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Motherhood

Put the Phone Down: Live Life

October 7, 2014

How often do you check Facebook? Twitter? Instagram?

How much time do you spend on Pinterest?

If there’s one thing I’ve learned this summer, it’s this –

Put the phone down.

I’ve caught myself too often scrolling through timelines and feeds aimlessly, without any thought or reason. No real purpose other than to blankly stare at the screen.

Screens and mobile devices have become replacements for real human interaction and thought processing. When was the last time you were in a line-up or waiting at a doctor’s office without looking at a screen?

Kudos to you if you’ve picked up a magazine or book, or even spaced out looking at the ceiling or daydreaming.

I can admit I’ve been guilty of spending too much time looking at a screen. I agree with this article, Parents are the ones who need limits on screen time.

We walk about our kids and yet parents are the ones who need limits on screen time.

How ironic that we are setting limits on our children’s screen time while we ourselves are not setting the example. Kids (over 3) should only have screen time less than two hours a day. So once you’re over 18, it’s free reign? There are studies that show how screens and social media affect brain activity – and that it can damage the brain.

Damage.

Yes we know that children can suffer from sensory overload and a hyper-aroused nervous system because of screens – so why wouldn’t it be same for adults. Impaired cognitive functioning – this is concerning!

Do as I say not as I do?

Other than the physical effects of too much screen time, what about the psychological effects when parents are glued to their devices?

How often are we shushing our kids because we’re watching a YouTube video or sending out that last Tweet or email?

Kids want our attention – they want us to be living in that present moment – not staring at our screens and missing out on important moments.

Limit your time too, mom and dad.

Need a little help putting the phone away? Here are some tips to help.

Put Down the Phone: 5 Tips to Help

1. Check your social media networks once or twice a day – no more.

2. Give yourself a time limit – 15 minutes in the morning, 15 minutes in the evening. I’m talking pleasure, not business-related.

3. When your kids are home, it’s “no device zone” from _ pm to __pm. Make up rules for days of the week and times that you all can live with.

4. Make an effort to enjoy other interactive activities with your kids; sports, board games, wrestling – activities that don’t require video games or screens. Ban screens from long drives in the country, for example.

5. Next time you’re doing something with your kids, leave the phone at home or in the car. Refrain from taking it out of your purse. Focus on engaging with your kids in real time; they deserve your undivided attention.

lifestyle

CAA Road Test Revival Challenge

October 6, 2014

Last week I put my driving skills to the test at the CAA Road Test Revival! I joined several other bloggers at Woodbine Race Track to take the challenge. Going back to driving school!

There was a writing test (not sure how I did on that one!) and three driving stations – the Reverse Lot Parking, Parallel Parking and the Three-Point Turn.

Reverse Lot Parking

The CAA instructor told us that although it seems easier to just go nose first, it’s actually safer to back into a spot. I usually drive into a parking space nose first when I’m at the grocery store so that my trunk is accessible. But I can see why it’s better to back into spots especially when you’re in a busy parking lot. Not to toot my own horn but I think I received a perfect score!

Visibility around your vehicle is better while backing in and it’s easier for drivers to see if the way is clear when exiting the parking spot. Also if there is a problem with your car, it’s easier to tow or boost with your nose out.

Parallel Parking

Now I was worried about this one because I’m not the greatest at parallel parking although driving downtown and practicing for years on busy streets like King and Queen Street have definitely helped. But parking a mini-van in a tight spot can be quite the challenge!

The CAA instructor shared tips to help brush up on one of the most intimidating parking manoeuvres – but I managed in one, smooth try!

Tips on how to make the perfect parallel park: Ensure the space is large enough to accommodate 1 ½ times the length of your vehicle, signal early to help the driver behind understand your intention and don’t start reversing until the way is clear or traffic has stopped to let you begin parking.

