Linda O'Connor's Blog, page 4
May 1, 2015
My First Book Signing!
Hey Everyone – I wanted to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH to everyone who came out to show their support at my very first book signing event!!
How’d it go? you ask. I’d have to say very well. I talked to a lot of people, tried eight different ways of summarizing PERFECTLY HONEST, AND handed out more CPR key chains (the world’s a safer place).
It started at 11 a.m. and it was a little slow initially. But luckily I was at Chapters and there were a lot of books to read (Amy Poehler’s new book is very funny, Margaret Trudeau has done a LOT of stuff, and they’ve published the speech J. K. Rowling gave at the Harvard graduation – she started by saying she was reassured that she didn’t remember anything about her own graduation so it was unlikely anything she said would have a lasting effect!).
Anyhooo, after about half an hour, it got busier and was pretty steady. I sold some books, talked to friends I knew and strangers who dropped by. One woman was from Ottawa and another shared the same last name (no relation!).
Things I’d do again? I had a draw for a gift basket. That was a great way to talk to people and draw them over. When I’ve been to other book fairs, I always felt I had to buy the book when I talked to the author. Let me reassure you – you don’t! I appreciated when people stopped by whether they bought a book or not. And sometimes when I was talking to one person, another came up to take a look. (Decoy sales). I would also shift the time to noon- 2 pm or 1-3 pm. Give everyone a chance to remember it was happening! And lastly, I had a poster with a sneak peak at the covers of the other books in the series. That was great way to promote the books to come!
And the good news - I’ll get a chance to do it again! I was invited to have another book signing when PERFECTLY REASONABLE is released in the summer! So thank you very much to everyone who made it successful!! I appreciate it.
How’d it go? you ask. I’d have to say very well. I talked to a lot of people, tried eight different ways of summarizing PERFECTLY HONEST, AND handed out more CPR key chains (the world’s a safer place).
It started at 11 a.m. and it was a little slow initially. But luckily I was at Chapters and there were a lot of books to read (Amy Poehler’s new book is very funny, Margaret Trudeau has done a LOT of stuff, and they’ve published the speech J. K. Rowling gave at the Harvard graduation – she started by saying she was reassured that she didn’t remember anything about her own graduation so it was unlikely anything she said would have a lasting effect!).
Anyhooo, after about half an hour, it got busier and was pretty steady. I sold some books, talked to friends I knew and strangers who dropped by. One woman was from Ottawa and another shared the same last name (no relation!).
Things I’d do again? I had a draw for a gift basket. That was a great way to talk to people and draw them over. When I’ve been to other book fairs, I always felt I had to buy the book when I talked to the author. Let me reassure you – you don’t! I appreciated when people stopped by whether they bought a book or not. And sometimes when I was talking to one person, another came up to take a look. (Decoy sales). I would also shift the time to noon- 2 pm or 1-3 pm. Give everyone a chance to remember it was happening! And lastly, I had a poster with a sneak peak at the covers of the other books in the series. That was great way to promote the books to come!
And the good news - I’ll get a chance to do it again! I was invited to have another book signing when PERFECTLY REASONABLE is released in the summer! So thank you very much to everyone who made it successful!! I appreciate it.
April 22, 2015
Sharing the Awesome - Henry Kauf - Financial Guru
My life is filled with love and laughter thanks to the amazing people I get to hang out with. As well as being awesome moms, they’re creative, talented, generous, and fun! I thought you might like to meet them so I’ve asked them to come and give us a behind-the-scenes look at what they’re passionate about. I have to warn you though – creativity is contagious!
My guest today is Henry Kauf, financial advisor with a flare for sound advice! I love to talk to Henry about the global economy and investment strategies. Not that I understand it all – but it’s fascinating to hear him talk about world trends!
Henry, how did you become interested in financial planning? H: My journey to being a 'finance guy' started when I was 14. I discovered that I had the type of head that could, and liked doing peoples income tax returns. I have always felt that we are all 'made' to do something well. Our biggest job in life is to discover what that thing is that we would love and comes easy. In my 20s I tried most aspects of finance and at 29 (30 years ago) a friend said that I had a good financial mind and should try being a stockbroker. It all grew from there.
It’s funny how one thing leads to another and sometimes we can’t see what we were meant to do as easily as others. What do you love about it? H: What I love about finance is that, at this point in my life, I have been doing so many facets of finance that I find that financial solutions come to me quite easily. I truly feel that I help and truly care about other's financial security. I was one of those kids that needed to take my parents watch apart because I love to know how all the pieces interact. So, I don't just invest money but look at all aspects of financial strategy. Retirement planning is my favourite part of finance as this the time when people see their financial reward.
And you have a knack for explaining it clearly! What do you think is the most important thing for people to think of in terms of finances and retirement planning? H: One of the keys at any time in ones financial life is to look at finance simply. You have a choice to spend it now or later. If you want more money - either make more or spend less. It's really quite simple. I was a Retirement Specialist for almost 10 years and I love this area. I think it is best to invest early and discover one's risk tolerance and learn with a smaller amount of money rather than a bigger amount later in life.
I like that – don’t spend what you don’t have. Any tips for saving income tax? H: Taxation is really complex. Probably the best way is to find someone who is a tax strategist, as most people cannot keep up with yearly tax changes. At least twice a year the federal and provincial governments change tax rules and to understand the impact you need to know how all the parts of taxation work.
Probably the best piece of advice is to file your taxes on time! The penalties can be stiff. If someone wanted to become a financial advisor what should they do? H: If someone is thinking of entering the financial field they must pass the Canadian Securities Course (CSC), as a minimum to practice finance anywhere in Canada. More and more companies require that one has the CFP (Certified Financial Planner) designation as the minimum on top of the CSC. Personally, I don't think anyone should give financial advice without having at least the 2 courses: CSC, and CFP. Both are challenging.
Any funny moments? H: I can't think of any one story but I am always amazed at how many very smart people have a mental block for finance. It isn't that they cannot understand it, they just don't like it. A client, who is very smart gave me a T-shirt that says: "I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you".
You could wear that T-shirt when you talk with me! J If you had to pick a song to be your theme song what would it be? H: "What a Feeling" - the theme song for the movie Flashdance. I especially love the line "Take your passion and make it happen. (looks like you did this also Linda.)
It’s true – I did! What would you pick as a superpower? H: I would like to have 2 superpowers, 1 - a perfect memory because I always feel "the more I know, the more I realize I don't know". I would also like to be indestructible probably because of all the joint problems that I have had to overcome, especially since I thought I was indestructible when I was younger.
What’s your favourite dessert? H: I usually will pass on dessert to have more of a main course, and there are many favourites in that category.
I’ll eat your portion J! Henry, thank you very much for dropping by and sharing your financial advice. It’s such a big part of our lives and we all need a smattering of knowledge about it. Don’t forget - tax time is upon us. The returns are due April 30. If you’d like to contact Henry, he’s on LinkedIn. Click HERE. Happy spending (or saving)!
My guest today is Henry Kauf, financial advisor with a flare for sound advice! I love to talk to Henry about the global economy and investment strategies. Not that I understand it all – but it’s fascinating to hear him talk about world trends!
Henry, how did you become interested in financial planning? H: My journey to being a 'finance guy' started when I was 14. I discovered that I had the type of head that could, and liked doing peoples income tax returns. I have always felt that we are all 'made' to do something well. Our biggest job in life is to discover what that thing is that we would love and comes easy. In my 20s I tried most aspects of finance and at 29 (30 years ago) a friend said that I had a good financial mind and should try being a stockbroker. It all grew from there.
It’s funny how one thing leads to another and sometimes we can’t see what we were meant to do as easily as others. What do you love about it? H: What I love about finance is that, at this point in my life, I have been doing so many facets of finance that I find that financial solutions come to me quite easily. I truly feel that I help and truly care about other's financial security. I was one of those kids that needed to take my parents watch apart because I love to know how all the pieces interact. So, I don't just invest money but look at all aspects of financial strategy. Retirement planning is my favourite part of finance as this the time when people see their financial reward.
And you have a knack for explaining it clearly! What do you think is the most important thing for people to think of in terms of finances and retirement planning? H: One of the keys at any time in ones financial life is to look at finance simply. You have a choice to spend it now or later. If you want more money - either make more or spend less. It's really quite simple. I was a Retirement Specialist for almost 10 years and I love this area. I think it is best to invest early and discover one's risk tolerance and learn with a smaller amount of money rather than a bigger amount later in life.I like that – don’t spend what you don’t have. Any tips for saving income tax? H: Taxation is really complex. Probably the best way is to find someone who is a tax strategist, as most people cannot keep up with yearly tax changes. At least twice a year the federal and provincial governments change tax rules and to understand the impact you need to know how all the parts of taxation work.
