This post is sponsored by Merck Canada. The opinions on this blog, as always, are my own.
It was just two weeks ago that an email landed in my inbox: “Physical Education Form – Please Sign”. Normally I skim over such permission slips, but this time, the words seemed to jump off the page –
We will examine some aspects of sexuality, including sexual characteristics, sexual identity, and sexual roles. We will review the changes of puberty and the development of male and female fertility. We will discuss sexually transmitted diseases, and how to prevent them.
It suddenly hit me – I’ll soon have brand new teenager in the house. And he’s almost TALLER than me.
Conversations that I’d convinced myself I could put off for months (years?) suddenly became a priority. And while I know that my boy’s father will take the reins for much of the “talk”, as a woman, and as a Canadian mother to boys who may choose to become sexually active in the coming years, it’s my responsibility to openly discuss HPV infection, cervical cancer and how to help protect against both. By getting vaccinated to help protect himself against HPV, his own risk of getting infected is reduced and he may, in turn, be less likely to transmit HPV to his partner(s). …
First impression: the styling is gorgeous. I expected the 2021 Toyota Sienna to be spacious – but I didn’t expect it to be sexy. The interior boasts a clean and streamlined design with a sleek dashboard, a 9-inch floating touchscreen infotainment system and the innovative Bridge Console, which is the key to allocating personalized space to the driver and front passenger. …
There’s no doubt it’s more important than ever to file correctly and get every dollar we deserve. However, finding work/ life balance in COVID times is also a challenge; both my kids have been learning from home for almost a year, and in between being a parent, entrepreneur, photographer, at-home chef, armchair therapist… sigh, the list goes on!… I don’t necessarily have the time or energy to prepare my own taxes. My main goal heading into this tax season was to obtain the largest possible tax refund while staying safe at home. …
The brand-new 
Although the pandemic has reduced the number of flights available, and most people have no interest in travelling if there’s no vaccine for COVID-19, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be planning your next trip now.
I’ve invested in so many things over the years – a new home, new car, my career, my children – I’d finally realized that it was time to invest in my well-being. …
The HUAWEI P40 Pro boasts a Quad Vision Leica Camera, which allows you to take extraordinary photos at any time of day and at any distance. In a world where we use “the Cadillac of…” to describe the cream of the crop, ladies, Leica cameras are the Cadillac of smartphone cameras. Let’s talk specs:
Enter 
Now that we’ve officially spent 3/4 of the year getting used to our “new normal”, there’s an unspoken willingness among friends, family and fellow parents to simply move forward. No, 2020 isn’t what we expected. Yes, we will pivot and adjust.
Myth #1: Quality skin care costs a lot of money.
Cheese, ham and egg goodness in a handheld breakfast bar – yes please! My husband, our resident breakfast chef, adapted the 
We decided to use the mix to make waffles, and since I just needed to add water, prep work was a breeze. Skipping the syrup, we instead dipped our waffles in natural colour candy melts for a flash of colour and birthday fun. Aren’t they just too cute for words? …
I know hamburgers are a family fave, and normally I wouldn’t try to mess with a good thing. However, I think I’ve found THE BEST way to enjoy your burger this summer – by swapping classic hamburger buns with 
Be still my heart! It’s no surprise that many Canadian families are rediscovering their love for home-cooked meals – and reveling in the bonding that comes with it – while we stay home. Since my boys now eagerly join me during meal prep, I’ve made it a priority to try nutritious recipes that keep them entertained and egg-cited about cooking! …
There comes a point in most children’s lives where they sincerely want to help out in the kitchen. (And let’s be honest: mini chefs are the best.) Whether it’s baking with mom or helping dad prepare breakfast in bed, the enthusiasm with which kids stretch their culinary expertise is downright precious.
If you’re fortunate to have flexibility in your work and home life, here’s why last minute vacations are a great option:
3) Focus on building the boys’ RESPs. It feels like I blinked and suddenly, my sons will be 12 and 10 years old! Although I created an RESP for each of them many years ago, I’ll admit that I’ve majorly slacked when it comes to contributions. …