Our toddlers love playing with puzzles and have mastered all the ones we have at home for ages 1.5 and up. Lately I’ve been trying to find more challenging puzzles for them but it’s tricky to find ones that are not too easy and not too hard. I’ve tried puzzles with Thomas the Train and Minnie Mouse, but each of those came with 24 pieces which was too frustrating because they could not get the ‘big picture’.
A simple 2 piece puzzle from the Dollar Store allowed them to match the top and bottom pieces together to form a tractor. That tractor puzzle quickly became a toy for Mister until it split back into two pieces.
“Mama! Puze.. bwoken”.
Hmmm…how do I show them the concept of what a puzzle is and help them to see how all the pieces fit together? The answer is simple: make your own puzzles!
There are different ways to do it. You could take a printout of their favourite character (like Elmo, for example), cut it up in a few large pieces and get them to put Elmo back together again! Or instead of using paper, try cutting up shapes in pieces of felt and have your little one match up the colours.
I didn’t have a cute printout or felt handy, but I did have a grocery flyer with pictures of fruits and vegetables. I experimented on Missy and she enjoyed putting together the basket of strawberries and matching up the cucumbers. Who doesn’t like looking at pictures of food?
This is a basic activity you can do when your little ones are in need of a distraction. A word of caution if you use pictures from flyers.. the ink is not good for little mouths!
Ambereen Rahim is a senior analyst, part-time blogger and mom of three year old boy/girl twins. In her spare time you can find her travelling, exploring activities with the kids, trying new recipes and blogging about it. You can follow their adventures on twitter @2cuteblog www.2cute.intiaz.com
Most Fridays you can catch me giving my opinions on various issues on CTV Ottawa Morning Live’s Top Talkers. The subject of our latest discussion is something I’ve been teased over and even criticized for. Putting your children’s needs above your own or what some call child-centric parenting. As with most issues in life, perception is everything. A new study is touting the benefits of child-centric parenting suggesting that it creates more happiness for those of us who take that approach.
Given the variable threads missing from the article and lack of TV time to dive into a lengthy conversation that happens repeatedly with friends and family, please allow me to share these thoughts.
Is it child-centric to budget your household around what you value? If I have a certain amount of money to spend on entertainment, I am going to choose quality family programming over a personal indulgence. I am creating a lasting family memory which is where I feel happiest. I have never regretted money or time spent wisely on my children.
Time is something I value dearly and I want to invest that with the people who give me the greatest joy to be around, my two daughters top that list. Does that make me a kid-centric parent?
Woman holding a toddler
I chose to be at home more than not until both my children were in school full time. As a single Mother I made financial sacrifices to allow myself that opportunity. I have also chosen to turn down career opportunities in other cities to be more available to my family and keep them close to their Father. His roots are here in Ottawa. Mine are in New Brunswick. I also gave up an opportunity to take a job in my hometown where it would be far less expensive to live and I would have had a lot more help with my children. I am doing my best to do what’s best for my children. This is what I feel is good for our family.
Do I feel that women who don’t do these kinds of things are bad parents? No. We all must find the balance that works for us and our families. Judging one another helps no one for we will never truly know the complete experience of someone else’s life and making assumptions is a dangerous game.
I recognize what I need to be a well rounded mentally, emotionally and physically healthy individual. I do my best to keep that balance in check.
Your thoughts on Child-Centric Parenting?
I admit that I mess up a lot. I do my best to apologize when I do and get back on track. I can feel very overwhelmed with life and the balancing act and when I do sit on the doorstep and cry from time to time, it’s not because of my kids. It’s because I need to check my priorities and see where I am overdrawn on the relationship bank account and who I am allowing to get away without making deposits.
Our relationships mirror the issues we need to deal with in life and that includes the relationships we have with our children. I would never blame them for creating stress in my life. Just like in any line of work, you’re responsible for figuring out how to do it most effectively. Same applies to parenting. We make it stressful or not. So can we lose the labels? Lol.
Canadians can visit hundreds of countries in the world. We can trek and travel on every continent with little hassle. But in which countries are the locals happiest to see the maple leaf on your backpack? Read on for our list of 9 countries that are most friendly to Canadians, and why that might be so.
While China’s a little bit prickly with all countries when it comes to tourist visas (you’ve got to get one in advance of your trip) this Asian superpower is one of the top emerging markets from whence tourists come to Canada. It’s also the provenance of many of our immigrants. So, when Canadians visit China we can be assured that we’ve got good press going for us. It doesn’t hurt, either, that one of the most famous foreigners living in China is Canadian. Mark Henry Rowswell, or “Da Shan” as he’s known in China, is an A-list performer and television personality for the 1.3 billion Chines
By and large, Swedes look at Canada as a kindred spirit. We’ve got similar geography and weather and a shared love of hockey, and both nations pride themselves on a just, fair and comfortable governance of the people. Visas are a snap, too — as opposed to other European Union countries, Sweden allows Canadians to stay three months out of every six without arranging any prior visa
More than 11 million of Canada’s 15.6 million tourists in 2011 were from the United States, according to the Canadian Tourism Commission. Of course, it’s easier for U.S. citizens to get to Canada than for people of any other nation; the borders and paperwork are some of the simplest to navigate in the world. We like going there too! In 2007, it was our number-one destination outside of Canada, with 17.8 million visits by Canadians to the States, according to Statistics Canada. With the U.S. dollar continuing to be low, now’s a good time to search for cheap vacations to visit our southern neighbour.
Brits make up the second largest group of foreign tourists coming to Canada every year, according to the Canadian Tourism Commission. We filled up the return flights too! The U.K. was our third most-popular trip after the U.S. and Mexico in 2007. Shared history and language are two of the draws for Canadians looking to go to the U.K. We’re well-liked once we arrive. The easy working holiday visa arrangement between the two countries means many U.K. residents have fond memories of their trips to Canada, and are sure to be welcoming in return.
India comes in just after China as being the emerging market to send us the most tourists. We return the favour by being the fifth leading source of tourism dollars brought to the subcontinent. About 220,000 Canadian tourists visited India in 2009, according to TheStar.com. Most who were surveyed on return finding Indian people “warm and helpful.” That sounds nice after the winter, doesn’t it?
The French make critical remarks about the quality of our French language here, but they say very nice things about Canadian culture. According to one survey, the French are among the top peoples of the world to laud Canada for our tolerance of people from different races and cultures. More than 300,000 French people visited Canada in 2011, and about 100,000 Canadians fly to France each year.
With nearly 50 percent of the people from Saskatchewan having German heritage, there’s good reason for Canadian travelers to plan to visit Germany. Additionally, German tourists made nearly 300,000 visits to Canada in 2011.
A survey found that Australians are likely to think of Canada as a place where the government respects citizen’s rights and freedoms. A shared history and similar situations as huge countries with few people give Canada and Australia a camaraderie hard to find elsewhere in the world.
Not only does Canada have a large Haitian immigrant population, but Canada gives generously in foreign aid to Haiti. According to CBC News, Canada gave nearly $330 million to Haiti in the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
Now that you have read our list of 9 countries that are most friendly to Canadians, which country would you like to visit first?
