No More Scooping with PetSafe's ScoopFree Self-Cleaning Litter Box #ad

As you all know by now, I'm a bit of a crazy cat lady. I have three cats of my own, fostered a fourth for a bit, and was part of a feral feeding group when I was living in Scarborough. I love cats. The one thing about cats that I don't love is cleaning their litter boxes. A high quality, scoopable litter is a big help, and I had found an excellent one. But what if you didn't have to scoop at all? How amazing would that be?

I'd heard about self-cleaning litter boxes, but hadn't ever seen one in action, so when PetSafe Canada asked if my cats and I would like to try out their ScoopFree® Original Self-Cleaning Litter Box, of course I said yes. It's tech, a gadget, and for cats, with a promise to make my life easier. Count me in.

The litter "box" itself is more of a frame containing the tech and moving parts, and it sits on top of a disposable cardboard litter tray. I raised a bit of an eyebrow when I first hauled it out of the box, but went ahead and set it up. I placed it near the cats' original litter box, hoping that would help them understand what it was. The system does come with suggestions for helping your cat adjust to the new box and litter, but apparently mine had no trouble understanding this was another spot they could "go." Within the hour, one of them had peed in there, and they've been using it regularly since.

So, the cats like it, and that's good of course. But how does it work? There is a sensor in the frame that can tell when a cat enters the box, and when it leaves. Once the cat goes on its way, a timer begins, giving 20 minutes for the crystals to absorb moisture from whatever kitty left behind. After 20 minutes, an automatic rake system sweeps waste into a covered compartment, then rakes back to level the litter again. There's also a button you can press to manually set the rake in motion, but I haven't needed to do that. I have pressed the button to see the rake in action, and to show my friends. I never seem to catch my cats when they are in there,

The specially-designed crystal litter is said to be five times more effective at reducing smells than clay or clumping litters. I can't speak to the exact relative effectiveness, but I can say that I have found no odour from this litter pan. None. The only evidence of activity in a discolouration of the litter from urine. That's it.

I was going to take some video of the box and its operation, but I didn't really want to photograph or video my cats' business. Instead, I will share with you this video from PetSafe themselves, which gives a great view of the litter box in action, from set-up to disposal.

The Pros

This system is super easy to set up, right out of the box. The litter trays are lightweight, easy to install and dispose. I am really impressed with the odour control. I honestly can't smell anything. The crystals dry out or soak up the urine, and dry out the stool before it is raked into the disposal area, which I guess is a big part of keeping odours under control. The rake is very efficient at removing solid waste; I had to lift the cover to determine if my cats were actually going "number two" in the box. No more scooping!!!! I can't tell you how great that is. When the crystals are getting low, or you can see too much discolouration from urine, just lift the unit, slide out the tray, cover it, tape if you like, and dump the whole thing in the trash.

The Cons

Every municipality is different, so please check local regulations, but, I can say that this crystal litter is not accepted in the City of Toronto's green bin program; in Toronto, crystal litter (and silica-based, and non-organic - crystal is not alone!) goes in the garbage/landfill. Traditional clay or organic clumping or non-clumping litter is accepted for composting in the green bin program. This may or may not be something to consider for your situation. In St. John's, where I now live, all kitty litter goes in the garbage, so it makes no difference for me.

You need to have an electrical outlet near where you want to place the unit, as the unit requires power to operate.

The only real con I have found, though, is the cost. The litter pan itself is pretty serious technology, and so it is an investment. The MSRP is $199.99, although you will likely find it for less. Amazon.ca (affiliate link) lists the pan at $169.89. PetSmart has it online for $187.49, although you can arrange in-store pick-up and save 15% ($159.37). The refills will run you around $20 each. Purchase them in multi-packs for savings. With three cats, it's suggested I will need to change the tray every 7-10 days, so that can add up. I just added a 6-pack of the trays to my Amazon.ca subscribe and save, and I'm getting that for what works out to about $17/tray. That being said, I believe the system is well worth the price, given the work it does, i.e., the work it saves me. It's just a matter of your budget if you decide to go this route or not. Do it if you can!

These guys approve. Three paws up.

Disclosure: I received complimentary product to facilitate this review. No financial compensation was received. All opinions on this blog remain my own (or those of my cats, in this case). This post contains affiliate links.

Deb's Big Move

What a crazy winter and spring it has been! I knew it would be a lot of work to coordinate buying and selling and packing and purging and moving, but man oh man I still seriously underestimated what it would take out of me. There have been a few times I wanted to sit down and document all that was happening, and all that I was accomplishing. But by the time I was able to sit down, I was just too exhausted to do anything beyond hit play on my current Netflix addiction.

Moving a three bedroom home, where you've lived for 14 years with an avid collector, is not easy. Doing it alone? I thought it might kill me.

But it didn't. Ha! Try as it might, the house did not get the better of me, other than the last few hours when I truly believed I wouldn't be out before the new owners arrived. I had a bit of a breakdown that day, which was likely long overdue. Good friends ran to my rescue and got me through it. And out the door. And I only slightly terrified two 12 year old boys who had never seen me cry like that before.

How sweet is that sign? Thanks so much to the @mulhollandrossgroup for getting me here 😊 Four weeks until the big move!!! . . . #realestate #moving #momlife #YYZ2YYT #home #homesales #newadventures #endofanera

A post shared by Deb Coombs (@domesticateddeb) on Mar 6, 2018 at 12:11pm PST

The quick version of the story -  I saw a house on realtor.ca in September. It was still on the market when we visited St. John's at New Years, so I called a friend, who is also a realtor, and asked her to arrange a viewing. Michael and I both fell in love, and I made an offer the next day. Eventually, we came to an agreement. Now I had to sell!

My house in Scarborough went on the market at the beginning of February, after getting some updates and repairs, and moving out a pile of stuff into a mobile storage unit I rented. We had maybe 6 open houses? Well over 100 people visited the house. I was getting worried I wouldn't sell in time, and that I would lose my dream home in St. John's. Lots of back and forth with agents and possible offers, and when one finally came that I could live with, I grabbed it. House sold 4 weeks after listing, with 4 weeks to closing.

