Few things are as frustrating for a parent as a child who won’t go to bed at bedtime. There are a lot of reasons why this happens, but if you are having bedtime battles with your child, here are some tips to do to help ease your troubles.
Tips for Bedtime Battles
Get to the root of the problem
If your child is fighting you at bedtime, the first thing you can do is try to find out the real problembehind him not wanting to go to bed. Have you recently moved him to a new bed or transitioned from co-sleeping? Is he scared of something or having bad dreams at night? Is he just trying to get your attention? Find out the problem so you can take steps to resolve it.
Establish a bedtime routine
If you haven’t already, now is the time to establish a proper bedtime routine. Do calming activities first like reading a favourite book, getting into PJs and brushing teeth. It’s okay to indulge in a little cuddle time and extra hugs and kisses during this time as well. Eventually, you want your child to understand that bedtime is bedtime and there are no more requests after that.
Be consistent
No matter what bedtime routine and strategy you use, it’s very important you remain consistent with it. Always stick to the same bedtime, even on weekends, don’t allow stalling, and make sure are parental figures are on the same page when it comes to bedtimes.
With these tips, you can bust bedtime battles for good. You’ll have young sleepers that go to bed on time and stay in bed until morning, giving you more time in the evenings to do the things you need to do, as well as to sleep yourself.
That pop and burst of flavour from biting into fresh blueberries is pure heaven. Blueberries are amazing on their own, but they work so beautifully in recipes as well. It doesn’t matter if you’re making a savoury salad or cheesecake, you’re going to love the addition of blueberries! You will find below 15 summer blueberry recipes!
Blueberries of Summer Recipes
Summer Recipes with Blueberries
Blueberries work in everything from breakfast to snacks to even dinner! There are so many great desserts that feature blueberries. You can make a compote that goes over cheesecake, ice cream, and even pancakes. Some people even love to add blueberries to lemonade and iced tea. Of course, you also can’t overlook the simplicity of adding these delicious berries to a bowl of yogurt along with some granola.
Imagine summer blueberry salad! A salad topped with fresh blueberries, walnuts, and grilled chicken. It’s a great lunch option, but also the perfect light dinner during the hot summer months. Pair this with some blueberry lemonade and you’ve got a great meal to serve guests!
Blueberries of Summer Recipes
If you want to save money on blueberries, you can’t go wrong picking them yourself. Visit a blueberry farm that offers this option and you’ll be able to get a large amount of blueberries for a fraction of what you’d pay in the store. You can freeze the excess or make compote, can it, and store it for later. This way you get to enjoy blueberry muffins in the middle of winter.
Blueberries of Summer Recipes
Blueberry Recipes
Blueberries are a must during the summer months. You can make so many delicious recipes. Below, you’re going to find some amazing ones to try. Whether you’re looking for desserts, snacks, or breakfast options, you’ll love these blueberry recipes!
I hope you enjoyed these summer blueberry recipes as much as my family and myself did! What’s your favourite way to enjoy blueberries? Do you love blueberry pie or maybe you like blueberries in oatmeal? Share your favourites below so that we all get even more great ideas to try!
Comfort. It is what we all want to feel all the time. It can be hard to achieve a good level of comfort whether we are caring for little ones, are on-the-go, or anywhere around the house. ComfyComfy Canada creates products to help people feel cozy at home and when travelling. They asked me if I would love cuddling into comfort with a few of their pillows and I could not wait to try them out!
ComfyMama 3-in-1 Organic Buckwheat Hull Pillow and ComfyTravel Pillow with Pillow Case on a bed.
Three uses, one amazing pillow
Moms, whether they are new to the game or have older children, all love to be comfortable. A good pillow can make all the difference to helping us get through different parts of the day. TheComfyMama 3-in-1 Organic Buckwheat Hull Pillow in Midnight Roses Print gives moms with three ways of feeling comfortable:
ComfyMama 3-in-1 Organic Buckwheat Hull Pillow and ComfyTravel Pillow with Pillow Case on a bed.
Provides back support during pregnancy.
Acts as a nursing pillow and as a bolster for a baby during tummy time or learning to sit.
Gives comfort as a sleeping or body pillow.
Since my baby days are LONG behind me, I have taken advantage of this pillow and as a body pillow at night. I love feeling cushioned at night, so this pillow is a big help. The buckwheat filling is great when I want to have knee support that shifts and moves as do.
My sleeping pillows are also not the best. They are down-filled and need constant plumping to provide proper support throughout the night. This 3-in-1 pillow adds to the comfort I love feeling at night. When reading in bed, it provides me with great neck support. My head also nestles down into this pillow when I want to go to sleep without losing its shape. My little ones love this pillow, too! They love cuddling it and grab a snooze on it whenever they can!
Girl snuggling with ComfyMama 3-in-1 Organic Buckwheat Hull Pillow.
Taking comfort on the road
Travelling. The experience id fun to go on, but the time it takes to get from Point A to Point B sitting in an upright position can make your muscles feel stiff. Bringing a bit of comfort along for the ride is always an added bonus to getting away!
The ComfyTravel Pillow with Pillow Case is a smaller buckwheat pillow that is portable enough to pack with you whether you are on the road or on a plane. It is filled with 2.5 lbs of thoroughly cleaned, organic buckwheat hulls that are grown in Canada.
ComfyTravel Pillow with Pillow Case on a bed.
I also love using this pillow during the day while I work. Since work in the corner of my couch at my laptop, I am missing the proper back support I need. I like putting in the empty corner space where there is no support from the couch for my back. I love how my back melds into this small pillow. My posture is straighter, and I feel so comfortable while I type away at my keyboard.
Woman working with ComfyTravel Pillow with Pillow Case on a couch.
I also tote this pillow outside when my family spends time in our backyard. My head nestles into the pillow as I take in the fresh air and the warmth of the day. I could take this travel pillow anywhere I go to love cuddling into comfort!
Woman laying onComfyTravel Pillow with Pillow Case on a blanket.
Love cuddling up to comfort
Both of these pillows from ComfyComfy Canada allowed me to love cuddling up in comfort. The 3-in-1 ComfyMama 3-in-1 Organic Buckwheat Hull Pillow provided me with comfy night’s sleep and support when reading in bed. I am a huge fan of how the ComfyTravel Pillow allowed me to have head, neck, and back support I need whenever I go! I am so happy to have both of these pillows to make me feel cozy whenever I want to.
Cuddling Up to Comfort with ComfyComfy Canada
Are you wondering about other products ComfyComfy has to offer? We checked out their website to learn more! We are also following them on their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to find out the latest on their products!
Disclaimer: I received products from ComfyComfy Canada in order to write this review. The views I shared are my own.
Don’t you hate a school morning where everyone is scrambling and then – once everyone is at school – you get a call that one of your children forgot an important project or paper at home. Ugh! It’s enough to drive a mom crazy! Let’s stop that madness. This year, let’s have more stress-free school mornings. How? Check out these awesome hacks!
Hard boiled eggs on a toast.
Setup a Backpack Station
One of the best things you can do is setup a backpack station. You’ll need some hooks where your children can hang their backpacks, along with a calendar to write down important dates and reminders, and a hanging file holder where kids can put papers that need to be signed. At the end of the night, check to make sure your kids have put everything at the station, that you’ve signed any papers, and check the calendar to make sure there’s nothing you missed. This prevents kids from running around trying to stuff everything in their backpack. Another great tip is to make your kids put their shoes at the backpack station so everything is ready to go.
Bento lunch ~ Photo by anotherlunch.com on Foter.com / CC BY
Let Kids Pack Their Own Lunch the Night Before
Another great area you can setup for your kids is a lunch station. In this station, create containers that hold different food groups. For example, one might hold dairy, another hold protein, another hold fruits and vegetables, etc. You can attach a note that reminds kids how many to choose from each group. You’ll have containers in the fridge and pantry. Each night let kids pack their lunch with whatever they want as long as they get something from each group. This gives you more time to relax and means that you don’t have to get up and pack the lunches for them.
Make and Freeze Breakfast Options
If you want your kids to have a homemade breakfast, but don’t have a lot of time to cook in the mornings, start meal planning and make freezer meals. You can make and freeze breakfast egg muffins, sandwiches, pancakes, waffles, and more. Search Pinterest and you’ll find tons of options for foods that can quickly be popped in the microwave.