About the Author: Allison Rosemont is a retired statistician. She spends her winters in Florida and the Caribbean and summers in Ottawa.
I can’t believe I’ve never in my life made potato stamps! I’ve seen them a million times before and you would think that, as a homeschooler, at some point I would have made them with my girls. Well a few weeks ago we remedied this huge oversight of mine and made our very own DIY potato stamps craft and had lots of fun! If you’ve never made them before, why not give it a try? Here’s how we did it.
Cut the potato in half. Use a paring knife to score the shape you want. Cut around the outside edge of the potato to remove the excess.
Cut out notches to make handles.
These are all the shapes we made. The heart, star and circle were a little tricky.
We used our stamps to practice patterns. My daughter had lots of fun with this. I wonder if it would be too hard to make letter stamps. That would be a super fun way to practice spelling simple words like, cat, hat, bat etc. I’ll have to give it a try.
Have you made DIY potato stamps before? What shapes did you make? What did your kids make with them. I’d love to hear your comments 🙂
Jennifer Saarinen: I’m a stay at home, homeschooling mom. I live with my husband and 2 daughters, along with our 2 dogs, cat, and rabbit. I suffer from depression and found it very difficult to work outside the home. Our simple lifestyle has allowed me to stay at home with our girls while my husband works. We decided that it would suit our family to homeschool. I truly enjoy the time with my daughter’s and find teaching them so rewarding. Even I’m learning new things! To help earn a little extra money on the side I babysit 3 days a week and I’m also a Oliver’s Labels Agent and Watkins Independent Associate. I started my blog, Homeschooling Mom 4 Two, to share stories of family life and homeschooling along with product reviews and giveaways.
Mosaic is a technique of taking small pieces of stone, glass or other types of material and arranging them into a pattern or picture. The small pieces are usually square but can be other shapes in order to make a picture as aesthetically pleasing as possible. Mosaics were common in Roman and Greek cultures, and were used to decorate homes, places of worship and other gathering places such as gyms.
On trips to Italy and Greece I saw a number of beautifully detailed mosaics depicting animals and customs of the time. A few examples of mosaics I found interesting on my travels are below.
This mosaic in Greece depicts a sea creature that looks similar to a dolphin, surrounded by plain mosaics.
This mosaic in Italy shows a market scene because it was located in an ancient market square. Men buying and selling goods are depicted in the mosaic.
This last mosaic in Italy shows a very detailed horse drawn carriage surrounded by sea creatures. It’s an impressive scene with lots of movement.
Inspired by these mosaics, I’ve created some simple and quick mosaic crafts that you can make with your children. We won’t be making any mosaics as detailed or large as the ancient one’s, but will be making three different types, from Level 1, really quick and easy, up to Level 3, which takes more time and a little bit more skill.
Materials needed
Safety scissors
Different colours of foam
Craft glue
Letter stencils
Frames
Card
Level 1 – Mosaic Frame
Step 1
Level 1 of the Mosaic craft only requires arranging the mosaic squares in a straight pattern. This craft will only take about 15 minutes to complete.
Hold the foam beside the frame and measure the width that will fit
Choose which colours of foam you would like to decorate the frame with and cut two long strips of foam.
Cut the strips of foam into small squares of a few centimetres in width.
Put glue around the frame and glue the small foam squares, alternating the colours in whatever patterns you wish.
To add more detail, add lettering or other details, as I did in my example below, eg. “Hello World”
Level 2 – Door Hanger
Level 2 of the Mosaic craft requires more effort because you have to arrange the squares into letters, which is more difficult than arranging them in straight lines.
Taking the stencil, outline the letters of the word or phrase you would like to arrange a mosaic around.
Cut the foam into long, thin strips and then cut the strips into small squares.
Put the glue inside the letter stencils.
Arrange the small squares around the stenciled letters in the pattern you would like, eg. green square, yellow square, green square.
To make the foam piece a door hanger take a small cup with a diameter smaller than the width of the foam piece. Trace the circle of the cup and then cut it out.
Add a photo of whatever you wish to personalize the door hanger, eg. your cat!
Level 3 – Horse Figure
Level 3 of the Mosaic craft requires more time and effort because you are arranging the mosaic squares around irregular shapes, in this case a horse figure. You can find many figures to use for this project on the internet by typing, “horse stencil” for example. Another idea for finding figures to make into mosaics is using cookie cutters and tracing them onto the foam piece!
Taking the horse stencil, outline the figure on the foam with pen.
Cut thin strips of the colour you want the figure to be.
Next cut the strips into small squares.
Arrange the squares along the curves of the figure in one line after another until the figure it filled.
If you want to add more detail, add a second colour like in the example.
When finished arranging the squares turn over the figure and trim any sections that are outside of the lines of the original figure.
You can use this figure on a card or a door hanger or in a scrapbook, etc.
As with any arts and crafts, have fun with the original ideas covered here! Dream up and design whatever you would like to be illustrated through mosaics!
Windows are the eyes of your home. Just like a good mascara they make all the difference in the appearance and freshness of your abode. Window treatments can make your home look tired and worn out, or they can make your home look fresh and brand new.
With all the available options for dressing your windows how do you decide which ones to go with? Don’t despair! Making your windows look beautiful can be fun if you know what to look for.
Here are some of the most common window issues and how to a-”dress” them (sorry-I couldn’t resist) 🙂
1) Large windows- Large windows are gorgeous. They let in loads of light, make you feel free as a bird, and add architectural detail to our home. Unfortunately, with all great things come some cons as well. Issues such as lack of privacy, UV rays (which can ruin furniture), low energy efficiency, and being stabbed in the eyeball with sunbeams while trying to watch television are a few tradeoffs that come with having large windows.
So how do you cover them without making it look and feel like a dungeon?
My number one choice is to use the light filtering options such as roller shades, cellular shades and solar shades.
These products allow the light to gently filter through while blocking up to 99% of UV rays, cutting out glare, and increasing energy efficiency. The money you spend on these products will easily be returned to you in no time at all through your reduced heating and cooling bills.
a) Solar Shades allow you to see through them so you can still enjoy the great outside view. You can choose from between 14% to 0% openness which means you can see anywhere from 14% to 0% of the outside.
The only drawback for some is that Solar Shades are not a hundred percent private at night, and people may be able to see in your home. this will depend on your indoor lighting and how close people are to your windows (which is a whole other topic altogether!).
b) Light Filtering Roller Shades- Before you cringe in horror hear me out-These are not your grandma’s roller shades. They have come a long way both in style and in quality.
Roller Shades have come a long way in style and quality.
These allow light to filter in softly while also giving you great privacy. They come in durable fabrics with an array of gorgeous colours to match any colour scheme, and you can even get a matching valance. They come in a durable fabric and you can choose different hem styles, rail colors, decorative trims, chain color options, and spring options to name just a few. With so many different available options to choose from- not to mention a lifetime guarantee- it’s no wonder the Roller Shade has made a huge comeback.
c) Cellular Shades- These shades get their name because they are made by combining hundreds of honeycomb like cells to make a beautiful, soft, and energy efficient shade.
