Sister Party – Children or Grown Ups

When I was in grade 2, a classmate of mine invited myself and my Lil’ Sister to her “Sister Party”, and it was a lot of fun!  I never encountered such a party since, so I thought I would mention it as something fun to do.  My Lil’ Sister is three years younger then I, the friend who invited us was my age and she had a sister who was 1 year younger then Lil’ Sister.  It worked out that of the 12 or so little girls invited, all of the older sisters were close in age and all of the younger sisters were close in age.  My Lil’ Sister didn’t know anyone except me but we all had fun as you were able to bring your sister, your built in best friend with you.  We all had to wear sundresses, almost like a tea party.   I remember we did races with our legs tied together, and I think egg races in a spoon.  Good old fashioned fun.   You were always teamed up with your sister.  What a fun get together.  Old fashioned games, easy snacks and one cake.  It can be done on a budget and the kids would have a lot of fun!  A Brother party can work too!  Regardless of gender, it works best if the ages are close! 

Note on food: I remember this very flavourful cake being served that was pink and yellow inside.  The mom who threw the party had boiled loonies and quarters and baked them in the cake.  This was a huge hit with us kids.  I suppose any cake batter would do, just make sure to know exactly how many coins you put in to make sure you have accounted for them in the end.  Make sure to boil the coins for sanitary purposes, and use big coins, twoonies and lookies, but above all else WARN everyone to eat small bites and chew carefully so no one chokes.  This of course could just be skipped all together for sanitary and health reasons but I remember it being a huge hit amongst our friends.  I take no responsibility for this if you decide to do it!

This could work for grown ups as a themed get together.  Just minus the games, or do the games, they could be fun too! (Especially with a glass of wine added to the mix!  Remember as there are two of you, one has to be Designated Driver!)  But how fun to go someplace with your sister, your built in best friend with your other friends and get to meet their built in best friends.  One fun thing is to hear each other’s stories and laugh with your friends at funny things you may have done with your sibling.  Just forewarn your sister or brother of subjects you may want kept secret as built in best friends often know the most about you! 

The Niagara Gorge

This is one of the most beautiful natural places in all of Niagara, and it's FREE!

Hubby and I both took a day off in the middle of May last year.  It was very warm and sunny.  Being a weekday I was surprised how many people we crossed along the way.  We started at the “Wooden Stairs” entrance and walked/hiked/rock climbed for three hours with Dawg to the metal stairs.  (Yes, three hours, with a few rest breaks, for the love of all things good, bring LOTS of water, and a bowl for your dog if you decide to bring them)  When you climb down the old wooden stairs it’s quite remarkable.  These stunning old trees towering above you creating a perfect canopy of shade, I always like when you feel like you are in a magical setting and the Gorge truly feels magical.  (Bring insect repellent!!!) 

At the bottom of the wooden stairs it leads you to a clearing and that leads you to the beach of the Gorge.  It is stunning. 

I wouldn’t recommend swimming here as it is extremely dangerous with the River current and under tow.  And for the squeamish, this is where they often find dead bodies.  With that being said, it truly is stunning.  We ended up having a snack on the rocky ledge to the left of the inlet. 

It was very hot!  (Bring sunscreen and a hat!)   Across the water you can see the American side and the nice Americans doing the same thing as us on their side.  We all waved to one another.  Then we continued on the hike.  The first hour and a half was beautiful.  Then we started to get worried we were getting lost.  There are large rocks that interrupt the path so by the time you get across the rocks you get leery if you are following the correct path.  We are not in the greatest of shape, we thought a three hour hike would be a piece of cake but it was defiantly a work out.  Bring lots of water! 

Dawg loved this walk.  She powered through three hours like a champ.  While we were sitting trying to catch our breath periodically she was standing around waiting for us to get going.  (This could be a hard walk on your dog as well!)   

Pack a picnic, and pack at least 4 to 5 bottles of water per person if you are going to do the whole three hours.  In we did the hike again, we would most likely turn back and head back the way we came and shorten the walk.  Good but tiring times!

http://www.niagaraparks.com/

http://www.regional.niagara.on.ca/living/health_wellness/physicalactivity/trails.aspx

Garage Sale-ing!

One of our favourite past times is garage sale-ing: One man’s junk is another man’s treasure!  The nice thing about garage sailing is it takes place outside!  And it’s cheap!  It’s like shopping at the mall but better!  

Check your local papers a few days in advance to scout out a route (Why drive all willy-nilly over the city?!?!).  Try looking up neighbouring cities papers too, expand your routes!  Multiple Family garage sales and street garage sales are really great as you don’t have to park as many times and you can walk.  Start early for the good stuff.  Be respectful, if the ad says no early birds then please abide by the times listed in the ad. 

