November 2020

One of the best things to come out of 2020 has been the mass adoption of new pets while people are home. Some shelters even ran out of animals, which is incredible! Many shelters employed some really fun adoption tactics to help highlight their furry friends who were ready for adoption.

While we all know that the world's largest polluters boil down to a few very wasteful companies, we can all also help do our part to cut down on waste. Canada is taking a step in the right direction and joining other countries who've already banned single-use plastic bags, which kill wildlife and clutter the environment every year. The ban is expected to be fully enacted by the end of next year. Let's join them!

Lately I've been seeing a lot of public school parents flocking to our homeschool groups, looking for a quick fix for poor kids who are bored, listless and not learning much while they're attached to a computer all day long. Everyone is trying to do their best with what we've got and it's difficult for each person, parent to teacher to learner.

Interactive cat toys are wonderful tools to use in keeping your cat healthy, curious and engaged. They are great for cats who tend to overeat and toss their cookies, too! There are so many to choose from that it can be difficult to make a selection, but this list of 13 toys is a great place to begin.

With the holidays upon us, it's time to think about what to get the little cooks in our lives. I know so many kids who love to cook, and my own teen is in a baking class right now that's extra fun. It's virtual through our co-op and the mother has kept it super casual to help the kids relax and just enjoy baking together. I know another family that bought a cooking club subscription with recipes and tools delivered monthly, which would make a great gift, too.

At this stage in 2020 I'm all about comfort reading. I didn't read even half of my October reads and went straight into comedic romance, which is usually what I read from December through January. In some ways this has been a great stress reliever, but in others it has been a bit disappointing.

Who wasn't thrilled to see Dan Levy listed as one of the sexiest men of the year? Dubbed the "Sexiest Man in Quarantine," the Schitt's Creek co-creator and actor has certainly had his share of successes in this odd year. It's incredible to see how far he's come since his MTV days and I'm so appreciative of the joy and laughter he's brought to my family while under quarantine. He deserves every accolade.

Brownies, amirite? I could eat them for days (which means I honestly couldn't, or I'd get sick, but you know what I mean!). I remember the first time I realized not all brownies were just made of chocolate. My aunt drizzled raspberry jam in the brownies she'd made for the holidays and I have been hooked on brownie variations ever since!

Whether it's a favorite hobby or a comforting activity taken on in recent months to cope with being homebound, gardening is a big part of many people's lives these days, and getting kids hooked early on through nature studies is a great way to spark their interests. Nature studies can be as simple as logging observations in a notebook, but you could always create a cool nature study gift for the young person in your life to send to them this holiday season.