lifestyle tips and tricks – household, holidays, kitchen and travel
For years I have wanted to create a beautiful gallery wall in our living room. I have the perfect wall picked out, and many times I’ve stared at it and have tried to inspire myself to finally create it. I have all of my favourite photos chosen, and even have the largest framed photo as the focal point,…
Holiday airfare is not only expensive, it sometimes can be impossible to book if you wait too long or need to change your plans. Saving money on holiday airfare also happens to be something that a lot of travellers think isn’t possible, but there are ways to shave dollars off normal fares, and even save…
Boo! It’s that time of year again to get your kids {and yourself!} dressed up for a night of fun! Halloween costumes can cost a lot {especially if you are buying costumes for twins or multiple children}, but if you know some ways to save money on them, your Halloween budget does not have to…
A couple weeks ago we went from hot summer weather one day and then the next it snowed for 3 days straight. From 30 above to freezing temps in just a matter of hours! So, I actually wasn’t sure if we’d see the fall season this year, it appeared to have bypassed us completely. Yet,…
With the day and age of digital photos upon us, it’s important to remember how to care for your photos. Digital photography is actually just a stage of photography that makes it easier to use and store photos. It is best to get them printed and have your digital records as a back up. There…
We remember last year all too well, right? By June May we were a lunch-making-hot-mess. I know I was! Well, it’s that time of year, parents – prepare yourself for 10 months of school lunch making! Right now we’ve got that drive since it’s just the beginning. We {hopefully} have built ourselves up over the summer to…
No matter how high an SPF or how well you layer sunscreen on yourself and your family, someone almost always comes home with sunburn after a trip to the beach {or simply driving with your arm out the window}. Usually burns happen in that spot you missed by accident or didn’t think about because it was…
What would you do to reduce your tax bill? Some Canadians have come up with creative ways to justify tax deductions and cut their tax owing. While some were rejected, many others were successful. Cleo Hamel, senior tax analyst with H&R Block Canada, shares some of these unusual deductions below, and breaks down what worked…
Being a parent isn’t cheap, especially when you have twins. Besides the cost of clothes, shoes, activities and toys, there are the everyday expenses associated with a home and family. So this tax season, wouldn’t it be nice to not owe the government any money? Making an error on your taxes can mean…
Holiday Shopping doesn’t have to break the bank and leave you crying on Boxing Day! There are plenty of ways that you can save money during the holidays, without feeling like scrooge. 12 Ways to Save Money this Holiday Season: Make a list and stick to it ~ Not only will you have an idea how how…
What are your Essential Herbs and Spices for Cooking? Last week I reached for one of my spices and noticed it had expired, umm, long ago {which goes to show I don’t look at their labels very often}. I have a cupboard full of herbs and spices, which I grab on a daily basis but…
In Kitchen Tips and Tricks, I covered ways to save time and money when cooking. That post listed ways to maximize the life of foods and help save a meal that’s heading for disaster. In this post, Household Help, Food and Cooking Secrets, I offer more household help in the form of food and cooking secrets….
Have you ever tried Freezing Dairy Products to Stretch your Grocery Budget? While shopping with a friend one time I seen a great deal on butter and scooped up at least a dozen and put them into my cart. My friend gave me the oddest look, she had no idea that butter could be frozen….
looking for some genius helpful kitchen tips and tricks? I tried a number of these, they work like a charm! Helpful Kitchen Tips and Tricks . 1. For smelly hands after chopping onions or garlic, rub them on a stainless steel spoon. The steel will absorb the odor. 2. Over-salt a pot of…
Looking for some Tips for Holiday Travel with Kids? For many, the holiday season means packing up the kids and traveling a distance, to gather with friends and family. We have done this with our 3 kids, and I even took on this task solo when my daughters and I had our Fisher-Price Photo Shoot in Toronto {yep, me…
Looking for a complete list of Canadian Restaurants where Kids Eat Free? Look no further! Back when the twins were younger, we could go to a restaurant and eat and they would share a meal. That was nice on the pocketbook. Now, not so much. A little secret? As kids get older, they eat…
On Halloween night, my camera will be coming with us from house to house. And hey, it’s Halloween, so chances are having your kids stand and pose for a photo, might be a tad difficult. Kids are running from house to house, making most Halloween photos all a blur. True, the blur can be a spooky effect,…