Post written by Sherri Kruger. Follow me on Twitter.

When you plan a party, plan to go camping, plan to move, or want to create a budget, do you create a checklist?

If you answered yes, then you’re a list lover just like me!

I am proud and super excited to introduce you to my newest online project. It’s been several months in the making and while it’ll be a continuous labor of love, today is the day I release it into the wild. I hope it will help you all be just a little more awesome than you already are!

Let me introduce you to Listbean!


Listbean? What the heck is that?
Listbean is a site that is completely free and packed with value adding pre-populated checklists.

Now, before you roll your eyes and say “oh great another checklist site” let me share with you how Listbean is different and how it will be *the* checklist source online.
The Benefits:

1. Checklists are great but it’s sometimes tough to know where to start. Well, we’ve done the hard part of pulling the lists together. You can use the lists as is or as inspiration to create your own personalized checklists.
2. It’s annoying to have to rewrite checklists you use frequently. With Listbean you don’t have to do that. When you create an account, you can customize any of the lists you see on the site, save them and come back time and time again. Awesome.
3. Be more efficient, effective and deliberate in everything you do. With checklists addressing a lot of what you need right at your finger tips you can just get on with what needs to get done. A little work up front can save you several minutes several times a month or year.
4. Don’t find what you’re looking for? Create your own. There are two ways to create your lists from scratch and have them appear on Listbean. 1) Submit a suggestion via the Feedback form using the Feedback tab at the top left of each page. 2) Add it yourself. Once you’ve customized a list on Listbean you are given the option to add your own list from scratch to save in your lists. Easy right?
5. Listbean has a very simple design. It was custom designed to be simple, sleek and easy to use. Give it a try and if you have any suggestions or feedback please submit it using the feedback form via the feedback tab at the top left of each page.

That’s it really, it’s pretty simple and straight forward. It includes a number of checklists on topics such as:

• Home and organizing
• Shopping and meal planning
• Budgets and finance
• Kids and family
• Vacations
• Celebrations
• House maintenance
• and many more!

I invite you all to check out Listbean and give it a try. If you like it, I’d love for you to spread the word online or even email the link to a couple of list lovers you know in ‘real life’ :)

I sincerely hope you enjoy it and that it becomes a valuable resource for you.

Post written by Sherri Kruger. Follow me on Twitter.

Being away from family and friends is never easy.

If you’re the one leaving there’s all the excitement of planning and packing and the travel itself. Then once you’ve arrived there’s exploring new places and meeting new people, it’s easy to momentarily forget about all the people you left behind. But don’t forget about them for too long :)

The family and friends you leave behind are eager to hear from you, to know that you’re doing okay and to share in your excitement. There are now many ways that you can stay in touch with the people back home without it eating into your travel budget.

Writing home

Snail mail. While most of the suggestions I make here rely on the Internet, it’s important not to forget those who aren’t as tech savvy and don’t own a computer. Writing a letter by hand is a nice way to just slow down. It lets the recipient know that you thought of them and that they were worth taking a bit of time out to share your experiences with.

Email. I’m not sure where we’d be without email. While I’m not a huge fan of group emails they do come in handy. You can only get excited about the old pub you found on your first walk around the city so many times. A group email works well in these situations so that no one misses out on your excitement and enthusiasm. Create a group in Gmail or Hotmail to make addressing your emails to a number of people even more convenient.

Blog. Blogging is easier to do now more than ever. You can set up a free blog in a matter of minutes with services such as blogger or wordpress. Blogging is a great way to keep a large group up to date on your travels and has the added benefit of being a travel journal for yourself when you eventually return home.

Instant messaging. This takes a bit more coordination since you both need to be online at the same time. To make timetable-ing a bit easier try the meeting planner at timeanddate.com. Instant messaging is free and is a great way to touch base in real time and not have to wait for email responses. If you’re not familiar with instant messaging you can read more on google chat and Windows live by following the links.

People love to hear your voice

Old school phone. For those people who are not so technical savvy a good old fashioned phone call works wonders. Long distance rates can tend to scare people off but there can be really good calling plans or promotions through the various providers. It would be worth a call to see what your options are. Alternatively, you could use a calling card. Again shop around as the rates vary a lot.

