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Ready for some sand and sun! Tips for planning a family vacation #travel

April 18, 2017 by Wendy S

Life has been busy. Too busy.   We need a break!

 

A post shared by Wendy {mapsgirl} (@mapsgirl) on Aug 31, 2016 at 7:03pm PDT

Craig and I have been talking about taking a trip and just getting away. This year will be our 15th Wedding Anniversary which is another great reason to put our feet in the sand and relax.

Picking a date

With 2 full-time jobs, a part-time job, various activities and other commitments, finding the time to go away is not easy.

We sat down with our calendars, figured out when activities would be winding down and when commitments wouldn’t be impacted and chose 2 potential times — a week in June or beginning of January.

Figuring out your budget

Yes, vacation is supposed to be fun and you don’t want to miss anything, but coming home to a mountain of debt is not the best way to end a vacation.

Craig and I have been putting some money away in a vacation fund.  Plus we have some gift certificates to Flight Centre that we’re going to take advantage of.

 

A post shared by bigdaddykreativ (@bigdaddykreativ) on Jan 19, 2017 at 5:31am PST

We did a few searches on the internet to get a ballpark idea of what our options might be. Then we headed to Flight Centre, sat with an awesome travel advisor and, asked a ton of questions. Knowing the amenities at the different resorts, what the beaches are like, and activities for the girls is just as important as the cost. During the conversation, we decided to focus on the June dates as the prices for January were just too high (almost double?!?).

After the conversation, we walked away with 4 different resorts in 2 different places that were all within our budget.

Do your research

With the 4 locations in hand, our next step was to read reviews and talk to friends.

TripAdvisor.ca is one of our “go-to” sites for travel information.  There are a lot of reviews on all 4 of the places we were looking at. It’s good to read the good and bad reviews to get a broad sense of people’s experiences.

 

A post shared by bigdaddykreativ (@bigdaddykreativ) on Apr 19, 2014 at 12:01pm PDT

Craig and I started a spreadsheet to keep track of the pros and cons of each place we were considering. We noted things like the cost, the number of stars, the number of pools, activities for the girls, types of restaurants and links to the resort’s website and Trip Advisor. Seeing all of the details in one place makes comparing so much easier!

With the magic of social media, we got lots of opinions from friends when Craig asked on Facebook. A few people had been to one of the resorts that we were looking at and we actually had one friend who had been to both! She gave us some great information as she was able to do a great comparison.

Making the final decision

With all of the options laid out in our spreadsheet, we started making the decision of exactly what we wanted.  One resort has a waterslide. Another has more restaurants. And on it goes.

The girls were very excited about the idea of a kids club and teen activities. The waterslide is a must. And, of course, they liked the idea of free wifi.

The girls were all for free wifi, but truly that is not a deciding factor for us. Most resorts have free wifi in the lobby, some have wifi available for purchase in the rooms and a small number have free wifi everywhere.  Craig and I have Roam Like Home with Rogers which is available in both countries that we are interested in which means that if we need to get in touch with family, we will be able to. Plus being able to share our memories with friends and family right away on social media is really nice too! They can see all the fun we are having. I like to back up my photos to Google Photos so having access to data is important to me.

So what will it be?

 

Filed Under: Ambassador, Life, Roam Like Home, Rogers, Travel, Vacation Tagged With: ad, Roam Like Home, Rogers, sponsored, travel, vacation

Shopping with CAA is rewarding! #CAARewards

September 24, 2014 by Wendy S

I know that everyone is familiar with CAA for roadside assistance or maybe even discounts on travel (hotels and car rentals).

But their Rewards program is so much more than that!

Shopping with CAA is rewarding! #CAARewardsSaving in store!

The girls needed shoes for church so we headed out to Payless.  You get 20% off any regular priced shoes in the store!  How awesome is that?!?

Each of the girls got a pair of shoes …they were happy, and mommy was happy because we saved money!

Finding more savings!

Using the CAA App, I was able to find what else was in the area, so that I could save more money!

Shopping with CAA is rewarding! #CAARewards

We ended up going to Kernels for a treat!  We got a large bag of popcorn for the price of a medium!

Shopping with CAA is rewarding! #CAARewards

Kernels proudly displayed their CAA Rewards sign!

Shopping with CAA is rewarding! #CAARewards

Saving online!

