23 Jul, 2015
Posted by: andrea tomkins In: Easy ways to make kids happy
Are you a doodler? If so, you know that it can be can be an oddly satisfying occupation. Doodling is a great way to still the mind and channel one’s focus. And it’s good for kids too. Traditional doodling tends to be done out of boredom in the margins of notebooks and during conference […]
14 Jul, 2015
Posted by: andrea tomkins In: Easy ways to make kids happy
I’ve mentioned bubble tea on the blog before but since it’s one of our favourite things to do in Ottawa during the summer months I thought it deserved a fresh mention! Step one: drive to Somerset Street and park the car. Step two: walk, and poke your head into any shop that tweaks your curiosity along the way. Step […]
10 Jul, 2015
Posted by: andrea tomkins In: Easy ways to make kids happy
So this is what we did yesterday afternoon: The girls each have one of these Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Cameras. A couple of weeks ago I bought a bunch of film on a whim at Black’s (the store is going under and I nabbed it at a discounted price). A few of the packages […]
02 Jul, 2015
Posted by: andrea tomkins In: File under crafty|Pinteresting challenges
I am taking a closer look at some of the ideas I’ve bookmarked via Pinterest and actually DO something with them instead of just admiring them. This is the third in the series so far. You can read the others right here. This was a little project I pinned awhile back. Mostly because (a) even […]
05 Aug, 2014
Posted by: andrea tomkins In: - Ottawa for kids|Easy ways to make kids happy|Ottawa
We were itching for something to do with the kids in Ottawa and we wanted it to be free, or very close to it, so we decided to ignore our recent experience(s) with mosquito-infested hikes and find a new trail to try, this time closer to home. Mark did a bit of research and we settled […]
My name is Andrea and I live in the Westboro area of Ottawa with my husband Mark and our two daughters Emma (18) and Sarah (16). I am the managing editor of our community newspaper, the Kitchissippi Times. I am a longtime Ottawa blogger, and I've occupied this little corner of the WWW since 1999... which makes me either a total dinosaur or a veteran, I'm not sure which! The Fishbowl is my whiteboard, water cooler, and journal, all rolled into one. I'm passionate about healthy living, arts and culture, family travel, great gear, good food, and sharing the best of Ottawa for families. I also love vegetables, photography, gadgets, and great design.
If you'd like to contact me, please use this form. If you're so inclined, you can read more about me here. Thank you for visiting!