Skype. For those of you with a computer there is Skype. I love Skype. It’s a service that allows you to make phone calls through your computer. It’s completely free to set up an account and calls are completely free when you use it to call anyone else on Skype. Talk, leave messages, conference call and if you both have web-cams you can even do live video chats. It’s really easy to use and great even if you’re not travelling but make a fair few long distance phone calls.

Share pictures

People love to see what you’re up to. There are a lot of free photo sharing sites on the net that allow you to upload your photos and share them with friends. A few that I’ve used are Picasa, Shutterfly and Flickr. Of course if you’re like a billion other people on the planet then you’ll already be on Facebook and this provides a great way to stay in touch and share your pictures with others as well.

Staying in touch with family and friends doesn’t have to be a chore. Thanks to the Internet, even though the distance between you may be huge it doesn’t have to feel like it. For live chats or phone calls come up with a schedule of time and frequency that works for everyone. The rest of the time update your loved ones when you have access to the Internet or simply have something to share. Remember,what’s seemingly insignificant to you could be just what those of us who are living vicariously through you are craving. :)

If you’ve had to keep in touch over long distances what have I missed? What would you add?

Post written by jules from stonesoup | minimalist home cooking. Follow her on Twitter.

It’s that time of year. Time to get together with family and friends. Time for entertaining.

So for those of you like me, who would prefer to spend time with your loved ones rather than slaving away in the kitchen I’ve pulled together 5 great holiday appetizers that only have 5 ingredients each and are so simple you’ll be able to whip them up in 5 minutes or less.

Happy Holidays everyone.

dukkah with bread & olive oil

Dukkah (duck – AHH) is originally an Egyptian dish but it’s made it’s way around the world. It’s super easy to make and really fun to eat – and tastes something like a grown up version of peanut butter.

If you are catering for someone who is allergic to almonds, feel free to change the nuts to something that they are able to eat (if possible). Cashews are lovely as are hazelnuts.

2/3 cup roasted almonds

1 small jar ground cumin approx 1 oz or 30g

2/3 cup sesame seeds

extra virgin olive oil, to serve

crusty bread, to serve
Whizz almonds in a food processor until finely chopped. Combine almonds, spices & seeds in a bowl. Season well with about a teaspoon of sea salt.

To serve, dip bread until a small bowl of olive oil then dip in the dukkah and enjoy!

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smoked salmon mousse

serves 6-8

This is one of those super easy recipes that seems like you’ve gone to a lot of effort.

It’s really important to minimize the amount of mixing of the cream to give a lovely smooth texture.

7oz (200g) cold smoked salmon

1 cup double (heavy) cream

salad greens, to serve, optional

lemon wedges, to serve

crackers, to serve

Whizz salmon in a food processor until it forms a smooth paste. Transfer to a bowl and add the cream. Stir until only just combined. Season and refrigerate until ready to serve.

To serve place a dollup of mousse on a plate and arrange greens (if using), lemon and crackers along side.

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cob loaf with philly cheese & spinach dip

serves 8 – 10

My Mum used to serve this on special occasions. I just love the fun of tearing the bread ‘bowl’ apart and using it to scoop up the flavorsome dip. If you can’t find a nice round loaf of bread by all means serve the dip in a regular bowl with your favorite crackers on the side.

1 large tub Philadelphia cream cheese LIGHT – 16oz or 450g

8oz (225g) frozen spinach, defrosted & squeezed dry

about 1/3 packet dried french onion soup

1 round cob loaf

Combine cream cheese and spinach in a bowl. Stir through some of the soup mix. Taste and keep adding until the dip is savory but not too salty.

Cut a large whole in the bread. Scoop in the dip to fill the whole & serve with the ‘top’ of the bread torn into chunks on the side.

antipasto platter

serves 4 – 6

The best thing about an antipasto platter is that all you need to do is get a few things from your favourite deli and pop them out for everyone to enjoy.

I’ve used proscuitto (parma ham), olives and toasted almonds but feel free to experiment with your favourite cheese or salami. Marinated vegetables such as sun dried tomatoes or eggplant can also be lovely.