Can I just say, keeping a house PERFECT for showings is possibly the most exhausting thing I've ever done, after caring for a newborn. As soon as it sold, I started back at purging and packing, and basically spent the next four weeks creating piles of donate/sell/dump/recycle. My step-son was a great help dropping things off to the Salvation Army Thrift Store, Habitat for Humanity Re-Store, and electronics recycling. Early on I was listing stuff on buy & sell groups, and bringing things into re-sell stores. I unloaded about 2500 albums, 500 laser discs and a player, untold hundreds of DVDs and CDs, and innumerable bins of cables and hardware and electronics and plumbing ephemera. Power tools, lumber, dishes, 3 boxes of mugs and glasses, and heaven knows what else.

By the final week, anyone who came to my house had to take something with them when they left.

The movers took over 10,000 lbs of my crap belongings. The next day there was still enough for 2 truckloads to go with 1-800-Got-Junk. And I filled my car to the brim, shipped 7 boxes via post, and left a pile of plants, baskets, and various things too awkward to pack up and ship, with friends. I was past the point of caring.

Oh! And in the midst of all that, I flew home with my 18 year old cat to close the house in St. John's. The younger cats went Air Canada Cargo the next week. Mom kept them all for about 3 weeks until we got settled here.

What an odyssey. Michael and I drove the 3000 km home. We took a week and visited friends and family along the way. (I hope you caught some of our adventures on Instagram.) We arrived in St. John's on April 14, and started sleeping here in our new home a few days later. It will still be a while before everything is unpacked and settled, but it is home, and the critical stuff is done. For me, that means beds and a kitchen I can cook in. For Michael, it means his game systems and the computer are set up.

Here are just a few pictures. As the place gets more presentable, I will share more. Promise!

Nice, hey? There was no doorbell and no numbers on the house, so I installed those. Still needs landscaping.

The main floor bathroom. It's not huge, but it's a good size. These neutral tones go throughout the house.

My bedroom, which IS huge. The cats are clearly settled in just fine.

I am exhausted and have a lot of work still to go, but I can honestly say - this is the happiest I've felt in years. As tough as it was to leave Toronto and all my friends there, and especially my step-son, this was the right thing to do.

The Babytime Show Presents "Take Three – Tips from Three Busy Moms" {Guest Post}

Take Three – Tips from Three Busy Moms
Three popular moms share their top tips on how you can tackle three parent-related topics

There’s an old saying: If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. These super successful, career balancing, busy moms are all at different stages of parenthood, have expertise in different areas, and have tips from which all parents can benefit. From feelings of being overwhelmed and calendar combustion to nursery décor and meal prep, these three moms have strategies to help the busiest of parents create more calm in their lives.

Want to delve deeper into each topic? Join them from April 27-April 29 at the Babytime Show, where they will have a full presentation on their selected topic.

Lisa Canning, mom of six (soon to be seven) children under the age of 8, is an interior design expert, life-balance coach, and an advocate for good mental health. Want to know how this busy mom of soon-to-be-seven stays sane in a house full of children and is still able to run a successful business? Here are Lisa’s top tips to live a balanced life:

1. Motherhood can be an overwhelming gig at times, especially when you throw in juggling the demands of work, household chores, trying to stay healthy, and going on an occasional date night! My best tip for juggling everything is to really think about your priorities. What comes first for you: your marriage/kids, work, health, personal time, etc.? Write a list and order everything based on what is most important to you. Then ensure your calendar actually reflects these priorities.
2. Another way to tackle your calendar and avoid becoming overwhelmed is to have some hard boundaries to ensure your priorities stay in the right order. For example, if you want to make sure your family takes precedence over your work, ensure you have a hard stop time for when you do work, which means you schedule appointments around this hard stop time, you put your phone away at this hard stop time, etc. Setting boundaries with your time is a great way to ensure your top priorities remain your top priorities.
3. Schedule time for yourself like you would any other priority in your life; even if it is just 30-minutes of quiet reading, schedule it and stick to it like you would a child's soccer practice, or a conference call for work. As moms, we GIVE, GIVE, GIVE! So we have to ensure we refill our tanks regularly. 

Jaclyn Colville is mother to one 6-month-old darling little girl, an interior stylist, and a frequent TV guest. Décor and design can be completely overwhelming to some, yet when that bundle of joy arrives, most parents want to have the perfect space for them to curl up in. Here are her top tips for smart design in an infant or toddler room:

1. Design with longevity in mind, meaning do not design for the right now stage. Design thinking about the next 5 (or more) years to save money and your time. For example, while you might want to have a chair in your child’s room for breastfeeding, make sure it’s a sturdy one that your little one will be able to curl up in to read stories with you when they’re a toddler. Investing in a convertible crib is a great idea – it means that one purchase now will grow with your child to become a toddler bed, and a full size bed later. 
2. Choose a calm, neutral colour, but it does not have to be a traditional baby colour. Think calm grey or soft taupe for a nursery. You can use accent pieces to add in soft or vibrant pinks or blues (or any colour!) to update the space as your child grows. Going with a neutral colour allows years of growth before you have to re-paint. 
3. Make the room welcoming! While you’re going to spend lots of time in there, this is your child’s sanctuary, a space to call their own. Don’t have precious heirlooms in there – or at least keep them out of reach! Be sure the contents are durable, safe, and fun. No sharp corners, lots of places for storage, nothing fussy. You want your child’s space to be a place they love, and where they feel your love surrounding them. 

