Marvel at all the #MARVEL to watch on @Netflix_CA! #What2Watch #W2WW

What to Watch?

As you all know, "What's Good to Watch?" is a common question amongst my friends and family, and the reason why I share movie and show recommendations on Cathy Thinking Out Loud every Wednesday (aka #W2WW). This week you'll "marvel" over the selection of series and movies based on MARVEL Comics you can find on Netflix Canada. I have only listed six, but there are lots more AND three more coming soon.

NOTE: BE SURE TO CHECK THE RATINGS ON EACH SHOW OR MOVIE BEFORE YOU WATCH WITH THE KIDDIES!

For the Adults: 

These have a TV-MA or 18A Rating!

For the Kids or Kids at Heart:

Please check the rating on each movie or series to see if appropriate for your children!

And coming soon:

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this weeks recommendations, and please share your suggestions in the comments section. 

Happy Streaming!

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about what to watch.

Note: I have not been compensated for this post in any way. All opinions are my own, and the purpose of this post is merely to share with my readers. All images are via Netflix. 

Getting Carded: #HolidayCards - I'm Going Digital This Year & #Donating Money Saved. Tis The Season

To card or not to card, that is the question. 

Here are some other questions I have been asking myself over the last five years:

1. Is there still a place for Holiday Cards in this age of digital and social media sharing? 
2. Can we justify the cost and paper use and still be environmentally conscious? 
3. Is it possible to be personal via email or text message? 
4. What ways can I use the money I'd spend on postage to better reflect what the holidays are about?

For years my Christmas cards were written, stamped and ready to be mailed by December 1st. I had a long list of family and friends I hand wrote messages to before adding a picture of the kids taken specifically to be included with each card. 

I love getting Christmas cards and over the years came up with creative ways to display the cards I received. It's exciting to receive updates on friends and family, especially if pictures of the kids are included It allows me to be part of their lives even if I didn't see them often. 

Over the past five years the number of cards I send (and receive) has gradually decreased. No doubt due in part to my friends and family's increased use of technology to stay connected and share year round, making the annual Christmas picture and update less relevant.

I was thinking this year I would try something new and send personalized notes, holiday wishes and pictures of my offspring by email or text message. I will only be mailing cards to the few who do not have email or a cell phone, AND that I won't be seeing over the holidays. 

I will then take the money I save on stamps and postage and donate it or use it to give back in some way. 

In my Holiday emails and text messages I plan on sharing my reasons for opting out of mailing cards, including my decision to donate the postage money. I want others to know it was a conscious choice rather than lack of planning and a last minute attempt to send Season's Greetings. Hopefully all will understand my decision and in the spirit of the holidays be happy that those funds will go to good use. 

Do you still mail out cards, or do you find other ways to send Season's Greetings? 

As always I will find ways to reuse the cards I receive by using them to make
 gift tags, notebooks, and tree ornaments.

Season's Greetings and Happy Holidays! 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Holiday Cards. 

Saving for Post-Secondary #Education is a Team Sport - #RESPs and Planning for #EducationCosts

Saving and Planning for Post-Secondary Education is a Team Sport

The way I see it, we as parents are the coaches, trainers and managers of the team, and our kids are the players. 

via BrainyQuote

Each member of the team has a role and responsibilities in preparing, planning and saving for post-secondary education. Education is expensive, and saving for that expense should start early. 

Contributing to an RESP for your child is a great way to save your child's education. 

But in order for our kids to truly understand the value of money and education we need them to take an active role in saving, paying and planning for their education costs. 

Middle School is a great time for "Team Education" to start writing the education play book. Below are some exercises and links to resources to help prepare your team for the big game of life. 

• Dream Job Research Assignment: Have your child pick 3 careers or areas of interest and research what is required to do that job including: education, institutions offering program, acceptance requirements, and cost of program. 
• The Cost of Living: How much money will you child need for school and living expenses. Tools such as RESP calculators, student budget calculators, and budgeting tools  can help you figure it out. Get your kids to do The Money Belt on-line budgeting exercise to get a realistic idea of the actual cost of living away from home.  
• Show Me The Money: Besides the RESP savings the coaches are contributing, where will the other funds from. Another research assignment: Have your child research what funding options are available (scholarships, loans, part-time jobs, summer employment, ScotiaBank Awards, Bursaries, and more). Don't forget putting Birthday money or a portion of any cash gift into education savings really adds up over the years.