Probably the best piece of advice is to file your taxes on time! The penalties can be stiff. If someone wanted to become a financial advisor what should they do? H: If someone is thinking of entering the financial field they must pass the Canadian Securities Course (CSC), as a minimum to practice finance anywhere in Canada. More and more companies require that one has the CFP (Certified Financial Planner) designation as the minimum on top of the CSC. Personally, I don't think anyone should give financial advice without having at least the 2 courses: CSC, and CFP. Both are challenging.
Any funny moments? H: I can't think of any one story but I am always amazed at how many very smart people have a mental block for finance. It isn't that they cannot understand it, they just don't like it. A client, who is very smart gave me a T-shirt that says: "I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you".
You could wear that T-shirt when you talk with me! J If you had to pick a song to be your theme song what would it be? H: "What a Feeling" - the theme song for the movie Flashdance. I especially love the line "Take your passion and make it happen. (looks like you did this also Linda.)
It’s true – I did! What would you pick as a superpower? H: I would like to have 2 superpowers, 1 - a perfect memory because I always feel "the more I know, the more I realize I don't know". I would also like to be indestructible probably because of all the joint problems that I have had to overcome, especially since I thought I was indestructible when I was younger.
What’s your favourite dessert? H: I usually will pass on dessert to have more of a main course, and there are many favourites in that category.
I’ll eat your portion J! Henry, thank you very much for dropping by and sharing your financial advice. It’s such a big part of our lives and we all need a smattering of knowledge about it. Don’t forget - tax time is upon us. The returns are due April 30. If you’d like to contact Henry, he’s on LinkedIn. Click HERE. Happy spending (or saving)!
April 13, 2015
Sharing the Awesome - Andrew Pettit - Disney Enthusiast!
My life is filled with love and laughter thanks to the amazing people I get to hang out with. As well as being awesome, they’re creative, talented, generous, and fun! I thought you might like to meet them so I’ve asked them to come and give us a behind-the-scenes look at what they’re passionate about. I have to warn you though – creativity is contagious!
My guest today is my brother-in-law, Andrew Pettit, an expert of all things Disney. According to anyone who has ever travelled with him to Disney, he plans a superb vacation! So if a trip to Disney is in your future, you’re going to want to listen to his advice!
Andrew, why do you love Disney? A: In many ways Disney is in my everyday life. Many of the television shows I regularly watch, Castle, Modern Family, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Once Upon a Time, are all shows on the ABC network, which Disney is the primary shareholder. On my morning commute I regularly listen to Mike and Mike on ESPN radio. Disney is again the primary shareholder of ESPN. Many of the movies I am looking most forward to seeing this year are Disney productions, such as Avengers: Age of Ultron, Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Tomorrowland. Again Disney now owns both Marvel and Lucasfilm. Then there are all the classic Disney and Pixar movies that, not only I grew up on, but my kids did as well.
However, my primary passion for Disney comes from it being my favorite travel destination. What began as a once in a lifetime family vacation to Walt Disney World (WDW) has turned into twice a year Disney trips. We love it so much that we have bought into Disney’s version of a time share, the Disney Vacation Club (DVC). In addition to our many visits to WDW we have been to Disneyland (DL), been on an Adventures by Disney (ABD) trip, and are in the process of planning our first Disney cruise (DCL).
The love for these trips comes from many things. Disney has such a high quality of service and friendliness of all its Cast Members. (Anyone who works for Disney is a cast member, from the executives to the people who clean the bathrooms.) They have great attention to detail and a concept of storytelling. Every hotel, attraction and building has a theme and a backstory. It may not always be obvious but hidden in the details it is there. From the markings on the pavement in the parks to the sounds and music in the background to the details in the fixtures there is theming and story everywhere.
Not only does the love continue over time but it builds. With each trip we take we want more. After our first, and only so far, ABD we fell in love with the level of service and privileged access gained by traveling with Disney. We hope to do many more ABD trips in the future. While we are only in the planning stage of our first DCL trip we are already thinking of other such trips we might make in the future. All the while we can’t wait to get back to the parks and see what has changed since our last visit.
I hadn’t heard of the ABD trip before you went on one. Learning about all the behind-the-scenes extras sounded fascinating! What’s the best advice for someone travelling to Disney? Is there a site/info that would be great for someone to check out before they go?
Plan ahead. On any Disney vacation, but particularly to the parks, it is extremely important to plan. WDW has four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom), two water parks (Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon), a shopping and entertainment district (Downtown Disney) and a plethora of other options as well. DL has two parks (Magic Kingdom, Californian Adventure) and a Downtown Disney.
In order to make the best of your time you need to be organized. You are able to book dining reservations 180 days in advance and some of the most popular restaurants will book up on the first day the reservations open. At WDW there is a system where you can now book Fast Passes (A pass that gets you to the front of the line to an attraction much quicker) 60 days in advance if you are staying on property and 30 days in advance if you are not. Again the most popular attractions get reserved quickly.
It is also important to plan what time of year to travel. As a general rule the crowd levels at the parks go up when children are out of school. There are also events at the parks that are restricted to certain times of the year. There are Halloween parties in the fall and Christmas celebrations, parties and decorations throughout that season. In the spring EPCOT has a Flower and Garden festival and in the fall they have a Food and Wine festival. Hollywood Studios has Star Wars weekends in the spring. If you are interested in these events then you need to plan accordingly but if you are not interested you might want to plan to avoid them since they bring larger crowds.
So for the person who thinks they will show up and just “wing it” they will likely run into a lot of disappointment. They will end up waiting in long lines, miss out on the best dinning locations, and generally have more to complain about than the person who has planned ahead.
Another important tip for park visitors is to be at the park before it opens. This gives you a chance to get through security and the ticket booth so you are ready to go when they start to let people in. Often times they will open the park before the actual posted time of park opening. In that first hour or two that the park is open the crowds will be the lowest and therefore the waits for the attractions will be the shortest.
One of the biggest complaint people will make about a Disney trip when they return home is that they had to wait too long in lines. By planning ahead, using Fast Passes and getting to the park early we have very rarely waited in line for any attraction longer than 15 minutes and less than 10 minutes is the norm.
People most often ask, “When is the best time to go?” This depends on so many things, the weather, the crowds, what events and the cost. As “frost bitten” Canadians we like to travel when it is warm enough to swim. Many people however like to travel when it is cooler because it is nicer to travel around the parks with all the walking required. When the crowds are the lowest, the prices also tend to be low. However this often coincides with the shortest park hours and it is also when Disney is more likely to close rides for refurbishment. Many people tend to think of October as the best time to visit WDW as the temperatures and humidity are not too oppressive, the Halloween parties and Food and Wine Festival are going on, and the crowd levels are reasonable.
One last tip to point out is Disney is not just for kids or even families. While that is their specialty, it is a rare person that cannot find something to enjoy at the Disney parks. Aside from the parks, dining, attractions and shopping there is plenty more to see and do at WDW. You can go horseback riding, get a spa treatment, go on a backwoods Segway tour, take a carriage ride, go golfing at one of many courses, go on a fishing excursion as well as take many behind the scenes tours. There is truly something for everyone.
I know the hotels have some pretty nice pools too. If you want to plan, where would you find the information? A: Given that the Magic Kingdom at WDW alone gets close to 20 million visitors a year (The #1 most attended theme park in the world.) there is no shortage of available resources to plan your trip. Historically, and still readily available, there are a number of guidebooks. My personal favourite for the parks is the Unofficial Guide series.
However in the age of the Internet there is a flood of web sites and forums with an inexhaustible supply of information.
For all things Disney the website WDWInfo.com is, in my opinion, one of the best. They have extensive information on WDW, DL, DCL, ABD as well as information on Universal Studios in Orlando. They also have what might be the largest forum on all things Disney on the Internet.
Another site that has great trip planning information for just WDW is EasyWDW.com. They have a great feature that gives the crowd levels for the various parks.
Other good sites are allears.net, disneyfoodblog.com and mousesavers.com.
Great tip! Sometimes there are so many, it’s hard to find the good ones. What’s your personal favourite attraction/restaurant/place to stay/waterpark? A: That is like trying to pick my favourite child. There are a number of attractions I consider “must dos”, there are many restaurants that I love to dine at and many resorts that I plan to go back to again.
I thought I might describe a dream day at WDW. It might not be practical or even feasible but it details a number of the best things I love at WDW.
I would stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge in a room with a savannah view, so as I woke up I could sit out on my balcony and see the African animals as they came out for their morning feed. Then I would head to Boma, located at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, for a buffet breakfast.
It would, coincidentally, be a day where Animal Kingdom had early morning extra magic hours, so I go there and ride Kilimanjaro Safaris. From there I would head to Magic Kingdom in time to watch the opening ceremonies and then ride Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Buzz Light-year and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Then I would head over to EPCOT and ride Soaring, Test Track, Mission Space and Spaceship Earth.
I would then walk over to the Boardwalk where I would have lunch at the Big River Brewing Company. From there I could walk to Hollywood Studios where I would ride Toy Story Midway Mania, where I would get the best score of the day (This is a fantasy day.). Then I would ride Star Tours, the Great Movie Ride and see Muppets 3D.