The trick is to choose just 3 or 4 things rather than going overboard.

8 – 12 super thin slices proscuitto

handful large green olives

handful toasted salted almonds

crusty bread stick to serve

Arrange jamon slices on a large platter or chopping board. Add olives and almonds and serve with bread on the side.

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white bean & parmesan dip

Feel free to use whichever white beans you prefer. Canellini, butter beans, navy beans, borlotti or even chickpeas would all work.

This puree is a quick and easy starter to serve with warm pita bread or your favourite dipping vehicle.

Another option is to serve it on crostini – thin slices of baguette that have been toasted on one side and rubbed with a cut clove of garlic while still hot.
1 can canellini or other white beans (14oz or 400g)

1 – 2 cloves garlic

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

2oz (60g) parmesan cheese, finely grated

3 – 4 tablespoons lemon juice

Drain beans and place in a food processor with the remaining ingredients. Whizz until very smooth. Season to taste.
Serve at room temperature with pita or other bread.

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Editors note: For more fabulous recipes from Jules please take a moment to visit her site, it really is fantastic. She’s even self published a cookbook called “and the love is free”. It’s filled with Jules’ family recipes and was done as a tribute to her mum. (Please note this is not an affiliate link I’m just really loving these recipes and don’t want you guys to miss out on anything :)

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Renee Tougas of ADVENTUREinPROGRESS, Encouraging Families to get Outdoors and Experience Adventure.

My husband fondly remembers our pre-marriage days when he could move from apartment to apartment by simply packing his life possessions in the back of his Honda hatchback. 15 years, a mortgage and three kids later the same can’t be said!

Unfortunately, the multiplying stuff that comes with family life isn’t just true about moving residences but is often true about packing up and going anywhere – the beach, for a hike, a family vacation. And even if all you want is a weekend hike now and then it seems by the time the gear is planned and packed you’re already tired out.

Something as basic and beautiful as experiencing the great outdoors together as a family shouldn’t be so challenging that you don’t even want to try. And it’s not just the gear you think you need that is intimidating. Even more difficult can be trying to work around family schedules. So even if you can figure out what to pack it seems your childrens’ (and maybe partner’s) time commitments are conspiring against your goals.

The physical, spiritual, emotional, and especially relational rewards of family adventures are too great to pass up. If it seems your schedule is too busy, you don’t know where to start or the only way to get to the outdoors is with a minivan, stuffed to the gills with all the “necessities” (pulling a trailer to boot) I hope you’ll read on and reconsider.

There is hope for the family wanting to experience adventure and the outdoors with less stuff, less vehicle and more time and more fun. It is possible and here’s some ideas to get you started.

1. Cultivate an appreciation of the simple things

• Young children don’t need a lot of fancy do-dads to keep them happy and neither do older ones if you teach them to appreciate simplicity.
• The natural beauty of the outdoors gives our family a real high, it’s one of our favorite places to be together. But I think if our children were watching tv, playing Wii and being electronically stimulated all the time they wouldn’t appreciate the simple beauty of the woods. If you cultivate the simple life in your day to day there’s a good chance your family will find the outdoors thrilling, because nothing beats a mountain top view.

2. Set your sights high

• This may seem contradictory to the first point but it’s not. Older children especially, appreciate the outdoors when there are challenges along the way; a dangerous rock wall to climb or a hike along a narrow ledge. You know… situations that make mothers nervous, children (at least mine) seem to love those.
• Try to find hikes with a spectacular view, a dangerous waterfall, a lot of stream crossings. If you are having trouble getting family members on board with enjoying the outdoors together do something challenging with breathtaking natural beauty as the reward.

3. Buy the best gear you can afford

• The more you do outdoors the more specific gear you will need; proper footwear, backpacks, clothing and a tent (if you want to get serious). When you have the opportunity, buy the best you can afford and buy it small.
• Our family of 5 goes car camping with only our car; no trailer, no roof rack, no bigger vehicle – just an average sized trunk. We’re able to do this because we’ve spent years slowly purchasing and then up-purchasing quality outdoor gear that stores compactly.
• You don’t need big amounts of stuff to enjoy the outdoors and get away from it all with your family, you just need the right stuff.