They come in many different colours and the cells can differ in size from 3/8” to 1”. You can also choose between single or double cell shades for maximum energy efficiency.
Different cell sizes add a different look to your windows.
Single cell or double cell construction are an option for these shades.
They also have a VERY cool feature called Top Down/Bottom Up. You can lower the top of the shade and lift the bottom to let more light in and still keep some privacy.
The Top Down/Bottom Up feature provides privacy while allowing more light in.
Cellular Shades also have the option of being motorized which brings us to our next common window dressing issue.
2) Hard to reach windows- With large windows comes the problem that they are hard to reach. Stairways are also another place where you can find hard to reach windows. Instead of resigning to the idea that you have no choice but to leave them bare and just deal with it, you can opt for motorized treatments.
Most window treatments have the option of being motorized. Cellular shades, wood blinds, roller shades, solar shades, roman blinds, and even drapes can be motorized if need be.
A simple solution for hard to reach windows.
You can purchase a remote for your windows that have one, three, or five channels, depending on the number of windows you have. The batteries in a remote will typically last anywhere from 2-3 years.
The possibilities for motorized window treatments are endless, and having naked windows because they are impossible to reach is a thing of the past!
3) Nurseries, Theater rooms, and Bedrooms- A great choice when you need total darkness is room darkening treatments. Roman blinds, roller shades and cellular shades all come with a room darkening option that will help you get a few more hours of sleep, and maximize your home theater experience.
Room darkening shades normally come in the same colours as the light filtering ones and can also be motorized.
4) Bathrooms and Kitchens- My number one option for bathrooms and kitchens is Faux Wood Blinds. When dealing with humid areas, it is best to choose a window treatment that can withstand the heat and humidity and is easy to clean.
Faux wood blinds come with many options such as routeless (you don’t have those annoying pin holes going up the sides), motorized, valance choices, different size slats, head rail colours, and more.
For humid areas faux wood blinds are a great choice and easy to clean
With their ease of use and low maintenance, faux wood blinds are a top choice for kitchens and bathrooms.
5) Patio Doors- A great choice for patio doors are Panel Tracks. These come in Solar Shade style panels that allows you to see out, a Roller Shade fabric style that allows for light filtering with maximum privacy, and even a blackout fabric option for maximum light filtering.
These window coverings offer a lot of style and are an excellent alternative to the tacky vertical blinds that were all the rage in the 80’s.
The panels come in different sizes and you can opt for as many or few as you like. You can stack them on the right side, the left side, or along the middle. You can decide on a chain or a wand for opening them. Adding a touch of class and beauty to your patio doors is easy to do with Panel Tracks, and they also offer great value for your money.
With so many fun and gorgeous fashion forward options to choose from, you no longer need to feel overwhelmed with finding the right window treatments at great prices. If you have any other questions or need help with your window coverings contact me and we can get started giving your windows a facelift!
You are what you eat…and what you eat influences how your body functions! Whether you wish to prevent symptoms this allergy season or you are actively suffering from allergies, these 5 Ways to Prevent Seasonal Allergies with Food can help prevent and reduce your symptoms.
Glass of water on nature background.
5 Ways to Prevent Seasonal Allergies with Food
1. Increase water intake: Aim for the recommended 8-10 glasses of water per day to prevent dehydration. Histamine production is increased when the body is dehydrated. Histamine is a substance released in the body when the immune system responds to an allergen. It causes inflammation and is one of the primary substances responsible for allergy symptoms such as redness, swelling, itching and mucous production.
2. Identify and eliminate food sensitivities: Food sensitivities are often present in people who suffer from seasonal allergies. Common foods sensitivities include: sugar, dairy, wheat, soy, eggs, corn, peppers, tomato, and citrus fruits. These foods increase inflammation in the body which aggravates existing allergy symptoms.
3. Avoid processed and pre-packaged foods: These foods often contain increased salt, sugar, artificial colours/flavours and chemical preservatives which can further increase inflammation and the immune system’s allergic response.
4. Increase foods high in vitamin C: Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine that prevents the release of histamine as well as increase the rate of histamine breakdown and elimination. Foods high in vitamin C include oranges, apples, berries and green leafy vegetables.
Did you know that April is Math Awareness month? Math is fun, right? For me, it always has been. My 5 year old loves it too. The other day, I was on Google Analytics and he came into my office, looked at one of the graphs and remarked “That’s Cool Mom! You do connect the dots for work”. I guess he’s right. That’s one way to put it. In Math all dots indeed connect and all problems have definite solutions unlike life’s uncertainties. And, maybe that’s also why I enjoy it so much.
abacus
Regardless of whether Math is your friend or enemy here are 5 fun and simple ideas to share with your kids acknowledging the importance of numbers in our everyday lives.
5. How about humming along to your favourite numbers’ song?
Eric Carle’s ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ is a classic beginner’s counting book. Sandra Boynton’s ‘Fifteen Animals’ is funny and fun too (and hey it’s a song too if you prefer that). My toddler loves counting the different animals all named Bob, of course. And our family favourite, ‘The Water Hole’ by Graeme Base. This one is so much more than a counting book. Beautiful illustrations and wonderful story about the diminishing water supply and the life cycle of water.
3. Baking your kids’ favourite recipe?
Is there a more practical and fun way to learn about fractions than to measure a cup of flour, 1/2 a cup of sugar and 1/3 cup of cocoa?
Baking with kids
2. Make a counting craft
Shapes: Draw or cut out various shapes. Count the sides of the shapes like squares, pentagons, octagons and hexagons. My toddler loves this exercise.
A Tulip garden: Tulips are right around the corner and I thought it would be fun to cut tulips out of different coloured construction paper and paste on green paper. Then your toddler can count all the tulips in his or her tulip garden.
1. Fun facts about Math or Mathematicians.
April is Math Awareness Month – Fun ideas to honour numbers and counting
Do the kids know that:
Sir Isaac Newton discovered the laws of physics. That when an apple fell on his head it made him think about the universal laws of Gravity.
or that we owe a lot about planets and their orbits to Galileo and his discoveries on the subject
or that Pi is an irrational number that never ends or forms a permanent repeating sequence
If your kids would be interested, you can share some of your childhood favourites or find great facts and quotes on the internet. Let’s celebrate Math Awareness Month!
With Easter being just around the corner, I thought that it would be fun to have my son make his own Easter basket. Something that he would be proud to see the Easter Bunny filled with all of his favourite Easter treats. It is very simple to make and most of the materials used are ones that you may already have left over from other crafts, as well as something from your recycling bin.
