Family Fun in Boston, MA

Some of our trips are planned months in advance (Nashville, Vancouver, Las Vegas, New York City, Jamaica), other mere days. Our recent on-a-whim trip to Boston, Massachusetts fits in the latter category...and we had a blast! Here are the highlights.

Porter Airlines

• I'm going to save some of the details for now, as I have my fingers crossed that I will get the opportunity to partner with Porter in the future to bring you a whole bunch more information about how great it is to fly with them, but for now I will just say...it's great to fly with them. When we were mulling over destinations my parents suggested we look for somewhere that Porter flies, based on their positive experience, and I'm glad we listened. We've only ever flown out of Pearson before and using the Billy Bishop Airport on the island was vastly different. More on Porter at a later date, I hope!

Boston Children's Museum

I've been searching my memory going through the many other museums we've visited with the kids over the years, and I truly think this one takes the cake. My husband and I were blown away by the quality and my girls (ages 11 and 8) spent hours exploring. Some things we loved:

• A huge range of hands-on, interactive and kinesthetic experiences
• Lots of posted information, including tips for parents
• A great variety for all ages, from toddler through tween
• Familiar characters and themes (hello, Arthur's city!)
• Science, social studies (I thought the "Black Boston" exhibit was fascinating), language, mathematics and the arts all incorporated
• Spacious and clean with friendly, helpful staff

I loved this "welcome to kindergarten" classroom replica!

Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum

Tickets for this attraction are free with the purchase of the Old Town Trolley Tours Hop-On-Hop-Off Passes during fall and winter, and discounted during spring and summer. I will admit, history is not my passion (my brother knows more than enough historical information for the both of us), but this was a really fun way to learn about the events of the Boston Tea Party, including the lead-up and the aftermath, through a multimedia experience. Visitors are drawn into the story (you're even given a card with your character's name, though there's no pressure to do anything other than take it all in) and have the chance to throw some "tea" off the ship. I'm glad we didn't miss this one.

Old Town Trolley Tours

In every city I visit I try to take advantage of hop-on-hop-off offerings (and even ensure that I book a hotel near one of the stops), and Old Town Trolley Tours in Boston definitely met our needs. Most places we visited were on the route, and staying on for an entire loop gave us a great overview of the city. Plus, the drivers were very informative and entertaining, sharing tidbits that I never would have known otherwise. As a lover of all things celebrity, of course I wanted to see the restaurant where JFK proposed to Jackie, the original "Cheers" exterior, and one of the buildings that was used in the film The Departed. Recognize it?

In spring and summer your ticket includes a free Boston Harbour Cruise; in the off-season you get a second consecutive day free to ride the trolley.

Hilton Boston Back Bay

We got a great deal on our room though the Berklee Performance Center website, as we were seeing a show at Berklee the first night we arrived. It had everything we needed in a hotel, including a spacious corner room, a pool and hot tub, and we even splurged on their room service one night! We also spent our snowed-in afternoon (more on that later) playing cards in the Starbucks lounge.

Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy in Concert

This was probably the highlight of the trip for my daughters, who got to see their friends from home performing on stage (fiddling, stepdancing and singing), and also got to play on the tour bus and enjoy dinner in the green room! Music is such an important part of our everyday lives, and it was great to give the kids this experience while travelling as well.

While I recommend you see this talented family if you get a chance, my broader tip would be that you should look into any concerts or shows that might be taking place in your destination city. You never know what you might find!

Mike's Pastry

Based on several social media recommendations, we got off the trolley at stop 2 and took a short stroll through Little Italy to the famed pastry shop...and weren't disappointed! Note that it's cash only, and the very long lines do move quickly.

Cathedral of the Holy Cross

As I captioned my social media post, everyone goes straight from the airport to Mass...with their luggage. Right? Yes, there was a church we could have attended right beside our hotel, but someone insisted on checking out the cathedral. Personally, I fell in love with the stained glass above the altar, and also got a photo of the window of St. Cecilia, patron saint of musicians.