4. Learn to be comfortable outdoors

• Don’t shy away from less than ideal conditions to spend time together in nature because you can’t always count on good weather.
• Investing in good gear will go a long way to making everybody comfortable outdoors no matter the conditions. And rainy days can make for great memories. Being out in the elements also helps children (and adults) appreciate the dry, cozy warmth of home – yet another simple pleasure.

5. Simply your buying habits, simplify your stuff

• If you want to spend more time outdoors together you might need good rain jackets, warm fleece and other “special” clothes depending on your climate. Not all of us can live in Southern California or Hawaii.
• Although outdoor clothing can be more expensive than thrift store finds, this does not need to be burdensome; simply buy smart and buy less. Does a child need new pants? Scour the sales at local retailers or on-line for a quick drying, weather resistant pair. Something that will work for everyday play and the outdoors. Buy them gender neutral if feasible to pass down to other siblings.
• Outfitting your family for comfort in the outdoors needn’t complicate your life, in fact it can simplify it.

6. Leave the kitchen sink (and most everything else) at home

• At the bare minimum for an easy family hike you need a first aid kit, trail map, toilet paper, food and water as needed, and proper clothing. Obviously if you’re camping you need shelter, cooking utensils and a few other things but you certainly don’t need your gas BBQ, a bag of toys for each child, bikes and skateboards.
• Choose to enjoy nature for what it is. Teach your children to enjoy nature for what it is. You’ll appreciate the freedom that comes from knowing how little you really need for comfort and happiness.

7. Choose an activity that everyone can enjoy togetherWe all live by the same clock so if you want to be a family with time for outdoor adventures say no to other activities. Take organized sports for example; the more time you spend chauffeuring, sitting on the sidelines, watching your kid’s sports team(s) the less time you to have to be outdoors together. This is especially true if you have more than one child.

If you’re ok with that, no problem. But if you want something different choose to pursue activities that everyone can enjoy together. This allows you to make the outdoors a part of your life and spend more time in nature. Working together as a team, physical exercise, challenges, endurance and so much more can be learned in having adventures together.

Even if your family decides that full fledged backcountry adventure isn’t for you the above tips should help you at least be outdoors together more often. Simple family adventures, simple family happiness.

Read more from Renee at her family’s blog, ADVENTUREinPROGRESS, or her personal blog, FIMBY.

Post written by Sherri Kruger. Follow me on Twitter.

Once you have kids the responsibility of raising, educating and loving these little people is instantly bestowed upon you. As parents we have a very important role in shaping our kids to be good contributing members of society.

Parenthood is a journey. A long journey. As our kids grow up they are constantly changing and new challenges present themselves at every turn.

A sense of empowerment as a parent will help you when it comes to raising your kids. Empowerment leads to greater confidence, consistency and dependability in whatever life throws at you.

One thing I think we all have in common, as parents, is that we want to be fantastic ones. Here are some ways that we can get closer to that goal.

1. Begin with the end in mind. Take a minute to think about the type of parent you want to be. Close your eyes and picture what it means to you to be a fantastic parent. By starting with the end in mind we have something to work towards. We can live each day with this end goal in mind and align our actions with it.

2. Family schedule. Things can get a little hectic when you and your kids are active outside of the home. Keep everyone on the same page and prevent activities from slipping through the cracks by creating a family schedule or routine. Involve all family members so you each have a say in how your days, evenings and weekends will unfold. Being well organized will make this part of parenting just a little bit easier.

3. Revisit your priorities. Set your priorities and don’t expect to be able to do it all. It is very true that when you say yes to something you say no to something else. Don’t over commit. What we usually say no to is down time, time with loved ones or hobbies and activities that we are passionate about. When kids are napping let the laundry sit, do the dishes when they wake up and just rest. After the kids are in bed does it really matter that the floor wasn’t swept? Likely not. Leave it and get started on that book you’ve wanted to read.

4. Solicit advice from people you trust. When you first start a family there is a wealth of advice out there and make no mistake you’ll get it whether you want it or not. Some advice can be really good like “sleep when the baby sleeps” and “trust your instincts” but there is also some advice that is not so good. Solicit advice from people you trust, people who have been there before and who’s opinion you value. Listen to what they have to say, be open to it and try their suggestions if you think it’s something that might work.