What you need:
1L or 2L milk/juice container (depending on the size you want)
Scissors
Pipe cleaner
Construction paper (any colours)
White glue
What you may want:
Paint (any colours)
Paint brush
Markers
Sparkles
Glitter glue
Stickers
Pompoms
Instructions
Clean the milk/juice container
Cut the milk/juice container (if you have a pair of child safe scissors you can get your child to cut it, however it is not easy to cut so you may want to take over with a stronger pair of scissors)
Trace the four sides of the container onto the construction paper
Cut and glue the four pieces onto the container (if using the paint; we tried to paint directly on the container, but it did not work
Decorate as you wish
If you would like to make the bunny as we did to paste on the front of your basket; you will need:
Foam (white, pink and black)
Googly eyes
Ribbon (any colour)
Easter Basket Craft
Here’s how:
Draw and cut the outline of a bunny on to a white piece of foam, 6 very skinny pieces of black foam, a little white square and 2 rectangular with a curve at the top (to fit in the ears) from the pink foam
Glue the 2 pink pieces of foam inside of the bunnies ears
Glue the googly eyes on
Take 2 white pompoms and glue them to the bunny; take 1 pink pompom and glue it on top of the white ones
Glue the 6 skinny pieces of the black foam and place them just below the pompoms but still touching them to look like whiskers and place the little white foam square below just under the whiskers for the bunnies teeth
Tie a piece of ribbon into a bow and place on the bunnies neck
Does your playroom look like this? That isn’t my playroom, but we’ve all been there. This is one side of mine though…total randomness.
Bedroom full of toys.
Mr. Fix-it and I are always revisiting ways to organize the playroom. We came up with a plan…
How to Organize the Playroom
Collage of organizational items
We needed a way to organize and hide all the STUFF! We purchased the Expedit shelf and these cute green bins to store the board games and small things like Lego. Our big guy loves Lego but the pieces are too small for his little brother to play with so up they go in the first bin where only our big guy can reach them.
White Bookshelf unit.
Green bin for shelf.
White shelf unit
Bin for Legos
The craft supplies, oh the crafts! I bought this drawer set at Walmart that holds all the supplies nicely and super tidy. Music to my ears.
Drawer set for crafts.
Finally, where to put all the big toys i.e. the big boy trucks, boats, cars, dress up stuff? Hmmm…I ventured out to my go-to store, Homesense, to find baskets. These adorable baskets were calling my name…
Baskets in a clear storage unit.
I added a little carpet from Ikea under each one of them to give it a little playful look and the toys are organized and put away!
Storage bins
Don’t you just love when a room is organized? Yes, let’s be honest…it’s a playroom so toys will come out, be on the floor and scattered, but with the additions of baskets, shelving and storage they can always find their home again. Fresh.Fabulous.Sophisticated.
Operation: Playroom Organization!
Stay tuned for my next post on what to do with all that artwork your kiddies are bringing home!
Life insurance is an important part of financial planning, but understanding insurance and purchasing the right product can be confusing. While you should rely on the expertise and recommendations of your insurance agent, it’s always a good idea to do your own research. Here are five factors to consider before you buy insurance.
Insurance graphic
1. Why you need life insurance
We all want to plan for our family’s future and financial security. Part of this process includes ensuring that our loved ones are supported in the event of our death, a spouse’s death, or the death of a parent. Insurance can provide protection in many different ways, such as helping to fund your retirement or paying for mortgages and college educations. It is also a key component of estate planning.
2. The amount of life insurance you need
There are many factors to consider when deciding how much insurance is right for you and your family, and they may change as you age. It’s important to understand the purpose, policies, premiums, benefits and, ultimately, the best insurance for your specific situation. Here are a few considerations when determining how much insurance is enough:
*How much money your family will need to live comfortably if you pass away *Whether your home is paid for or if you still have a mortgage *If you have a business, how your passing will financially impact the company *Whether your family has access to money to pay for your burial expenses *The cost of financial and legal assistance to manage your estate *Whether your passing will create an estate tax burden for your heirs
3. The different types of insurance available
Once you decide how much insurance you need, the next step is deciding whether term insurance or whole life insurance is right for you. Here are the basics:
*Term life insurance: As its name implies, term life provides protection for a specific period of years. If you pass away during this period, your beneficiaries are paid the value of your policy. Term life insurance is the most popular for a variety of reasons, including the fact that benefits can be used to pay off outstanding debts such as mortgages in the event of a premature death, and that premiums are generally inexpensive when you purchase it at an earlier age. Someone in their 20s, for instance, will pay far less than someone in their 80s for the same amount of insurance.
*Whole life insurance: A whole life insurance policy remains in effect throughout your lifetime as long as you continue to pay the premiums. You can typically use whole life insurance policies as collateral for loans or even receive cash payments while you are still living. However, premiums for whole insurance are more costly than term insurance, so younger families are generally encouraged to buy term life, with the option of converting the term life policy to a whole life policy at a later date.
*Universal Life: A universal life insurance policy also provides permanent life insurance protection, but differs from whole life in its flexibility that allows you to select the amount of protection that best fits you, your family, and/or your business. You can increase or decrease coverage as your insurance needs change, as well as control the frequency and amount of premium payments.
Life Insurance? Where do I start?
4. Risks that impact insurance costs
Insurance premiums are based on many different risk factors, including age, overall health, and the use of tobacco. If you are still relatively young, are in good health, and don’t smoke, now’s the time to buy insurance!
5. How to choose the right insurance agent
With so many variables, choosing the right amount and type of insurance should be discussed with a trusted independent insurance agent. Independent brokers have access to many more insurance products and are typically more invested in your financial future. Be sure to do your homework, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and know your policy inside and out before you sign on the dotted line.
If you’re shopping for life insurance and want to learn more about the right type of policy for you and your family, visit http://AndrewWBradley.ca.
Andrew W Bradley is a licensed Insurance Broker and Financial Services Advisor helping Orleans families since 2011. Combining this with his previous working experience with the Canada Revenue Agency enables him to help a wide range of individuals, families and businesses. As an Independent Broker he devotes time to educating the consumer and implementing comprehensive financial plans for both individuals and businesses in areas including insurance and investments.
Ear infections are common during childhood because in children the Eustachian tube that connects the ear to the throat is in a horizontal position, decreasing drainage of fluid and creating an environment for bacteria to grow leading to infection. This home remedy for ear infections consists of an onion poultice.
Children often grow out of ear infections when they get older because the Eustachian tube takes on a more vertical position, allowing inner ear fluid to drain more effectively.
This home remedy for ear infections is convenient because you don’t need anything other than an onion, olive oil, and a frying pan!
How to make an onion poultice for an ear infection
1. Slice an onion in half.
2. Place sliced side down in a thin layer of olive oil in a frying pan.
3. Heat the pan until the onion in warm and slightly mushy with olive oil.
4. Let the onion cool and place the sliced side of the onion on your child’s ear for 10-15 minutes. You can wrap a scarf around it to keep in place or have your child sit in your lap and cuddle.
I know it sounds silly, but an onion poultice is extremely effective at soothing ear pain and treating ear infection!
I have received raving reviews from parents with this home remedy for ear infection. Try this best home remedy for ear infections out and let us know how it goes by sharing your experience in the comments section!
