Family

Working From Home? How to Set Up Your Office for Maximum Productivity

March 19, 2019 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

For many people, especially moms paying hefty daycare fees, working from home is the dream. There’s no need for child care, you can be there at school pick up, you can even do housework in between jobs.

But while any work-from-home mothers will tell you it’s wonderful not having to place your little ones in the care of strangers, working an intensive job from your laptop while the kids are fussing and the dirty dishes are piling up is plenty stressful at times too. At least with working in corporate setting, there are less distractions!

Despite those challenges, though, I’ll always prefer working from home. The lack of hierarchy and office politics is certainly welcome. You’re the IT person, stationery supplier and even fire safety representative (even if all the job really entails is buying a fire extinguisher sign). But it can often be difficult to work to your full potential with so many distractions and sticky hands that require your attention. Balancing home responsibilities with work done at home is tough!

So, with that in mind, here are a few simple home office productivity tips that will help you make the most of your time working from home: [Read more…]

6 Natural Alternative to Commercial Pet Products

March 19, 2019 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

I love my cat and dog, but they can be expensive. With so many pet products to choose from, I often choose a budget brand for certain purchases. But some cheaper products are made of harmful or unhealthy ingredients. In that situation, choosing a natural product can be a better choice for my pets and the environment.

If buying a more expensive natural product just isn’t feasible for your budget, you can often make your own. Or do some comparison shopping for natural products to find the cheapest prices. These six items are a great place to start looking for some natural alternatives!

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Grilling For Easy Entertaining

February 14, 2019 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

Hosting a dinner party should be a pleasant experience, but too often it can turn into a stressful ordeal instead. It can be daunting to divide your attention between meal preparation and your guests’ conversations.

Then, there is also the challenge of figuring out in what order to cook foods so that everything turns out just right.

But what if there was something that could help you breeze through all this mayhem? Well, there is, and it’s likely right there in your back yard: your grill!

Here are three reasons you should be firing up your grill and using your favourite BBQ party menu ideas when entertaining guests:

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Lawyer Jeremy Diamond Talks Balance, Work and Family with His Wife, Sandra Zisckind

November 29, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

It was a mere 6 years ago when Jeremy Diamond and his wife, Sandra Zisckind, started an ambitious mission to change the world of personal injury law. Since then, Diamond and Diamond has transformed into Canada’s fastest growing personal injury firm, including partnerships with The Toronto Maple Leafs, Raptors, and Calgary Flames.

Just last year, Diamond and Diamond made the transition to a full service firm, extending offerings to wills, real estate, employment, immigration and more.

As a busy parent that believes in the importance of work life balance, I interviewed Jeremy Diamond and Sandra Zisckind, to get a better understanding of how they juggle the demands of marriage and children.

jeremy-diamond-sandra-zisckind

Q: What are the challenges you face as a working parent in today’s busy culture?

Sandra Zisckind: The biggest challenge we face is time management. There are only so many hours in a day. We want to be able to grow our business, while also attending to the needs of our injured clients. Work takes up a lot of my time, but if I wasn’t there for my children as much as I could be it would really start to affect me. So I decided the jobs that don’t require all my attention can be outsourced in some way. You have to relinquish some control.

Jeremy Diamond: I try to prioritize and schedule things around my kids’ schedules, whether that is hobbies like sports or other social commitments. The kids need to feel like they’re #1 and that they’re not being passed over for work. We try to have at least one parent there for all major events, and Sandra and I do our best to split that evenly.

Q: How do you instill the importance of hard work in your kids, while also stressing the importance of a work/life balance?

Jeremy Diamond: Our kids are smart. They know that the lifestyle we have created did not materialize out of nowhere. I think it is important to allow your kids to see you stressed sometimes. It shows the importance of sacrifice. From that, they learn that success comes from long hours and fortitude, while also understanding the importance of work life balance.

Sandra Zisckind: My little one often gets sad when we have to go away on business trips. Sometimes in the morning she asks me if I’m going to work on a plane or a car. We work hard to make sure our kids know we’re there for them. The other day there was a moment of validation when my little one said, “Mommy, when I grow up I want to go to work and be a lawyer just like you.”

Q: What was it like going from being a married couple to working together day to day?

Sandra Zisckind: Actually, that part was easy because we are able to separate the two. We’ve always been quite good at compartmentalizing things that way. We know we have each other’s backs no matter what. The hard part is turning it off. I’ve learned that when you find yourself in an argument with your spouse, it’s best to turn around, compose yourself with a deep breath and then come back to the topic at hand. You never want to say things you regret, especially if children are around.

Jeremy Diamond: We make rules around turning off. We used to say that when we were home we wouldn’t talk business but that’s simply not feasible. Being an entrepreneur is a 24-hour endeavour. But even with all the ups and downs, we are closer than ever. A lot of marriages can weaken with time and we haven’t experienced that, which is nice to know.

business desk

While living together, working together and raising their children can be a challenge at times, having clear boundaries and set priorities clearly helps the couple maintain their relationship and balance the joys and stresses of their busy lifestyle.

