What’s better than Hallowe’en? Well, just maybe an un-scary musical-meets trick-or-treating show for kids ages 2-12! Running across Canada from Oct 12-29, the Great Big Boo treats audiences to a spectacular 50-minute show at Cineplex theatres. I still remember theatrical performances that brought my family together when I was a little girl. The lessons learned and expansion of the mind can affect kids for life.
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The air quality this summer was difficult, leading to more time indoors than we had hoped, but with the cool of fall we are prone to staying warm and cozy inside. With the summer being the way it was, I don’t want to miss out on any of the beauty of fall by camping out on the sofa under my blanket. Let’s not miss out! Instead, I want to encourage you to get outside before the winter months really make us want to hibernate.
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.
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.
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!
September is a time for goal-setting, and yesterday I met a huge one for myself. I met two girlfriends for an hour and a half to chat in person. This is shockingly indicative of the state of my inner self. Technology and social media have certainly affected the way I connect with others and I am finding that the depth of relationships solidified with twitter responses or Instagram comments is just not enough to get by. There is nothing that can replace community and connection. Gratitude. Trust. Vulnerability. And solitude.
I’ve been thinking a ton lately about mindfulness. Mainly because my head feels like it will explode. Chasing likes on social media, smartphone pings, managing a busy family and needing to be ‘immediately creative’ all make achieving a heightened sense of wellbeing near impossible.
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).
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.
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.
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!
