As a new mom, there are so many things you wish you knew before you gave birth. Not only about how to take care for a baby, but also your self-care. I am sharing with you my 10 pieces of advise I wish I’d had as a new mom!
Woman holding a baby
Notes to a New Mom: 10 Pieces of Advice I Wish I’d Had
1. Shower everyday.
It will make everything seem brighter and more manageable. And if you are breastfeeding, you will sweat a lot, especially at night. As your body works tirelessly to produce milk, it’s essentially engaging in a continuous, calorie-burning process. This increased metabolic rate can lead to sweating, especially during the night. Incorporating a daily shower can not only help you feel refreshed but also support your body’s adaptation to its new, energy-intensive routine of nourishing your baby. Showering every day becomes not just about personal hygiene but about giving your body the reset it needs to keep up with the physical demands of breastfeeding.
2. Lower your house cleaning standards.
While you may have been a Type A neat freak before, that is time that you no longer have and if you have it, it could be spent doing many more new mom nurturing things, like sleeping, eating or talking to a girlfriend.
3. You have to learn how to soothe your baby, it doesn’t necessarily come naturally to all of us.
The big one, that has a large swinging arc and that plugs into the wall. It will take up your living room, but it will prevent your husband from getting tendonitis in his elbow from swinging the car seat for extended periods, and it will calm fussy babies really well. It is magic.
5. Learn how to decipher your baby’s cries and thus his needs.
Listen to the Dunstan “Baby Language” to learn what your baby’s cries mean, ie hunger, vs fatigue. You can find them on YouTube or in the App store. Being in tune with your baby and understanding their needs makes the whole process so much easier and will be very empowering for you.
6. Put your baby down for a nap fully awake once a day at least.
Teaching them how to put themselves to sleep is an important life skill. And awake does not mean in a milk coma.
7. You will never be so hungry.
Get lots of good carb, high protein food stocked in your cupboards and freezer, and then stock it again.
Notes to a New Mom: 10 Pieces of Advice I Wish I’d Had
8. Do not worry that you are not stimulating your baby enough.
You don’t constantly have to entertain them. The world in itself is entertaining to them. Just because the Mom next to you has her baby enrolled in Mom and Tot music does not mean that you should be doing this as well, and it does not mean that your baby is missing out. Big long life ahead of her full of experiences.
9. Find your peeps.
You need people who are going through similar things as you. Get out of the house and find them at strollercize, the coffee shop or join online groups. Whatever it takes.
10. Give your baby a bottle once per week.
I am a big fan of breastfeeding, but once breastfeeding is well established, it is a real gift to yourself to have your baby be able to take a bottle of breast milk from someone else if you need to be out of the house during feeding time. There is a window on getting them to take a bottle.
Most families who participate in Halloween decide to carve pumpkins and showcase them on October 31st. My husband takes it to the next level – simple jack-o-lantern faces won’t do for him. Around 2007, he brought up the idea of using Halloween pumpkin carving stencils (you can find them online or create your own) to do our pumpkins.
Halloween Family Pumpkin Carving Traditions
Instructions
How it works: Wash and dry your hollowed-out pumpkin. You need to print the stencils in a size appropriate to your pumpkin (this might take some trial and error). Tape the stencil to your pumpkin and then use a tool to poke holes in all the lines of your stencil (a reverse connect-the-dots). You can then take off the stencil and rub flour or baby powder onto your pumpkin to highlight the holes you’ve created. From here, you start carving! My husband and I have found that traditional pumpkin carving tools that you can buy at the stores are typically inefficient. We’ve used small carving saws and even electric knives for the bigger pieces.
2007 – When it all began…
My husband is a creative “project person”, so it didn’t surprise me that he wanted to try something a bit more elaborate. We’ve been pumpkin carving enthusiasts ever since – my husband starts asking weeks before Halloween when we are going to start our pumpkins. My daughter is still too young to participate, but her time will come!
Halloween Family Pumpkin Carving Traditions
We have a lot of fun with this family tradition and the friendly competition that ensues as we get feedback from friends and neighbours about which pumpkin they like best.
What do you look forward to most about Halloween? Any special traditions in your home?
2012 – Having a little baby of almost a year didn’t slow us down…
The skin care industry is big business, and it’s booming. Expected to hit $115 billion by 2015, it is no surprise that some of the biggest powerhouses in branding and marketing are also the household names we have all come to associate with baby bath and body products. Yes people want their skin care products to work well, but safety of these products is the primary concern for most consumers. Two ingredients that have been shown to increase the risk of cancer, quaternium-15 and 1,4 dioxane are present in many commercially available products. http://safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=221 Consumers should not feel powerless. You have the power to shape what products are available on the market through what you choose to purchase! I am going to break down for you why it is important to use natural products on your baby and what ingredients in particular to avoid in your skin care products.
Why Chemicals are Harmful for Babies
To start off, the chemicals in skin care products are harmful to everyone, but even more so for babies. Sometimes we tend to forget that the skin is our largest organ. Skin is not an impermeable barrier. Products that we put on our skin are absorbed into your bloodstream at a rate that no one really knows. Toxins absorbed though the skin have the potential to cause harm, because the body does not get the chance to detoxify them. When we eat a chemical, such as a pesticide, it gets taken to the liver. In the liver we have a group of enzymes called Cytochrome P450 which help to break down the toxin and make it water soluble so it can be excreted in the urine. From the skin, the toxin goes directly into the bloodstream and bypasses the trip to the liver. Toxins are more of an issue with babies for a few key reasons. 1) Babies do not have fully developed nervous systems and many of these substances are neurotoxins 2) Babies have a higher percentage body fat than the typical adult does. This is important as many of the chemicals that are harmful, such as parabens are “lipophilic”, meaning fat loving. These chemicals get stored in the fatty tissues, which babies have more of, and then are released as the babies grow. This is a double edged sword, when the chemicals are released they cause disruption to the child’s hormones as they are known endocrine disruptors.
What Should You Make Sure You Avoid
This is where things get a little tricky! As there is no legislation in North America surrounding the word “natural” products can be labelled as natural when they contain as little as one natural ingredient! It’s best choose brands that you have researched and trust, so you don’t get fooled by the marketing!
Here is a short list of ingredients to absolutely avoid in your baby’s skin care products
1) Parabens- look for anything ending in “aben”. Commonly listed as propylparaben.
2) Phthalates- ends in “phthlate. Used to soften the products.
3) Diazolindinyl Urea and Quaternium-15- both cause the release of formaldehyde.
4) Fragrance- In North America manufacturers do not have to disclose what is in their “fragrance” as it is considered proprietary information. The almost always contain parabens.
5) Triethanolamine- serves as a pH balancer. Known respiratory toxicant and strong allergen.
6) Polysorbate-20 and 80- Helps with the mixing of oil and water. Often contaminated with 1,4 dioxane.
7) Sodium Laureth Sulfate- Highly irritating to baby’s skin and eyes.
8) Petroleum Products- known as mineral oil and petroleum jelly. Commonly contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
9) Propylene Glycol- Highly irritating to baby’s skin and eyes.
10) Diethanolamine (DEA)- serves as a pH balancer. Possible human carcinogen.
I hope this post gave you some insight in what to look out for, and why you are looking out for it!
Cold and flu season is approaching and a question I’m often asked is, ‘How can I support my child’s immune system and prevent them from getting sick?”
There are many lifestyle factors that influence immune system function such as sleep patterns, exercise, stress levels and nutrition. Let’s focus on one simple way is to boost the immune system: add healing herbs to your child’s diet!
Herbs have many healing properties. They reduce inflammation in the body and act as anti-oxidants protecting cells against damage from toxins. Herbs also support the body in making important white blood cells, an essential part of the immune system which fight off bacteria and viruses. Finally, herbs are anti-microbial. Many of them contain pungent essential oils (for example, the oils released when cutting an onion which bring tears to your eyes or oil of oregano) which kill bacteria and viruses. They are also helpful at keeping yeast and fungus at bay.
Healing herbs can easily be added to meals. You can use them to season meat, soups, salads, stir-fries, baked vegetables, or add them to veggie dips and hummus for an extra kick.
Introducing your children to a variety of herbs will broaden their taste palette as well as optimize their health.
Here are the most common immune boosting and bacteria-fighting herbs to try:
Garlic
Onion
Oregano
Thyme
Basil
Sage
Turmeric
Ginger
Cayenne pepper
Do you have some kid friendly recipes which include these herbs? Feel free to share them!
