The post How To Spend A day At Marmot Basin As A New Snowboarder appeared first on Mad Mommy Blog.
]]>When L and Big H were gifted snowboarding lessons from their aunt and uncle last Christmas I was so excited. I was finally going to get back to the hill. But this time, I was going to take lessons myself.
B and I booked lessons at Jaspers Marmot Basin at the same time the boys took theirs. We booked the two-hour group lesson for beginners. Even though I had snowboarded before, it had been so long since I had gone, and B had never even tried it.
Included with the lesson was a Full Day Rental, Lower Mountain Lift Ticket, and of course the 2-hour lesson on the bunny hill. You can upgrade to include the full lift ticket if you want, but realistically it probably isn’t necessary for a beginner. – The kid’s lessons included their rentals, lift tickets, lessons, lunch, and time in childcare as well. –
The website suggests arriving an hour beforehand to get your rentals. I suggest longer. We were there an hour and a half before and were a few minutes late for our lessons. Weekdays are, most likely, less busy than the weekends.
When the lessons started, we had about 8 more people in our group and our instructor, Christian. Dispute the large group he was able to devote time to each student and help them as needed.
He went through the basic steps of standing up. Toe edge and heel edge, and switching between the two. Practising each thing a few times between adding in the next step. When you reached the bottom of the little hill you took the magic carpet back up to the top and started all over again
By the end of the two hours, my husband was done. Exhausted. Not at all surprising. So, we headed up to have a bite to eat where we met up with my brother and sister-in-law (who had injured herself on the hill). Her and B stayed there for the rest of the day.
Now, I have an irrational fear of chair lifts, which makes for a great time on the chairlift. So my brother fed me some liquid courage before dragging me to Eagle Express Quad Chairlift.
After the panicking inducing departure from the lift, we followed the Sleepy Hollow run down to Old Road back to the chalet. It took me about 2 hours and ALL of my energy.
At that point, we grabbed the kids and headed back to our hotel in Jasper for the night.
I have been to a couple of different ski hills over the years, but Marmot Basin my favourite to date. Next time I return I plan on doing lessons again, to increase my skills and maybe learn something new before heading up that dreaded lift up the mountain.
Do you have a favourite ski hill in your area?
The post How To Spend A day At Marmot Basin As A New Snowboarder appeared first on Mad Mommy Blog.
]]>The post The Ultimate Christmas Movie 25 day Advent Calendar appeared first on Mad Mommy Blog.
]]>With 25 days in the official “Christmas Season,” the time for Christmas movies is limited. So I have compiled a list of some of the best. But don’t think that means just 24 movies. Oh no. I have bonus movies for the weekends, and a couple extra for after the kids go to bed.
December 1
The Polar Express (2004, G)
Die Hard (1988, R)
December 2
The Santa Clause (1994, PG)
The Santa Clause 2 (2002, G)
December 3
Christmas with the Kranks (2004, PG)
December 4
Eight Crazy Nights (2002, PG)
December 5
Miracle on 34th Street (1994, PG)
December 6
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946, PG)
December 7
Jack Frost (1998, PG)
Jack Frost (1997, R)
December 8
Home Alone (1990, PG)
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992, PG)
December 9
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966, not rated)
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000, PG)
December 10
Elf (2003, PG)
December 11
The Holiday (2006, PG)
December 12
Arthur Christmas (2011, PG)
December 13
Four Christmases (2008, PG)
December 14
I’ll Be Home For Christmas (1998, PG)
Love Actually (2003, R)
December 15
Santa Claws (2014, PG)
Krampus (2014, PG)
December 16
A Christmas Carol (2009, PG)
A Muppets Christmas Carol (1992, G)
December 17
Jingle All The Way (1996, PG)
December 18
Nightmare Before Christmas (1993, PG)
December 19
Scrooged (1988, PG)
December 20
National Lampoons Christmas Vacation (1989, PG)
December 21
A Christmas Story (1983, PG)
Bad Santa (2003, R)
December 22
Mickeys Once Upon a Christmas (1999, Not Rated)
Mickeys Twice Upon a Christmas (2004, G)
December 23
Frosty The Snow Man (1969, G)
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964, G)
December 24
Fred Clause (2007, PG)
December 25
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965, G)
So, that’s it. My ultimate list of 25 Christmas Movies. Of course, you can add, remove and change the order of the movies. Do what works best for you.
