Welcome to September! (I know I'm a few days late.)

Forget Jan. 1st, for me, this month is the official start of the new year. Time to get back into routines, take stock and set some new goals ...

For a while, I've been thinking about the community and volunteer committments I have in my life. Figuring out exactly how I want to "give back" is on my list of 'things to do' this month.

Recently, I have served on my daughters' school council and lent a hand at functions at my local United Church (which does a great job of helping out the homeless and those with addictions). I'm also big on charity walks.

I love getting involved in my community. Despite the time committment in my busy life (doesn't every mum have a 'busy life'?), the work energizes me, fills me with a sense of purpose and, all too often, reminds me that I have a lot to be grateful for.

This fall, now that my girls are getting older (enterings grades two and five), I want to get them more involved in the community and volunteer efforts as well. I think I'll start by taking them to the annual Run for the Cure (for breast cancer).

I'm open to new ideas and suggestions so tell me ...

What kind of volunteer/community efforts are you invovled in? What about your kids?

Talk to you soon and watch out for a new contest that I'll post on Fri. Sept 4th.

Congratulations to Lorraine who has won the Finn on the Fly DVD. It's a quirky Canadian family movie that I enjoyed watching with my kids. I hope you like it, too, Lorraine.

Speaking of movies ... I confess that I haven't been to any 'adult' ones this summer. (You know what I'm talking about.)

I was hoping to catch "The Time Traveller's Wife" because I loved the book so much. (I know, the movie is never as good as the book). Has anyone seen it?

It's a sad reality that my summer theatre experience has consisted of ... drum roll please ... Harry Potter, G-Force and Ponyo. All kid flicks. I must say, though, that Ponyo (a Japanese animated movie with an English-speaking voice cast) is very charming and a refreshing departure from much of the kid fare we, mums, are used to.

What movie (kid-oriented or otherwise)  are you dying to see? And what are your all-time favourite family flicks?

Talk to you soon, Kathryn

Summer's almost over, isn't it?

Oh, did I just put a damper on your day? Sorry. (To make it up, I'll let you in on a little secret ... if you really don't want to read my blog you could skip to the end to see the contest.)

Now, back to the discussion at hand ... I know that it doesn't officially become fall until Sept 22 - almost a whole month from now. But the real sign that summer is behind us is the first day of school, and that's less than two weeks away.

Everyone has a different event that signals the end of the summer. Perhaps it's a trip to the mall for back to school supplies, or spying your kid's worn-out, grass-stained sneekers lying in the front hall. (This week, both of my daughter's Crocs fell apart - a sure sign that summer is winding down).

For my family, the realization that summer is leaving us comes with the arrival of the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. The Ex, as it's affectionately known, always starts two weeks before school.  Len, the girls and I visited it on Sunday ... taking in the rides (I can't do rollercoasters or anything that spins too much, but I'm a star on the carpet slide!), smells (what is it with kids and candy floss?) and sights (great farm animals; we loved Oscar the long-tailed sheep).

Talk to me ... What signals the end of summer for you? And are you looking forward to what is  the real start of the new year?

CONTEST TIME: I've got a great Canadian family movie,  Finn on the Fly, to give away ... so write to me.

This movie has lots of laughs

Thanks for all your replies, telling me what you think about blogging and chatting online about your kids.

The winner (through a random draw) is Dorothy. I'll be mailing out a copy of Canadian Living's Make It Tonight cookbook from the great folks in our test kitchen.

Tomorrow, let's talk about Christmas. Yes, you heard right!

Until next time, Kathryn

Ok. I can't dodge the issue anymore. What am I talking about, you ask? My niece.

A couple of weeks ago, I told you that my teenage niece had come to live with us for the summer. A few of you asked, 'How's it going?' (Thank you for asking!)

Some people sent me their horror stories of teens gone wild... girls, er nieces, to be precise  ... in their own homes. (Hmm, why am I less reluctant to express my appreciation for that?)

Then I posted a list of great books on parenting teens. More people wrote and asked, a bit more pressing this time, "So-o, how's it going with the niece mum blogger?"

A master of deflection, I gave you a great 'win-some-wine' contest. Yes, it's confession time: I'm avoiding the issue.

It's not that things are going terribly awry. Overall, they are actually pretty good.

At the heart of the matter is the fact that I didn't ask my niece or sister (niece's mum) if I could blog about the situation before I opened my big mouth. And it turns out (surprise, surprise) my lovely niece would rather I not tell tales - good or not so good - out of home.

This led to a discuss with my great co-workers here at Canadian Living magazine and among my girlfriends. Here's what we mulled over:

In an age in which so many people have blogs and are on Facebook or MySpace, how much of our trials and tribulations with others should we be sharing with the rest of the world - without asking those people involved (friends, kids, spouse etc.) if they mind first?

A question worth thinking about, indeed. Especially when what we put online stays online - forever.

What do you think?

How much should we disclose?

And  do we owe it to the people in our lives (particularly our kids) to ask their permission before we blab on about their dating woes, acne breakouts or temper tantrums?

I want to know what you think -- and I have a Canadian Living cookbook to give away!

Happy Friday ladies!

Thanks to everyone who wrote and shared their whackiest wine and food pairings. We all have a lot of new combos to try this weekend. Congrats to Marilyn who won with her pick of S'mores and yellow tail Shiraz in plastic cups - enjoyed around a campfire. How very summery!

