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McHappy Day is Coming

April 26, 2012 / Common Cents Mom / One comment

I can still remember the very first time I went to a McDonalds, I was a kid visiting Toronto and it was a treat. Then as a young adult I first learned about Mc Happy Day, as I happened to have lunch at my local McDonalds in Toronto that day. I was glad to support a good cause.

Years later, friends have used Ronald McDonald House in times of crisis in their children’s lives. When you live far from the hospital it is always great to have a caring place that you can lay your head. Did you know over 10,000 Canadian families have been helped by Ronald McDonald Charities?

Now thanks to efforts locally Toronto has a brand new Ronald McDonald House. I can’t wait till next month when I actually will be visiting it, with a team of bloggers. But before I get to the house there is McHappy Day next week, Wednesday May 2.

Go have lunch, take the kids. $1 from every Big Mac, McHappy Meal, and coffee goes to support Ronald McDonald House Charities.There are 13 almost 14 houses across Canada that need our support, and if you can’t go you can still show your support for this great cause because of the 364 Days of Giving campaign by texting MCHAPPY to 30333 to make a $5 donation to RMHC. To receive #McHappyDay updates from across the country, follow McDonald’s Canada on Twitter (www.twitter.com/McD_Canada).

Category: Family /

A Child Caught Between 2 Govermental Offices in Ontario

April 10, 2012 / Common Cents Mom / 19 comments

A Child caught between 2 government offices is driving this mom more then a little crazy as my Canadian daughter is being refused an Ontario Health Card, even though she has lived in this province most of her life. I have had to resort to spending cash every time she needs to see the doctor but now she needs a hospital bed, and Rachel sits at home, untreated and undiagnosed. Really it is a mother’s worst nightmare, not being able to get your child the help they need.

Back in 2004 they did issue Rachel a one year card, during that time I was to get her citizenship card. We had a fire, ID was lost. Because of 911, laws and rules around ID changed both here and in the United States where Rachel was born. I was able to replace her birth certificate that listed me as her mom but not her SSN card. I have her immunization records, I have her school records, I get the Canada Tax Credit for her every month but I do not have enough ID to get the Citizenship card as I can not take her across the border to acquire the necessary second piece. She is not 16 she has no photo ID. She has no passport. AS all require 2 pieces of ID, I only have 1, the one that lists me the Canadian as her mother(thus she is born with automatic Canadian citizenship). Without the card now, the province refuses to issue Rachel a health card. I am literally a mom caught between 2 government offices, trying to get my daughter what she needs. She needs the care of a specialist, this has been determined by the crisis team that visited my home last week from Youthdale. Rachel is on their priority list for a bed in their program, but she can not get that bed without a health card.

What would you do if you could not get your child healthcare? Have you thought about it at all? Healthcare is something we even give refugees coming into Canada, but here the child of a Canadian who can’t get her daughter help. Does that seem right? If anyone knows how I can get Rachel her cards I would appreciate the assistance. I HAVE been battling this for years, I am appealing now the the General Manager who over sees health cards, but due governmental policy it is likely Rachel will once again be refused until I get her citizenship card, and that process could take months when she needs health care now. Suggestions? What would you do if your child needed expensive healthcare? Rachel needs to be assessed properly and she needs a hospital bed to do so. I am a mom at the end of my rope. What would you do? I am simply appealing and once again writing URGENT letters and praying she stays stable while we wait.

* happy ending to this story

A reader of this post, a MPP’s assistant, pointed the Ministry of Health’s Kingston office to my blog post. Sue Graham read it. She is now my new BFF as within 30 minutes of me faxing Rachel’s birthcertificate, and other supporting ID, I had Rachel health card number in my hand. She is mailing Rachel’s actual card, but as of 10 am this morning Rachel has health coverage. So now the wait for the priority bed, which should take a week or two.

Category: Family / Tags: citzenship, healthcare, Ontario

Perspective-Something Needed but How often Do We Forget?