Because everyone gets off a plane and heads straight to Mass...with their luggage. Right? #familytravel #Boston

A post shared by Kate Winn (@katethismomloves) on Mar 13, 2017 at 5:50pm PDT

Meals

• Harry O's: Right across from the Cathedral, we purchased our first meal in Boston from this little pizza place, with delicious food (I had a fantastic calzone made right in front of me, the girls' slices were huge, and they even have great dessert), and friendly, top-notch service.
• Thornton's: We love our breakfast diners, and Thornton's was our choice for two of the mornings of our trip. The menu is huge (they serve lunch and dinner as well), and I had the eggs/toast/hashbrowns meal one morning, and Nutella crepes the next - great-tasting and reasonably priced. There's no separate kids' menu, but tons of options that worked for my girls, including smaller items like muffins and bagels with cream cheese. 
• Ned Devine's Irish Pub in Quincy Market (trolley stop 1). Coming from the city in Canada with the largest Irish population to the US equivalent, of course we had to check out an Irish pub! This one was just what you'd expect: comfort food (I had the fish and chips), Irish tunes playing over the speakers, and of course Irish beer on tap. With a kids' menu and a convenient location, I'd recommend this spot for sure (and coincidentally, two ladies from Ireland who were riding the trolley with us also chose it for lunch!)
• Cheesecake Factory: Yes, yes, it's a chain, but we don't have it in Canada and we've never been before. The filet mignon was incredible (and bigger than I'm used to being served at a restaurant), and of course we each got a slice of cheesecake to go from their extensive selection (since we were so full from our meals there's no way we could eat it there!) With choices like Reese Peanut Butter Cup, Oreo, Smore and Turtles it was difficult to decide....good thing we were all willing to share!

The Blizzard

Well, that's the end of my list of recommendations...significantly shorter than a usual trip, but there's an explanation for that. I had planned two jam-packed days of sightseeing...and on the second day, a blizzard was expected and the entire city shut down! No school (not that we were affected by that, but we get lots of snow at home and schools are never closed), no hop-on-hop-off, and absolutely no tourist attractions that were open. It was an adventure for us, and we actually enjoyed a day of downtime at the pool, playing cards, watching TV, helping my 11-year-old set up a blog that I may or may not let her share with others someday, and starting my notes for this post!

But because we missed half of the attractions I had planned to visit, I also want to share with you a list of places that are now on my must-see list for my next trip to Boston, most of which had offered us admission that we weren't able to take them up on!

• Museum of Science (they currently have an exhibit all about chocolate, and we missed it)
• Fenway Park Tours (I'm not a baseball fan but even I realize what a cultural landmark this is)
• Skywalk Observatory (always neat to get a view of a new city from as high as possible)
• New England Holocaust Memorial
• JFK Library and Museum
• Boston Harbour Cruise (of course this one isn't even open at all in the winter, but if I went back at another time of year I'd take it in for sure)

One caveat for Canadian friends travelling to the US: be very mindful of the exchange rate. When you convert prices in your head (or on your phone!) it makes you more careful when shopping or making choices about other expenditures.

Now, if you're planning to visit Boston and have any questions, please feel free to ask! Also, if you've visited in the past (or are a local) and have other recommendations that I've missed, I'd love for you to add your thoughts!

Back to planning my next travel adventure...

Disclosure: We were provided free admission to some attractions. Opinions are, as always, my own.

Netflix: My Initiation, Plus Valentine's Day Recos!

Yes, I'm a Netflix newbie. And now a total convert.

My girls (now 10 and 8) loved Full House reruns so much that they spent months begging us to sign up for Netflix so they could watch the reboot, Fuller House. Early in 2016 we obliged, and signed up for a one month trial. They caught the first season of the show they were so excited about, and we caught up on House of Cards. We realized that to maintain the service we needed an upgrade to our Internet plan, so we let it expire...very reluctantly on my part. (My husband also had worries about the kids and the potential for too much screen time...I'll come back to that later.) I was even invited to join other bloggers and social media folk in the Netflix Stream Team (a coveted spot, I might say)...and declined! I know, wild, right?

After Christmas, when we had been reading and hearing everywhere about the new Netflix original series The Crown, I knew I had the argument I needed to convince my historical-drama-buff hubby that we should sign up again. (And of course the girls were wearing us down since season 2 of Fuller House was also available!)

