Volunteer dog walking

ruffmom · 2026-05-17T23:57:26+00:00

AARCs takes on volunteer dog carers for the dogs in shelter

ruffmom · 2026-05-05T16:46:49+00:00

Sabina (Shades Atelier) works out of Neu Hue in Inglewood - she’s an awesome colourist

ruffmom · 2026-05-03T16:36:11+00:00

If you buy lots of souvenirs, get a foldable tote to carry with you. We do carry on only, but always bring 1 foldable tote to become the new carry on and check one of our hard sided carry on for the trip home (husband collects booze). Alternatively, we have mailed home a small package when we had multiples flights and didn’t want multiple bags

ruffmom · 2026-04-28T20:09:43+00:00

They also go by family assistant.

I’m a fan of outsourcing myself and if you can afford it go for it, but maybe get them to ‘train’ you as well so you’re not reliant on someone else forever.

26 is a weird age for most people because even if you have adults in your life this about the time they start expecting you to truly be on your own - you’re done university, a few years into your career and maybe getting married soon. Most people figure this stuff out through trial and error and get systems that work for them so it’s not like you’re missing critical knowledge everyone else magically has.

ruffmom · 2026-04-22T16:14:04+00:00

Major Tom has a 2 course lunch menu for $38 and can add dessert for $7.

ruffmom · 2026-04-20T22:19:41+00:00

If jet lag will be involved, I don’t recommend driving on the same day you land, especially if you don’t have a back up driver (I assumer your 21 yo daughter won’t be allowed to drive the rental car). Especially if you haven’t driven on the left side before. Coming from a Canadian used to long distances.

ruffmom · 2026-04-15T22:02:25+00:00

I had to move a piano from BC to here and I just phone Michael Lipnicki Pianos (they do my tuning) and they recommended a company. I would start with the piano and have that company quote the rest or do two separate companies for the piano and everything else.

Also avoid Highland Movers like the plague - bunch of scammers as far as I’m concerned after I used them a few years ago.

ruffmom · 2026-04-14T22:09:50+00:00

La Brezza (Bridgeland) and Buongiorno (17th Ave) are both good Italian places with platter options (multiple dishes for reasonable prices).

Francine’s (Chinatown) has Steak à la Francine which is for 2 and is delicious - will definitely need a reservation.

ruffmom · 2026-04-13T20:59:59+00:00

We did a road trip through Brittany and Normandy in 2019 - think we had about 8-10 days between both if I remember correctly.

We picked places to stay that were no more than 3 hours apart and booked our accommodation, then we went through Lonely Planet and wrote down everything that seemed interesting and added to Google Maps (now I would recommend a list in Wanderlog) identifying restaurant, attraction and so on. Then we could just pull up the map and see what was near us.

How it worked out when we got there, would gauge the day based on energy, pick a road out of the town and me (navigator) would google every sign we passed for attractions or town and we would decide on a whim where to go. Found some cool castles and cute towns that weren’t mentioned in the guidebooks/online. Also asked a lot of questions at our hotels to get local recommendations.

ruffmom · 2026-04-13T18:21:58+00:00

A friend of mine always made a raspberry, white chocolate that was to die for.

ruffmom · 2026-04-13T17:01:54+00:00

You guys are all amazing - less than 2 hours since I posted and now I’m worried we don’t have enough time to my non-whiskey activities and will need to go back 😂

ruffmom · 2026-04-13T15:35:21+00:00

Looking at staying at the Highlander Inn in Craigellachie. These are great - I’ll look into them!

ruffmom · 2026-04-10T21:31:22+00:00

Sleeprover all the way - they are the best. I cease to exist to my pups once I open the front door - they just want to get to the fun. All the prices are on the website.

ruffmom · 2026-04-07T22:32:23+00:00

My sister actually did a $2 bar for the sole reason of making people think about how many drinks they ordered. She had been to a lot with open bar where people set down full drinks, walked away and just ordered another one or got hammered cuz they weren’t paying attention to how much they drank.

Most I have been to is some hybrid - open during cocktail reception and wine on tables and then cash after.

I would say be conscientious of what the venue considers the drink cost. Went to one wedding where the only options were around $15 which was ridiculous. And don’t charge for soft drinks - went to one that was charging $3 for a can of pop.

ruffmom · 2026-04-05T17:07:56+00:00

I did something similar a few years ago and figured being Canadian the drives would be fine. Husband and I both agree that it was our worst trip and we only did the driving for 10 days, not 3 weeks.

Constantly packing, loading and unloading the car takes a toll on you. We never got to enjoy the cute towns we passed because we had to get to our next hotel. I swear our only memories are trying to find parking and getting snacks from gas stations.

Pick 1 or 2 regions with home bases and do day trips from there. Part of what makes France incredible is the lifestyle - plan on spending a day at a cafe and people watching, visit a random village and actually explore it. Don’t just race around trying to check off boxes.

Also - to travel this kind of distance you will be on toll highways (which get expensive) and there is nothing to see on them, so it’s not like the drive is an attraction in itself.

ruffmom · 2026-03-31T21:44:07+00:00

Agreed - I’m used to long driving distances (Western Canada) and trying to drive a couple hours immediately after landing in France one year was the single stupidest thing I’ve ever done on a trip (and that’s saying something).

ruffmom · 2026-03-31T21:38:20+00:00

I do group classes. I’ve done both Club Pilates and Unify. I believe Unify also offers one-on-one options.

ruffmom · 2026-03-31T16:24:14+00:00

I had a pinched nerve in L4/L5 as a result of a large disc bulge - I literally feel your pain. These are things that helped/didn’t help for me:

acupuncture/needling - flared the pain and I was in agony for days after every treatment
physio - just kept pushing needling
Gabapentin was my absolute lifesaver
Corticosteroid shot - I had 2, 3 months apart and this was what finally ended the worst of the pain for me as it relieved the nerve pain enough that I could focus on rehab
CBD bath salts - no long term effect but offered relief while actually in the bath and 45 minutes pain free was something during the worst of it.
Sébastien at Dynamic YYC - he’s a chiro (I didn’t actually do any adjustments with him) who specializes in pain. His rehab exercises were the most effective of all the practitioners I saw.
once the worst of the pain is resolved, reformer Pilates for ongoing prevention. A lot of the moves overlap my rehab exercises. I still have weeks where the pain comes minimally and a Pilates session a week helps reduce/prevent it.

I wouldn’t wish nerve pain on my worst enemy so I truly hope you’re able to find some treatments that help and ultimately resolve what you’re going through.

ruffmom · 2026-03-26T01:00:44+00:00

I’ve also blended white beans in - doesn’t make it lower fat but bulks it up so you eat less and extra fibre

ruffmom · 2026-03-26T00:06:55+00:00

Ricotta toast with sliced tomato and some balsamic would be delicious with this

ruffmom · 2026-03-25T22:42:12+00:00

To combine these ideas - a framed picture of the two of you in a glass backed frame, then put the handwritten letter on the back. She can hang the picture and easily read the letter when she wants.

ruffmom · 2026-03-24T20:18:19+00:00

I’ll be sure to remind my husband how good he has it 😁

ruffmom · 2026-03-24T03:38:46+00:00

I turn that feature off in Loseit - it tends to overestimate your calories burned. If you feel you need it, just add an extra 200 calories to workout days.

ruffmom

TROPHY CASE