I’m the type of person who would rather have a vacation over a diamond any day. My simple mission on earth is this:
Do and see as much as I can in the short time I’m here.
But this philosophy can’t happen without a plan. Summer, of course, is prime save on everyday items, splurge on experiences time for all of us, so in order to make sure my family and I get out and do memorable things, I have a strict save/splurge program in place and I'm going to show you how I do it so you can do it, too!
When I travel, I should carry my laptop and phone tucked inside a steel briefcase, handcuffed to my wrist. After all, I carry an "Ehm"-pire around with me, a responsibility I don't take lightly. I have all things related to YummyMummyClub.ca's inner workings tucked away on my laptop and phone and it STRESSES me out.
It's not very often a defining moment in one's life is captured on film. I'm lucky to say one of mine was. In fact, nothing has been the same since, in the very best way.
In my circle, my house is the "Official House of Summer." Sure, we go to other friends' homes in the fall and winter to mix and mingle, but from June to September, all socialization happens in my backyard. There are three major reasons for this:
I’ve been using my AIR MILES Collector Card both online and in shops on a quest to collect ALL THE MILES since 1999. There is no card I enjoy pulling out of my wallet more and I am hooked on the thrill of earning miles.
So, it is with red cheeks that I sheepishly tell you: I’ve been doing it wrong.
Some Internet stories are like tasting a wine for the first time. You need to swish it around a bit before you decide if you like it or not.
Such was the case for me when I first read about the mother who publicly shamed her 13 year-old on the internet for pretending to be 19 on Facebook and posting half-naked pictures of herself. If you're not one of the 14 million people who has watched the video, you can catch it below.
I call out from my office, “Hey, honey? Would you let me put your penis through a grapefruit while I gave you a blowjob?”
Without missing a beat, the reply from down the hall, “Um, sure.”
And that my friends, is testament to how easy men are. They are 100% willing to try anything as long as you mention a blowjob. For the record, I did not try this because ewww... grapefruit is gross.
A couple of weeks ago I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with grey whales in Loreto, Mexico. Not only did I get to watch a mother and baby play in the water, but the baby came so close to our boat I was able to reach out and pet it.
It was nothing short of amazing. Naturally I shared my experience on social media and almost immediately people were commenting that this must be a “bucket list” item for me.
When I was a young girl I contracted the mumps. I remember being gently teased by my Dad that I looked like a chipmunk with my swollen cheeks. That is the only fond thing I remember about having it—the other is the pain; a lot of pain. And there was nothing funny about the pain.
In the not too distant past, upon winter's arrival, I would curl up in a fetal position. I would rock gently back and forth, chanting, "Go away. Just go away," but it never would. No matter what I did, winter continued on its merry way, unconcerned in the least with my opinion.
I dreamed of moving to a warmer climate, but it would seem that Jamaica doesn't have a burgeoning demand for bloggers. I cursed my ancestors. Of all the places they could have settled, why here? Why not Florida?! I dropped the F word repeatedly—freezing. I was not a happy camper.
I'm fairly convinced it's the weathermen who are responsible for this recent spate of parenting labels. I remember when the Polar Vortex used to be referred to as "good old winter" and when Snowmaggedon was simply a “snow storm.” I also recall the day when Snowplow parents, Helicopter parents, and Tiger Moms were just parents. We were all just parents–in the trenches together—no special labels required.
Three years ago Ali Martell wrote a post in which she makes her case as to why leggings are not pants, how to wear them, and how not to wear them. It was clear to me, when I first read the post, that although Ali had a strong opinion on the matter, she certainly wasn't out to ridicule or "shame" anyone. I thought it was a fun read and never gave it much thought until I saw it reposted on Facebook a few days ago.
Seven years ago, we purchased a Wii for our girls. If you can believe it, they now consider it “old.” SEVEN YEARS!!! By those standards, at 10 and 12 years of age, my girls are practically pre-historic. I have clothes I’ve been wearing longer, but in today’s age, technology moves at the speed of light and gaming systems are one of the ultimate beneficiaries of this rapidly changing technology.
Before I became a parent, I expected there would be worry. I was prepared for many sleepless nights worrying about if my children were growing, if they were learning properly, and if they would be happy. What I was 100% wholly unprepared for was the Internet. I seriously did not even give a single second of thought to how much stress the Internet plus children would create.
The first snow has already fallen in Ottawa, and it's left a pretty, white blanket behind. It's beautiful and yet I already dread the smells that accompany winter, and I'm definitely not talking about Christmas trees or hot chocolate. I'm talking about smelly boots, damp mittens and hats, ski boots parked in the hallway, and the absolute worst smell of all: wet dog.
Several years ago, after the birth of my youngest daughter, I started to have breathing problems. It started very slowly at first, but before long I was spending my entire day feeling like I couldn’t catch my breath. I set up a visit with our family doctor, and although she couldn't hear anything, she sent me for a couple of tests to confirm there was nothing she was missing.
We’re in the thick of it now, Mama. School has started, vacations are over, and extra-curricular activities are in full swing. You’ve got laundry, carpooling, work, and homework, and let’s not forget all that paperwork from school. On top of all that, you need to figure out what’s for supper too! It’s just so darn tempting to dial in for delivery, isn’t it?
A trip to a waterpark should be a mandatory summer event for every family. Even if you have a pool or a lake in your backyard, the fun of a waterpark simply can’t be matched anywhere else. Lucky for my family, we live close to Canada's biggest theme waterpark, Calypso, where we recently spent a day doing, er...research...hard research on why you and your family should visit this summer.
