Have you always been curious about yoga but are intimidated by the studio setting? Well, this is your chance to experience an entire day of yoga with a variety of talented local teachers.

The third annual Yogini Yogathon is being held on Sunday, May 26th from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Glebe Community Center, 175 Third Avenue. Hosted by Journey of the Yogini, it is an event developed exclusively for women, which hopes to empower women and raise money for Because I am A Girl.

If there is one thing worth investing in, it’s your health. Yoga helps to reduce stress, lowers high blood pressure, quells depression, improves circulation and muscle tone. In short, it contributes to overall physical, mental and emotional health.

Om!

MM

Tote Bag – This simple tote bag is easy to make and great for a gift. Useful and simple, all you need are three pieces of material and whatever decorations you desire. Using two squares of material have the kids sew three of the sides together, leaving an opening at the top. Cut two long strips about an inch or two wide out of the third piece of material and attach to the top to form handles. Then have the kids decorate it with glitter and glue or paint. You can even personalize the tote with the recipient’s name.

Name Banner – Using material and large stencils you can create a great name banner. Cut out large squares of colourful material, two of each kind. Lay the identical squares on top of each other and outline the shape of the letter you want to create. Cut out the shape and have kids stuff as they sew the edges together. Once the name is complete, sew the top corners of the letters together to form the name or create hangers out of strips of material.

Beanbag or Paperweight –It is easy for kids to create a cute and fun beanbag or paperweight to give away. One popular design is a ladybug. All kids have to do is cut two identical ovals out of red material and one half circle about a third of the size out of black material. Have them sew the black half circle to one of the red ovals to create the head. Then sew on two white buttons for eyes on top of the black material. About four to six black buttons sewn on the red section form the ladybug’s spots. Then have them sew the two red ovals together, leaving an opening to pour in the beans or rice. Fill the bag and sew closed for a cute and useful gift. You can make these in a variety of shapes to suit any occasion. Add long ears and a nose for a bunny, or short ears for a cat.

Guest post: Rachel is an ex-babysitting pro as well as a professional writer and blogger. She is a graduate from Iowa State University and currently writes for www.babysitting.net. She welcomes questions/comments which can be sent to rachelthomas.author @ gmail.com.

That’s right, we are going to escape this winter wonderland and enjoy a week of sand and sun on a family all-inclusive vacation. We found a great deal on Redtag.ca  that we could not pass up. However, because of this expense, something else had to go. Regardless, the decision was easy.

We always budget the cost of a family vacation in the summer (usually a cottage rental) so we decided to shift that budget portion to cover the winter trip. Instead, this summer we will enjoy a staycation. Ottawa is so beautiful in the summer. We are surrounded by green space and lovely local beaches, not to mention the large amount of museums, the canal, wonderful restaurants, etc. So why not stick around to enjoy the city at its best?

Yes, it is possible to be spontaneous all while respecting your budget. It’s all about choices!

MM

Goals set in 2012

Financial

• Pay down our mortgage by $25,000; I am quite proud to announce that we did reach this goal; however, we also used some of that equity to invest into a rental property.
• Continue to create a family budget, however start tracking that budget in more detail; I did not manage to maintain a monthly spreadsheet. But since we did respect our budget and accounts balanced at the end of the year, I do not think there is a need for the details. 
• Earn double my freelance income from 2011. Check!

Professional

• Create a larger following for my blog by researching and writing interesting content that gets people thinking about how they manage their finances and how they live their lives; My statistics do show an increase in readership, as well as new Facebook followers so I consider to have reached this goal. Of course, I am always hoping for more of an audience so think I will keep this one for 2013 too.
• Guest post for other blogs at least 6 times this year; DONE! In addition to a few guest posts for other blogs, I also began as a staff writer for Canadian Finance Blog so this one was definitely met!
• Grow my freelance client base; Yep, in 2012 I became the in-house health blogger for Ottawa Life Magazine in addition to the other freelance gigs I have on the side.
• Master the art of social media; Nah! Although I did invest in my site redesign and created a Mother Miser Facebook page, I certainly would benefit from a larger social media presence.
• Attend one blogger conference;  Although I did register for a blogger conference in Toronto, by the time I added up the costs of travel and accommodation, it simply made no sense for me to attend and therefore I cancelled. 
• Attend one yoga conference. Yes! As I do most years, I attended the yoga show in Toronto and plan to again this year!