Bring lots of small bills and change.  (Just makes things easier!!) 

Don’t be afraid to make an offer!  However in doing so, try not to insult the item and the price, if I were the seller, I would not give a deal to a rude-y poo. 

We have found some great deals over the years, a few being: A Fooze ball table, in perfect condition, full sized for $15; A Mikasa Crystal Angel for $3; a nearly new deep freeze freezer for $20 (and the owner was nice enough to deliver it to us!)  And lots of other great little finds! 

If you buy a large item and the owner is unable to deliver it for you, please be respectful and pick up your item ASAP, they are people that need their space, they aren’t a storage facility! 

Garage sale-ing can be fun in groups of people. Organize a group of friends and discuss before hand what you are most interested in, multiple pairs of eyes are better then one!  Garage sale-ing is for all ages.  Tons of toys are sold inexpensively for the young ones, and it’s far better to buy it for a few dollars then full price at some big store.  Toys, books, household items, sporting goods: you just never know what you may find!!!

Please leave the dogs at home for this outing; even though you are outdoors, some people don’t like dogs on their personal property and you do NOT want to leave your dog in car for the day especially in hot weather.  

Have fun treasure hunting!

Dollar Stores

I had a co-worker once tell me she has never been in a dollar store.  Seriously?!?!  I was flabbergasted.  I do a lot of shopping at dollar stores, for those who have never been, go! 

There are still some genuine dollar stores out there where everything is a dollar, or even better 99 cents, as in the 99 Cent Depot.  There is a 99 Cent Depot on Lundy’s Lane in Niagara Falls.  I have bought some really great plain square plates there and some great gift bags. 

The Dollarama Plus is my favourite go too store though, it’s Canadian owned, and in recent years has added more items that are bit better quality, resulting in items being priced as high as $2.  They have a wide selection of children’s books and toys.   Now the quality may not necessarily be there but considering that its $1 or $2 versus $15 or $20 I don’t mind, (for books the quality is great).  I even bought myself and Hubby a two pack of kites for something to do on the next windy day.  (Hey, who says that kids get to have all the fun?  Plus why spend a fortune, most kites ended up nose diving into a tree or the ground, this way I am only out of pocket $1.50 instead for more!)  The outdoor toys right now are awesome: hula hoops, scoops, balls, kites, Frisbees, sand toys; why pay more then a buck?   They have some really sweet and cute garden ornaments as well.   Not too mention all of the household items, nice vases, baby stuff, hair clips, jewellery, really nice gift wrap/bags and office stuff.  (6 Pack of pens for $1 and they are good!)

The Dollarama Plus is also my go to chocolate goodie hook-up.  They sell chocolate bars for $0.69, King Size $1.  For the price of one chocolate bar at the most of the local convenience stores, you can buy two at Dollarama Plus!  Beware buying your chocolate at discount stores, always read the back of the label and check for expiry dates!  Dollarama Plus, I find, have the freshest and the best chocolate.  

Dollarama Plus has some great crafting supplies!  Florals, sewing materials, paints, scrap booking materials!  Why pay more?  Recently, I had the urge to start painting pictures.  Sometimes I don’t have the time to do what I might like to do, so instead of paying a fortune for supplies that I may only use once, I bought a pack of acrylic paints $2, Brushes $1 and some paper $1.  So for $4, I will test out painting and see if it’s right for me, and if I don’t use it, then I only spent $4 and not $40 or $50 or more even!  I was thinking how fun it would be when I have kids to set them up with some paint kits and let them have a crafting afternoon.  At Christmas time they sell kits to paint your own Christmas Tree ornaments, I can hear the carols playing in the background, what a fun afternoon that would be a what memories to create!  (Of course you maybe super creative or inventive and could make your own ornaments from scratch, that would be fun too!) 

Take a walk around, see the activities you could make/do for the day and pick up something cheap to do.  Kite flying can be teamed perfectly with a picnic!  Crafting can be done inside or outside in nice weather, and there are tons of different things to do for different times of the year!  Long car ride: stock up on a few things to keep you and your kids occupied; in a hurry and need a snack for the ride, stop in at the Dollarama Plus along the way!  Going to the cottage or beach, check out the summer toys and accessories!

If you haven’t been to a Dollar Store then please GO! 

Queen Street, Niagara Falls

This is another local Queen Street to rave about.  Niagara Falls Queen Street is so bloody cute.  Contrary to NOTL’s Queen Street with its historical quaint/touristy vibe, Niagara Falls Queen Street has a historical, artistic, fun vibe.  Both are amazing in their own right! 
 
