Chicago!! Wordless Wednesday

 

RSVP'ing and other important manners

 

 

RSVP 

Abbreviation

Répondez s'il vous plaît, or please reply (used at the end of invitations to request a response).

An abbreviation often included in invitations to request that the invitee let the host know if he or she will be attending. From the French term, "Répondez si'l vous plaît," which means "please reply."
(www.businessdictionary.com)



It is so simple really. A quick reply to say you can make it or not. You would think it is easier now than ever before. It does not require sending a man on horse to deliver your hand written reply or putting it in snail mail. I mean let's face it, there is the home phone, the cell phone, texting, email and even Facebook. There are more ways than ever before to get in touch with your host to let them know if you can come to the party or not.

Now, do the rules change if we are talking about a kid's party invitation? 


Isn't a party a party? No matter the age of the party host?

Too Funny. Period

I first learning of this video on twitter. I followed the link ending up at an article on Jezebel.com

The ad is called Camp Gyno and it is an ad for a company called HelloFlo.com . Here is what HelloFlo.com is according to the companies website... "Helloflo is a monthly subscriptions service for your period. We send you what you need, right when you need it."

I just had to post the ad!




What you think of this ad? Funny or not?

I would love to know your opinion.

Beautiful Chicago

 

 Beautiful city for BlogHer13

On The Road ... to Chicago

 We hit the road to Chicago. It is an eight hour drive split between two drives. Four hours each, not too bad at all!

 Here are just a few of the pictures I took along the way....obviously not taken when it was my turn to drive! #3girlsinaford was our hashtag since Wendy and I were joined by our friend Aeryn ! There was some great conversation in the great looking Ford Explorer!

At BlogHer13

Listening to Pioneer Women, Ree Drummond, speak! It is so exciting for me because she is one of the first blogs I started reading. So cool!

Roaming with Rogers

Ah BlogHer! This year it is in Chicago. What a beautiful city. Here is the one thing about a Canadian heading to a blogging conference in the United States....the roaming! There are a lot of things that happen of the conference floor and away from the hotel wifi. So how do you update your blog, your Facebook page or twitter feed? 



Recently, Rogers introduced a $7.99 US data rate where you get 50MB of data for a 24 hour period. We know how important it is for you to stay connected, even while traveling.

I am giving it a try while I am in Chicago.

I can't wait to let you know how it works out.


***Rogers is covering the cost of this service while I try it out****

Fun With Ford - Track Day!

Driving - we got a chance to drive the 2014 C Max

Krissy, +B-Inspired Mama driving the C Max! Well done

What a quiet drive!

Ford Fun - Escape to Detroit

Now that is a seriously line up of cars. It was cool to see. Escape after Escape! I choose to drive the 2014 Ford Escape and I partnered up with Krissy +B-Inspired Mama to see Detroit!

This was the one we picked. Love the colour

Beautiful

Fun With Ford - The Henry Ford and More

 The first night we arrived in Detroit we were shuttled off to  The Henry Ford museum. What an amazing space! http:

BlogHer Bound... and I might need an eye patch

So I am headed to my first BlogHer Conference. Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

I have wanted to go to this conference for years. And every year something comes up. OK, not really just something, LIFE, ya life gets in the way and instead of going to BlogHer I end up watching the twitter feed longingly, wishing I was there In REAL Life! BUT not this year. This year is my year.

So EXCITING right? !

Of course it is.

I am hoping to learn a lot. Meet a lot of great people, fellow bloggers! Here some great speakers and listen to some great know how at some great panels and sessions.

There is always so much to do before heading off to any conference. I was able to pick up much of what I needed for the trip in the days ahead ( while I am way behind on packing, I am able to be somewhat organized). So today I decided to head off to the store to get some supplies, including a pair of those reading/magnifying glasses. Yes, I can admit that now that I am getting older my eyes are not what they used to be so I use these cheapie readers so I don't poison my kids while medicating them because the print on the medicine bottle is so miniscule!

