Yes, having taught English from 1998 to 2012, I realize that you should never begin a sentence with "so". So, You Want to Marry a Farmer makes for a fun title though, doesn't it? I did contemplate on the title and thought I would call this post, A Day on the Farm. So, You Want to Marry a Farmer sounds better (even though this post is about the craziness that can happen on … [Read more...]
Happy Year of the Monkey 2016! Plus a Beef & Broccoli Recipe!
Gung Hei Fat Choi! Happy New Year! As we welcome the Year of the Monkey, we wish you a happy, healthy New Year. Living on Manitoulin Island, I wanted to make sure that Little One is aware of her cultural heritage and that she embraces her roots. Yes, she was born in Canada and is Canadian, but she also has Filipino, Chinese, Caribbean, Scottish, English and even a bit of … [Read more...]
It’s the Little Things that Mean the Most
Great customer service starts from the ground up. I’ve partnered with TELUS, a company obsessed with improving customer service every day, to share stories of companies across Canada that are showing us how we can all expect more. To learn more about TELUS and how they are putting customers first, check out www.telus.com/expectmore When I think about my … [Read more...]
My Kid Makes Me Cry
It's true. My kid makes me cry. Oh, usually I cry because she tests me. She's a very stubborn hard-headed frustrating "spirited" child at times. Many people would not believe me unless they've seen her in action. From an outsider's perspective, she seems so sweet and quiet. Most of the time, people who don't know her think she's mute. We get the "Oh, [insert Little … [Read more...]
What do people REALLY like on Facebook?
To be honest, that's the question many people have been trying to figure the answer to. Though I try to keep my blog's Facebook page fresh and up to date, and post regularly, I will be the first to admit that Facebook is not my first love when it comes to social media. I should rephrase that and say that it's not my favourite for my own purposes. I do love Facebook for my … [Read more...]
Things I Learned From My Six Year Old
As I went for my morning walk after bringing Little One to the bus stop and after feeding the animals, I reflected on all the things I learned in time time on this planet. There are so many things I've learned and am constantly learning. I've learned that sometimes the hardest decisions in life are the best at the time. I've learned that it's good to trust, but sometimes … [Read more...]
Why Empty Threats Do Not Work
I will be the first to tell you that I am a rookie mama. I have one child, so that means I've had no previous children to serve as guinea pigs in parenting. Little One is it. It's trial and error for me. Though I've read countless books on parenting and child-rearing and have done ample research (the two child psychology courses I took in university don't count anymore, … [Read more...]
WE Day: We Are All Connected In Our Journey from Me to We #WeDay
We are all connected in our journey from Me to We. If there's one thing I wish to succeed at as a parent, it is to teach my child that there is a larger world outside of ourselves and that we all have a journey from Me to We. At the tender age of six, I believe Little One is on the right track. I see it in how caring, compassionate, empathetic, kind, gentle, giving and … [Read more...]
She Doesn’t Look Back Anymore
I remember her first day of junior kindergarten, she clutched my hand so tightly. It was as though she never wanted to let go. I sensed the tinge of anxiety and fear of the unknown. There was excitement, but apprehension too. She was not yet four years old. I was her world. I would rush across the highway to be on her side of the bus so I could wave to her … [Read more...]
It’s OKAY to cry!
"Shhhh! DON'T CRY!" "STOP CRYING!" "Don't be a baby!" Those are probably words most of us grew up hearing. Many of us were probably raised with the notion that it wasn't okay to cry. Perhaps we were even told to "be strong" or not show our emotions. In some cultures, showing emotions is a sign of weakness. Today, I was on my usual morning walk, but instead of … [Read more...]
Easy Seafood Chowder
Little One and her friend from school had been begging and pleading for a sushi date all Summer long. Well, Summer was crazy busy and we just weren't able to coordinate a play date. When her friend's mother and I realized that Summer was slipping away and we still hadn't gotten the girls together, we arranged for a much needed sushi date. I was shocked that we … [Read more...]
On Being an Older Mother
This post was inspired by my friend, Shayna's post titled, Fears of an Older Mother. When I was younger, I had my life all planned out. I had a timeline, like many girls do when they're young and dream about what their lives will be like when they're older. I never thought I'd be "an older mother". I had everything mapped out and wasn't going to let anything let me … [Read more...]
Hiking Trails on Manitoulin Island #woodsexplorer
Did you know that the Trans Canada Trail is the world's longest network of recreational trails? When fully connected, the Trail will stretch 23,000 kilometres (14,000 mi) from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic oceans. More than 16,800 kilometres (10,400 mi) of trail are currently usable, making it approximately 75% complete in 2014. Two hundred forty gaps totaling 6,200 … [Read more...]
8 One Pot Meals for Busy Families
Work beckons, kids have activities and places to be, you've got errands that still need to be run, and dinner isn't going to cook itself. Am I right? Though I will never sacrifice flavour and a good meal, I do have a little secret. I try not to spend hours in the kitchen. Who has the time, right? Don't get me wrong. There are evenings when I love a slow cooked meal, but … [Read more...]
On Childhood
I remember my Summer days as a kid as if they were just yesterday. My parents believed in letting us just be kids and enjoy our childhood "because kids grow up too quickly and before you know it, it's adult problems, responsibility and stress." I'm laughing now, but those were my mom's exact words. Boy, was she ever right! I cherish my Summer memories and just being a … [Read more...]