Package holidays often seem like great deals, and for the savvy traveller, they can be. Before you book that package holiday, do your due diligence to make sure it really is the bargain it appears to be.
Always research the details of every package holiday – the flights, the resort, the weather in your destination at that time of year – before booking. The days of the last-minute deal are all but over; book your package holiday in advance to get the best price, and choose your dates wisely. Do your best to avoid extra airline fees, and take advantage of a travel rewards program to make your next trip even cheaper.
Read the Fine Print
Before you book that all-inclusive package holiday to a sunny destination abroad, read the fine print and do your research. Sometimes cheap package holidays are cheap for a very good reason. Maybe they use a disgusting, run-down one-star resort. Maybe you’re signing up for a series of connecting flights that could take two days to complete. Maybe it’s monsoon season where you’re going or the country is undergoing a violent revolution – you won’t know unless you do your research.
Before you book that package holiday, check the star ratings and reviews of the resort on multiple websites. Learn the flight details. Find out what weather conditions you can expect. Check for travel advisories.
Book in Advance
While lots of people like to book their vacations at the last possible minute to try and score the best rates, you’ll do just as well by planning ahead. Book your tickets about six weeks before your departure date to get the best rates.
Choose Your Dates Wisely
Naturally, you’re going to want to travel during the off-season – spring and autumn, usually. You should also consider travelling on less popular days of the week to get a lower price on your vacation – fewer people travel on Tuesdays in general, for example, so you can lower prices if you fly on that day as compared to, say, a Friday or a Sunday.
You should also avoid travelling to your destination when there’s a well-known festival or other event going on there. Unless your plan is to actually attend the festival, you’ll save money by not trying to travel to your destination at the same time as thousands and thousands of other people.
Dodge Check-In and Baggage Fees
These days airlines are charging extra for everything – check-in, baggage, you name it. Those extra fees can really add up, so try to eliminate as many of them as you can.
Does your airline charge a fee for standard check-in? If so, maybe checking in online before you arrive at the airport is an option – as a bonus, it’ll save you the time you’d otherwise spend standing in line.
Do your best to pack light for your trip. Some airlines charge for extra baggage, while others charge for any baggage at all. Packing only a carry-on will allow you to avoid those unreasonable baggage fees, and allow you to check in for your flight online or at one of the airline’s self-service airport kiosks.
Take Advantage of Rewards Programs
Are someone else’s frequent travels making you jealous? Chances are they’re not rich, they’re just using a travel rewards program to get deeply discounted or even free trips. If you’re not in a travel rewards program, you’re missing out on the opportunity to earn rewards points that could save you money on car rentals, hotel rooms and plane tickets. Before you book your package vacation, look around for a travel rewards program that lets you maximize the points you’ll earn on travel bookings and everyday purchases.
Travel rewards points don’t last forever – they do have an expiration date. Begin planning your next holiday well in advance so you can take full advantage of the rewards points you’ve racked up.
Package holidays offer you the chance to get away from it all and score a discount on accommodations, car rentals and flights. Do your research to make sure that discount holiday package is as good as it sounds – book well in advance, choose your travel dates wisely, and avoid extra airline fees by checking in online and packing light. Don’t forget to sign up for a travel rewards program so you can make the most of the money you’ve spent on your package holiday – often, you’ll receive maximum rewards points for booking flights, hotels and car rentals together.
I have been asked recently regarding the ads on TV about the CHIP Home Income Plan and what a reverse mortgage is all about. I will give a brief overview about who would use this product, what a reverse mortgage is and what to consider.
If you are in need of additional income or have an unplanned expense during retirement a reverse mortgage is designed for homeowners 55 years of age and older. A reverse mortgage is secured by the equity in the home, which is the difference between the value of your home and the unpaid balance of any current mortgage. It allows homeowners to obtain cash without having to sell their home.
The Canadian Home Income Plan (CHIP), which is offered by HomeEquity Bank, is what you see advertised, however there are other financial institutions that offer reverse mortgage products in Canada. You can also speak to me about other options that may meet your needs.
With a reverse mortgage you don’t make any payments. Instead, the interest on your reverse mortgage accumulates, and the equity that you have in your home decreases with time. If you sell your house or your home no longer is your principal residence, you must repay the loan and any interest that has accumulated.
Before you decide to get a reverse mortgage, take the time to understand all the terms that apply, and to weigh the pros and cons.
Pros
– You don’t have to make any regular payments on the loan.
-You can turn some of the value of your home into cash, without having to sell it.
– The money you borrow is a tax-free source of income.
– This income does not affect the Old-Age Security (OAS) or Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) benefits you may be receiving.
– You maintain ownership of your home.
– You can decide how you want to receive the money. You can choose to receive: a lump-sum payment
– a loan to set up planned advances that provide you with a regular income
– a combination of these options.
Cons
– Reverse mortgages are subject to higher interest rates than most other types of mortgages.
– The equity you hold in your home will decrease as the interest on your reverse mortgage accumulates over the years.
– At your death, your estate will have to repay the loan and interest in full within a limited time. The time required to settle an estate can often exceed the time allowed to repay a reverse mortgage. For full details, check with the reverse mortgage lender.
– Since the principal and interest will be repaid to the lender at your death, there will be less money in your estate to leave to your children or other heirs.
– The costs associated with a reverse mortgage are usually quite high. They can include: a higher interest rate than for a traditional mortgage or line of credit
– a home appraisal fee, application fee or closing fee
– a repayment penalty for selling your house or moving out within three years of obtaining a reverse mortgage
– fees for independent legal advice.
CHIP set-up costs
Appraisal Fee
– Typically from $175 to $400 as an out-of-pocket cost.
– Actual amount varies by province and for urban and rural properties.
– Request for an independent appraisal is ordered through CHIP.
Independent legal advice is required
– Typically $300 to $600 as an out-of-pocket cost.
– Price range assumes no title issues.
– At your request, CHIP can provide a list of legal advisors in your area.
– It is recommended that you discuss fees with the legal advisor before proceeding.
Legal, closing and administrative costs
Option Legal, closing and administrative costs
Variable $1,495
6 month $1,495
1 year $1,495
3 years $795
5 years $0
– These costs will be deducted from your CHIP Home Income Plan funds so they are not an out-of-pocket expense.
– Includes title search, title insurance and registration.
Other options to consider
Before you make a decision, be sure you also consider:
– using your equity in your home to secure a different type of loan, such as a line of credit secured by your home equity or a regular mortgage,
– selling your home, and
– buying a smaller one,
– renting, or
– moving into “assisted living” or other alternative housing.
– talking to your lawyer about possibly selling your home to a family member or a third party, and including in the terms of the agreement a right to live there for the rest of your life.
Be sure you fully understand the terms and conditions of the contract before you sign it. By exploring all of your options, you will be better able to make the decision that best suits you.
Questions to ask before you sign
Ask all of these questions before you commit to a reverse mortgage:
– What are the fees?
-Are there any penalties if you sell your home within a certain period of time?
– If you move or die, how much time will you or your estate have to pay off the balance of the loan?
– At your death, what happens if it takes your estate longer than the stated time period to fully repay the loan?
– What happens if the amount of the loan ends up being higher than the value of the home when it’s time to pay the loan back?
To see if the CHIP home income plan is the best option for your situation and to find out how I can save you from paying any set up costs, contact me for a no obligation consultation.
The information is of a general nature only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. It should not be used, relied upon, or treated as a substitute for specific professional advice. I recommend that you obtain your own independent professional advice (preferably me) before making any decision in relation to your particular requirements or circumstances
We have, likely, all been to a baby shower. Everything decorated in pink or blue balloons and streamers. We play games like, guess the melted chocolate bar in the diaper or how big mama’s belly is.
Often, the conversation turns to the challenges of childbirth and how hard life is with a new baby. All in all, the main purpose of the day is the gifts upon gifts for the new baby. Within the bags and wrapping you can find everything from stuffed animals and onesies of all sizes, to car seats and strollers. This tradition can be very helpful to new parents as babies don’t come with all the paraphernalia we feel we need as soon as they arrive. Through all of this excitement of preparing for baby, often someone is left out, MOM.
When I was pregnant the first time, I felt there must be something out there, some way to mark the importance of the rite of passage I was about to embark on.
Living in a city with no family and limited access to friends and acquaintances outside my chiropractic practice, I felt disappointed that we had no cultural traditions that really spoke to the gravity of this transformation.
