3 Easy Ways to Share Your Childhood with Your Kids #StreamTeam

February 22, 2016 by Kathryn 1 Comment

One of my favourite things about being a parent is getting to share some of my own childhood with my boys. From food to activities to television shows, it’s such a great feeling seeing my boys get excited about the same things that used to fill my heart with happiness at their age. Looking for ways to share a few special moments with your kids? These are my top three ways to let my kids see what I loved most as a child!

Grandma’s Special Dinners

When I was young, my mom had a few meals that were only made on special occasions. Her famous Shrimp Curry Crepes, luscious Spinach Lasagna, Chocolate Chip Meringues…we knew that our favourite dishes were pretty much only going to be served when we made a special request on our birthdays or other occasions. Now, I share those foods and memories with my boys by occasionally whipping up some of the same meals for our own dinners! And in a slight rebellion, I usually do it on an ordinary day instead of a special occasion…to make that ordinary day special! [Read more…]

Sharing My Childhood Memories with New Air Wick® Life Scents™ #MyScentStory

April 9, 2015 by Kathryn 24 Comments

My home may be old and need a lot of updates, but it’s also full of memories. The house in which I’m raising my boys was my home as a child and every room is full of stories from my own youthful days. In a few months, I’ll be moving away and leaving this memory-filled home once and for all. And as I show the house off to potential buyers, I find that the memories are flooding back even faster.

This century-old two-story house isn’t very big, but its cozy feel is partly what I love about it. When I was a child, one of my favourite activities was curling up in a corner of the living room with a good book while my mom baked up something delicious. Even though she worked all week long, she always made time to cook and bake on weekends. Being born in Finland, some of her favourite recipes were ones from that country and the sweet, spicy smell of Piparkakut, spiced Christmas cookies, or Pulla, a cardamom-scented yeast bread, are ones that instantly put a smile on my face.

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Get Nostalgic While You Make Extra Money with Used.ca #FirstCrush

January 30, 2015 by Kathryn 36 Comments

I have to admit that I have a bit of a hoarding tendency. To me, objects are memories and whether I’m looking at the grotesque clay mask I made in art class in Grade 7 or the railroad spike I found while crossing the old trestle with a group of friends in Grade 9, seeing those objects always has me thinking about so many amazing moments. In fact, even the house I live in is full of memories, since it’s the one in which I was raised.

But now it seems that I may be moving in 2015 and that means that not only will I be leaving the home I know so well once and for all, I will also need to do a lot of downsizing. Getting rid of some things will be easy. After all, I never really use that juicer so why keep it? But others, the items that are holding memories for me…those will be harder to lose.

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Learn to Read for FREE with a 4 WEEK Trial of Reading Eggs!

October 21, 2014 by Kathryn 57 Comments

Reading Eggs provides a comprehensive range of online reading lessons and e-books that teach kids ages 3-13 the literacy skills needed for a lifetime of reading success. Over 90% of parents using Reading Eggs report a noticeable improvement in their child’s reading skills because the program makes learning phonics and basic reading skills fun. Your child can progress through the one-on-one lessons at their own pace and you can track their learning with regular progress reports and assessments.

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Increasing Family Time-Goals for a New Year #MomTrust

January 6, 2014 by Kathryn 35 Comments

I often say that I think of the New Year as a time to set goals rather than resolutions. My goals change every year. Sometimes a goal gets renewed for another year. But the most important thing is taking the time to evaluate and see how I can create the best life possible for myself and my family.

My boys are a huge part of that goal setting process and this year in particular, spending time with them is a focus for me. It’s so easy to get caught up in the busy routine of our lives and not realize that time, and our children’s youth, is quickly slipping away. As part of the Playtex Mom Trust program, I was asked to share my goals for the coming year and hopefully provide some inspiration to other parents setting their own goals. So to ensure that my boys and I are both enjoying their childhood, these will be three of my goals for the coming year:

1) I Will Make Time for Fun

My boys and I got to have all kinds of amazing experiences last year, from our first trip to Disneyland to a fabulous vacation at the Beaches Resort in Jamaica to a road trip to the West Edmonton Mall. Those are memories that will last a lifetime, but they were interspaced by weeks and weeks of routine. Some of life’s best experiences are ones we have at home, so one day each weekend, I will be exclusively planning a fun activity with my boys. Whether we head to the kitchen to make cookies together or pack a picnic and spend the day at the park, I will be making consistent quality time with my boys one of my top priorities. [Read more…]