One of my favourite lines in the movie Christmas Vacation is, “I don’t know what to say except it’s Christmas and we’re all in misery.” If you’re feeling a bit like Ellen Griswold as Christmas approaches, you’re in the right place! Today’s post is a roundup of ideas to help you get back to basics and simplify your Christmas celebrations.
12 useful tips for travelling with just a carry on
Are you a minimalist when it comes to travel packing? Or do you overpack “just in case” you need this or that? For our recent 10-day trip to Vancouver Island, my husband and I packed only a carry on and a backpack each—and we had everything we needed. To simplify packing for your next trip, read on for 12 tips for travelling with just a carry on.
25 simple and fun summer activities
It’s almost summer! For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice—marking the official arrival of summer—takes place tomorrow at 10:58 ET. Are you excited? To celebrate the long hot days ahead, read on for 25 simple and fun summer activities that won’t break the bank.
Life lessons we can learn from ducks
Like many creatures in the animal world, ducks are fascinating. In Surprising health benefits of waking, I discussed how stopping at the pond to see the ducks is a highlight of my daily walks in the spring and summer. Today, I’ll expand on that with some observations on life lessons we can learn from ducks.
What’s on your Don’t Want List?
At this time of year, my inbox explodes with gift guides and Christmas wish lists. Gift giving is an important part of the holiday season but, the more I declutter and seek a simpler life, the less there is on my “Want List”. On the other hand, my “Don’t Want List” is constantly growing.
Book review – Longevity Lifestyle by Design
Is it possible to fail at retirement? Isn’t stepping away from a lifetime of work a ticket to instant happiness? For many people, it’s not so simple. Mike Drak’s latest book, Longevity Lifestyle by Design is a practical guide to creating a plan for your ideal post-career life.
Today’s post outlines what I learned from Mike’s new book, along with details on how you can get a free copy. Let’s help Mike achieve his goal of a million downloads.
18 simple ways to celebrate spring
Spring is here! Are you ready to say good-bye to harsh winter weather? Although the calendar says it’s spring, we’re probably still a few weeks away from consistently warm spring weather here in Ontario. Even so, just knowing the worst is behind us is enough to lift my spirits. With that in mind, today’s post has 18 simple ways to celebrate spring.
7 things we can learn from Indigenous wisdom
On Canada Day, I reflected on the horrific findings on Canada’s residential school sites. Many of our world’s issues come from a lack of understanding, so I signed up for a course on Coursera to learn more about our Indigenous people. The Indigenous Canada course gave me a perspective on Canadian history that I didn’t learn in school. The biggest takeaway was that Indigenous wisdom and way of life is something we should respect and value.
Waterloo Region trails to explore this summer
Only 4 more sleeps until the official arrival of summer! Definitely something to celebrate, even though 2021 will be another summer of staying close to home. Looking on the bright side, this gives us a chance to explore some spots in our own area. With that in mind, I’ve made a list of Waterloo Region trails I’d like to explore over the summer months.
Top 10 parenting tips you need to know
It’s official! I survived! We recently celebrated our youngest daughter’s 18th birthday so I can proudly say I am now the mom of two young adults. As I paused to reflect on the last 21 years, I made a list of my top 10 parenting tips to share with you.
If you’re just starting your family, I hope these little nuggets of wisdom will be valuable. If you’re embarking on the teenage years, just know that everything will be okay.