Three point turn

We’ve all been there. Blushing as it takes 50 turns, reverses and forward moves to get out of a tight jam. At this station a CAA instructor will help you assess the situations to avoid these embarrassing moments and how to manoeuvre if you do get ‘stuck’.

Be aware of U-turn restrictions before you make your three-point turn. Be 360ᴼ aware throughout the entire manoeuvre, check all mirrors and blind spot and avoid using a driveway or private property. What I forgot to do was turn on my signal!

Important tips to remember while driving:

Do not depend on backup cameras when reversing. Drivers only see what’s already in view of the camera, not what’s approaching the car
Driving forward or reversing, looking in the direction of where you want your car to go will help you steer your car more accurately
Avoid dry steering. Your vehicle should always be moving slowly when turning the steering wheel

CAA How to Drive Beginner Driver Education

If you’re thinking of sending your teenager for driving lessons, did you know that CAA has over 50 years of experience in driver education?

The CAA How to Drive Beginner Driver Education Course is MTO-approved and offers beginner driver education, senior driving seminars, corporate driving seminars and is only taught at CAA Approved Driving School Network (ADSN) locations across Ontario. Currently, there are 38 ADSN locations teaching the CAA How to Drive Course, all locations can be found at caasco.com/drivertraining.

All graduates of the CAA How to Drive Course are eligible to redeem a free 1-year Basic CAA Membership – nice gift after finishing your training!

What’s more, graduates can take their G2 road test 4 months earlier than G1 licence holders who do not take an MTO-approved course (this group must wait a full 12 months) and they may be eligible for an reduced auto insurance premium.

Tear-up-the-Tuition Contest

Students registered for the CAA How to Drive Course at any ADSN location can enter the Tear-up-the-Tuition Contest by visiting caasco.com/learndrivewin.

Contest Prizes include:

2 x Grand Prize of CAA How to Drive Course tuition reimbursement
2 x $200 Apple Store® gift cards
3 x choice of $75 CAA Rewards Partner gift card
39 x Cineplex Great Escape Packages

The contest runs through November 30, 2014.

Good luck and safe driving!

Travel

5 Smart Budget Tips for Travel

October 2, 2014

by Shannon Lintott

You’ve planned. You’ve waited. You’ve packed.

All that’s left to do is to get on that plane, hop on that bus or rent that car and your travels have begun. You’ve worked hard, maybe even put in extra hours at work, and you are determined to enjoy yourself. This means that you want comfortable beds, nice meals and maybe a few drinks on the side.

I am going to try to convince you to give more thought about the every day basics of travel (roof, food, transportation) and how this, in the end, will maximize your experience and leave you and your family with stronger memories and grander stories once you return home.

Here are my 5 smart budget tips for travel that will save some cash; cash that you can use for something spontaneous, extravagant and unique (skydiving, anyone?).

5 Smart Budget Tips for Travel

1. Budget Accommodation

We all want luxury when we can afford it. A soft pillow goes a long way after a 10 hour plane ride and bath robes make even the toughest critiques feel like royalty.

Accommodation can add up quickly and for good reason: no one wants dirty sheets, stained bath tubs or bugs after a long day touring a city. As someone who has stayed in four star hotels and also slept on the floor of an airport (more than once), I feel I have learned a few tricks to finding decent accommodation without blowing 60% of your entire budget.

Try to rent apartments. There are a lot of reputable, easy to use sites for just that (i.e. Airbnb). Sometimes if you’re alone it doesn’t make sense to do this, but when splitting the costs with a group it can make a huge difference and can end up being cheaper than a bed at a hostel.

Not that a bed at a hostel is bad, some hostel are actually closer to budget hotels with ensuites, breakfast and 24 hour reception. Even if you are with a family there may be family rooms at some locations. A well rated hostel is always better than a two star hotel; better vibe, nicer staff and cleaner rooms are just some of the reasons to try hostels if you don’t already.

Tip: Try to book hostels through their actual website and not through hostelworld. It’s good to search for reviews but contacting them directly can mean cheaper rates, special offers and discounts.

