With spring break fast approaching, you may be forming your escape plan to emerge from your winter hibernation and take the family on an adventure. But if the idea of having to organize kids, suitcases, accommodation, toys, snacks, and everything in between makes you want to take a break from spring break, have no fear. Having a solid plan is key, and whether you’re journeying across the world/country/province, here are a few helpful tips for ensuring you’re as prepared as you can be on your holiday.

Do Your Research

Once you decide on a destination, dedicate some time — before you get there — to get to know it, so that you can make the most of your time. A good travel guide is always a good plan—they’ll often include information that only locals would know, money-saving tips, and lots of hidden treasures to explore. They also tend to include recommended destination-specific packing lists that can make your preparation that much easier.

If you’re travelling internationally, check your passport to see if it’s expiring soon. Passport renewal can take a few weeks, so factoring the time to get a new passport photo, fill out the paperwork, and make the trip to the passport office will help to minimize the stress of these necessary preparations.

Make Lists

Lists are highly underrated — especially when it comes to deciding what to pack. But thinking it through, and writing it down beforehand, will help to keep your suitcases from overflowing with things you’ll never use (and ensure that the necessities are in there). After you do your research, consider also creating a ‘packing essentials’ list for the whole family to help them prioritize what necessities to bring. You can also keep it on hand for the next trip!

Another fun idea is to start a shared list of the kinds of things each family member wants to do while you’re away. Stick the list to the fridge and have everybody contribute their picks of activities or tourist attractions, helping everyone to feel a part of the planning and to get a little more excited about what’s in store.

If you’re going on a road trip, a snack list can help to ensure that everyone gets a say in what kinds of treats they want to munch and sip on. Some fun choices are fruit snacks, trail mix, and these litterless juice boxes that everyone can fill with their favourite juice.

Pack Light

Hopping on a jet plane? Many airlines have their own specifications on baggage weights and dimensions, especially for carry-on items. Knowing ahead of time how you need to pack will save you from any day-of surprises and prevent you from being one of those forlorn-looking travellers at the airport check-in, struggling with three open suitcases trying to evenly distribute the weight between them.

There’s a certain philosophy that some travellers swear by, and it’s the ‘Buy It There’ principle. If there are things that you’re not sure you need, and you want to keep your bags as light as possible, remember that in the worst-case scenario, you can always purchase them when you arrive at your destination.

Expect the Best, Prepare for the Worst

If you’re traveling internationally, even if it’s just for a weekend, you should absolutely consider purchasing travel insurance. It may seem like overkill, but if a series of unfortunate events should land you or a family member in the emergency room, you’ll rest easy knowing your holiday won’t cost you thousands of dollars more than you budgeted.

If you have the capacity, dedicating one carry-on bag for backup clothes and toiletries is a great security measure. If your luggage gets delayed or lost, you’ll still have a few days’ worth of clothing and be able to manage until your belongings find their way back to you.

Planning an epic road trip? It’s a snap to get the right auto insurance so that you can be on your way.

Stay Adaptable

Even the most meticulous planning can’t account for spontaneous mishaps. The weather might turn, you might get lost, or an attraction may be closed. Just remember: you’re on an adventure–ups and downs included–with the people you love. 

Stay smiling, remember that you’re making memories, and enjoy the ride!

What She Knew by Gilly MacMillan
Rachel Jenner is walking in a Bristol park with her eight-year-old son, Ben, when he asks if he can run ahead. It’s an ordinary request on an ordinary Sunday afternoon, and Rachel has no reason to worry – until Ben vanishes.
Police are called, search parties go out, and Rachel, already insecure after her recent divorce, feels herself coming undone. As hours and then days pass without a sign of Ben, everyone who knew him is called into question, from Rachel’s newly married ex-husband to her mother-of-the-year sister. Inevitably, media attention focuses on Rachel too, and the public’s attitude toward her begins to shift from sympathy to suspicion.
As she desperately pieces together the threadbare clues, Rachel realizes that nothing is quite as she imagined it to be, not even her own judgment. And the greatest dangers may lie not in the anonymous strangers of every parent’s nightmares, but behind the familiar smiles of those she trusts the most.
Where is Ben? The clock is ticking…

Reviews

Overall, I enjoyed reading What She Knew. It was a suspenseful, page-turning mystery about a mother searching for her eight year old son, Benedict Finch, after he disappears during a walk in the woods. The story is told by his mother, Rachel Jenner and the torment she endures trying to find him but it also uses multiple character perspectives as well as news articles, and social media. I thought the presence of social media throughout the story made it more relatable as it is how society in 2017 engage with the current events happening daily. It is a reminder of how easily information can not only be spread, but distorted from the truth. This is contrasted with the perspectives from Detective Jim Clemo and Rachel and allowed the reader to gain insight on their true feelings as the story unfolded. – Review by Samantha