Personal

• Learn to live in the present moment; I think this will be an ongoing challenge for me for years to come but the effort continues.
• Be more patient with my kids; I would say so but not because of any new-found patience but mainly because I spend less time with them now that I am back to a full-time job outside the home. Therefore, I really appreciate our time together much more. 
• Read 20 books this year; I did not keep count but am sure I was very close.
• Attend 1 yoga class per week in a studio to complement my home practice and learn from other teachers; I was not as diligent in the beginning of the year but did attend one or two classes in studio per week in the second half of the year.
• Run 1 organized 10km race; Did not manage an organized race this year but plan to register for the 1/2 marathon in May here in Ottawa.
• Enjoy 1 date night per month outside the home with my loving husband. YES!

How about you? How did you do in 2012? And what are your goals for the year ahead? Would love to hear from you!

MM

Thank you so much to my loyal readers, family and friends for their ongoing support and feedback.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with the giving of gifts between friends who happen to be coworkers; one that is born of the employee’s free will. No, I am criticizing the forced exchanges that happen between all coworkers for a dictated amount, usually to be exchanged at the department Christmas party.

In past years our group has participated in a re-gift exchange, where each person was asked to bring something from home that they no longer use. Unfortunately, many were left with useless, dirty or even broken gifts and, understandably, felt cheated by the process. This year a few suggested we exchange gift cards of a set value to guarantee a useable gift. My argument: what is the point? I give you a $10 gift certificate in order to receive a $10 gift certificate. Does this truly represent the holiday spirit?

Instead, we chose to contact the Children’s Aid Society to be paired with a family who could use the help. We raised enough money to buy all the items on the family’s wish list and, I must say, everyone seemed to feel this was more in line with the spirit of Christmas.

This year, consider putting your money towards a worthy cause instead of wasting it on someone who already has everything. This decision could be an excellent opportunity to teach your children about the essence of giving.

Happy Holidays!

MM

1. Popcorn packing – Why waste money on packing peanuts or other expensive forms of padding? Just use air popped popcorn to fill those empty spaces. Cheap and light, it works well for any size container.
2. Cord tube – Instead of investing in pricy cord holders or organizers to keep all of your electronic cords off the floor, just use an empty toilet paper tube. It is the perfect size and you can also label it to know which cord is which. You can also use those square plastic bread ties for cord labels.
3. Shoe storage – An empty wine box is the perfect size to store your shoes and keep them out of harm’s way. Wrap it in pretty paper and you have a storage solution for free.
4. Bill holder – Keeping your bills organized and visible is important when you have a lot coming in. Instead of hiding the bills away in a drawer, use a napkin holder to keep them neatly in plain sight.
5. Shovel snow – For those of us who live in cold climates, this one is a lifesaver. Spray cooking oil on shovels before scooping up ice and snow. That way it will slide off instead of stick!
6. Magnetic – Use a magnet strip to hold a variety of objects. In the office you can hold paper clips, pens, and any other small metal tools. In the bathroom organize your cosmetics, nail clippers and tweezers. In the kitchen keep spices visible and knives out of the drawer. Magnets are great for lots of uses!
7. Rubber bands – Another useful and cheap object is a rubber band. Wrap one around a slippery glass, open a stuck jar, keep wine glasses from falling over in the dishwasher, and you can even wrap a small gift without tape!

These are just a few ideas that can keep you from wasting your hard earned money. Think before you toss things in the trash. They may end up being useful! If you give it a little thought there is usually a way to get out of spending money while simultaneously reusing things you already have around the house.

Guest Post: Jack Meyer is a regular contributor for http://www.nannybackgroundcheck.com/. As a detective he wants to spread the knowledge of terrible things that can happen when people don’t fully verify the credentials of a caregiver or any employee. He also writes for various law enforcement blogs and sites.

1. Immigration – Planning to immigrate to Canada? CanadaGreenCard.org can help with the logistics, as well as provide financial assistance. This could mean receiving a financial boost to help you get started.

2. Homestead - The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation can help you receive financial assistance for various reasons regarding your home. For example, homeowners and complex unit owners can receive financial aid for mandatory repairs to preserve the quality of the home.

3. CanadianPersonalFinance.com - For information regarding various aspects of personal finance, CanadianPersonalFinance.com has plenty to offer. From information regarding which locales will pay you for living there, to free tax assistance, the information contained within this site is valuable to those needing a new way to think.

4. Payday Loans - Sometimes, an extra boost to pay a few immediate bills is all we need to dig ourselves out of a financial nightmare. By visiting PaydayLoansApprove.com, you could get the money you need to pay the bills that are threatening to be turned over to legal action.