2. Transportation

Renting a car can make a simple trip extraordinary but the insurance, gas and stress over getting lost can ruin the romanticism of a road trip.

Trains are not always the best option these days. There are lots of budget flights that save you time and money. If you want to see the country side, see if there is a bus company that can connect you. Boarder control and over crowding can ruin train rides, while buses can take less time, can be cleaner and are usually more direct.

Tip: Over night trains and buses are cheap but come at a cost. Even if you can sleep, it’s fragmented and when you arrive to your destination you feel groggy, hungry and sometimes stinky. Weigh the option of travelling by day and adding another night of accommodation – it might end up saving you a day of cranky sightseeing.

3. Cook Your Meals

I know, I know. You have been slaving away for months or even years to get the time and money to relax and put your feet up. Unless you’ve booked an all inclusive package at a resort, I highly suggest renting an apartment or finding a B&B that allows the use of their kitchen.

You might be surprised by how much of your travel budget gets spent on food and snacks. By limiting your grab and go food experiences, you can save up for scuba diving lessons, hot air balloon rides and things much more memorable than a bland, ham sandwich on a day old baguette and some french fries.

There are many reasons besides the obvious money saving factors: if it’s a long trip it’s good to make your own food to ensure you are eating well (quality over quantity), shopping like a local is the best way to immerse yourself in the every day life of local people (markets are the best bet) and it’s a great way to meet other travellers and bond with fellow guests.

If you cook two out of your three meals, you can afford to do some research and go to one amazing restaurant a day instead of three cheap, unimpressive places you stumble upon. You’ll know for sure that the money you spend at a phenomenal restaurant will be well spent.

Tip: Don’t have a kitchen? Find a grocery store, buy some cheese, bread, fruit and veggies to have a picnic in the park. A picnic is fun for the entire family and will end up leaving a lot of your money in your wallet for later.

4. Free Tours

A lot of places now offer free, tip based walking tours. I always start my first day off in a city with a walking tour so I can learn about the history of the place, gain some local insight and get my bearings.

It can be worth while to read some blogs about free things to do in the city you’re visiting. Sometimes you can discover things far off the tourist paths and find hidden pockets along the way. See if there are free Botanical Gardens, beaches, galleries and installations. That way, if the weather is bad or the art disagrees with you, it doesn’t matter – it was free!

Tip: waiting in line for two hours only to enter a museum and be surrounded by thousands of people who are all standing in front of the piece of art you came all that way to see…well, it might not be worth it. If it is, read online about secondary entrances, buying tickets online or quick-pass ticket options.

5. Luggage

Luggage? How can my suitcase save me any money?

Down sizing to a smaller suitcase or backpack can not only save you money, but it could also save you a lot of grief when you have to haul it up three flights of stairs at a metro station.

All budget flights allow a small size luggage for carry on free of charge. Buses can also charge for stow away luggage and trains don’t always have a safe place for larger suitcases. If I can travel to 18 countries in 6 months with a carry on bag only, you can too. Trust me. It becomes easier with each trip and the money you save will far outweigh the cost of having to buy a shirt or a pair of jeans along the way.

Tip: Buckles are your friend. Backpacks are your best friend. A suitcase is great to roll around but there are always stairs at some point and you will curse the Gods as you break you back getting them up and down. A backpack is easy, it is designed to be comfortable and has all sorts of straps and buckles to make your large pile of clothes small and, well, carry-on-able.

Some of these options may not work for you, but I urge you to try one or two the next time you travel. If you have a carry on suitcase, eat out once a day, only stay in a fancy hotel once a week and take bus rides over trains, you could end up having enough money for skydiving, a music festival, a full day sailing or a dinner cruise. You could even add an extra week if you want or visit a new country along the way that you didn’t think you could afford to see.

Who knows, with these tips, you may never come home!

Happy and safe travels!

