giant whimsical factory-like building sitting there across the waterway, just begging to be explored. That first afternoon I convinced my family to walk over the bridge and take a look at … [Read more...]
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