Breakfast Egg Muffins
Create Outfits for the Week Ahead
If you have younger kids, let them pick out their outfits for the week, but do so on a Sunday afternoon. This allows them to take their time and pick exactly what they want to wear. Once the outfits are picked out, you can hang each outfit together and designate an outfit for each day of the week. This will prevent the morning mess of looking for the perfect outfit.
Cup of coffee on a dresser.
Get Yourself Together First
Before the kids get up, spend time getting yourself ready. It’s much easier to get up an hour or so earlier and spend time taking a shower, getting dressed, and enjoying a cup of coffee before getting the kids up. You may hate getting up earlier at first, but you’ll soon come to treasure that bit of time to yourself.
Promise Play Time
Last, but not least, if you want your children to get ready quickly, promise to let them play or watch TV before heading off to school. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your children will move when they know they can play or watch their favorite show.
School Morning Hacks That Prevent Stress
School mornings do not have to be stressful. There are many little hacks you can use to get kids out the door without turning your house into an absolute mess. It may take a bit of time in the evenings or on the weekends, but it will make a huge difference!
You can’t get around the lines at Disney. With a park this popular and big, there are always going to be lines. If you’re visiting any Disney destination, you just need to be prepared for waiting in line. You don’t have to let this get you down though! There are things you can do to help make the time pass more easily while you’re waiting! If you can’t get your creative juices flowing about what to do in line, we have some ideas for you.
Minnie and Mickey Cake balls
Here are some things to do while waiting in line at Disney:
1. Study the map and know where you are going next.
6. Take pictures to remember your experiences later.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant Ride
7. Plan the rest of your day and your next adventure.
8. Journal or take notes about your trip so far. Write it down now so you don’t forget anything.
9. Play word games.
10. Play “I spy”.
11. Talk to people waiting in line with you. You can learn so much about other people and where they are from. It can be a lot of fun.
Click on this photo to print hidden Mickey’s printable cards.
12. Look around for hidden Mickeys. They’re all over the park. See how many you can spot from your place in line.
13. Play charades.
14. Read a book or magazine.
15. Make up stories. Take turns adding to the story, or take turns telling your own stories.
Things to Do While Waiting in Line at Disney
Now you have a big list of things to do while waiting in line at Disney, but don’t stop here! You can come up with some of your own ideas and add to the list!
As a parent, you work hard to take care of your child’s physical needs. You maintain a place to live, cook nutritious meals, and help your child establish good, healthy habits that will encourage good health; however, your child’s emotional health is just as important as their physical health, so you need to nurture it and help your child grow emotionally, mentally as well as physically.
A Child’s Emotional Needs
There is no child that does not want to have a mother or a guardian that does not make them feel dear or loved, or one that does not tend to what he needs. They all need a close, sensitive and loving relationship with the adults who care for them. Let’s start by exploring the emotional health needs of a child.
The Need For Attachment
It is a misconception that a child at infancy still does not have the capacity to know that love is given or the infant can give love. From the day they are born, a relationship between the mother and the child is established because the infant already has the capability to give and receive affection. This is very important because this becomes the foundation of the inner development of a child that includes sense and security, confidence, and the ability to cope with other people.
A child learns very well from his parents. It is through the parent’s actions and words that the feelings of security, the knowledge about human relationships, and the sense of right and wrong, are learned. Anger and violence in the family is not helpful at all.
The Need For Stimulation
The brain and mind of a child is like a sponge. It absorbs everything therefore it needs something for it to grow. Language, play and love are the food for a child’s mind to grow.
What a child needs are loving words, cuddles, smiles, touch, and encouragement to react to noise and movement, from people. These things stimulate a child and without them a child is unhappy. Growth failure happens when a child loses interest in life, and has less appetite.
When children explore and play, the mind grows and they learn. Play is not senseless, if one thinks that a child should be given less. This is very important for the child’s growing up years. Let the children do what they want and need to accomplish in a play. It will help to develop their mental, social, and physical skills. It builds up the child’s curiosity, competence, and confidence. Play should not always mean solving problems or achieving goals.
One type of play is imaginative play. Imaginative play brings up and develops a child. One type is acting out as an adult and acting out does not have to be expensive. And it helps out a child to be creative. They are challenged to find solutions to problems.
Tips to Nurture Your Children’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing
These are 4 steps to maintain child’s emotional health.
Set good examples
Your child learns how to respond to things emotionally by watching you and they will act the same way when faced with similar situations. Set good examples and teach them the right way to respond emotionally. Do this by controlling your emotions and responding in a positive manner when faced with challenges of your own.
Encourage self expression
Allow your child to express anger, fear, and all other emotions. It’s okay for them to feel sad, lonely, afraid, or even angry sometimes. Without these experiences as a child, they won’t know how to deal with these feelings when they are older. As they go through these emotions, teach them how to cope with them in a good, positive way.
Offer praise and encouragement
Let your child know you believe in her and that you know she can control their feelings and respond to situations the right way. If you trust them to make the right decisions, they will trust their own opinions and grow to be emotionally confident.
Get educated
The best way to know if your child is emotionally healthy is to know what’s normal for children in the same age group, even though they learn at different paces.
How to Nurture Your Child’s Emotional Health
Regardless of which parenting style you use, the tips above can help you nurture your child’s emotional health. Be kind, understanding, and always listen to your child when they’re struggling emotionally. Offer encouraging advice to help them find ways to deal with their emotions in a calm and positive manner.
The first day of high school can be stressful for both kids and parents. Chances are you remember how nervous you were on your first day! You probably also remember that it was no big deal. Everything turned out just fine; however, teens think they know everything and won’t believe you! Things were different back then, right? Let’s take a closer look at how to prepare your teen for the first day of high school!
How to Prepare Your Teen for the First Day of High School
Teenage girl sitting at a desk.
Do a School Tour
Most high schools offer a tour. You don’t want your child to miss this. This is when they’ll learn where everything is. The more prepared your child can be, the better. If your child will be attending a school with a large campus, you’ll want to make sure they pay attention to where everything is located. This will give them a better chance of finding their classes on the first day.
Create a Healthy Sleep Routine
Teens can really get their sleep routine out of whack during the summer months. Create a sleep schedule for your teen in the weeks leading up to the first day. Start sending your child to bed an hour earlier every few nights until they’re going to bed at a reasonable time. You also want to start waking them up earlier and earlier until they are used to getting up for school before their first day.
Teenage girl hiding her face behind a book.
Talk to Your Child About Relieving Stress
The first day of high school, and being a teen in general, can be stressful. Take the time to teach your child different ways to relieve stress. It might be reading a book, meditating, going for a walk, etc. There are many methods, and everyone has different methods that work for them.
Make Sure Your Child Has Everything She/He Needs
You want to make sure your child has everything they need for the first day of high school. If your school provides lists of supplies before the start of the school year, you’ll know exactly what they’ll need to get started. Chances are your child will receive a list of additional supplies the she/he will need for each class on their first day. In other words, don’t overbuy. Save some money until you know what other supplies will be.
School supplies
Know Your Child’s Schedule and Locker Combination
You want to know where your child should be at all times. It’s also good to know your child’s locker combination in case they forget it, or you need to go by the school to pick up assignments when they’re sick.
Let Go
Last, but not least, you need to let go. Yes, this is a scary time for you and your teen, but trying to be the momma bird won’t help either one of you. There are milestones throughout your child’s life where you’ll need to back off more and more. This is one of those times.
The first day of high school is a big step for teens and parents. Thankfully, there are things you can do to prepare your teen for back to school and their first day of high school!
Canadian Turkey wants to give you a hand in making meals easy at this time of the year! They have shared with us some Back to School meal ideas and a recipe, Big-Crunch Oven-Baked Turkey Tenders, that will help you create some tasty dishes to enjoy!
Summer vacation is about to come to a close. Canadian families are beginning to think about getting back into the swing of their Back to School routines. One of the tasks parents have to get ready for are tasty back to school breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks! Meal planning is a way for families to prepare delicious and nutritious meals ahead of time. Using a delicious protein as the base for yummy meals can help to make meal planning easier out together.
Photo Credit: Canadian Turkey: Big-Crunch Oven-Baked Turkey Tenders in a lunch container with peaches and cucumber.
Why should you choose turkey?