As a society, we have become wrapped up in the commercialism of new motherhood and forgotten the deep emotional and spiritual path that new mothers are embarking on. As women are seeking to reconnect with the community, there has become an increasing trend to honour new mothers through holding A Mother’s Blessing or Blessingway ceremony.
I discovered the Blessingway in my third pregnancy, and finally felt I found what I was looking for.
The Blessingway is historically a Navajo tradition of celebrating a member of the community’s rite of passage. This may happen as they reach puberty or enter into marriage or some other major life transition.
As a way of honouring mothers as they enter into one of life’s greatest rites of passage, women today are holding Blessingways for their friends and family.
Who is Invited?
Some will say to only invite the expectant mother’s closest family and friends. This can be wonderful and intimate if she already has a close network of people who are supportive of her birthing and mothering intentions. No token invitations or invitations out of obligation are necessary or advisable for a Blessingway.
Not all women have such a network. Some have family who are far from supportive of the mom’s plans for her birth or mothering. With more and more nuclear families and women starting their own families in cities where they may only have work colleagues as their main connections, they may not have a network of women who have the same beliefs as they do.
Here in Ottawa, I have become blessed to know a community of women who will happily host a Blessingway for an expectant mother who they know only as an acquaintance and are happy to attend Blessingways for total strangers as a way of offering support to our local community of mothers.
What Happens at a Blessingway?
A Blessingway is not a baby shower and no gifts are brought for the baby. This celebration is about the woman who is about to become a mother, or a mother of two, or three, or more. Each pregnancy is a new transition to a different life, so this ceremony is not exclusive for first time moms.
This ceremony is a gathering of a community who is there to offer support to this woman and food is brought by each guest to share, pot luck style. The guests may also be asked to bring a bead for a necklace and a quote or blessing written on paper that relates to birth, mothering, or self empowerment.
The host of the Blessingway may say some words explaining what the intention is for the event.
“A Blessingway is a wonderful ritual for the mother-to-be. It celebrates her step in motherhood. A Blessingway is an opportunity to show our spirit and support for another woman we love. She can garner our collective experiences and power and use it to solidify her own strength to follow her new path. Today we will be celebrating Mom’s Name in her journeys into motherhood (or in her journey into mothering two, etc).”
All the guests will be asked to go around the room and introduce themselves. If it is a group of people who are close to the mother, they may be asked to share how they know the expectant mom or something they admire about her. Remember this is about honouring her.
Each person may then be asked to read the quote or blessing they have brought with them, or share a supportive and empowering piece of wisdom about pregnancy, birth, or parenting. This printed quote can be glued into a scrapbook for the mom or blessings can be written in by hand. This is not the place to tell childbirth horror stories or to joke about how hard life is with baby. The rule here is, if you have nothing positive and supportive to say, find something, anything, positive to say, or don’t say anything at all.
After this opportunity to share our motherly wisdom, it is time to create a gift for the mother to carry with her on her journey. A necklace is strung for the mom to wear during labour. This necklace will symbolize all the womanly energy her community is sending to her, to bring her strength during labour, birthing, and early mothering. Guests are asked to bring beads that hold some significance. Either something that is significant in their lives, like part of a piece of jewelry they owned, a stone that has certain energetic properties, or anything that speaks to them, in terms of shape, colour, and anything else. The mother who is being honoured holds the string as each guest comes to her and places a bead on her necklace, while stating their wish, blessing, or intention for her and baby’s journey together.
There are a few other rituals that may take place at a Blessingway. Examples may include washing the mother’s feet or brushing her hair. I have to say, I personally have not been to a ceremony in which either of these have happened. I feel it is likely due to our culture creating so much distance and less intimacy between friends, family, and community. We have lost so much personal touch when it comes to really connecting with the women who surround us. I would love to be honoured in this way and would love to honour another woman this way but, to me, it still seems to cross cultural barriers. But maybe that’s just me. I would love to see women push past this barrier and incorporate these forms of honouring into our ceremonies.
Another example, which I have seen, and personally experienced, is applying henna to the mother’s pregnant belly, hands or feet. Applying henna also has roots in celebrating rites of passage in countries like India, where a woman before her wedding has a Mehndi ceremony where her hands and feet are decorated with henna. Some women will also take this as an opportunity to have a belly cast created. A belly cast is just that, a cast of the pregnant woman’s belly. It is a way of preserving a memory of the pregnant belly, just as it was, while the baby made its home inside. Both henna and belly casting take time, so don’t leave these for too late in the evening.
The people who are invited to a Blessingway are only those whose intention is to fully support the mother and send her positive energy. This isn’t a ceremony where you need to be obligated to invite family members who are less than optimistic about your specific birthing plans. At the end of the ceremony, guest may be given a candle. The guests are instructed to light the candle when they get word that the mother is in labour. As they light the candle, they are to send positive energy to the mother and baby for their journey. If you feel there is anyone who may be sending worried or fearful energy if they get word of labour starting, do not notify them until after the birth and ask them to send blessings for breastfeeding and beyond.
A Mother’s Blessing Can Create a Community
Being pregnant with my third child, and after parenting two children, with only my husband, and a few close friends around for support, I was longing for community. Realizing how isolated we are all as mothers, I wanted, more than anything, to spend time with women. I would have been thrilled to have a houseful of women baking bread, while the kids ran at our feet, and I can’t say I have ever baked bread. I had visions of how it must have been for my grandmother who lived in a home between her two sisters and had all her family within a 5 minute walk. I wished my sisters lived in the same city and as I just needed to be surrounded by womanly energy.
It was in this pregnancy, that I attended a Blessingway for a fellow chiropractor and it became clear that this was the sense of community I was longing for. A room full of women spoke words of support and encouragement. They honoured who she was and her intentions for her upcoming birth. I knew I wanted to surround myself with women in a similar way.
A Blessingway was held for me and it was exactly what I needed to feel that sense of community I was longing for. The women, who attended my Blessingway, were acquaintances mostly, as I only had a small group of close friends in Ottawa. These women, who took an afternoon away from their families to share their blessings with me, have since become some of my closest parenting friends and a real system of community support.
Next time a friend or family member is pregnant, consider honouring them with a Blessingway ceremony. It is a great way to boost the expectant mom’s confidence in herself and shows her that she does have a community to turn to when parenthood gets challenging. The connections made just by attending a Blessingway ceremony, even if you did not previously know the expectant mother, can create a life long support network in a world where mothers often feel alone in parenting.
Have you ever attended a Blessingway? What other traditions or ceremonies do you think honour expectant mothers?
Who doesn’t love September! The air is cooler, the leaves are changing, it’s a great time to get back on track after a summer of lazy days and the kids are back in school!!! Yay! Oh wait . . .the kids are back in school, that means school lunches. Every. single. day. Making school lunches gets old quick at my house. I had to make lunches as a kid and I never liked doing it then and now as a mom to 3 school aged kids I find I like it even less.
Kids school lunch
Remembering who likes what, who won’t eat what (which I always mess up), who drinks what, and packing the same school lunchbox snacks, the same sandwiches (or no one wants sandwiches – then what?!!) and always rushing to get it done before we head out the door! What is there to love about making school lunches?
I know there are Moms who treat school lunch making as an art form and actually love the challenge and the design of festive lunch boxes, and I totally admire their work, but it is not my thing. So I devised a plan early on in their school careers . . . My kids were going to make the lunches! Kindergarten they go a pass, but once they hit Grade 1 I started handing over age appropriate lunch duties, and now my kids in Gr 3,5, and 6, I am thrilled it’s September and I no longer have to make school lunches!!!
How did I do it?
4 Tricks to Getting Kids to Make School Lunches!
Chores chart ~Photo by Littlelixie on Foter.com / CC BY-NC
1. Routine, Routine, Routine
I love routines. Teach the kids how to manage their school lunches and mornings by having the same routine each day – get dressed, brush hair, practice music, eat breakfast, brush teeth. To avoid the constant reminding that quickly turns into nagging, I use reminder charts. For young ones I made a picture chart so they knew what order to do things in, for older ones a ‘Checklist’ chart helps them remember.
4 Tricks to Getting Kids to Make School Lunches!
2. Start Young
Kindergarten I focused on their personal goals of getting dressed and making their own breakfast. This helps them learn to be independent. As they get older, I add more ‘items’ making sure to not label them as chores or treat it as a punishment, but rather another step in their independence and being a bigger help to our family – positive spin!!