I can't even begin to explain how much we loved binge-watching The Crown, a "fictual" series based on the young Queen Elizabeth II. I was actually sad when the season ended, and cannot wait for the next one. I will definitely be sharing more details about The Crown in the future, and as a matter of fact, it just so happens that I will be travelling to London this summer...I'm not sure if the cast will be filming at that point, but wouldn't you all to see a Momterview here with Claire Foy, who plays Queen Elizabeth II to perfection??

In January, I was thrilled to again receive the invitation to join the Stream Team, along with a generous start-up gift (shown above) and I committed to share valuable Netflix news here with you, and on my social media channels. You can look forward to my personal recommendations, as well as ideas for what the girls are watching as well.

For now, you may be thinking about Valentine's Day entertainment, and Netflix has you covered with some fantastic movies, all free with your subscription.

My top choices:

P.S. I Love You (with Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler; the Irish part of me especially enjoyed it)

Valentine's Day (the ensemble romantic comedy with more stars than I can list here)

Bridesmaids (please tell me I don't need to explain this one for you)

How To Lose a Guy In 10 Days (classic Kate Hudson/Matthew McConaughey romantic comedy)

Focus (with Will Smith and Margot Robbie, some fun twists)

Cinderella (the live-action with Lily James; you can watch this with the whole family)

As for our Internet plan, we did pay $10 per month to increase our data allowance (and we will never go over our max now) but we'd already saved over $20 month by eliminating some extra channels from our satellite plan, so financially it's still a win. (I would get rid of satellite entirely but still want the basic networks for my favourite news and talk shows, though I know I can also find them online. The time will come; I'm just not quite ready.)

As for the worry about too much screen time, what I find with the kids is now when they are allowed to watch something, it's specific - they choose Netflix in order to continue or rewatch a series they love or select a movie - and don't just get stuck with whatever happens to be playing on the TV at the moment they're granted permission. Same quantity of screen time, but better quality (and convenience). Thanks, Netflix!

Disclosure: I am a member of the Netflix Stream Team, and receive products in exchange for my participation. Opinions are, as always, my own.

Loblaws Click and Collect: My Starring Video Role

This Mom Loves has moved! 

For updated content (plus all the posts found here) on our fresh new site, visit www.thismomloves.ca

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Loblaws Click & Collect for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

We've all been there: lying awake at night, thinking about the next day's to-do list, and wondering how to get everything done. Some people like to count sheep to fall asleep, I like to count all of the things that could be taken off my list if only I had a personal assistant (grocery shopping, for example)...but who can afford that?

Then, one year ago, Loblaws actually made my dream come true with the launch of their Loblaws Click and Collect program at my local store. What a treat to order my groceries online from the comfort of my own home, and have a trained personal shopper do the work for me. All I have to do is drive into the specially marked parking spot, phone in to the store and have the groceries brought right out to my vehicle.

"Ah, but what's the cost for this dream-come-true service?", you may be wondering. The cost to shop Loblaws groceries online  is...wait for it...drumroll please...either $3 or $5, depending on the day and time of your pickup. Really, that's it. The cost for the items is the exact same as in-store, and you can even link up your PC Plus account to earn points as well.

Even if I pick up my groceries at a peak weekend hour, it is still totally worth $5, not only for the time saved, but also because I'm sure that I cut 5 bucks off my order by not taking children into the store...and let's be honest, adults make impulse purchases too!

We are all so busy (my readers know that I'm a teacher, freelance writer and TV guest), with lists of errands that can be pages long, and Loblaws has really helped to ease that burden. It seemed like every weekend we'd vow to get groceries on Friday, and then it wouldn't happen. Saturday for sure, we would say, and then Saturday would fill up with kids' activities and yard work. Definitely Sunday then, after we prepped for the next school day...which usually meant a stressful last-minute run to the store so we had something to put in Monday's lunches!

Now, I order online, often while at my treadmill desk, or sometimes even sitting on the couch crashing at the end of a work day. Then only minutes are required to drive into the Loblaws parking lot and do the pick up. (I've trained the girls to do the unloading and putting away of groceries, so that's a time-saver too. I highly recommend you get your kids started on household chores as early as possible!)

While my kids are older now (ten and eight) and thankfully past needing to be buckled and unbuckled into carseats by mommy, I can't even imagine what a convenience this would be for parents of younger children. No need to wake the baby to take him or her into the store! (Payment is so easy too, as we keep a credit card on file.)

