This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Ashworth College. All opinions are 100% mine.

One thing in life that we can all count on–no matter who we are– is change.

When you are a parent not only do you have your own changes to manage but those of your children. Though the roles of mother and father used to be very clearly defined and quite different, as we’ve moved into the 21st century the roles they play overlap as we adapt to the ultrafast-paced lives many of us lead.

However, a parent who is staying home raising a child or children has a time-honoured responsibility that has basic requirements that do not change.
It is of course your choice how you find the time do so but it may be more a need for you to prepare for the day when your child grows a bit more independent and you seek to increase your marketability that may have been on the back burner whilst you attended to parenting.

I can vouch for the fact after having two of my own that children do not grow up overnight. I can also speak to the vast challenge it is to juggle being a parent, a wage earner and a full-time student. I did  all of my “non-traditional” student leaning in a brick and mortar university but that was before getting an Online degree became easy, affordable, and the cherry-on-top– as close as my personal home computer.

I am currently closely examining the cost of university as one of my children –now age 17–is beginning college in the fall. You probably know that the cost of education has skyrocketed to ridiculous levels, locking out students that would have sought higher education. With the financial circumstances of raising children this has been especially hard on folks who were on a tight budget to begin with.

Distance education is a mom-and-family-friendly path you can take to help you get the education you’ve may have always wanted or perhaps you realize you truly need. It’s flexible, affordable, and is as close as your nearest computer.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Charter. All opinions are 100% mine.

I’m not a big television watcher but I am a serious one and like most folks my non-television schedule can be quite packed so scheduling the watching a television show or movie can be quite a challenge.

I think we can all agree that years ago when the VCR came ’round it was a convenience that ranked up there with the microwave–you know, the type of thing that you wonder how you ever did without?

More recently, DVR technology has been yet another step in the “can’t do without” direction regarding home entertainment. But the one downside to using my DVR to record my must-watch television shows and movies? Unless I program it to record the shows I wish to see–I can miss them. Worse, is when I think I’ve programmed it correctly, then go to watch a favourite show–only to realize that “something” went wrong (code for “I messed up”). How disappointing!

You can imagine then how incredibly enthusiastic I was when the On Demand viewing option became available. On Demand serves me in two important ways. One, it’s a little insurance policy that I will not miss my show if there’s a glitch and the the DVR does not record it. Two, I don’t even have to bother thinking about recording a host of shows both network, basic cable, and premium cable because with the ever-growing roster of television shows available On Demand, with a few simple clicks I can pull up for example, the last episode of LOST and enjoy it on my schedule. This kind of conversation has actually occurred in my home:

Me to my spouse: “Did you remember to record LOST (the ABC network hit/(Hawaii & LA-filmed) struck-on-an-island series that recently ended a phenomenally popular six-year-run)?” Spouse: “Yep!” OK! The two of us get comfy on the TV-room sofa, hit the DVR play button and… nothing.

“What happened?,” I say. “I don’t know, he says…I set it up…” “Oh well, I respond, we’ll just watch it tomorrow On Demand.” And we do. There is no blaming or upset for missing a show so compelling that we watched every episode for 6 years.

Pretty cool, right?

More recently, on the AMC television network, the show “Mad Men” has gotten a lot of praise and currently, quite a few Emmy nominations. Even though I’d not heard of any of the actors in the show previously they were now becoming names that you heard with some frequency. My curiosity has gotten the best of me–but I’ve missed the first three seasons and would feel weird jumping in without even knowing where they left off at the end of season three. So what do I do now? Check out the On Demand home page , of course! My plan is to work my way back, episode by episode, like I did with another television show I enjoy, Sons of Anarchy (on FX) which I’d love to see On Demand. I can watch whenever I wish, night or day! You can, too!
You will ‘Like’ their Facebook page as well.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hampton Hotels. All opinions are 100% mine.

The Hampton Inns are running a sweepstakes in which the grand prize winner in going to have to make one of those rare life choices: Which 100 of my friends shall I invite for a FREE weekend at any Hampton Inn? (And if I do win the grand prize I will not worry a whit about the hotel taxes because I’ll be awarded $5000 to help pay the tax for the weekend!)

I’ll be quite forthright. I don’t have 100 friends that I see face-to-face but I’ll bet I could get 100 Internet buddies rounded up! That would be my first inclination. However, in-line with how many people feel that due to our ever-changing lifestyle more folks are considering family as friends (you’ve heard expressions like “My mom is my best friend” and the like) I might just invite every relative and FoR ( friend of relative) that I could contact.