Then I would take a break where I could catch a Friendship Boat and go to the Yacht and Beach Club and lounge by the amazing pool Stormalong Bay. (Technically only guests staying at this resort can use this pool.) There I could relax with a few drinks and enjoy the sand bottom pool as it massages my aching feet.
I would have an elegant dinner at Victoria and Albert’s at the Grand Floridian resort. (I’ve never actually done this, yet). Then head back to Magic Kingdom where I would ride both Big Thunder Mountain Railway and the Carousel (Both better at night) then catch the castle light show and watch Wishes fireworks. Of course there would be time (Not) to head from there back over to EPCOT and see Illuminations (Combination fireworks and laser light show.) aboard one of the special cruise boats.
Then collapse, exhausted, back into bed.
Haha – love it! Disney World or Disneyland? A: They are both wonderful places to visit. When we were at DL we had a chance to meet two Disney ambassadors and they described DL as hug, whereas at WDW you can spread your arms wide. This is a good comparison.
WDW has the space. They have the four parks, two water parks and Downtown Disney that are all spread out so each has its own location and identity. The parks themselves tend to be bigger so they have more space within them as well. With more parks and more space they have more attractions. They have Animal Kingdom with the huge space it allows them to have the great safari ride and animal trails that would never be possible at DL. They have a lot more resort hotels, so more options in choosing where you stay when on property. However since it is spread out it can take time to get from one location to another on the property. With more resorts and parks there will be a lot more people on property on any given day but they will be spread out over a larger area. The weather is also more of an issue at WDW. The summer to winter fluctuations are much higher. The summer being so hot and humid it is often unbearable and with that comes a lot of thunder storms. Fortunately they usually pass through quickly but leave the humidity even higher.
DL has an intimacy that the lack of space brings and a convenience. You can walk from any of the three hotels to either of the two parks and Downtown Disney without any trouble. Although there are less attraction options they do have most of the best attractions that are at WDW and some that aren’t. The weather is much more moderate at DL. It rarely rains and as such many of the rides that are indoors at WDW are outside at DL.
The one great advantage that DL has Walt was there. He completely oversaw the development of the park and to this day you can still see his apartment over the fire station on Main Street. There is a sense of nostalgia and originality that can’t be truly duplicated at WDW. Walt died before the opening of WDW and although he was involved in the planning he never actually walked the park the way he did at DL.
Then there are the castles. It is a big bone of contention between the fans of the two locations. DL has Sleeping Beauty’s castle and WDW has Cinderella’s castle. The castle at DL is smaller and less glamorous. The castle at WDW is bigger and more of a focal point to the park. It is also the one you see imitated in the Disney Studios logo at the beginning of their movies.
So to reiterate they both have their charms, advantages and disadvantages. We favour WDW mainly due to the fact that it is more convenient for us to travel to. It also gives us more resort options and entertainment options. We have only been to DL once but hope to get back there soon. Neither location can be fully experienced or appreciated in just on visit, as they both continue to change it will require that I go back time and time again.
Excellent advice for a fantastic Disney vacation! Andrew, thank you very much for sharing your expertise about Disney. Not that you could ever be disappointed, but a little bit of planning will go a long way to making it a vacation full of amazing memories!
My guest today is my brother-in-law, Andrew Pettit, an expert of all things Disney. According to anyone who has ever travelled with him to Disney, he plans a superb vacation! So if a trip to Disney is in your future, you’re going to want to listen to his advice!
Andrew, why do you love Disney? A: In many ways Disney is in my everyday life. Many of the television shows I regularly watch, Castle, Modern Family, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Once Upon a Time, are all shows on the ABC network, which Disney is the primary shareholder. On my morning commute I regularly listen to Mike and Mike on ESPN radio. Disney is again the primary shareholder of ESPN. Many of the movies I am looking most forward to seeing this year are Disney productions, such as Avengers: Age of Ultron, Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Tomorrowland. Again Disney now owns both Marvel and Lucasfilm. Then there are all the classic Disney and Pixar movies that, not only I grew up on, but my kids did as well.However, my primary passion for Disney comes from it being my favorite travel destination. What began as a once in a lifetime family vacation to Walt Disney World (WDW) has turned into twice a year Disney trips. We love it so much that we have bought into Disney’s version of a time share, the Disney Vacation Club (DVC). In addition to our many visits to WDW we have been to Disneyland (DL), been on an Adventures by Disney (ABD) trip, and are in the process of planning our first Disney cruise (DCL).
The love for these trips comes from many things. Disney has such a high quality of service and friendliness of all its Cast Members. (Anyone who works for Disney is a cast member, from the executives to the people who clean the bathrooms.) They have great attention to detail and a concept of storytelling. Every hotel, attraction and building has a theme and a backstory. It may not always be obvious but hidden in the details it is there. From the markings on the pavement in the parks to the sounds and music in the background to the details in the fixtures there is theming and story everywhere.
Not only does the love continue over time but it builds. With each trip we take we want more. After our first, and only so far, ABD we fell in love with the level of service and privileged access gained by traveling with Disney. We hope to do many more ABD trips in the future. While we are only in the planning stage of our first DCL trip we are already thinking of other such trips we might make in the future. All the while we can’t wait to get back to the parks and see what has changed since our last visit.
I hadn’t heard of the ABD trip before you went on one. Learning about all the behind-the-scenes extras sounded fascinating! What’s the best advice for someone travelling to Disney? Is there a site/info that would be great for someone to check out before they go?
Plan ahead. On any Disney vacation, but particularly to the parks, it is extremely important to plan. WDW has four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom), two water parks (Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon), a shopping and entertainment district (Downtown Disney) and a plethora of other options as well. DL has two parks (Magic Kingdom, Californian Adventure) and a Downtown Disney.
In order to make the best of your time you need to be organized. You are able to book dining reservations 180 days in advance and some of the most popular restaurants will book up on the first day the reservations open. At WDW there is a system where you can now book Fast Passes (A pass that gets you to the front of the line to an attraction much quicker) 60 days in advance if you are staying on property and 30 days in advance if you are not. Again the most popular attractions get reserved quickly.
It is also important to plan what time of year to travel. As a general rule the crowd levels at the parks go up when children are out of school. There are also events at the parks that are restricted to certain times of the year. There are Halloween parties in the fall and Christmas celebrations, parties and decorations throughout that season. In the spring EPCOT has a Flower and Garden festival and in the fall they have a Food and Wine festival. Hollywood Studios has Star Wars weekends in the spring. If you are interested in these events then you need to plan accordingly but if you are not interested you might want to plan to avoid them since they bring larger crowds.
So for the person who thinks they will show up and just “wing it” they will likely run into a lot of disappointment. They will end up waiting in long lines, miss out on the best dinning locations, and generally have more to complain about than the person who has planned ahead.
Another important tip for park visitors is to be at the park before it opens. This gives you a chance to get through security and the ticket booth so you are ready to go when they start to let people in. Often times they will open the park before the actual posted time of park opening. In that first hour or two that the park is open the crowds will be the lowest and therefore the waits for the attractions will be the shortest.
One of the biggest complaint people will make about a Disney trip when they return home is that they had to wait too long in lines. By planning ahead, using Fast Passes and getting to the park early we have very rarely waited in line for any attraction longer than 15 minutes and less than 10 minutes is the norm.
People most often ask, “When is the best time to go?” This depends on so many things, the weather, the crowds, what events and the cost. As “frost bitten” Canadians we like to travel when it is warm enough to swim. Many people however like to travel when it is cooler because it is nicer to travel around the parks with all the walking required. When the crowds are the lowest, the prices also tend to be low. However this often coincides with the shortest park hours and it is also when Disney is more likely to close rides for refurbishment. Many people tend to think of October as the best time to visit WDW as the temperatures and humidity are not too oppressive, the Halloween parties and Food and Wine Festival are going on, and the crowd levels are reasonable.
One last tip to point out is Disney is not just for kids or even families. While that is their specialty, it is a rare person that cannot find something to enjoy at the Disney parks. Aside from the parks, dining, attractions and shopping there is plenty more to see and do at WDW. You can go horseback riding, get a spa treatment, go on a backwoods Segway tour, take a carriage ride, go golfing at one of many courses, go on a fishing excursion as well as take many behind the scenes tours. There is truly something for everyone.I know the hotels have some pretty nice pools too. If you want to plan, where would you find the information? A: Given that the Magic Kingdom at WDW alone gets close to 20 million visitors a year (The #1 most attended theme park in the world.) there is no shortage of available resources to plan your trip. Historically, and still readily available, there are a number of guidebooks. My personal favourite for the parks is the Unofficial Guide series.
However in the age of the Internet there is a flood of web sites and forums with an inexhaustible supply of information.
For all things Disney the website WDWInfo.com is, in my opinion, one of the best. They have extensive information on WDW, DL, DCL, ABD as well as information on Universal Studios in Orlando. They also have what might be the largest forum on all things Disney on the Internet.