Shannon Lintott spends her free time reading, writing and travelling as much as possible. Check out her travel blog at travellingcanuk.blogspot.com and her movie review blog I Like (good) Movies and follow her on Twitter.

lifestyle

Do You Suffer From Fear of Missing Out?

September 30, 2014

Do you suffer from FOMO? No, not MOFO and not the good term, mother of four.

Fear of missing out?

You’re invited to an business event or social gathering. You WANT to go but for whatever reason, you can’t. Gasp. The panic sets in. Should you move things around, cancel your other plans or hire a babysitter so you can make it out because you’re afraid you’re going to miss out on something important?

Fear of missing out or FOMO is a form of social anxiety, whereby one is compulsively concerned that one might miss an opportunity for social interaction, a novel experience, profitable investment or other satisfying event. The fear is especially associated with modern technologies such as mobile phones and social networking services such as Facebook and Twitter, which provide constant opportunity for comparison of one’s status. Through an increased reliance on the Internet, a psychological dependence to being online has developed and results in anxiety when one feels disconnected, thereby leading to a fear of missing out. – Wikipedia

FOMO tends to go into super high gear several times a year such as Christmas when holiday parties are aplenty; or summer when there are parties, events and festivals every weekend; or when early September rolls around and the craziness of a multitude of events happening at the same time.

So really it’s ALL THE TIME.

For example, the Toronto International Film Festival boasts hundreds films over 10 days and you physically can’t attend every event and screening, it’s impossible. You are going to have to be very selective about your time which makes it difficult to schedule. Dammit, you missed seeing Brad Pitt on the red carpet but did you see Robert Downey Jr.!

This is when this quote from my son comes in handy: “I wish I could teleport.”

Indeed, son.

The other times I feel FOMO is during blogging conference season, when there are too many sessions and events happening at once. Which conference do you decide to attend? You can’t possibly attend every single one so how do you choose? It all can become overwhelming.

As I get older, I am more confident (sometimes) in my choices and value my time more – because time away from family has to be worthwhile. How do you measure worth? Either by career choices, importance to one’s emotional well-being or the obvious networking that will provide future opportunity or benefit to growing your business.

I remember in the early days of blogging, saying “yes” to everything was something I felt I had to do. However I’ve had to become more selective in what events I attend – just as the work I involve myself with. Being on social media heightens FOMO, especially if you work online, you’re constantly in-the-know of what’s happening around you.

The same applies to your social life, when evenings and/or weekends are jam-packed with activities because you feel obligated to accept every invitation, leaving you with little time for yourself.

While it’s easy to get caught up in FOMO, it’s important to consider all the factors in deciding and finding a balance. And the important thing to remember is this – put the ego aside, know that you likely won’t miss out on too much and move on. After all, there will be something else around the corner.

How do you deal with FOMO?

Desserts

20 Pumpkin Recipes for Fall

September 29, 2014

When you think of autumn and all of its glory, the flavours of apple, cinnamon and pumpkin spice dominate in baking. I love a good apple pie or apple crumble fresh out of the oven, its welcoming scent enveloping your home.

But pumpkin is another fall favourite – pumpkin pie is the quintessential fall dessert. But there are so many other delicious pumpkin recipes to discover.

We’ve already shared a list of apple recipes to try this fall; here now is a list of 20 pumpkin recipes to bake:

20 Pumpkin Recipes

activities

20 Fun Activities to Do with Kids this Fall

September 26, 2014

Fall is officially upon us!. As sorry as I am to see summer go, I’m excited about all the fun activities to do with kids this fall. I personally love this time of the year, with October being my favourite month. Fall colours, Thanksgiving and Halloween make this month filled with fun activities to do with kids. The trick is to try and fit all the activities in!

Need some ideas for making the most of this beautiful time of year with your family? Here are 20 fun activities to do with kids this fall.

