Embracing Staycations over Vacations

Although I don’t usually prescribe to the whole “FOMO” phenomenon (look it up) I have always been of the opinion that long stretches of vacation days (4 or more) automatically call for a trip somewhere new.  I feel like it’s a waste to use up valuable vacation time around the house, even more so if…

Setting Healthy Boundaries in Relationships

Whether you are married with kids, have a partner or single, setting boundaries never comes easy.  Whether its personal or work or even your local barista, making sure you set boundaries early on is always a good idea if you are a person that find certain questions uncomfortable.  But what happens if get older and…

My favourite, least dated, still relevant, Disney Animation Movies

I wouldn’t call myself a Disney-o-phile, but I do like my dose of Disney especially any classical animation (and some live-action) movies and cartoons before the beginning of the millennium.  Been to every Disney Theme Park, and I have a couple of Disney sock pairs and a Mickey watch – so yes, I’m not completely…

Essential Family Boardgaming

During COVID we were pressed to find ways to entertain our then 8-year-old during the long winter days, and I had generally resorted to coming up with a list of possible things that we could do in the house.  This included things like cooking, drawing a comic book, or even doing chores (yes I was…

Independent Cafe Gems in Mississauga

The west end of Toronto is not known for its character, personality, or uniqueness. Mississauga has become a byword for plain, boring, suburban, devoid of any unique character. Especially when it comes to coffee shops the amount of locations for each of Starbucks and Tim Hortons is endless. Independent cafés are hidden gems here, but…

My little goodbye to the art of stamp and coin collecting

I want to make my thoughts known about stamp and coin collections, both of which are near and dear to me. Stamp collection or philately and collecting coins are dying hobbies.  I inherited my stamp collection from my older brother and saw them as “big boy” treasures to be appreciated and admired every so often. …

Being Overwhelmed and How I Cope

I feel like once COVID started the amount of pressures (both external and internal) have been relentless.  I mean it’s not like before COVID everything went hunky dory – I have kept random journals since 2006 and in all of them I essentially rent about how the world is ending and how things are really…

The Art of Middle Eastern Tea

You may have experienced the exotic flavours of Masala Chai or Kadak Tea, there are variations upon variations of spiced tea that come from the sub-continent but Middle Eastern Tea is a distinct variant that uses specific spices that spice mixes with the aim for more fragrance than taste.  Middle Easter Spiced Tea can range…

Helping Older Parents Downsize their Home

Until recently my aging parents’ large single detached home seemed like a prime location to store my life history, my knick-knacks, and my clothes that I will eventually fit in one day.  Best of all this was all free storage space.  Along with being my go-to warehouse, that house was the holder of many of…

My Experience at Dragons’ Den Canada

So I had this app that I was working on and just recently published it and was ready to market it.  My wife suggested I try the Dragon’s Den (DD) reality show here in Canada as vetting of the idea, maybe get some promo opportunities, try out presenting to investors, and who knows….maybe even get…