March 25, 2012 / Common Cents Mom / 2 comments

My weekend began with a little life perspective from my friend Dee Brun, otherwise @CocktailDeeva. Her and her daughter were talking about perspective and then created this wonderful video. They talked about how we all need to consider do we need that latest thing, when our dollars can go so much further. Clean water makes a difference.

Then Saturday a little more perspective came my way as I sat at the Canadian Sufi Cultral Center. These 79 families have adopted an entire village of 2,000 who have been eating about one meal a day if that in landlocked Burkina Faso. By giving simply $50 a month a Canadian family here is feeding a family of 5-10 there for a month. A month. This project was featured in the Toronto Star a few Sundays ago. There is still the need to help these families so yes our dollars can matter. That coffee run that isn’t done can turn into real help for a family. If you care to give to the project and my prayer is you do you can visit jerrahi.ca
.

Whether is be money for water or food, there is alot you can do to help somone else out? Did you know even a donation locally to your local foodbank can go to help another family locally. How often do our kids complain about this gadget or that? about needing the latest brand? Parents what about you? For that last $500 you spent for that weekend away, you could of feed many for months.

How often do we get caught up in the materialism that makes up so much of our culture where we look for the freebie, the swag, the easy way. We need to be teaching our kids so much better. I am so thankful that my teen is getting it, and even though we don’t have alot we can give we find ways to give. Even if you do not have a dollar you can give you can still give love, time, a smile, a prayer of hope. All of those are acts of charity that we can all do no matter the perpective that we take.

Then today. I watched this song.

Did you know even today months after the floods that devasted Pakistan children are dying every single day from starvation?
Puts it into perspective doesn’t it?
There is much we COULD do here. Now what are you willing to do today? 25,000 die every day waiting for a little help.

There are many many organizations that can make great use of your money today if you can give, and if you can’t financially there are other ways you can give.
So how about using this fresh perspective to do a little good today. Help a family live. Help a family drink clean water. All it takes is a simple change in perspective and a dig into your wallet. Rachel and I have talked about it. She is giving up 25% of her allowance and I am matching her to feed a family for a month, every month. We are also looking to live lives that help us keep the persective of how blessed we really are.

Category: Family, Opinion /

Creating a Healthier Me

March 23, 2012 / Common Cents Mom / One comment

Bathroom Scale © by -Paul H-

Way back when, that was January, I wrote a blog post about wanting to create, connect and cultivate this year. Those where the three words I have been using to guide this year of mine.

Part of the creating is creating a healthier me. I set some goals. I want to look healthy and be healthy before Blogher, and YES I am finally going! I even have a wonderful roommate, MarocMama.

So to keep myself accountable I am going to share each Friday between now and Blogher how my journey to health is going. So far I am down 25 pounds. Since Jan 1. I joined a gym, and no I have not been there every day. I need to get better at that. I did take advantage of a sweet deal and got a trainer who hooked me up and helped me jump start my journey.

So I am creating a new and healthier me, are you trying to get healthy this year? If so what are you trying? What is working for you and what isn’t?

Category: Family /

How Often Do You Quit?

January 13, 2012 / Common Cents Mom / 3 comments

How often do you quit? Do you have that stick to it muscle no matter what? I have a confession. I am a quitter. The working hard on me muscle is something I havent used well in years. It is weak and it needs a lot of work.

Recently another blogger talked about being healthy physically was just like being healthy fiscally. Boy were they right.

Many of you who have followed my journey know I am trying hard to be fit, fiscally and physically. I have my 3 words for 2012: create, connect and cultivate. Part of the creating in the deep down desire to be healthier physically and fiscally. I am working on both of these just as I was last year.

Last year I was getting it. I started with a loss of 32 pounds. I was happy and looking better, I was getting fiscally fit as well. Then the craptacular fall happened and there was a lot of stuff happening behind the scenes that drove me in a downward spiral. I wasn’t looking after me as I should. I was quitting.