We've gotten to know the Click and Collect employees, and now it feels like they're friends that we see on a weekly basis. I love how I can leave a little note online (e.g., "Green bananas please", or "Didn't see our usual floor cleaner on the website; could you check the store for me?") and the shoppers always happily oblige. You can even indicate what your preference is if an item is out of stock - I always ask them to choose the most similar item in a different brand.

Other than the cost, the biggest question that friends and family ask me is about the quality of the food, especially produce and meat. I can swear that we have always (after dozens and dozens of Click and Collect experiences) been happy with the quality of the food: fresh produce and meat that's well before it's best-before date.

I highly recommend you try out Loblaws online grocery shopping for yourself.

I am such a fan of the service that when I was approached to be part of a testimonial video, I jumped at the chance (and there are very few brands I would want to go out on a limb for like that). You may remember that I dropped some hints about a special project going on in my home back in the summer (with a makeup artist required!), and my girls even got to be part of it as well. (With all the lights, cameras and crew, "It looks like Hollywood in our house!" Eva observed.)

The video is now online; please check it out for yourself below and let me know what you think, and don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions about the program!

Talk With Our Kids About Money - Powered by BMO

I feel very strongly about the importance of talking with our kids about money, both as a parent and a teacher.

From a very young age our girls have had save/spend/share piggybanks for them to divvy up any small amounts of money they receive, and it really helped to start the conversations early.

When they were 7 and 5 we took them to set up their own bank accounts with debit cards - which I will admit I still hang on to for now! I love seeing them deposit money, but to tell you the truth I also love to see them spend it wisely – for example, both girls saved up to buy iPod Touches, and they definitely have gotten their money’s worth out of them, learning a lesson about worthwhile investments.

Now at 10 and 7 they have also started buying their own books and accessories, and it gives me pleasure to see them doing mental math, estimating how much they will have left, and counting out their cash…or not. Often they make an informed decision not to make a purchase, which is amazing too.

I was very proud last summer when they decided to set up a cold drinks stand to earn some more spending money. Even after paying us back for the startup costs (aren’t we mean parents? Hey, it’s business!) they still made a nice little profit, and decided to give half of it to our local hospital – another proud mama moment.

Eva actually wrote her public speech this year on “Tips for Running a Successful Business”, based on their summer experience – and won two gold medals and a silver in competitions! (I don’t think people expected that topic coming from a 7 year old girl!)

To help start conversations and teach kids some important financial literacy, BMO Financial Group helped launch the Talk With Our Kids About Money (TWOKAM) program with the Canadian Foundation for Economic Education (CFEE) in 2013, making this BMO’s 4^th year of partnership. BMO’s Talk With Our Kids About Money Day is taking place on April 20, 2016.

Talk With Our Kids About Money, powered by BMO in partnership with CFEE, has tools and resources for parents to help build money conversations into their day-to-day interactions with their kids (from age 5 right through the teen years), and is a free program accessible to families of any income. Some of the activities even involve watching and discussing popular movies – now there’s a way to hook your kids!

While the resources for home are fantastic, there’s also a great school program as well, with curriculum links for the different grades and provinces and ready-made lesson plans which include student activities. (This isn’t just for math teachers – there are lessons linked to music, drama, art, science, geography and more!)

As parents, we don’t want to end up in a position where we are bailing our children out – or taking the tough love approach and not doing so – because of serious financial circumstances. Of course they’ll make mistakes with money (as we all do) but knowledge is power and I want to see my daughters and students with the information they need not only to make money, but to make their money work for them.

Financial literacy isn’t just for kids, of course: BMO believes it should be a year-round focus for all Canadians. That is why, beyond their partnership with TWOKAM, BMO launched YourFinancialLife.com which provides Canadians with financial tips for life events. They have a dedicated page for tips and tools on how to talk with your kids about money and prepare for your child’s financial future (https://yourfinanciallife.bmo.com).

I dream of seeing my girls grow up to become independent, fulfilled, healthy women – and that certainly includes financial health as well. I appreciate the fact that BMO is helping us to do that.

Join the conversation using the hashtag #TWOKAM and make sure to follow BMO on Twitter (@BMO) and on Facebook (/BMOCommunity).