When I got home I realised that I needed laundry detergent.  A quick top to the  CAA Rewards eStore to find out that I could shop at Walmart online and have detergent shipped to me.  

#CAARewards South Central Ontario

Shopping with CAA is rewarding! #CAARewards

Not only did I get what I needed, but I got CAA Dollars® credited to my account.  I plan to use that for my next membership renewal!

See all the great stores that offer CAA Rewards !!

Head over to the  CAA Rewards site to see huge list of stores adn services that offiver  CAA Rewards!  They have everything!

Not a member?

To get in on all this savings, you have to be a CAA Member.

Stay connected with CAA South Central Ontario!

They share lots of great info about CAA Memberships and CAA Rewards on their social media channels.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CAASouthCentralON
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/caasco
Instagram: http://instagram.com/caasco

Filed Under: Products & Reviews Tagged With: CAA, CAA Rewards, sponsored

I’m raising confident, beautiful women! #YMCBeautifulYou

September 19, 2014 by Wendy S

This post is part of the YummyMummyClub.ca and Dove #YMCBeautifulYou program. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. This post reflects my personal opinion about the information provided by the sponsors.


I am raising confident, beautiful women! #YMCBeautifulYou Yes, I am. 

They might only be almost 10 and 7 now, but they will be confident, beautiful women when they are older.

No, I’m not rushing them to go grow up.  

My goal, as a mom of daughters, is to nurture them and guide them so that when they are women, they have the knowledge and skills to be the most confident, beautiful women that they can be.

I try to lead by example.

With all of the media that they are exposed to, it is harder to make sure that they know what real beauty is. Magazines have ads trying to sell make-up that sounds like it will be the instant way to look beautiful. Television ads are trying to sell shakes to make you skinny which they try to convince you is what beautiful looks like.

I don’t wear a lot of make up.

I don’t drink the quick-fix shakes. 

I teach them to appreciate what real beauty is.

I guess it’s working.

As I watch the video the girls made, I’m happy that they see beyond physical appearance. We have talked about this because I don’t want them looking at the magazines or TV ads and believe that that is what beauty is supposed to be.   This mom thing is not easy. That video gives me hope.

It won’t always be easy

As they get older and start to feel more pressure from peers, this will become more difficult. In 2010, Dove Global did a study and found that over 60% of girls avoid certain activities because they feel bad about their looks.* For example:

  • 19% won’t try out for a team or club
  • 23% won’t go to the beach or pool
  • 13% won’t give an opinion
  • 15% won’t go to school

I would feel so upset to know that my girls felt that their looks would hold them back from anything.

As moms of girls, we need to stick together!

I am fortunate enough to have several friends who also have daughters, and we get together to talk about mother-daughter stuff. We are trying to foster good bonds with our daughters so that as they grow up, they don’t start pushing us away.  As peer pressure becomes more prevalent in their lives, we need to help them stay as the fun, out-going, beautiful girls that they are, and not let others make them feel less than that.

Dove Self-Esteem Workshops

Dove will be hosting a series of free workshops in October across Canada, Hosted by YMC Bloggers and #YMCCommunity Bloggers.

These workshops hope to start a dialogue between mothers & daughters about self-esteem, and beauty pressures and to provide mothers & daughters with a special memory of an enjoyable experience.

Mothers will leave feeling motivated to make efforts to foster self-esteem in their girls; they will also feel confident that they have new tools and resources to use.

Girls will leave feeling valued and that they have new skills and knowledge to help them embrace their own unique beauty and feel more confident to face day-to-day challenges.

Click here to find out more about these workshops.

 

72% of girls feel pressured to be beautiful.*

“…to be beautiful” But they are beautiful.  

They are unique and they are beautiful.

They define what beauty is by who they are.   


Did you know YMC is hosting 25 free Dove Mom and Daughter Self-Esteem Workshops across Canada?

Join us to start the conversation with your daughter about the real meaning of beauty.

Then visit the ‘How To Find Your Own Unique Beauty’ page for inspirational stories and resources to help young girls learn about true beauty.

We need you to be a part of the Dove mission to improve the self-esteem of over 15 million girls by 2015.