We’re crazy for kale at our household and love kale many different ways. My fave is using black kale in a salad with organic sundried tomatoes and lightly toasted pine nuts, maybe some sesame seeds and salt. I’ll add raw kale to my smoothies and we’ll sometimes just steam it plain as a side with dinner. I realize many find kale bitter and difficult to eat despite it being a superfood. Behold the mighty kale chip! This little guy can turn anyone into a believer. They are so yummy! I haven’t met anyone who hasn’t liked them. My 4 year old and 20 month old gobble them up like candy, yes I said candy.
They are fairly simple and inexpensive to make and I still can’t get over how expensive they are in the stores. Here’s how to make a delicious kale chip:
1. Wash your kale (I’ll usually do this in the morning and leave it to dry in the sink all day or for a few hours)
2. Tear the kale up into pieces (just rip it off the rib) – make sure the kale is dry!
3. Brush the bottom of a glass baking dish with olive oil and place the kale in the dish
4. Drizzle some olive oil onto the kale and brush it on or if you like, massage the oil in with your hands (I rarely do this and mostly use the same brush and dab the oil on the kale – 1 minute max)
5. Sprinkle some sea salt and bake in the oven at 250 for an hour or 325 for 20 minutes – until the kale is crispy
Voila! They won’t last long. Try it out and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Sunday Roast Dinner is a tradition for many families. Roast beef, vegetables and a good gravy are considered staples of the meal. But there is one element of a roast dinner that many home cooks tend to stumble on: Yorkshire Pudding.
I’m not sure why people have difficulty making this delicious addition to a nice cut of prime rib, but it is something that many do have trouble making. Watching Diners, Drive-in’s and Dives with Guy Fieri one night, Guy stated that Yorkshire puddings never worked for him. In my family, my father made Yorkshire pudding with almost every roast beef dinner. He used to work at a steakhouse, so he was very accustomed to making the puddings. We would fight over every piece of Yorkshire pudding and not a piece would ever be left over.
So, I am going to share my tips and tricks to making
Perfect Yorkshire Puddings!
Original Recipe from Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution Cookbook – a must have for anyones cookbook collection!
Ingredients:
3 Eggs
1 Cup Flour
1 1/4 Cup of Milk
Vegetable
Dash of salt
Method (The important part)
1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk. Whisk until the mixture is well-mixed, nothing more.
2. When everything is mixed, pour mixture into a jug and let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. This allows the bubbles to set. This is an important part not to skip!
3. The optimal time to make your Yorkshire puddings is after the roast is out and resting. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees and move one rack to the highest setting. While your oven is preheating, put a muffin tray on top of a baking sheet in the oven to heat up.
4. Once the oven is heated to 475, take out the tray and add roughly 1 tablespoon of vegetable to each muffin spot. Put the trays back in the oven for 5 minutes. The oil should be smoking hot.
At this point, please make sure that all children are away from the kitchen as the next step is a bit dangerous
5. Put on a pair of oven mitts and grab your jug of mix. Oven the oven door, and as quickly as you can slide the oven rack out a bit, then move the trays out so you can access each muffin spot. Drop some mix into each hole – do not worry about exact measurements as you do not have time to fiddle with measuring spoons. You have enough mix for 12 Yorkshire puddings. It doesn’t matter if one is bigger than the other. It is essential that you complete this part as quickly as possible. Once it is done, slide everything back in the oven and close the door.
6. DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN DOOR FROM NOW ON. I upper-cased all those words as it is crucial that you do not open the door. If you open the door, all will be ruined. Keep the Yorkshire puddings in the oven for 15 minutes. You can always stick a post-it to the door to stop anyone from sneaking a peek.
7. Once 15 minutes is up, take a look – the puddings should be golden brown!
8. Serve with your roast beef and trimmings. Enjoy!
Dreamworks is promising laughter of prehistoric proportions with it’s latest animation, The Croods, which lands in theatres Friday, March 22, 2013.
I was lucky enough to MC the exclusive Majic 100 Ottawa screening of ‘The Croods’ with my two daughters at a theatre packed with an eclectic mix of viewers. While there were many families with various ages of children from 3 to twitchy teens, I was giddy when noticing a number of adults without tethered tots.
The Croods delivers random, quick audio & visual whit and a storyline that each of us has encountered. Learning to create joy in life while facing the hurdles of fear, and constantly moving forward. Why survive just to be miserable? A family learning to adapt and rebuild after the only home they’d ever known is destroyed. Dreamworks has created another golden seed of wisdom waiting to be planted and shared.
We also get to hear the voice of sexy Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds who breathes life into the character Guy.
The Croods will tickle your entire family’s funny bone. It may even help develop a healthy family dialogue around the movies themes. It’s definitely a movie worth seeing more than once.
1st rule of Crafting With Kids: Use what you already have. I know it is tempting to buy all kinds of new and shiny craft supplies, but sometimes the best crafts are ones that are made with stuff around the house. My kids love to paint with shaving cream and I am positive that yours will too! They also make amazing gifts or cards like the Easter card we made with this art project.
Egg Shape Painting With Shaving Cream
Here is what we used for this craft:
Shave Foam – I bought on Clearance to later find out that hubby will only use the gel
Paint – left over from other projects (I tried to use up the colours that only had little bits left)
Cardstock – from my personal stash
Trays – I had some dollar store serving trays stashed away
Squigee
Painting With Shaving Cream ingredients
This is how we did it:
first, fill up the trays with shaving cream
drip paint all over the surface
2 Kids Painting With Shaving Cream
once happy with the designs, use q-tips to swirl the paint around
How to Paint With Shaving Cream
place the card stock on the shaving cream and “gently” pat it down, then carefully peel the paper off
Unrevealing the Painting With Shaving Cream
put the paper on a flat surface and run the squigee over the top to remove the excess shaving cream and paint
-hang the art to dry!
This brings us to RULE #2 of crafting with Kids – Share the wealth! I don’t know about you but I am constantly overwhelmed with kid art projects. I have learned that one of the best ways to keep this under control is to plan crafts that can be given as gifts or used seasonally as decorations.
The Miss and I converted the artwork into Easter cards for Grandparents and Great-Grandparents. I had some blank cards hanging around so I used some of my old scrapbooking gear to cut oval shapes (eggs) out of the front. The Miss cut and glued the finished paintings onto the cards and wrote messages. All that is left to do is pop them in the mail!
Signing up for a fitness membership is a new and exciting step for many people however quite often I meet people that have signed a contract, paid for a membership and stop using it within a few short months. Instead of throwing away your hard earned cash check out these 10 tips to help you get the most out of your gym membership.
Man walking on a treadmill.
How to Take Advantage of Your Fitness Club Membership
1. Schedule Your Workout
Block off some time in your calendar and make your fitness time a priority. Treat your workout like it’s an appointment and use this time to get away and take a break for your personal health and self-improvement.
2. Have a Fitness Plan
If your workout has a purpose you’ll be more productive, have a better workout and stay on track with your training regime. Pack everything you need the night before so you can get up and go. Have a plan ahead of time so you aren’t wandering around the gym trying to figure out what to do and wasting time when you get there.