Another site that has great trip planning information for just WDW is EasyWDW.com. They have a great feature that gives the crowd levels for the various parks.
Other good sites are allears.net, disneyfoodblog.com and mousesavers.com.
Great tip! Sometimes there are so many, it’s hard to find the good ones. What’s your personal favourite attraction/restaurant/place to stay/waterpark? A: That is like trying to pick my favourite child. There are a number of attractions I consider “must dos”, there are many restaurants that I love to dine at and many resorts that I plan to go back to again.
I thought I might describe a dream day at WDW. It might not be practical or even feasible but it details a number of the best things I love at WDW.
I would stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge in a room with a savannah view, so as I woke up I could sit out on my balcony and see the African animals as they came out for their morning feed. Then I would head to Boma, located at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, for a buffet breakfast.
It would, coincidentally, be a day where Animal Kingdom had early morning extra magic hours, so I go there and ride Kilimanjaro Safaris. From there I would head to Magic Kingdom in time to watch the opening ceremonies and then ride Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Buzz Light-year and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Then I would head over to EPCOT and ride Soaring, Test Track, Mission Space and Spaceship Earth.
I would then walk over to the Boardwalk where I would have lunch at the Big River Brewing Company. From there I could walk to Hollywood Studios where I would ride Toy Story Midway Mania, where I would get the best score of the day (This is a fantasy day.). Then I would ride Star Tours, the Great Movie Ride and see Muppets 3D.
Then I would take a break where I could catch a Friendship Boat and go to the Yacht and Beach Club and lounge by the amazing pool Stormalong Bay. (Technically only guests staying at this resort can use this pool.) There I could relax with a few drinks and enjoy the sand bottom pool as it massages my aching feet.
I would have an elegant dinner at Victoria and Albert’s at the Grand Floridian resort. (I’ve never actually done this, yet). Then head back to Magic Kingdom where I would ride both Big Thunder Mountain Railway and the Carousel (Both better at night) then catch the castle light show and watch Wishes fireworks. Of course there would be time (Not) to head from there back over to EPCOT and see Illuminations (Combination fireworks and laser light show.) aboard one of the special cruise boats.
Then collapse, exhausted, back into bed.
Haha – love it! Disney World or Disneyland? A: They are both wonderful places to visit. When we were at DL we had a chance to meet two Disney ambassadors and they described DL as hug, whereas at WDW you can spread your arms wide. This is a good comparison.WDW has the space. They have the four parks, two water parks and Downtown Disney that are all spread out so each has its own location and identity. The parks themselves tend to be bigger so they have more space within them as well. With more parks and more space they have more attractions. They have Animal Kingdom with the huge space it allows them to have the great safari ride and animal trails that would never be possible at DL. They have a lot more resort hotels, so more options in choosing where you stay when on property. However since it is spread out it can take time to get from one location to another on the property. With more resorts and parks there will be a lot more people on property on any given day but they will be spread out over a larger area. The weather is also more of an issue at WDW. The summer to winter fluctuations are much higher. The summer being so hot and humid it is often unbearable and with that comes a lot of thunder storms. Fortunately they usually pass through quickly but leave the humidity even higher.
DL has an intimacy that the lack of space brings and a convenience. You can walk from any of the three hotels to either of the two parks and Downtown Disney without any trouble. Although there are less attraction options they do have most of the best attractions that are at WDW and some that aren’t. The weather is much more moderate at DL. It rarely rains and as such many of the rides that are indoors at WDW are outside at DL.
The one great advantage that DL has Walt was there. He completely oversaw the development of the park and to this day you can still see his apartment over the fire station on Main Street. There is a sense of nostalgia and originality that can’t be truly duplicated at WDW. Walt died before the opening of WDW and although he was involved in the planning he never actually walked the park the way he did at DL.
Then there are the castles. It is a big bone of contention between the fans of the two locations. DL has Sleeping Beauty’s castle and WDW has Cinderella’s castle. The castle at DL is smaller and less glamorous. The castle at WDW is bigger and more of a focal point to the park. It is also the one you see imitated in the Disney Studios logo at the beginning of their movies.So to reiterate they both have their charms, advantages and disadvantages. We favour WDW mainly due to the fact that it is more convenient for us to travel to. It also gives us more resort options and entertainment options. We have only been to DL once but hope to get back there soon. Neither location can be fully experienced or appreciated in just on visit, as they both continue to change it will require that I go back time and time again.
Excellent advice for a fantastic Disney vacation! Andrew, thank you very much for sharing your expertise about Disney. Not that you could ever be disappointed, but a little bit of planning will go a long way to making it a vacation full of amazing memories!
April 8, 2015
Sharing the Awesome - Nicolette McGraw - Ace Photographer!
My life is filled with love and laughter thanks to the amazing people I get to hang out with. As well as being awesome, they’re creative, talented, generous, and fun! I thought you might like to meet them so I’ve asked them to come and give us a behind-the-scenes look at what they’re passionate about. I have to warn you though – creativity is contagious!
My guest today is Nicolette McGraw, ace photographer. Nicolette quietly takes pictures of the outdoors and creates amazing prints from them. One of my favourite framed pictures is a collage of her kids.
Nicolette, how did you become interested in photography? N: I first became interested in photography while living and working in the mountains at Manning Park Resort in 1978. I did a lot of hiking and wanted to capture the beauty of it all.
What do you love about it? N: I love that it forces me to really slow down, to take a deeper look at my surroundings. I once stalked what I thought was a crane for five minutes only to get close enough to realize it was a stump!
Haha. Sounds like something that happened to Vlad and me. We stopped and watched what we thought was a unique snake on the path – only to realize it was a plastic cobra. J What do you enjoy photographing? N: I mostly photograph landscapes and nature. I really love trees and am always on the look out for a new subject. If I can't get outdoors, I give myself indoor photo assignments like shooting a store bought bouquet of flowers, or macro anything.
I love some of the winter scenes you’ve taken. What equipment do you use? N: For years I used an Olympus film camera that would still work if the battery ran out. I miss the camera but not film. I was lucky to get maybe one good shot out of a roll of 36 and I had to wait a whole week to find out if I got anything! Now I use a Nikon D700, a full frame digital camera that also works as an upper back and arms work out. My second lens was a wide angle to show wide mountain ranges, next was a macro lens to capture flowers and bugs up close. It’s important to note that I would never buy an assortment of lenses on a whim, better to see what you're lacking first by taking many photographs of many different things.
A camera that works if the battery ran out – I need that! Is there a photo-editing program that you like to use? N: For years I used Picasa - a free online photo editing program, it met my needs for the most part. Recently I took a photoshop course at the college that enables me to have a wider range of editing options, giving me that little bit of pizzazz that I've been wanting. Since I started using digital, I noticed a much quicker learning curve.
Photo editing is an art in itself. What do you do with the photos you take? N: I hang prints around my home, sell photo cards, and offer enlargements for various charities that use them in auctions. I have also given several photo slide shows to garden clubs discussing how to best photograph your garden.
These days I also like to create abstract with my camera, it’s new and exciting. Recently, I joined the Kingston Camera Club and am learning a lot through them. The club has a show coming up at the Windows Gallery in April and I’m excited to be a part of that.
Wow – congratulations! I know it’s not your first show, but it’s always cool to show off your work. Any advice for someone interested in becoming a photographer? N: If someone is interested in becoming a photographer, my biggest piece of advice would be to start taking photos! Don't wait to save for a big expensive fancy camera. These days almost everyone has a cell phone that will take pictures. I just used one on my holiday last week. Joining clubs is a great way to make friends and learn new techniques. Most questions can also be answered on YouTube.
Your advice about not buying a wide selection of lenses is good, too. I would’ve thought you’d need to start with a whole array. If you had to pick a song to be your theme song what would it be? N: If I had to pick one song it would be All the Diamonds by Bruce Cockburn. It’s the one that especially pops into my head when I'm shooting near water on a sunny day.
What would you pick as a superpower? N: My super power would be a being that could change the natural lighting at will.
Chris Hadfield made a similar comment the other day – how he would want to control the light when taking pictures. What’s your favourite dessert? N: Favourite dessert would have to be ice cream or one of your specialties :)
I’m always happy to share! Thank you very much for sharing your love of photography with us Nicolette. I think everyone is interested in capturing precious moments at some point. If you would like to contact Nicolette, you can email her at nicolettemcgraw@gmail.com . And if you’re in Kingston, drop by the Kingston's Photographic Club's Exhibit at The Window Gallery! April 1-26, More details HERE.
My guest today is Nicolette McGraw, ace photographer. Nicolette quietly takes pictures of the outdoors and creates amazing prints from them. One of my favourite framed pictures is a collage of her kids.