Some idea’s that worked for us:
Grade 1: empty top rack of the dishwasher and put out everyone’s gummy vitamins
Grade 2 & 3: fill water bottles, milk containers and empty the bottom rack of the dishwasher
Grade 4 & 5: Snacks into snack containers, yogurt into yogurt containers and picking out a healthy treat.
Grade 6: Cutting up fruit and making the sandwiches or even cooking a pizza for our own version of pizza day.
School lunch ~Photo by Bunches and Bits {Karina} on Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND
3. Simple Containers
We use the same containers for each item in their school lunches and they take the same food groups each day. This helps to establish the routine but also making sure we mix up flavours and fruits to keep it interesting! It becomes a bit of an assembly line but that also helps it become a familiar pattern.
4. They Decide
Let the kids make the list of acceptable fruit, favourite sandwiches and yogurt flavours they like best. Have them help with finding recipes for healthy snacks and doing some baking. You have a huge opportunity to teach the kids about nutrition and making healthy choices by having them be a part of the lunch making process. If you play your cards right, they may make your lunch too!
Share you tips on how to get your kids to make their school lunches! Comment below!
DISNEY LIVE! MICKEY’S ROCKIN’ ROAD SHOW LAUNCHES CANADIAN TOUR IN 11 CITIES
Disney Live! is launching a new Canadian tour this season with stops in 11 Canadian cities including Ottawa. Hit the road with Mickey Mouse and your favourite Disney friends for a hilarious talent search in Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show.
Featuring classic characters in an original storyline, this all-new stage production from Feld Entertainment, the producers of Disney On Ice, plays theNational Arts Centre in Ottawa March 9/14. Tickets go on sale September 30/13.
This live stage production will perform in the following Canadian cities:
VANCOUVER – PNE Coliseum: Feb 21-23/14
REGINA – Brandt Centre: March 1 /14
SASKATOON – Credit Union Centre: March 2/14
WINDSOR – WFCU Centre: March 7 – 8/14
OTTAWA – National Arts Centre: March 9/14
OSHAWA – General Motors Centre: March 15/14
LONDON – Budweiser Gardens: March 16/14
HAMILTON – Copps Coliseum: March 20/14
TORONTO – Sony Centre: March 21 – 23/14
MONTREAL – Theatre St-Denis: March 27-30/14
KINGSTON –Rogers K-Rock Centre: April 5/14
Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy set out on a zany road trip where audiences join in and help find the coolest acts around. Along the way, hit a high note with Cinderella; get your bounce on with Tigger; and shout out your loudest “yee-haw” at a hoedown with Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear from Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story! Grab your family for a fun-filled getaway at this live, show-stopping adventure jam-packed with unexpected twists, turns and hijinks —right in your hometown!
I just got back from an amazing family road trip. We flew to Alberta and then drove from Medicine Hat to Vancouver Island and back. It was just a phenomenal trip. The scenery and experiences were truly spectacular and we all had SUCH a great time. What wasn’t always easy was figuring out how to feed my kids nutritious meals on the road when some have food allergies. Here are 5 tips for travelling with kids with food allergies and make it a little easier!
1 – BYOB or Bring Your Own Breakfast
One of my children has an egg allergy which makes breakfast officially the hardest meal of the day to get through on the road. Even worse are early morning flights where there are no safe options for us. This sounds kind of crazy, but I just pack a box of cereal, 4 plastic solo cups, 4 plastic spoons and some napkins. Once we get through security to the departure lounge, I pick up some milk from Tim Horton’s and serve everyone breakfast. This works just as easily in a hotel room – I can buy some milk and put it in the fridge, or we can eat in the car and pick up milk when we drive through for coffee. Worst case – we eat the cereal dry…I haven’t had a complaint yet.
2 – Snacks
I pack a lot of snacks for my kids that have food allergies. I bring snacks with me on the plane, and in the car. It’s important to load up on things that don’t need refrigeration and that keep their shape even when squished. For my family that means granola bars and pudding and crackers. A bag of Goldfish crackers is always a good choice as we can have just a few or a big handful and it can keep us happy for a while.
3 – Grocery stores
Often while we are on a road trip, we find ourselves in a small town around meal time. This usually leaves us with very few options for lunch. On our most recent trip we ended up at Lake Louise, which although beautiful only has two bakeries on site. Neither bakery had an egg-free or nut-free option, so we were kind of in a dilemma. I did a little exploring and there was a little grocery store too. I was able to find bagels, cheese, pudding and bananas and we found a picnic table and had an outdoor feast. It was fabulous, healthy and low-cost! Grocery stores have often saved the day, and is one of the first things I look for when travelling.
4 – Subway
Sometimes while travelling, we just want a quick lunch while trying to get to the next destination. I hate stopping for fast food and have found that Subway is very good at providing safe and nutritious options for the kids. The make-your-own sandwich set up allows us to pick and choose the ingredients and we always ask them to use clean gloves and knives. They will even go get fresh ingredients from the back of the store if we are concerned about cross-contamination. It’s a great quick stop, and the whole family loves it.
5 – Plan Your Food Ahead
I always try to plan for the next day’s food the night before. If I know we will be driving a lot that day I will make sure to be stocked up on lots of snacks. When we will be flying, I bring sandwiches and fruit as there is nowhere to get any food for the kids. I look for corner stores to stock up on items at the end of the day so I don’t need to waste time when the kids are hungry. There is nothing worse than being caught with a hungry kid and nowhere to get any snacks.
I find that by using these tips for travelling with kids with food allergies we manage to travel quite well together as a family. More places are becoming allergy-aware and are happy to make the effort to find some safe options for meals. Last but not least, I never ever pass up a safe treat option. It is rare that we find something sweet and fun that everyone can eat, so it doesn’t matter what time it is, we are stopping to indulge!
Let’s talk about the biomechanics of a good burp, and I mean baby style, not manly man style. Having a new baby, I have spent a lot of time burping her in the last 3 months, and I have spent a lot of time observing others doing the same thing. What has dawned on me is that there is a lack of understanding about the biomechanics of a good burp.
Understanding The Biomechanics of a Good Burp
When I had my first child I had no previous experience with burping or dealing with young children in general. Blank Slate. Deer in headlights type responses. I burped my babe like I thought you were supposed to. I vividly remember the look my sister and mother gave me when they saw me burping my newborn for the first time. Shock. Horror. Apparently I looked like I was playing the bongos on my babe’s back…. And a little too forcefully at that. Well, geesh. That’s what they do on TV!! What do you mean that’s not the way to do it! Ha. I don’t think I was alone in my lack of understanding of the purpose and process.
Why You Need To Burp A Baby
A baby’s need to burp occurs due to the swallowing of air. In a breast fed baby this can occur with a mother has a strong “let down” or an abundance of milk. Imaging yourself trying to drink out of a fire house, you’re going to get some air in there. A bottle fed baby tends to swallow more air due to the faster flow of a bottle nipple as well. In addition, any type of feeding has increased chance of swallowing air when the baby latches, falls off and then relatches, or has a poor latch.
The purpose of the burp is to move the air bubble out of the stomach, up the esophagus, and out the mouth. This relieves the discomfort the baby feels, and who doesn’t love to hear a good belch out of babe?
Signs your baby needs to burp:
In newborns, sticking their tongue out
Squirming
Arching of the back
Bringing their knees up to their chest repeatedly
Fussiness in general, and fussiness when feeding. Wanting to feed but continually falling off the breast.
It is important to watch for these signs since a baby may need to burp at a time that is not right after a feed and therefore it may not be one of the first things we think of as a mechanism to calm a fussy baby.
The mechanics of a good burp are related to FINESSE over FORCE.
Instead of playing the bongos on your child’s back, or pretending her back is your other hand and giving a round of applause, a good burp is a function of massaging the air bubble out. You want to be working the meaty part of your palm into her back and upwards. Imagine the bubble being sandwiched between your two hands and being worked up and out.
The key components for a good burp are:
1. Pressure on the back
Massaging the bubble out by delivering upward pressure on her back with the meaty part of your palm. Kind of like kneading bread. Pressure point for this is starting at the lower aspect of the ribs and working up along the spine or a little to the left, which is directly over the esophagus.
2. Counter Pressure on the stomach
This is the part most parents omit. Putting pressure on her stomach and on her back creates a sandwich effect which forces the air bubble up the esophagus and headed in the right direction – out. Pressure point for this is with the meaty part of your palm is midline, where the left and right ribs converge at the lower rib cage. This pressure could be applied by your hand, your shoulder, or even her knees. You’ll see as we talk about effective burping positions.