Here in Toronto, it's been a soggy summer and everyone is getting fed up with the weather. (Not to mention our garbage strike going into its sixth week). Personally, I don't mind the lack of heat but I do miss the sunshine.

My heart goes out to my daugher, Liv, who is at an overnight YWCA camp up on Georgian Bay. She's heading into week two and I bet her cabin and clothes are pretty damp. And the bugs sure do love this wet weather.

How's the weather in your neck of the woods -- and, more importantly, has it affected your summer plans? Write and tell me. Are you a hot and steamy summer lover or are you just fine with the cooler, rainy days?

Til next time, Kathryn

I was so pleased when [yellow tail] wines contacted me about this offer because their Shiraz and Merlot wines are two of my favorite picks for hostess gifts when I get together with my girlfriends and other families.

Ok, enough with the personal banter. I know you just want to know what (and how) you can win. Here goes.

The winemaker has created its own customized version of Monopoly and to celebrate they are giving away a copy (a collector's item worth $60).

What do you have to do to win? Write and tell me how you play by your rules with your whackiest wine and food pairing.

Talk to you soon, Kathryn

This week, we welcomed a new member to our household. Nope, not a baby, or a fluffy kitten or an impossibly energetic puppy. Our new addition is ... (drum roll please) ... my niece who is living with us for the summer.

I know this doesn't sound like a big deal, but for me it is. Why? Because said niece is a whole new species to this mum blogger. She's a teen. And for the mum of 7 and 10 year olds, this is new territory indeed.

For the first time in my life I have someone who is asking to borrow my make-up, my blow dryer and my hot-rollers, and who spends more time in the bathroom than me. I know, it sounds so very cliche ... but it's all true. I have even found myself mumbling under my breathe, "When is she going to wake up? Half the day is already gone."

Then, when I caught a glimpse out the window of my 90 year-old neighbour picking weeds out of her lawn and dragging around a brown compast bag, I couldn't suppress the thought: "Hmm, they just don't make 'em like they used to, do they? Kids these days. They're so-o lazy."

Help! I am morphing into an old codger.

As I adjust to having a teen in my home, I remind myself that this is great training for the years that lie ahead when my girls emerge from their bedrooms after noon, squinting their eyes as they adjust to the daylight.

Do you have teens? If so, help a fellow mum out.

Write to me with your teen parenting tips and stories. You can even share your favourite books on parenting teens.

Until next time, Kathryn

P.S. I am waiting on the final details of an exciting contest that I hope to have up on by blog early next week, so tune in.

First off, thanks to Kate for her reply to my last posting.

Kate, you are the proud winner of the latest cookbook by Canadian Living, "Make It Tonight." It's full of yummy recipes. (Send me your mailing address and register/sign up for this blog and I'll get "Make It Tonight" to you.)

I'm back to work at Canadian Living magazine and blogging after spending a glorious week in Picton, Ontario, with my family.

If you're not familiar with the area, the star attraction for the family set is the wonderful beaches that boast stunning dunes and stretches of sand that go on further than the eye can see. The main beach was perfect for my kids (7 and 10) because we could walk out about 50 metres into Lake Ontario and the water was only up to my waist. (Yes, it's actually clean water there and you can swim in it, which is a novel concept for this Toronto gal!)

We made sand castles on the beach with girls, swam and visited the nearby farmer's markets where we purchased the sweetest Ontario strawberries. And being a city girl, it was wonderful to spend Canada Day out in the country. The town put on an amazing fireworks display and served up scrumptous cake.

We didn't make it to any of the many lovely local wineries - ah, but that just gives me a reason to go back for a romantic weekend with my guy.

I'm a fair-weather camper and the forecast was dodgy so we stayed in at a bed and breakfast called One Main Street that I highly recommend if you visit the area. Our hosts were delightful and made the most amazing breakfasts.

Where will you be vacationing this summer?

Until next time, Kathryn

P.S. Watch out for the next contest. I hope to have it up later this week.

There are so many things to celebrate this Sunday!

First off, it’s Father’s Day.

In my home, we have an awesome dad. My husband, Len, does more than his share of childcare and household chores. And last night he finished building our new deck – yeah!

I love it when Len picks outfits for our youngest daughter, Sophie, 7, to wear to school. You can bet she'll be decked out in a kaleidoscope of colours, patterns and textures that would make a fashionista cringe. But hey, he tries and Sophie’s happy. And that’s what counts, isn’t it?

This Sunday we are celebrating dad by letting him sleep in, bringing him breakfast in bed, and showering him with the girl’s artwork. Then we'll head over to Len’s dad’s house for a backyard bbq. (My own dad is several hours out of town and I will be honouring him a week later.)

This Sunday is also officially the first day of summer.

We have such long winters, that this season is definitely cause for celebration. We got a head start this week by visiting a farm on the Niagara Escarpment where we picked strawberries. There’s nothing like the sweet, fresh, yummy taste of homegrown berries to remind us that it's summer.  I encourage everyone to get out to a local ‘pick your own’ farm this weekend.

Happy weekend everyone!

How will you celebrate? CONTEST TIME: One person will win a Canadian Living cookbook!