Gripping story that has you reading from chapter to chapter alternating from 2 different people’s points of view, Rachel the mother who’s son goes missing and the detective in charge of the case plus comments on a vicious blog. There are many potential suspects including the mother that may have motive so you want to keep reading to find out what happened to the young boy. There’s also a secret that Rachel finds out about her past that leaves her wondering who she really is. Although I enjoyed reading the story, there were a few questions at the end that I wished had been answered. – Review by Janice

I found this book to be a pretty good read. The author keeps you guessing throughout the book as to who may be the guilty person. The character development is good and while the subject matter is terrifying, overall I found it an interesting read. I would recommend this book. – Review by Shelley

This book was a real page-turner. I couldn’t stop reading until I found out who had taken the young boy and if he was ok. There were some twists and turns that had me guessing throughout. Overall I enjoyed the book and the journey it took me on. – Review by Kelly

I loved this book!  The way it was written is very easy to understand, with just enough description to help you see through the eyes of the characters and relate to them, yet not too much that it gets ‘wordy’.  Gilly MacMillan catches the reader’s attention by letting you see from more than one perspective including the mother, father, private investigator dealing with the case, etc. and that way you really get a very rounded perception of the whole story.  This is a drama about a missing child,  which is a very intense and emotional situation and strikes you as very real and close to the heart, you can really feel what the mother and other characters went through from start to finish and all the thoughts/emotional upheavals, and processes that were experienced.  I found the book very hard to put down, and definitely recommend this one!  – Review by Angela

Book of the Month
Every month we will be featuring a new book to be showcased in our Book of the Month. Staff members and friends will be reading the book and posting their reviews. We’d love to hear what you thought of these books as well. Post your comments and let us know.

What She Knew is available at London Drugs along with many other great titles and is on sale for the month of March.

A Canadian winter rarely feels over until about mid-May. So for some, the first day of spring on March 20 provides mainly encouragement. But for school kids, as well as teachers and parents, it means so much more.

It’s time for spring break!

Depending on your school district, the break tends to fall between mid-March and very early April. No matter when it lands, however, the kids love it. Still, after some time spent relaxing, they’re usually eager to get out and do something fun.

Don’t worry, we can help.

March Break Family Fun options in Western Canada:

PlayDome

Location: BC Place Stadium – Vancouver, BC
Date(s): March 22 – 26
Description: Imagine a huge, full-scale carnival, including all your favourite rides and games, with tons of delicious food options. Now picture it all under one giant roof. That’s right, this carnival takes place indoors at field-level of the truly massive BC Place stadium. Even better, unlike most carnivals, endless rides are included with the price of admission.

Pacific Rim Whale Festival

Location: Pacific Rim National Park & Area – Ucuelet, BC
Date(s): March 11 – 26
Description: We may not get to see them as much as we’d like to, but wild animals are our neighbors on this earth. So why not come out and say hello to the annual migration of grey whales that pass by the BC coast each year near Ucuelet. There are also dozens of events planned during the festival for the whole family. Even better, Pacific Rim National Park admission is free this year!

Spring Rally in the Alley

Location: Gasoline Alley Museum @ Heritage Park – Calgary, AB
Date(s): March 24 – April 2
Description: Ever wanted to be a race car driver? How about a mechanic who builds, fixes, and races their own cars? Well, if you also happen to be a kid, this is your chance to dress and act just like a classic racing enthusiast. You can also play games and make crafts while you’re at it. With that much fun stuff to do, your time at Gasoline Alley Museum is sure to zoom past.

Fort Edmonton Park Day Camps

Location: Fort Edmonton Park – Edmonton, AB
Date(s): March 27 – 31
Description: This spring break in Edmonton, while you’re at work, your kids can have some old-fashioned fun with their friends (and we’re talking pioneer days-levels of old fashioned). That means outdoor adventures and games, cooking over open fires, building homemade toys, and more. These day camps run from 8:30 to 4:30 with separate groups for 6-to-8 and 9-to-12 year-olds.

The Royal Manitoba Winter Fair

Location: Various Venues – Brandon, MB
Date(s): March 27 – April 1
Description: Leave it to Manitoba to hold a winter festival entirely during the spring. But they obviously know what they’re doing, since this beloved annual festival has been running for over a century. It includes horse events, concerts, food, children’s play areas, an agricultural trade show, a hypnotist, and even a unicorn show. No wonder it attracted 110,000 visitors last year!