5. Spend quality time with your kids. There is nothing your kids like more than spending time with you. Play a game, laugh, reminisce, and be silly. Curl up and read a book, watch a movie or just talk. Talk about your day, what they want to do in the future, places they’d like to visit. Spending time with your kids just talking will give you a lot of insight into who they are.

6. Show them respect. These little people are just that little people. They have feelings, needs, and wants just like us big kids. They should be shown respect for their ideas, their abilities, and their strengths. We all have personal space and know how it feels to have it violated by someone who stands just a little too close. Our kids are no different. Standing too close and towering over them is intimidating even if you don’t intend it to be. Respect their personal space.

7. Love your kids but set limits. It’s important to show our kids we love them.  Be affectionate and say the words “I love you”. It won’t hurt and it can’t be over stated. You may think well of course I love my kids and they know it. Maybe … or maybe not. Showing your kids you love them doesn’t mean giving in to their every demand. You still need to set limits. Instead of punishment I like to think of it as teaching my kids. Teaching them what’s appropriate and what’s not as it applies to the real world. Believe me I’m not perfect, but this is what I aim for.

8. Lead by example. Kids rarely “do as I say, not as I do”. In fact it’s quite the opposite. Kids will mimic what they see. They learn by watching their parents. If you want your child to be respectful and mindful of others be respectful and mindful of others yourself. Tell the truth, have integrity, be courteous and polite, if these are in fact the values you wish to instill in your kids.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world” – Gandhi

9. Cultivate gratitude. Teach your kids to be grateful for what they have instead of longing for what they do not. There may be less of a sense of entitlement if they are taught to value people, life and relationships as opposed to things. Talk to your kids about what being a good person means. Ask them for examples of things they are grateful for each day. Start a family gratitude journal.

10. Relax. In our effort to do everything right we run the risk of becoming uptight or “by the book”. When we relax and let things go the relationships we have with our kids can grow and thrive. Let kids be kids. Let them get dirty and play outside. In fact get out there with them and spend quality time with them. Relax the rules a bit where they don’t really matter. Pick your battles your relationship is more important than being right or proving a point.

Like many things being a fantastic parent takes a lot of work, and I think it’s worth every bit of effort. Live intentionally, get active and feel empowered. There’s a fantastic parent in you too!

Post written by Sherri Kruger. Follow me on Twitter.

My fondest memories are from those times spent with family. My husband, my sisters, my folks, my in-laws and more recently my kids.

Having fond family memories requires active participation from everyone involved.

Experiences don’t just happen you have to create them.

Here are five fun activities that you can do with your family or use them as inspiration to get you started.

1. Host a theme potluck dinner. Choose a food that is a hit with your family (Thai, Mexican, Chinese, Italian, etc.). Invite your whole family to attend. Ask each of  them to bring a different dish to fit the theme. Experiment with foods you’ve never tried before, you may discover a new family favorite. Have music, drinks and snacks to fit the theme. Set up games that might have originated in or are popular in the region your theme dinner is based on.  There are no rules to how this comes together. Have fun, use your imagination and encourage participation.

2. Host a family games night. Games certainly bring our family together. For as long as I can remember we’ve always played games at Christmas, summer holidays at the lake and most other large family get-togethers. How you do it is up to you.  Have one game for everyone to play like Pictionary, charades or Nintendo Wii. You could also set up a few tables and have different games for people to play and rotate through. You may want to make it interesting and have structured challenges or championships. It’s up to you. Again, have fun with it and make sure there is something for everyone.

3. Scavenger hunt. My husband and I have done a couple of scavenger hunts and they were so much fun. One was a preset list of items to collect from various locations around town. We had to get specific pictures with monuments and people. We also had to collect random items such as coasters, shells and matchbooks. There was a set time limit. We all met up again at the end and compared notes. The other was just the two of us taking photos. I made a list of items to take photos of (water fountain, a bridge, a train etc.) and we spent the evening walking around snapping what we could. After, we went for dinner and looked through some of the photos we took. It was great fun and didn’t cost a whole lot.