BUT here is the problem. While trying on said glasses I did something so stupid. I hit myself in the eye with the plastic tag hanging on the glasses. AND I MEAN HIT ..... RIGHT ON THE EYEBALL! It her like mad. I could barely open my eye.  I thought I was going to have to wear this ....

Of course I would add a few gems and jewels!

I am happy to say as the hours went on my eye was feeling better. The pain was weakening and my blurry vision was starting to go away!  By the time I got up to wait for my pick up to Chicago my eye was feeling better so there was no need for the eye patch... which kind of makes me sad.


I can't wait to get to BlogHer13!!!!

Fun With Ford

So the trip started here. It was a small, and I mean small, plane on the tarmac of Toronto's Pearson International Airport. This plan had a total of 18 seats on it! Wow! It is the smallest plane I have ever been on.

There were a few bumpy parts. That is what is par for the course in such a small plane.

After about an hour and thirty minutes we landed in Detroit for three days of Ford Fun!

***The opinions in these post are my own. I was not compensated for these posts. I was invited by Ford to attend the three day conference. All of my travel costs were covered by Ford.****

BlogHer Bound (and I am not even packed yet!!!!!!)

So........................ I am headed off to a blogging conference tomorrow. BlogHer to be exact. I have wanted to go to this conference for years. Not that I am going let me just say I am totally disorganized. Despite my best efforts I have not finished my laundry and so I have not even started packing. I do have a pile of clothes ( pictures to come) sitting on the bed beside my suitcase but I still a long way away from being finished.

 I managed to get laundry done for the kids and the husband. They are all packed and off to their respective destinations. 

Thankfully my driving buddy  Aeryn Lynne posted an amazing packing checklist on her blog geekwithstyle.ca. See below.



GeekWithStyle Conference Packing Checklist

And.... Then She Was 8!

Go Further With Ford

I Am Going to BlogHer'13

I have been wanting to attend a BlogHer convention for years. Actually, since 2007 to be exact. That was the first year that BlogHer was in Chicago...I believe. Every year I think about it and then every year something comes up and I end up watching the Twitter feed fill up with all the great experiences of others. But NOT this year!

 This year is my year. BlogHer'13! I am more than a little excited about making the road trip with two friends.

So,I am a BlogHer newbie. I can honestly say that it is all just a little overwhelming. So much to do and learn and see. So many people to meet. I was fully aware of the advice from BlogHer alumni about not getting sucked into to the hype, have a plan and stick to the plan and not get pulled into all the party - official or unofficial - craziness. And yet I find myself on the list for a lot, and I mean A LOT, of unofficial parties. I didn't heed the warnings. I got caught up in the frenzy. I think there will be a lot of fun to be had. I think I will still go to many of the parties, some official BlogHer parties and some unofficial parties, BUT I am taking a step back to re-focus my plan. I want to get the most I can from this amazing opportunity to learn, connect and network.

So, now it is time to focus on the great speakers, the great sessions and find some great people to connect with. That last one I am already doing...online.  I have managed to connect with some like minded people, some people I don't really know but would like to get to know better and some people with some serious experience and knowledge, that I hope can teach me a few things about being a better (kick ass) blogger.


What do you hope to get out of this year's BlogHer? What is top of your to-do-list?

Summer Vacation Week #2 - Lowville Park

Every summer I do my best to have fun with the kids on a budget. At least I try to be budget conscious. It is certainly easy to spend a lot of money fast during the summer months. The kids want to go places and I am eager to keep the kids entertained and sometimes I forget myself and get caught up in the moment and start spending wildly. Not good.

I am always on the look out for fun things to do with the kids that are also budget friendly and this  one is a GREAT ONE. Lowville Park is a City of Burlington park. There is a small park with a slide and swings but the creek is what the kids go for. Bronte Creek meanders through the park where kids can skip stones and catch crayfish. That is what my kids went for. They were armed with nets and buckets and rubber boots!

 

Can you see the crayfish the girls caught

K off looking for more creatures.

M has her net and bucket ready.