*Source: Dove Global study, 2010  

Filed Under: Products & Reviews Tagged With: Dove, sponsored, Yummy Mummy Club

TELUS says Thank You with Grand Gestures!! #actsofcaring

June 26, 2014 by Wendy S

We’ve been Telus customers for many years now.  We’re proud to be Telus customers too!  The service that we have always received, on phone or through Twitter, is always amazing!  Especially the last time we had to renew our contract. They helped explain everything and helped us to get the best plan for our family!  We thanked Telus via twitter because we were so happy with the service.

Telus is thanking their customers with Grand Gestures!

TELUS believes that a simple thank you can go a long way. And while it would be easy to send a text or reach out with a quick call, we believe that some thank yous are just better shared in person.

With this in mind, TELUS gave loyal customer, Ramona, a big surprise to thank her for being such a great customer for almost 20 years. Ramona had told TELUS that she loves aviation, so the whole day was structured around her interests and desire to ride on an aerial plane – she even got to fly it!

You have to see this!

 
You can subscribe to Telus’ YouTube Channel here!
 

TELUS showed the love in Guelph, Ontario

Ramona’s surprise was just the beginning. The TELUS Care-a-Van rolled into Guelph, Ontario last week with a host of events and activities that took place all week long to specially thank TELUS local customers and the Guelph community.

TELUS has literally performed everyday acts of caring all over the Guelph community throughout the week.TELUS says Thank You with Grand Gestures!! #actsofcaring

They’re going door to door to the homes of our top 100 customers to thank them personally with a care package – a small token of our appreciation.

And they’re hosted a free BBQ lunch for their top 1000 customers and their families at the local TELUS store.  

You can help too – use #actsofcaring  

As part of this, TELUS is donating $5 to the Guelph Children’s Foundation for every use of #actsofcaring.

They’ll be presenting a cheque to the Guelph Children’s Foundation in the amount of $5000 – in response to all the uses of #actsofcaring. Donald Woodley (member of TELUS Board of Directors) will join our celebration to present the cheque.

So as you can see TELUS cares!  

It’s nice that they thank their loyal customers…and not just provide incentives for new ones.  I truly believe that people will want to be TELUS customers when they see how much TELUS cares!

Filed Under: Products & Reviews Tagged With: actsofcaring, sponsored, Telus

SNEAK PEEK of Disney’s Maleficent features New Lana Del Rey Song #Maleficent

January 27, 2014 by Wendy S

I am really looking forward to the release of this movie!! The idea of a Disney movie told from the side of the evil villain will be awesome!!

Maleficent

A never-before-heard Lana Del Rey rendition of “Once Upon a Dream” was unveiled as part of a 90-second sneak peek of Disney’s “Maleficent” during the 56th Annual Grammy Awards® on Sunday, January 26. “Maleficent” releases in theatres on May 30, 2014.

Award-winning, American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey has recorded a unique reimagining of the renowned fairy-tale tune from Disney’s classic animated film “Sleeping Beauty,” which will feature in the end credits of the upcoming Disney film.

View the Sneak Peek here:

“Maleficent” explores the untold story of Disney’s most iconic villain from the classic “Sleeping Beauty” and the elements of her betrayal that ultimately turn her pure heart to stone. Driven by revenge and a fierce desire to protect the moors over which she presides, Maleficent cruelly places an irrevocable curse upon the human king’s newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Aurora is caught in the middle of the seething conflict between the forest kingdom she has grown to love and the human kingdom that holds her legacy. Maleficent realizes that Aurora may hold the key to peace in the land and is forced to take drastic actions that will change both worlds forever.

The film stars Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple and Lesley Manville.

“Maleficent” is produced by Joe Roth and directed by Robert Stromberg, with Angelina Jolie, Don Hahn, Palak Patel, Matt Smith and Sarah Bradshaw serving as executive producers. Linda Woolverton wrote the screenplay. “Maleficent” opens in theatres on May 30, 2014.

For more information, check out Disney.com/Maleficent

Like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/DisneyMaleficent and use the official hashtag #Maleficent.

 

Filed Under: Products & Reviews Tagged With: disney, sponsored

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mapsgirl@gmail.com

Why “mapsgirl” ?

Wendy is a cartographer! She draws maps!

When not mapping, Wendy is also a mom to two daughters. They are the inspiration of this blog. Passionate about child passenger safety, Wendy was a certified Car Seat Technician in Ontario, Canada from 2008 to 2020. [Read More …]

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