4. Dinner and a movie at home. This is one of my favorite things to do with the family. For less than $20 we can have dinner and a movie for 4 all in the comfort of our own home. We have pizza or chicken wings and fries or a BBQ followed by a movie. The good thing about a night out at home is it’s a lot less expensive than dinner and a movie for 4 at a restaurant and theater. It’s also nice that it’s in the comfort of your own home. You can sprawl out on the floor or curl up in a chair. The evening can unfold at your own pace. But the best thing about movies at home, you can hit the pause button for a bathroom break.

5. Tourist in your own city. I find it interesting that the more you travel the more you know about everywhere else except the very place you call home. Grab a map of downtown and head out on foot. Walk around and discover sites of interest in your own city. What are all those old buildings about? How long have they been there? What is their significance to the city? If you met a tourist on the street where would you tell them they had to visit? Go there. Look at things through the eyes of a tourist. Talk to people. Find out a bit of their story how long they’ve lived there or what their favorite places are. It’s amazing how things get overlooked when we see them everyday.

There are countless activities to do as a family that are fun and get everyone involved. These are my top 5 and I would love to hear what fun activities you do with your family.

Post written by Sherri Kruger. Follow me on Twitter.

When I used to travel I always found it a bit humorous to observe little ones with their parents. The kids were bored out of their minds, complaining and pouting. It was pretty safe to assume no one was having fun. Could these have just been snap shots of particularly bad points in the whole trip? Maybe. But more than likely the kids were dragged along whining and pouting with the promise of ice cream at the end of the day of sight seeing.

Well, now I have kids. The above scenario is no longer that humorous. I think about travelling with our kids and like every other parent out there I think: “That will never happen to us. We’re cool, we’ll go to cool places and we’ll do cool things”. But here’s what I’m realizing as I grow older: Cool is all relative.

Here are some ways that you can make your next family holiday planning session less stressful and end up with a holiday everyone enjoys. You may even avoid the whining and pouting altogether.

1. Choose the destination as a group. Pull out a map of your state, province, territory, country or neighbouring country. The time you have and budget constraints will largely dictate the type of holiday your family can have and how far you can venture from home. Let everyone have a say in where they’d like to go and why. Research the suggested places online or at the library and see what each has to offer. If you want to form a tradition of only visiting a place once, set that expectation early on. Decide on the most appropriate destination as a group. Keeping in mind the ages, likes and dislikes of all travelers. Make sure everyone is heard and that concerns aren’t just quickly dismissed.

2. Hand over the planning. If you have kids, and they are old enough, allow them to do most of the planning. Not only can you use it as a teaching opportunity for booking hotels, cars, and finding activities, it’ll likely ensure complete buy-in from your kids. If you have teenagers they may find a family vacation more enjoyable if they are able to invite a friend along. Talk with them and discuss your options. Think win-win when finalizing details.

3. What to do? Once you’ve decided on a destination research what family activities are available. Is there an amusement park that has something for everyone? Do you all enjoy theatre, movies or museums? If so, it should be relatively easy to plan your days. However, it’s unlikely you will all have the same interests. An alternate approach is to take turns choosing activities and there are two ways to do this:

1. You can assign certain days to certain people and leave it entirely up to them as to what you do on that day.
2. You can take turns throughout the day suggesting activities.

I prefer this second option as it appeases everyone throughout the day. Each person has something to look forward to for the day.

4. Don’t overdo it. Most of us go on vacation to relax, spend quality time together and experience different customs, food, and people. It’s important, however, not to overdo it. Planning too many activities each day can be stressful and extremely tiring, especially for young kids. Plan to have some mornings, afternoons or days even with nothing planned. Use these times to relax take in the scenery of where you are, sleep in, enjoy a long brunch. Slow down and take it all in. A holiday doesn’t need to be go go go all the time to be fulfilling.

A family holiday is a great way to reconnect with your loved ones. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money and it doesn’t need to be three weeks somewhere 10, 000 miles away. These ideas have helped take the stress out of our family vacation planning. We all have fun and come back feeling relaxed and refreshed.