Festival of Fools

Location: The Forks – Winnipeg, MB
Date(s): March 25-31
Description: All of us like to clown around sometimes. But the performers at the Festival of Fools take clowning to the next level. These expert acrobats, jugglers, magicians, and yes, clowns, will amuse, amaze, inspire, and entertain your entire family, especially the little ones. There is also face painting, clowning classes, and even a “Boogie Woogie Hootchy Kootchy Dance Extravaganza.”

Enjoy the break!

Are you an aspiring yogi? Or perhaps you’re just interested in learning a little more about this ancient practice that’s become widely popular. Either way, with World Yoga Day on February 22nd, there’s no better time to learn the basics — and we can start you off right with this quick overview of styles, benefits and supplies.

Some Common Yoga Styles

Ashtanga

An active and athletic form of yoga. Its literal translation from Sanskrit means “eight-limbed yoga,” but you don’t have to be a giant spider monster to enjoy it. This style is often associated with vinyasa or power flow classes.

Great when: you feel energized, want to move your body, and challenge your mind.

Hatha

Almost every kind of yoga taught in North America is some form of hatha yoga. It’s an all-encompassing word for any physical yoga practice, but in the form of a class is usually something that is a gentle, basic approach to yoga and the yogic breathing exercises, often with no ‘flow’ (or linked movements) between poses.

Great when: you’re a beginner, or you’re looking to strengthen your foundational knowledge of yoga and the poses.

Yin

A quiet, meditative, and gentle form of yoga. This practice is generally close to the ground, might involves blankets and pillows (yes, really), and can be held in a heated room. Each pose can be held for up to two minutes, so it’s a great patience practice as well.

Great when: you’ve got some seriously sore muscles that need some love and attention, and/or you’re looking for a thoughtful and restorative practice.

Hot

A term often used interchangeably with Bikram yoga, although there are many forms of hot yoga today including Moksha and Baptiste). This is quite literally, yoga done in a hot (and we mean hot—up to 105°F or 40°C) room, so prepare to sweat buckets and bring a towel.

Great when: you’re ready to get hot and sweaty with your yoga practice.

Some Health Benefits of Yoga:

Improved Strength & Flexibility: You might not be able to touch your toes or hold a plank position on day one, but with patience and consistency you will be able to gradually tone and loosen up tight muscles.

Stress Release & Mental Clarity: Because yoga is so focused on connecting movement with breath, yoga has been linked to relieving chronic stress patterns and relaxing the mind.

Better Sleep: Regular yoga practice has been linked to a more restful sleep in people with insomnia.

Mindful Eating: Research has also linked the meditative qualities of yoga to help strengthen the mind-body connection and increase the physical and emotional sensations of eating.

Lessened Chronic Pain: A regular yoga practice has been shown to have some pain-relieving effects on the brain.

5 Terms Every Yogi Should Know

Before you saunter on into a yoga studio, brush up on a few of the basic Sanskrit words you’ll hear in most yoga classes:

Asana: Used interchangeably with the word ‘pose.’ Each yoga pose is a different asana. For example, Uttanasana is a standing forward fold.

Namaste: It means something similar to ‘the divine light in me honours the divine light in you.’ It’s a way of feeling and sharing that divine yoga love.

Om: A meditative sound, pronounced ‘ohm’ and while the true meaning has been lost to the mists of time, it’s connected to universal energy.

Shanti: Its literal translation means ‘peace.’ Often used as a mantra (for example: ‘om shanti, shanti, shanti’) as an invocation of peace.

Yoga: Union. Because yoga is all about that mind-body connection.

Helpful Yogi Supplies

Ready to sign up for your first class? You can also try an at-home practice before stepping into the studio. Here are some tools to help you get started:

1. Yoga Mat: There are lots of different kinds with varying thicknesses and lengths. Find one that works for you!
2. Mat Towel: Great for slippery hands, and even better for hot yoga classes to prevent your mat from turning into a Slip N’ Slide.
3. Mat spray: Especially if you’re taking a more athletic practice like ashtanga, mat spray can help keep your mat squeaky clean.
4. Yoga blocks: These are a smart choice if you’re wanting to build your flexibility and need a little extra stability.
5. Yoga DVD: If you’re not quite ready to practice around others, or splurge on a studio membership, creating an at-home practice could be just the thing.

With these tools, you’ll be able to confidently start building your own practice, and have a mindful 2017. Namaste!