Journal courtesy of Chronicle Books It's that time of year again where we start preparing our kids for summer camp! So what are some camp essen...

We've got quite a few roadtrips planned this summer, and it's always a challenge to keep my bean occupied and distracted during the long stret...

There was one thing my husband and I vowed when we had our son almost six years ago: no sleeping in our bed. And he never did. Not even once. Until he...

My son is sensitive. He gets his feelings hurt very easily. Maybe it's because he's an only child and never bickered with or got tea...

Want to know why you need to talk to your kids about sex?! Just Google "what is sex?". If you don't tell them what sex is, ...

Spring is finally here and our home is teeming with fun little crafts to welcome the warmer season. Here are a few spring crafts we love. Birdfeede...

We could all use a good chuckle, and April Fool's Day can be a silly, lighthearted way to get a laugh. Here are our favourite April Fool's Day...

I remember when I was pregnant everyone would tell me, "Soak it all in! It goes by so quickly." But when my son was 1, 2, and even 3, I felt...

For International Women's Day, we gathered up some quotes and mantras from local moms that we wanted to share with all the amazing ladies out ther...

I ranted about this during a recent episode of Suburban Parents Talk. My bean has done a lot of different sports and extracurriculars, and I'...

So, at 8 years old, the bean isn't as "into" Valentine's Day this year (he's in third grade and refused to hand out those "...

Hooray for Valentine's Day! OK... I'm not into the whole commercial, charge me $100 for a bouquet of roses, kind of V-Day, but I do love it fo...

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Valentine's Day has a whole different meaning now that I'm a parent... in the past, it was all romance a...

"Self-care" - it's one of those words I heard all the time but scoffed at, thinking "yeah right!" But when the pandemic mov...

My 8-year-old son loves reading. I mean, loves reading! He'll forgo cartoons on a weekend morning to continue with a chapter book I made him ...

So we are back at virtual school... again. Can I get a collective "UGH!!!!!" Our son did all of second grade last year virtually, so...

We've got to live with the white stuff, so why not embrace it and make it as fun as possible? After all, it's our safest play-place this winte...

How many times in the last 11 months have you heard "I'm bored"? OK, not you saying it in your head... your child whining it while they ...

Through work last month I discovered an amazing family who started the non-profit Elves Filling Shelves, where they basically team-up "givin...

On a recent episode of Suburban Parents Talk, we discussed things to do in November. There's just something usually dreary about this month -...

We were a Playmobil/Marvel superheroes household – our 2-year-old son (and his mum and dad) loved adding to his Playmobil City Life collection, ...

I don't want to generalize about little boys because I don't have a little girl to fairly compare my son's habits to. But there are just s...

Want to really spoil the kiddos this Halloween? Integrate some festive, fun, and spooky snacks and meals into your holiday plans. I've done a lot ...

Now is not the time to spend hours in the stores shopping for festive Halloween decorations – and besides, with everything going on, who has the...

I know, I know... Halloween is just days away. But I've got you: here are 10 homemade costumes you can make in one night with basic stuff you have...

I'm always looking for shortcuts - quick hacks that will make my life just a little bit easier. Whether it's taking a few extra minutes to get...

I realized the other day I still use my baby monitor. My son is 8. That's weird, right? My son has always been really good about staying in his...

As many of you know, our son attended second grade last year virtually. While it was a great, safe experience, super well-organized, and the best...

We got through the first full day of school, and on day two, my little guy came running out at the end of the day and gave me a big hug.  &quo...

Another school year is upon us and I always like going into a new phase prepared. Otherwise, it's just way too stressful for me. And I think my th...

It's so cliche, I know, but in the blink of an eye, I had this chubby-faced toddler who is suddenly starting kindergarten. I'm buying school s...

Teachers have big jobs. HUGE jobs. I used to volunteer every day in my son's school and I am constantly in awe of how much they take on. Most of t...

I can't believe school is right around the corner. Mind you, we still have a few weeks left to get through those crazy-long supply lists and start...

Now that we're finally getting together a little more socially, I've been having one or two kids over for outdoor playdates. It's been alm...

We have never lied to our bean. We always vowed, even before he was born, that we would tell him the truth when he asked us questions, even the hard o...

I don't know why, but some kids are reeeeally not into brushing their teeth. They fight their parents on it and seem adverse to anything that has&...