3. Use Your Free Personal Training Session
Many gyms offer a free session with a trainer when you join so take advantage of that session by asking the trainer to show you how to set up and use the equipment as well as proper exercise technique for various exercises. Have the trainer show you all of the amenities that the gym has to offer and try everything at least once before deciding what works best for you.
4. Variety of Fitness Exercises
It is important to include both strength and cardiovascular exercises to get the most benefit from your fitness regime. If you always do the same thing you will get bored and stop seeing results. Be sure to train every muscle group, change the workout regularly and increase the challenge to avoid training plateaus, boredom and get continued results.
Woman working out
5. Music
Studies show that music is motivational so create a playlist of your favorites tunes and get in the zone!
6. Meet a Friend
You are more likely not to skip a workout if you have plans to meet a friend. It’s not only a great way to socialize but it makes the time go by much faster. Just be sure to pick a friend that is going to be a positive influence and help motivate and encourage you to stay on track, not convince you to constantly skip your workouts.
7. Attend Group Fitness Classes
Group fitness classes are a great way to meet people and make new friends. If you’ve never done a class before you may find it intimidating but just remember that everyone there was a newbie at some point and over time you’ll start to see familiar faces and begin to feel more comfortable. A great instructor always shows up early and is approachable so feel free to introduce yourself to the instructor so they can let you know what to expect. You may not jive with every instructor or program so try every class at least once and you may discover a new activity that you love!
8. Hire a Fitness Trainer
Hiring a personal trainer is a great way to stay accountable to your workouts and get the best results in the shortest amount of time. A good trainer will lead you through fitness assessments, discuss your goals, design a plan specifically for you and track your progress on a regular basis.
How to Take Advantage of Your Fitness Club Membership
9. Keep It Up
Consistency is key so try not to let more than a few days go by between visits otherwise it may be harder to get back into your routine. Many people quit the gym because they expect to see huge changes in a month but be patient, stick with your workouts and eat healthy and you should begin to feel changes right away and see changes within 3 months.
10. Enjoy Yourself!
Fitness should be fun and something that you look forward to doing so if you just can’t seem to motivate yourself to get to the gym perhaps you need to find something else that motivates you. Maybe join a sports team or try outdoor activities like snowboarding, hiking or kayaking as it may be a better fit for you.
Grade one has brought lots of new experiences to our home: full day school, packed lunches, homework, and a holey grin. Yes, a holey grin – our dear daughter has started to lose her baby teeth and our home address has been added to the Tooth Fairy’s delivery route. See how much fun this brought to our family!
The tooth fairy of my childhood was awesome. Worth repeating – AWESEOME! I recall wiggling and wiggling teeth both exhilarated and terrified of them falling out. The fairy designated to our neighbourhood left one dollar, a package of sugar free Trident gum, and a note that was personally signed by Miss T Fairy herself. Like I said, our Fairy was awesome!
There is something so infectious when a child embraces a magical notion. The thrill of first losing a tooth, and then putting it under the pillow with hopes of a visit from a small winged friend. The Tooth Fairy has now visited our home thrice over. This last time, the tooth fairy left a rather wrinkled $5 bill and a note. We greeted the morning with squeals of delight from our daughter.
Tooth Fairy Note
We love how she enthusiastically labours over the Tooth Fairy’s notes and bursts with pride when she displays her newly acquired and ever developing reading skills. She muses over what to spend her money on and this time around opted to put it in her teddy bank to save for a rainy day. Our daughter grins from ear to ear and proudly tells any and all who we encounter she has lost a tooth (as if you wouldn’t notice). She is confident and enthused. She is growing up. We are proud of her.
There have also been some unexpected and welcome ripple effects. Since ours only takes healthy teeth we have seen enthusiasm for brushing and flossing go up tenfold. Repeat requests to do so are no longer needed. The slightest hint that a tooth might be passed over prompts speedy action.
The Fairy’s visits
The Tooth Fairy’s visits have also been an opportunity to teach the wee ones that just because someone gets something doesn’t mean they will too; at least not at the same time. Our son was quite upset that the fairy didn’t leave anything for him and wondered when his teeth would begin to fall out. We talked about how being happy and gracious when something good happens to someone else is important. Birthdays are not shared and neither are the Tooth Fairy’s visits. They are individual affairs. You will get your turn – it just isn’t now.
It looks as if the Tooth Fairy will be making another appearance in the coming days, judging by that other wiggle protruding pearly white my daughter can’t stop fiddling with.
Spring is around the corner and this makes people do some crazy things like throw away their old wood furniture to make room for new pieces that will hopefully take their place. If the thought of refinishing your old wood furniture to make it new again gives you a panic attack-let me ease your fears.
For only a few bucks and one weekend of your time you can have a new-again piece of furniture that you will love and cherish even more because you’ve made it all your own. You will find below how to Update Your Wood Furniture With These DIY Refinishing Tips!
Here are some easy to follow DIY wood furniture refinishing tips that will have your home dazzling and your spirits lifted-just in time for spring!
Update Your Wood Furniture With These DIY Refinishing Tips
Supplies you will need:
Stripping Gloves
Stripping pads
Sand paper 150 grit
A well ventilated area
A nose and mouth cover/mask
Protective eyewear
A heavy duty plastic sheet to place the furniture on
Heirloom Furniture Stripper (this stuff is amazing)
Metal scraper
Paint with primer or a separate primer if you are not staining
Stain of your colour choice if you are not painting
Minwax Finishing Paste or Varathane
Small high density foam rollers
Small paint roller
Paint brushes x 2 (one for paint or stain, and one if you are using Varathane)
Small paint tray
Turpentine
An old soft rag
Cheesecloth (if you are using Minwax)
1. Stripping the wood furniture
If you want to repaint or put a new stain finish on your piece you will first need to strip the old paint and finish off. I have had people ask me if this is really necessary-The real answer is that it depends on the piece. My answer to simplify things is always yes- I always strip my pieces because I am able to guarantee that the surface will be properly prepared to be refinished for a client. Even if it’s a rustic farmhouse-style table, I still recommend stripping it. You want to stain your farmhouse table right, so it’s best if you don’t skip the first step. In the past, I have found that simply sanding existing surfaces can cause the new paint or stain to chip and peel off quite easily. Not only that, but sanding can ruin your furniture piece because it’s easy to get carried away and press too hard or use the wrong grit. I mean if you want to do something you might as well do it right…right?
Take the furniture stripper and follow the instructions on the back as well as wearing all safety items. Pour the stripper on the surface and make sure there is enough to cover the area generously. I leave a sort of puddle like amount. After about 5 minutes, the paint will start to bubble and you should be able to simply take your metal scraper gently and without gouging the wood and simply scrape off all the paint. If it does not come off very easy then wait a few more minutes. It should just come right off without you having to do any work at all.
Continue until the entire piece is stripped.
Do not point a fan at the furniture while working with paint stripper-it will dry it out VERY quickly and if the product dries you will have to start all over again. Also do not touch the stripper (hahaha ok I had to laugh at that one), it will burn like there is no tomorrow.