Nicolette, how did you become interested in photography? N: I first became interested in photography while living and working in the mountains at Manning Park Resort in 1978. I did a lot of hiking and wanted to capture the beauty of it all.What do you love about it? N: I love that it forces me to really slow down, to take a deeper look at my surroundings. I once stalked what I thought was a crane for five minutes only to get close enough to realize it was a stump!
Haha. Sounds like something that happened to Vlad and me. We stopped and watched what we thought was a unique snake on the path – only to realize it was a plastic cobra. J What do you enjoy photographing? N: I mostly photograph landscapes and nature. I really love trees and am always on the look out for a new subject. If I can't get outdoors, I give myself indoor photo assignments like shooting a store bought bouquet of flowers, or macro anything.I love some of the winter scenes you’ve taken. What equipment do you use? N: For years I used an Olympus film camera that would still work if the battery ran out. I miss the camera but not film. I was lucky to get maybe one good shot out of a roll of 36 and I had to wait a whole week to find out if I got anything! Now I use a Nikon D700, a full frame digital camera that also works as an upper back and arms work out. My second lens was a wide angle to show wide mountain ranges, next was a macro lens to capture flowers and bugs up close. It’s important to note that I would never buy an assortment of lenses on a whim, better to see what you're lacking first by taking many photographs of many different things.
A camera that works if the battery ran out – I need that! Is there a photo-editing program that you like to use? N: For years I used Picasa - a free online photo editing program, it met my needs for the most part. Recently I took a photoshop course at the college that enables me to have a wider range of editing options, giving me that little bit of pizzazz that I've been wanting. Since I started using digital, I noticed a much quicker learning curve.
Photo editing is an art in itself. What do you do with the photos you take? N: I hang prints around my home, sell photo cards, and offer enlargements for various charities that use them in auctions. I have also given several photo slide shows to garden clubs discussing how to best photograph your garden.
These days I also like to create abstract with my camera, it’s new and exciting. Recently, I joined the Kingston Camera Club and am learning a lot through them. The club has a show coming up at the Windows Gallery in April and I’m excited to be a part of that.
Wow – congratulations! I know it’s not your first show, but it’s always cool to show off your work. Any advice for someone interested in becoming a photographer? N: If someone is interested in becoming a photographer, my biggest piece of advice would be to start taking photos! Don't wait to save for a big expensive fancy camera. These days almost everyone has a cell phone that will take pictures. I just used one on my holiday last week. Joining clubs is a great way to make friends and learn new techniques. Most questions can also be answered on YouTube.
Your advice about not buying a wide selection of lenses is good, too. I would’ve thought you’d need to start with a whole array. If you had to pick a song to be your theme song what would it be? N: If I had to pick one song it would be All the Diamonds by Bruce Cockburn. It’s the one that especially pops into my head when I'm shooting near water on a sunny day.What would you pick as a superpower? N: My super power would be a being that could change the natural lighting at will.
Chris Hadfield made a similar comment the other day – how he would want to control the light when taking pictures. What’s your favourite dessert? N: Favourite dessert would have to be ice cream or one of your specialties :)
I’m always happy to share! Thank you very much for sharing your love of photography with us Nicolette. I think everyone is interested in capturing precious moments at some point. If you would like to contact Nicolette, you can email her at nicolettemcgraw@gmail.com . And if you’re in Kingston, drop by the Kingston's Photographic Club's Exhibit at The Window Gallery! April 1-26, More details HERE.
April 3, 2015
Sharing the Awesome - Lesley Rooke - Queen of the Cottage!
My life is filled with love and laughter thanks to the amazing people I get to hang out with. As well as being awesome, they’re creative, talented, generous, and fun! I thought you might like to meet them so I’ve asked them to come and give us a behind-the-scenes look at what they’re passionate about. I have to warn you though – creativity is contagious!
My special guest today is Lesley Rooke, the hostess with the most-est, talking about cottage life! I know some people wonder if it’s worth the effort to pack it all up and make the trip to a cottage on the weekends or for a special week-long vacation. Lesley would say ‘Definitely yes!!’ So for all you sitting on the fence about renting or buying a cottage, here’s some sage advice.
Lesley, how long have you been heading out to your cottage? L: Our cottage has been in my family for 102 years!!!!! Wow eh!!! In 1913, my paternal grandfather took a trip from Toronto to Haliburton (part of the way was by horse and buggy) because one of his friends had just purchased property on the lake and he was so excited to share his excitement. My grandfather instantly fell in love and he himself purchased 1800 feet of shoreline for $75.00!! Isn't that just unbelievable??? This cottage has been passed down two generations and is currently shared by my brother and myself. So, to answer your question, I have been going to the cottage since I was born, which is over 50 years!!!
Wow – what a legacy for your family! That’s such a cool story. What do you love about cottage life? L: I love everything about cottage life!!!! I have always felt so fortunate to have had this life experience and I never take it for granted. There is just no comparison to city life! The nice thing is that everything you do there is so different then the city. It’s kind of like the analogy...country mouse/city mouse. We do all the water sports, we hike really cool trails, we go for midnight boat cruises to see shooting stars, the northern lights and constellations. We canoe, paddle boat and fish. We have a lot of campfires with s’mores of course, and we play board games that we would never play in the city for some reason. There’s a whole group of people that we call our summer friends because we really only see them then. We have the odd party too!!!
A few things we don't do are...shop, drive, race around. Once we are there, for the most part, we stay put.
My favourite thing is how peaceful it is...coffee on the deck in the morning is heaven. Our property is quite private with no immediate neighbours.
Sounds like great family time – away from screens! What makes a good guest? L: When my children brought friends up, it was important that the friends were active, energetic and liked water sports and boating. And for us…most of our guests have always been great. People enjoy the getaway.
What is your favourite cottage memory? L: I have too many favourite memories to mention, but a recent one was just last summer. I spent three nights there on my own with Elvis (our new little pup) and in the evenings I sat in the sunroom listening to the evening cottage life sounds and sorting through letters from the 70's and 80's! That was a really fun trip down memory lane!!!!
Oh and one more...
Etched in my mind is a visual memory of my late father sitting on the deck and enjoying all his surroundings and saying “This is a little piece of heaven on earth.” He said that more than once!!!
I always think being near water is relaxing and soothing. How do you keep the kids interested in going to the cottage? L: Fortunately, and I mean that sincerely, we never had to keep the kids interested. They share the love and it’s in their blood.
They love to be active too! Any tips for packing or preparing food for the weekend? L: There is no question...weekends back and forth are a lot of work. Pre planning and being organized is the key! And of course, taking Fridays off...
Nice. Do you use your cottage in the winter? L: Growing up we never used our cottage in the winter, as it was not winterized. We have rebuilt in the last five years and it’s now winterized, but I find for me, I enjoy all that summer has to offer and don't feel the need to go up during the winter. It’s a three-hour drive so that being said, I'm ready to stay put for the winter. We have enjoyed a few fabulous Thanksgiving weekends there though.
It would be beautiful especially with the fall colours. If you had to pick a song to be your theme song what would it be? L: I have always had a connection with Its a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong - it reminds me of my mom and dad!
And Kelly Clarkson...What Doesn't Kill you Makes You Stronger! Her words are to a lost love, but my application is to life in general. Any life event can change you and shape you and make you stronger - at least that's what I believe.
I agree. What would you pick as a superpower? L: Teleporting would be very cool! I wouldn't want it to be so easy that travel to exotic places would become mainstream. I would just want it to be an easier, safer and faster way to travel. With the way technology is advancing...it just might happen!!
That would be so cool - I hope it does! What’s your favourite dessert? L: I'm sorry to all you chocolate lovers but I have to say Treacle Pudding. It’s a British dessert that is basically sponge cake that has been steamed all day in Treacle Syrup which would be similar to Corn Syrup.
Sounds deliciously sweet!! Thank you very much Lesley for sharing your love of all things cottage. I think anytime you can find a relaxing place where you can be active, enjoy the activities you love, and spend time with family is wonderful! Hopefully spring will be here soon and you’ll be up at the cottage again! Be active everyone! Linda
My special guest today is Lesley Rooke, the hostess with the most-est, talking about cottage life! I know some people wonder if it’s worth the effort to pack it all up and make the trip to a cottage on the weekends or for a special week-long vacation. Lesley would say ‘Definitely yes!!’ So for all you sitting on the fence about renting or buying a cottage, here’s some sage advice.
Lesley, how long have you been heading out to your cottage? L: Our cottage has been in my family for 102 years!!!!! Wow eh!!! In 1913, my paternal grandfather took a trip from Toronto to Haliburton (part of the way was by horse and buggy) because one of his friends had just purchased property on the lake and he was so excited to share his excitement. My grandfather instantly fell in love and he himself purchased 1800 feet of shoreline for $75.00!! Isn't that just unbelievable??? This cottage has been passed down two generations and is currently shared by my brother and myself. So, to answer your question, I have been going to the cottage since I was born, which is over 50 years!!!