Types of Burping Position For A Baby
If you are still having trouble getting the burp out, tummy time can be an effective way to get the burp out, as can wearing a sling and having baby chest to chest. These are 2 preferred burping position.
Seated Position Burp
My all time favorite position is the seated position. Baby sits on your lap with your palm on her tummy and her chin resting in the V between your forefinger and your thumb for more support. Leaning baby forward puts pressure on her stomach and massaging her back moves the bubbles up. You can also pat a little bit too, gently. I like this position because you can position your burp cloth on your lap to catch any spit up that might appear.
Over Shoulder Burp
My second favourite position is the over the shoulder burp. You will drape baby over your shoulder so that her stomach is resting on the tip of your shoulder for counter pressure. Her arms should be extended out over your shoulder, which helps create an unobstructed path up the esophagus. Rub and pat to move the bubbles up. This one works great too if you walk around the house a bit, a little bounce in your step helps move things around. If she feels to floppy to you in this position, my modification is to bring her down off the shoulder a bit and tuck her knees up to her stomach with your left arm if you have her on the left side.
This creates that counter pressure on her stomach but she’s not hanging over your shoulder so much. This is a great position to use if you are ever soothing your baby during the night using the baby whisperer’s “pick up, put down” method. You soothe and burp at the same time, and having to burp can be the cause as to why baby won’t settle.
So remember, finesse over force and massage that bubble up and out and you will have mastered the biomechanics of a good burp!
Does your kitchen bin look filthy with food sticking to the bottom? To help, you can get two types of paper liner bags for the bin or kitchen container – two ply, and a “cellulose” lined bag. Both of these are acceptable. Cellulose lining looks like plastic, but it is plant based material and fully compostable. Paper bags with cellulose lining are leak resistant and odour proof. You can also make you very own liner for your kitchen container with newspaper.
Kitchen Container
With approximately 40 per cent of household waste being organic, I think the concept of the green bin is a great idea. Our ability to reduce and reuse is greatly increased by using it! What I don’t like is the cost associated with buying the bags.
We subscribe to the Ottawa Citizen and just recycle the newspaper until I saw how simple it is to use origami to make a liner for the kitchen container. The paper absorbs the liquid so no leaks.
How to Make a Liner for your Kitchen Container the Origami Style
Instructions for the Organics Origami- Paper liner for Kitchen Container
In the green bin, you can also:
Layer paper organics with food organics. For instance, put facial tissues or shredded paper in between layers of food waste.
Line the bottom of your containers with other types of paper such as sugar, or flour bags, take-out paper packaging, egg cartons, paper coffee trays, cardboard, or sheets of newspaper.
You can view this video on how to make the origami liner by a 6 years old Ottawa girl! So cute!
Do you use a kitchen container at home? Do you dump the food in it or use paper or a paper bag to keep your bin cleaner?
Comment below!
A kitchen container with instructions on how to make a liner
It’s just around the corner – the big day when your child or grandchild heads off to college or university for year one of their next great educational adventure. You’ve prudently planned for this day by regularly contributing to investments held within a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) – and now it’s time to get the most out of it with the right withdrawal strategies that will minimize your student’s taxes and get the full benefit of the Educational Assistance Payments (EAPs) for qualifying educational programs. EAPs consist of the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG), the Canada Learning Bond (CLB) and the income or growth earned from the money you’ve invested in the RESP.1
Graduation ceremony
1. Withdraw EAPs before withdrawing contributions.
As the subscriber of your student’s plan, you can elect to withdraw the income, grant, and bonds as EAPs, which will be taxable in the hands of your student whose low income, and personal credits and deductions (including the tuition credit, education credit, moving expenses deduction, and so on) should offset some or all of the income inclusion of the EAP.
2. Withdraw contributions after your student starts school.
Early withdrawal will trigger a CESG repayment.
3. Spread out the EAPs over the length of your student’s educational program.
Taking a lump sum in the first year may burden your student with a high taxable income. Spreading out the EAPs over a number of years takes advantage of your student’s (usually) lower marginal tax rates.
4. Avoid potential CESG clawbacks by withdrawing EAPs when you can.
If there is any CESG or CLB remaining in your investments held within a RESP after your student completes (or leaves) their post-secondary program, you may be required to refund this “excess” CESG grant money.
5. Get proof of enrolment right away so you’ll have money when you need it.
Before releasing an EAP, your RESP carrier will require proof of enrollment.
6. Use leftovers wisely.
Any contributions remaining in the plan after your student finishes college or university are yours to use as you wish – transfer them to another child’s plan or withdraw them for personal use.
Off to College – Get the Most from that RESP
When you started that RESP many years ago, you probably wondered if it was a good investment strategy. Now you know that it was – especially today, with a post-secondary education so costly and so necessary. Talk to your professional advisor about other good strategies for achieving a debt-free education for your children or grandchildren and financial stability for your family.
1.The Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) and the Canada Learning Bond (CLB) are provided by the Government of Canada. CLB eligibility depends on family income levels. Some provinces make education savings grants available to their residents.
Mike Ouellette is an enthusiastic financial consultant, with his prime focus being young families who are interested in learning about planning for their financial future. If you have any questions or are interested in learning how to begin planning for the future of your family, he’d welcome your questions regarding Registered Education Savings Plans, Mortgages, Retirement Planning, Income Protection, or any other financial worry you’d like to have addressed.
Since Valentine’s day is near I thought I would talk about what is running through the minds of everyone trying to find that special gift to show their spouse how much they love them, “Do I have enough room on my credit card to buy that box of chocolates and flowers?” Nothing is more romantic than talking about your finances, right? Financial trouble, and the stress that comes with them, are the leading causes of divorce.
Nearly every marriage goes through money trouble, but is divorce the solution? I don’t think so, if you and your spouse can get through all that debt and create a financial plan with agreed upon goals and work together to reach them, the process will actually make your marriage better.
Nothing is more romantic than talking about your finances
Pink Piggy bank wearing glasses
Talk dirty to me
Most couples rarely talk about your finances together or have the same feelings or philosophies about money. One might save every penny they find and has a special coupon clipping kit and the other spends their paycheck before they get it not thinking about having enough at the end of the month. You need to spot money problems early and attack them together to avoid disaster. Pointing fingers, name calling, and screaming at each other does nothing to eliminate financial stress. Don’t let your debt run your life; face it head on and take control of your finances.
You show me yours, I’ll show you mine
The first step is to sit down together and talk about your finances, be honest about all the debt you have, all the savings and investments you have and any other relevant financial information. You can’t create a successful financial plan if you withhold information from each other. The key is to work together on a realistic and reasonable family budget based on the goals that have been set together. Track your spending, and make your dollars go further by sticking to this budget once it is in place. You will have a step by step formula for figuring out where the most important place to utilize your money will be. You can then determine what expenses you can cut back on or eliminate altogether.
I promise to respect you in the morning
Once you have a plan and goals in place the easy part is over. The hard part is staying true to the budget you both agreed on and erasing the old spending habits with new ones. Of course there will be times when you stray of course; however it’s important to review your budget regularly and hold each other accountable to sticking with the plan. If your goal is to buy a home or new car put a picture of your dream home or car somewhere you can see it each day. Talk to each other to see how you are handling the new budget and the great feeling of being in control of your money and the difference it will make in your financial futures.
Nothing is more romantic than talking about your finances
Performance anxiety
If you are having trouble figuring out your finances and creating a budget don’t panic. There are lots of resources available and you can download a Family budget template that I use here. If you want professional help contact a financial advisor that works with families (like me ;-)) and they can help you organize your finances and come up with a realistic financial plan.
Happy ending
It all comes down to communication and being honest with each other. No more hiding credit card statements or ignoring your increasing debt load, take your heads out of the sand and come together to get back in control. Take the time to really find out where you money goes, what financial goals you both share and come up with a plan that gets you ahead instead of falling behind. It will lead to a better understanding of each other and a stronger relationship from working together. It will also set an example for your children about teamwork and personal finances. In other words, talk about your finances!
Andrew W Bradley Insurance Broker & Financial Services Advisor The information is of a general nature only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. It should not be used, relied upon, or treated as a substitute for specific professional advice. I recommend that you obtain your own independent professional advice before making any decision in relation to your particular requirements or circumstances.
Last year, I signed up with SampleSource to receive free samples and try them out before I purchased the real size products. It’s very easy as you just register, fill out a profile, and pick samples you would like. They ship them right to your home. And the best part, it is 100% free! They also ship to Canada and US residents.