2. Post stripping
After the old finish has been removed take the stripping pads and lightly sand the entire piece to get rid of any left over paint and residue. Work in the same direction as the grain of wood being gentle and careful so as not to damage the furniture.
Continue to do this until you can run your hands along the piece and all you can feel is a smooth surface.
3. Paint/Stain preparation
Put turpentine on an old rag until the rag is pretty much saturated but not dripping and wipe down your furniture very thoroughly. This ensures that you are getting rid of all the stripping residue. If there is any residue left on the furniture you will have a hec of a time trying to get your paint or new stain to stick.
When you are done you will need to wait until it is completely dry before you can move on to the next step. At this point I usually stop to clean up and put the piece aside to dry until the next day, or start on my next piece.
4. Final sanding
Once it is completely dry you will take your 150 grit sandpaper and very lightly sand in the direction of the grain. This ensures an extra smooth surface for refinishing (like buffing your nails before polish).
When you are done the final sanding wipe it down with a “hardly” damp cloth to ensure there is no dust.
5. Prime
Above, you can see the piece partly primed. The door is not yet primed and you can see how your piece should look when it is ready for priming.
I always like to prime my furniture with two coats separately before painting but this is not necessary.You can easily use a paint and primer in one. It is simply a matter of preference. Either way, make sure you use a primer when repainting furniture. This ensures proper paint bonding to your piece and a high quality long lasting finish. See proper painting steps below for step 6.
6. Painting The Wood Furniture
Let the fun begin! This is the best part and where you can let your creativity and individuality really come out by painting your wood furniture. You can paint your piece in all different colours, or in one colour. You can give it an antique look, a vintage look, a modern look. There is no limit or rules which is why I absolutely adore refinishing furniture.
Use only a small amount of paint on your high density foam roller. Too much paint will look very globby, and streaky, and we do not want that. It is much easier to apply more coats if needed than it is to fix paint that was put on too thick.
Roll in the direction of the grain and make sure to catch any drips (which there shouldn’t be because remember-we are using a very small amount of paint on the roller).
For hard to reach places and corners that the roller can’t reach use your paint brush with as little paint as possible.
Do as many coats as you think is necessary and until you are happy, waiting for each coat to dry first before applying a new one.
7. Staining The Wood Furniture
Apply the wood stain in the direction of the grain with a brush or clean cloth. Let the stain penetrate 5 -15 minutes to ensure you achieve the desired colour. Remove excess stain with a clean cloth. Wipe in the direction of the grain, while blending to obtain uniform colour. To darken colour, apply a second coat after 4-6 hours.
8. Protect your piece
Once your wood furniture is completely dry apply some Minwax to your cheesecloth and buff in a circular motion until the wax is evenly distributed and gives off a nice cheerful shine. Minwax will protect your piece and adds that little something to compliment your beautiful paint job.
If you want stronger protection you can use Varathane. This will give you a harder coating with a high gloss finish. I usually use Varathane with more modern pieces of furniture. Using a paint brush apply the sealer evenly to the surface. Let the first coat dry until it is sticky to the touch, and then apply a second coat. Let the second coat dry until sticky and then apply a third coat.
Note
It takes two weeks for finishes to cure. Until that time it will be easy for the paint and stain to come off or chip. I personally always put the finished piece aside for the full two weeks, taking out the drawers and leaving the doors open so that they do not stick.
Update Your Wood Furniture With These DIY Refinishing Tips is a fun and rewarding project. You will save loads of money, and have a piece of unique furniture that no one else has. Remember to always keep safety in mind and work in a well ventilated area. But most of all have fun and stay true to your own personal style 🙂
As soon as we sat in our seats for Disney on Ice: Rockin’ Ever After, my daughter noticed lanterns hidden high up near the lights and then the excitement took over, “Mom! Look! Rapunzel’s birthday lanterns!” Her enthusiasm remained for the duration of the two hour show.
The show begins with about a dozen talented skaters in colourful costumes, rocking it out while the audience took to their seats and prepared themselves for the show’s main stars. The hosts, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, along with their good pals Donald Duck and Goofy, narrate the show and not only introduce the princesses and characters, but also help tell the stories.
The main princesses featured in the show are Ariel, Rapunzel, Merida, and Belle. Surprisingly, Cinderella didn’t make much of an appearance, but my daughter was very impressed by the wicked stepsisters’ colourful dresses and excellent skating abilities.
Also colourful were the costumes of Ariel’s sisters who, along with Sebastien, introduce The Little Mermaid herself. The entire Little Mermaid segment is very colourful and eye-catching. I think The Little Mermaid segment was my favourite part of the entire ice show.
Ariel’s, along with the other stories, are abbreviated, which is great for the young crowd anxiously awaiting the appearance of their favourite princess. And while the show is mainly about the princesses, Gaston, from The Beauty and the Beast, had a wonderful solo act and was merely one of many talented male skaters that were a part of Disney On Ice: Rockin’ Ever After.
Another unexpected star of the show was the horse, Maximus from Tangled. My daughter couldn’t help but giggle every time the horse came out – after all, it’s not every day that you see a horse on skates. Seeing a horse on ice was not the only surprising thing about the show. I was surprised by what was highlighted from certain films, such as the tough guys from the movie Tangled, but was even more surprising was how well it worked and how it made Rapunzel’s eventual entrance a complete surprise for my daughter.
My daughter was also in awe of the fireworks caused by Merida’s excellent archery skills and while we didn’t get to see a bear skate, she is still laughing at her brothers skating while sitting in barrels. While I wished the ice show would have included more scenes from Brave, the fireworks were memorable enough that my daughter didn’t seem to care.
It was nice to have an entire ice show for fans of the princess movies and I felt ticket prices were reasonable and we definitely got our money’s worth. Of course, like any show there is merchandise for sale everywhere you look and while I couldn’t resist buying some Rapunzel souvenirs for my Tangled fan, I did groan a little before handing over my money.
In summary, if you’re looking for a fun show to take your kids to, Disney on Ice: Rockin’ Ever After is a fun-filled musical ice show that will not disappoint – just remember to put on your dancing shoes, because this ice show features great toe-tapping music that will have you moving the entire time.
If there is anything that really puts a strain on a parent’s wallet: it is grocery shopping. Food is a necessity and children tend to eat a huge quantity of food. My little guy is only 15 months and he is already making a little dent in the pocketbook by inhaling fruit and veggies like no tomorrow (which is a good thing!). Ultimately, when you have children you will have to adjust your grocery shopping budget accordingly. However, there are ways to save at the grocery store. You will find below 6 tips for saving on your grocery bill.
Woman standing beside fruits at the grocery store.
Suggestions to Trim your Grocery Shopping Costs:
1. Meal Plan
Many people (including myself) meal plan for the week. By looking ahead at the week and knowing what you need to prepare, you can opt to only buy what you really need at the grocery store. There is a tendency to over-buy at the grocery store when you do not have a plan and sometimes fresh food can become wasted. For example, if you know that you have three events that provide dinner over the course of the week, you probably do not need as much protein and fresh vegetables. Meal plan not only your dinners, but your breakfast and lunch options too! Once you have planned your meals for the week, create a shopping list. When you head to the grocery store, try to stick to your list.