Disclosure: This post was generously sponsored by BMO. Opinions are, as always, my own.

Dread Grocery Shopping? Click & Collect from Loblaws To the Rescue!

Are you one of those people who actually loves to grocery shop, wandering leisurely through the aisles and savouring the whole experience, every single time? If so, this post is not for you. If not, read on!

I used to fantasize about having someone do my grocery shopping for me. In those moments when I daydreamed about ways to make my life more efficient and streamlined (other people do that too, right?) I would imagine the convenience and ease of handing my list to someone else and having that tedious chore taken care of for me.

Loblaws has made this dream come true with their awesome Click and Collect program.

Here's how it works:

From the convenience of your own home, you visit the Click and Collect website, and then "Click" to add every item on your list to your cart.  You place your order, and personal shoppers gather all of your items for you, ready to be picked up at the time you specified. Upon arrival at Loblaws to "Collect", you pull into a specially-marked reserved parking spot, call the designated phone number, and your bags are brought out and put in your vehicle. (I swear, I'm not making this up!)

Click and Collect is so easy to use, and I love being able to order my groceries on my laptop from the comfort of my own home (usually while relaxing in front of the TV, or at my treadmill desk - my loyal readers know I'm addicted to multitasking!) When I log in, the site remembers my previous orders and "My Favourites", so I can start by clicking on all of my regularly-purchased items, which is another time-saver. Once your order is ready, you get a notification which also lets you know if any items were out of stock, and if so what substitutions they suggest (which you can approve or decline).

This past weekend, I phoned to ask about a couple of substitutions before I arrived, and the personal shopper scooted around the store while on the phone with me, making sure that I got exactly what I needed. Now that's service!

I always pick up my orders at Loblaws in Lindsay, and I've been so impressed by how friendly the shoppers are, and how quickly my groceries are brought out. No getting kids out of carseats (or getting out in the cold myself!) By the way, you don't have to drive to use the service; you can walk up to get your order as well - no motorized vehicle required!

I've been raving about Click and Collect to family, friends and colleagues for a few months now, and the same questions often arise:

How much does it cost? The personal shopping service costs $3 or $5, depending on the day/time chosen, which I think is very reasonable (and tipping is not expected). Not only is that amount of my time worth the money, I'm also confident that I save at least 5 bucks every time I don't take my daughters into a grocery store with me. It's much cheaper to have them sitting in the back seat as our groceries get loaded! Prices online are the exact same as what you would find in store (no mark-ups for the service), and you get PC Plus points as well. (Another program I love - perhaps I'll share more about that in a future post!)

Do you get high-quality items? We've always been pleased with the produce and meat that has been chosen on our behalf, and the personal shoppers are actually trained to pick the best items for the customers. They want us to be happy with the service, so they're not giving us bottom-of-the-barrel merchandise. There's a box on the website to provide special instructions for your order and we always ask for green bananas, and so far have never had a problem.

What's the catch? There really isn't one! The only trouble I've ever had is that when you click to add an item to your cart, you have to wait for a quick second as the website processes your selection. Sometimes when I get ahead of myself and start clicking several items on a page I end up with something left off my order. If you're a touch more patient than I am, this won't be a problem (and my Loblaws contact tells me that they're working to resolve that minor issue).

Of course, the in-store experience is very different (my husband occasionally likes to walk through the grocery store for new ideas) and ordering online every week might not be right for you, but it's definitely worth checking it out!

Visit Click and Collect for more details, or to get started with your first order!

Disclosure: This post was generously sponsored by Loblaws. Opinions are, as always my own. Please note that I had already used - and was extremely impressed with - the Click and Collect service several times before partnering with Loblaws for this post.

"Cold Drinks!" (All About My Entrepreneurial Daughters)

As much as they adore school, my girls have been talking about summer for months now, and one of the most exciting things for them has been the prospect of setting up a cold drinks booth for people driving by.

Right from the beginning, they knew they wanted to donate some proceeds to charity, but they weren't sure which charity or how much to donate.

One wanted to share with a children's hospital, one with the local hospital ("since we were born there and Grandpa died there") and then my brilliant grandmother suggested a compromise: they could give the money to the children's floor at the local hospital. Decision made.