They have all kinds of samples from makeup, beauty care products, household cleaning products, health products, to food products.
They have samples in the Spring, Summer, and Fall . When samples are available, if you are a member and they have samples that match your profile,they will automatically email you to let you know. Samples are only available while supplies last, and they don’t last long, so as soon as you get the email, go to their site, log in and get them!
From the day you place your order, it can take between 4-6 weeks for your package to arrive. They do limit one package per address and email.
This Fall they will have over 20 samples from many different brands. I am looking forward to receiving my email.
You’ve likely seen or at least heard of mold—it grew on the loaf of bread you kept past its best before date or on the strawberries you bought and didn’t examine closely enough at the grocer’s. Despite such sporadic occasions, mold probably doesn’t enter your everyday thoughts and concerns.
However, mold warrants the same attention that’s paid to other household hazards and disasters, such as fires or floods. Mold should be both prevented and taken care of immediately for several different reasons, one being that it can seriously affect your health and the health of your children. In fact, children, the elderly, and anyone with an already-weak immune system, are more susceptible to the adverse health effects of mold.
While all mold is allergenic, some people are more sensitive and will experience a more pronounced or severe reaction to mold exposure. Long-term or frequent mold exposure can contribute to several health issues, including (but not limited to) itchy eyes, congestion, trouble breathing, mental confusion, skin infections, a suppressed immune system, and worsened asthma symptoms. Exposure to toxic mold can be life threatening.
The only absolute way to determine whether or not your home is contaminated, is to book a mold assessment or an air quality test. Moreover, if you, your spouse, or your children are experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms indicative of mold in the home, this requires a quick response. There is no need to wait until mold is visible.
Many people believe it’s possible to handle a mold problem on their own. You’ll scrub until the break of dawn to save the time and money it takes to hire a professional mold remediation company. What many people don’t know though is that what you see on the surface is not usually the extent of the problem; mold hides underneath carpets and behind walls. Just because the mold is no longer visible doesn’t mean that you and your loved ones are no longer exposed to it. Fortunately, professionals are educated and equipped to remove every trace of mold safely and without any hassle.
Though mold removal is not a DIY project, there are ways you can prevent mold from growing and, subsequently, protect your family from its health hazards. The following are among the ways you can avoid a mold problem: properly ventilating the home, eliminating all water damage and excess moisture, and monitoring indoor air quality.
Every family should sleep soundly, knowing it’s safe to breathe the air inside their home. Watch for and respond to all signs of mold, as mold has the power to ultimately ruin the healthy and happy home you’ve worked tirelessly to maintain.
Mold Busters
Since 2005, Mold Busters has provided reliable air quality testing, mold inspections, and mold removal and remediation. Though their central location is Ottawa, ON, they provide services throughout Canada, in Singapore, and in Malaysia. Comprised of experienced and certified technicians, the Mold Busters team offers same-day appointments and a wide range of affordable services to suit each client’s needs. For fast, effective, and safe service in residential or commercial buildings, Mold Busters can help. Please follow Mold Busters on Google+ for information and updates.
The end of the summer signals back to school season. We are accustomed to the familiar commercials for school supplies, fall clothing and autumn activities. Another back to school essential we don’t often think about includes nutritional and herbal supplements to support healthy brain function during the school year. Nutritional and herbal supplements can help to optimize brain function leading to improved memory, concentration and learning in the classroom. These are good for adults too!
Top 5 Supplements for Back to School
1. Multivitamin
A multivitamin includes a combination of vitamins and minerals to ensure the body has an adequate daily supply to prevent deficiency. With our busy lifestyles it can be difficult to have great nutrition everyday and a multivitamin can be helpful for ensuring our brains are nourished with the nutrients we need.
Choose a multivitamin appropriate for your children’s age and have them take the recommended dose with meals to increase absorption. Liquid and powder multivitamins are great for children because they can be mixed into juice, smoothies, applesauce or yogurt.
2. B-complex vitamin
In addition to a multivitamin supplement, additional B vitamins can be helpful for improving cognitive function. B vitamins are essential for producing neurotransmitters that influence mood and can be helpful for anxiety and depression.
Make sure you all take a b-complex vitamin with meals to prevent nausea. It is best to take it in the morning with breakfast because it also helps improve energy throughout the day.
3. Omega-3 fatty acids
A fish oil supplement is the best way to get an appropriate dose of omega-3 fatty acids. The two major types are ecosapentanoic acid (EPA)and docosahexanoic acid (DHA). A combination of EPA and DHA is important for supporting nervous system function leading to improved learning, attention and concentration in the classroom. Nourishing the brain with omega-3 fatty acids is essential for improving mood.
Fish oil is available in liquid or capsules. You can freeze the capsules to prevent it from repeating or purchase an enteric coated brand. Liquid fish oil is great for children because it can be mixed into a smoothie or juice. There are even delicious gummies and chewable capsules for the picky eater!
If your family follows a vegan diet or are allergic to fish, omega-3 fatty acids can be found in flaxseed oil, chia seeds and hempseed. However, much higher doses are needed to absorb the same amount that is found naturally in fish oil.
4. Gingko biloba
Once you ingest the essential vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids, gingko biloba is a great herb for increasing circulation to the brain and ensuring those nutrients are delivered to where they need to go. Gingko biloba itself increases neurotransmitter function in the brain helping to improve cognition and short term memory.
Gingko biloba is available in capsule and liquid tincture form. Putting drops of the liquid tincture into a cup of boiling water will evaporate the alcohol leading to a more pleasant taste. Adding a bag of your favourite herbal tea will also mask the flavour of the gingko. Cooling this tea and making popsicles are a wonderful way to help children ingest herbal remedies.
Note: If you are taking blood thinning medications, it is best to be cautious and speak to your primary healthcare provider before starting gingko biloba.
5. Water
We don’t often think of water as a supplement, but water should part of one’s daily lifestyle routine. Increasing water intake prevents dehydration and improves brain function, restlessness and focus in the classroom.
Always send your child with a water bottle and carry one too to remind you to drink water frequently. Adding slices of lemon, lime, orange, cucumber, apple or berries to the water for refreshing flavoured water will give it a fresh taste so none of you get bored with plain old water. Peppermint or spearmint leaves are also a refreshing twist! We all know the recommended 8-10 glasses of water per day and it is important to make this a priority.
Such a simple lifestyle change by adding supplements to your diet can make a significant impact on how you all feel and improve memory, concentration and learning at school. Go ahead and give it a try!
Electric scooters are an increasingly popular way to reduce personal environmental impact. As awareness grows about our individual role in preserving the planet for future generations, people seek technologies that shrink their ecological footprint.
Conventional transport is a major source of pollution and greenhouse gases, and getting to work, school, or shopping in a crowded city can be challenging. Electric scooters offer a cleaner, cost-effective alternative: they deliver excellent energy efficiency, eliminate gasoline expenses, and serve both practical commuting needs and everyday leisure.
History of the Electric Scooters
The history of electric scooters stretches back over a century. The idea of electrically powered personal vehicles first appeared in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when inventors began experimenting with electric motors for bicycles and small vehicles. Interest declined with the rise of inexpensive gasoline engines, but research into electric drive systems continued in laboratories and niche applications through the mid-20th century.
Renewed attention emerged in the late 20th century as rechargeable battery technology, first lead-acid and later nickel-metal hydride, improved, making electric personal transport more practical. The modern era began in the 2000s with the adoption of lightweight lithium-ion batteries, compact brushless motors, and better electronic controllers, enabling reliable, efficient scooters and e-bikes for mainstream consumers. Adoption accelerated in the 2010s with the micromobility and ride-share boom, which put shared electric scooters into many cities. Since then, ongoing advances in battery energy density, motor efficiency, and safety features have continued to extend range, performance, and overall appeal.
The Features Of Electric Scooters
For current electric scooter riders, the fact that their vehicle no longer contributes to the planet’s pollution is already a major satisfaction. For those thinking about buying one, an electric scooter is attractive because it removes the hassle and cost of refueling.
With gas prices rising, recharging an electric scooter is far more appealing than frequent trips to the pump. As a lifestyle choice, an electric scooter offers several clear benefits.
Electric scooters are suitable for both adults and teens for daily travel and recreation.
They work especially well in busy cities where parking is scarce and cars often waste time and fuel.
A smooth, comfortable ride across different surfaces makes electric scooters versatile for many situations.
Modern braking systems provide easy, reliable stopping, increasing safety for riders.