I started to realize the damage I was doing to myself as I sat at Blissdom Canada, getting my nails done beside Teresa Albert, who I consider an angel and friend. We were having a very real conversation about health and how crappy I was feeling. I had been having chest pains for weeks and hadn’t even gotten it looked at. The look on Teresa’s face, told me enough. I had to get back on task and I couldn’t quit. I needed to look after my health.

As December loomed I thought hard about past events, I thought about the things that brought me to where I am. I have a past. We all do. Choices made that weren’t the best, projects left unfinished. Bridges burned. I went from a healthy, active young woman to a mom who was barely hanging on over time, a lot of time. To undo the damage of those years will take time as well. I have to be patient with myself, but I can not longer quit. I need to own Hollie again. I need to create, connect and cultivate.

To stay on task, I joined the #12in12 community on Twitter. We are committed to using the working hard muscle. It by the end of the year should be a well-worn and used muscle. I will be creating the healthier me, the fitter me, the fiscally responsible smart me. No more quitting, the journey is really beginning and I pray you will join me on it. I need encouragement at times, reminders of the task at hand, I need to celebrate the process, slowly over time, pound by pound, inch by inch, dollar by dollar I am doing the work. Are you working or quitting? and what have you done when you have found yourself quitting in the past?

Category: Family / Tags: 2in12, create, goals

A Year in Review

December 19, 2011 / Common Cents Mom / One comment

What a year 2011 turned out to be! It was filled with both highs and lows.

The year started with me unemployed, but I did not stay that way for long. By the end of the year I became a business owner,small business but still. Working with kids again is a joy.

I also became a better blogger this year I think. I found out I was amongst the top 100 tweeters from Toronto on Twitter, and one of the top 20 individual bloggers in the city as well. I want to say I have been blessed this year by every connection I have made. I got to meet many more in the Social Media community and it has been a pleasure getting to know so many people.

I also got to attend more then a few Social Media/Blogging conferences this year. The year started early with Social Media Week and Podcamp Toronto. Then in the fall I attended both She’s Connected and Blissdom Canada. I again must thank my now friend, Annie Urban who made sure I got to Blissdom Canada.

Personally it was a joy for me to get to write about a few of my favorite brands and even get paid to do so. I loved working with each brand this year, and I can’t wait to see what 2012 will bring.

I was honored when Savvy Mom picked me as one of their favorite 35 blogs after reviewing over 700 blogs. Really I did a happy dance that day.

On the personal front relationships both begun and ended this year. Some where difficult to see go. But one lesson I have learned sometimes someone comes into your life for a season and enriches it but then it is time to move on your own path.

My daughter Rachel’s year started very roughly and I am thrilled to say we are ending it on a high note.

We battled bullying for the first 6 months of the year, which even saw Rachel not in school for 2 months. Really the spring took a toll on her, by the summer she needed the time to simply recharge.The only highlight Rachel had from her time at Ionview Public School was a play she got to be in this spring called Pink Lemonade. She made a great Mother Goose.

The summer saw us enjoying the sights of Toronto with friends who visited, getting to Wonderland thanks to my friend Scott Stratten, getting to the Ex on Warrior’s Day and hitting the beach.

This fall Rachel started at Alpha 2, a wonderful school in the TDSB that uses an unique approach to Education where Rachel is thriving. She is happier then I have seen her in years which is a good thing.

Overall 2011 brought joy, hard work, new friends, and fun. Along the way there were some sour notes but by the end of the year we were optimistically looking forward to the adventures of 2012.

Category: Family / Tags: Family, year in review

Wordless Wednesday: A Look Back at Christmas

December 14, 2011 / Common Cents Mom / No comments

Christmas 1978

Do you enjoy looking through those old Christmas albums?

I do as I reminisce about Christmas’ past and family traditions.

What are some of your holiday traditions.

We have a number of them.

My favorites pajamas worn Christmas eve are a new pair that had been opened that eve and the reading of Twas the night before Christmas.