Taylor Kaye is a popular host on CHUM FM, a red carpet reporter, host of Meal-Prep-Mondays, and mom of three girls. Meal prep and making lunches is a constant complaint with moms new and seasoned! Frazzled about the dinnertime madness? Not sure how to mix up the lunch bag? This mom has got it down to a science and it doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are her top meal and meal preparation tips:

1. Make family meals a priority. Meal-time is a great time to connect with each other, share stories from everyone’s day, make plans, solve issues, and cement the bond of family. Meal prep time can serve the same purpose – giving you time to work together to create a meal you’ll all enjoy. 
2. Choose foods that are versatile. As a family of five, we don’t always like the same things, or like it the same way. When I choose foods, I’ll pick products that can be served different ways. For example, if I make a lunch platter of different meats and veggies, I’ll include pitas, buns, and crackers and allow everyone to assemble their plates and “sandwiches” so everyone gets what they like, how they like it. Another versatile option: granola bars. They can be eaten whole, crumbled on yogurt, or broken up into a cereal and fruit bowl. 
3. Teach your kids to cook. Give the kids specific jobs to help, like grating cheese, mixing ingredients, laying out crackers - things that they can do with minimal supervision. A word of caution here: they may not do it exactly the way you would, but this is about teaching them and getting help, even when it feels like it would be easier to do it all yourself! If you invest a bit of time every meal in teaching them, before you know it, they’ll be efficient helpers well on their way to being cooks. And when they can make their own meals, you’ve done a great job of growing independent adults. 

To hear more tips from these super busy moms, come to their presentations at The Babytime Show, from Friday, April 27 to Sunday, April 29,at The International Centre, Hall 1. Visit www.babytimeshows.ca for full show details, presentation times and to see all the show has to offer. Bonus! Use the special discount code APRIL27 to save $3 off admission when you purchase tickets online.

A Giveaway

Want to attend the show for free? I have two pairs of tickets to award to two lucky readers. Each winner will receive one pair of tickets to attend the show, plus a sample package from either Hold the Carbs or Gourmet Baby. Entries are via the widget below and will be accepted until 11:59pm ET, April 25. Open to Canadian residents only. Best of luck!

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Disclosure: I have not received compensation for this post. I just want to share this opportunity with my readers.

Disney's "A Wrinkle In Time" {review}

I discovered Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time in the fifth grade. I was enthralled, and I devoured the full series. Naturally, when I heard Disney was coming out with a movie, I was thrilled. I've been waiting anxiously to see this, and perhaps I went in with too high expectations. I am sad to say that this movie underwhelmed.

First the positive. I thought all the actors did a great job, and the movie is great visually. The depiction of the planet Uriel is simply gorgeous, and Mrs. Whatsits's alternate form, although nothing like the literary version, is stunning. Excellent CGI, wonderful, vibrant colours. The story follows the basic arc of the novel, and, in presenting strong and diverse female characters, it certainly is timely and will appeal to a modern audience. Actually, one rather gratuitous incident underlines the film's desire to be timely. When Mrs. Which first appears, she is a giant, towering over the landscape. (In the book she never fully materialises.) Charles Wallace tells her she is "the wrong size," meaning she made a mistake. Mrs. Which replies, "Is there really such a thing as a wrong size?" Fair enough, and I totally agree, but this line feels out of place, and is a bit of a throw away, while also screaming, "It's 2018!"

If you haven't read and loved the book, I suspect you'll love this movie version more than I did.

Where the movie failed for me was in those places where it diverged from or glossed over the original story. Not that I expected it to include everything or present each character as they were described, of course. It didn't kill me that Mrs. Whatsit shows up as a gorgeous young woman in a billowy white gown instead of as an old tramp dressed in odd layers of mismatched clothes. And it's of no consequence that Meg's mother is a gorgeous black woman instead of a beautiful red-head with the palest of complexions. The contrast of beautiful mother and supposedly plain daughter is there. Meg's twin brothers are left out completely, which is ok for this story, as they play almost no role here, but I missed them. And I have no idea why Charles Wallace had to be adopted, unless it was to add another layer of diversity to an already diverse film.

Mostly, I found the story here glossed over the science that was such a big part of the novel. The opening scene has the Murry parents presenting at a scientific meeting, and dad gives a brief overview of their concept of "wrinkling" time to allow travel over great distances in the blink of an eye. (He is mocked, btw, whereas in the book he was a respected scientist working with a team of government experts.) Presumably this is meant to set up the science so it can then be set aside. I was drawn into the book, and got excited about math and science as a young girl when I read L'Engle's descriptions of her five dimensions. The concept of squaring a cube to represent the fourth dimension and then squaring that for the fifth was so compelling for me. In the book, Mrs. Which accidentally brings the group to a two-dimensional planet, and the description of what that feels like for three-dimensional Meg is visceral.

There are many more examples of where the movie ignores or re-writes the original story, including leaving out a huge chunk with Aunt Beast that is critical to Meg's character development, and turning her father into a fairly weak and sad individual. But I'll stop there. The 2018 version presents a story focused on the power of love and family and believing in yourself. Diversity is a huge value. It is visually beautiful, and the story will speak to its modern audience. But if you loved the original book, be prepared. Much of what made that story so compelling and mind-bending did not make it to the big screen.

Disclosure: I received complimentary access to view this film with my family for purposes of this review. No financial compensation was received. All opinions on this blog, as always, remain my own or those of my family.

Disney's Lady and the Tramp {giveaway}

One of the sweetest and most iconic love scenes in movie history. And it's in an animated feature. Who could forget this romantic spaghetti dinner moment between Lady and her Tramp? Their accidental kiss, followed by him rolling the last meatball over to her just warms my heart. I've long been a fan of this movie. It has romance, laughs, action, tension, and, of course, adorable dogs. If only the cats weren't so mean ...

Walt Disney Motion Pictures has just re-released this classic animated favourite as part of their Signature Collection. The set comes with BluRay, DVD, and Digital versions of the movie, so you can play it on any of your devices. Along with classic bonus material, you'll find three all-new extras: "Stories from Walt's Office," W"alt & His Dogs," and "How To Make A Meatball and Other Fun Facts About Lady and the Tramp." That last one features "Oh My Disney" star Alexys Gabrielle and teen chef Amber Kelley. The set also includes a sing-along version of the movie, which I love! There are great songs in this one, including Peggy Lee's "He's A Tramp," and, perhaps my favourite, "The Siamese Cat Song."