Why should you choose turkey for your Back to School meals? Turkey is a power-packed protein that can act as the anchor of any meal throughout the day. Any of its tasty cuts work to fuel your family with essential protein and nutrients. Turkey provides about 30 grams of high-quality protein for each 100-ram serving. This protein also contains nutrients like vitamin B12, selenium, and zinc.
5 tasty tips to make Back to School Easy with Canadian Turkey
Not sure how to fuel your family with turkey for Back to School? Check out these five tasty tips to give you some ideas!
1. Batch It! Turkey is the perfect choice for batch cooking. Plan for recipes that are easy to scale and cook extra turkey to provide planned leftovers, so you can cook once and eat twice!
2.Get Healthy! Turkey is a great source of protein, important minerals and nutrients. Power-up your plate without having to compromise on flavour with this tasty ingredient.
3.Keep It Simple! Turkey can be cooked ahead of time and freezes well, so you can have an easy meal on hand during rushed weeknights and busy weekends.
4. Versatility Plus! Turkey adapts to all of your favourite flavour profiles and spice combinations, and with so many cuts to choose from you can find choices that please the whole family. Turkey is a delicious option for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can serve it hot or cold, and it tastes great the next day, too!
5. Boost It! Add turkey to your favourite dishes for an instant protein boost! Salads, soups, pasta sauces and casseroles all benefit from the added nutrients turkey contributes.
A finger-friendly family recipe
Having Canadian turkey on your family’s plate every day is a great way to fuel your family through their busy schedules. Canadian Turkey wants families to enjoy every bite of their meals with tasty and nutritious tips and recipe ideas. One recipe that will help your family take a yummy bite every time is their Big-Crunch Oven-Baked Turkey Tenders. This dish would make an excellent lunch of dinner staple for your Back to School meals. Take a look below to see how to put together this easy dish!
Big-Crunch Oven-Baked Turkey Tenders Recipe
Big-Crunch Oven-Baked Turkey Tenders Recipe
Big-Crunch Oven-Baked Turkey Tenders.
Make the Big-Crunch Oven-Baked Turkey Tenders Recipe to fuel your family!
Slice turkey into 1 cm slices. If thicker, pound to about 1 cm thickness.
Season the tenders with garlic powder, paprika, mustard powder and salt and pepper to taste.
Prepare your breading station with three shallow bowls. Place flour in one bowl, egqs in another bowl, and breadcrumbs and cheese in another bowl. Season all with a pinch of salt and pepper.
Set the oven to broil.
Take each slice of turkey and dredge in flour. Dip in egg and then coat with breadcrumb mixture on both sides, pressing breadcrumbs to adhere well.
Place oven rack in the middle of the oven. Broil, for 6-8 minutes per side, until turkey is no longer pink and cooked through. Flip once during cooking, when the breadcrumbs are browned. (Timing may vary depending on size and shape of fingers). Let cool slightly before serving.
For dipping sauce, blend together peppers, cheese, yogurt, parsley, onions and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to your liking.
Serve turkey tenders with dipping sauce on the side.
Notes
TIP: These tenders taste great the next day and make a fabulous lunch. Turkey breast works well in this recipe too. Change up your dipping sauce with your kid’s favourites; honey mustard, ranch, hummus and BBQ all work well and can be packed up for lunch or snacks.
These turkey tenders are great because they are a finger-friendly family recipe that can be gobbled down at lunch or dinner! Kids can even serve themselves by picking them up and dipping them into their favourite sauces. The fact that this dish is oven baked and packed with protein is an added bonus!
More tasty tips!
Are you curious to find additional tips, recipes and HOWTOs for a tasty Back to School with turkey? Visit Canadian Turkey for more cooking inspiration! The Recipe section is jam-packed with delicious recipes for full meals, appetizers, snacks, and kid’s favourites. There are also videos, tips, and how to’s that share what you need to know to help put scrumptious, nutritious, and versatile into your family’s meal rotation every day!
Disclaimer: This post is generously sponsored by Canadian Turkey.
The prospect of spending extra time at the Magic Kingdom is something that definitely catches my attention. Disney After Hours gives guests the opportunity to do just that at a private, ticketed event. That ticket, however, is not cheap. Is Disney After Hours Worth the Price? And if the price tag is worth a buy for your family!
Is Disney After Hours Worth the Price?
Is Disney after hours worth it?
The Disney After Hours ticket is separate from your Magic Kingdom entrance ticket. With your After Hours ticket, you can only enter the park starting from 7 PM. If you wish to spend some time during the need, you’ll need to purchase a regular park admission. After Hours are only offered on select dates from 7 PM up until 1 AM depending on the night.
1. Scanning Your Magic Band
This, of course, means that those without the After Hours ticket end up with a shorter park day. If you are not already in the park before closing time, you will be able to enter the park by following the “After Hours” signs at the park entrance. Guests will scan MagicBands or cards to get an “After Hours” lanyard.
2. Lanyard
If you are already in the park, you can pick up your lanyard at various stations throughout the park. Cast members will set up large signs that say “After Hours Check In”, so you will know exactly where to go.
By this time, the crowds are beginning to thin and guests without lanyards are being directed to the exits. You will be given a flyer that lists all the event exclusives including character meet and greets, the attractions, and restaurants that will be open. Usually Main Street Bakery and Casey’s Corner are the two selections.
3. Disney After Hours Times
The official After Hours start time can be from 8 PM to 10 PM depending on the night. Therefore, if you arrive at 7 PM when entrance opens, you may have a few hours to take advantage of the empty lines for attractions that will close during the event.
4. Short Ride Times
Once the event begins, the lines for rides are so short that most of them are walk on or no more than a 5 minute wait. After Hours tickets are limited to only a few thousand guests, and while that may seem like a big number, imagine them all scattered throughout a huge park! Average daily Magic Kingdom attendance is about 65,000 guests!
There are some reports that capacity is 100,000 guests and that is hit around Christmas and New Years and results in some ticket holding guests having to be turned away. Allowing two or three thousand guests to roam the park sounds like a ghost town in comparison!
Being able to ride the attractions as much as you want is a huge plus for After Hours. Guests also like the ability to meet Mickey without standing in an endless line and using up valuable park time.
5. These are the attractions and character meet and greets that are usually available during Disney After Hours.
Main Street U.S.A
Meet Mickey Mouse and Tinker Bell at Town Square Theater
Adventureland
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Pirates of the Caribbean
Jungle Cruise
Swiss Family Treehouse
Enchanted Tiki Room
Frontierland
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Country Bear Jamboree
Splash Mountain
Liberty Square
Haunted Mansion
Fantasyland
The Barnstormer
Dumbo
“It’s a Small World”
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Meet Ariel in her grotto
Mad Tea Party
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Peter Pan’s Flight
Meet Disney Princesses in Princess Fairytale Hall
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid
Tomorrowland
Space Mountain
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Astro Orbiter
Tomorrowland Speedway
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Each land has something to do and although there aren’t as many character meet and greets available, most guests will be busy at the rides.
After all those unlimited rides, you’re bound to get hungry! Luckily, your ticket to Disney After Hours entitles you to unlimited snacks and beverages at kiosks and carts sprinkled throughout the park. Choose from popcorn, ice cream treats, and bottled beverages.
Is Disney After Hours Worth the Price?
6. Is Disney after hours Price Tag Worth It?
Now, onto the price tag! Each After Hours ticket is $125 plus tax per or adult or child if purchased in advance. Day tickets are $129 plus tax per adult or child. If you are an Annual Passholder or Disney Vacation Club Member, you can purchase tickets at the special price of $95 plus tax per ticket. You can purchase through a travel agent, online at Disney’s website, or call 407-939-7795. (ticket price subject to change)
Is Disney After Hours Worth it? When you think about all that is included for the ticket price, it can be worth it. It’s basically a full park day jammed in a few hours. On top of the unlimited snacks and rides, guests also get the opportunity of taking awesome pictures with very few people in the background. Cinderella’s Castle will remain aglow and gives the perfect backdrop to a memorable After Hours night!
Would you consider going to Disney After Hours on your trip if it’s available? Share in the comments below!
For most middle-class families, it’s always important to keep track of expenses. Yet, when it comes to wanting the best for your family, some costs are inevitable regardless of your financial planning. Insurance is often viewed as a sunk-cost and, thus, is not relevant when cutting back on spending.