Wow – what a legacy for your family! That’s such a cool story. What do you love about cottage life? L: I love everything about cottage life!!!! I have always felt so fortunate to have had this life experience and I never take it for granted. There is just no comparison to city life! The nice thing is that everything you do there is so different then the city. It’s kind of like the analogy...country mouse/city mouse. We do all the water sports, we hike really cool trails, we go for midnight boat cruises to see shooting stars, the northern lights and constellations. We canoe, paddle boat and fish. We have a lot of campfires with s’mores of course, and we play board games that we would never play in the city for some reason. There’s a whole group of people that we call our summer friends because we really only see them then. We have the odd party too!!!A few things we don't do are...shop, drive, race around. Once we are there, for the most part, we stay put.
My favourite thing is how peaceful it is...coffee on the deck in the morning is heaven. Our property is quite private with no immediate neighbours.
Sounds like great family time – away from screens! What makes a good guest? L: When my children brought friends up, it was important that the friends were active, energetic and liked water sports and boating. And for us…most of our guests have always been great. People enjoy the getaway.
What is your favourite cottage memory? L: I have too many favourite memories to mention, but a recent one was just last summer. I spent three nights there on my own with Elvis (our new little pup) and in the evenings I sat in the sunroom listening to the evening cottage life sounds and sorting through letters from the 70's and 80's! That was a really fun trip down memory lane!!!!Oh and one more...
Etched in my mind is a visual memory of my late father sitting on the deck and enjoying all his surroundings and saying “This is a little piece of heaven on earth.” He said that more than once!!!
I always think being near water is relaxing and soothing. How do you keep the kids interested in going to the cottage? L: Fortunately, and I mean that sincerely, we never had to keep the kids interested. They share the love and it’s in their blood.They love to be active too! Any tips for packing or preparing food for the weekend? L: There is no question...weekends back and forth are a lot of work. Pre planning and being organized is the key! And of course, taking Fridays off...
Nice. Do you use your cottage in the winter? L: Growing up we never used our cottage in the winter, as it was not winterized. We have rebuilt in the last five years and it’s now winterized, but I find for me, I enjoy all that summer has to offer and don't feel the need to go up during the winter. It’s a three-hour drive so that being said, I'm ready to stay put for the winter. We have enjoyed a few fabulous Thanksgiving weekends there though.
It would be beautiful especially with the fall colours. If you had to pick a song to be your theme song what would it be? L: I have always had a connection with Its a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong - it reminds me of my mom and dad!
And Kelly Clarkson...What Doesn't Kill you Makes You Stronger! Her words are to a lost love, but my application is to life in general. Any life event can change you and shape you and make you stronger - at least that's what I believe.
I agree. What would you pick as a superpower? L: Teleporting would be very cool! I wouldn't want it to be so easy that travel to exotic places would become mainstream. I would just want it to be an easier, safer and faster way to travel. With the way technology is advancing...it just might happen!!
That would be so cool - I hope it does! What’s your favourite dessert? L: I'm sorry to all you chocolate lovers but I have to say Treacle Pudding. It’s a British dessert that is basically sponge cake that has been steamed all day in Treacle Syrup which would be similar to Corn Syrup.
Sounds deliciously sweet!! Thank you very much Lesley for sharing your love of all things cottage. I think anytime you can find a relaxing place where you can be active, enjoy the activities you love, and spend time with family is wonderful! Hopefully spring will be here soon and you’ll be up at the cottage again! Be active everyone! Linda
March 29, 2015
Spring for Love Day 3 - Meet Rebecca E. Neely!
Welcome Rebecca E. Neely, author of A Mighty Good Man.
Meet Rebecca ~ Rebecca E. Neely was born and raised in a small town in western Pennsylvania. She’s been a voracious reader all her life, and enjoys stories of all stripes. Rebecca holds a B.S. in Accounting from Penn State University, and worked in that field for about a decade. Since 2001, Rebecca has freelanced, writing a wide variety of copy for local magazines, and businesses all over the country. She is a PRO member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), the Western Pennsylvania Romance Writers (WPRW), and is honored to serve as a judge for several writing contests each year.Rebecca, what do you love about spring? I love the rich, radiant smell of the Earth that signals Spring is coming, and the way that one day, grass that’s been dulled by winter is suddenly a verdant, bright green.
Tell us about your romantic suspense novel, A Mighty Good Man.
‘Hank’ Jerry…
Her personal and professional life on the skids, a family emergency forces her to return to the small town, and the aunt, she left behind.Jack ‘Gent’ Darcy… Fresh out of prison, he’s bent on cutting ties with the Creds, but when you're a war counselor in a national gang, they don't let you just walk away.
Injured and on the run, Jack lands on Hank's doorstep, and makes her a proposition she can’t refuse: write his story about life inside one of the most powerful gangs in the country. It’s simple – she’ll get her career groove back, and he’ll bury the gang, then disappear – his version of freedom.
Only problem is, they can’t help falling for each other, and they’ve both got something to hide that could blow up in their faces. With time running out and gang enforcers closing in, will the trust they’ve forged survive the ultimate test?
I've read this - it's a great story with gritty, sexy characters! Here's the buy link for A Mighty Good Man.
Thanks so much for stopping by Rebecca! If'd you'd like to connect with Rebecca, here's how:
Website Blog Facebook Twitter Amazon Author Goodreads
March 28, 2015
Spring for Love - Meet Madelyn Hill!
Welcome to the Saturday Spring for Love blog hop! I thought I'd share some of my favourite spring table settings! Flowers, bright colours, friends at the table - what's not to love about spring!!
Visit me today at RB Austin's blog. Click HERE!
Welcome Madelyn Hill, author of Wolf's Castle!
Meet Madelyn ~ Madelyn Hill has always loved the written word. From the time she could read and all through her school years, she'd sneak books into her textbooks during school. And she devoured books daily. At the age of 10 she proclaimed she wanted to be a writer. After being a "closet" writer for several years, she sent her manuscripts out there and is now published with Soul Mate Publishing. And she couldn't be happier! A resident of Western New York, she moved from one Rochester to another Rochester to be with the love of her life. They keep busy with their 3 children and enjoy cooking, watching their children's sporting events, and going to the movies.Madelyn, what do you love about spring? After a long winter in the north east, I love how Spring brings warmth and flowers.
Tell us about your historical romance, Wolf's Castle.
Can he forget the past and embrace the future?He’s the beast of Lomarcan Castle. Tortured, angry, and bound and determined not to allow Vivian Stuart to invade his lair. Lord Galen Maclean refuses to be endeared to the lovely woman who has landed on his island looking to study alchemy. The island possesses secrets, secrets too horrid to share with the gentle woman. However, her beguiling nature brings light to the darkness of the castle and edges into his heart.
Can she tame the beast within him to gain his love?
She was stranded on a remote island, her father dead and dishonored by her betrothed. Still, the lovely Vivian Stuart wears her heart on her sleeve and strives to redeem Lord Maclean. She knows his heart is good and the castle can be filled with love. Through science she learns more about the troubled lord and slowly but surely, the torture lord's icy heart begins to thaw as Vivian shares the magical healing power of love.
I love that! Science and magic combined! Here's the buy link for Wolf's Castle.
Thank so much for stopping by, Madelyn! If you'd like to connect with Madelyn, here's how:
Website Facebook Twitter Goodreads Amazon Author Central Pinterest
March 27, 2015
Spring for Love - Meet Dawn Ireland!
Welcome to the Friday Spring for Love blog hop! Spring always reminds me of babies – baby lambs, baby bunnies and baby humans! So today I thought I’d share some helpful tips about small fry I recently learned at a conference!
Talking ~ Communication is about language (relating thoughts, ideas and needs), speech (making the sounds) and the social interaction.
Ever heard: “Wait until they turn 3/start school. He’ll grow out of it/boys develop later. Siblings talk for her. She’s shy/lazy. I didn’t talk until I was 5.”
Noooooo, it isn’t so.
Simplified milestones:
1 year – 1 step simple directions, single words (1-50words)
2 years old – 2 step directions, simple questions, two word phrases (50-100 words)
3 years old – longer directions, more complex questions, 3-5 word phrases (500-2000 words)
4 years old – multi-step, 5-8 word sentences, no need to change/simplify language (2000+ words)
The earlier young children are identified as being delayed, the better the chance of improving speech and language skills. They can focus on pre-verbal skills (gestures) long before actual language. Important since delays in language are related to: learning disabilities, reading and writing difficulties, school drop-out and criminal activity.
Caregivers are the primary language model for kids! Here's what you can do to help kids learn:
Be face to face with your child – shows you’re interested, lets them see your lips, develops eye contact.Wait – give instructions and give kids a chance to respond; give them time to make sense of a gesture.
Follow their lead – let the child choose the game, conversation and join in as they play!
Repeat, repeat, repeat – correct baby talk, use lots of different words, say what they would say/see if they could talk as they play.
Add and expand – if they are using gestures, you can add one word; if they are using one-word phrases, you use two-word phrases.