What are your favorite traditions?

Category: Family / Tags: CHRISTMAS, wordless wednesday

When You Lose It

December 10, 2011 / Common Cents Mom / No comments

Today I have been thinking I am losing my mind.

I feel naked, and unable to do one of the things I love, and that is capture those small moments.

Last month I lost my Iphone. Since I got it I had become addicted to it. I carried it everywhere and loved and adored the Instagram App. I was able to capture and share so many moments quickly and easily. I loved this as all my immediate family do not live close by.

Then 2 weeks ago I lost my wallet with all the funds I planned on spending for Christmas in it, then I lost my camera. Now I feel totally stripped naked. It is like asking someone to forgo a passion. It is like asking me to forget how important is to capture those moments.

For me photography and the abilty to capture a moment are apart of who I am. It was hard enough when I lost the ability to share my moments instantly when I lost the Iphone, now not even to be able to catch the action has left me feeling like part of who I am is missing.

You see I love catching things visually. Right now I see the lights of the season and I want to capture them, I see the tree decorated for the season and couldn’t capture my daughter putting the angel on top. She had also never skated on ice until this week, her lacing her skates for the very first time was another missed moment. So many missed moments and that is just in a few days.

Would you feel naked without your camera and smartphone? Do you use yours to capture the moments?

Because I am a mom on a budget, I can’t replace either before the holidays. I have been offered an HTC Radar phone but I can’t find a network that it works on up here yet, so I am back to the drawing board, and thinking and hoping by Febuary I can replace at least the camera but right now I am missing moments and I really hate it.

I love the memories that come from a captured moment. Are you one who loves to catch the moments as well?

Category: Family / Tags: camera, iphone, photography

Happy Thanksgiving –Counting Blessings Again

November 24, 2011 / Common Cents Mom / No comments

My American friends are celebrating Thanksgiving.

I am again counting blessings..

I am thankful to God for my life.

For family.

For work.

For great friends.

If you are celebrating, have a blessed day and remember to give thanks!

Category: Family / Tags: blessings, thanksgiving

Gad it is THAT Time of Year Again-Celebrating Holidays Multicultural Style

November 15, 2011 / Common Cents Mom / No comments

It is that time of year. You know, party after party, invite after invite all for the holidays.

But what if you don’t celebrate that holiday? What if you don’t believe like your circle of friends? We live in a very multicultural city and country these days, so more and more it is likely to happen. We also live in a very religiously diverse community. So gad, how do we manage?

For me, I am now Muslim, but all of my family are either Christian or Jewish. Yes, you should see some of our family gatherings.

So how do you handle the Christmas music everywhere you turn, the seasonal greetings, the decorating, the parties, there is much to think about.

For us here is what has worked.

We celebrate the holidays.

ALL of them

But we do our own up biggest. Eid for me is my celebration, for me I decorate big, and attend prayer and give my daughter gifts.

333187813 79b2d4c1af Gad it is THAT Time of Year Again Celebrating Holidays Multicultural Style

Then there is Christmas, this too we celebrate, but we leave out the religious overtones that used to adorn our home. No manager scene, no reciting of Luke. No church pageants, no midnight mass. We still go to the Santa Claus Parade, we buy gifts for our family, we cook turkey. We say Merry Christmas.We decorate using a snowman theme.

Then there is Hanukkah, we have Jewish family members, they converted, so we wish them a Happy Hanukkah, attend celebrations that we are invited too, and buy 1 gift for them during the 8 days.In the past we even lighted a menorah.

I see no reason to distance myself from others, simply because I might choose to exercise my faith differently. They know I am Muslim. I think by showing respect for others who don’t think or celebrate the same way we do, we are celebrating the humanity that is in all of us.

I think celebrating the best of each of the holidays: family, friendship, community; helps the ties of kinship to grow, and helps us to be more unified and understanding.

How do you handle the holidays and diversity?

Category: Family / Tags: christnas, Eid, hanukkah

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