What is your favourite Christmas Movie?
The post The Ultimate Christmas Movie 25 day Advent Calendar appeared first on Mad Mommy Blog.
]]>The post Travel Insurance. 8 Reasons Why You Need It appeared first on Mad Mommy Blog.
]]>Simply put? Everyone.
If you’re travelling outside of your own country you almost definitely should have travel insurance.
Did you know your provincial plan may not transfer outside of your own province? Even if travelling within your own country, having travel insurance is a good idea. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Best to check with your own medical insurance providers and we what is covered. Not in Canada? Check into your own countries healthcare policies.
Travel insurance is not just for injury and/or illness. They offer also cover trip cancellation and trip disturbance.
Meaning if for some reason your trip is cancelled, possibly due to a death or illness before even leaving, your trip is now covered. Those pesky “no transfer/cancellation” clauses on your trip purchase may be sidestepped by having travel insurance in place.
Great! But keep I mind they are often extremely limited. Designated travel insurance is more extensive. If you can take advantage of your credit card insurance great, but I still suggest having actual travel insurance.
Losing your luggage is one of the worst ways to begin a vacation. Lucky for you, your travel insurance will likely reimburse you for essential items when their bags are delayed, damaged or stolen. Then you can enjoy the start of your vacation, even if your luggage isn’t. – Keep an eye out for a future post with more on this –
Theft is a risk anywhere you go, some places more than others. If you’re like me, or you live in the same century as I do, you probably travel with a cell phone, and a multitude of other electronics. Many policies cover the replacement cost of stolen items.
Unless you’re lucky enough to be getting a direct flight, near impossible when travelling outside your continent, missing connections is certainly a risk. Many travel insurance policies will cover you for these missed connections. They can find you accommodations through their helpline if you are stranded or cover alternative transportation arrangements.
This is probably one of the biggest disasters you could encounter while travelling. They can help replace your documents and help you get home should anything happen to those documents.
It’s obvious there are plenty of reasons why you should buy travel insurance before your trip. But if cost is the biggest reason for not wanting to get it, think of the cost associated if only one of these worst-case scenarios happens.
Pro Tip: Skip buying it at the travel agent, and go straight to your insurance provider, usually a fraction of the cost and better coverage.
Let travel insurance be the thing you have and never need, instead of the thing you need and don’t have.
The post Travel Insurance. 8 Reasons Why You Need It appeared first on Mad Mommy Blog.
]]>The post How To Get Active After Taking A Break appeared first on Mad Mommy Blog.
]]>Finding a work out buddy is one of the simplest ways to get active after taking a break. Having someone to go to the gym with gives you accountability. When one of you doesn’t want to go, the other makes them, and while working out you have a spotter if necessary as well as someone to push you a little harder.
Have you always had one particular exercise style that you love to do? Running. Deadlifts. Mine is swimming. If possible to go back to doing what you love to do, that might just give you all the motivation that you need.
It’s a fact that most people are inclined to get their monies worth out of something. If that something is a gym membership or a registration fee then so be it.
Signing up for a class is another great way to get back at it. The group setting is also great for accountability, and you might even fall in love with a new work out style. Take a peek at my HITT post if you’re looking for some inspiration.
I know so many people who are able to work out at home, I am not one of those people. I need to get out of the house and workout somewhere else. Somewhere like a gym works best for me. Having other people around makes me more inclined to work hard. Others peoples results are often my own motivation.
If you take a significant amount of time off from your work out routine, you can not expect to jump right back in where you left off. Start off slow, shorter distances, lighter weights. Before you know it you will be back where you were before you took time off, and soon surpassing those.
Getting back into your program is one of the hardest things to do, in regards to a workout routine. Whatever your reason for the break, the important thing to remember is that you’ve made the decision to get back at it. Hopefully, these tips help you get back on track.
The post How To Get Active After Taking A Break appeared first on Mad Mommy Blog.