Have you got your copy yet? This is a great title to share with your kids or grandkids. A true classic!

Buy Yours

A Giveaway

One lucky RMB reader will receive their own copy of Disney's "Lady and the Tramp" to enjoy with their family. Entries are via the widget below and will be accepted until 11:59pm ET, March 18. Giveaway is open to Canadian residents only. Best of luck!

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Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this BluRay. No financial compensation has been received. All opinions on this blog, as always, remain my own, or those of my family. This post contains an affiliate link, and should you make a purchase via that link, I will receive a small commission from Amazon.ca.

Product Review: Spokes Air-Puffed Potato Snacks {giveaway}

My evening, in a nut-free-shell. Review & giveaway on the blog tomorrow! . . . #ad #healthieroptions #snacktime #healthysnacks #nutfree #nongmo #glutenfree #instayum #instasnack #instafood #spokes #MadeInCanada

A post shared by Deb Coombs (@domesticateddeb) on Feb 28, 2018 at 4:20pm PST

I love my snacks, especially my savoury ones. I have a weakness for potato chips, I have to admit, and you'll often find me munching away on them in the evening while watching TV. And you'll often find me eating way more of them than I had planned, because I tend to snack a bit mindlessly at night. It's not really a good situation, for either my health or my waistline, so finding healthier options is important.

Enter Spokes Air-Puffed Potato Snacks. These are new to market, and created by a Canadian mom looking for healthier snacking options for her family. They are manufactured by Left Field Foods in a peanut-free facility in Calgary, AB, and are free of the 11 major allergens. Spokes have no dairy, gluten, wheat, soy, egg, no artificial preservatives or colours, and no trans fat or cholesterol. They are Non GMO Project Verified, lightly misted with sunflower oil and air-popped, never fried. With just 40 calories per cup, these crispy potato snack options are a great "better for you" choice.

See? They are shaped like a spoked wheel. Cute! You can see from the bends how they crisp up.

Boo and I have been checking these out, and we've both given them two thumbs up for both texture and flavour. We received 3 of the 9 flavours to try - a spicy Mango Habanero for mom, plus more Boo-friendly Sea Salt, and BBQ. (I have to work on his taste buds, because I really love spice.) I dove into the Mango Habanero right away, and I believe I ate about half the bag. So, I still have an issue with overeating, but given the low calories and minuscule fat content (only 1g in the entire bag of this flavour!), I'm not too worried. These were nicely crisp and flavourful, with the right hit of heat - nothing crazy, but too hot for my child who thinks black pepper is hot. (sigh)

As for Boo, he pretty much destroyed this bag of sea salt and has done a good job on the BBQ as well, although he is sharing.  All the flavours we have tried are nicely balanced, and these air-puffed snacks are easily dealing with my night-time snack cravings. Here's the full flavour line-up: Sea Salt, Mango Habanero, Sea Salt & Vinegar, Barbecue, Dill Pickle, Salt & Pepper, Fiesta Salsa, Sea Salted Caramel and Simply Bare.

I like that these are a healthier snack option, while still delivering full taste and crispiness to meet my cravings. But even more, I love that these are safe for pretty much everyone. There are many kids and adults among our friends and family who have food allergies or sensitivities. I appreciate that this is a snack I can feel safe serving to whoever drops by, and even send some in to school for a treat.

Spokes are available at many natural, conventional, and independent grocery and drugstore retailers across the country, including Whole Foods, Sobeys, Safeway, London Drugs, and more. I checked the store locator online to see where I could get them near me. So far none of the major grocery stores near me carry them, but they are available in the GTA at The Big Carrot (Danforth Ave.) and at Bed, Bath, and Beyond store.

For more information, including nutritional information on each flavour and where you can find Spokes Air-Puffed Potato Snacks near you, check out the website. You can connect with Spokes on social at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

A Giveaway

Want to try these for yourself? The good folks at Spokes are providing 2 winners with 5 free product coupons each, so you can try multiple flavours and pick your fave. Entries are via the widget below and will be accepted until 11:59pm ET, March 15. Giveaway is open to Canadian residents only. Best of luck!

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Disclosure: I received complimentary product to facilitate this review. No financial compensation was received. All opinions on this blog, as always, remain my own or those of my family.

WW - Dinosaurs in Scarborough w/linky

These metal sculptures are in an industrial area of Scarborough, ON, just off a main road. They are a great example of urban street art and a fun surprise for visitors.

An InLinkz Link-up

Budgeting for Your Move

My home has been on the market for three weeks as of today, and we've had no offers yet. We've had a lot of interest, four very well-attended open houses, and numerous private showings. There have been questions and second visits, and even some back and forth between agents. But nothing on paper. Yet. I remain hopeful.

And it's official. My house is on the market. I am exhausted from getting the place ready to show, and I've decided I clearly own too much "stuff." Now being very picky about what survives the great purge. Wish me luck for a quick & satisfactory sale! . . . #realestate #home #movingsucks #purging #minimalist #sotired #sendwine #momlife #bigchangescoming #changeisgood #staging #homestaging

A post shared by Deb Coombs (@domesticateddeb) on Feb 1, 2018 at 10:05am PST

Meanwhile, I am exhausted. I'm sure part of that is the emotional drain of selling our home, or rather trying to sell our home, and not knowing when this will all be over. Most of it though is physical exhaustion. From all the prep work and purging to the constant cleaning I have to do to keep this place ready to show 24/7. I just want to sleep!

And then there's all the unexpected costs involved. I mean, I'm fine, but I've spent a ton of money on things like eating out that I hadn't planned on. Naturally I factored in the obvious costs, like lawyer's fees, land transfer taxes, and moving trucks. But there are many more I hadn't thought about in advance.