Electric scooters are allowed inside many public buildings, unlike gas-powered scooters.
Built for durability, electric scooters are a long-term investment.
While gas scooters may be faster, electric scooters can handle hills thanks to their light weight.
Their low noise level is an advantage when you want to avoid disturbing neighbours.
Because electric scooters produce no tailpipe carbon emissions, they’re an excellent choice for people who care about the environment. While charging batteries does require electricity and some power plants emit CO2, the overall environmental footprint is far smaller than that of gasoline-powered vehicles. Electric scooters help improve air quality, reduce pollution, and lessen contributions to climate change.
Lower operating and maintenance costs. Done. Electric scooters use very little energy and are inexpensive to maintain. E-scooters are also available to rent within the City of Ottawa, making them a convenient option for residents and visitors.
Kids today gain levels of sophistication and tech savviness at earlier ages than ever before. But this is a complex world and, more than ever, parents have a key role in making sure their children are equipped to deal with every complexity – and developing strong money management skills should be among the most important for helping your kids achieve their life goals, lead a better life and help others. You will find below tips on teaching your children the importance of saving money!
Woman putting money in the hand of a child.
Why Your Children Should Save Money
As a parent, your job is to teach your children. There are many things you will teach them, starting at birth and even after adulthood. Of the many things you will teach your children, one of the most important is how and why they should save money.
Here are some tips for teaching your children the importance of saving money:
1. Talk to your children about money, starting at an early age. Some parents put off these talks until their children are teenagers, or even grown. It’s important you don’t shy from money talk even when your children are young. This is how they will learn.
2. Help your children learn the value of money by having them earn things that they want. If everything is always given to them on a whim, they will think this is how it works for adults as well.
3. Teach your children that sometimes you have to save up for things that you want, especially large purchases.
4. Explain the ways that having a savings can help during an emergency.
5. Allow your children to experience money from a young age.
You could take them shopping on a budget (it can be as small as $5) and teach them about managing their money, or as they grow older, talk to them about how to budget for a household and how to manage bills.
With these tips in mind, you will be well equipped to start teaching your kids about saving money. Remember that just as important as what you say, your children will watch what you do, so be sure to set a good example.
Teaching Teens How To Save Money
Some teens seem to be born with a money-saving gene. Others don’t quite grasp that money doesn’t grow on trees. It can be difficult for teens of any personality to save money when they don’t earn money regularly. Most teens get money from only a few sources: gifts at birthdays and holidays, a part time job, or allowance. Let’s look at 4 tips on how teens can save money!
So how can teens save money? Here are some ideas:
1. Save before spending
Each and every time you get money, whether it’s allowance or from a part time job, take some out for savings before doing anything else. Some people call this “paying yourself first” and it’s an important habit to learning to save.
2. Be smart with your ATM/bank card
If you’re tempted to overspend when you have your card on you, take out cash for what you need and leave your card at home. Be smart with subscriptions that can charge your card even when you’re not actively using them.
3. Make use of student savings
There are many stores and restaurants that will give you discounts up to 10% off when you flash your student ID.
4. Make use of reward cards and cash back apps
Most teens today have smart phones and they are more savvy with apps than their parents. There are tons of coupon and cash back apps that let you save money and/or earn cash back on purchases you make already. That trip to the mall could earn you money back for your next trip!
With these ideas on how teens can save money, you’re ready to help your teenager start forming great money habits that he will take with him for the rest of his life. If he can learn to save now when he’s just bringing in some extra spending money but his main needs are taken care of, it will be easier for him to save when he’s off on his own and it’s very important.
Teaching Children About Saving Money
New research reveals that Canadian parents are very proactive when it comes to teaching their children about personal finance – with 82% of parents frequently or sometimes having conversations with their kids about good money habits. It’s important to start dollars and sense talks early with your children, so here are some age-related tips on teaching your children about saving money to get you going.
6-12 years
Start with a ‘fun’ bank they can fill with coins; eventually graduate to a ‘real’ bank account and an allowance tied to certain tasks to learn responsibility. A fixed amount allowance is best because it teaches that there are serious choices to be made about spending and saving. Deposit at least 10% of their allowance in a bank account and explain how interest makes their money grow. Board games like Monopoly and interactive websites such as the Canadian Foundation for Economic Education are also great money education tools.
12-16 years
Develop a simple budget that includes keeping tax receipts and statements to keep track of their money. A charitable giving component will show them how their money can have a positive impact on the community. Give an allowance ‘bonus’ for special work with the requirement that the extra money must be invested. Introduce the concepts of ‘compounding’ and tax-saving through such long-term investments as a RRSP eligible investment.
16-18 years
Have each child file a tax return as soon as they have a job that results in a T4.
It’ll give them a more ‘personal view” of taxes and build up future contribution RRSP room. Co-sign for a low-limit credit card and carefully monitor its use. Stress the importance of making monthly credit card payments to maintain a good credit rating and avoid high interest rates or late fees. Use credit card statements to discuss spending patterns and best use of purchasing power.
More Financial Tips
Involve you kids in family financial discussions.
Show how your family budget must balance expenses and income.
You can even start playing ‘money games’ with your kids as young as two years old.
Teaching Kids About Money – Start Early
Teaching your children the importance of saving money will help them develop their own feelings and values towards positive habits such as saving and spending. Not sure where to start? Feel free to contact your financial professional for some ideas.
As part of our Syracuse visiting attractions tour thanks to Visit Syracuse, we made a stop at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. The weather was sunny and so hot at 41° Celsius with humidity, but that didn’t stop visitors to come to the zoo as the parking lot was full! My mother, who made the trip to Syracuse on Saturday, took out her umbrella out of the car and use it for shade! Now, that’s a bright idea, so we did the same!
The Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park is the home to approximately 700 animals on 43 acres. Almost every hour, the Zoo offers special Demo Session to view the animals perform or up close. As you enter the main building entrance, you are greeted by 2 attendants in their individual ticket booth. Once you pay, you can start your journey by entering a submarine cave to visit the U.S.S. Antiquities where you will find a variety of fish, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.
Up next is the Diversity of Birds Aviary where you can view many birds of different shapes, sizes, and colours!
Your next stop is to visit to the animals in Adaptation – Natural Selection at Work, followed by a walk through the Lion Corridor where you will meet 3 lions, Kierha, Joshus and Mindine. Don’t forget to enter the Ecosystems building to look at the monkies, meerkats, apes and lemurs.
Once outside, you will notice many birds in the ponds such as ducks, raptors, flamingos and other birds.
This was one of my favourite exhibit, the Penguin Coast where you watch the penguins swim, dive, waddle, and give us quite a show. You can watch them from the top of the water bay or under water through six viewing windows. They are so adorable!
The Wildlife Trail is totally awesome as you will view many animals such as the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheeps, the Fisher, the Lynx, the Snow Leopards, the Caribou, the Guanaco, the Spectacled Bears, and Tigers while walking up and downhill on the zoo grounds!
I was lucky to be able to capture on photo this tiger as he decided to come up to drink water near the viewing windows.
The Zoo also has a very big Asian Elephant Preserve. They have seven elephants on site: Indy, Siri, Romani, Kirina, Targa, Mali, and Chuck.
A visit to the zoo would not be complete without viewing the Domestic Animal Barn where you can see sheeps, cows, hogs, and more!
Hours
Open 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., 362 days a year Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day
Rentals
For your convenience, wagons and strollers are available for rent at the membership desk.
Single Strollers
$3
Wagons
$5
On site you will also find the Jungle Café that offers a wide selection of food for lunch and snacks such as salads, hot dogs, hamburgers, grilled chicken, sandwiches, soups, and ice cream.
Before we head out, we went into the gift shop to purchase souvenirs. There are so many cute plush animals that you will want to leave with a few. I purchased two plush baby penguins for my nieces and a coffee mug for myself.
I have not visited a Zoo in years and I have to say that it truly has been a delight to visit the Rosamond Gifford Zoo! Make sure to put it on your to do list when you come to Syracuse!
Disclosure: I received free tickets to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo by the Syracuse Tourism Organization. However, my opinions are 100% my own, and only recommend products or services I believe will be beneficial to my readers.
Running out of things to do on summer break? Why not make your own musical instruments? Here are a few ideas using things you already have at home. Your kids will be sure to have their own ideas as well. Anything goes! Turn on some music and play along with your little ones. They will love some family music time, especially when it involves playing with something they have created.
How to Make Your Own Musical Instruments with Your Kids!
How to Make Your Own Musical Instruments with Your Kids!