]]>The post My Miscarriage; The Story Of The Loss Of My Baby appeared first on Mad Mommy Blog.
]]>This post may be hard to read for some people.
I knew the moment I lost that baby…
Near the end of January 2015, B and I started talking about having another baby. Well, actually I had been thinking about it for months and wasn’t sure how to bring it up. Then he made a joke about it and I asked if it would really be that bad. We agreed it was time to start trying. But it didn’t happen. For 6 months, each time I was sure I was pregnant, then my period came and went. I couldn’t understand it. With Big H, I had been on birth control when I got pregnant surely getting pregnant without it would be simple. But each month, no baby.
We were getting ready for our August long weekend camping trip when I thought I had better take a test just in case. I wasn’t technically late yet but I didn’t want to spend the weekend drinking only to find out I was pregnant later on. So I took a pregnancy test. I remember asking B, “what if it’s negative?” “Well, then we keep trying.” “But what if it’s positive?!” He laughed and said, “isn’t that what we’re hoping for?” When the test came up positive I remember how excited I was, I couldn’t wait to share the news and took a picture of the test and texted to my best friends immediately.
Oh, what a mistake that was. The first couple weeks were fine. I was extremely nauseous but I didn’t experience any vomiting, so I could at least count my blessings. I was counting down the weeks. Then after a particularly stressful day at work, I woke up bleeding.
I was convinced there was nothing to worry about, I bled with Big H multiple times. But I had better go to the ER just in case. I called my boss and I quickly explained, dropped my kids off at daycare and headed to the Emergency Room.
They got me in right away and did an exam. My cervix was closed. Fantastic news, that is a great sign, but they wanted an ultrasound right away, just to be safe. At this point, I started to relax. I’ve been through this before no big deal, the ultrasound will show everything was fine. So I waited and off to get the ultrasound I went.
I don’t know if they send ultrasound technicians to a class about how to keep a straight face or what but they should be playing poker professionally, their talents are clearly wasted. At the end of my scan, she tells me she can’t see a heartbeat. But not to worry too much because I’m measuring at 6 weeks instead of 10, and that is a tad early to see the heartbeat. She will send it off to the radiologist for his opinion. So back to the waiting room I go.
I wait there for a few hours, during which they give me some blood tests and I kill the battery on my phone. Finally, the report is back, it isn’t good news. They tell me while not yet definitive the chances are not great.
I was going to lose this baby.
I left the hospital, in shock but in tears. B was still at work and he tried everything to reassure me, finally, I went home and had a nap and prayed for good things. At this point, I found a website about misdiagnosed miscarriages, while in my case it wasn’t misdiagnosed it still gave me the hope I needed to get through.
B and I went on our scheduled holiday. We had already purchased travel insurance and he knew I needed to get my mind off of things. We drove to Seattle and back and it was a pretty uneventful trip. I’m glad we went, it was the only thing that kept me sane I’m sure. When we got home I went back to work. I worked a day and a half, at some point during the second day I told my boss I had to go. I just wasn’t feeling too great. At this point, it had been nearly a week of heavy spotting, but with little to no clots so I was still hopeful.
That night we went to a community event, and while standing talking to a friend I felt it happen.
I knew the moment I lost that baby. I just looked at her and said: “Go tell B I need to go to the hospital.” She knew. she had been in my shoes before. We left H with my uncle who was there as well and went to the hospital, they confirmed and we went home.
The next day the bleeding only got worse. I was soaking through everything in minutes. At one point I was walking to the bathroom and said: “we’re going to need to go to the hospital when I’m out of the bathroom.” I went to the washroom and everything started spinning, I called for B. He walked into the bathroom to see me in the midst of a seizure.
I had two more while waiting for the ambulance. Another while they were getting me into it, and then twice more at the hospital. I had lost way to much blood. 4 nights and 2 blood transfusions later I was able to go home.
A week later I had an ultrasound to confirm a complete miscarriage and that a D&C wasn’t necessary. Thankfully it wasn’t. Physically I was healed within two weeks. Emotionally I still don’t think I am. Actually, I know I am not. I don’t know if I ever will be. That isn’t something I would wish upon my very worse enemy.
