We could all use a little something to look forward to, and advent calendars are a super fun way to countdown the days to the holidays. Whether you have a kid or you're a kid at heart, here are 6 of the coolest advent calendars you've ever seen - for kids and grownups!

* Disclaimer: I am not going to hold back here... This is a brutally honest post from someone who had one child and stopped because she was so freaked out by the process of birth and the ickiness that followed...

What was the first thing everyone did when they found out I was pregnant seven years ago? Yep: started doling out advice, giving me their pregnancy and parenting books, emailing me articles and blogs and links to "must-have" baby products, etc.

So, here's the thing... we never lie to our son. 

A Halloween celebration wouldn't be complete without the right spooky music. Here are 13 tunes you need on your Halloween soundtrack to keep the frightful fun going all night long.

For kids, the true essence of Halloween isn't really about the pumpkins and the spookiness of it all - it's about the sugar!! Undoubtedly, your kids are going to have their fair share of treats for Halloween, so prepare one of these 8 nutritious Halloween-themed snacks and meals to offset th…

I know, I know... Halloween is just days away. But I've got you: here are 10 homemade costumes you can make in one night with basic stuff you have around your house.

My son has moved into the age of video games. And with the pandemic and my kiddo being an only child, plus the fact he's doing virtual learning, I wrestle with the idea of screentime because it's also his only "socializing" time. 

I'm sick of hearing how "Halloween is cancelled" or "Halloween is ruined" because of COVID. Halloween is a holiday... nothing is wrecked - it's still on the calendar. Now, our typical trick-or-treating, well, yes, this is definitely not going to happen in a pandemic. But there are loads of w…

Halloween may look different this year, but the spirit is alive. Be a hero for children in need this Halloween - UNICEF is calling on Canadian kids and families to turn their trick-or-treating steps into a walk-a-thon. No matter how you’re celebrating, you can be a Halloween Hero and “walk-a…

Fall is an easy time to plan some craft projects because nature has provided you with all the supplies you need! Take a walk or go on a hike, collect some coloured leaves, acorns, pinecones, and more, and try out these 5 crafts for kids to do while at home.

I am grateful. I am soooo grateful. I have a warm and wonderful home, and a partner to share my life with, and I have a beautiful and healthy little boy who literally makes my heart sing every single day. I was thinking about a church homily I heard once about planning for the future but als…

Is there anything more beautiful than fall? The gorgeous foliage, the cool crisp air, and the pumpkin-spice everything - it's all so invigorating. If you're looking for something fun to do to celebrate the autumnal season, check out some of these activities that offer fall fun around the city.

It's happening... as we move into a "red zone," it looks like a second wave of COVID is upon us.

I've found throughout this pandemic, it's easier to just take things one day at a time. Things changed so quickly at the onset of this thing that I had to think this way instead of going nuts... I'm a very planned-out, organized person, so flying by the seat of my pants was no easy feat. But…

Well, excuse my French, but this is a f*cked up birthday! Haha - in my group of friends, we celebrate 40's with a BANG: vacations and chalet rentals and NO KIDS. So, that's not happening... at least, not right now.

This year we are taking part in virtual learning. We were able to jump through the provincial government's ridiculous hoops and obtain a medical exemption letter so he'd be taught at home remotely by teachers (and this mama wouldn't have to take on homeschooling solo... for those of you who …

I'm annoyed. No, more like pissed. I think we parents have all been very patient... we went along with things when they cancelled school for a month and then the rest of the school year, we waited patiently these last few weeks of summer, and now we're coming upon the new school year, and wh…

One of my favourite things to do when I was a kid was to paint on a canvas. There was something about an actual canvas that was different from ordinary paper - it felt "official," and I'd take much more time creating my works of art knowing I was doing them on such a valued commodity.

I've learned, in my seven years of being a mom, that my purse, or what's inside my purse, that can really be a lifeline in a tricky or stressful kid situation. So I always have certain things tucked away in my purse that, if I weren't a mom, I wouldn't necessarily have, but they've saved me …

AHHHHHHH witching hour!!!!!!! You know, that horrendous hour before bedtime where you've exhausted all of your energy and "vroom vroom" sounds and creative mommy or daddy ideas, and you're just counting down the seconds till bath and bedtime?!

Summer... it's startin' to drag a bit, no? Don't get me wrong: I love having my bean home with me. But by the end of a week, where I'm not only trying to work from home but give him a great summer, saying "I'm pooped" is the understatement of the year!

On a scale from 1 to desperate, I think bribing my kids with toys to stay in bed when they wake up in the middle of the night really only falls around 2.