I wrote a blog recently about chores by age and got slammed on social media for even giving my son chores. Yep- a few parents told me it was...

I feel lucky to live in such an amazing city, especially a city who makes family-friendly summer fun a priority. There's so much to see in and aro...

This photo isn't me, but it looks like me a few days a month. I've suffered from migraines since I was a teenager, and over the years, people ...

It's almost the last day of school... the last day of the weirdest school year, like, ever. For our household, it's the last day of virtu...

I'll never forget the first time my son wanted to spend money on VBucks. Me: What's a B-buck? My son: A VBuck, mommy (rolls eyes) Me:...

I remember when my bean transitioned to a big-boy bed - he was 3 years old and luckily it was a pretty easy transition for him. Here's a few tips ...

My 8-year-old son is pretty adventurous, and we've always encouraged him to try new things. But, when he was 4 and we attempted to teach him how t...

As a parent, we all know that we end up with slews of toys, and only a few seem to be long-lasting. Some just aren't durable, and others get for...

Kids are funny... inquisitive... hilarious... I love watching the little gears in my bean's head turning as he questions the world around him...

Two things... One: No, this isn't me in the above photo because I have a son, however her expression has been plastered on my face from 8:30-2pm e...

Anyone who knows me knows that I wasn't that thrilled being pregnant. No, it wasn't because I had a difficult pregnancy - in fact, it was qu...

I'd skirted the question for months: "God gave us you... that's how you were made..." but the bean finally asked me casually during ...

Almost three years ago to the day, we lost our beloved Theo. He was our fur baby, our first baby - my husband and I rescued him on a whim while we wer...

What is rest? What does "well rested" feel like? Because I've completely forgotten. I remember when I got pregnant, people would tell...

My bean would be in his third year of city hockey. Admittedly, his grandfather and dad were super excited to enrol him in hockey from a young age, but...

"Mommy... daddy... come play with me." When you have a toddler/preschooler, you might hear this, oh, 443 times a day. And despite the f...

Got March Break fever? Looking for something fun to keep the kiddos entertained? My bean and I have done probably hundreds of crafts, a lot of which I...

As you all know, we love us some crafts! And lately we've been experimenting with all kinds of projects. Here are some more crafts we love... M...

We want our kids to have every opportunity available to them, and for my husband and I, it started from the get-go with our son. Any time he showed ...

This year, why not send a homemade Valentine's Day craft to a long-distance family member or friend? Everyone could use a little pick-me-up, and V...

It's Teacher Appreciation Week. In years past I went nuts making homemade teacher thank-you gifts. We made them for all the teachers the bean had,...

This is a challenging winter. Without the usual indoor places to escape too (wandering around the mall, indoor activity centres, etc.), I find my bean...

My bean is now 8 but I've had him cooking in the kitchen with me since he was standing. Not only has it helped widen his palette and made him a mo...

I loved living "through" my toddler - all the exploring and the firsts. But it quickly struck me as a parent how often I would build thing...

Creating a baby registry, especially when you're a first-time parent, can be extremely daunting - there are just so many products out there, and...

Every so often, a kid needs a timeout... yes, that dedicated spot where they're told to go when they misbehave. In my household, it started in my ...

The holidays are an overwhelming time for everyone, especially kids - the influx of toys, visitors, and sweet treats can lead to a fussy, ungrateful k...

This year, because all of our kids get so many gifts around the holidays, me and my friends made a "no purchased presents" rule this year. B...

One of the best things about having a little one is making holiday crafts with them to give to grandparents, teachers, etc. The bean and I have quite ...

It may not look like it in the photo, but it's below zero. And my son is still insisting on wearing shorts. Even on the first snow, he asked if he...

* Disclaimer: I am not going to hold back here... This is a brutally honest post from someone who had one child and stopped because she was so freaked...

What was the first thing everyone did when they found out I was pregnant seven years ago? Yep: started doling out advice, giving me their pregnancy an...

So, here's the thing... we never lie to our son.  When he asks us something, we answer it. From the time he was little, we told him the tr...

For kids, the true essence of Halloween isn't really about the pumpkins and the spookiness of it all - it's about the sugar!! Undoubtedly, you...