The only thing I do know is I had to try again, I needed to know that it wasn’t something that I did but something unavoidable. Conceiving Little H took only 3 months. While his pregnancy wasn’t without its own problems he was carried to term.
My story is my own experience and no two people will experience the same. 15-25% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. You are not alone.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, please talk to someone.
The post My Miscarriage; The Story Of The Loss Of My Baby appeared first on Mad Mommy Blog.
]]>The post 5 Places in Lethbridge You’ll Love Exploring appeared first on Mad Mommy Blog.
]]>Having been to Lethbridge a number of times we have stayed at a few different hotels. We have stayed in some good ones, and some bad. The Best Western is one we have settled on. Their breakfast options are vast, it even includes pancakes, there is something there for everyone. They have a pool, which if you have read my post about road trip tips, you know how I feel that is an important amenity.
This park is at the bottom of a coolie, and it has tons to offer. Hiking, picnic areas, playgrounds, and so much scenery. I could spend hours exploring here, and I hope sometime in the near future.
I make it a habit of trying out local bakeries where ever I visit. They always offer the most incredible delights, and I am very rarely disappointed. This one is one of my favourites, and I only discovered it on our most recent visit. Some of the best pastries I have eaten came from there and it’s hard to pick a favourite.
Henderson Park is 117 acres of park. Its largest, and perhaps most alluring component is the near 60-acre man-made lake. It offers a little bit of everything for everyone.
The lake itself is perfect for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and other non-motor sports. With a 2.5 km trail around the lake and another 4.3 km trail around the perimeter of the park providing you with the opportunity to take a stroll or view the commemorative and historical markers and displays located throughout the park. Not to mention the abundance of open space picnics. There are three playgrounds, as well an outdoor pool.
Inside Henderson park is the Japanese Garden, where you are transported out of the city, into a cultural experience. They combine the beauty of nature in a serene setting that I haven’t found anywhere else. The garden is meticulously kept, with bunnies and birds scampering about. Nikka Yuko was rated amongst the top Gardens in Canada by HGTV Canada and Chateline 2017. It is one of the most beautiful Gardens in Canada. Take a tour, or stroll around all by yourself.
While Franks slide isn’t actually located in Lethbridge, its about 1 1/2 hours drive away, it is worth making the journey. Frank was a town located in the Rocky Mountains in the 1900s. On April 29, 1903 part of Turtle Moutain gave way and buried the town under 82 million tonnes of limestone. I highly recommend making the drive and visiting the interpretive centre, and even just observing the rock, that still lies where it fell over 100 years ago.
It doesn’t matter what your personality might be, or what your reason for visiting, Lethbridge has something to offer you. My husband and I have often discussed it and we think if we were to ever move away from Edson, we would probably move to the area. What has been your favourite thing to do in Lethbridge?
The post 5 Places in Lethbridge You’ll Love Exploring appeared first on Mad Mommy Blog.
]]>The post How To Diet And Still Enjoy Your Favorite Holiday Foods appeared first on Mad Mommy Blog.
]]>Protein and fat are the two most filling macronutrients, so by focusing on meats, you will fill up faster, for longer. Add in the fibre in the vegetables, and you’ve got a match made in heaven. Plus, you know, vegetables.
To enjoy your meal, without feeling like you missing out or blowing your diet, fill two-thirds of your plate with meat and veggies, focusing on meat when you can. – Keeping in mind that turkey is very lean, especially in comparison to other holiday foods. – The rest of your plate should be carbs.
This isn’t a new trick. In fact, it might just be the oldest trick in the book. the theory being that the smaller plates make the portions look bigger; and a visa-vera. Buy using s smaller plate you think you’re eating larger portions than you would on a larger plate. It doesn’t work for everyone, but it’s worth a shot.
This is probably the second oldest trick in the book. Before your meals drink a glass of water. Better yet, follow each plate with a glass of water. This will help fill your stomach without overeating. Thirst is often confused with hunger and by increasing your water intake you prevent any potentially confusing dehydration.