Years ago, my grandmother made sure that my extended family got together for ginormous family reunions. Unfortunately times change, people leave us and traditions fall by the wayside. But one thing that hasn’t changed is that we all enjoy good food, great company and fun times shared so I think then that I’d invite friends yes, but family too–even family I’ve not ever met but know of and we’d meet up at the Hampton Inn in Barrie, Ontario for the weekend. I really love  Barrie, Ontario as I’ve watched the lovely city on Lake Simcoe grow before my eyes as I frequently stop over on my way to our cottage which is north of there.

The Barrie downtown has one of the most scenic waterfronts in Ontario–Lake Simcoe,whichfor me is a must-visit.  Barrie downtown has quite a number of exceptional restaurants and unique shops too as well as an outdoor farmer’s market.  This area depicts turn of the century Ontario architecture, and many of the buildings have been restored to their original state which evokes a charming, small-town atmosphere. A portion of Barrie’s history can be viewed through the Ontario Historical Association Plaques if you want to dig more deeply into the city’s roots. The family aspect of the “100 friends” might particularly enjoy this because we have roots in the not-too distant area.

This is one side of Barrie, but the flip side is the highly-charged outdoor sporting opportunities and a vibrant nightlife offering a taste of excitement and fun-filled adventures for anyone wishing to partake of them. With 100 people to keep busy, Barrie seems to me the ideal locale to enjoy my Grand Prize from Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes .
So what are you waiting for? Wouldn’t you dig a weekend away with 100 of your closest friends? Want a few more details that make this getaway sweepstakes even more enticing? Alrighty!

• There is no purchase required.

• The contest is quite inclusive about who can enter. Eligible folks include residents of the 50 US States, Washington, D.C., Canada (excluding Quebec), the United Kingdom and Mexico!

• The contest is currently underway and I’d urge you to enter NOW but the official last moment to do so is at 11:59pm CT on 9/4/10.

Oh yes, one more thing that is awesome about the Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes: The sweepstakes is open to everyone! You don’t have to be a  Hilton Honors member.  You don’t even have to have previously stayed at a Hampton though I daresay once you do you will be likely to do so again.

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This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Lunchables. All opinions are 100% mine.

My best memories of my son’s grammar school years are  when we went on field trips with the school together. Whether it was a local symphony or the Chicago Symphony, an architectural boat cruise down the Chicago River or a biology field trip to preserved prairie-land, these trips held great meaning for me personally as a shared scholastic experience with my children.

More importantly though was what the kids gained from the experiences.  A field trip is a unique, beyond-the-classroom immersion into real-life situations that would otherwise not be experienced. The depth of meaning, the level of comprehension, the enjoyments of “these up close and personal” activities all serve to pull the children into the experience like no textbook can. Further, an immersive group experience can sometimes be the light that flips the switch of true comprehension about a particular idea, place or thing(s).

To my great disappointment, with my younger son, field trip activities began to appear less and less until they simply were non-existent. The reason cited was a simple one: not enough money in the school budget for anything “extra.” As a mother this really broke my heart, not only for my son but for all children who might never otherwise experience some of the wonders beyond the classroom.

I’m very happy to be able to talk today about Field Trips For All which is the first effort from the folks at Lunchables as part of their new initiative called “Project Potential.”

Project Potential is an effort to literally help kids reach their life enrichment potential that otherwise they might not ever get a chance to do.

This is enormously important because field trip elimination is affecting scores of school districts across the spectrum. Huge numbers of school districts which are grappling with tight school funds/budgets that just don’t stretch far enough for anything “extra” are cutting out fieled trips all together.

There is some hope on the horizon with the very good news that Lunchables is aware of this dilemma and is taking action to address it by encouraging, as I am doing as well right now, anyone over the age of 6 to nominate a deserving classroom by clicking over to http://www.lunchables.com/potential/ and submitting a nomination for that classroom to receive a worthwhile, outside-of-the-classroom enrichment experience.

I’m sure without too much thinking you yourself can think of a deserving classroom to be nominated to be one of 50 lucky classrooms who will be selected to go on an inspiring, educational field trip and quite possibly have an experience that will be cherished for years to come.

Why not talk this contest up?  There’s only gain to be had and speaking for myself it is very easy to think of some great classrooms with fantastic teachers and kids who deserve the nomination.