20 Fun Activities to Do with Kids this Fall

1. Go Apple Picking

Nothing will put you into the autumn mood more than a visit to the apple orchard. If the orchard offers hay rides, corn mazes and other fun fall activities, even better! Make sure to pick some apples that bake well, such as Cortland and Northern Spy apples. Then…

2. Make Your Own Apple Pie

What a fun weekend activity to do with the kids. Pick the apples, and then make apple pie together with the help of your little ones. Or try this apple crumble pie, or any apple recipes! or…

3. Make Your Own Apple Sauce

You can find a good homemade applesauce recipe … or

4. Make Your Own Caramel Apples

Skip the pie-making… making pie crust from scratch can be a little tricky… and instead, make candy or caramel apples. Here’s a tutorial on how to make caramel apples.

5. Take a Hay Ride

If the apple orchard offers hay rides, bonus! If not, find a local farm that does. Make sure to dress appropriately for the weather. If you can’t find a hayride near you, make your own fun at home; pull the kids around the neighborhood in a wagon. Create your own “hay” ride by adding leaves to the wagon, and then…

6. Jump in Leaf Piles

Rake a pile of leaves for the kids to jump in!

7. Go for a hike

Find a local trail and/or forest and take the family out for a hike.

8. Use a Crayon to Do Leaf Rubbings

While you’re on your walk, collect leaves along the way, and sort them by colour at home, or use them to create artwork. For example, allow the kids to glue leaves to poster board, or make leaf rubbings with crayons. How to do this? Simply place a leaf under a piece of paper, remove the paper from a crayon, and lightly rub the side of the crayon over the paper.

9. Find Your Way Through a Corn Maze

Fall is such a beautiful time to take a drive in the country, and visit a farm with a corn maze.

10. Visit the Pumpkin Patch

Bust out the camera and take some photos of the kiddos exploring the local pumpkin patch. Make it an afternoon affair; grab a hot chocolate afterwards, and then head on home afterwards to…

11. Carve pumpkins.

Carve your pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns for Halloween. Print faces from the internet, and allow the kids to trace them first with markers, or allow them to draw freehand. Then, parents can carve out the faces.

12. Bake pumpkin desserts

Bake a pumpkin pie with the kids. Also, buy smaller Pie Pumpkins to make pumpkin puree for use in pumpkin recipes.

20 Pumpkin Recipes for Fall

13. Read Fall-themed Stories

“Apple Farmer Annie” by Monica Wellington, “Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf” by Lois Ehlert and “The Little Scarecrow Boy” by Margaret Wise Brown are three awesome choices.

14. Watch Halloween-theme Movies

For younger kids, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” is a classic. Other kid-friendly Halloween movies are Hotel Transylvania, ParaNorman, Coraline, Monster Family, Casper, and Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas are sure to entertain.

Top 20 Halloween Movies of All Time

14. Learn about Fall.

Why do the days become shorter? What is daylight savings time? Here’s a fun lesson to teach your kids about autumn equinox, and the changing temperatures and sunset times. Here are some ideas for lessons and worksheets.

15. Make a scarecrow

A simple scarecrow is easy to create for your garden, or as part of your fall decorations. Here is an easy tutorial.

16. Make fall decorations

Here are some fun fall DIY decorations you can make, and your kids can perhaps be your little helpers.

17. Make turkey themed crafts

For an easy turkey themed craft, have your kids trace their hands on a piece of paper. Add details to make their thumb the turkey’s head and their fingers the turkey’s body. Color.

18. Make a list of things you’re thankful for

What are you thankful for? Have your kids write down what they are thankful for as well, and why we give thanks on Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Recipes and Articles

19. Decorate the house with Halloween decorations

Get ready for Halloween by decorating the house. Get into the Halloween spirit by baking some Halloween treats, like these Jack O’Lantern and Jack Skellington Oreo Pops!

Halloween Oreo Pops – Jack O’Lantern and Jack Skellington

25 Fun Halloween Dessert Recipes

20. Make DIY Halloween costumes

My kids start thinking about Halloween costumes as soon as back-to-school rolls around. They like to help create their own DIY Halloween costumes. Here are 30 DIY Halloween costume ideas to inspire you!