House
Taking Risks
Whether it’s buying a motor vehicle, a new home, or even starting a new business, no matter how carefully planned, risks are unavoidable. When you run a risk and things don’t go as planned, you’ll need a way to recover. It’s for this reason that many families, and individuals alike, find comfort in purchasing insurance. You can always learn more by calling a registered insurance broker.
Caring For Your Loved Ones
Of all the costs accounted for, throughout your life, your house probably ranks among the top of your most risk-related expenditures. From storing your belongings to providing shelter for your family and loved ones, there’s no question that a ton of thought and consideration is implemented in such decisions. However, despite your intentions, things may not go as planned. Your home, whether it’s your permanent residence or for vacation purposes, is not resistant to unforeseen dangers.
Accidents happen, nature takes its course, and unfortunately, lawbreakers still exist. Insurance companies can protect against losses and compensate their clients. In the case of house fires, natural disasters, and damages produced as a result of burglaries, insurance companies are there for you.
Car with a teardrop camper
Staying Mobile
For some families and individuals, the most convenient way to travel is by using your very own private motor vehicle. Whether it’s a van, a small car, something as simple as a motorcycle, or maybe as large as an RV, owners want to make sure that they have a reliable form of transportation for themselves and their loved ones. It helps to know that in the case of accidents on the road or intentional robberies, insurance companies are there to keep you moving forward. Consider learning about the different types of insurances offered to clients by insurance companies. This is to ensure that you make an informed decision regarding your motor vehicle.
Woman typing on a laptop
Maintaining Your Digital Security
Despite the use of digital media to buy products and services, risks to financial security continue to be significant. Hackers can gain access to your identity and financial information. Using various techniques and tricks online, hackers can find vital financial information. This can put both you and your family at risk of losing significant amounts of money. Many insurance companies now offer identity theft insurance. This is to better address the problems facing clients in this modern age of e-commerce.
Importance of Insurance For Middle-Class Families
Keeping Your Family Safe
When it comes to keeping your family safe, in regards to finances and physical security, insurance companies are there to help to the best of their ability. Comfort yourself in knowing that, despite unfortunate events, such companies are there to help. This sort of investment helps cover any ailments that can affect the health of your core family and even some close relatives.
Keep in mind that it makes it easier when you are fully informed about the many details and aspects pertaining to insurance coverage. This includes information about the company itself as well as their insurance policies. Try to fully understand the benefits of making this sort of investment and contact a certified insurance company to speak to one of its representatives.
Most
parents in Canada know about Registered Education Savings Plans. However, it
doesn’t essentially mean that they have them. On the other hand, only a few are
aware of the RESP alternatives
of saving for their little one’s tuition. With post-secondary education costs
rising and the job market looking depressing, the young adults are more likely
to finish their schooling burdened with significant amounts of debt. Hence, as
a parent, you need to get smart ideas for putting money aside for your child’s
education.
RESPs are one of the most popular ways for parents to save for their children’s high education. Money places into such investment accounts can grow tax-free. In this post, we will discuss how parents can maximize their Registered Education Savings Plan contributions and the other ways to save.
School supplies
How to Save for your Child’s Education? Here are the 5
Smart Ways
#1 Get Life Insurance
Parents can
use life insurance to fund their kid’s education by making regular investments
into a life
insurance policy and tapping into excess cash value. The benefit of
getting life insurance is that the amount saved would be tax-deferred inside
the life insurance policy. However, it is not advised to break into the excess
cash until the policy is matured; else you will not get the full benefit. Even
in parents are struggling, grandparents can tap into their policy to manage the
cash flow.
#2 Pay Out Corporate Dividends
If you have
an incorporated family business or if you are incorporated, you could
accumulate savings in your corporate account, and at a later date, you can pay
them out to pay for your child’s education. However, for this to happen, your
children would require owning shares of your company, who will have ostensibly
low income. This is a great way to support your children’s post-secondary
education and can benefit your RESP contributions as well.
4 pink piggy banks
#3 Set Up a Trust
A trust is
a legal agreement, like a Will, where funds are transferred from one individual
to another based on specific terms. Setting up a trust is a great way to
control, manage, and protect funds. The biggest benefit of having a trust is
that it gives a grandparent or a parent the peace of mind with the fact that
the money will be used for its intended purpose – like for the grandchild’s or
child’s post-secondary education and other higher studies. However, it is
critical to set up a trust in the right manner with a written agreement
outlining the terms and conditions.
#4 Use Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA)
Using a Tax-Free Savings Account will allow parents to build up their savings tax-free. The best, they can withdraw the money any time in the future to help finance their children’s education.
How to Save for your Child’s Education? Here are the 5 Smart Ways
#5 Open a Non-Registered Account
Opening a
non-registered account is easy, especially when it comes to the purpose of
saving for your child’s education. Such type of account is easy to set up,
offers flexibility, and simple to understand. You can withdraw the funds at any
time.
Final Words
It is critical to research the possible investment options available that suits your financial portfolio. You can help your child build a bright future with proper education.
These are 13 watermelon desserts that are perfect for summer. Whether you want something cold and refreshing or baked goods, you will love these desserts. If you’re having a summer cookout, these are the perfect treats. Everyone will love trying something different.
One that you’ll definitely want to try if you’re trying to eat healthier is the watermelon pizza. It’s loaded with fruit and can be easily customized. Try topping it with your favourite summer fruits to get the exact flavour you like.
13 Wonderful Watermelon Desserts
Watermelon for Desserts
There’s something wonderful about having a juicy piece of watermelon on a hot summer’s day. It’s a great way to help you stay hydrated and oh so refreshing. Of course, watermelon can also be used to make some yummy treats. You can also be inspired by watermelon to make watermelon desserts or shaped treats. For example, you might make some watermelon-flavoured candy or cookies that look like watermelon slices. You’re only limited by your creativity!
Watermelon is a great fruit to work with, but is often served as is. There’s nothing wrong with that; however, if you want to try something different, you’ll love these desserts. And, if you don’t care for watermelon, you will still love the desserts that are made to look like watermelon.
13 Wonderful Watermelon Desserts
Remember, fun desserts don’t have to be loaded with fat.
Some of the recipes below are great for those that are looking to eat healthier
this summer. For example, a watermelon sorbet is an almost fat-free treat
everyone will enjoy.
13 Wonderful Watermelon Desserts
13 Wonderful Watermelon Desserts
If you’re looking for fun desserts to make with the kids this summer, you’ll want to check out the list below!
If you’re not sure how to use up all the watermelon in your
house this summer, try some of these recipes. There are some really good ones
to choose from and many are super fun to make.
Back to school season usually fills children with dread. Let’s take a closer look at how to get your child excited about back to school.
The older the child gets, the worse it gets. The good thing is you can get younger kids excited about back to school season. Whether your child is scared to go to school for the first time or just dreads going back and starting a new year school year, you can get them excited about it.
Purchase Fun School Supplies
Little kids up to preteens can get excited about back to school supplies. The key is to let them pick out some fun stuff. It might be a fun backpack, pencil case, gel pens, etc. With back to school supply lists, it’s easy to know what your kids need to bring to their first day of school. Make sure to purchase cool and fun school supplies as these will definitely get your child excited to go back to school. Ideally it’s to not let them have the supplies until the first day of school. The same goes for back to school clothing. If your preteen daughter is excited to wear cute back to school fashion clothes, hold off on letting her until the first day of school.
Plan Something Fun for the First Day Back To School
The first day of school should always be a fun day. You can get your child excited about back to school by starting the day with his favourite breakfast, maybe even let them have the sugary cereal that you only let them have on the weekends. You can then plan to do something fun after school, like go out and have pizza. Just make it a fun day for them.
Let Your Child Personalize His Gear
Another fun thing to to get your child excited about back to school is to let him personalize his backpack, binders, etc. You could also get a jean jacket and let your child pick out fun patches to put on it. Letting your child have fun with getting the best school supplies for back to school will get him excited to show the pieces to his friends.
Enroll Your Child in After School Activities
If your child loves after school activities, look for something to enroll your child in. Your child will be excited for school to start when there’s something fun to do in the evenings. It might be sports, music lessons, or anything else that your child is interested in.