2. Eat leftovers for lunch
My husband and I prefer to eat leftovers from dinner for our lunches. I am not a sandwich person, so I try and plan dinners that will have a serving or two leftover for lunch. Obviously, some workplaces/schools do not have the option to re-heat food; but you can easily create a chicken sandwich with leftover roast chicken, or even cold pizza (remember to use a cold pack to keep food temperatures safe).
3. Invest in a deep freezer and buy food/meats on sale
I will never buy full-price chicken or beef at the grocery store. I always look for a sale and when there is one, I stock up. One of the best purchases we made was a stand-up deep freezer. I have enough room to store lots of frozen meat and veggies. Meat sales do rotate (roughly every 4-6 weeks), so if you plan it right, by the time your meat supply has run out, there is another sale. To prevent freezer burn, we re-wrap our meat in freezer paper and then use a FoodSaver to seal the meat in a plastic bag.
Tips for Saving on your Grocery Bill
4. Buy non-perishables on sale
Like meat, I will also never pay full-price on certain non-perishable items like: laundry soap, dry pasta, peanut butter, jam, canned beans, rice, toilet paper, toothpaste, and coffee. You will need a pantry or other storage space to store your items, but if there is a good sale, stock up and save. This does not mean go crazy and buy 100 items, but rather, like the fresh meat, you can buy on sale and stock up to have enough for the next sale. I cannot tell you how happy I was one day when I saw that my favourite brand of laundry soap was not only on sale, but also had a sticker for 50% off (it was being discontinued in the store).
Produce at a grocery store.
5. Buy your fresh fruits and vegetables in season
This grocery tip can be a little hard to manage, especially during a Canadian winter, but be mindful of fruit and vegetable sales when shopping. If strawberries are going for $5 a pint, they simply will not be bought and I will look for another option. When fruit and vegetables are in season, they are generally a bit cheaper, so take advantage of the fresh items available. Check out Foodland Ontario for a great chart on fruit and vegetable availability. Also, here in Ottawa there are many roadside stands that offer local fresh produce. Not only is the produce a bit more fresh, they taste better and also last a bit longer.
Grocery items
6. Make certain items yourself
Beware of products that have everything “done for you”: cottage cheese in individual packs, pre-cut vegetables, pre-washed salad and cheese/meat/cracker packs. The cost of preparing everything for you comes at a premium. For example, I recently noticed at the grocery store that butternut squash pre-cut was almost $4 for a small amount. Buying the butternut squash whole comes out to almost half of that. It does take a bit more work to peel and chop that butternut squash, but there will be savings (and your butternut squash soup will probably taste better).
Another example is muffins. A 6-pack of large muffins will cost about $4, but for a few dollars less, you can buy a ready-made package and make 12 smaller muffins (which also probably taste better). Certain food items that I make myself are: stir fry sauce, muffins, cookies, bolognese sauce, chili and chicken pot pie filling.
So those are some of my grocery tips at keeping my food budget reasonable, even with children. It does take some practice and time to get used to, but with a few cost-savings measures, you may be able to panic less at the check-out line.
Do you have any tips that you would like to share? Comment below!
I have been having the hardest time these days getting my toddler to take a bath. She used to love to splash in the bath with her sister but these last few months it has been like pulling teeth. Don’t even get me started on brushing teeth… that in itself is like, umm pulling teeth! I found a great idea about making “glow water” over at “Growing a Jeweled Rose’s” Site – I was blown away by all the fun ideas we could do with glow in the dark glow water and black lighting.
My first step was to get my little girl to fall in love with playing in the bath tub again- my next plan will be to transform my downstairs play area into a black light sensory fun haven… “baby steps” I said to myself. I will let my husband in on the plan in a few months!
The best high lighters seem to be the yellow ones
Glow in the dark and blacklight
My kids and I purchased a black light bulb from Walmart (for about $5) and some Highlighters ($5). I found that the Sharpie brand were the easiest to work with. I pulled off the end of the high lighters with some scissors and placed them in a plastic water bottle. I also bought a cheaper brand of high lighters that worked well too. Only I could not for the life of me get the cap off the base of the highlighter. I even used my teeth when the kids were not looking! (don’t try this at home kids..) I cut my lip somehow – no fun. Save yourself the hassle and get the sharpie ones.
I took some scissors and pried the cap off, it was easy.
Glow in the dark water toys
I kept some water in so it could be shook up. You can add white beads, and sparkles or little “lost toys”. Make sure the cap is on tight. Though these markers are non toxic I am not sure if it would be fun to have the water bottles spill open and colouring your child like Wesley from the Lorax. The yellow Glow High lighters worked best for this. I tried the pink, and it was alright, but the blue and purple had no “magic” at all.
Glow in the Dark Glow Water
I looked for all kinds of toys that had some white to them, or were made of that glowing plastic.
Next time I will add some tonic water to the water and it is supposed to make it glowing too.
You can see here that my shower curtain is white so it really glows. I took one of the markers and coloured little stars on the walls. They cleaned right off afterwards.
what an impact with a white shower curtain.
We have done this a few times now and the kids really love it. We have even added glow sticks to the water. Next time, I will add some tonic water and see if it glows like they mentioned in the website.
Glow in the Dark Glow Water
I hope you try this idea- It definitely adds a whimsical feeling to bath time.
Being a teacher I love bringing thematic learning to my classroom. This time of the year is tough, major holidays are over and spring is just around the corner but winter clothing still needs to be worn. During this time of year I would bring out my mitten unit for my primary students.
I have to start with this little song. I would sing to my students and I still sing to my three children, much to the embarrassment of my 9 year old daughter:
Thumb in the thumb hole,
Fingers all together,
These are the songs we sing in mitten weather
The perfect book to accompany this unit is of course Jan Brett’s “The Mitten”
The Mitten cover book
“The Mitten” Synopsis
If you have not read “The Mitten” here is a brief synopsis courtesy of Good Reads:
When Nicki drops his white mitten in the snow, he goes on without realizing that it is missing.
One by one, woodland animals find it and crawl in; first, a curious mole, then a rabbit, a badger and others, each one larger than the last. Finally, a big brown bear is followed in by a tiny brown mouse and what happens next makes for a wonderfully funny climax.
As the story of the animals in the mitten unfolds, the reader can see Nicki in the boarders of each page, walking through the woods unaware of what is going on.
Once again Jan Brett has created a dramatic and beautiful picture book in her distinctive style. She brings the animals to life with warmth and humor, and her illustrations are full of visual delights and details faithful to the Ukrainian tradition from which the story comes.
Illustrations
One of my favourite characteristics of the book are the illustrations. There is the main story within the pages of the text, but then there is a second story going on within the frame of the illustrations. I would intentionally not tell my students about the second story. Listening to their squeals as they discovered the secret story is an amazing experience as a teacher.
This is Mitten Weather
To further the learning, I have added a couple of activity pages to do at home with your little ones.
This is one of the best YouTube videos of The Mitten, I have used it in my classroom many times!
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
