We can all identify the subtle signs of spring – birds chirping, longer days and blooming flowers. Floral patterns are starting to appear on dresses in shop windows. The warmer weather signifies a fresh start with more time outdoors, bringing your garden back to life, and of course, spring cleaning! While these telltale signs are positive for the most part, it’s common to feel unprepared when the new season comes so quickly. Time flies when you’re busy raising kids! If you watch closely, you can see the signs spring has arrived.

I remember finding out I was going to be a mother. I headed straight to the store for Every. Possible. Book. Surely hours of reading would prepare me for pregnancy and then the years ahead with children. I was freaked out. My body was changing and somehow I thought that if I owned the most popular baby products and got on the Mother Goose registration list early, then everything would fall into place and be PERFECT. This was not the case.

Looking back now, I wish I had been able to read a letter of guidance from an older me.

Why do I need a ‘hack’ to live a healthy life? Because life is far too busy, and if I want to do something the long, hard, laborious way – I want it to be something I am truly passionate about. Regretfully, I like cooking better than sleeping, and I like reading to my kids more than measuring every nutrient I consume. ‘Hacks’ are trendy for a reason – they are a fast and effective way to reach the goals that matter. While I value my health and enjoy exercise – a few ‘hacks’ help me to focus on what matters most.

This post is sponsored by Bayer. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label.

Christmas is coming – it’s coming up so fast! Pretty soon your calendar is going to be full of parties, dinners and time with family and friends. It’s easy to get caught up in the all the “stuff” that comes with the season and lose track of the things that really matter – like our health. There are many things that can get in the way and put our holiday bliss at risk.

Here’s what to watch for and some tips to help you stay on track:

This post is sponsored by Bayer. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label.

It’s back – the dreaded cold and flu season is here, but it doesn’t have to take you down with it. Every year, we do battle with coughs, cold and fever during cold and flu season. Even when we try really hard to stay healthy, we still have to climb under the covers sometimes and admit defeat.

If you’ve caught a bug, here are some things you can do to get back on your feet again as soon as possible and back to living your best life.

I thought learning to sail would be my biggest worry.

At the age of 40, I began a journey to fulfil a dream I’d had since being a little girl. Together with my husband, we enrolled in ‘Basic Cruising’ sailing lessons, and then subsequently completed our ‘Coastal Navigation’ certification with the Canadian Yachting Association. It became something of a competition on the exams, but where I lagged in navigational prowess, I made up for with a natural feel for the wind and comfort with a tiller.

Filled with pride and tenacity, we purchased a boat. Then, I thought owning a boat would be my biggest worry.

This post is sponsored by Bayer. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label.

It’s unavoidable – we are all getting older. The good news is we are learning new things and becoming the people we want to be. There is so much change. Perspectives, priorities, likes and dislikes as we gain experience. What else changes is our health and wellness needs change. The best thing you can do for yourself is to be prepared for what your body needs now and what it’s going to need in the future. 

Teething pain is something I expected to encounter with my babies, and I felt confident I could provide pain relief and comfort. As a new mom, I was inundated with tips and tricks to help my teething babies. I gave them chew toys, cool washcloths, breastmilk popsicles, and more.