Hubby’s favourite shop, Pulp Comics, while Hubby peruses the comics; I usually look at the other shops.  My favourite shop, hands down is the Cocoa Bean Shoppe.  (Really, in all fairness, anything chocolate is my favourite!)  They have some yummy treats the most unique being CHOCOLATE DIPPED BACON.  I LOVE it.  And really I don’t think anybody actually hates it as much as they are just afraid to try it.  So if you are brave enough to try it, the salty, savouriness of the bacon I feel is a perfect compliment to the sweet chocolate.  There are some unique little boutiques, fun restaurants, tasty bakeries and amazing art galleries as well, and you can see real glass blowing demonstrations at Rossi Glass Company, which is incredible to see.  The only downfall for me is that a lot of the stores on Niagara Falls' Queen Street are normally closed on Sundays when we have the most time to walk around.  (With the exception of Springlicious Weekend!)

This weekend Springlicious is coming up, a United Way Fundraiser, a whole weekend of fashion and food!  This is an event that the whole street takes part in, and there are lots of fun events such as fashion shows and music.  So if you love food, fashion and music head on down there.  As far as I know there is not a cost to just walk around the event!

Springlicious or any other day, Queen Street, Niagara Falls is a fun way to spend the afternoon walking around!

www.queenstreetniagarafalls.com

Games Night!

This may be completely common place for some people; this is common in our circle of friends but in case it isn’t common for you and if you are looking for a fun inexpensive night with your friends (or family!) I figured I would mention it.  Everyone can bring all the board games they have and everyone agrees upon a game.  (Old games and children’s games are all fun for adults! And no sense going out to buy a new game, use what you have!) Make it themed if you know ahead of time what game you are going to play!

I made these treats one time for a game night where it was planned ahead that we were going to play Clue (hence the question mark themed treats!)

In the case listed below, I am thinking I am going to plan a Home Alone games night closer to Christmas and have it Home Alone themed: Cheese Pizza, ice cream, and of course Home Alone 1 & 2 playing in the background.  I am hoping it will be super fun!  (Yes this game night will be for adults!)

Annual Nova House Book Riot

This happened last weekend (Mother’s Day Weekend), and to my understanding it only happens once a year so next May keep an eye out for the Annual Nova House Book Riot at Optimist Park in Niagara Falls.  It’s free to get in and happens Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  The books are all used and marked at decent prices.  Each day they offer a different special.  They have children’s books, adult fiction, non-fiction, reference books: you name it, and they have them: AND they were nicely organized which is awesome.  They also had a room of board games, vinyl records, video games, and comic books.  Hubby collects comic books and got a steal of a day on Saturday when they were selling comics 10 for $1.  I typically don’t buy a book unless I know I will re-read it.  For instance I own all of the Harry Potter series as I love re-reading them.  So pretty much I will only buy my all time favourite books, the rest I get for free from the library.  When I do buy a book, I want inexpensive, so this book riot was right up my alley (Children’s books were 50 cents and adult books were $1.50 except for a few special books that were between $2 and $6.)  I ended up filling in most of the Anne of Green Gables book series that I have been reading (I never read them as a kid and I am madly in love with them right now.)  PLUS the proceeds go to charity so that makes me feel good.  In all it was a very fruitful day.

Highlight purchase:  Home Alone Board Game 

I am a HUGE Home Alone fan so Hubby surprised me with this board game.  I hope to use it in the future for a games night with some big Home Alone fans I know!

Raining Days = Movies & Baking

It seems very wet this Spring.  One could always head out and do something practical such as run errands, finding locations indoors, or go walk around a mall (I enjoy doing this but sometimes am too tempted to spend money I don’t have).  Today I am staying in.  Today is a movie day and a baking/cooking day (well, after I tidy the house in the morning).  Hubby is working overtime so I am pulling out my favourite old movies and maybe baking something depending on what ingredients I have.  (For movie days/night you could head to the library and borrow some movies for free if you are tired with your collection!)

Recent Baking:  I found this blog amybites.com a few weeks back and as I am a HUGE Harry Potter fan, as is my lil’sister, I had to try the Butterbeer Cupcakes.  I tried making them the other day and shared some with lil’sister, they turned out really good if I do say so myself. 

The recipe said it makes 18; I made mine smaller and got 21 out of them.  I didn’t want to buy buttermilk as I didn’t want a carton of it laying around, I am not a big fan of it, so I substituted with 1/2cup of milk and ½ tsp of lemon juice.  (You could use ½ tsp of white vinegar if you don’t have lemon juice.)  I had to plan a head for this recipe as I don’t usually keep some of the ingredients.  On grocery day I bought a small carton of whipping cream, I didn’t have any butter flavouring and ended up buying some at Bulk Barn for $2.79, and a small bottle of cream soda.  I couldn’t find Vanilla Cream Soda, maybe that is an American thing (it sounds lovely).  I added a tsp of vanilla to the Cream Soda.  I bought a squeeze bottle at Dollarama.  So it took some planning but the result was super yummy and butterscotch-y.  I think Harry Potter would be proud.  These are best eaten during a Harry Potter marathon!