1. Repairs and Maintenance - If you want to sell your house with a minimum of fuss, you'll likely need to play catch-up on repairs and maintenance issues you've ignored or gotten used to over the years. We've lived for 14 years with a cracked toilet tank lid. But I can't sell the house like that, so I bought a new toilet and had it installed. We just never got around to it, although it came up quite often in the first couple of years we lived here. Much like the master bedroom. I had every intention of painting over the sponge-painted faux finish peach walls back in 2004. But after a few years I really didn't see the walls anymore. For the record, my contractor painted them a lovely light grey for market. Plan for a contractor, or add in the time to do things yourself. A new coat of paint here, a cracked switch plate replaced there, it all adds up.

2. Cleaning - Particularly if you've had contractors through and there's drywall dust everywhere, but even just for everyday dirt, you will want to give your house a major top-to-bottom cleaning. If you have the time to do it yourself, awesome. I saved myself the time and aggravation and paid professional cleaners to come in. Now they've done the solid "spring cleaning" type base and I just have to keep it up. Daily. Argh.

My kitchen has never been so clean.

3. Eating out - This relates directly to "cleaning" as well as to the exhaustion you'll feel from all the prep you are doing. At first, I was too tired to cook after purging and packing all day to get the house de-cluttered. So we ordered in. A lot. Then once the house went on the market and people started to book viewings, two things happened. First, cooking a real meal makes a mess. I can't have a mess. So, we went out to eat. Second, in an ideal world, the home owner is not actually home when potential buyers visit. So, when they book around meal times, we go out to eat. This is getting expensive! (But yummy.)

4. Entertainment - Especially on Open House days. We absolutely can't be home then. We have invited ourselves over to hang with friends for some of them, but we've also gone to movies. Think about how you will fill your time when you have to be out of the house. Set up some free options, family and friends who will shelter you for a while, etc. Otherwise this can really get out of hand.

5. Staging - OK, so this one hasn't been bad. My agent isn't big on staging. She believes in de-cluttering and presenting a bright, welcoming, clean space. But, she did bring fresh flowers for picture day, and I've been buying more as needed to keep a cheerful display. I am enjoying them as well, of course, but it is money I'm spending each week. I also bought new towels and mats, and a basket for each of us to use for quick tidying.

6. Storage - This is one I should have thought of from the beginning. There is a ton of "stuff" in this house, and I needed to either toss or hide a lot of it before we could let potential buyers through the door. The house actually has great storage in the crawl space, but my late husband had that packed, and I needed to get things out of the house so I could start thinking about what to keep and what to toss/sell/donate. So, I rented a portable storage unit that is currently sitting in my driveway.  If you have a lot of stuff you will move with you, but you need out of the way for your house to show at its best, look into renting a storage unit, either in a storage facility nearby, or have one brought to you.

7. Junk/Garbage Disposal - Two stages to this one. In my purging stage, and with the contractors working on the house, we created a ton of garbage. In Toronto, we are limited to how much garbage we can put out on our appointed day. If it doesn't fit in the bin, you have to pay extra. I had 6 extra bags. Each one was $4 I think. Once the house sells and the weather clears, I'll be creating a lot more, big garbage as I clean up the yard and sheds. And as I pack and purge the crawlspace, I know I'll have a crazy amount to get rid of. I expect to be hiring a junk removal company to look after that. I really miss the big garbage and recycling bins at our rental townhouse. That move was eased greatly by our ability to toss anything and everything we wanted to without charge!

So, yeah. There's repairs, and cleaning, and prettying up, and storage and garbage, and eating out and entertainment. I could have done a better job of budgeting for these things. And I could have done less and not spent as much. Or done and spent a lot more. It's all a part of the process. I hope this helps give a picture of the types of things you have to spend money on when you're trying to sell your home. Maybe it will help someone else go into the process a little more prepared!

Guest Post: Emotional Bubble-Wrap for Young People Changing Homes - Julie Etter

I was 14 or 15 when my parents decided to sell our home. Our relatively quiet, 2 lane street was being expanded to 4 lanes, and we were losing our sidewalk. They wanted to move to a quieter street. I wanted to move nowhere. And I was a real pill about it. I didn't want to leave my home, my bedroom, my playground. Change, in my mind, was bad.

Skip forward many years, to when Jim and I decided it was time to move out of our rental townhouse and buy a place of our own. My step-son, aged 8, was really upset when we told him. On questioning, we realised he thought he'd have to leave his things behind - his bed and toys. Once we explained that would all come with us, and that we'd be sure to get him a big yard to play in, he was on board. He just didn't understand what it meant to move.

And now I am selling again and making a major move across the country, to be closer to my family. Michael, aged 12, is a little worried about leaving his friends behind and having to make new ones. I reminded him that he changed schools last year and made new friends there pretty quickly. Although he will still miss his buddies here, that helped him see this move would be ok. He was worried about the unknown.

Moves are stressful for everyone, and as parents we need to be attuned to how our kids are feeling about the big changes coming. And even the big changes during the process - keeping the house spotless for showings, disrupting regular schedules with needing to leave for open houses and viewings, etc. This piece from author and realtor, Julie Etter, arrived in my inbox last week, and it is so timely, I decided to share it with you. Keep these points in mind to help your kids make it successfully through your next move.

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Moving can be hectic. It’s a contact sport. It’s physically and emotionally demanding at a time when you are supposed to still carry on the rest of life . . . jobs, dinner, rides to soccer. It’s a full-time job on top of a schedule that doesn’t have room for “another” job. So, in all of that, it’s easy to make mistakes with the kids and their involvement (or often lack-thereof) in the move.  As if there weren’t enough to think about, dealing with temper tantrums, outbursts, and sometimes intangible ways of fearful expressions, by kids in the middle of a move only adds to parental stress.  Below are some straightforward suggestions that parents can follow while moving children from one home to another. It all comes down to one fundamental component: involvement.