Babies easily learn 2-3 languages – parents should speak in their native tongue because broken English is not natural to learn.
Click HERE for more great info!
Walking ~ Get babies moving!
To walk, babies must master mechanics, gravity and sensory-motor (posture, joints, environment)
Steps:
reflexes – 1st expressions of gross motor function (rooting, sucking)
asymmetry – babies have to figure out the midline – hands together, head to center
Extend against gravity from the crunch time of a full term baby squished in a uterus
master stability – must learn to control body (so avoid super saucer/jolly jumper)
turn on pelvis – weight shifting, elongate trunk onto side of shift
walk at 12-24 months
Cognition for curiosity is there, but babies need opportunities to learn through active exploration of the environment - so get them on the floor (no super saucers, jolly jumpers)!
Don’t carry them up and down stairs – supervise them and let them add new skills.
Play with them. Let them learn by doing – building, crawling.
Help them maintain good posture – it can affect their line of sight and their vision.
Back to sleep. Prone to play. (tummy time) –helps prevent a flat head too!
Tomorrow I'll be sharing some spring ideas for table settings so drop by! Today I'm over at Rebecca E. Neely's blog - click HERE to visit!
Welcome Dawn Ireland, author of The Perfect Duke!
Meet Dawn ~ “Once Upon a Time” are four of Dawn’s favourite words. After all, they start stories that contains a touch of magic and a large dose of romance. Her tales are set in England or Scotland during the late 1700’s, where her characters discover love is never easy, but always worthwhile. After all, isn’t love worth breaking the rules?Dawn, what do you love about spring? As a gardener, the tender flower shoots popping through the rain-moistened soil remind me that I should be open to new beginnings. This rebirth is true magic. It amazes me each year that such beauty and life can come from Winter’s stark landscape.
Tell us about your historical romance The Perfect Duke.
Known as The Marble Duke amongst the Ton, Garret Weston, the Duke of Kendal sets himself apart from his peers. Nothing will hinder his guilt-driven attempt to become a perfect duke. Nothing that is, save the alluring and imaginative betrothed he’d thought dead. His intended believes-of all things-that she is a Vicar’s daughter. The “perfect” duke needs a “perfect” duchess, but how was he to discern her suitability? Employing her as a governess to his niece seemed like an ideal solution. But whose “suitability” is being tested? His betrothed refuses to see he is beyond redemption. And most grievous of all, she stirs his blood, making him forget what’s important.
Cara believes fairy tales really can come true, until she meets the unrelenting and arrogant Duke of Kendal. He looks like a Prince, but acts like a Beast. Why must he challenge her at every turn? Her greatest peril is her attraction to the vulnerable, seductive man behind the title. A match between them would be impossible. But can she show him, without losing her heart that “perfect” is in the eye of the beholder?
Sounds like a great read with a lot of sparks! Here's the buy link: The Perfect Duke
Thanks so much for stopping by Dawn! If you'd like to connect with Dawn, here's where you can find her:
Website Blog Twitter Facebook
March 20, 2015
Sharing the Awesome - Tammy Scott-Zelt Curling Fanatic
My life is filled with love and laughter thanks to the amazing people I get to hang out with. As well as being awesome moms, they’re creative, talented, generous, and fun! I thought you might like to meet them so I’ve asked them to come and give us a behind-the-scenes look at what they’re passionate about. I have to warn you though – creativity is contagious!
My guest today is Tammy Scott-Zelt, an excellent role model for sport and fitness! In the summer she’s busy playing and coaching soccer, and in the winter she’s involved in curling. Since the Canadian men and women won gold medals for curling at the last Olympics, I thought it’d be cool to learn what it’s all about from an expert.
Tammy, can you explain how curling works? T: Curling is a sport that dates back to Medieval Scotland in 1541. Players slide 40 lb. granite rocks down a sheet of ice toward a target area. The ice is 150 feet in length and has a pebble texture to it. The target area, or house, is segmented into four concentric circles. Curling has been compared to shuffle board or chess on ice. There is a lot of strategy to curling and where to place the rocks in the house.
Two teams compete against each other alternating throwing the rocks. Each person on a team is assigned a position. The Skip is the person who stands down in the house (target area) holding a broom and determining the strategy for the team. The Skip is usually the player with the most curling experience and throws the last two rocks for her team. The Vice is the next experienced player who throws the third set of rocks for the team. The Vice also consults with the Skip and holds the broom for the Skip while she throws her two rocks. The Second position is the player who throws the second set of rocks for the team. The Lead position is the first person on the team who does the coin toss to determine which team throws the rock first and throws the first set of rocks. The Lead is usually the player who is new to the game and is learning to draw weight.
The team will sweep the rock if it’s light on weight or curling too much. The Skip is responsible for calling out “sweep” if the rock looks like it's curling too much, and the sweepers will determine the weight of the rock. The purpose of sweeping the rock is to melt the pebbles on the ice, which creates a smooth path for the rock to curl straighter and farther.
Recreational curlers play eight ends, which usually takes two hours. The team with the rock closest to the “button” or the smallest circle in the house wins the end. The team with the most points after eight ends wins the game. The winning team buys drinks for the losing team.
I didn’t realize that the ice surface was different from an ice rink. How did you become interested in curling? T: I became interested in curling at a very young age because my family are big curlers.
What do you love about it? T: Curling is one of the very few sports that you can play from “cradle to grave”. A lot of people will say that curling is boring and not a sport that burns calories but that's not so. If you play eight ends and sweep every rock, you walk approximately 4500 steps on pedometer and gain strength in your upper arms as you sweep the rocks. Curling is also an incredible social sport. You play on a team and chat while playing for two hours then enjoy a social drink after the game with the other team. It's a great sport for people who have moved into a new city and are looking to meet new friends. Curling is also a great sport to play with your spouse/partner because they have a mixed league at most clubs.
Sounds like it’s a great family sport too! Do you need special equipment? T: Curling can be a very economical sport to play because the only equipment needed is a curling broom and slider for your shoes. As you progress, most curlers purchase curling shoes that have a built-in slider, but it's not necessary. Most clubs have brooms and sliders for new curlers to use.
That’s good to know. You could try it out first. Favourite moment? T: My favourite moment was sparing for a competitive team this year. We were playing in the Regional Championship and we beat the Queen's Varsity Curling team by one point in the last end to win the championship.
Congrats! That sounds like it was an exciting finish! Do you have advice for someone new to curling? T: Look at joining the Learn to Curl Program, which usually runs for eight weeks. The instructors are usually very passionate about the sport and knowledgeable. Be patient as you learn any sport. Curling looks easy but requires a lot of balance if you are using a stabilizer or broom coming out of the hack. A lot of older curlers are using sticks to deliver their stones, which does not require them to be flexible getting down in the hack.
I think that’s good advice for a lot of sports – try to take a lesson to learn proper technique and be patient. If you had to pick a song to be your theme song what would it be? T: Girls just want to have fun.
That’s a good one because it’s always fun hanging out with you! What would you pick as a superpower? T: My ultimate superpower would be “time” because I could do all the things I want to do before I die and change the path of history if necessary.
Cool. What’s your favourite dessert? T: Chocolate brownies that are warm out of the oven.
Yum! And yours would likely be homemade. :D (Tammy is also a phenomenal cook!) Tammy thank you very much for sharing your curling knowledge!! It’ll be more fun watching the Canadian teams and it sounds like a great sport to try! Keep active everyone!
My guest today is Tammy Scott-Zelt, an excellent role model for sport and fitness! In the summer she’s busy playing and coaching soccer, and in the winter she’s involved in curling. Since the Canadian men and women won gold medals for curling at the last Olympics, I thought it’d be cool to learn what it’s all about from an expert.Tammy, can you explain how curling works? T: Curling is a sport that dates back to Medieval Scotland in 1541. Players slide 40 lb. granite rocks down a sheet of ice toward a target area. The ice is 150 feet in length and has a pebble texture to it. The target area, or house, is segmented into four concentric circles. Curling has been compared to shuffle board or chess on ice. There is a lot of strategy to curling and where to place the rocks in the house.
Two teams compete against each other alternating throwing the rocks. Each person on a team is assigned a position. The Skip is the person who stands down in the house (target area) holding a broom and determining the strategy for the team. The Skip is usually the player with the most curling experience and throws the last two rocks for her team. The Vice is the next experienced player who throws the third set of rocks for the team. The Vice also consults with the Skip and holds the broom for the Skip while she throws her two rocks. The Second position is the player who throws the second set of rocks for the team. The Lead position is the first person on the team who does the coin toss to determine which team throws the rock first and throws the first set of rocks. The Lead is usually the player who is new to the game and is learning to draw weight.
The team will sweep the rock if it’s light on weight or curling too much. The Skip is responsible for calling out “sweep” if the rock looks like it's curling too much, and the sweepers will determine the weight of the rock. The purpose of sweeping the rock is to melt the pebbles on the ice, which creates a smooth path for the rock to curl straighter and farther.
