the simple five: giving

After the Santa Claus Parade arrives and leaves town, it is a signal to start holiday preparations. Gift basket displays, festive music, non stop ads, enticing sales...reminding us to join the crowd as the hustle and bustle of gift shopping begins. 

Amongst the distractions, we should also try remind ourselves on how blessed we truly are, and remember to help those in need. Although it may be difficult to squeeze extra time into this busy season, here are five quick, simple and easy ways (that take very little time) to give back.  

1. Donate to your local hospital. We are long-time supporters of the Sick Kids Hospital & Foundation. Their beautiful website provides many easy (and fantastic) ways to give. Send a card, enter their "lotttery", or just donate online.  Easy.
2. Donate food to your local food bank. On your next grocery shopping trip, just add a few non-perishable items into your cart, and drop off a bag on your way out of the store. Many major chain grocery stores have donation bins right at the entrance, so it's easy to give.
3. Help a senior in your neighbourhood. With all this snow, help shovel their driveway. It might be just an extra ten minutes of exercise (a health benefit for you...or get the kids involved!), but it's a small way that makes a big difference for someone else.  
4. Donate toys to bring a smile to a child's face this Christmas. Many malls have toy drives/drop-offs (usually found at entrances or at customer service desks). Operation Christmas Child is a great way to bring a smile to a child overseas. Just fill a shoebox with necessities, school supplies and toys and drop it off at one of the many drop off locations. It's easy to fill up these boxes with readily available stocking stuffer-sized items, bringing a smile to children in need. You can also fill a shoebox online, if a drop off location isn't close to you.
5. Buy gifts that "give back". Luckily there are items now available (in time for the holiday season), that are either made and/or sold by a nonprofit organization or a commercial company, which donates a portion of the proceeds to charity.  Right now, TOMS provides free shipping when you purchase items online. With every product you purchase, TOMS will help a person in need. (One for One ®).  So now you can skip the crowds, buy gifts online, and give back at the same time. Awesome!

Happy Giving.

{Disclaimer}: There were no endorsements with any of the charities or companies mentioned (or hyperlinked), for this post.  I just wanted to share the simple ways our family gives back, and a few of the beautiful  charitable organizations we support. All opinions are my own.

the simple five: quick zombie makeup

For those who have been undecided on whether you'll participate with the candy hunt this evening (ughh, it's raining and cold!), here's a quick last minute costume idea, if the decision is to "go".  Although it's not the most "accurate" in terms of zombie creations, it will suffice for the mere 20 minutes that the kids will be walking around the neighbourhood.  Good enough for me.

Quick Zombie Makeup/Costume

Items you'll need:

(most items can be found in your kitchen, pantry, or at the local store)

• Red Food colouring 
• Corn syrup
• Makeup sponges
• Gauze bandage
• Black and white face makeup (inexpensively found, or you can use white/black cream eye pencil).

Directions:

• First, get dressed in old, dark clothing. (the red food colour can stain your clothes).

• Using a makeup sponge, cover the face with white makeup.
• Under the eyes and patches on the cheeks, smudge some black makeup/eyeliner, blending it into the skin.
• Mix 3 parts corn syrup to 1 part water (I used about 3 tbsp. corn syrup and 1 tbsp. water) in a bowl until the consistency is smooth but still thick (you can use cornstarch to thicken to make "blood clots", if you wish).
• Slowly add drops of red food colour until it is the colour you desire (sometimes adding a little green will make the red appear darker).
• Using the makeup sponges, dab the red colour mixture lightly on the skin (around the mouth and cheeks) and drop a little on the gauze bandage.
• Wrap the bandage around your head.

Done.  And since the weather is usually cold, any warm, old clothes would do (the older the better) to complete the zombie look.

Have fun...be safe.  

{For those who are interested in making the hippo costume in the above picture, please refer to my Hip Hippy Hooray post.  It is not a last minute costume...you'll need to give yourself a few days to complete it.}

smooth beginnings

As Labour Day approaches, the class lists and school supplies released by the school gives us a gentle reminder that summer break is almost over and we'll need to start preparing for our usual routine once again.  It's a time of year that brings jitters to many bellies (including mine) as we anticipate new beginnings with new friends, new grades, new classrooms and work.

Around this time of year, back to school promotions start telling you what you need to buy to look good on the outside (new clothes, backpacks, shoes), but rarely do they promote things that will help you feel good on the inside.  Here's a few unique things to prepare you or your little ones before they head back to the big first day. They're not your typical supplies, but they are fabulous resources to help your family slowly transition to the new school year...making the new beginnings start just a little smoother.

Available at Amazon

Book: "Scaredies Away!" A book that helps manage anxiety.  Aimed at 6-12-years-olds, Scardies Away! uses the Magic Finger Countdown to teach kids how to deal with their anxiety. While it seems like a simple method, the technique is steeped in Cognitive Behavioural Theory—which is the most widely used and effective treatment for anxiety and panic. Beautifully illustrated, Scaredies Away! is an important book dealing with childhood anxiety.  Available though Amazon.

You can create your custom order here: LostMyName

Book: "The Girl (or Boy) Who Lost Her/His Name"  For little ones who are still learning to write their name, this is a whimsical book that is customized to incorporate your child's name into the story.  What a great way for your child to remember how to spell his/her name!  Although my daughter is past that stage, she loved the beautiful illustrations.  You can create your custom order at www.lostmy.name

{Visit Immunize.ca}

Free App: Immunize.ca  Many schools request up to date immunizations before enrolling or beginning a new grade, so this app helps you keep up to date so you know which ones you're due for and which ones you can wait until later.  With the ever changing requirements for immunizations, this is a convenient app to help you stay on top of your family's health.


As much as I don't really want to think about the end of summer since the break has been so good to us, I've slowly admitted to myself that it's really time to start thinking about going back to our routine, and hopefully these resources will help conquer those butterflies in the stomach, and help you start the new school year smoothly.

Enjoy the remaining weeks of summer break!

{Disclaimer} Thank you to the authors of "Scaredies Away!" and "Lost My Name" for providing the books for review and to Immunize Canada for introducing the immunization app.  Opinions are my own. 

unexpected

It's difficult to not feel a little anxious about the tornado that hit Oklahoma this week.  As rescue efforts are underway, specifically at two elementary schools that were demolished in the path of destruction, as I read about the children who were rescued, or watch videos of the moments that parents are reunited with their children, as harrowing as it is to watch, there is a part of me that seeks comfort in hearing these stories.

As a child, I found news of natural disasters fascinating, mostly because I was more interested in listening to the stories of survival, and how the heroes and first responders are a big part of that survival. I'm not sure if I was just an inquisitive child or if I was driven by fear in the belief that if I closely paid attention to the news, I would remember what the survivors did, and then I too, would be a survivor if ever in an emergency situation.

Now as a parent, when I hear news of natural disasters, sometimes my mind runs scenarios.  You can say it is like running an emergency drill in my head. What is the fastest route to the kid's school?  Where is the nearest hospital?  What can I teach them now, without scaring them, so they are somewhat prepared? 

As much as I know one can not always be 100% prepared for everything, and to accept that the road we take will lead us to a predetermined fate, I thought I'd share some good resources to help parents (or teachers) to teach children about Emergency Preparedness.  Although this won't prevent or be a guarantee that we won't suffer through a natural disaster, it might help us be a little more prepared...to expect the unexpected.

 Our thoughts and prayers are with those in Oklahoma.

Emergency Preparedness Guides for Parents & Teachers

Various "Expect the Unexpected" materials at the Red Cross

A Parent's Guides about Emergency Preparedness

(Link here)