4 Ways to Make Busy School Mornings Easier on the Whole Family

October 26, 2016 by Kathryn 32 Comments

There’s so much that can sidetrack a family on a busy morning. From picky kids to forgotten homework to unpacked lunches, getting kids fed, clothed and out the door on their way to school can feel downright impossible sometimes. Luckily, I’ve done quite well at setting a morning routine this year and for the most part, even a busy morning goes quite smoothly. But some days, it seems like the morning brings nothing but challenges. So, when Quaker Canada offered to send me a special package to help manage those busy mornings and share my experience, I was thrilled. Here’s what I learned after a week:

1) A Little Nighttime Preparation Makes Mornings Easier

My oldest son loves oatmeal for breakfast and usually there’s enough time to put the kettle on, boil water and make him a couple packages of his favourite Quaker Instant Oatmeal. But some mornings, even that few extra minutes of breakfast preparation can make the morning feel rushed. So, for the first time last week, I tried Overnight Oats. I’d heard a lot about the concept in the last few months. Just mix equal parts oats and liquid, and then add toppings, sweetener and flavouring as desired. I used milk as the liquid and added blueberries and maple syrup for flavour, then refrigerated the mixture overnight. The next morning, Zackary sat down to a delicious, creamy and hearty breakfast…no extra time required! [Read more…]

Bedtime is More Peaceful with Cloud b Twilight Buddies

September 8, 2015 by Kathryn 2 Comments

Ever since my boys were just babies, Cloud b has been one of my very favourite toy companies. Its innovative products help encourage a peaceful sleeping environment while also helping children to feel safe and comfortable in bed. From the Mimicking Monkey to the Twilight Sea Turtle, my boys have had a Cloud b animal friend in their beds for years.

Now, the company has introduced a brand new line of plush friends to the Cloud b family…Twilight Buddies! These adorable and huggable animals feature a built-in projection light that creates a pattern of stars on the ceiling at bedtime. I received the Twilight Buddies Palomino to review and I fell in love with the cuddly creature as soon as I pulled it out of the box. [Read more…]

Rock the New School Year with 3 Tips for Healthy, Happy Kids

August 21, 2015 by Kathryn 22 Comments

I’ve always found that summer seems to fly by, but this year that’s been even more true than usual! Since we sold our house at the end of July, packing and moving took up the first half of the season. And now, before I could blink, it’s almost time to start school again!

With all the stress and disorganization of the last few months, I’m especially determined that my boys will be starting school feeling their best this year. These are the three ways that I make sure Zackary and Benjamin are happy, healthy and ready for learning come September!

1) Sticking to a Bedtime Routine

As hard as I try, I find that my boys’ usual bedtime routine tends to fall to pieces over the summer months. Vacations, outdoor fun and other summer activities result in bedtime being irregular at best and non-existent at worst. Two weeks before school starts, I make a move to change that with a set bedtime schedule. Starting at 7:30, I turn off all electronics, give the boys a dose of Orange Naturals Sleep Tight for Kids, have them brush their teeth and then read them a bedtime story. Starting this before summer ends ensures that they’ll be well rested when the first day of school arrives! [Read more…]

Refresh Your Spring Beauty Routine with Simple Homemade Body Scrub and Eucerin

April 24, 2014 by Kathryn 51 Comments

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.

I have incredibly soft skin and it’s something that I want to maintain for as long as possible. So I’m quite proactive about making sure that my skin stays healthy and moisturized. Unfortunately, living in Saskatchewan and dealing with its harsh winter weather, that can be difficult to do! This winter was an especially hard one, but it’s finally come to a close and now that it has, I want to step up my beauty routine and ensure that I’m ready to bare a little skin this summer!

Healthy skin is something that I achieve in two simple steps: exfoliating and moisturizing. For exfoliation, I often make my own body scrub using kosher salt or sea salt, olive oil and essential oil. It works great and leaves my skin so smooth. And best of all, it takes just minutes to make! [Read more…]

Feel Fresher with the Cottonelle Care Routine and Cottonelle FreshCare Flushable Cleansing Cloths #LetsTalkBums

October 16, 2013 by Kathryn 8 Comments

Recently, I attended the fabulous Canadian blogging conference BlissDom Canada, and while I was there, I had the chance to learn about the new Cottonelle Care Routine, featuring Cottonelle Fresh Care Flushable Cleansing Cloths. Now I have to admit, I have used these flushable cleansing cloths in the past and I am already a fan. For a mom with younger children, they are especially handy for making sure that little bums are clean after using the bathroom.

But now, Cottonelle Fresh Care Flushable Cleansing Cloths are even better thanks to the sleek new dispenser that is perfect for refilling again and again. I received the new dispenser and an assortment of other Cottonelle products to test out recently and I couldn’t wait to see how they worked for my family. [Read more…]