Who doesn’t like pumpkin pie? But just because it’s the holidays doesn’t mean its okay to inhale an entire pie. One piece, topped however you want, eaten slowly will satisfy your cravings. Whatever your favourite holiday dessert is. Because eating half a pie to yourself seems like a great idea, until you’re finished.
I know nobody wants to actually exercise on the day of a feast, but you really want to get the most out of your mean and maybe get some gains in, throw in some exercise. By doing some HIIT for a half hour, your muscles will be ready to take full advantage of your incoming nutrients. Finish your workout a half hour before dinner time, grab a quick shower and ready to make this meal work for you.
Not everyone will agree with this but the holidays are a time to spend quality time with your loved ones. If that means going off your diet for one day then enjoy it. You’re going to have a much more enjoyable time if you’re not stressing out about what you can, or what you should eat. If you deny yourself, you’re setting yourself up for a bigger derailment later on. Plus, you can always make it up in the gym later.
At the end of the day the holidays, be it Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter or any other holiday you may celebrate, are meant for enjoying. Food is a big part of that in our culture, but family is as well. Spend your time together while you have it. Hopefully, these tips help you to enjoy yourself, and the food.
The post How To Diet And Still Enjoy Your Favorite Holiday Foods appeared first on Mad Mommy Blog.
]]>The post Period Underwear, Why It Has To Be In Your Daughters Wardrobe. appeared first on Mad Mommy Blog.
]]>I remember being in Junior High and living in fear and excitement for my first period. Most of my friends had gotten it already, and I was anxious to join the “woman” club. But, I was also terrified that I would get my period and be completely unprepared. Fast forward to High School, after I had already accepted my period as my least favourite part of being a female. When my biggest fear was that I would get it unannounced. Even now, as an adult, of often deal with situations where the possibility of leakage is high.
Enter Period underwear.
Period underwear has been taking the feminine hygiene market by storm. Essentially it is underwear, with a built-in panty liner. It can save you all the embarrassment of a leak or a sudden period. Without the uncomfortableness of wearing a pantyliner all the time. As an adult, with more experience with these problems than I care to admit. Remembering dealing with these when I was a teen is humiliating.
Thanks to period underwear, this problem is estimated. Thanks to Knixteen Boyshorts it is no longer an issue for your teen. No more sitting in class or in the days before getting surprised. Never again worry about a leak while waiting desperately for the bell to ring, and any after the fact spotting in gym class, never an issue.
Knixteen’s Boyshorts were created so that your period never has to stop you from doing things again. They offer back up protection against leaks, odour, and moisture, so you don’t ever have to worry again. They are made out of moisture-wicking material, which helps keep you dry and fresh. much like your activewear underwear. Their underwear is specifically designed with the teen in mind, in junior sizing – but don’t worry they have adult Knix as well.
As much as their product is perfect for teens, their “share bag” feature is something that I think all sites should utilize. It is boasted as a way to share your cart with your parents, as most teens do not have access to a credit card to place an order, but it can just as easily work both ways.
Period talk was, and still is, so uncomfortable for me; and the last person I would want to talk to is my parents. If my mother would even dare to bring up the word I would turn bright red and stutter and stammer while walking out of the room. – not much has changed, to be honest. – But, by being able to share this through email you potentially remove the awkwardness and puts it into a setting where teens are much more comfortable talking. They have glued to the phones anyways, utilize it to get around any potentially awkward conversations.
Parent or child, teen or adult, period underwear is something that can and should be a staple in every girl’s underwear drawer.
Have you ever tried period underwear? What did you love about them?
The post Period Underwear, Why It Has To Be In Your Daughters Wardrobe. appeared first on Mad Mommy Blog.
]]>The post Feeling Nostalgic in the 90’s with Aqua appeared first on Mad Mommy Blog.
]]>With a mere two week left before the concert, out chances were looking meek. Then, while scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed one day I say SWOOP airlines was advertising flights to Abbotsford. We knew from our search for tickets that they also had an Abbotsford tour stop. After figuring out the logistics we booked the flights.
