Whenever I think of the holidays, I think of my grandmother's Leche Flan recipe. Whether it be Christmas, a birthday party, Easter or any family get together, my grandmother always made her famous leche flan. For those unfamiliar with leche flan, it is a popular dessert in the Philippines. Leche flan (or flan de leche in Spanish) simply means milk flan. In the Philippines, … [Read more...]
Co-Sleeping: The Post Where I May or May Not Get Slammed by Other Parents
You know when you become a new parent and think you have everything figured out, only to discover that nothing you had planned ever turns out the way intended? I was one of those people who said "I am having a home water birth with a midwife and a doula", only to end up on bed rest not even in my third trimester and having Little One canon-ball her way into the world without … [Read more...]
Chinese New Year Traditions
Growing up in a multicultural household, I learned bits and pieces of my parents' cultures. What always sticks the most are the food and the traditions. Though we didn't learn how to speak my Dad's Chinese dialect and we knew little of the history of where in China his ancestors came from, we knew the basics. We observed Chinese New Year, we knew a bit about the traditions … [Read more...]
The Myth About Multi-tasking
Guest post by Beth Richards As I write this, I’m wondering if I should call to cancel an appointment for tomorrow, whether my son will get all his homework done, and whether I’ll lose the pounds I put on recently. I’m also letting the sink fill with water to wash the dishes (got to remember to turn off the tap on time), and while I’m there I’ll just pop a piece of bread into … [Read more...]
What exactly is a #felfie, you ask?
Just recently, the #felfie hashtag made its appearance all over the net. It was actually my boss who told me what a #felfie was! My friend (and fellow rural dweller/farm chick), Julie Nowell best described what a #felfie was in her blog post here. She also mentions on her blog why the #felfie matters. Like Julie, I believe people are losing touch with our food. … [Read more...]
Chinese New Year 2014
Growing up part Chinese, Chinese New Year is an exciting time of the year for me. All the richness of Chinese history, tradition, and of course, food play a big role in our home. I really wish I had taken Chinese language and culture courses when I was younger. Thankfully, there are so many resources available for me to be able to teach my own daughter. There are so many … [Read more...]
Festive Filipino Fruit Salad #recipe
As a child, my fondest family memories are of those spent at Christmas with my Mom's side of the family. The Spirit of Christmas was always felt in my aunt's house -- filled with warmth, laughter, singing, and lots of food! For me, Christmas was always special because it was spent with our entire family. Now that I'm an adult and creating new memories for my own family, I … [Read more...]
Making Dinner #TheRiceWay: Rice Pilau
I remember when I was in grade 5 and I invited a classmate to come over after school. My Mom and Dad asked her if she'd like to stay for supper after we worked on a school project. She called her mom to ask for permission and was really excited to have supper with us. "Do you eat rice every day?" At first, I was really offended by the question. "Why? Because we're … [Read more...]
Motel Montcalm & Family Fun in Gatineau, Quebec #Giveaway
Fall in the Gatineau area is spectacular. The vibrant colours of the leaves coupled with the many activities and events make Gatineau, Quebec an ideal travel destination. Don't get me wrong. We live on a beautiful island where Fall colours are stunning as well. However, we had the opportunity to visit Gatineau with our four year old daughter in tow and we were wowed by Fall … [Read more...]
We365 ~ Inspiring Social Good in Youth
One of the things that has always been very important to me is standing up for what you believe in -- no matter how old (or young!) you are. My first experience standing up for what I believed in was when I was an elementary school student, saddened to see trees cut down and a favourite field cleared out for new development. It was at that point that I knew what was important … [Read more...]
Tortang Talong ~ A Filipino Recipe: Manitoulin Style
Last year, I took my then 3 year old daughter across the ocean to visit and spend time with my grandmother before she died. Despite the circumstances, it was an amazing experience for my little girl and I was thrilled that she was able to see what life in the Philippines was like, be immersed in the culture and get to know her family in San Jose, Batangas. Little One often … [Read more...]
WeDay ~ I wasn’t prepared for how emotional that was going to be! #TELUSforWeDay #WeDay
I knew that the inspirational stories I was about to hear would blow me away. I knew they'd hit an emotional chord with me, but I didn't know just how much of an impact WeDay was going to have on me and the thousands of others at the Air Canada Centre on September 2oth. On the 19th, I was able to get the behind-the-scenes look at how the event was going to run, as well as … [Read more...]
We Day ~ Inspiring Youth to Lead Local & Global Change #WeDay #TELUSforWeDay
I remember what it was like when I was in elementary school and high school and wanting to make a change and change the world. It must have started when I was 10 years old and tears poured down my cheeks as I saw logging trucks pulling away with hundreds of logs. At 10 years of age, I was worried about clear cutting and our forests not being replenished. I worried about our … [Read more...]
Social Media ~ What on Earth does a “I work in Social Media” Mean?
"So, what do you do for a living?" asked the polite woman at a dinner party, as she leaned in, seemingly interested. Hmmm...Do I tell her I have been an English teacher since 1998 but decided to take a break last year so I could spend more time with Little One? Do I tell her that I put teaching on hold indefinitely last year when I took on a job as a Social Media Community … [Read more...]
Cell Phone Courtesy Month #KeepItInYourPants
"Psssst! Put that thing away!", said the wife, as she glared at her husband across the table. "We're out in public and having some quality family time!" Just then, her BlackBerry notifications started going off incessantly. The husband gave her a look. "Are you going to answer that?" This photo is the reason I am so aware of cell phone etiquette now. I was so … [Read more...]