I know the basics — the difference between RRSPs and RESPs, what TFSAs are and how pensions work. Beyond that, I’m an investment dummy. How should I save for my kids’ college years versus longer-term things like retirement? What does it look like to say that I’ve got the best investment in Canada working for…
Hot gift ideas: my 2019 holiday gift guide
Can you believe this is my 8th annual holiday gift guide? It’s hard to believe that what started as an already-pretty-intense process has grown every year. Thank you for your continued anticipation and for sharing this with your friends and family — you always make all the hard work worthwhile! What is THE hot gift…
6 ways to style a slip dress | my little red slip dress
In an ongoing effort to wear whatever I want, regardless of my weight or body shape — both of which ebb and flow with the seasons and how much I indulge while travelling — or the ideals set forth in magazines, I bought a slip dress. Nay, I bought and continue to rock a slip…
Why we chose fingerprint-resistant stainless steel for our Whirlpool black stainless kitchen
When we built our house more than nine years ago, we splurged on stainless steel appliances. It was an edgy, modern choice that added some industrial flair to our new-build kitchen. This was before my kids wiped what I can only assume are hands dipped in honey and then into every canister of dry goods…
Our kitchen refresh before & after featuring a transitional kitchen design
Building our home nearly a decade ago was exciting. Being able to take out walls here, add a guest bedroom there and move our laundry room up to the top floor made for a custom feeling — even though we worked with a builder on what many would call a “cookie cutter” suburban house. When…
Why I’m celebrating Small Business Month for the first time
Did you know that October is Small Business Month in Canada? It is, and this is the first year I’ve ever celebrated it. Despite having a small business (this blog right here) since 2012, it had always been a hobby. After all, I had a career in public relations and communications. A long one. A…
The FreeStyle Libre system + easier diabetes management
Managing your own diabetes is one thing, but I can’t imagine the stress of being a parent trying to manage your child’s diabetes diagnosis throughout the years. I just learned about the FreeStyle Libre system (it works with an iPhone app[i], people!) and the first thing I thought was “I have to tell parents of…
Juvéderm before and after (with Dr Weinberg)
Lip fillers. After thinking about it for a full year, I got them. And I promise you: we will get to my Juvéderm® before and after photos shortly! But first let me tell you a bit about the plastic surgeon I went to in Toronto to have my lip fillers done (Dr Weinberg, who also…
Casper Hybrid review & Casper vs Tempurpedic | Casper Canada
I spent the first nine years of married life sleeping on a TEMPURpedic mattress and the last three on Casper mattresses. So that’s 12 years of firsthand experience coming at you in this post, part of which will be a Casper Hybrid review and part of which will be a Casper vs TEMPURpedic comparison. My…
Where to find Mommy and me clothes
(This Mommy and Me Clothes post was updated on July 2, 2021.) When I found out that Miss Q and I were heading to Club Med Punta Cana together, I asked her if she wanted me to get some mommy and me clothes. At an age where this request could have been met with a…