I’ve dabbled with probiotics on and off for a decade. Maybe longer. My overall opinion on them, before now, was: “Meh.” But guess what? Turns out all those good bacteria probably weren’t even making it to my gut. And that’s why you need an enteric coating on your New Roots probiotic capsules. Let me explain:…
2020 Holiday Gift Guide
It’s my 9th-annual holiday gift guide, y’all! I’m not gonna lie, friends: my holiday gift guide almost didn’t happen this year. As you’ve heard me say for years, this little labour of love takes many hundreds of hours to put together. And, well, 2020 just hasn’t blessed me with a lot of free time. Like…
Exploring the Apple Ecosystem & its DSLR-quality camera phone
[This Apple Ecosystem post was updated on May 13, 2022.] I bought into the beginnings of the Apple Ecosystem back in 2002 when I purchased my first desktop computer — an iMac, discounted thanks to Apple Education Pricing — and an iPod. I loved how they operated synergistically and, more important, that I didn’t have…
How are you managing your child’s RESP contribution?
My parents started a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) for me on a pretty bare-bones working-class income. They were by no means even upper-middle class and yet with exceptionally strong budgeting and saving skills, they made their first RESP contribution when my brother and I were young, and used those savings to help send us…
My review of professional skin care lines
This professional skin care lines post was updated on April 5, 2022. Although I’ve had some pretty good success over the years with big-brand skin care products that can be found easily in any drugstore — like this moisturizer from L’Oreal and this lip care line from ChapStick — the onset of perimenopause a couple…
The best parental control app for iPhone: Apple Family Sharing
I’d been an Android user for years, prizing great photos above all else with my smartphone. Apple just wasn’t cutting it once the Samsungs and Pixels came on the scene. But that meant that once my kids got hand-me-down iPhones, only Big B could text and FaceTime with them since we haven’t given them SIM…
The No-B.S. Guide to Bio-Oil usage & Bio-Oil benefits
First, I need you to know that I devoured a 60-page document about Bio-Oil usage, the product’s history, ingredients and clinical trial excerpts before writing this post. When I told you in the headline that this would be a No-B.S. Guide to Bio-Oil benefits, I wasn’t kidding — because I dug deep. For hours. There’s…
The best women’s ski jackets & ski gadgets for everyone
Now that I’m into my fifth season of skiing and have tried a number of different brands and products, I wanted to share the best women’s ski jackets and what to look for when you’re shopping for one. But since I’ve also been testing out some great skiing base layers and ski gadgets this season,…
Shaw Festival 2019: Holiday Inn
When your 11.5-year-old son leans over 20 minutes into a musical and says, “Mom, this is so cool,” and your 50-year-old brother-in-law announces “this was better than Wicked!” at intermission (which he’d seen on Broadway), and your mother-in-law calls your husband the next day in tears because she just loved it all so much, you…
18 of the best experience gifts for kids, adventure gifts & unique gifts for friends
I know, I know. I put out a Holiday Gift Guide every year full of…STUFF. And there’s nothing wrong with wanting things for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza or whatever beautiful holiday you and your family celebrate with presents. I’m pro-thing. But I’m even more pro-experience, and the trend of giving experiences instead of things is one…