The breakdown of profits was a different discussion. Should we allow them to keep some of the money they made? They didn't even care, but I actually thought it was important. Now let me be clear: we are not hard up for cash, and as parents we're not touching any of the girls' earnings ourselves. However, I really do think that from an early age it's beneficial for kids to learn to work for their money, and let's be honest: it's a motivating factor for adults as well. The fact that charity was foremost on their minds tells me that we've done something right, and we decided it would be fair if they kept half (really 25% each) and donated the other half of the profits. (They're not advertising any affiliation with the hospital, since not all of the money is going to them, and we didn't get any sort of official permission.)

On the weekend, we added the girls' drink selections (Coke, Diet Coke, ginger ale and water, to start), to the grocery list at a grand total of $15, which they promised to repay as soon as possible. Grandpa was enlisted to build them a couple of plywood signs they could place at the side of the road to attract traffic, and card tables were borrowed.

This afternoon they were finally ready to open shop...and it went very well for them!

Their strategy: wave and smile at every approaching vehicle ("Who can resist this cuteness?" one of them joked). In two and a half hours, they made more than enough to repay their investment (sales were good, but the generous "tips" they received certainly helped), and they still have enough product left to go back out tomorrow (they kept a tally chart to keep track of the merchandise sold). I actually had to drag them in to have supper, they were having so much fun! They're considering adding a table of "yard sale" type items for sale (books, toys, etc.) but I'm not sure that the clientele will be interested. We shall see!

The teacher in me is loving the math lessons offered by their new business (e.g., they learned that water has the highest profit margin, so it's great that it sold the most), and as an added bonus, if they keep this up on a regular basis, my yard and gardens will look better than ever, since I stay outside and close enough to keep an eye on the transactions and assist in case of a problem while they're at the table.

Have your kids tried any money-making ventures? I'd love to hear about them!

The Happiness Project: July (Buy Some Happiness...can you?)

For the month of July, author Gretchen Rubin focused her Happiness Project on "Money (buy some happiness)."

Specifically, her goals were:

• Indulge in a modest splurge
• Buy needful things
• Spend out
• Give something up

*Please note that this was one of twelve months devoted to an exploration of happiness, and in my mind not at all one of the most important. But it's an interesting topic to reflect on, if only for a short period of time.*

I'd like to think I have a pretty good relationship with money. That might be because I've never had to worry about it excessively (which is absolutely not to say that I haven't worked for it.). I actually drafted most of this post as my financial history, from childhood to date, but then realized I was getting a bit off track...so I'll save it for another day!

Long story short, I think you can live on a very low income and be a happy person. I also think you can be a miserable millionaire. But I agree with Rubin that money can, to some degree, buy a bit of happiness.

Making charitable donations certainly gives me a high. Surprising a departing colleague with an item that she had been coveting definitely lifted my mood. Taking my parents to dinner for their 40th anniversary was very special. Spending on experiences (trips, concert tickets, restaurants) can not only bring some joy in the moment, but also some lasting memories. And, I will admit, some material purchases bring happiness too.

Recent example: my husband took me shopping on the weekend to pick out my birthday gifts (we both like this deal). First we stopped to purchase some accessories for the bathroom we're renovating. Now that is a MAJOR expenditure, but it's already bringing me happiness, and all I can see at the moment is the new paint colour. I know the novelty will fade away, but I will always be pleased to have a beautiful, updated bathroom.

Next was Chapters, where several of my students pre-purchased me some happiness with their end-of-year gift cards (I'm usually all about the library, so this was especially fun). I bought the books shown below, and have already finished Sharp Objects (great book!) Again, these books will be read and passed along within weeks, but I believe that the momentary happiness of reading by the pool is extended because those characters and stories remain with me.

I am not ashamed to admit that for my birthday, I also wanted some "stuff". Two new tops, some accessories (all from cheap stores) and a brand new bag. While this is one of the few areas where I like to splurge (my Louis Vuitton and Coach bags, for example) I've been wanting something colourful for summer, and this Ricki's purse (regularly $39.95 but with 40% off when we were there) fit the bill just fine. I've only been using it for two days (yes, it was supposed to be a birthday gift but I couldn't wait) and I know I smile every time I go to pick it up.