• Let their wish-list be heard. Have kids identify what they love most about their current home and what they most want to see in a new home. Although this won’t erase all anxiety, there are often simple things that can be created to help with the child’s transition (e.g., a room color, a swing set, furniture you are moving with you anyway).
• Bring the kids to see the new property. Often, and understandably so, children are left with babysitters while parents view homes. Although this is logical for the hunt, once a property is under agreement, and you know where specifically you are moving, set a time to go to the house. Between inspections, measurements, etc., there should be ample times when it’s appropriate for them to come to check it out.  At a minimum, this will allow their anxiety to be focused and hopefully more specifically identified than that of the unknown. This is also a good idea in respect to visiting a new school, if applicable.
• Let them pack. Putting all the kids’ stuff in a box and telling them it will be at the next mysterious place creates uneasiness over what’s happening with their stuff.  In Lily and Andrew are Moving, a children’s book designed to identify and work with kids’ moving anxieties, each family member gets a colour. The colour-coded stickers are then placed on that member’s belongings/boxes for easy identification for moving location. That same colour is placed on that family members’ bedroom door for ease of identification.
• Prepare yourself for extra emotional outbursts and use them as a foundation for conversation. One of the biggest complaints I get from parents is that the kids’ behaviour is very poor ,and it’s yet another stressor during a hectic time. Try to remember that everything going on and the stress you are feeling is undoubtedly affecting them. They may not know how to articulate why. Use these attention grabbers to, well, grab your attention and talk about the move with your child.

Most of all, just understand that the kids are moving, too. So, regardless of whether it’s a positive or negative move for the family, work through their reactions just as you do in your role as parent in any other life event. Trust, though, once everything is in motion, they are far more resilient than their adult counterparts.






Julie Etter is a professional, national award-winning realtor and former middle-school teacher based in Wrentham, MA. She is the author of Lily and Andrew Are Moving (Hardcover, $14.95; Kindle, $11.99), published by JT Publications, LLC. For more information, visit www.treehousebuddies.com

Playing Hooky

Michael and I played hooky on Wednesday. Well, I guess, technically, I did work for a couple of hours while he slept in, and then ran around like a crazy person trying to get myself ready/presentable enough to leave the house, and the house ready/presentable enough for the viewing appointments scheduled for the day. But, from then on things started looking up.

It all started because he needed a doctor's appointment, and the only one available was smack dab in the middle of the day, making getting to school before or after pretty much pointless. Needless to say, Michael did not complain about the opportunity to sleep in. After the doctor ,we ran an errand that helped with my purging, so I got a little burst of accomplishment. And then we headed to the mall.

Our plan was lunch in the food court (honestly, I hardly ever cook since the house went on the market), then shopping for jeans that would actually cover his ankles. (24 inch waist, 28 inch inseam. Shoot me!) But we walked in through the cinemas and saw that "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" was playing at 3:30. Tempting! Michael got to choose lunch (A&W because he loves their BLT Chicken Burger & root beer), and then he got to choose movie over shopping.

Love this boy!

Honestly, it was an excellent decision. The movie was great, and I can't believe it took us this long to get to it. But even more than that, sitting in an almost empty theatre on a weekday afternoon, with my boy and a big bag of popcorn did me a world of good. Two and a half hours of not thinking about selling my house. Not thinking about all the little things that need to get done. Not worrying about what happens if I don't sell this place by the deadline in my offer on our new home. It was just what I needed.

And after that we did have a little look at a couple of stores, and we managed to find men's jeans in size 26x30 at Bluenotes. Add a belt, a little roll at the bottom, and they work! Actually, Michael said they were no good because they were too long. I had to laugh. He's never had that problem before, and it never occurred to him that pants could be hemmed. What a concept!

Bottom line, I highly recommend allowing yourself to take a day, or even just a few hours, off from your regular routine. Especially if you've got a ton going on and are feeling the stress. You'll come back refreshed and better able to tackle whatever it is on your plate. Honest. It worked for me :)

Alzheimer Society of Toronto's #WalkForMemories #ad

Aren't these ladies lovely? This is my maternal grandmother (top right) and her three sisters. (There was another sister, the youngest, but she passed away from influenza as a toddler.) I adore this picture, and I am so happy that someone thought to pose them and take it. And that it has survived and made it into my hands.

The picture makes me a little sad as well. Every one of these beautiful, vibrant, loving, smiling women developed Alzheimer's Disease or another form of dementia in their later years. So did their mother, my great-grandmother. Alzheimer's is a cruel disease, and it can affect different people in different ways. It steals your memories and impairs your ability to think, make decisions, and even to access the right words. It can bring about personality changes and cause the individual to behave in truly uncharacteristic ways, including sometimes violent outbursts. Individuals with Alzheimer's can become withdrawn, apathetic and lose the ability to control their moods and emotions. They may develop odd habits, like repeating the same action over and over again. Eventually, Alzheimer's takes away a person's independence when they can no longer perform the most basic everyday tasks. It steals the whole of your being.

Over time, my grandmother went from being a little forgetful, and no longer caring about her garden and houseplants, through being constantly afraid, to no longer knowing who any of us were. I remember going home to visit, and telling her I was pregnant. She was so happy for me, but only as she would be for any young mother. There was no connection. The next summer, when I brought my son with me, we visited her in the nursing home. It was wonderful to see how happy she was to hold and play with a baby. But he wasn't her baby. She couldn't grasp that this was her great-grandson. She wasn't even truly aware that the man at her bedside was her husband of 60 years. She just knew him as the good man who looked after her. Looking back, my mother says she should have known something was wrong when Nan started neglecting her plants and her housework. That wasn't her. That was the beginning of the disease taking her from us. We lost her a long time before her death in 2006.