Go to a School Tour
Last, but not least, if your child is going to school for
the first time or going to a new school, take your child on a school tour. This
can help calm some of the anxiety of going to a new place. Your child can see
that the building isn’t that scary and can learn where everything is. Your kids
can also meet new friends.
How to Get your Child Excited About Back to School
I hope these places to visit will allow you to make the most of your next vacation in the lovely state of New York.
Adirondacks, New York
Places to Visit in New York State
Located in Northeastern United States, New York State is well known for New York City and Niagara Falls. Even though these are two beautiful locations to experience in New York State, I’m going to share a few other places to visit while in New York State.
1. Adirondacks
Spanning across 6 million acres this region is well known for Lake Placid, Lake George and hundreds of other communities. The communities each offer a bit of hiking, adventure, sightseeing and quaint shops.
2. The Hamptons
This location has been a long time getaway for elite vacationers who enjoy relaxing in style. With quiet beaches, small boutiques, tasty seafood dinners and upscale eateries will allow you to relax while being spoiled.
3. Buffalo, New York
If you enjoy museums, then Buffalo is a place to visit while in New York State. Albright-Knox Gallery, Buffalo Museum of Science and the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park are a must visit while in Buffalo.
4. Finger Lakes
You must see these 11 narrow, long lakes called Finger Lakes. This is the area that’s famous for New York State’s winemaking. There are over 100 wineries and vineyards in the Finger Lakes that you’ll surely have to sample.
5. Albany
Located on the West bank of the Hudson River, the capital of New York, gives you an experience of a lifetime. Offering tours of mansions and historic buildings such as the New York State Executive Mansion, the Ten Brock Mansion, and Schuyler Mansion.
6. Montauk
This is a Long Island town where you can experience seal watching on the shores of Montauk State Park. You can also enjoy a 40-acre pond that has camping sites. There’s access to the ocean for some saltwater swimming.
7. Syracuse
The fourth largest city in upstate New York offers hands-on exhibits and tours. The Erie Canal is located here, which is surely a sight to witness along with the Erie Canal Museum. Clark Reservation State Park is in Syracuse and is a great place to enjoy a guided nature walk.
8. Saratoga Springs
A laid-back bohemian town, Saratoga Springs is well-known for horse racing, this is a must visit while in New York state. If you visit from July to September you can experience a horse race at the country’s oldest thoroughbred track.
10 Places to Visit While in New York State
9. Robert H. Treman State Park
This natural beauty is a location that you must visit, offering you a view of Enfield Glen gorge. As you hike the trails at the Robert H. Treman State Park, you’ll experience a 115-foot waterfall called Lucifer Falls along with 12 other waterfalls.
10. Cold Spring
This town is a must visit as it has a rich history and was once the home of the general Governor K. Warren during the Civil War. You’ll be to enjoy hiking, bicycling and beautiful streams in Cold Spring that’s nestled between two rolling hills.
There you have it a few unique places to visit while in New York State. Surely you’ll want to stop in Niagara Falls and New York City, but these 10 places I shared today will give you a more extensive vacation. There’s such rich history in this state, each of these places showcased today will allow you to relax, exercise and enjoy learning more about the state of New York.
Although, having an excellent beach towel that’s easy to pack is key to getting the most of your outing. Especially one that doesn’t start collecting enough sand to build a sand castle while you’re attempting to tan! Or worse, stays wet for longer than it should after a refreshing swim! Nobody wants their beach day to feel like a drag because of an uncooperative towel! Thankfully, Tesalate has revolutionized the traditional beach towel by creating one that’s stylish, versatile, functional, and sand-free! They asked if I would be interested in reviewing two of their beach towels, and I couldn’t wait to have some fun in the sun this summer with Tesalate’s revolutionary design!
Tesalate Beach TowelsReview
Is there anything better than relaxing at a beach on a sunny summer day? Warm weather in Canada is only here for a few months, and one of the best ways to soak up some fun in the sun is to pack up your beach towels, sunglasses, and sunscreen and have beach day! They’re the perfect way to cool down, have a cold drink surrounded by amazing company, and, if you’re lucky, get that perfect tan!
Tesalate has over a dozen beautiful beach towel designs to choose from! I was fortunate enough to be able to pick the two designs I personally loved the most to review, which were:
All of Tesalate’s towels are proudly made in Australia with their exclusive AbsorbLite™ fabric! This allows for a towel that can repel sand and dry rapidly, while also remaining compact and light!
Besides being the perfect companion towel for your trips to the beach, its versatility allows you to pack it with you on your travels, to dry off at the pool, as a gym towel, or as a yoga mat!
By using cutting-edge textile technology, Tesalate’s AbsorbLite™ fabric was engineered to create a beach towel that can be:
Sand free.
Full sized towel: 160cm x 80cm / 63 x 31 inches.
Ultra absorbent. It can absorb at least 1 litre (33 oz.) litre of water!
Rapid-drying.
Compact when rolled. Easily fits in any bag!
Tesalate Shipping and Prices
REVISED: Please take not that Tesalate does not ship to Canada at the present time. Only to US and Australia.
It had been years since I’d taken the time to enjoy a lovely beach day, so it’s safe to say that I was very excited to receive my towels for this review! Plus, not only does Tesalate offer free standard shipping and returns for all of Canada, but it only took about a week after my order was placed for me to receive my towels, which had been shipped all the way from Chullora, Australia! Out of all the online orders I’ve placed within the past years, Tesalate by far has some of the quickest and best shipping out there, and they’re shipping from Australia! Not to mention I wasn’t charged any additional duty fees! Talk about a steal!
Each regular beach towel retails for $79 CAN. If you’re looking for a larger towel, Tesalate has you covered too! Each Towel for Two retails at $139 CAN, which is double the size of the regular! They measure at: 160cm x 160cm / 63 x 63 inches. These towels would be fantastic for a family or a couple looking to soak up the sun!
Plus, if you sign up for their newsletter, you’ll also get 10% off of your first order! It truly doesn’t get any better than that!
A Perfect Beach day with Tesalate!
On a perfect summer’s afternoon, I brought my two Tesalate towels to the beach for a well deserved tanning session and a quick dip in the water. For a beach towel that’s relatively thinner than others I currently own, I was surprised by how soft and comfortable it was to lay on! After a good wash, the AbsorbLite™ material felt even softer to the touch! I love it so much!
Undoubtedly, the most incredible feature for these towels are that they remain sand-free. No sand gets into the towel. You can easily brush it off the towel with your hand! Personally, I’m so accustomed to leaving the beach with wet and sand-filled towels that I almost couldn’t believe what my eyes were seeing! There wasn’t a single grain of sand left on either the Malibu or Mahalo towels after giving them a good shake and packing them back up in the lovely (and complimentary!) drawstring bag your towel arrives in. The only grains of sand I brought back home that day were those stuck between my toes!
Be mindful of the wind!
Unfortunately, it happened to be a very windy day throughout my beach outing. I noticed that whenever I wasn’t lying on my towel, the edges had the tendency to lift, and the towel would get caught in the wind as well. I’d have to repeatedly rearrange it and lay it down flat again, especially if the wind began to blow too much sand onto the towel. A quick fix is to simply put down a bag or any heavier items you may have on you (ex: water bottle, picnic basket) on the towel to ensure it stays nice and flat when you aren’t using it!
This is such a minor issue in comparison to how absorbent they are (at least a litre of water!) and how quickly they can dry! In under ten minutes after drying off from my quick dip in the water, I had a beach towel that looked immaculate. You couldn’t even tell I’d used it!
Another lovely little feature are the reversible designs. You can flip the towel around and enjoy another design at your heart’s content!
Fun in the Sun with Tesalate Beach Towels Review
The best beach towel I’ve owned!
Tesalate’s beach towels are definitely a tad pricier than most regular towels, but I would absolutely recommend them at 1000%! They’re an investment worth making simply for their versatility, practicality, and unique features. In the past, I found trips to the beach to be such a hassle, and I felt as though I’d brought home the entire beach with me; however, having two amazing towels this last trip made a world of difference! I’ll definitely be using my Tesalate towels at home, for future beach trips, at the pool, and even the gym!
Please feel free to visit their website to admire their gorgeous lookbook filled with their various beach towels design! You can also take a look at their Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram pages as well!
What are some of your favourite beach day memories? Share in the comments below!
Disclaimer: I received products from Tesalate in order to write this review. The views I shared are my own.