The more that word of this contest gets around the more classrooms will have a chance to be one of the 50 winners–so go ahead and drop a comment here about who you nominated and a bit about why you nominated them! Who do you think this educational prize should go to? I’m picking Mrs. Parr’s class at Hunting Ridge school in Palatine, Illinois because they are the greatest bunch of kids ever and because she is the most dedicated, motivated, committed teacher I may ever have met.

Chapleau River, Ontario April 13, 2010

To appreciate full size, click!

EDIT/One of the things that is so wonderful about Haliburton County is the people who live and work there! I have a new post to write but suffice at the moment to say that I was WRONG,WRONG,WRONG, about Internet access and I will be updating with the correct info. later this weekend.

Scenes like this one I found today make me long to return to Maple Lake. Unfortunately besides it being ridiculously early to head up there, I have a huge logistical problem– again it is the Internet–lack of it specifically. In case you’ve actually been reading this blog’s personal posts, especially early on, I whinged about lack of Internet access other than the ridiculously expensive alternative–”High Definition Satellite Receiver (service).” Buying that was the only way to be able to be at the cottage and work. Beyond that, we could watch videos, play games, stream music and so forth by paying through the nose. The weather last summer was truly putrid and one begins bouncing off walls without diversion (and yes, we did play cribbage and Uno). The Internet saved our sanity.

It cost $400 CDN for the install (it was dollar to dollar at the time). To have fast enough Internet to watch video/stream music, etc. we needed a “plus” type package which was $65 CDN a month. Did I mention the two-year contract? No “cottager’s special” for us. Long story short, the work aspect mixed with the shitty weather aspect mixed with some atrocious behaviour by “guests”-not-mine regarding my (father’s) property, really made it “not worth” having a satellite receiver. Our contract is up at the end of this month and so, as part-time cottagers, what are our choices?

I had high hopes for “the stick” as folks had been calling it but upon investigation into this Bell Canada offering I found 1. COST: $180 CDN install 2. 1-year mandatory contract 3. Mandatory rental of Bell-compatible modem–you can use your own but you’ll still be charged(!) and of course, the need for the stick–the least of all this.

Again, I’m looking at the cost vs. benefit and there’s no way to justify the cost of “the stick” and may I say a 1-year-contract is a great way for Bell Canada to stick it to the non-year-rounders?

So bluntly put, right now I’m pretty screwed. I realize Canada may think that those of us that use the Internet in as essential a way as land-line phones used to be, may think us strange–but you’ll catch up–or not. I really don’t care. I just want and need to have Internet if I’m to be gone anywhere for weeks at a time.

Right now I cannot get a good idea on Internet services for short-term use (less than a month per year) in Haliburton County. If I can’t, I can’t go to the cottage–it is as simple as that. I’ll keep my “big American” dollars here and Haliburton County will lose one more “tourist family’s” spendings. Wonderful.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson. All opinions are 100% mine.

I now live in Illinois which borders Missouri but when I was a teenager I drove in my VW camper van cross country.  I was moving actually to southern California but as is my attitude  still, if you are going to be in proximity of somewhere special try to go there too. Also because of Route 66 mid-20th Century vibe, I opted, when mapping my route pre-journey to make sure I drove some long strips of Route 66 as I drove west. I had 10 days to take in as much as I could of the country. My first-time trip through Missouri was cool in that we were following the rich-in-history-old Ozark Trail Systems that are somewhat in line with Rte. 66 and of course, the sad monument to long-ago practices, the Cherokee Trail of Tears. We made a stop at the well-known Meramec Caverns as well, as they are not far from the Stanton area of Route 66. I remember Missouri very well. There is just such a varied number of activities –so I’ve been back since– a number of times. I’d love to go to Branson–especially this time of year–I just need to have a distant relative leave me an inheritance as I would fully take advantage of the the fun Branson has to offer. I define fun many ways so I’ll mention just a few to be had in Branson.

Branson is an Ozark resort town which focuses on its wholesome country, pop music and family entertainment roots. Branson is a Midwest gem,  the entertainment capital.

Two outstanding establishments for the non-entertainment hours depending on your  needs and wants are the

Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and the Hilton Branson Convention Center. They are situated right in the heart of the “entertainment capital of the Midwest,” so they are able to offer much more than just a place to stay. Consider if you would, these ideas!

