07 Jan

Posted at 06:13h in Lifestyle, Mental Wellness, Self Care by
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mommy-wars1

A few weeks ago, my husband and I went to our first prenatal class.
It was mostly about relaxation techniques that could be used during labour, and that aspect of the class was very informative. There was, however, little information provided on drug-related pain relief like epidurals and the instructor seemed to discourage the use of any “interventions” that could ease pain and/or speed up delivery.  I left the class feeling judged and unsupported in my possible choices during childbirth.

06 Jan

Posted at 06:09h in Lifestyle, Mental Wellness, Self Care by
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When my husband and I met and fell in love, our cultural and religious differences had a definite impact on the evolution of our relationship.
I was a non-practicing Jew.  He was a semi-practicing Catholic, Filipino.  We realized family_blogreally early on that in order for us to thrive and grow as a couple, compromise would have to be at the root of what defined us.    It took lots of practice, several fights and a tremendous amount of effort, but I feel that we’ve really mastered this art and compromise now plays a HUGE role in how we are raising our son.

13 Dec

Posted at 06:02h in Lifestyle by
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sold-sign

For some, buying a home without a buyer’s agent seems like an easy enough thing... You get pre-approved at the bank, visit countless places until you fall upon the one you love and put in an offer.
But, did you know that since the new Real Estate Brokerage Act came into force on May 1, 2010, buyers are no longer represented in a real estate transaction when dealing directly with the listing broker.
This is one of the many reasons it is so important to have your own representation and work with a buyer’s broker when looking to purchase a property.

12 Dec

Posted at 06:30h in Lifestyle by
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Although the pastry world today is trending towards more rustic and homestyle desserts reminiscent of the stuff your grandmother used to make, there is still something to be said for classic, fancy-type pastry. Sometimes, it's  comforting to sink your teeth into a fraisier, croissant aux amandes, or mille feuille, despite their highfalutin appearance and composition.

10 Dec

Posted at 06:37h in Lifestyle by
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It’s that time of year again; that time when you realize it’s three weeks until New Year’s Eve and you still don’t have any plans. The story is always the same, every year you vow that next year you will get your act together early and plan something great, but then the holiday season rolls around, and you are so preoccupied with gift buying, holiday parties and the thousands of other things on your to-do list that you just end up in the same predicament year after year after year.

06 Dec

Posted at 06:45h in Lifestyle, Mental Wellness, Self Care by
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  In my private practice, I work with many couples who are struggling to improve their communication and closeness with their partner. They are often frustrated with their lack of together time but unfortunately have a difficult time prioritizing it. Somewhere along the way, between late night feedings, demanding jobs, housework and hockey practice, they lost their way.

04 Dec

Posted at 06:45h in Lifestyle by
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So, the time has come again where I attended and event… however, this time I was invited as someones guest. [caption id="attachment_3716" align="alignright" width="150"] It seems as though this is the only date I've experienced in a while![/caption] Not just anyone's guest, but I went with cousin. Yup,...

04 Dec

Posted at 06:33h in Lifestyle by
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Ingredients for Easy Pasta Dinner

This pasta dinner is an easy winner.
Is it the bacon? Probably - because really, all things are truly better with bacon. But if real bacon isn't your thing - this recipe is worth the try with either chicken or turkey bacon. Friends, it's time to really put away the BBQ for the season (there is a BBQ season and this isn't it!) and come back into the kitchen for the kind of meal that you can make in 15 minutes, slice a beautiful baguette, pour a rich red wine and share around a table with family or friends. This recipe has been adapted from Bon Apetit's September 2004 magazine.  Enjoy!

03 Dec

Posted at 06:31h in Lifestyle, Mental Wellness, Self Care by
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I really love surprises, so my husband and I have decided not to find out our baby’s gender.
Given this unknown, people have been asking me whether I have a preference for a boy or a girl. Honestly I answer that I have none; all that I want after the journey it took us to get pregnant is a healthy baby. However, lately I’ve started to put those worries aside and imagine life as a mother. I’ve wondered: what are my expectations for this child? What kind of person do I want he or she to become?

babypiano

02 Dec

Posted at 18:31h in Lifestyle by
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This novel is great for group discussions.  Maynard has the skill to write about family issues right where it hurts.  The story revolves around two girls who were born in the same town, on the same night and in the same hospital.  They happen to be neighbours and are forever known as the "Birthday Sisters".

29 Nov

Posted at 06:32h in Lifestyle by
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[caption id="attachment_3267" align="alignright" width="225"]Staging - Before Bedroom BEFORE: A guest room before "feeling the love"[/caption]
Many of us have a guest room in our home, but sadly it is a place that we don't want anyone seeing, let alone having a guest stay in!
These rooms tend to get the scraps of our furniture, art, and bedding, making it feel more like a storage space than a temporary home for our friends and family.

27 Nov

Posted at 06:20h in Lifestyle by
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Here I go again with some more holiday decorating.
In my defence, my birthday is Christmas day. Now that I have kids, it is all about them, and I am of no importance that day! So, I permit myself to take advantage of putting up the decorations early and enjoying every minute of it!

27 Nov

Posted at 06:13h in Lifestyle, Mental Wellness, Self Care by
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One of my very best friends is having her first baby in a few months and I cannot be more thrilled for her.
She is a wonderful person who is patient, kind and loving....all the components necessary for becoming an amazing mama.  Soon, she will have the honor of wearing her well-deserved motherhood badge and will plunge into the ever-so-glamorous world of poop, spit-up, mommy-guilt and exhaustion.

24 Nov

Posted at 10:07h in Lifestyle by
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In this age of Do It Yourself home improvement and Do It Yourself decorating, the Do It Yourself home seller has found their niche.  “For Sale By Owner” signs populate the real estate landscape, earning their homeowners the nickname FSBO, (pronounced Fizbo).  Are you an aspiring Fizbo?  Before you take the plunge into DIY real estate you need to consider the pros and cons and ask yourself some important questions.

21 Nov

Posted at 06:38h in Lifestyle, Mental Wellness, Self Care by
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Child behind the wheelThe number one question I get in my parent workshops on bullying and Internet safety is how to effectively control the amount of time kids spend online. From the time they are old enough to swipe their sticky baby fingers across a touchscreen straight on through high school, parents worry that way too much time is spent in front of the screens of various devices.

20 Nov

Posted at 06:20h in Lifestyle by
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Chicken Pot Pie in 2 Easy Steps

I have 2 weaknesses when it comes to the kitchen. The first are recipes that are "one bowl" or "2 steps" - but worse than that are recipes that are from name brands. At first I was a skeptic -that was until I tried my first. Now, I'm always ready to try recipes from the brands that make them. It kind of makes sense that they would know best, right? I would recommend starting with Kraft. The selection of recipes and amount of information on their website is incredible. Each recipe has it all: photos, prep time, total servings and best of all, nutritional info per serving. Check it out at: www.kraftcrecipes.com