January 31 is Hell Is Freezing Over Day—a day for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere to commiserate as we try to survive the cold, dark days of winter. If you’re not a fan of winter, today’s post has simple winter survival tips to help you get through the next few weeks.
Inspiring reads in my December 2025 blog roundup
Happy New Year! I wish you a year filled with peace, joy, and good health! Along with a summary of my writing activity last month, my December 2025 blog roundup has terrific posts on the scarcity mindset, and the joys of parenting.
The Sunday Spark – All I need this Christmas is …
In this week’s edition of The Sunday Spark, I reflect on the theme of love, and how all I need this Christmas is the love of family. Plus: a program to connect racialized Toronto youth with nature, the UK’s first all-electric football stadium, and China’s underwater data centre.
The Sunday Spark – The Joy of Singing
As we light the joy candle on the Advent wreath, I reflect on the joy of singing with the choir at this time of year. Along with the joy of singing, this week’s edition of The Sunday Spark looks at reforestation drones, the impact of congestion pricing in New York City, and the fun of a recycled gift exchange.
Throwback Thursday – Regifting etiquette to make your holiday budget go further
Today’s Throwback Thursday post from 2021 discusses regifting etiquette, and how smart regifting can relieve some of the financial stress many people feel at this time of year.
Christmas is coming…but feel free to wish me happy holidays!
As holiday preparations kick into high gear, it’s only a matter of time before the annual debate over Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays begins. Read on to find out why this discussion makes me shake my head, and why I’ll love it if you wish me happy holidays.
Inspiring reads in my November 2025 blog roundup
And just like that, the last month of 2025 is here. Along with a summary of my writing activity last month, my November 2025 blog roundup has terrific posts on the wisdom of age, an updated Christmas don’t want list, the value of a vision board, and rethinking our approach to post-secondary education.
Say NO to Black Friday and YES to Buy Nothing Day
Are you ready for the silly season to kick into high gear? Black Friday is coming up next week. This day best known for retail mayhem is also Buy Nothing Day—an opportunity to rethink out-of-control consumerism. Today, I look at the origins of Buy Nothing Day, and offer alternatives to heading to the malls on Friday.
Throwback Thursday – Restore calm with simpler holiday celebrations
Today’s Throwback Thursday post from 2023 has a roundup of tips and ideas for simpler holiday celebrations. Make this the year you restore calm and get back to the true meaning of the holidays.
The Sunday Spark – Using situation modification to overcome smartphone addiction
Smartphone addiction is a growing problem in society. Could a technique called situation modification be the key to overcoming it? Find out in this week’s edition of The Sunday Spark, along with information on Ontario’s upcoming recycling changes, good news for sea turtle conservation, and even better news on green energy adoption from Australia.