Here are some specifics pertaining to activities for Spring 2010 in Branson:

Branson also has ongoing events like the 14th annual Branson Tri-Lakes Building and Home Show, NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament, Branson’s Best Boat and Recreation Show, Silver Dollar City’s Family Spring Break Day and the memorable Young Christian’s Weekend; not to mention a series of amazing concerts on the Branson Landing including shows from 65 South, Colgate Country Showdown with KHOZ 102.9, EXILE, The Nashvegas All Stars, and David Letterman Stupid Human & Pet Trick Auditions!

Both Hilton hotels are within easy driving distance of  Branson’s championship golf courses, lakes, museums, theme parks and 49 live entertainment theaters.

For me spa treatment with the one I love would be just the ticket.

I’d book the Romance Package at the Hilton Branson Convention Center which promises  to wash my worries away with a relaxing spa treatment. Perhaps I’ll take two.

This relax and recharge package includes deluxe, overnight accommodations at the hotel, a full breakfast for two and the complete awesomeness of a spa treatment for two.

Mmm. Doesn’t that sound really nice?

In addition to what you can enjoy in the proximity of the Hiltons there is much more to enjoy and it is a short drive to do so.

Packages for the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel come for every taste and include Hilton’s Bed & Breakfast Package, Romance Package, and Hilton Requests Upon Arrival™ to name but a few.

Be sure to click one of the above links to see and read more about all the great things waiting for you in Branson.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Cryo-Cell International. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you have been considering banking your newborn’s umbilical cord blood I think that some recent very unfortunate events in the world and how Cryo-Cell is responding to them may hold great interest for you.

Cord blood, or umbilical cord blood, is blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta at the time of birth. In years past it was standard practice to dispose of them following delivery. However scientific research discovered that cord blood is a rich source of stem cells making umbilical cord blood a usable substitute to bone marrow in thousands of successful transplants. Cells taken from your newborn are a perfect match for your child throughout his or her entire life!

As you probably know, our neighbour Haiti, which geographically is part of North America and only one hour away from the United States by air, experienced a devastating earthquake in January 2010. The city of Port-au-Prince was nearly leveled with tens of thousands dying and injured. They need help now in rebuilding and resuming a semblance of a normal life again but children are especially vulnerable in the meantime.

If you have been seriously thinking about storing your baby’s cord blood this may help in that decision.

February is the shortest month of the year so time is short for you, throughout the month of February to make a difference in the lives of Haiti’s children as Cryo-Cell will donate $25 to the “Save the Children: Haiti Relief Fund” when you enroll now .

It’s smart when making a not-insignificant choice like this to do your homework–to find out all you can– before making this choice. It may help to know that Cryo-Cell is at the forefront of the cord blood banking industry having worked with tens of thousands of clients and most importantly in my opinion, Cryo-Cell has more accreditation than any other private cord blood bank, anywhere.

Were you aware that thousands of umbilical cord blood stem cell transplants have occurred worldwide in an effort to combat over 75 different diseases? And here is something that astonished me: Cord blood stem cells are 100% match for the infant donor and 1 in 4 match his or her sibling!

As you might know I’m a Canadian national residing in the United States. I’ve done so for a very long time and so am familiar with American’s idea of  ‘extreme’ sports. In my mind it is a given that the Canadians–just take a look at a map of Canada to know why I say this–are a hardy lot. Could the Canadian view of what constitutes an extreme sport be slightly different than their southern counterparts?

Reading about some of the winter fun times that folks in one of the mildest areas of Canada (Southern Ontario) take part in–in this case car racing on ICE reminds me that Canadians have no need to prove how hardy they are. Good times people, good times.

Ice racing

Car Racing on Ice
January 23-24 2010
Ice Racing started in Ontario more than forty years ago, and it continues to thrive as an inexpensive, fun part of the Ontario motorsport scene. The events were originally held on frozen lakes and rivers – and some still are – but in the late seventies, the Ontario championships moved to more permanent facilities at the fairgrounds in Minden, Ontario. The track is laid out, then repeatedly coated with water until a thick layer of ice is built up between the snowbanks that delineate the course. The ice race season starts in mid January and runs until early March, usually consisting of six two-day events.

Learn more about this Truly Canadian Motorsport!
Minden Fairgrounds Minden
Contact: Info Centre Tel: 705-286-1777

Peggy Lamb, Jim McCrackan, summer 1955

This is my dad and mum at Maple Lake during the summer of their courtship.