A Halloween celebration wouldn't be complete without the right spooky music. Here are 13 tunes you need on your Halloween soundtrack to keep the f...

I'm sick of hearing how "Halloween is cancelled" or "Halloween is ruined" because of COVID. Halloween is a holiday... nothing ...

I am grateful. I am soooo grateful. I have a warm and wonderful home, and a partner to share my life with, and I have a beautiful and healthy little...

It's happening... as we move into a "red zone," it looks like a second wave of COVID is upon us. When things suddenly shut down last ...

I've found throughout this pandemic, it's easier to just take things one day at a time. Things changed so quickly at the onset of this thing t...

Well, excuse my French, but this is a f*cked up birthday! Haha - in my group of friends, we celebrate 40's with a BANG: vacations and chalet renta...

This year we are taking part in virtual learning. We were able to jump through the provincial government's ridiculous hoops and obtain a medical e...

I was a late bloomer period-wise... I was 14 and remember being the last of my friends to get it. It was also around this time that my monthly migr...

I'm annoyed. No, more like pissed. I think we parents have all been very patient... we went along with things when they cancelled school for a mon...

Summer... it's startin' to drag a bit, no? Don't get me wrong: I love having my bean home with me. But by the end of a week, whe...

I've learned, in my seven years of being a mom, that my purse, or what's inside my purse, that can really be a lifeline in a tricky ...

One of my favourite things to do when I was a kid was to paint on a canvas. There was something about an actual canvas that was different from ordinar...

Well, what can I say about 2020 - it's been unpredictable, to say the least. We waded our way through spring to the end of the school year, now we...

AHHHHHHH witching hour!!!!!!! You know, that horrendous hour before bedtime where you've exhausted all of your energy and "vroom vroom"...

I recently heard a mommy-friend say she doesn't want to go anywhere with her kids where she's not in control of her environment.  We&#...

Our summers are usually spent exploring our amazing city. We love taking the bus and metro to museums, restaurants, and other great sites, wandering t...

Happy Canada Day everyone! Usually, our Canada Day is all about barbecues with friends, taking in the fireworks, and doing a lot of socializing. With ...

The countdown is on.... EIGHT MORE DAYS OF SCHOOL! I have never looked so forward to the end of the school year as much as I am this year. Don't g...

Yes, you read that right... when schools closed on Friday, March 13th, I did one big grocery store order, and I had not stepped foot in a public place...

If you were to tell us parents, three months ago, that our kids would be on lockdown with no school and no access to friends for weeks and weeks, we w...

I don't think I realized how difficult it is to be a mom until I became a mom myself. How could I? Plus, I had a mom who made it look super easy. ...

I said it during my entire pregnancy, but don't we all: "I'm never doing this again." But when I said never, I actually growled...

Hooray for spring and warm weather and being outside (and, when it's raining, crafting like we're outside)! My bean is much more grown now, ...

Oh my goodness I want to shop!! I want to walk around a mall, ANY mall, even the crappy ones with just as many kiosks as there are stores. I want to b...

My bean turns 7 this weekend. We had lots planned - a video game birthday party on the Saturday with his closest friends, family coming in for his act...

When they told you it takes a village to raise a child, they weren't entirely right. You can raise a child without the village backing you. But wh...

Two weeks home with the kids is challenging, especially for those moms and dads who are working from home as well. So here are more than 67 easy ways ...

I'll admit it: a week ago I wasn't really worried about Coronavirus. But in the last few days, when the toilet paper craze began followed...

If there's one thing that I've discovered as a parent of a rambunctious preschool boy, it's this: little ones looks up to big ones. I...

March Break is almost here - hooray to not making lunches!! I mean, yes, you still have to feed your kids, but no planning of snacks and bagged lunche...

When it came to potty training my son, I had a lot of things working in my favour. I had a curious kid (who often followed us into the washroom to see...

I'm tired of birthday parties. Like, really, really tired. For six years, I've spent weeks upon weeks planning the "perfect bir...

As the mom of a growing little boy, I find myself cherishing his little hand and footprints that we've made over the years. We put his hand or foo...

I lived in Florida from the ages of 7-17 (yes, yes, I know: why would I leave a warm place like that? It's a whole other blog...), and I was alway...

No one particularly likes needles. But my son hates them. Abhors them. Incessantly worries about when the next one will come. So y...