Shakers and other noisemakers:
• Use a plastic container with a lid – water bottle, yogurt drink, ice cream tub. (Paper towel tubes or toilet rolls will work too. Just cover the ends with a balloon and secure with elastics.) Small cups or a Pringles container will work well too.
• Insert rice, lentils, pasta, split peas, beads, or buttons. (They each make a different sound – make a few different shakers.)
• Coloured paper, streamers, fabric scraps, paint, stickers. Anything you want to use for decorating! Kids will love using a variety of things to make their instrument just right.
• Use a few canning lids to tap together. Tie on a few ribbons and they’re ready to play.
Drums:
• Tins of different sizes – take off and discard lid, wash cans. Keep lid on one end, you can hit either end for different sounds.
• Balloons – to stretch over the end of the tin. Use tape or elastics to secure. (You can also make this a shaker too by inserting any shaker material listed above.)
• Wooden or plastic spoons or even chopsticks can be used for drumsticks.
Baton for someone to lead the band:
• Push or glue a foam ball on the end of a dowel.
• Cover the ball with a square of felt, secure with an elastic or ribbon.
• Add some ribbons or coloured tape to decorate.
How to Make Your Own Musical Instruments with Your Kids!
Turn up the music and enjoy the grins as you play along with your own instruments!
It’s been almost three months now since our third babe was born and while I love that her chunky rolls are growing I’m wondering why mine are sticking around? After I had my first child, it seemed that nursing was a miracle drug. The more I nursed, the more my baby belly vanished. Fabulous. After my second child, nursing also worked pretty well but I definitely needed to work at it a bit harder. I figured, having a third…this bod would bounce back pretty fast right? Yikes, I was wrong. My baby girl is now four months old and nursing just isn’t going to cut it. I was thrilled when AT Surgical Company sent me their “After Baby Tummy Belt for Post Partum Recovery” to try. Here are my thoughts:
What I loved about it…
I love that it fits snuggly around my tummy. I definitely feel like it’s holding in my belly.
I love that you can adjust the Velcro to make it bigger or smaller
I love that my muscles were a bit tender after I took it off…definitely made me feel like they were tightening up.
What I didn’t love about it…
The belt didn’t come with any instructions on how to wear it, how long to wear it, how tight to make it, why it was important to wear one post partum etc. This made trying to figure out which end was up a bit difficult.
Overall, I definitely feel like this product sets out to do what it was designed for. By supporting my tummy in the belt, I feel like my muscles are on the mend and getting tighter and stronger. If you’re looking for something to keep your baby tummy in and supported and overall smaller than I suggest you look at this product but you might want to email them for instructions.
We had the pleasure of visiting the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology (MOST)! You will find below a review of this amazing museum located in Syracuse, NY.
The Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology (MOST) is located in the heart of downtown Syracuse in the Armory Square neighbourhood. The museum is very interactive, highlights different science exhibits, and offers activities, games, and hands on experiences for the whole family.
The Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology (MOST) in Syracuse offers 6 different exhibits:
Life Sciences
Earth Science Discovery Cave
The Science Playhouse
Technotown
Flight and Space
The Dr. and Mrs. Herbert J. Silverman Planetarium
As you walk through each station of the Life Sciences exhibit, we learned the fundamentals of the human body and its organ systems. It was pretty impressive to see giant replicas of the human heart with veins, main arteries, and chambers, of the brain and the central nervous system as well as the respiratory system such as the nose, and the digestive and musculoskeletal systems. We were so surprise when we touched the huge nose, it sneezed on us!
As you enter the life-sized Earth Science Discovery Cave at MOST, you venture through an extremely realistic cave that takes you in a journey to the centre of the Earth. It showcases fossils, what a cavern is all about, dripping water, a waterfall and the earth’s tectonic plates. Kids can dig in the sand to find bones as well as climb in the fossil pit. There is also a Coral Reef Adventure Tank with live coral and tropical fishes as well as a volcano.
Photo credit: dpape / Foter / CC BY
The next exhibit will surely be the favourite one among kids; The Science Playhouse. It’s a giant climbing maze on 5 floors with fun filled obstacles and foam balls. Everyone is welcome to go in the playhouse, even adults! Kids must wear socks to take part in the Science Playhouse.
Technotown is a cool Kinetic Sculpture with moving parts, rolling balls and yes, it makes noise. I stared at least 15 minutes and watched the balls go up and down, and sideways into the rails, and one actually switched a light. It is totally captivating, amazing, and amusing! Sometimes the balls hit each other, which stops one and sends the other rolling. You can also release the balls like a pinball machine into the Kinetic Sculpture.
Next up is the Flight & Space exhibit where you can climb in a cockpit of an F -16 and use the controls to make it fly, dive, land and take off! You will learn about navigational controls and radar systems used in air travel.
The Dr. and Mrs. Herbert J. Silverman Planetarium will walk you through to a 24-foot planetarium dome where you can learn the constellations in a 3-D setting. Showtimes are Saturday and Sunday at 11:15am and 3:15pm.
One of my favourite gallery at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology is the model train exhibition with an electrical train travelling around a village, and I really enjoyed the incredible talent of Stan Munro for building the Eiffel Tower, the Yankess Stadium, and the Statue of Liberty with only toothpicks!
As you enter the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology (MOST), there is a gift show where you can purchase science gadgets, toys, rocks, and more! We have a family membership with 3 museums 1 card in Ottawa, so we were able to use it at MOST and get in free! For an additional fee, you can also see a movie in the Bristol IMAX Omnitheater.
You can park your vehicle on the streets nearby or there is a municipal parking 2 blocs from the museum. There is no canteen or cafeteria on site, only vending machines; however, you will find a subway and Starbucks across the museum.
There are lots of science exhibits to see, touch and explore for children of all ages at the MOST Museum!
In May of this year, my husband and I were married for 20 years. Time definitely flies when you have a family as I am still trying to sink in this milestone. We were trying to decide if we should take some time alone without the kids and travel to a sunshine vacation spot. My husband is an accountant, so May is a pretty busy time of year for him and on top he helps out with the crops on the family farm. Every year, we seem to postpone a well deserve trip just for the two of us since other priorities seem to take over our schedules. I decided to start looking for this amazing destination now in the hopes of travelling within a year. A friend of mine recommended we look at Club Med as they have over 80 resorts around the world. I have to say that I don’t know much about them and started doing my homework.
They have so many locations to choose from that it’s difficult to just want to travel to one destination, and the photos on the site are so dreamy and beautiful! Now what is their all-inclusive vacation all about? From what I can read, their fees include everything from meals, open bar, accommodation, to activities, and more. Some flights and transfer might also be included. Contrary to my belief, they also offer family vacations and not just for couples. The offer many couples only resorts and many more all-inclusive vacation for families family-sized accommodations and with activities and children’s clubs for kids from four months to 17 years old, with age appropriate programs for them. Additionally, for families traveling with kids under four, their stay is free at the resorts.
Photo credit: jajay / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND
I came across the Maldives Vacation in Kani located in the middle of the Indian Ocean with your own private island. This is a family resort, but it can definitely serve as a couple. They have gardens and a spa, offer scuba diving, and a fine sandy beach. As you can see the bungalows are located in the water on stilts. After seeing this video, I think you, will be sold on this location:
Another favorable resort is for couples only located in the Bahamas named Columbus Isle in the heart of the Caribbean. This resort offers massages facing the sea, scuba diving, tennis, water-skiing, sailing, and fitness, as well as a sandy beach and gardens. The bungalows have two floors and you can also choose 1 or 2 bedrooms.
Photo credit: acme / Foter / CC BY
On their site they are promoting a sale until August 27th, 2013 featuring seven night all-inclusive escapes starting from just $119 per person, per night during the most sought-after summer and winter travel dates. Interesting? Travel has to be made by February 12th, 2014. This deal is available to more than 50 Club Med snow and sun locations worldwide including the Caribbean, Mexico, Florida, France, Morocco, Brazil, Indonesia, and Thailand. They have a location in Florida??? I have to get out more often. I am not sure if I can travel during those dates, but I will definitely keep it in mind. What can I say, you can never stop a girl from dreaming!
Now that I have shown these pictures to my kids, guess who wants to make this a family vacation? (To my loving children, please read the first paragraph over again.)
Have you booked through Club Med for your vacation?
If yes, I would like to hear which destination you chose and how you liked it.
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The only absolute way to determine whether or not your home is contaminated, is to book a mold assessment or an 