Photographs preserve moments in time, many of them precious.

My father is now the patriarch of the family. He carries his father’s name, James McCrackan, and his son–my only sibling carries the same name. It is my last name too after giving it up for 6 years and then getting the name legally returned to me decades ago. I’m taking it to my urn (no grave for me).

I don’t think my grandfather had any time for pettiness, jealousies, vindictiveness–certainly none for gossip. My father is very much like his father and I learned from him at his knee that these traits are highly undesirable.

After a truly awful experience at Maple Lake of which I”m not sure what the end result will be ( though unless addressed in an honest way the repercussions will go on for years) I was astonished to hear of a genuine kindness that was extended towards my spouse on Labour Day. I shan’t name the person–it was “persons” actually, but one in particular who sat aside what might have got in the way of being a good neighbour, a decent person and just helped. It meant a lot even if it wasn’t  intended that way. For all the snark that flew past this summer, one person managed to adjust the sails and set a course correction.

It starts with one person.

The weekend weather forecast for the Haliburton Highlands is the best so far this summer!

It’s truly gorgeous–sunny, clear, humidity is tolerable. And it’s going to be nice on Sunday, too! Can you believe it? I need to pinch myself ‘cos it’s been so long since Maple Lake has had an entire weekend that was this nice.

My weekender neighbours are quite fortunate since they just need to pack an overnight bag and in a snap they can be in paradise. Not quite as fortunate are folks like my immediate family who left today to return to the States.

Turning quite serious, folks, we are all on the same page on global warming now, right? We acknowledge it; it is happening right now. We have used and abused our poor planet and it does not have to be reflected as “warming” in certain spots. Here in the Haliburton Highlands, it’s been really cold and wet until this week. Pay attention to the excessive precipitation, especially.

Maple Lake, to be frank, has given me an eye infection simply by using lake water to wash my face. I know this because I wear goggles in the lake as I am unable to see without my contact lenses. The waters of Maple Lake have spewed up all kinds of garbage this summer–literally all kinds of plastic, coke cans. I’ve not ever seen it like this and it makes me really sad.

I’m sure I’m not the first but I feel that the year-rounders, the permanent residents should move forward to protect the lakes of Haliburton County. Obviously, we cannot change how Mother Nature is behaving right now but we can change human behaviour. Impose restrictions to protect our lakes and all nature that depend on the ecosystem, as people haven’t shown willingness to “reign it in” on their own.

First, I would like to see the obvious pollutants removed from the Lake. I would like to see a ban on motorboats that leak gasoline into the lakes and nearly drown swimmers like me with their huge waves (not kidding– HUGE waves).

Truly, I hate the noise too, but it’s the pollution that is sickening me. The boats are getting more powerful, ridiculously fast, and burning petrol at a time when I thought we were supposed to be practicing conservation. Our lakes are what make this area the paradise that it is. And we are doing our damnedest to destroy paradise.

Please, Haliburton Highland year-rounders, restrict the use of motorboats to the weekend and otherwise allow all the the other nonpolluting boats free and unfettered any time. The beautiful sailboats, the rowboats, canoes, paddleboats—all of them wind/man-powered and not harmful to our dying lakes.

If we don’t start reigning in our excesses and our abuse of the lakes of Cottage Country there is no doubt in my mind that we shall lose them. Nothing would be sadder if our unquenchable need for “things” and need to have the biggest, fastest motorboats and personal motorized vehicles hastened the death of our lakes–leaving nothing left for anyone.

I can only hope that the fine people that live year-round on Maple Lake and in the Maple Lake area take action this winter and next summer to deal with the craziness that breaks out every weekend here with ridiculous amount of polluting watercraft on what was what was once a clean lake. It’s not just here but throughout Cottage Country.

Also, as related to a lesser pollution, what the heck is with the unrestricted use of fireworks on Maple Lake every single weekend? Hey, I LOVE fireworks. They can be really special–but every weekend?! WTH? My poor dog is terrified. She shakes and glues herself to her people.

Ban fireworks on Maple Lake except for Canada Day, period. Stop the insanity, please.

/end preachy rant

Here’s the rest of the weather. If you can, stay up an extra day as Monday will still be beautiful:

As for the bugs, it has warmed up, they like warm, there are lots of them. Stay in the lake and otherwise slather on your insect repellent of choice.

Have a great week!

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