My daughter turned 4, about a month ago. And so, we entered the era of the FRIEND BIRTHDAY PARTY! I’m going to write a few posts about what we did to make the party easy for us, and fun for the kids. (Check out the whole series here) I realize that different people have very […]
Author: Laura
Weekly Reads: Ellen Pao and current events
I’ve been consuming too much news media this week. Have you been able to read about Harvey Weinstein’s decades long campaign of sexual assault, harassment and rape, without wanting to punch someone? No, me neither. Several times I’ve made the mistake of reading the comments. Bad idea. It’s always the woman’s fault: they always should […]
Classic Books for Young Children
Books are one of my favourite gifts to give to babies and small children. Before they really get interested in toys, books are a great way to show you care, without cluttering up someone else’s house with things their baby isn’t interested in. Here are some of my favourites focusing on older “classic” books: The […]
What to buy at the dollar store
Dollar stores are a relatively recent phenomenon in my neck of the woods. But with three department store chains having gone out of business in as many years, we’re all looking for new places to shop and save some money. Here’s what’s worth getting, and what isn’t: In the YES category … Craft supplies I […]
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Weekly Reads: garden resources
As I mentioned previously, I have (surprisingly) come to enjoy gardening in my adulthood. Autumn is a great time to reflect on what grew well this summer, make plans for next year, and plant some perennials. Here’s some resources I’ve found particularly useful lately: GardenWeb GardenWeb is a collection of forums on a vast array […]
Food Gifts for New Moms
I’ve reached the time in my life where babies seem to be coming out of the woodwork. First babies! Brand new, lovely smelling, teeny tiny babies. Like most people I like to bring a gift when meeting the baby for the first time. But these babies are usually well-equipped. They are fortunate to be born […]
Buying secondhand clothes for your kid
When my daughter was born, almost 4 years ago, I had a small collection of onesies and sleepers that awaited her arrival. They had been purchased new, washed in baby friendly detergent and carefully folded into her dresser. I knew I’d have to buy more clothes once the baby arrived, but I didn’t give much […]
- Food
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Weekly Reads: easy chicken stew
Welcome to Weekly Reads, where we share things we’ve found around the web. I’ve always liked chicken stew, but never knew how to make it. All the recipes I saw always seemed overly complicated. Until I came across the Smitten Kitchen Chicken Pot Pie recipe. I have no need to make pie crust ever in […]
How to write a wedding speech
So you have to write a speech. A speech for your much-loved sister’s wedding. “No problem!” you think. “This will be easy!” you say. You think of yourself as witty, and a good writer, it will be a breeze. Step 1: Procrastinate Speech writing is easy peasy! Not a problem. Do it later. Step 2: […]
Gardening with a toddler or preschooler
A few years ago my husband and I moved into a house. There was a sunny flat garden bed out back, and (to my surprise) I found myself getting interested in gardening. Growing vegetables has been surprisingly rewarding and often frustrating. I figure it’s good for me as a person. When my daughter outgrew babyhood, […]