Growing up, I was a pretty good kid. I never wanted to rock the boat or break the rules, because I liked being the "good kid." My brother, h...

There's nothing scarier as a parent than the thought of your child going missing. I find it hard to protect my son, given he's only 5 - h...

Toys are a dime a dozen, but not all play things are created equally. Some are not well-made, and others are a bit of a letdown... but not these! We t...

What do you get for that person on your holiday shopping list who seems to have everything? Well, you get them one of these unique gifts that are usef...

What's the best thing about the holidays? All those culinary indulgences, of course! I love spoiling myself, and others, with wonderful edibles (a...

Happy holidays everyone! I love this time of year. I mean, I thought Christmas was the best when I was a kid, but when I became a parent and got to li...

With everything going on around the holidays, who has time to window shop and peruse the internet to find out about what the hottest gifts are? Don...

I do a lot over the holidays. Like, A LOT. I was one of the last of our friends to have kids so I started a lot of traditions before the bean was born...

For the next few weeks, I'll be outlining birthday party themes that cost less than $100, with ideas for food, decor and more. Post additional ide...

Birthday parties can be no fun for busy overextended parents. I'm excited to bring you my $100 Birthday Party Series with great ideas for themes, ...

Birthday parties can be no fun for busy overextended parents. I'm excited to bring you my $100 Birthday Party Series with great ideas for themes, ...

Birthday parties can be no fun for busy overextended parents. I'm excited to bring you my $100 Birthday Party Series with great ideas for themes, ...

Ah, yes, kids' birthday party etiquette. What a slippery slope it can be!  When the bean was turning 1, then 2, and even 3, it was relativ...

You know what's exhausting? Summer. Summer with kids. The constant snacks. The wet towels and umpteen wardrobe changes. The little toys e...

I played within my imagination for years... I was always coming up with games of make-believe, with characters and storylines and wild tales. Obviousl...

I've blogged before about our annual adults-only weekend getaways, and this weekend marked another glorious three-day trip, sans childre...

I have a lot of readers who ask for more ideas on crafts to do with their kids. My bean and I love discovering new crafts, and these are our most re...

Anyone who knows me knows that I love my crafts (my home office doubles as a craft room). Since my bean was old enough to hold a paintbrush or crayo...

I love when I discover an exciting new craft on Pinterest, let alone one that is a resounding success with my toddler as well as with mommy. These a...

My work-from-home schedule affords me lots of time with my bean, but with my husband doing shift work, he's not so lucky. So my boys took on a pro...

My New Year's resolution for 2019 was to cut down on our household waste. While it's true we recycled and composted a bit, we weren't supe...

We absolutely love travelling to Toronto - a super family-friendly city, there's lots to do and plenty to see, loads of great restaurants, many tr...

I never worried about things like "how do I know when a baby is hungry" or "how do I change a diaper." I worried more about the qu...

We looove decorating Easter eggs. And we like experimenting with egg decorating methods even more. There are so many ways to pretty up those little eg...

I'm tired. Like, really, really tired.  The bean celebrated his 6th birthday party with his best friend (with whom he also sh...

I don't know why, but it feels like this is birthday party season - not only did the bean just turn 6 (HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAMERON!!) but almost every ...

I'm at the stage with my almost 6-year-old that we are LEGO OBSESSED. We have countless constructed vehicles overwhelming my son's bedroom (go...

I look forward to March Break probably as much as my 5-year-old son. I volunteer at the school more than 10 hours a week, and it's a much-needed b...

I live in the best community, like, ever.  Every morning, my 5-year-old son and I volunteer at our school's Breakfast Club where...

Let's face it: we have pretty good lives. Our children have great lives. And it was really important to my husband and I that we teach our son gra...

Yep, I make New Year's resolutions, but not just because it's the New Year... because it's a good time to work on some goals. I do this no...

I'm happy to say we had a busy, craft-filled year, to say the least. In addition to seasonal/holiday-related activities, plus a huge superhero bir...

We love advent calendars in our house. My love for advent calendars began with my mom, who always got my little brother and I the chocolate ones with ...

I was lucky enough to spend my school years growing up in South Florida, and I'd always promised to return for my 20-year high school reunion. And...

I don't know who is more excited about Halloween arriving - me or the bean? I love holidays. I love holidays so much more since becoming a mom. I ...