I can only image how isolating and terrifying Alzheimer's must be for the person experiencing it. I do know that for those who love them, it is incredibly difficult to watch, and absolutely heart-breaking to be a spectator as your loved one slowly disappears. It is also quite frightening for me to have such a strong family history of the disease. According to the Alzheimer Society, there is a familial form of the disease, passed on through generations, but this only accounts for 7% of all cases. Still, for my mother, myself, my son, I worry. For us and for all the others this disease touches, I keep the Alzheimer Society of Toronto on the list of charities I regularly support. My support helps them to support and educate families living with this disease and to fund research into treatments and maybe even, one day, a cure.

This year, for the first time, I will be participating in the Alzheimer Society of Toronto's Walk for Memories. This is Canada's largest walk for Alzheimer's Disease and dementia, and sees thousands of walkers come out each year to raise vital funds. This year's Toronto walk takes place on Saturday, February 3, from 8:30 am - 12:00 noon. I was initially hesitant, because I am not such a huge fan of winter and cold weather. But, guess what! This one is an indoor walk!

The Walk for Memories is a 2.2km indoor walk that takes place in the underground PATH downtown. It begins and ends at the Sheraton Centre Hotel, so participants will stay warm throughout. The walk will include some great music and entertainment, and an expected 1,500 or more individuals who have been touched by Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias.

It's an early start, so I'll be taking advantage of the chance to stay overnight Friday at the Sheraton. And I won't be alone. Ahead of the walk, the Alzheimer Society of Toronto is hosting a Family Slumber Party Friday night, February 2. Michael will be coming with me, for the slumber party and the walk itself. Friday night will a fun chance to spend some time with other families participating. There'll be a pizza party with games and arts & crafts at 6:00pm, followed by storytime at 7:30pm. We'll want an early night to rest up, I am sure.

I'm looking forward to sharing this event with Michael, and taking the opportunity to talk to him more about this important cause and the importance to giving back where we can. He has participated with me on other fundraising walks in the past, and we always enjoy the time to together, doing something that benefits others.

What are you doing on February 3? Why not join us! You can register yourself, your spouse, your parents, your kids, and maybe start a family tradition of charitable involvement. Registration is free, and there are no fundraising minimums, but of course the more money (and awareness!) we raise, the better.

I'd love to see you at the Walk, but if you aren't able to make it, perhaps you could consider making a donation. You can do this online at my personal sponsorship page. Every dollar helps!!

In the meantime, wish us luck with our fundraising efforts and with the walk itself! As a suburbanite, I have to admit the PATH scares me a little - I get so turned around down there. It will be fun to be there with a group, and a defined path to follow. I'll be getting to know a part of Toronto that is still quite a mystery to me!

Get Social

You can connect with the Alzheimer Society of Toronto on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. For updates on the Walk, follow the hashtag #WalkForMemories.

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Alzheimer Society of Toronto. All opinions on this blog, as always, remain my own or those of my family.

New Year, New Lots of Stuff

Well hello there! I know it's been a while, but there's been a lot happening over here in my little world. It's been exactly one month since I wrote my last blog post, which is way longer than I had planned, so I hope there's still someone out there reading!!

Did you all have a great holiday season? I deliberately took two weeks off from the blog over Christmas, to spend time with family and friends and recoup after a busy fall. Then we decided to take a last minute trip back home to Newfoundland for New Years. It's the first time I've been back in the winter in 18 years, and it was definitely new for Michael. We didn't do the usual touristy stuff, but spent a lot of time with our family just hanging out. The weather was generally mild and we did get one day where it went up to 10 Celsius. That day naturally included a trip to Middle Cove Beach, Michael's favourite spot. He was fascinated by all the ice and the huge waves.

Also, while we were in St. John's, we looked at a couple of houses for sale. And we fell in love with one of them. The house is near my parents and near good friends. It has tons of room and a little garden. There's a cold room/wine cellar, and a big workshop for my projects. And so much more! So, I put in an offer and it was accepted. Now I just have to sell my place in Toronto, and we'll be heading home permanently :) Michael and I are both super excited, and super sad at the same time. We'll miss our family and friends here, and it will be a huge change. But it will be a good one. And I am so looking forward to spending more time with my parents, my grandfather, my brother and his family. Oh my goodness! It will be wonderful.

But first, selling our current home. So, I am up to my eyes in boxes and mess and chaos as I work to get this place ready to list and show. Please send all the good luck and positive vibes you can!

I am also trying to find the time to launch a new blog at DomesticatedDeb.com. That one is very much a work in progress and currently just has a bunch of duplicate content you've seen over here - recipes, crafts, DIY projects. It's where I'll be publishing all of my DIY and recipe posts moving forward. I hope you'll check it out! It's probably a good spot to post about this moving experience as well, so I'll make some space in my schedule for that soon.

Anyway, I wanted to let you know I am still around, and I haven't forgotten about you! You'll find me more often on Instagram and Facebook as well. Please be sure you are following those accounts to keep up to date on my real estate adventures.

Talk soon!
Deb

Happy Holidays!

Thank you for all of your support during 2017, and we hope to see you back here in the new year! For now, we wish you much happiness, and a chance to relax and enjoy time with your loved ones over the holidays.

xo Deborah & the boys

#HGG2017: Teacher Gifts

When our kids are younger, whether they are in daycare, preschool, or elementary school, we parents like to show our appreciation for their teachers with little gifts at the holidays, and/or at the end of the school year. Or perhaps we feel obliged to. Whatever the case, we sometimes struggle with what to give. I polled some teacher friends, as well as a few parents in the trenches, and these are a few of the suggestions.

The first point I should make is that the teachers all want you to know a gift is not mandatory. A heartfelt "Thank you!" means a lot, and you shouldn't feel you have to purchase something to show your appreciation. Handmade notes and cards from the kids are always appreciated as well.

Gift cards came up time and time again.