Building with block sets is a favourite pastime my kids love to do for creative play in our home. I love it because it challenges them to use their imaginations to create fun for themselves. Flexo wants to take block building to a whole new level. They asked us if we would like to Build Into Fun With Flexo and play with a selection of their building sets that allow their creations to move and come to life! We could not wait to see how much fun we would have creating movable fun.
Build into Fun with Flexo – Review
Below are the building sets we received from Flexo to start building and bending into fun:
GID Bracelet Set
GID Spaceball Set
Stingray Set
Builders Set
Inventor Set – Brights
Investor Set – Neutrals
Flexo building sets on an ottoman.
Getting warmed up for building fun
My kids were really excited to start creating fun with Flexo building sets. I thought we should start on the smaller sets to get used to how these sets work.
My daughter is a great builder and lover of jewellery. She gravitated towards the Flexo GID (Glow in the Dark) bracelet. This set allows builders to create a cute accessory they can wear as soon as they are complete.
Girl’s hands building Flexo GID Bracelet Set.
Since she got the building bug, my daughter hopped over to put together the Flexo GID Spaceball set for her brother. This kit allows users to create a glowing ball you can play with in the dark.
Girl’s hands building Flexo GID Spaceball Set.
Once both sets were assembled, my kids could not wait to give them a try. My girl popped the bracelet on her wrist and would not take it off. It was pink and cute. She had a blast modelling it. My son could not wait to play with the Spaceball. He loved squishing, rolling, and bouncing it around.
Girl wearing Flexo GID Bracelet Set.
Flexo Spaceball Set complete on an ottoman.
Both sets were easy for them to assemble. There were under thirty pieces in each set and it took them a few minutes to put it together. These are great starter sets for first-time and younger Flexo builders to try.
Building fun under the sea
My daughter and I had fun kicking it up a notch with our Flexo sets. We used the Stingray Set Fish Sets to create cute under the sea friends to play with.
These sets are a great segway into a more advanced set for kids to build with. It is a foundation for kids to create bigger objects with their bricks and tendons. Tendons allow for objects to be brought to life because they can move. We found the tendons on these two sets are a bit more difficult to build because the tendons are thicker than in the previous sets.
Flexo Stingray Set on an ottoman.
We also popped over to Flexo’s YouTube channel to help us put the fish for the Builders Set together. There are instructions to put create both sides of our fish, but not how to complete our toy build.
Flexo Fish Set with a laptop showing build instructions.
Once put together, we used the Flexo app to see each of our friends come to life. We also found a tub to watch our friends float for playtime fun!
Screenshot of Flexo app showing the Stingray character swimming.
Creepy crawly fun
With the Builder Set, we put together a few structures. We built a creepy crawly worm character my son wanted to play with. What I liked about these Flexo sets is that you do not have to necessarily follow the colour patterns to the letter to create our little critter. The result was a friend my son used to smash and crash other structures he built.
Worm character from the Flexo Brights Inventor Set.
I let my kids go wild with the Brights Inventor Set. They were able to create whatever popped into their imaginations. With all of the practice they had with the Stingray and the Fish Sets, these little friends were easy to create.
Boy’s hand building with the Flexo Brights Inventor Set.
Bird character built with the Flexo Brights Inventor Set.
The toughest build we attempted was with the Neutrals Set. We had to try to put together the spider featured for this set. Let me tell you: this was a tough one to accomplish.
Flexo Neutrals Inventor Set on an ottoman.
Without instructions, we went online to create this creature. This was a monster build. Once completed, it was a creepy crawly my son could not get enough of. This new friend became a pet for my little guy and went with him all over our home.
Boy holding Flexo Spider character in his hands.
Building and bending into fun
My kids and I are still having fun building and bending into fun with our Flexo Sets. The foil sets are a great starting point for young builders to start their Flexo fun. Though we had to turn to online instructions to create some of these sets, the characters are fun to play with. We love how these builds can wiggle and bend to come to lie in our hands. Being able to add these bricks to other block building sets is an added bonus for us to enjoy! This is a great set to play with at playtime!
Build and Bend into Fun with Flexo
Want to find more building and bending fun with Flexo? We visited their website, and checked out their Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram pages for more building ideas!
Flexo building sets giveaway sets.
Disclaimer: I received products from Flexo in order to write this review. The views I shared are my own.
Do you find yourself paying a huge amount of money for your child’s back to school wardrobe? It can be pricey to buy back school clothes; however, it doesn’t have to be. One of the best tricks is to create a minimalist wardrobe for your child. What does that mean? A minimalist wardrobe is one that has only a few pieces, but can be used to create several outfits. In other words, your child won’t have pieces that only work in one outfit. Let’s take a closer look at how to create a minimalist back to school wardrobe!
Children writing
How to Create a Minimalist Back to School Wardrobe
Focus on the Basics
First things first: focus on the basics your child needs. Your child will probably need jeans, tee shirts, underwear, socks, shorts, possibly skirts, and a jacket at the beginning of the school season. You can purchase jeans in light, medium, and dark. You want to avoid jeans that can only be worn with one outfit or are something your child may wear once and never wear again. The same goes for all other pieces.
Embrace Neutrals
Neutrals are perfect for a minimalist wardrobe. Neutrals can be mixed and matched with almost anything. If your child happens to already have pieces in their wardrobe that only went with one other piece, neutrals work great. Basic neutral colours include black, grey, navy, brown, khaki, and white. Anything can be paired with neutrals.
Buy Pieces That Can Be Mixed and Matched
You always want to purchase pieces that can work in multiple outfits. If you purchase six shirts and six pairs of pants, your child will have several outfits to choose from. In other words, your child won’t need an entire closet full of clothes.
Boy wearing a backpack
Avoid Pieces That Have Little Use
There are some pieces that can only be worn with one thing to look good. Avoid these pieces. Something that stands out a lot will be noticeable when worn more than once in a week; however, if your child is pulling from a wardrobe filled with neutrals, she can wear the same pieces throughout the week and no one know.
Purchase Good Quality Pieces
Last, but not least, since you will be buying fewer pieces, invest in the best quality pieces you can afford. This will ensure that the pieces last longer. Because your child will be wearing the pieces more frequently, you’ll want pieces that can withstand being washed once or twice per week. Compare prices, read reviews, and check the quality.
How to Create a Minimalist Back to School Wardrobe
A minimalist wardrobe gives your child so many outfit options, but cost a lot less. If you want to invest in clothes that your child will get a lot of use out of, go with a minimalist wardrobe. You will pay more per piece of clothing to invest in quality pieces, but you’ll still spend a lot less money, especially if you shop back to school clothing sales. Take the money you saved buying a minimalist wardrobe and put it aside to buy clothing for the winter!
Some people worry that one of the worst things that could happen during their trip to Walt Disney World is rain. Some people save for years to be able to plan a fun Disney park vacation and they don’t want rain to spoil it. The good news is there are still plenty of things to do at Disney when it rains and the park is also designed with areas to help keep you out of the rain. Also, keep in mind that there is a difference between regular rain showers (which can happen at Disney during certain months) and a full-on lighting storm!
A lightning storm is dangerous, and rides will close and certain parts of the park will shut down until it passes. If it’s just rain, put on a hat or a poncho and keep going because the park won’t close!
You can see so many different things in the monorail resorts, go shopping at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa or at the Contemporary Resort, and you can even enjoy great places to eat. This can get you out of the rain for a bit and it should pass over.
Monorail entering the Contemporary Resort Hotel at Disney
2. Just keep going with your plans.
Seriously, most rains in Florida don’t last for very long and if you packed a hat or a poncho you can just put it on and keep going. A lot of people will drop out of lines during the rain, so this could be your chance to move up.
Inside pathway of Cinderella’s Castle
3. Go to Magic Kingdom, Future World at Epcot, or Disney Springs.
Both Magic Kingdom and Future World at Epcot have indoors areas and are great for rainy days. Go shopping or grab a bite to eat at Disney Springs. Skip over Animal Kingdom and World Showcase at Epcot during the rain because they have a lot of walking in open and exposed areas.
What to Do at Disney When It Rains
Now that you know what to do at Disney when it rains, you’ll be fully prepared if it rains during your trip!
When summer gets here most people have vacations on their minds! Having a vacation is getting tricky as costs increase and wages decrease. Is it possible to have a family vacation without going over your budget? Summertime can still be fun even on the tightest of budgets, but you just have to be a little creative!