Boo! 30 DIY Halloween Costumes for kids

What are your favourite fun activities to do with kids this fall?

Beauty

Fall Back into Some Me Time

September 24, 2014

End of summer means squeezing every last ounce of fun before the weather changes. Ideally it means lazy days at the beach or by the lake with the family. But not in my household!

Both boys were in back-to-back hockey camps, gearing up for a new season while I was keeping up with work, the house, gearing up for back-to-school and trying to manage it all without losing my marbles.

While the saying, “I’m busy” is annoying and overused by many, I can honestly say that it has been a hectic time these past few weeks. It prompted me to write this post, ”When the Kids are Back in School I’m going to….” It was the light at the end of the summer frenzy I was focusing on to get through.

As you can see, getting my hair done, treating myself to some pampering and going shopping for some new clothes made it on my not-so-short to-do list.

When you’re working and running a household, Mom is usually at the bottom of the priority list. So when the opportunity came up for me to partner with Clairol, I was BEYOND THRILLED.

Finally some time just for ME! It’s as if the gods heard and answered my selfish requests. “Yes Maria, it’s time now for YOU.”

With fall approaching, September and back-to-school time comes new beginnings. I have embraced this chance to make some subtle changes to my appearance.

I had already been thinking about getting my hair cut and styled so what better way than to work with Clairol for a “Shift A Shade” hair update? Do I want to add red tones? Or dare I go lighter? Can’t wait to see what Luis Pacheco, Clairol Consulting Colourist and owner of Hair on the Avenue, has in store for me.

Print this $2-off coupon for Clairol Nice n’ Easy.

I’m also excited to discuss makeup techniques with a makeup artist. I’ve been loving the fuchsia lip trend – but does it go with my skin tone? I’m usually drawn towards pinks and plums but do they suit my hair and face?

Also on my list – shopping for MOI! What key pieces do I need to add to my existing wardrobe? My lifestyle is fairly casual so I want to be comfortable but still look trendy and stylish. I hope the fashion stylist I meet with can offer some suggestions!

All this excitement in one superb day at Hair on the Avenue in Toronto! I’m so excited to see what these experts have in store for my “Shift A Shade” style and beauty update.

Go bolder. Go warmer. Go deeper. Go golder. With our broadest spectrum of natural looking shades, you can change it up and still look like your most amazing you. Get inspired and #shiftashade. Nice ‘n Easy with Colour-blend Technology is available in 44 shades. For more information visit Clairol.ca.

Disclosure: This post was brought to you by Procter & Gamble via Glam Media Canada. The bloggers were compensated for the Clairol Shift A Shade campaign and were asked to review our products. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Procter & Gamble.

lifestyle

Investing in Your Children’s Education

September 23, 2014

Have you started an RESP for your children?

Saving for your children’s education is important and you want to start early to get the most out of your money. I’m not very good with finances so I always look to my father to give me good investment advice. Starting an RESP was one of the first things we did when we had our first child.

Saving for a child’s education is easier if you start early and contribute regularly. Adding $25 a week to your child’s Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) can add up to about $50,000 in 18 years – that is a good return on your investment and will help pay off your children’s tuition!

Plus when you contribute, you can receive free money from the government. The Canada Education Savings Grant will match up to 20% on the first $2,500 contributed annually. That could mean up to an additional $500 a year in your RESP, up to a lifetime maximum of $7,200!

There are many options – and you have the flexibility to use the RESP for university, college, apprenticeship, non-credit courses etc. If your child creates a million-dollar invention at 18 and doesn’t use the funds (wouldn’t that be nice?!), you can use your contributions and earnings to fund your RRSP.

There are many ways to save for a child’s education – with gifts from relatives and friends or a weekly contribution that fits your budget. With an RESP-Matic, you can contribute to your RESP regularly and automatically. I find that with automatic payments, you don’t feel the pinch of funds being withdrawn from your bank account.