My Butterbeer Cupcakes:

I am interested in trying some of the other recipes from Amy’s blog, her food looks amazing!

For dinner I am doing a roast.  I have made three other roast beefs in my life and I have successfully over cooked each one of them.  One was so badly overcooked I couldn’t even cut it with a knife, oh and that was the same day I almost set the house on fire with my Yorkshire puddings.  Eghad.  I don’t want to toot my own horn, but I am usually pretty good at cooking so the fact I can’t seem to cook a roast beef is incredibly frustrating.  But I shall try it again as it’s rainy and damp and roast just seems to work well with these kind of days.  (The roast was on sale, I hate wasting ingredients so fingers crossed this one turns out!)  On rainy days, usually I play it safe and make chilli.  Chilli is next to impossible to mess up.  Google Chilli recipes and see what you come up with.  I love to freeze my chilli in individual portions for future meals.  It’s hearty and wholesome.  (We like to use some on top of frozen French fries, cook the fries as normal and then warm up some chilli and serve on top with some shredded cheddar cheese.  Yummy.)  Anyways, in case you don’t feel like roast, Chilli is one of my favourite rainy day foods.  Another added bonus for chilli is once the prep work is done, you don’t have to baby sit it, just turn it to low to simmer and stir occasionally.  (On bathroom breaks and snacks breaks during the movie!)

Don’t feel like a movie day, grab your book!  Or create a blog!  (This is quite fun actually!) 

NOTL Candlelight Stroll

To coincide with my previous update, one can’t mention going for a walk down NOTL’s Queen St without mentioning NOTL’s Candlelight Stroll.  I know Christmas is far off right now but this has to be mentioned, write it down on your calendars!  Usually the first Friday in December (the NOTL Chamber of Commerce hasn’t posted yet when this year’s Candlelight Stroll will take place, when they do, I will list it here) the NOTL Candlelight Stroll takes place.  It is free to do the stroll.  If you want to buy a candle then obviously you will pay, (last year’s was $3.50 I think) but keep in mind the proceeds from the candle go to a family who has a child battling a serious illness or to a serious illness that has effected a local child.  So if you can afford to buy a candle it goes to a very worthy cause, but if money is tight, just show up and enjoy the stroll for free.  Now dress warm!  It’s December and it’s usually cold.  Last year it snowed the most gorgeous snowflakes and it really made you feel like you were inside a Christmas card. 

This may be my most favourite night of the whole year.  There is carolling, and the shops are open, the trees are all lighted up.  The street is magnificent in all its glory.  I know other towns do Candlelight Strolls but honestly, they can’t compete, I know it may appear that I am biased, and maybe I am, so check it out for yourself! 

The Candlelight Stroll starts with a half an hour of carolling outside of the Courthouse and then there is a horse drawn sleigh, usually the family and or the child to whom the Stroll is honouring, grand marshals the Stroll.  Along the Stroll at various corners of the blocks, there are local choirs setup to perform.  My favourite, as I am history buff and LOVE the tradition and the sound of, is the Fife and Drum Core from NOTL’s historic Fort George.  Just spectacular! 

Children love this!  And as it usually starts with carolling at 6:30 it’s before a lot of children’s bed times! 

Dogs can join as it is all strictly outdoors.  But the same common sense rules always apply when bringing your dog some place.  The year before last we watched a very inebriated couple attempting to walk their dogs into the crowd of people (there are thousands of people who attend this event, the street is packed) The humans were too busy attending to their “beverages” that they took no notice to their dogs, who were very excited by the crowd, jumping on unsuspecting bystanders.  This makes me angry as if the owners were in control of the situation the dogs most likely wouldn’t have had the opportunity.  I am a big defender of dogs, I am a dog person, and there is seldom such a thing as a bad dog, mostly just bad owners.  So I apologize if this has a “nag” sound to it, I know there are a lot of good pet owners, keep up the good work!  Please keep in mind:  If you bring your dog somewhere do NOT leave your dog in the car.  (As this event takes place in December when it is typically cold, don’t even think about it!)  Always bring your dog plenty of water and be courteous of others that your dog does not jump on them or get tangled up in their leash.  ALWAYS pick up their bathroom business as no one likes stepping in doggie pooh. 