Coincidentally, as I was writing this post on the treadmill (there's no way to measure the health/happiness that big purchase has brought me) Frannie walked by and remarked "I love my iPod. I'm so glad I bought it." That was the most expensive item she's ever purchased, but already she's had so much fun with it, and was also able to stay connected to her best friend after a surgery at Sick Kids and several weeks of recovery at home.

Money also buys happiness in the sense that it can buy me time. During the school year, we have a cleaning lady come for two hours a week to tackle the main jobs. Of course I still clean my house (if you know me, you know that once a week doesn't really cut it) but unless there are any big spills, I don't scrub my floors while I'm teaching. That's happiness, not because I desperately hate floor scrubbing, but because it gives me more time for other to-do's (or want to-do's).

I totally believe experiences make people happy. Of course there are many things you can do that don't cost a cent, but Jamaica (for example) is not one of them. I have a few great blog experiences happening this month - two for the family that aren't costing us money, but usually would, and two that I'm doing on my own that don't cost anything except gas for my vehicle. I fully expect that these events will be highlights of July...but along with celebrating my birthday with family and friends (I'm referring to the time together, not the gifts), hanging around the pool with my girls, and sleeping in just a little bit...all of which are free, and priceless.

Do you think money makes you happy? What expenditure has brought you the most happiness? (Comments make me very happy, and they're free too!)

"The EveryGirl's Guide To Life" by Maria Menounos

I just finished rereading another gem from my bookshelf: The EveryGirl’s Guide To Life by television reporter Maria Menounos (you may know her from ExtraTV, or her time on Access Hollywood, Today, or Entertainment Tonight).

In her book, Maria covers a huge range of topics, from decorating and organization (this gal could give me a run for my money!) to hair and makeup to work and travel, with an incredible number of tips for women.

You might think that as a television personality, Maria’s suggestions might not exactly apply to you (and I will admit her closet is to die for) but as the daughter of Greek immigrants with incredible worth ethic, Maria keeps it real and stretches her time and dollars in the same way most of us do. Not only does she do her own hair and makeup for her daily TV appearances (most of her counterparts spend two hours getting “done”; Maria does her own in less than half an hour) but she, her partner Keven and a friend set up and photographed the cover shoot for her book, with no additional staff required.

Of course I’m fascinated by the lives of those who work in broadcasting, so I had a particular interest in the book, but I took away all sorts of practical ideas ideas (cleaning tricks, packing tips and work suggestions) as well as soaking up Maria’s “famous reporter” lifestyle.

Her sections on diet and exercise are very thorough, and while she’s much more dedicated than I am in these areas (she details how she lost 40 pounds several years ago) she’s also pretty realistic and practical about health and fitness – again, very accessible for what she calls “the EveryGirl”. Though I have to say that I could never get on board with one carb per day! (Her second book is coming soon, focusing specifically on diet and fitness.)

The book is packed with photographs of not just Maria, but her gorgeous home and many of the interesting people she’s met or interviewed (the Obamas, for example).

While I feel a bit old/experienced for a few of the topics, I still pick up new ideas every time I read the book (which is why it gets to stay on my shelf, rather than being passed along as most of my books are).

The EveryGirl’s Guide To Life would be a perfect gift for a young woman starting out – maybe someone entering the work force, or someone who just rented her first apartment or bought her first house.

You can follow the hardworking Maria Menounos (as I do) on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/mariamenounos

How Do You Save Money For The Future?

How do you save money for the future? We have a few different systems, depending on our goals.

For retirement:

We are incredibly fortunate to have a strong pension plan (which I hope will still be there when we need it - 2031 is still a long time away!), but in addition, my husband and I each have RRSPs, funded by preauthorized withdrawals made from our chequing accounts each month. Every couple of years we take a look at our budget and decide if we're able to increase our contributions, but at this point we still aren't maximizing what we could be doing. One bonus with RRSPs is that they do provide a tax break, which means some money back at the end of the year.