I know the last thing I’d want is for my child to graduate out of college or university with a huge debt. So if you’re thinking of opening an RESP for your kids’ education, start now. RBC offers some good information and helpful tips on saving for your child’s education to get you started.

TWITTER PARTY

RBC will be hosting a Twitter party on October 1 with the hashtag #RESPwithRBC and what’s more, participants can win one of 6 $100 gift cards!

CONTEST

RBC has a great contest to help get you started! for a chance to win 4 prizes of $500 (towards an RESP)!

Disclosure: I am part of the RBC RESP blogger program with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Big Kids

Puberty: What happened to my angel?

September 22, 2014

What happened to my angel? What to expect with the emotional changes during puberty

The attitude has started! Is your tween giving you attitude? Suddenly crying for no reason?

These are indicators of puberty approaching, even before physical changes happen. Not only do boys and girls go through the physical changes that come with puberty, they will also feel the effects of hormonal changes in their emotional state.

For girls, this happens between 7 and 14; for boys, between 9 and 15.

When puberty begins, the body starts producing sex hormones — estrogen and progesterone in girls and testosterone in guys — which cause physical changes in the body. But in some people, they also seem to cause emotional changes — the ups and downs that sometimes feel out of control.

The influx of these hormones also triggers abrupt mood swings and irritability. Add to the delicate state of emotions the fact that tweens are also trying to grasp all of the physical changes their bodies are going through, they have no control over them or their emotions.

You may see your daughter bursting into tears, having super-sensitive emotional reactions, attitude issues and moodiness, or your son might want to be alone – this is all normal behaviour.

The best way to deal with your tween boys and girls going through these changes is to do the following:

1. Be supportive and understanding. Set aside the time to listen to their concerns. Take the time to be a sounding board. Sometimes all your tweens want is for you to listen and not judge.

2. Give them some space and privacy. They will want the door closed and time alone to themselves – this is normal.

3. Still be firm and consistent with your parenting and discipline. You can be understanding to a certain point; but if there is bad behaviour, deal with it as you normally would.

4. Take a step back. Don’t take it personally – the hormones are taking over, your tweens are trying to regain some control over themselves as their bodies are changing beyond their control. They are also testing their autonomy – on the one hand, they feel like they know everything and want to be treated as a grown-up and the next minute, they are back to being a child.

5. Be patient. This too shall pass! You are still mom – while they go off to figure things out on their own, they will come back to you.

More resources:

Tips for telling boys about girls and puberty

When should you start talking about puberty?

What should I tell my daughter about her first period?

Disclosure: I’m thrilled to be working with Always, Tampax and BeingGirl to share important information about kids and puberty.

Desserts

Chocolate Zucchini Bread Gluten Free and Vegan

September 20, 2014

Zucchini is a-plenty this time of the year! So why not use all the zucchini in your garden and make zucchini bread! This zucchini bread is gluten free and vegan – but if you don’t have food sensitivities, you can use regular flour and eggs where gluten-free flour and flax eggs are used.

Zucchini Bread Gluten Free

Ingredients

1.5 cups gluten-free flour – I use ½ cup each almond meal, tapioca and sorghum flours – Trader Joe’s Just Almond Meal is a good option

2 flax eggs (you can use eggs if you’re able to eat)

3/4 cups sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tbsp vanilla

½ cup extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1.5 cups grated zucchini (skin also)

1/2 cup dairy-free chocolate chips – I use Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Chips or chunks

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

¼ cup coconut unsweetened flaked

Directions:

Blend together the flax eggs, sugar, salt, vanilla and olive oil in a stand mixer. In a separate bowl, mix the flours, cinnamon, nutmeg. Stir in shredded zucchini, walnuts, chocolate chips and coconut.

Pour into parchment lined loaf pan. Bake at 350 for about one hour.

Let me know how my zucchini bread recipe turns out!