Taking a break

This is another Burlington Gem! It cost nothing for the afternoon. We brought a blanket to sit on, some snacks, sandwiches and drinks for a little picnic. The kids had a blast. We spent about three hours at Lowville Park but could have stayed longer. The creek was cool on a hot day; what a refreshing way to spend a hot afternoon.

One thing I forgot to bring but will be on my list for sure for next time is bug spray. The mosquitoes were biting for sure. So repellent is a must for sure. We had sun screen and towels so I didn't do too bad as far as the must-bring-list.

Summer Vacation - Week #2 The Pool

Now this is a gem in our community. It is Mountainside Pool. It is a pool run by the City of Burlington. It has a diving board, a two loop water slid, lots of shallow water to play with the kids and a splash pad for the little ones.

It cost us less than $10 to swim. That is for all three of us and we could have stayed all day long. We were there for about three hours. Now that is a lot of swimming

It was a great afternoon. There are chairs to sit on, grass to throw a towel on and more than enough shade if that is your thing. There was even a little snack bar that sold fries, hot dogs, drinks, slushies and freezies. 

I love finding these great gems in our own community. The pool was a 10 minute drive from our house, that is talking door to parking spot. There were lots of life guards on duty. They were friendly and helpful. We will be going back to this pool for sure! A great way to spend a summer afternoon with the kids before heading off to work. The other bonus of this pool, it fits in with my summer on a budget idea. I really don't like spending a lot of money to entertain the kids during the summer and I am always on the look out for budget friendly activities and this is a definite fit!  Great job city of Burlington! 

This is the girls playing with a ball in the  middle of the pool

Summer Vacay - Week #2 THE FORT

 So the kids decided they wanted to build a fort. Here is the problem...they have never built a fort before.  Shocking really, that my kids have never built a fort before. What is going on?!!!?? They are 7 and 10 years old after all. How can it be that they have never built a fort before in their lives?


 So it was my job to teach them how to build a fort. We grab some blankets and some clothe pegs and got to work in the basement. The girls wanted to build the fort around the television so they could watch DVDs under the fort!

So after much work ( ok, just a few minutes) we were done and this is what we built. It was quite the patchwork! 

Under the Fort!

What a great way to spend a gloomy afternoon. The weather was not great outside so it was a perfect day to build a fort. It was hours of fun for the kids and it didn't cost a thing!

Summer Vacay - Weekend #2

This weekend the kids decided they wanted to set up a pop stand. Yup, you read that right. A pop stand. Lemonade stands are so old school! Ha Ha, just kidding.

You see we have a Soda Stream. It is great. It carbonates tap water and then you can add flavoured syrup to make your favourite pop. For example, we have Cherry Cola, Diet Cola, Kool Aid and the household favourite Country Time Lemonade.... so it was sort of like a lemonade stand.

The kids decided to set things up with their friend from down the street. The friend brought the cups and we provided the beverage materials.  The made signs and created a song that they were singing at the top of their lungs! They set their prices well. A glass of homemade pop was only 25 cents!!!! They did some brisk business. They made $30, which they split three ways! Everyone went home happy.

A Great Way to Start Off BlogHer'13

I am finally doing it! I am going to BlogHer. I have long wanted to go and finally got my self organized and did it. So I am kicking the weekend off with a Bang!!!! What a great way to see the great city of Chicago.... by water. I will be cruising with Seadog

Check it out! 

Are you ready for an entertaining cruise experience along Chicago’s scenic lakefront? Come out to Navy Pier and let Seadog show you the city April-October, weather permitting.

Seadog offers four exciting ways to see and experience Chicago from the water:

Lakefront Speedboat Tour
This 30-minute cruise along the shoreline offers a descriptive tour of Chicago’s famous skyline, while playing your favorite music.

Extreme Thrill Ride
This cruise is perfect for the dare-devil in you! This 30-minute ride features splash down stops, 180-degree turns, slalom runs and more.

River and Lake Architectural Tour
Enjoy historic views of Chicago’s famous landmarks and neighborhoods during this 75-minute cruise on both Lake Michigan and the Chicago River.