Family Vacation Summer Fun Tips
Pier on a beach
Plan Ahead
The easiest way to have fun during the summer and stay within your budget is to plan ahead for the summer. With careful planning you can enjoy the summer and relax without worry. The kids are going to be out of school and you want to make sure they are entertained. You also want to keep them from wasting the entire summer inside!
Stay home
If you are not traveling this summer and decide to stay home, you can still have a fun family staycation. You’ll just be having it in the backyard! Pitch some tents (check the weather forecast first) and make your vacation a week of camping in the backyard. It’s cheap and it can be fun; however, you’ll need to do a couple of things to prepare!
Backyard tea for two
Setting up the tents is only part of the process of vacationing at home. You’re going to want to avoid leaving your “vacation”, so you have to be sure that you purchased everything you need before hand. You can grill out and store your food in a cooler for a realistic camping experience. You might want to go inside to take a bath, but you can still sleep in the tents outside. During the day, you can do family activities such as board games, ball games, or just spending time together. It’s one of the most inexpensive vacations that you will ever enjoy with the entire family.
Woman holding a baby
The Beach
If you live within driving distance of a beach, you can plan to spend a day there. If you plan far enough in advance you can book a room at a discounted rate and spend one night in luxury to extend your vacation. You will want to pack everything that you will need for your trip to the beach to avoid having to stop and purchase the items. Not only could the items cost more than they do at home but you will be taking time out of your vacation.
Family Vacation Summer Fun Tips
It is possible to have summertime fun while staying within your budget. You have to remember to set your budget first. The budget has to include saving to ensure that you don’t go over budget when taking your family vacation. The kids will be occupied and you’ll have fun too!
It’s patio time! These amazing summer wine coolers and Mimosas recipes are wonderful for the patio! I suggest using bottles of wine that are in the $10-$15 range. You don’t want to mess up really nice wine by adding fruits and sodas! Keep the budget intact and enjoy your summer!
Amazing Summer Wine Coolers and Mimosas
Strawberry Chardonnay Wine Cooler
Strawberry Chardonnay Wine Cooler
Pull stems and leaves from 15 strawberries and cut into quarters. Throw them and two tbsp of brown sugar in the blender until pureed.
Mix in a gallon pitcher:
One bottle of a Chardonnay, 20oz Sprite or another lemon-lime flavoured soda pop, and the puree made above. You can add more or less of the puree, depending on how much strawberry-ness you’d like!
Serve in a tall wine glass over ice (don’t add the ice to the pitcher, it will water your drink down!) and garnish with a strawberry on the side!
Serve this strawberry cooler with a nice lemon chicken or a shrimp cocktail.
Peach Champagne Mimosa
Peach Champagne Mimosa
Buy a peach nectar from your grocer. I like to use a Prosecco with this recipe. Pour Prosecco over ice in a tall wine goblet, pour a little of the nectar in, and stir. Serve with a peach slice! This cocktail is great for parties with the ladies. I serve it at baby showers, bachelorette parties, and mother’s day brunches.
Grapefruit Sauvignon Blanc Cooler
Grapefruit Sauvignon Blanc Cooler
Use a knife to slice the skin off of a ruby grapefruit. Slice the fruit into sections. Make sure none of the white rind is left.
Mix in a pitcher 1 cup fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, 20 oz of grapefruit soda, and a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. Pour into wine goblets, over ice, and garnish with the slices of grapefruit you made earlier.
Serve this one with seafood. Grilled halibut with roasted veggies would be a nice pair for this one.
Mimosa
My Famous Mimosa
First step is good oranges. I like to use Naval oranges. A juicer will help you as you will need fresh squeezed juice. Once you’ve squeezed enough to have half a gallon, keep squeezing. You’re gonna run out of these if you only have half a gallon (2 quarts). You are going to need lots of sparkling wine, too. I like a Spumante for this recipe. I suggest making this by the pitcher. You want two thirds wine to one third orange juice, and my secret ingredient: Grand Marnier, but it’s optional! You’re going to need a half oz per 8oz mimosa. Do not serve this drink iced. Keep the ingredients cold in the refrigerator or on ice (not in the pitcher!). Watery mimosas are no fun. This Mimosa is best served with breakfast or at a pool party.
Mango Grigio
Mango Grigio
Pinot Grigio is a nice dry Italian wine that goes very well with a mango puree. One bottle of Pinot Grigio, 20oz of Sprite or a lemon-lime soda, and two tbsp of mango puree, all mixed up and served over ice in a wine goblet. This is great with Indian food or spicy barbecue.
Fun is the goal of every family during the summer months. Whether you are at home or on the road, fun keeps the good times going. Games are a great way to have summer fun for your family. Mattel Games and Asmodee want families to anywhere this summer with their collection of games! They asked my family if we would play with a selection of games to see if we would have fun playing games this summer, and we were on board to try them out!
Mattel Games and Asmodee game boxes.
Play Anywhere this Summer with Mattel Games and Asmodee
These are the games we received to play games anywhere this summer:
Bounce-Off
Ticket to Ride: First Journey
Azul
Balderdash
Get Packing
Bounce off the competition
2 players + 16 balls + 1 grid = a ton of fast competitive fun with Bounce-Off! With pattern suggestions on each card, each player races to recreate that pattern by bouncing a ball onto the grid. The first player to collect 3 cards is the winner.
Bounce-Off game box.
My daughter was ready to go head-to-head with me to test this game. It was so simple to jump into and to have fun. Yes, balls went flying EVERYWHERE, but it was so much fun to try to recreate the patterns on the cards. My son eventually bounced his way into playing and now the both of them love trying to win this game.
Girl celebrating while playing Bounce-Off game.
Chugging our way across the tracks
Travelling across North America is made into a chugging adventure with Ticket to Ride: First Journey. It is a kid-friendly introduction to the Alan R. Moon train adventure series. Little engineers have to play matching coloured Train (or Locomotive) cards to claim routes across the map board. The winner is the first player who completes six Tickets and claims the Golden Ticket.
Ticket to to Ride: First Journey game box.
Ticket to Ride: First Journey put a big smile on my daughter’s face when she found out we were playing this game. She played this game at school and was happy to now have it at home to enjoy. We chugged along the tracks as we picked up the cards we needed to complete each route. My little also got a better idea of how far away some of these destinations are from where we live.
Girl playing Ticket to Ride: First Journey game.
Drafting coloured tiles to win
Azul is a game where tiles combos are the name of the game. Each player takes a turn to draft coloured tiles to their board. At the end of each round, players score points based on how their tiles help to decorate the palace. For extra points, players can complete specific patterns and compete sets. The layer with the most points at the end of the game is the winner.
Azul game box.
For me family, Azul is not a favourite of ours to play. The instructions were a bit difficult to follow. I feel as though the rules were not written for first-time players. We tried playing this game but could not really jump into it. Azul is a gorgeous game to look at, but sadly, we were not thrilled to play it.
Child playing Azul game on a table.
Guessing made a whole lot of fun
Phoney definitions can lead to players having a lot of fun with Balderdash. Players draw cards that has various categories. Once the question for the category has been read, players then guess what the definition or answer is. The fun part is that players also write down a false definition to try to trick other players. Points are scored and players move across the boards with each round. The first player to reach the Finish Line is the winner.
Balderdash game box.
We love playing guessing games where we try to trick each other. Balderdash is a great game to allow us to do this! Since my littles were younger than the recommended age for this game, some of the definitions were difficult to understand. My kids didn’t give up and came up with their own hilarious answers. Balderdash is also simple to start playing and we have a great time playing it whenever we set up on our deck!
A child’s hand playing Balderdash game.
A race to get ready for a getaway
Do you find it hard to fit all of your things in your suitcase when getting away for a vacation? Get Packing is a great game to help you get it right! Each player has a suitcase and a number of items. The game cards have sunny destinations and an image of the items you would need to bring with you. Players race to be able to fit all of the items on the card into the suitcase without the lid cracking open and collect that card. The first player to get three cards wins.
Get Packing game box.
Get Packing is hands-down my favourite game to play! This game is great to have around if you want to keep your kids occupied while making dinner for a few minutes or if you want to draw it out and try all of the cards. One of the best takeaways of this game is that players learn spatial awareness in order to be successful.