If asked to list important skills to teach their children, most parents might propose social skills, problem-solving, or creativity as necessary to their children’s future success. While developing these abilities is recommended, there is one skill that often fails to come up on lists of thi…

I recently heard a mommy-friend say she doesn't want to go anywhere with her kids where she's not in control of her environment. 

"Mommy... daddy... come play with me."

When the summer season was approaching, I was worried that COVID-19 would limit my “summer fun” and that I’d be stuck in the house every day! However, in attempt to make the most of my summer, I’ve found a few places that I feel safe visiting.

Summer is definitely a time to put school days behind us and relax a little... but it's also a great time to get some extra help around the house. It's important that kids of all ages pitch in at home, and there are chores that kids as well as teens can easily do. Make it obligatory or an al…

Our summers are usually spent exploring our amazing city. We love taking the bus and metro to museums, restaurants, and other great sites, wandering the streets, hitting as much pavement as possible. This summer was obviously different. After having my bean home for three months leading up t…

Happy Canada Day everyone! Usually, our Canada Day is all about barbecues with friends, taking in the fireworks, and doing a lot of socializing. With this year's "circumstances," we're doing things a little differently this year.

Big Canada Day parties are out this year, but that doesn't mean you have to forgo celebrating our amazing country, especially with everything that is going on.

Summertime means lots of water fun, but the pool and other bodies of water can be extremely dangerous too. Even a shallow plastic kiddie pool can become a potential drowning risk. All too often over the summer season, we read about children succumbing to the dangers of swimming, so we want t…

In years past I went nuts making homemade teacher thank-you gifts. We made them for all the teachers the bean had, from his main teachers to the gym, music and art teachers, lunch monitors, etc. I loved putting together little pedicure kits with tags that said "Have a toe-tally amazing summe…

Holidays in the last few months have looked a little, well, different, but there are still lots of fun ways to celebrate dad. The only thing that matters is that you're all together as a family. So, here's how to enjoy Father's Day... social-distancing style.

The countdown is on.... EIGHT MORE DAYS OF SCHOOL! I have never looked so forward to the end of the school year as much as I am this year. Don't get me wrong: I think my son's teacher did an AMAZING job going to virtual learning - it's gotta be super tough on the teachers to adjust their tea…

Do we share too much information on social media?

Yes, you read that right... when schools closed on Friday, March 13th, I did one big grocery store order, and I had not stepped foot in a public place since. My husband is still working and he offered to then also be in charge of errands and groceries. So I happily compiled (truth be told, I…

If you were to tell us parents, three months ago, that our kids would be on lockdown with no school and no access to friends for weeks and weeks, we would have thought: no way. No way can our kids handle that. They'll go squirrely. They'll go nuts. They'll make us nuts.

Creating a baby registry, especially when you're a first-time parent, can be extremely daunting - there are just so many products out there, and with little to no experience using any of them, how should you choose?

How many times do parents of children with autism wish we knew a meltdown was on its way? How many times have parents said, I never saw it coming!  If I had, I would have gotten in, and reminded my child about using their calming down strategies to nip it in the bud.

Having only one child who just turned 8 years old late last year, I’ve only had the pleasure (is that the right word?) of two back-to-school experiences. Kindergarten doesn’t count since that was a first-time deal, and all new from the get-to.  I am by no means a back-to-school expert.

I don't think I realized how difficult it is to be a mom until I became a mom myself. How could I? Plus, I had a mom who made it look super easy.

So dads: Mother's Day is all on you this year. The kids won't be bringing home homemade gifts from daycare and school, so you're going to have to step it up. But don't worry - I've got you covered.

I said it during my entire pregnancy, but don't we all: "I'm never doing this again." But when I said never, I actually growled it. Truth be told, I kinda knew deep down, while I felt the bean rolling around in there, that I really wasn't going to do it again. Not because it wasn't a good ex…

Hooray for spring and warm weather and being outside (and, when it's raining, crafting like we're outside)! My bean is much more grown now, but we always kept busy doing all sorts of fun activities when spring arrived and I thought we'd share our favourite springtime crafts.

We’ve all been here for the better part of 40 days, at least here in Quebec. Self-isolated, self-quarantined. Doing it for ourselves, for our neighbours, for our elderly relatives. For our healthcare workers. For our country.

Oh my goodness I want to shop!! I want to walk around a mall, ANY mall, even the crappy ones with just as many kiosks as there are stores. I want to buy senseless things I don't need and come home and open the packaging and not have to wipe it all down with bleach first. I want to eat in the…

Feel like getting out? Why not head to the museum... virtually, of course. You can tour some of the world's most popular museums safely from your own home, and take the whole family on an adventure filled with culture, art, science, space and more. Let's go!