Bring your camera!  It’s a magical evening and sometimes Father Christmas makes an appearance looking resplendent!

All photograpy is taken by me!  I am not very good, but I love to take pictures!

Queen Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Nothing thrills me more then a walk down Queen Street in beautiful NOTL.  Often referred to as the “Main” street, this street is really why NOTL was once voted the prettiest town in Canada.  I would hope most people around here have gone for walks in NOTL at some point in their lives, if you haven’t, get your butt down there!  It’s historical, it’s beautiful, and it makes for great pictures!  I try to go at least once a season, Summer is beautiful, the flowers are in bloom and most of the stores and bakeries are open all week.  If you don’t mind crowds, Summer is beautiful, but it is very busy in the Summer.  I usually hit it up on Canada Day as I love the little cake parade they do with the Fife and Drum core from Fort George.  Spring and Fall are nice as it’s not nearly as busy in the Summer and you still have the beautiful Spring flowers or Fall leaves as back drops.  Winter is without a doubt my favourite time to go.  It may be chilly, (bundle up and stop complaining, it’s Canada) but the streets are far less crowded and it’s just so beautiful with the snow.  (For shopping the best time to go is Boxing Day week as a lot of the stores do big sales!)

Some of the stores still have that pricey vibe to them, but one can find some good deals if you look for them.  The biggest draw is how unique some of the items are.  Regardless, when on a tight budget, window shopping in NOTL is always fun and enjoyable.  Look out for free samples at Maple Leaf Fudge (greatest fudge EVER, in my opinion) and Kurtz Orchards (they have a location on the Niagara Parkway as well as the Queen Street).  Kurtz has all sorts of yummy dips, and check out Greaves Jams for yummy jams.  Also note, if you are lucky and travel outside of the region/province/country, all three of those are unique to this area which make them a great hostess gift for people if you are visiting.  (However, if you are like me and choose to buy something like Fudge, you may want to buy two as I tend to eat it if I give it to the intended recipient, I can’t help it, it’s really good!)  My other favourite store to visit is the “Just Christmas”, if you love Christmas then this store is for you.  It is ALL Christmas, ALL year long!  Also brave it down some of the side streets that stem off of Queen Street, there are some great little boutiques and Galleries hiding just within walking distance of the main street.

Dogs can walk on the streets on leashes, some shop keepers, IF YOU ASK, will allow you to bring your dog in to their stores to look around with you (If your dog is calm and potty trained!).  Be polite and do not try to bring them into a culinary store or a restaurant, common sense folks, common sense.  And please always ask, don’t ruin it for others.  Typically, if you are bringing your dog, realize that you are mostly going for a walk outside. 

Also please realize all of these stores are independently owned.  They all have different hours, different exchange rates and different sales!  If you are planning to see a specific store during Fall, Winter or Spring, call ahead to verify their hours.

Depending on where you park you may have to pay for parking.  If you park in the Courthouse parking lot you will pay for parking as you are right beside Queen street.  If you are frugal like me you will park down by Parliament Oak School which is about a four minute walk to the main street.  If you are planning on walking around the street, why not walk an extra four minutes and save the money?  Also usually parking is free in the month of December on Queen street itself.  Which is an added bonus!

That’s Entertainment, Port Dalhousie Pier = People Watching Dream Spot, Port Dalhousie Carousal, Beach

One of our favourite things to do is walk around the pier of Port Dalhousie.  If you don’t like crowds then don’t go when it’s sunny and hot, especially don’t go on a weekend: packed, packed, packed!  The pier is free to walk around on.  We like to splurge and stop at “That’s Entertainment” along the way. ("That's Entertainment" is also fun on it's own!)  “That’s Entertainment” sells and rents new and used DVD’s.  Sometimes you can find a really good deal and sometimes you can find some really rare DVD’s.  “That’s Entertainment” has a really unique selection of Pop and candies.  We are big fans of “Jones Soda” and “That’s Entertainment” has the most diverse assortment of Jones, not to mention a lot of other rare Pops.  The candy is really cool too.  I have a sweet tooth a mile long so I enjoy seeing what they have.  And they are moderately priced so that’s alright.  (You could bring a picnic to Port Dalhousie Beach and spend the afternoon but we always just grab a pop and stay for a bit.) 

The Port Dalhousie Pier is a great place for people watching.  Big fancy boats and little putputs all park in the marina area, and they usually all have a ton of people hanging out on them.  The assortment of people to watch is a dream on a warm/hot day.  We learned from experience that not many people brave the pier on really windy days.  The water is super high and dangerous.  We only braved it down a bit as it’s really dangerous, so don’t go, if you do, don’t blame me!  Anyways, the water is usually warm during July and August but a lot of times there are signs up warning about the bacteria levels in the water and to swim at your own risk.  I don’t swim there, but LOTS of people do on a warm sunny day.  It is nice to walk along the shore of the lake. 