• Teachers have to buy a large portion of their own classroom supplies these days. Gift cards to Indigo/Chapters, Staples, even the dollar store go a long way here.
• Other favourites included Tim Horton's or Starbucks, to keep teacher fueled for all that lesson planning and grading; a spa gift card for some well-deserved pampering; or a liquor store gift card so they can pick out an adult beverage they love. That last one comes with a bit of a proviso in that it would be good to know first if they drink.

Consumables, such as home-baked treats, hand creams, bath bombs came up a few times.

Donations in their name came up from a number of respondents. Instead of purchasing an item for them, honour the teacher with a gift that gives back. For the past couple of years, I've chosen a gift from the Sick Kids Get Better Gifts catalogue. The gift benefits children having to spend their holidays in hospital, and the teacher gets a lovely card to let them know. Plan Canada's Gifts of Hope program is another great way to honour your child's teacher. These gifts benefit children and their families in the developing world. Consider purchasing a bed net for just $10 (5 for $40) to protect from malaria or a back to school kit ($40) to assist a student on their way to an education.

What kept coming through in the responses - teachers don't expect the gifts, and they don't need more "things" (mugs, candles, etc.). They do, however, very much appreciate the sentiment behind the gift-giving, and it is a wonderful time of year to let them know how much we appreciate them. Giving them something they will actually use (gift cards or consumables) or honouring them with a gift for others in need will ensure you it the right note.

Hasbro Has the Star Wars: The Last Jedi Toys for You!

Christmas came a little bit early here this year. Hasbro Canada sent over a big box of goodies for me and Michael to check out.

Who wouldn't love to have a box like this arrive at their front door? So exciting! It was filled with an assortment of great toys from Hasbro, in celebration of the release of the newest Star Wars movie, "The Last Jedi." Have a look at the fun we had discovering all that the box contained.

What do you think? Is there a toy here you think someone on your list would like to receive this holiday season? And, are you planning on seeing this movie? We can't wait!!


Disclosure: I received complimentary product from Hasbro Canada. No financial compensation was received. All opinions on this blog, as always, remain my own, or those of my family.

#HGG2017: Stickbots {review}

I first encountered Stikbots last year while I was shopping for Christmas. I picked up a couple of the individual figures for Michael's stocking, and he did a few short videos, but I think he needed a few accessories to get really into the craze. Stikbots are poseable figures that you use in creating stop-motion animation videos. Kids have been creating their own movies and uploading to share with other fans using the hashtag #Stikbot. To date, the Stikbot YouTube channel has received nearly 200 million views, and over 150,000 original videos have been uploaded to YouTube by kids. This is clearly a hot toy!

Stikbots have suction cup hands and feet that can stick to almost any flat surface, and allow them to hold props. Kids download the free Stikbot Studio app (iOS and Android) and use it to create their masterpieces. With stop-motion animation, you pose your Stikbot, snap a still picture with the app, then move slightly, snap another still. etc. When you are done, use the app to weave it all together into a short film, complete with built-in music and sound effect options. It's a pretty detailed process, and takes some time, but your child will feel like a pro when they see the final product. The app is easy to use, and kid-friendly.

Here's a three second video Michael made to demonstrate:

Stikbots are available in sets and as individuals. The Zanimation Studio Pack even includes a green screen stage, and both it and the regular Studio Pack include a tripod to hold your smart phone steady while you create. This is important, because you need all the pictures for a video section to come from the same angle, or the video will look jumpy. You can even buy Stikbot dogs, cats, and a monkey!

These all come in a variety of solid and clear colours, and are available at major retailers including, Walmart, Indigo, ToysRUs, Mastermind, and Costco. Prices range from $5 - $25, so this is truly affordable fun. Stikbots are recommended for ages 4 and up, but I think I'd recommend for ages 9 and up, as the older kids will get more out of the experience.

Mostly, I love the creativity involved here. Your child will love playing with these characters, developing a story line, and filming their unique creations. You never know, you could be fostering the next Spielberg ;)



Disclosure: I received complimentary product to facilitate this review. No financial compensation was received. All opinions on this blog, as always, remain my own or those of my family.

#HGG2017: VTech Go! Go! Smart Wheels Race & Play Adventure Track {review}

Little hands love interactive toys, and VTech's Go! Go! Smart Wheels Race & Play Adventure Track will keep them engaged and entertained for ages. And at over 3 feet wide, this is an impressive set-up that is sure to bring the "wow" factor under your tree this year.

The Race & Play Adventure Park combines the excitement of a race track with the fun of an amusement park. Kids can take their new friend Gavin the Go-Kart on a ride around the track, through a 360 degree loop, jump him off a ramp, and even shoot him to the top of the track with a catapult. The park includes a Ferris wheel that spins, a tumble-down carnival game and a swinging gate to strengthen motor skills. There are four SmartPoint® locations, which prompt Gavin to respond with fun sounds and phrases, plus three sing-along songs and six melodies.

I like that this has a lot of gears and levers and pieces for the kids to manipulate, helping to develop fine motor skills, as well as keeping them actively engaged in the play. Gavin not only responds to the SmartPoints, but will also reward you with phrases, songs, and music when you press his light-up button.

I also like that this set is compatible with other VTech Go! Go! Smart Wheels and Go! Go! Smart Animals sets. Vehicles and animals from those will respond to the SmartPoints in this set as well.

As with all VTech products, this is brightly coloured and very sturdy - perfect for toddlers and pre-schoolers!

One word of warning though - there are a lot of pieces, and putting this together is a bit challenging. This might be a good one to put together in advance, and have it waiting all ready to go and unwrapped on Christmas morning.

Go! Go! Smart Wheels® Race & Play Adventure Park is recommended for ages 1-5, and is available at a variety of major retailers, including Toys “R” Us, Amazon, Indigo, Mastermind Toys, Walmart, Canadian Tire, and Loblaws. MSRP $49.99.



Disclosure: I received complimentary product to facilitate this review. No financial compensation was received. All opinions on this blog, as always, remain my own or those of my family. This post contains an affiliate link, and should you make a purchase after clicking through I will receive a small commission from the retailer.