These exercises are a great way for both you and your child to clarify and manage the expectations each of you have in regards to post-secondary education funding, and focus your education plan.

LINKS TO RESOURCES:

The Money Belt - Info for Parents 

The Money Belt - Info for Students

ScotiaBank Customer Contest for Students

ScotiaBank - yconic Student Bursary Contest

Government of Canada - Services for Youth 

Scholarships Canada

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about planning and saving for education costs.

Note: I received compensation for sharing my ideas on planning, preparing and saving for post-secondary education. All opinions are my own.  

ThrowBack Thursday #TBT #Nintendo #GameboyAdvance circa 2001

#TBT

ThrowBack Thursday 

Thing1's Purple Gameboy Advance

 circa 2001

Thing1 still uses it every now and then.

Anyone else own one of these? What was your favourite game?

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about yesterdays.

A #Streamteam #BakingBootCamp Is Not for the Faint of Tart @Netflix_CA

Netflix Baking BootCamp: Not For The Faint of Tart! 

 

Netflix Canada gathered a handful of  Ottawa Streamteamers and their offspring at the Urban Element for a sweet "mixer" infused with flavour and fun.

And so the baking begins...

So impressed with Chef's skills the crowd is left speechless... 

Urban Element's Chefs, and Jenny and Sabena from Netflix. 

Key ingredients to the perfect Baking BootCamp. Note the laser sharp focus on their faces.

Many thanks to my baking partners in crime Alyssa's kids. As you can see they weren't shy about getting their hands dirty. (Too bad they're not fun. tee hee)

Is it just me or does that cupcake look like it was made by Salvador Dali?

Just in case you want to host 

your own Netflix Baking BootCamp 

the link to the recipes is below.   

RECIPES:

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Croods Dragons Popples and sweet treats. 

Note: I was compensated for this post in cookies and cupcakes (yum). As a member of the Netflix Streamteam I receive Netflix and a streaming device free of charge for the purpose of my Netflix reviews and post. All opinions are my own.

Recommendation: #Twinsters Documentary #What2Watch #W2WW @Netflix_CA

What to Watch?

As you all know, "What's Good to Watch?" is a common question amongst my friends and family, and the reason why I share movie and show recommendations on Cathy Thinking Out Loud every Wednesday (aka #W2WW). This week's recommendation is a documnetary called Twinsters which you can find on Netflix Canada.

Twinsters is about how twin sisters born in Korea, separated at birth and adopted to two different families (one in the US and the other in France) came to find each other. 

Neither twin had any idea the other existed, until one happen to see a youtube video the other was in. Twinsters documents their incredible sorry.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this weeks recommendations, and please share your suggestions in the comments section. 

Happy Streaming!

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about what to watch.

Note: I have not been compensated for this post in any way. All opinions are my own, and the purpose of this post is merely to share with my readers.

Nov 11- #RememberanceDay: Remembering 365 Days A Year...

Cathy Thinking Out Loud: #RememberanceDay: Remembering 365 Days A Year Our Actions Speak Louder Than Words: 

Poppies by Benoit Aubry of Ottawa

I admit I am sentimental and my kids would say easily brought to tears. I am proud to be Canadian, and every year on Remembrance Day I attend the school assembly or watch the ceremonies on TV, and predictably when I see the older veterans in their uniforms, blankets wrapped around them while they stoically stand or sit in chairs or wheelchairs often in the rain or the snow, I cry. They make me proud, when they humbly tell their stories of bravery and service. It always makes me sad, that no matter how good life after war has been, the clocks can never be turned back. They cannot unremember, or unsee what they have seen and experienced. No one comes out of such experiences untouched or unchanged... 

continue reading

(Originally posted to Cathy Thinking Out Loud - Nov 11th, 2014)

Cathy thinking out loud about honouring, remembering and Remembrance Day.