There is also the old carousal that is down by the pier, it’s a beautiful old carousal and the children love it.  I think it’s still original 1900’s prices (I could be wrong, don’t hold me to that!)  Children and dogs would love Port Dalhousie.  There are stores that you can walk around in and some cute restaurants, to be honest though I have only been in them a handful of times, I love the water mostly and hang out near the pier when I go down there. 

If you bring your dog somewhere do NOT leave your dog in the car.  (It’s too hot in July and August, don’t even think about it!)  Always bring your dog plenty of water and be courteous of others that your dog does not jump on them or get tangled up in their leash.  ALWAYS pick up their bathroom business as no one likes stepping in doggie pooh. 

If planning to swim at any beach in the Niagara Region please consult the Niagara Region Beach Monitoring website for daily updates: http://geosmartniagara.ca/beachmonitor/

Ancestry

There is something so invigorating about discovering where you came from.  Who the people are who’s actions brought you to where you were born.  It’s great for those who have insatiable curiosities.  This is with out a doubt, one of the most addictive projects I have ever embarked on.  Pick a time of year that you can devote a big chunk of time to this project; I initially started my project during the winter time when I wasn’t able to enjoy the outdoors for long periods of time.  The only tool you really need is some paper and a pen, while a family tree book is incredibly interesting to try and fill in it is not necessary.  Having a computer or access to a computer is incredibly handy.  I would strongly recommend creating yourself a free new email address preferably without your name in the email address for ancestry research solely as you may come across forums that you may want to contact people with and you may find you will get a lot of emails. 

It is so much easier to start this while you are young and while your senior relatives are still with you as the first step to any ancestral research is to sit down with a family member: grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles: anyone who can give you the names of past family members.  Always, always, always get as many names as possible.  You will find sometimes the only way you will be able to proceed is to have the names of siblings of grandparents, great-grandparents, etc.  So often family names are passed down and it may be hard to follow a person back.  If for instance there are 5 John Smiths listed in a search find, if you know the John Smith you are looking for had a sister named Bertha, this could be very helpful in narrowing down which John Smith you are looking for when going through Census and other documents.  I would have liked to own a voice recorder for this stage, or even a video camera, if you have one, use it!  How great to keep a documented copy of your conversation with your grandparent (s) and so often they will lapse into a great story of their childhood that you will want to hold onto forever.

I found the most helpful website to start with is Ancestry.ca.  You can do a free 2 week trial with a valid credit card. (Just make sure to cancel the membership at the end of the 2 weeks as they will then charge you!  Also this is why I mentioned make sure to pick a time of year when you can devote your time to research.) This was hands down the most informative website and if you are one of the lucky ones, you may discover a distant relative also using Ancestry.ca who has pictures or who can help further your research.  St. Catharines Public Library has this website and you are able to use this for free from their location.  The only thing is they don’t have the license for to view other users’ family trees so you may miss out on pictures etc.  But at least you can have access to government records.  The library’s historians are also super helpful and informative and will show you old newspapers clipping that they have for the area. 

I could keep going on, but once you start researching it will grow and you will discover more websites and forums that may benefit you.  Depending on where your family is from you can look at local governments to see if you can find exciting documents that may be made available to the public.  Some of my family is from New Brunswick and their province has a fantastic archives website that allows you to look at scanned copies of birth, marriage and death certificates.

If you are truly passionate this project will grow and grow!  This is a great project for all ages! Involve your children!

A few cool things we have found:

My Great-Grandfather's Draft Papers, a picture of Hubby's Great Grandfather & Great-Great Grandfather, My Great Grandparent's Wedding Certificates, and my Grandfather is a descendent of Kind Edward the Elder.

The Library

It saddens me to hear people when they say things like “I haven’t been to the library in years.” “I haven’t been to the library since I was in school.” 

Seriously?!?!?!  I LOVE the library!  I am an avid reader.  My Mom is an avid reader.  One of my favourite things to do growing up was when my Mom took my sister and I on weekly trips to the library.  Millions and millions of books, spanning numerous genres, free for the lending!  (Technically not free as our taxes go towards libraries, but all the more reason to the library folks!  We have paid for them in a manner of sorts!) 