5. Grants – Wouldn’t it be nice to receive money for a specific purpose without having to pay it back? If you are in need of money to accomplish your goals, visit Canadian-Grants.ca. This comprehensive site can put you on the track to obtaining a grant for homeowners, students, and more.

6. CanLearn.ca - Students are subjugated to a world of financial distress. Sometimes, schooling is put on hold or dropped all-together because events in life prevent its continuation. The information provided at CanLearn.ca may be the key to helping students stay in school while paying bills.

7. Service Canada - Specializing in income assistance, the information provided at Service Canada’s website could be one of the most invaluable collections you can find. Information regarding tax benefits, insurance, pensions, loans, and more may point you in the right direction for financial freedom.

The trick to survival in today’s world is to reduce your debts to a level below your income. While this may mean sacrificing some of the creature comforts you’ve come to enjoy, it won’t be forever. Once you have a handle on your finances and you’ve come to a place in your life where you can realistically afford them, you can indulge yourself in your passions. Just make sure you can keep the lights on before doing so.

Guest post: Ken Myers the editor in chief is a frequent contributor of http://www.gonannies.com/ Ken helps acquiring knowledge on the duties & responsibilities of nannies to society. You can reach him at kmyers.ceo@gmail.com.

Nowadays, forgoing travel insurance is risky. Everything from lost luggage, canceled flights, stolen goods, medical emergencies, etc. is something you may be subject to in trips in America and abroad. Don’t believe me? Well, according to the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, “One in eight U.S. adults either had their travel impacted, or considered changing their travel plans, due to natural disasters or world events since summer 2010…Yet, of travelers impacted, only 29% had travel insurance.”

If you’re interested in learning more about travel insurance, here are three tips you should always consider whenever you’re shopping around for the right plan.

Know when it’s time to insure

Let’s face it: not every trip you take will require you to purchase an extravagant travel insurance plan. If you only see a potential loss as only a few hundred dollars, then purchasing travel insurance probably isn’t worth the hassle. If you’re taking an expensive, lavish trip abroad, however, you’ll definitely want to invest in travel insurance. As a good rule of thumb, if the trip is fairly expensive and far away from your home, it’s wise to purchase some travel insurance.

Know the policy

Like any other industry, travel insurance has its share of competition. Whenever you’re looking for a decent insurance plan, beware of any agent that who offers you an insurance “protection” plan. Protection plans aren’t the same as travel insurance. Insurance is regulated by each individual state government; travel protection plans, on the other hand, are not. Protection plans leave out a number of important protections, so go ahead and study every plan before you decide to commit to anything. Knowing the insurance lingo can protect you from losing thousands of dollars.

Read the policy

I’m utterly dumbfounded by the number of individuals who don’t take the time to read their insurance policies. Whenever an agent tries to sell you travel insurance, make sure to read and review each and every word included in the policy before you make a purchase decision. Don’t take an agent’s description of the policy to heart; do the research yourself. If you don’t understand something in your potential policy, ask questions until you get a clear, concise answer. The last thing you want is to be up the creek because you thought something was included in your policy that actually wasn’t.

Now that we’re in the thick of the holidays, it’s time to start thinking about holiday travels. If you feel you might need a decent travel insurance plan, make sure to do your research before you make any commitments. Happy travels!

Guest Post: Susan Wells is a freelance blogger who contributes much of her work to an online resource for insurance news and information. Susan has over 10 years of experience in the insurance industry, and in her spare time, she enjoys doing yoga and spending time with her family. Please leave any questions or comments for her below!

This particular recipe was passed on by my mother-in-law so measurements are approximate, as most often family recipes are. Feel free to play around and adjust to your liking.

INGREDIENTS

• 3 tbsp oil
• ½ tsp of cumin seeds, fenugreek and mustard seeds
• ½ onion, chopped
• Pinch of hing (asafoetida) and curry leaves
• 4 tomatoes, pureed
• ¼ tsp turmeric
• ½ tsp of salt
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 heaped tsp fresh ginger, chopped
• 4 handfuls of split pigeon peas
• 4 cups of water

METHOD

Soak split pigeon peas overnight.

Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds, fenugreek and mustard seeds and wait for the seeds to “pop”. Add onion, hing and curry leaves. Stir for a minute or two. Add tomatoes and wait 3-5 minutes, being sure to stir often to avoid burning the ingredients.

Add turmeric, salt, sugar, ginger and stir. Add split pigeon peas and water. Boil until pigeon peas are soft.

Blend mixture with hand-blender until texture is thick and smooth.

Enjoy as a soup or pour it over rice!

MM