When you have a younger child (under the age of 2 or 3), it can be really difficult to find activities that cater to smaller kids. So, as the colder w...

Ahhh, Fredericton, New Brunswick - it's one of the prettiest, most friendly places you'll ever visit! We love going to Fredericton, and try to...

A family move is a big ordeal – there’s lot of planning and prepwork involved, and the whole process can be a bit daunting to a little o...

Working from home, especially when you have kids, definitely comes with major perks. However, when I enrolled my son in Pre-K, I hadn't totally th...

I don't know who is more excited about it being the last day of school - me or my bean! Here's where the perks of working from home really pay...

As a writer, and a mom, I've always hoped that my blogs would inspire or help another fellow parent. You want to know that when you write somethin...

Photo courtesy of BloomDesignsOnline The end of the school year is something that should be celebrated! So we're hosting a Popsicle party after...

My little guy loooooves science. And now that the weather is better, we've been exploring outside a lot. We're finding worms, snails, butterfl...

My bean is an only child, which means he's not used to the typical sibling arguing... when brothers come over to play at our house, and they ...

Last Thursday was a heartbreaking day for our little family... we had to put our 7-year-old pupster Theo down. He was being plagued with lung infectio...

We're in the midst of planning our bean's fifth birthday (how is he 5 years old already?!), and along the way, I've picked up a few tricks...

Roadtrips are no easy feat with a toddler. The bean, who is almost 5, is a dream kid, but long car rides can get boring and tiresome (as can the "...

I love planning surprises for my bean. It's my favourite part of being a parent. But it's funny how sometimes those surprises can flop. Like, ...

Looking for some quick, fun, and downright trendy holiday gifts to appease everyone on your list? Look no further! K'NEX Thrill Rides Web W...

As a busy work-from-home mom, I have to pick my battles around the holidays. There are certain projects I venture to do, and others I completely skimp...

This is a blog for myself... but for all the fellow parents out there too.  I'm tired. I'm exhausted. With Christmas around the corner...

Mom-life is hectic. And busy. And over-scheduled. Which is why I needed some time away. Nothing too expensive or too "involved," but some gi...

I am so excited about the Halloween party we're hosting this weekend. Fifteen little pumpkins will come bouncing into my house, and I planned all ...

We attended Kidcon last year and had a fantastic time - why did it take so long for someone to create an event just for kids and families?! And this y...

It's apple picking season, and I've been prepping my jars as well as restocking my brown sugar and cinnamon in preparation of the cooking and ...

I'm an empty-nester... and he's only 4. My little guy is off to full-time pre-kindergarten and this work-from-home mom is left to, well, wo...

“Hey guys, wanna go camping?” our friends, who are avid campers and have three kids, suggested a few weeks ago. Of course, my 4-year-ol...

We were camping a few weekends ago, and the bean and I were walking back from the beach along the main road that loops around the campsite. I spotted ...

Yep, at my house, we like to have fun with food. Playing with food can be a great way to introduce new things (like our snacks on a stick), and it can...

We experiment with a lot of crafts in our household, especially the messy ones in summertime (the backyard becomes our craft room). So this year, inst...

When I got pregnant four years ago, I suddenly found myself reevaluating everything about my lifestyle- what I ate, what I drank, and how I cleaned ...

When my husband and I bought our house five years ago, we had all these lofty plans to paint and create accent walls and really give our house a look ...

Yep, you read that headline correctly: it's good to be a bad parent sometimes.  Here's why... You need to have down days or you wou...

Four years old (the age of my bean) is the perfect age to get into board games, card games, and the like. They're better than screen time, they...

I'm so tired. It's been such a long day, with work, and dinner, and cleaning and tidying, and OH MY LAWD it's only 6:30pm. There's sti...

We're getting a bit stir-crazy waiting on summer, but we've been lucky enough to get quite a few passes to attractions in and around Montreal ...

It's hard not to judge others. Like, really hard. We do it in our heads all day long, at work, at school, and even in our own circles of friends...

Yep, the bean is 4 years old. FOUR! So cliche, I know, but wow, time flies! We survived three, count em' THREE, birthday celebrations - one i...

Oh my goodness, aren't kids funny? Like, seriously funny? My husband and I are amused all day long by our bean. From the time he was born and ma...