I grew up in Niagara-on-the-Lake, (most of my favourite things to do still take place in NOTL), the library was small but had good turn over on new books.  We did however seem to read faster then the turnover sometimes so my Mom ended up getting us library memberships at the Niagara Falls Public Library (free to NOTL residents as well as Niagara Falls residents at the time.) and she purchased us a yearly membership to the St.Catharines Public Library.  (Check with the libraries surrounding your city or township to see if you are charged for a membership to their library.)  Now one might say, wait a minute, this is supposed to be free or easy on your wallet ideas, a membership at YOUR LOCAL library is FREE.  If you decide to purchase a membership from another municipalities library keep in mind that the cost of the membership (at the time St. Catharines was $25 a year for non-residents, please check as this has most likely changed over the years) for $25 you now have access to not only millions of books, but also DVDs as well. 

Which brings me to the next item on my Pro library list, why rent a movie for $6 dollars when you can borrow a DVD from the library for FREE?!?!?  They even have recent movies, but also some great classics, plus you can borrow them for a week, grant it the selection is a bit limited but still it’s FREE!  Seriously, how is that not the greatest thing ever???!!!?  

Some libraries have great programs: book clubs for adults, children’s reading hours and sometimes craft time for children.  Check out your library to see what they have.  Some even host movie nights and special events.  The Niagara Falls Public Library hosted a party for the Royal Wedding that is really cool!

Most libraries have computers that they allow you to use for research and for internet.  I used the St.Catharines’ Public Library for some research for my other favourite past time, researching my family’s ancestry. 

Please do yourself a favour and go to the Library!

Happy Rolph's

Happy Rolph’s Bird Sanctuary – FREE, Children Friendly

Open Mid May to Mid October

650 Read Rd.
St. Catharines, Ontario

http://www.stcatharines.ca/en/playin/HappyRolphsBirdSanctuary.asp?_mid_=10022

Anyone from St.Catharines, Niagara Falls, and Niagara-on-the-Lake, has most likely gone to Happy Rolph’s at some point in their lives.  I typically try to go at least once a year, it's one of this girl's favourite places to visit.  The great thing about this place is it’s great for people of all ages, and it’s FREE.  There is free parking in the parking lot.  Do NOT park on the streets as the streets are NO parking and you can get a parking ticket.  There are “No Dogs” signs posted so I would leave the pup at home for this excursion.

Adults will love this place just as much as the children.  Essentially it’s a petting zoo; all of the animals are in their own pens with the exception of the water fowl.  You are no longer allowed to bring apples and carrots for the animals.  They do have little feed dispensers that you can put a quarter in and get a little handful of feed to share with the animals.  They typically have two of all the animals, sometimes more.  You can see goats, horses, donkeys, lamas, cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, rabbits, ducks, geese and sometimes swans.  You can bring your bread to feed the birds.  If you don’t like walking through areas where ducks, geese, swans and seagulls walk freely then you may want to re-think this activity as the path through the animals leads you into the big pond area where the water fowl are.  The pond is fenced in but the birds can fly freely around.  They are very tame and will eat from your hand sometimes.  The paths lead you through beautifully landscaped scenery along Lake Ontario.  Bring your camera!  Great family shots can be taken here.  The paths conclude in a park with a playground, perfect for picnicking.  There is a pavilion in the park as well, I think it can be rented so don’t plan on eating under it in case it’s booked.

I love this place!

Picnic Time!

This is arguably the best time of the year for a picnic!  (One time I dragged Hubby out on a picnic during March.  It was one of those warm-ish March days, but it was still chilly, and there were still ice chunks floating in the lake, Hubby was not too impressed with this, as he thought he could wear shorts and down by the lake we/he froze.)  Hubby is not too fond of picnics, but I sure am.  He will give in to going on them just to make me happy as he is awesome.  (Hey, marriage is about compromises!)  

You will find most of my ideas suggest packing a picnic lunch.  It’s just easier.  It’s fun though to specifically plan only a picnic for the day.  Bring a book, bring some pillows to lounge on, be sure to pick a new park/picnic location each time to keep it fresh!  Once you get there pick your spot to spread out, my personal favourite spot is under a big, ol’ Weeping Willow for the shade.

My picnic meals, as money is tight, usually end up with a peanut butter and jam sandwiches, some fruit and some homemade made baked good.  I love to bake, and it’s cheaper then buying something at a bakery.  It is a LOT cheaper to bring/prepare your own lunch.  Fruits, veggies, cheese, all pack well and are cheaper if you buy them and prepare them yourself.  Some might find peanut butter and jam boring, to each their own, come up with a sandwich/meal that travels well that you will like.  The point is to do it economically, use the ingredients you have.  I enjoy picnicking when the weather is cool.  No bugs and I love bringing hot chocolate in a thermos.  There is something cozy about curling up on a blanket with your loved one and sip a hot, sweet drink.  Plus the pictures are very Canadiana with everyone wearing a sweater.  Of course picnicking when it’s warmer out is fun too!  Homemade iced tea is so much cheaper and yummier then store bought so brew some and pack it in a thermos with ice for a special treat!