Five Fun and Family-Friendly Things To Do in the Fall

September 13, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

Summer is drawing to a close and you’ve had a blast. The kids have been entertained all summer long and you’ve made memories that they’ll keep with them forever.

Days at the beach and the lake, holidays to a new part of the country (or even a new continent), BBQs, outdoor adventures and long days filled with sunshine. It’s no wonder that so many of us feel deflated when the leaves begin to fall!

But don’t worry; just because autumn is coming doesn’t mean that the fun has to stop! Check out these five things to do in the fall for a fun-filled family autumn and you can carry on making memories to last a lifetime.

Bring in the Harvest

Autumn is a time for harvesting, and that includes you too – not just the farmers! Why not take a trip to a local orchard or fruit farm, and spend the day picking apples, berries, plums or the perfect pie pumpkin? Or if you have apple or peach trees in your garden, dedicate an afternoon to picking the fruit and turning it into pies, jellies and other deliciously warming treats. The kids will love being able to pick fruit and then help turn it into tasty treats. And eating freshly harvested fruit is always fun too! [Read more…]

My Open Letter to the Daughter I Gave Away

May 20, 2018 by Kathryn 9 Comments

Darling Daughter,

It’s hard for me to believe that you turned eighteen just a few months ago. It seems like just yesterday that I was eighteen myself, and navigating the difficult journey that took me from child to adult. I remember how confusing the teenage years can be. How they can make you question yourself, wonder what your future holds, dwell on every little misstep you take.

I know that you’ve had a childhood filled with joy and security, but I worry that you might also be feeling a little more lost than other teenagers right now, and possibly wondering how you came to have the parents and the life that you do.

I know your parents explained to you that you were adopted as soon as you were old enough to understand what that meant. I’m sure they also told you that they love you fully and completely and every bit as much as any parents love their child. I hope you were able to understand how true their words were, and how much of a blessing you were to their lives.

But I know that there’s one question you’ll probably ask eventually, if you haven’t already, and it’s one that your parents can’t answer. The question is, “why?” Why did your “real” mother, the woman that gave birth to you, give you away to somebody else? I don’t know if you’ve ever voiced that question, but I’m sure it’s haunted your thoughts at times.

Since the day I gave birth to you, I couldn’t help but notice how many television shows and movies showcased emotional, touching renditions of an adopted child meeting her birth mother for the first time. That question, the why, was always the first one asked. And the answers, always the same, had me scoffing in disgust every time.

“I was young. I didn’t know how to take care of a baby. I didn’t have anyone to help me. I was all alone.” These are true statements for many women that make the choice I made, and a lot of them were true for me, but I can assure you that none are the reason a mother gives her baby away.

The answer to that “why,” the answer I believe is almost every birth mother’s answer to the question, is this: I cared more about what was best for you than I did about what was best for me. I had to decide between giving you the most promising life and future I possibly could…or keeping you with me. And I loved you so much that I was willing to lose a piece of my heart for a lifetime, if it meant that you would have a life of happiness and prosperity and opportunity.

In this age of social media, I’ve been able to learn a bit more about you than you might know. I’ve seen ample proof over the years that the decision I made was the right one. I knew it when your parents sent me some of their favourite photos from your first few years of life, and I know it now, having seen you as a smiling and confident teenager. I’m sure your life will continue to be full of opportunity and I’m sure that you’ll accomplish anything you set your mind to.

But through it all, if you ever start to wonder, if you ever start to worry, if you ever start to feel like you aren’t good enough…remember this. Every single day since you were born, I have loved you. And for every single day to come in the future, I will keep loving you.

Letting somebody else take you out of my arms was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I would do it again a thousand times to ensure your happiness. And you will always have the piece of my heart that I gave you the day you were born. From the beginning, and for always, I would do anything for you.

Love Always,

Your Mother

Kick Off the New Year with New Original Series on Netflix Canada

January 30, 2018 by Kathryn 2 Comments

The start of a new year is something that always fills me with fresh energy. I get to plan coming events, set goals and anticipate all the fun that will fill my family’s coming months.

And in between all the fun and activities, I’ll be relaxing and unwinding with some of my favourite series and movies on Netflix! Like me, Netflix embraces the start of the new year…by introducing tons of new shows!

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Thinking About Adopting a Cat? Read This First!

October 13, 2017 by Kathryn 23 Comments

I often mention how I didn’t realize I was a cat person until I had my Siamese-cross Racer. But after experiencing her love and affection (not to mention her fierce independence), I can’t imagine anything more satisfying than having kitty love in my life.

There are many things that get better with age, and a feline friend is one of them! If you’re thinking about adopting a kitten or know someone who is, ask that they consider a senior cat instead. Sure, kittens are cute, but adult cats have a great deal going for them. Read and share this list of why adopting a senior cat might be right for you!

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