Hooray for Sugar Shack season in Quebec! Ahh, yes, the copious amounts of maple syrup, the sleigh rides through the tapped trees, the animals, the m...

This mommy loves any excuse to try out new crafts, and St. Patrick's Day is no exception. With lots of fun ideas for activities, food, and so mu...

Winter is getting a little tiresome at this point... I'm over the snowsuits and boots and puddles on my floor, the layers and layers (meaning th...

I'm good at "executing" crafts and activities, but I rely on Pinterest as well as books to help me think up new things we can see and ...

It seemed obvious, when the bean started to learn how to talk, to avoid certain “cuss” words in our everyday conversation (that, truthfu...

I don't know why dinnertime has become such a challenge (read: torture) with my 3-year-old bean. It's like a never-ending saga of "take...

I grew up in South Florida. Getting ready for "winter" entailed putting on socks. Maaaybe you'd need a hoodie for the morning, but by ...

So the cold months have finally set in, the holidays are over, and us parents are left with energetic, stir-crazy, cabin-fevered kids. I hear ya! So...

I love the start of a New Year - it's such a fantastic time to set some new goals, have a fresh start, and vow to try and improve, learn, etc. ...

So we’ve had a fun week… the bean has been in daycare just two days a week for only three weeks and Mommy (me) woke up with gastro last w...

Every year, I make cookies. Lots and lots and lots of cookies. I started the tradition almost 20 years ago in my first apartment, which was tiny, me...

I don't miss the baby stage. Don't get me wrong: I loved my baby bean. But we're past it. And I'm honestly glad. While they'r...

What do we do with old boxes? We turn them into something fun! My Amazon orders have started coming in for Christmas, and their boxes are always ...

Yep, this was the first baby bump pic I posted on social media when I was pregnant for the first time... and the only time. By this point of 12 week...

My son has discovered "imagination" games - activities like playing school, restaurant, and the like, and these have ushered in some valua...

This weekend a close friend, who lives in the States, turned 40, and he and his wife decided to rent a chalet (ahem, mansion) for a kid-free weekend...

Hooray - the holidays are coming (Thanksgiving and Halloween), plus it's a new season, and that means NEW CRAFTS! The bean and I have been busy ...

Every now and then, mommy needs a project all her own. It was my birthday recently and I booked three glorious days off of work to make it a looong ...

As a modern-day mom, I'd like to think that I'm pretty savvy to what things cost nowadays... I know that dinner and drinks downtown is going...

My little guy is fascinated by dinosaurs. We had checked out this awesome dinosaur exhibit at the Montreal Science Centre when he was a bit younger,...

My husband and I have a loooong history together - we met while in high school, and I was living in South Florida and he was in Montreal. For our la...

Parties and other social gatherings present a unique situation once you have children - while you're in control of how you discipline your own k...

I grew up in Florida, meaning other than very specific produce (like strawberries and oranges), there weren't a lot of opportunities to go and p...

Being in the media, I am afforded with lots of perks, especially getting passes to check out some of the coolest family-friendly activities going on i...

There were two rules my husband and I made while I was still pregnant about parenting decisions we would stick to: 1. No pacifier (which we succeede...

The crib is gone, and for my three-year-old’s birthday, he got a “big boy room.” Not only did that mean trading rooms with him (no...

There’s nothing quite like it. Their beautiful baby blues and batting lashes suddenly flicker and, like a switch, you see the change. Like a h...

The volunteer association of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, with the support of CN, is presenting the third A Night at the Museum event on May 14, ...

Let me begin this blog by saying that I was that little girl who had 11 Cabbage Kids and three My Child dolls, a play kitchen, and imagined that one...

Tweens are at a tricky age... sometimes, they want mom and dad, and other times, they're completely wrapped up in their own little worlds. And tha...

I've been reading to the bean since he was in utero (yes, I read to my belly). Given I'm a writer, books and the written word are like the hol...

I’m always hunting for new crafts that I can do with my 2-year-old bean, and these are a few fun twists on traditional colouring, painting, and ...

Want the best piece of parenting advice? Don’t get comfortable. In parenthood, I mean. As soon as you get one thing figured out (a bedtime...

December is a busy time, with all of the holiday parties and more, but that doesn't mean there isn't time to check out some of the fun local a...