Here is a really yummy, super easy recipe I found that I like to bring as my baked good item for my picnic:

Chocolate Peanut-Butter No Bake Cookies

Recipe courtesy Helen Ostrosky

Show: Cooking LiveEpisode: Organizing Your Pantry Cook Along

·         Level: Easy

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 4 tablespoons cocoa
• 1 stick butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 3 cups oatmeal
• Waxed paper

Directions

In a heavy saucepan bring to a boil, the sugar, cocoa, butter and milk. Let boil for 1 minute then add peanut butter, vanilla and oatmeal. On a sheet of waxed paper, drop mixture by the teaspoonfuls, until cooled and hardened.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/cooking-live/chocolate-peanut-butter-no-bake-cookies-recipe/index.html

How to Make Homemade Iced Tea

Ingredients: 

2 tea bags (I use Orange Pekoe but this can work with any type depending on the taste you are going for, try green tea!)

Lemon juice (either fresh or bottled can work) (can also switch it up and add orange instead)

Sugar/Or Honey/Or Sweetener to taste

Directions

Use a plastic jug, preferable with a lid.  It should be heat safe. 

Boil a kettle of water, pour into plastic jug. 

Add two tea bags, steep for about 30 minutes, or longer if desired. 

Add sugar/honey/or sweetener to taste. 

Add lemon to taste,(be careful, a little goes a long way!)

Cool in refrigerator for at least 4 hours.  If you have time make ice out of the iced tea so when you add it to the jug you won’t delete the flavour like regular ice will when it melts.  You can also add slices of citrus fruit if you have it, oranges, lemons, grapefruit to give it and extra kick.






P.S. BRING YOUR DOG!!!
If you bring your dog somewhere do NOT leave your dog in the car.  (If you have to always roll down the windows, and not just a crack, roll all of the windows down!)  Always bring your dog plenty of water and be courteous of others that your dog does not jump on them or get tangled up in their leash.  ALWAYS pick up their bathroom business as no one likes stepping in doggie pooh.  (You would think people would be smart enough to know this but for some reason some people aren’t, so please look after your dog!)

P.P.S BRING YOUR CAMERA! 

I am an amateur photographer, I am not very good at it, but I enjoy it!  The cheapest of cameras can still take a good photo.  Document your fun times!  Life is short!  Relish in small pleasures!

So here is the thing ...

So here is the thing:  I am married to Hubby who is my best friend and who is almost always up for any adventure I create!  We have a Cat and a Dawg (she’s from the south so we always refer to her with a southern drawl) but no children yet (hopefully one day!).  We both work full time during the week (weekends are ours!) and we own our own house. 

We are on a very tight budget, with the economy and gas prices; I am willing to bet we are not alone out there.  I love to go on an adventure; unfortunately, my wallet prohibits me from taking an all expensed paid trip to some hot, tropical resort somewhere or exploring the depths of some foreign utopia.  With that being said I refuse to allow my wallet to force me to sit at home bored out of my mind when the weekend comes.  There is only so much cleaning a person can do to their house!  So here are a few ideas that I try to do in the Niagara region that are either free or are very cheap, I will also share a few ideas I like to do at home for fun other then rendezvousing with my vacuum.  I love to read; bake; I like doing family fun things, even if I don’t have young children yet; I also like being able to bring my Dawg with me places as she is my lil’buddy, so dog friendly is also important to me.  Essentially I like to have fun, and be able to afford to have fun.  I will share my experiences in hopes to help you have a great weekend adventure on a tight budget! 

Please note:

1. I am not affiliated with anyone, these are strictly my opinion and I only enthusiastically endorse things I truly love to do! 

2. If you bring your dog somewhere do NOT leave your dog in the car.  (If you have to always roll down the windows, and not just a crack, roll all of the windows down!)  Always bring your dog plenty of water and be courteous of others that your dog does not jump on them or get tangled up in their leash.  ALWAYS pick up their bathroom business as no one likes stepping in doggie pooh.  (You would think people would be smart enough to know this but for some reason some people aren’t, so please look after your dog!)

3. Bring water for yourself and don’t physically push yourself.  Pack your sunscreen and your hats on sunny days; no one likes sunstroke, sunburns and skin damage!

4. Bring your camera!  I am an amateur photographer, I am not very good at it, but I enjoy it!  The cheapest of cameras can still take a good photo.  Document your fun times!  Life is short!  Relish in small pleasures!

P.S.  Give me time to update, I have a bunch of things I want to share, just the time needed to compose them all!  I hope you find this helpful!

So here we go …