From Edmonton(YEG) to Abbotsford(YXX) the flights were approximately $48 CAD return. This price included all taxes. That being said, having only launched 6 months ago, SWOOP is a new discount airline. Included in the $48 is nothing. No snacks. No checked bag. No seat selection. And most importantly no carry-on. You are allowed a small personal item provided it fits under the seat in front of you. We opted to not bring any luggage with us and took our chances on the seat selection.
24 hours before our flight we checked in online and took the seats assigned to us. Total flight time was under 1 1/2 each way. This was the first time I had ever flown with a budget airline and I was impressed that low budget didn’t mean sub-par. The plane (I believe it was the same each way) was clean and in great condition. I have paid much more, for much much worse.
We spent the afternoon exploring the city of Abbotsford. Mostly we drove around, it was raining, but the charm was evident. The craft breweries and wineries we around every corner. Downtown is full of historic buildings, – they were even filming a Hallmark Christmas movie while we were there – and the markets with fresh vegetables we plentiful. The surrounding mountains would provide an abundance of hiking, provided I was with different company.
This was the entire reason for this trip. The Aqua 90s rewind concert. The opening acts were Whigfield and Prozzäk. I only knew one song for Whigfield she sang it like it was 1998 and it was incredible. Prozzäk, who I was almost as excited for as Aqua, was disappointing. Their microphones seemed almost too loud and it was hard to understand them. We actually stepped outside during the performance and you could hear them more clearly from outside the building.
Between each act, they had a Much Music Video Dance. Man did that bring back memories. The throwback music had the whole crowd dancing all night. There wasn’t a single song that we went singing along with.
Finally, the moment we were waiting for. Aqua. Their concert offered everything we were hoping for. A night back in the 90s. We sing and dance to all the hits. From Barbie girl to Candy Man. Towards the end of the show, they started to perform their remixes, which was not something usually I usually enjoy, but the energy of the band and the crowd was something you couldn’t help but enjoy.
Alas, it was time to go home. With only 24 hours in the town of Abbotsford, we didn’t get a lot of time to explore. I did, however, have time to compile a list of things I would like to do on my return. I am already looking at SWOOP for flights and planning the return trip.
The post Feeling Nostalgic in the 90’s with Aqua appeared first on Mad Mommy Blog.
]]>The post How To Drink More Water. 12 Tricks To Help You appeared first on Mad Mommy Blog.
]]>So really there is no reason to not drink it unless you’re sticking to the age-old “Fish F*uck in it” excuse.
My entire life I have been told that a person needs to drink 8 – 8oz glasses or 64 oz a day. While that is a good start, it is not necessarily enough. Doctors are now recommending half your body weight (in pounds to oz) to be more accurate.
Your Weight in LBS/2 = oz recommended in a day.
So if you weigh 200 lbs you need drink 100 oz of water. Not the commonly heard 64 oz. I, weighing in much higher than I should need to drink about 100 oz, nearly double what I thought.
Easier said than done – shocking I know – Increasing your water intake isn’t necessarily as simple as it would seem. Especially when you’ve been surviving on caffeine filled drinks to get you through the days. So I compiled this list of tips and tricks to make it easier.
Start by gradually increasing the amount of water you drink in a day. Add another 1/2 glass or glass a day until you reach your daily goal.
I don’t care what anyone says there is the difference between waters. Find one you like and drink that one.
The amount of water infusion recipes you can find is literally endless.
Mineral, spring, sparkling, there is a water out there for everyone.
This will save money over bottled water, and in some cases taste buds over tap water.
Having a fun bottle or cup to use might make it easier.
Either having time marked on it, or even just OZ can help.
If you can, make it a full glass. Either way, this will also help prevent you from overeating.
I personally use my Fitbit App but there are others out there.
If the App doesn’t remind you then try just setting hourly reminders on your phone or watch.
Keep it with you always
I drink way more water when using a straw, compared to just a glass.
I can absolutely do this! I now drink an average of 4L of water a day. It is harder when I drink other things during the day but I still manage to get it done.
I do seem to spend an absurd amount of time in the bathroom these days though.
What are some of your tips and tricks to drink more water?
The post How To Drink More Water. 12 Tricks To Help You appeared first on Mad Mommy Blog.
]]>