For the girls' education:

As soon as Frannie was born, we opened a family RESP, and used the Universal Child Care Benefit ($100 per month, per child from the federal government) to get it started, since it was new income that we wouldn't miss. Once I was back to work full time after both girls, we increased our monthly contributions. It's smart to maximize, if you're able (the government will add 20% of what you put in, to a maximum of $500 per year, per child - which means if you can put in $2500 over the course of the year, you're making the most of your money.) We still haven't decided what to tell our daughters about this chunk of savings. My husband and I each paid for our own post-secondary education, while I admittedly had the luxury of living at home and using one of my parents' vehicles, but I did cover almost all of my tuition and books myself through part-time and summer jobs. I would never want their opportunities to be limited because of money, but I also don't want them to go through high school assuming they have some sort of free ride. I'd like to see them working and saving, just as we did. I'd love to hear others' thoughts on this one!

For large purchases:

We have monthly budgets (including set amounts for personal shopping/entertainment), and the difference between our income and expenditures goes into a joint account at the end of the month. Originally we were very strict about what we would use it for, e.g. a big trip, purchasing a large appliance, etc., but now it tends to be used for Christmas shopping, repair bills, anything not in our monthly budget. Fortunately our tax return is timed perfectly to fund our March Break trip (I know the financial experts wouldn't approve of that but hey, I'm being honest!)

A great way to make sure that your future goals are funded is to pay yourself first (I can still hear Monica's dad on Friends telling her "10 percent, in the bank!") and a great way to do that is to have the withdrawals set up through programs like the TD Automatic Savings Plan. That way you don't have to worry about transferring amounts each month, and the money is out of sight, out of mind...and ready when you need it in the future!

As I mentioned above, I'd love to know what other parents plan to do about their children's post-secondary educations...are you saving for them or expecting them to do it on their own? Is it a choice you're making, or financial necessity? How will their opportunities be different from yours?

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by TD. Opinions are, as always, my own. 

Walmart's Frugal Heroes Challenge: Summer Style Under $100

When I was asked to be part of the Walmart Frugal Heroes Challenge, I couldn't resist! Bloggers were provided with $100 challenges to choose from, or given the option to come up with our own. Some of the suggestions:

• Feed your family of four for 4 days on $100
• Dress two children for summer on $100
• Get a head-to-toe summer outfit for either mom or dad for $100
• Decorate your outdoor living space for $100
• Redecorate a bedroom or family room for $100
• Host a child’s birthday party with 5 guests for $100

As tempting as the other options were (especially as I saw other bloggers' posts/tweets going out), my kids have tons of summer clothes, we just finished picking up outdoor accessories and girls' rooms aren't due to be redone for a bit. So I decided to shop for myself, and committed to the "Head To Toe Outfit" challenge.

I hit my nearest Walmart, fortunately alone, but on a timeline due to plans later in the evening, so I had to focus! As I began to browse, I decided to tweak my challenge slightly. Instead of going with one head-to-toe outfit, I would try to pick up all of the "Summer Style" items I had on my list, keeping under the $100 cap. Here's how I did:

Maxi Skirt

Bright Printed Tank

Colourful Dress (I love this one, and green is a different colour for me!)

Sunhat

Sunglasses

Swimsuit

Pink Nail Polish

(Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure is my fave. I have tons of their shades for pedis,

though I'm a total gel nails convert when it comes to my fingers).

I had a few other non-challenge-related items in my cart (you know, vitamins, pot holders, random stuff), so once my challenge selections were rung through I asked the cashier for a total....and it was just over $91. So I figured, "What's summer fun without some beverages?" and threw in the plastic wine glasses I had picked up for poolside safety. (Also because we had friends over a few weeks ago in the hot tub and one was enjoying wine served in a red solo cup. Which believe me, is even less safe.) For the purposes of full disclosure, the fourth "glass" put the total just over $100 (but it's not like I'm capable of buying an odd number!)

I had planned on modeling my purchases, but while I am quite content with my post-two-baby-body (despite all of the self-esteem messages out there, I'm still not sure it's truly socially acceptable to say that) I'm quite sure that my students and their parents don't need to see me in a bikini. Except the ones that come over to swim at my house, but they don't take pictures and share them with thousands of people. That I know of.

So what do you think? Everything I need for Summer Style, and all under $100! Thanks for the opportunity, Walmart!

Were you part of the Walmart Frugal Heroes Challenge? I'd love for you to leave a comment below with your challenge and a link to your post. I can't wait to check out how everyone else fared!