This is a guest post by Jen's friend, Dara, who traveled with her to the beautiful Crane Resort in Barbados.I'm not a lucky person and I don't often get offered freebies, so when my dearest friend Jen of 30 years called to say she was going to Barbados for a few days and I could tag along, I didn't hesitate, I believe my exact text back to her was "Yes! When???".Crane Beach, BarbadosAnd so a few weeks later we spent five amazing days lounging on the beautiful Crane Beach concerned only with timing our trip to the resort ice cream... More »

Last weekend, I was treated to the Girlfriends Getaway package at Horseshoe Resort in Ontario's Muskoka region.  On my drive up there, my mind wandered to all of the exciting events we had planned: a yoga class, massage, facial, and time to relax in the pool and hot tub.  But you know what I was most excited about? The food.  I had been dying to try the food there ever since I read that executive chef Dylan Tulloch was selected as the "local chef of the year."  Now, not only was I going to eat in his restaurant, Silks, I... More »

I know that after five years I should know to expect it, but the 12 weeks between Easter Break and the last day of school are the most hectic 12 weeks of my year.  Between coaching track & field, squeezing every last bit of learning out of my students, helping my son prepare for exams, persuading my daughter to do homework even though its hot and sunny, training for my spring running races, working on my vegetable and herb garden, and getting my kids ready for sleepover camp, I barely have time to breathe, let alone time to have dinner... More »

There are many wonderful things about having kids who play competitive hockey (but I'll leave that for another post). One of the un-wonderful things is the inability to plan for any March Break vacations, since playoffs happen during that time, and players (and their families) have to be prepared to play at a moment's notice.When two families, with five hockey players between them, find themselves knocked out of hockey playoffs unexpectedly early on the Tuesday morning of March Break...what are they to do? We found a fantastic little getaway destination just under four hours driving distance from Toronto that provides... More »

When do you start planning your winter getaway? We start thinking about sunny destination, oh...like just after school started in September! I can't stand winter and this is the dangling carrot (and vitamin D) that keeps me motivated as the colder weather settles in. We try to pick a different destination each year but IT'S GOT TO BE WARM.We wanted a quiet getaway with the kids. We've done the all-inclusive route but that usually leads to eating way more than we probably should...just because it's always in front of our faces! Fine for my teen son who eats like a machine.... More »