Lakefront Fireworks Cruise
Enjoy front-row seats to the spectacular fireworks display aboard our Lakefront Fireworks Cruise! Cruise along Lake Michigan with an exciting speedboat ride paired with an informative tour of the Chicago skyline, then end the evening with a dazzling fireworks show and top-40 hits playing in the background! The open aired vessel allows for panoramic views, providing a perfect view.

 The Seadog Fireworks Cruise is available on Wednesdays and Saturdays, running from Memorial Day – Labor Day.

Seadog is great for both individuals and groups. We offer customizable group events for up to 450 people.

Seadog also features specific holiday cruises, such as Memorial Day, the 4th of July and Halloween.
Not only can you enjoy a Seadog Cruise, but your dog can as well! Dogs ride for free, space permitting.

For more information, please visit www.seadogcruises.com/chicago/ or call 888-636-7737.




Hope to see you at BlogHer13 ... and in Chicago! 

Daily Reminders

I am a firm believer in the power of thoughts. It is important to think positive thoughts. As I wrote in a previous post, thoughts have power, and you want to give your positive thoughts as much power as you can. Thoughts do become things.


It all comes down to the idea of what you are throwing out to the Universe. You want to be putting out positive thoughts and things out in the Universe so it can give you more of what you put out! BUT.... let's face it it can be hard to positive 100 percent of the time. Who can really be upbeat, happy and positive all day long, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year.

One thing to remember here is that there is a really easy way to make sure that you are thinking positive thoughts. It has to do with your feelings. If you are feeling happy then you are thinking happy, positive thoughts. If you are not feeling good then you are not thinking positive, happy thoughts. Pretty simple right?

We all have bad days. We all have days when we don't feel great and we might not be thinking the most positive thoughts we possibly can. So, how do you handle that? What is a person to do if they are not perfectly positive all the time?

Well, that is where the idea of daily reminders comes in.  We all need to do a little check in with ourselves. Ask yourself at least once a day how you are feeling? Take a few moments to stop what you are doing, think about how you feel and if there is anything you could be doing or saying to yourself that could change how you are feeling at that very moment.

One thing I like to do is write down little reminders. I like to post it and believe it . I like to write down inspirational quotes, sayings that are uplifting or positive and keep them on pieces of paper. If you place these notes where you can see them, then when you need a little pick-me-up then all you need to do is pull out one of those notes! Read it and believe it.

It is important to keep working towards a positive, healthy mindset. I believe it is key to life's success. It can be difficult at first, especially if you are like me and struggle with worry and self doubt. It is always a work in progress for me. I don't want to say it is hard because it really isn't hard to be positive. You just have to gather the tools and put the systems, routines and tips and tricks in place so that when you start to doubt yourself, think badly of yourself or fall back on negative thoughts then you are able to put a stop to it quickly and reverse gears!


What do you do to stay positive? Do you have any tips or tricks that you use to keep positive thoughts top of mind??

Summer Vacation! Do You Have a Plan?

Ah great days at the cottage. Ya, those are part of our summer plan. Well, I will admit is really isn't a plan. I actually try not to have a plan per say for the summer. It is actually more of a wish list really. I like to keep the summer months with the kids lose and free. I work nights and so during the school year I don't get to spend very much time with my two girls during the work/school week. When summer comes around we all look forward to just spending time together, no matter what it is that we are doing.

So, there are a few things on our summer wish list. We hope to make it to the beach a couple of days, they kids are hoping to play with friends a lot, they also have a few sleep overs on that list also, and of course there will be a lot of sleeping in!!!

I rarely put the kids in summer camps. I don't like to be over scheduled for the summer. I don't like the idea of having to get up early and rushing off to any particular place. Some of the best summer memories that I have are the days when the girls and I say in our PJ's for most of the day and just hang our together, watching movies or talking. Those are some serious cuddle moments and as the kids get older those are becoming few and far between.

Do you create a plan? Or do you wing it for the summer? I would love to hear what you do with the kids for the summer.