To Kill a Mockingbird at Stratford – Outstanding Production

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To Kill a Mockingbird at Stratford @DownshiftingPRO compelling theatre
To Kill a Mockingbird at Stratford - review by Hayden Ibbott

It’s not too late to see To Kill a Mockingbird at Stratford.  Just go!

This year was a slow start for us.  We have left going to Stratford until the end and now, I regret not getting on it sooner.  So far, we have seen The Music Man and To Kill a Mockingbird (one of the best productions I have ever seen at Stratford), and at the end of the month, we will see The Rocky Horror Show.  Our son was lucky enough to catch The Tempest in September.

Chastising myself for missing out on The Tempest and Coriolanus,  I’ve picked up the line-up for the 2019 Stratford Festival season and have started to plan which plays to go to next year.  There are no excuses not to go, Stratford is located a short one-hour drive from both Toronto and London.  If you love live theatre and you love Shakespeare, you can’t go wrong with the Stratford Festival.

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Planning ahead for Flights to Burlington VT with Porter Airline!

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It could not have been any easier.  Flying Porter Airlines from Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ)  to Burlington, VT (BTV) last winter was a breeze.  This 75 minute flight has you on the slopes in a jiffy.  Once you land in Burlington, pick up your rental car and hit the road, you can be at … Read more

Rock the Road – 5 Tips for First Time Drivers Behind the Wheel

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OK Tire - Frist Time Drivers behind the Wheel_ @DownshiftingPRO

The fall is a busy time for most families.  We squeeze in the last road trip, close up the cottage and then start getting ready for school.  This year we have two of our children at university, one in St. Catherine’s and the other locally. One daughter will be riding her bike or taking public transport to school.  The other will most likely be driving the car 50% of the time and taking the bus the other 50%.  She will be a first time driver on a daily commute!  No question about it, she’ll be asking: what do I need in my car?

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Short Travel Videos from @DownshiftingPRO

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Making videos can be challenging for bloggers.  They tend to be intensive and labours of love but a really good way to show our audience some of the highlights of a trip, museum or activity.  At the beginning of the year, I posted some of the short travel videos that I had created for my … Read more

Take A Day Trip to Lake Huron on Highway 21 #PowerONroadtrip

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There is nothing better than a day trip to Lake Huron. Whether you are coming from London, Windsor, Kitchener-Waterloo or Toronto, you are likely no more than 2.5 hours away. Part of the Great Lakes region, these interconnected lakes begin with Lake Ontario which connects to Lake Erie via locks. As you continue west, you … Read more

In a car emergency a cell phone is not enough–OnStar Automatic Crash Response #BeSafeOutThere

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Disclosure: I have partnered with YMC and OnStar and have received compensation for this post.  All opinions are my own. It happened to me. It happened to my husband. Something goes wrong with your car and you don’t know what to do! Is there anything  scarier than a flat tire, a dead battery – or … Read more

What University Students Need – Essential Back-to-School supplies

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What can you get at Staples for University and College Students ThinkStaples DownshiftingPRO 1
What can you get at Staples for University and College Students @DownshiftingPRO 1

What University Students Need

As summer tapers off you may find yourself preparing for the usual back-to-school drill. I wanted to update one of my popular posts on what you need to get back to school for your college or university child. With only one child returning to college, as two have already graduated, the excitement is just a little bit different but no less important. 

We still need lots of school supplies and now the added bonus of furniture, laptops, printers and accessories. It will be a challenge as we have our work cut out for us before Labour Day and the first day of classes!  Good thing I’m not really worried because for us we have plenty of options: second-hand (thrifted), big box, or value stores (Walmart, Target, Giant Tiger).

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Fact Finding Road Trip to Bruce Power in Kincardine, Ontario #PowerONroadtrip

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Bruce Power Road Trip DownshiftingPRO PowerOn

As we prepare for our annual summer vacation, I look forward to returning to Bruce County and the Bruce Peninsula.  It is one of my favourite areas in Ontario. Due in no small part to the beautiful beaches of Lake Huron and varied cottage country located just 165 km from London.  This is Southwestern Ontario … Read more