Recreational curlers play eight ends, which usually takes two hours. The team with the rock closest to the “button” or the smallest circle in the house wins the end. The team with the most points after eight ends wins the game. The winning team buys drinks for the losing team.
I didn’t realize that the ice surface was different from an ice rink. How did you become interested in curling? T: I became interested in curling at a very young age because my family are big curlers.
What do you love about it? T: Curling is one of the very few sports that you can play from “cradle to grave”. A lot of people will say that curling is boring and not a sport that burns calories but that's not so. If you play eight ends and sweep every rock, you walk approximately 4500 steps on pedometer and gain strength in your upper arms as you sweep the rocks. Curling is also an incredible social sport. You play on a team and chat while playing for two hours then enjoy a social drink after the game with the other team. It's a great sport for people who have moved into a new city and are looking to meet new friends. Curling is also a great sport to play with your spouse/partner because they have a mixed league at most clubs.
Sounds like it’s a great family sport too! Do you need special equipment? T: Curling can be a very economical sport to play because the only equipment needed is a curling broom and slider for your shoes. As you progress, most curlers purchase curling shoes that have a built-in slider, but it's not necessary. Most clubs have brooms and sliders for new curlers to use.
That’s good to know. You could try it out first. Favourite moment? T: My favourite moment was sparing for a competitive team this year. We were playing in the Regional Championship and we beat the Queen's Varsity Curling team by one point in the last end to win the championship.
Congrats! That sounds like it was an exciting finish! Do you have advice for someone new to curling? T: Look at joining the Learn to Curl Program, which usually runs for eight weeks. The instructors are usually very passionate about the sport and knowledgeable. Be patient as you learn any sport. Curling looks easy but requires a lot of balance if you are using a stabilizer or broom coming out of the hack. A lot of older curlers are using sticks to deliver their stones, which does not require them to be flexible getting down in the hack.
I think that’s good advice for a lot of sports – try to take a lesson to learn proper technique and be patient. If you had to pick a song to be your theme song what would it be? T: Girls just want to have fun.
That’s a good one because it’s always fun hanging out with you! What would you pick as a superpower? T: My ultimate superpower would be “time” because I could do all the things I want to do before I die and change the path of history if necessary.
Cool. What’s your favourite dessert? T: Chocolate brownies that are warm out of the oven.
Yum! And yours would likely be homemade. :D (Tammy is also a phenomenal cook!) Tammy thank you very much for sharing your curling knowledge!! It’ll be more fun watching the Canadian teams and it sounds like a great sport to try! Keep active everyone!
March 12, 2015
Sharing the Awesome - Marion O'Connor
My life is filled with love and laughter thanks to the amazing people I get to hang out with. As well as being awesome, they’re creative, talented, generous, and fun! I thought you might like to meet them so I’ve asked them to come and give us a behind-the-scenes look at what they’re passionate about. I have to warn you though – creativity is contagious!
Today’s special guest is my mom, Marion O’Connor, a gardening guru. Her garden is the prettiest on the street and filled with a huge variety of beautiful colour, shape and scent. She’s here to share some tips on filling your garden.
Mom, when do you start planning for your summer garden? M: I'm always thinking about the garden. When all the flowers start to fade in the autumn, I’m already thinking about what I will do differently next year, and when it is winter, I imagine what the garden will look like in the spring.
And I know you like to change it up – with the colour or placement of flowers. All the thought you put into it shows! How do you start plants from seeds? M: I love to start seeds under the grow lights. It gives me an early start in the garden. You can plant most seeds about 6-8 weeks before they go in the garden. However, I usually start them about now as I really want to see something growing in the dead of winter. I usually take the seeds from the flowers in the autumn, keep them dry, and then plant them in special potting soil. I found that it is easier to just plant them in a flat bed rather than in individual pots. You can divide some plants like geraniums at this time of year by just taking cuttings from the mother plant.
I love that idea of using the seeds from the plants in the garden. Sometimes I have annuals that I really like and it’d be great to see them grow again the next year. How do you divide plants when they get too big? M: Most of the perennials in the garden can be divided if they grow in clumps. The most common way to divide them is to dig them up, then take a sharp spade and cut through the roots, leaving a piece of root on each clump. Then just replant them.
Sounds like a workout! Do you fertilize? How often do you water? M: In the winter plants should not be fertilized. As soon as the days start to get longer, then I start fertilizing, using only a very weak solution whenever I water. I have not started to fertilize my plants yet. Most plants are killed by overwatering. Especially in the winter I only water the plants when the soil is dry, and I try not to let the plant sit in water.
Ah, that could explain my lack of success with plants over the winter J. Do you mix vegetables with flowers in your garden? M: As my garden is pretty small, I do not grow a lot of vegetables. However, I like to grow herbs and I usually scatter them among the flowers. This way you get the mix of the green of the herbs with the colour from the flowers.
I like the scent of lavender and thyme, too. Any advice for first time gardeners who want a colourful but low maintenance garden? M: First you need to realize what direction your garden is facing; how much shade it gets; how much sunlight; what are the soil conditions (sandy or clay) and then go to a reputable nursery armed with this information. Ask questions and pick out some perennials that will thrive in the conditions of your garden. After that, you can supplement the plants with annuals that are colourful.
Or ask your mom to come and pick out plants for you :D. If you had to pick a song to be your theme song, what would it be? M: Don't Fence Me In (because I want my garden to go on and on).
Haha, love it! What is your favourite dessert? M: Yogurt and Fruit (especially if it is frozen)
Such a good role model (didn’t wear off though, I’m still eating chocolate and cookies). Thank you so much Mom, for coming and sharing your gardening tips! I’m very lucky that my Mom loves gardening because in the spring she comes and gardens so I can write!! I end up with a beautiful garden to sit and look at while I write. Keep active everyone – and let’s keep our fingers crossed that warm weather is just around the corner so you can get out into the garden (you, not me)!
Today’s special guest is my mom, Marion O’Connor, a gardening guru. Her garden is the prettiest on the street and filled with a huge variety of beautiful colour, shape and scent. She’s here to share some tips on filling your garden.Mom, when do you start planning for your summer garden? M: I'm always thinking about the garden. When all the flowers start to fade in the autumn, I’m already thinking about what I will do differently next year, and when it is winter, I imagine what the garden will look like in the spring.
And I know you like to change it up – with the colour or placement of flowers. All the thought you put into it shows! How do you start plants from seeds? M: I love to start seeds under the grow lights. It gives me an early start in the garden. You can plant most seeds about 6-8 weeks before they go in the garden. However, I usually start them about now as I really want to see something growing in the dead of winter. I usually take the seeds from the flowers in the autumn, keep them dry, and then plant them in special potting soil. I found that it is easier to just plant them in a flat bed rather than in individual pots. You can divide some plants like geraniums at this time of year by just taking cuttings from the mother plant.
I love that idea of using the seeds from the plants in the garden. Sometimes I have annuals that I really like and it’d be great to see them grow again the next year. How do you divide plants when they get too big? M: Most of the perennials in the garden can be divided if they grow in clumps. The most common way to divide them is to dig them up, then take a sharp spade and cut through the roots, leaving a piece of root on each clump. Then just replant them.
Sounds like a workout! Do you fertilize? How often do you water? M: In the winter plants should not be fertilized. As soon as the days start to get longer, then I start fertilizing, using only a very weak solution whenever I water. I have not started to fertilize my plants yet. Most plants are killed by overwatering. Especially in the winter I only water the plants when the soil is dry, and I try not to let the plant sit in water.Ah, that could explain my lack of success with plants over the winter J. Do you mix vegetables with flowers in your garden? M: As my garden is pretty small, I do not grow a lot of vegetables. However, I like to grow herbs and I usually scatter them among the flowers. This way you get the mix of the green of the herbs with the colour from the flowers.
I like the scent of lavender and thyme, too. Any advice for first time gardeners who want a colourful but low maintenance garden? M: First you need to realize what direction your garden is facing; how much shade it gets; how much sunlight; what are the soil conditions (sandy or clay) and then go to a reputable nursery armed with this information. Ask questions and pick out some perennials that will thrive in the conditions of your garden. After that, you can supplement the plants with annuals that are colourful.Or ask your mom to come and pick out plants for you :D. If you had to pick a song to be your theme song, what would it be? M: Don't Fence Me In (because I want my garden to go on and on).
Haha, love it! What is your favourite dessert? M: Yogurt and Fruit (especially if it is frozen)
Such a good role model (didn’t wear off though, I’m still eating chocolate and cookies). Thank you so much Mom, for coming and sharing your gardening tips! I’m very lucky that my Mom loves gardening because in the spring she comes and gardens so I can write!! I end up with a beautiful garden to sit and look at while I write. Keep active everyone – and let’s keep our fingers crossed that warm weather is just around the corner so you can get out into the garden (you, not me)!