Girl playing Get Packing game.
There is also a one-player mode where you time yourself for 30 seconds to complete the challenge on the card. My kids also loved seeing all of the destinations on the rules booklet to get a better idea of where they are around the world. Finally, Get Packing has given me some ideas as to how actually pack better for our next big adventure!
Having fun playing anywhere this summer with games
My family is having a lot of fun playing anywhere with the games we received from Mattel Games and Asmodee! From fast-paced competitions to strategic fun, these games had our family spending time together and enjoying the summer with a lot of laughter. We can’t wait to take these games with us when we visit family and go camping this year. Keeping the family entertained is key for having summer fun, and these games will be on hand to help keep the smiles and laughter happening!
Play Anywhere this Summer with Mattel Games and Asmodee
Curious to see what other fun games Mattel Games Canada has for families play anywhere this summer? We checked out their website and followed them on their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages!
If you are a Disney fan who loves to travel, then you have probably heard of Adventures By Disney! Adventures by Disney is a Disney owned and operated travel company that has vacations all over the world. You can travel domestically and internationally without them, but there are at least five good reasons why you shouldn’t! It is completely different from typical Disney vacations, because they bring the Disney Difference to real world locations. Here’s a quick look at some things that make a Disney vacation package from Adventures By Disney so great!
Dancers in Costa Rica. Adventures by Disney Costa Rica family vacation!
Adventures By Disney Is the Trip You Need To Take
Crafted Itinerary
When you book a package with Adventures By Disney, they use their expertise and connections to provide a world class experience you don’t have to plan out. When you make your own plans in a place you have never been, you invite huge hassles and run the risk of not doing or seeing much. At Disney they have mastered the art of guidance. Whether through The Adventures by DisneyDisneyland Resort and Southern California or an actual European river cruise such as the Adventures by Disney Rhine River Cruise, Disney uses the experiences to tell stories. They map out your destiny for you. So, just like being a guest in a Disney park, all you have to do is enjoy the ride!
Rhine River Lorchhausen in Germany
Disney Service
When you book an Adventures By Disney vacation package, you’re buying more than just a trip to some exotic location. Along with that, you are getting legendary Disney Service throughout your travel. Packages include unique activities, tours, dining, and hotels. You even get snacks while in transit to various locations throughout your trip. Every vacation comes with two Disney trained tour guides who deliver the best guest experience and unsurpassed customer service!
Adventures By Disney Is the Trip You Need To Take
VIP Access
Another perk is that they are gatekeepers to backstage and VIP experiences you couldn’t normally access. Besides admissions to zoos, museums, and other local attractions, Adventures By Disney includes one of a kind opportunities such as a VIPmovie screening and tour at LucasFilm. You also get to bypass lines and engage in interactive cultural experiences and learn new things from local experts.
Adventures by Disney Australia vacation includes snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef.
Vacation Diversity
If you think of a Disney vacation as limiting, think again. Adventures By Disney offers vacation Packages throughout the US, Canada, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. You can either have a short escape or an experience that lasts over a week.
Adventures By Disney provides Disney Cruise Line vacations, river cruises, and destination packages all over the world, including packages for Disney Parks and Disney resorts. As these vacations are planned by Disney, they are perfect for families and include plenty of fun for the kids; however, if that is not you, you will also enjoy the adults only packages created specifically for guests over the age of 18!
Roam the Rockies on the Canadian Rockies by Disney Adventures. Photo: Banff, Alberta
Your Next Adventure
Whether you have never been abroad, or you are just looking to let someone else do the heavy lifting on your next trip, Adventures By Disney is the way to go. They make sure you have access to the best attractions and they take care of everything, so you can just focus on having a great time and enjoying your vacation.
You could plan everything out on your own and never experience the fullness of this kind of vacation, because you would not have had the same kind of access, and you would be working too hard to get it all done, which makes it very hard for you to relax. That’s why you should let Disney handle it. They are not only professionals, they’re magic!
Have you been on an Adventures by Disney trip? If yes, how did you like it, and if not, where would you like to go?
When it comes to desserts, cheesecakes have to be one of the best desserts ever invented. Plain, chocolate, peanut butter – doesn’t matter. Cheesecake is creamy, slightly tangy, and oh so decadent. But what if you used the flavours of cheesecake to make other desserts? You might make cheesecake bars, frozen cheesecake pops, or even a jelly roll style cheesecake. The options are endless! Not to mention that you can also make some totally over the top cheesecakes that will wow anyone you serve them to. National Cheesecake Day is on July 30th, so why not bake one of the recipes below to celebrate!
Cheesecake Time for National Cheesecake Day
If you’re entertaining, you can’t go wrong serving cheesecake. Almost everyone loves the dessert and loves to try all the different variations. Whether the cheesecake is covered in cherries or caramel, people are going to clean their plates and ask for seconds! It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, you can make a cheesecake that will fit the season!
If you’re looking for recipes for bake sales, you can’t go wrong with the cheesecake snack-style desserts. Cheesecake bars, for example, are wonderful for bake sales. You can also make mini cheesecakes to sell as well.
Below you’ll find a number of awesome cheesecake recipes that are sure to work for whatever occasion you have coming up. Whether it’s Christmas or the middle of summer, you can’t go wrong with cheesecake. It’s the type of dessert that can be dressed up for a special occasion or made fun for casual entertaining. You seriously can’t go wrong serving cheesecake.
What’s your favorite cheesecake? Have you made cheesecake desserts, such as cheesecake bars or cheesecake dip? Share your favorites below and don’t forget to check out all the awesome recipes in this article. You’re bound to find something new to try. If your family loves cheesecake, you’ll love having all these delicious recipes on hand!
Life can be busy and out of control. Our bustling lives allow little to no time to have a sit down for a proper meal. Junk temptations are at every sight and motivation to eat right always seems to be fleeting; however, the importance of healthy eating cannot be overemphasized. Truth be told, organic foods can be a bit on the pricier side as compared to the junk counterpart. Nevertheless, this shouldn’t deter us from healthy eating. Majority of the stores nowadays understand the importance of good nutrition and provide discount flyers to make sure that the good food we eat are accessible to all and at a reasonable price.
Bowl of chicken with veggies.
Food is the most important basic need. Most of the time we overspend when it comes to our food budget due to various reasons. Eating out tops the list as the gap between homemade meals and eat outs continues to widen. Another key reason is laziness and busy work schedule that drive most to take the easier route: junk meals. These meals are made with preservatives that can be dangerous to our bodies.
Every meal consumed depicts making a food choice, whether the decision is random or intended. Our food choices should always lead us to those foods that benefit our bodies. It goes without saying that healthy eating makes us feel happy, improves our weight, keeps the diseases away, and increases longevity. Over the last couple of years, the rate of nutrition related diseases is alarming despite the fact that everyone knows the benefits of good nutrition.
Vegetables, fruits and nuts.
“Super foods” is a term used synonymously with healthy foods. These are foods high in nutritional value and fiber. Cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, radish, and kale are rich in vitamins, minerals and carotenoids. Lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and legumes are rich in proteins which are the building blocks for bones, muscles, cartilage and blood. Citrus fruits are the backbone of a healthy diet.
Food is Life: Eating for Longevity
Availability of healthy food should not be an excuse not to eat right. If you are too busy to go to the stores, then let the stores come to you. Online shopping allows you to shop from the comfort of your home. Most online stores deliver fresh and healthy food right at your door step. The beauty of it, there are amazing deals and discounts that are offered by the stores. To put the cherry on top of the cake, one can easily browse flyers from a number of stores and get the best they really want. For instance, some websites have the co-op food – weekly flyer happening this week that gives it customer’s fresh, healthy products at discounted rates.
Meal preps should always be easy and not time consuming. There are some tricks and techniques that one can use to make recipes that work for their lifestyle. Recipes should be well balanced as most people try to eliminate vegetables from their diet and instead compensate it with huge chunks of meat. The base of the meals should be on higher fiber starchy carbohydrates. Fruits and vegetables should always be a must with each meal.
Salmon with veggies.
Food is indeed life. Nourishing our bodies should be the most natural and essential action of our lives. The key to a healthy diet is to eat the right foods in proper portions. Mindful eating can feel overwhelming but the results are worth every sacrifice. Healthy eating equals to longer life.
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