For the past few weeks, families have been taking on the Active for Life 30-day family physical literacy challenge. This challenge is for anyone who wants to be more active with the family and who want to help their child develop physical literacy. For each of the 30 days, Active for Life will post a suggestion for an easy activity on Facebook that will help your child develop physical literacy but is also enjoyable for the grown-ups in the house as well.

As an Active for Life Role Model, I was invited to share some photos of our family's activities so, of course, I decided to share snapshots of an impromptu family yoga session. However, I wasn't prepared for how awesome my kids would be at getting their yoga on since we don't do family yoga nearly enough. Their downward-facing dog in honour of National Puppy Day was a good start. Then... but then...

I don't know how he does it but he manages to get into lifted lotus without even thinking. It's like kids are naturals when it comes to yoga. I keep remembering how easily both my kids were able to do the downward dog as toddlers, even touching the tops of their heads to the ground. Or when I used to check up on them while they were sleeping and find them lying on their back in warrior pose. It's like, somehow, their bodies know. But when they get older, they forget what they are capable of. This is why I love this 30-day challenge so much because it gives us a chance to exercise the muscle memory while having fun together, as a family. I shared some of our photos on Instagram and they just so happen to be some of the most popular photos I've ever shared. Here's my daughter, a dancer in training, sharing her y-stand:

Next up, a dancer's version of yoga: an impressive Y-stand! #AfL30Days #ystand #yoga #yogaforkids #familyyoga #yogafamily #activeforlife #physicalliteracy #namaste #instayoga #AfLfamily #twitter #everybodybends #everybodybendscanada #dancer #jazzdancer #stopdropandyoga

A post shared by Diana Mancuso (@torontomom) on Mar 23, 2017 at 6:14pm PDT

To see the rest of the photos, head on over to my Instragram feed @torontomom. For more information on how you can participate in the #AfL30Days challenge, visit activeforlife.com.

Designed for the iPhone 6 and 6S, the Evo Wallet Case has a flip-over screen cover with a nifty credit card slot. I use it to store my driver's license since I already have a couple of payment cards on my iPhone, which means I could technically leave the house with a small purse or none at all. Last year, I had purchased a similar case from a random booth at the mall because I liked the convenience of storing cards with my phone. Plus, I thought it was a bargain. A couple of months later, it fell apart. The Evo Wallet, however, was clearly built to last and withstand everyday use. Its 'Snap-On' design ensures optimal fit and the FlexShock feature offers advanced impact protection from drops of up to 2 metres.

The flip-over screen cover has a soft microfibre lining that adds comfort and style. It can be used for landscape tabletop viewing and easily locks into place when your phone is not in use, providing additional screen protection. Although, I do wish it were easier to flip open with one hand and that it had a smart cover so I wouldn't have to manually turn my phone on and off. 

With that said, the Evo Wallet Case is a solid accessory for the iPhone 6 and 6S that offers excellent impact protection, sleek design and convenience. I particularly love that it is ultra thin and lightweight. I have never noticed a case that interfered with Wi-Fi and such, but Tech21 uses FlexShock technology that guarantees zero interference with Wi-Fi, signal quality or sensors. And, as an added bonus, it comes with a lifetime case warranty. The Evo Wallet Case currently retails for $44.95 and shipping is free. To view the vast collection of cases for mobile devices, including their new Evo Aqua Case that provides water and drop protection, visit tech21.com.

Disclosure: I received product to help facilitate this review. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Every teacher can tell you a story of that one student who was smarter than all the rest. And knew it, too. I'm talking about that one student who eagerly awaits the opportunity to catch the teacher making a mistake and wastes no time in pointing it out. You know the ones. Heck, I was one of them. For many of us teachers, though, we harbour a secret fear of these students. Not because they keep us on our toes by constantly proving us wrong. But rather, we fear that we will be unable to challenge and engage these students, failing to meet their academic needs and condemning them to ten months of boredom. In the movie GIFTED, we come across child prodigy Mary Adler (McKenna Grace), a seven-year-old whose mathematical abilities astonish her first grade teacher. Raised by her uncle Frank (Chris Evans), Mary makes no attempt to hide her boredom and frustration from her teacher Bonnie (Jenny Slate) who quickly realizes her new student will never be academically challenged in a regular school setting.

For the first seven years of Mary's life, Frank, a former university professor, chooses to teach his niece at home, where she develops a strong bond with their landlady Roberta (Octavia Spencer). Knowing his sister would want Mary to lead as "normal" a life as possible, Frank decides it's time to enrol her in grade school where she can be more like her peers and make new friends her own age. When news of her gift reaches her grandmother, a custody battle ensues, threatening to separate Frank and Mary.

While the trailer looked promising, I decided to attend an advanced screening of GIFTED more so out of curiosity. And... Chris Evans. The trailer did little to prepare me, however, for the unexpected emotions I felt as I followed a fictional, yet poignant, story that was so beautifully portrayed on the big screen. 

Signed,
Diana, the Smart Arse

Did you know that in 2009, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre received over 11,000 identity fraud reports from Canadian victims, totalling a loss of more than 10 million dollars? The most reported incidents involved payment card fraud but several instances of identity theft and fraud continue to go unreported. Not surprisingly, identity thieves still rely on basic methods such as sifting through discarded physical documents in search of credit card information, bank account numbers, signatures, passports, and other personal information. Since March is Fraud Prevention Month, it is the perfect time of year to pull out your shredder and put it to work. This year, I will be using my new Powershred 79Ci Cross-Cut Jam Proof Shredder by Fellowes.

With tax season right around the corner, I found myself in spring cleaning mode recently and took to shredding old income tax documents. The Canada Revenue Agency only requires that you keep supporting documents for six years but I hadn't sorted through my old files in quite some time. And neither had my husband, who also happens to be a small business owner. Needless to say, I had my work cut out for me. And yet, it didn't seem like work at all. With my super cool Fellowes shredder, I actually had a great time shredding, shredding and shredding some more. 

You see, the Powershred 79Ci can shred up to 14 sheets at once into small cross-cut particles and can hold up to 6 gallons of shredded documents. It also shreds staples, small paper clips, credit cards and CDs. My favourite feature? The Powershred 79Ci boasts SilentShred™ technology that makes shredding ultra-quiet. And I mean, quiet! I couldn't believe it until I heard it with my own ears.

To learn more about how to prevent identity theft, visit the Royal Canadian Mounted Police web page on Identity Theft and Identity Fraud. Also, tune in on March 1st at 8 PM EST for a #FellowesProtects Twitter party where you will learn how to protect yourself against one of the fastest growing crimes in Canada. 

Disclosure: I am participating in a Fellowes identity theft campaign and have received special perks. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.