Family Life Archives - Shandean R.

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Buying a Home in Canada: 5 Things I Learned

by Shandean R. on December 19, 2025

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Recently, my husband and I began the process of buying a home in Canada. As first-time homebuyers, we decided the best route for us was…

Photo of black Mazda cx-5 SUV parked in a col snow covered park during the winter. Photo by Shandean Reid, lifestyle blogger and communications expert in the Winter Car Emergency Kit blog post on www.shandeanreid.com

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Winter Car Emergency Kit: Prairies Winter Prep

by Shandean R. on November 7, 2025

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When you move from Jamaica to Canada, the Prairies to be exact, having a winter car emergency kit is part of navigating this new reality.…

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What to Wear on a Beach Vacation: Staple Outfits for Women

by Shandean R. on October 31, 2025

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Dreaming of Jamaica, Mexico or the Mediterranean to break up your long winter season? Sun-kissed skin, sandy toes and the soothing sound of waves may…

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7 Benefits of Building vs Buying a Home in Canada

by Shandean R. on October 24, 2025

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The question of whether we’d be building vs buying a home didn’t come up until well into our search to buy our first home in…

Photo of a woman wearing a purple active wear top and black biker shorts, stooping to tie the laces on her black adidas running shoes. This photo is featured in "Work-life Balance for Working Moms," an article by blogger and communications strategist Shandean Reid at www.shandeanreid.com

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Work-Life Balance for Working Moms

by Shandean R. on September 12, 2025

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A couple of years ago, I went back to school and found that even as a stay-at-home mom, finding balance in attending classes, doing homework…

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Back-to-School Morning Routine: A Practical Blueprint

by Shandean R. on September 5, 2025

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The idea of a fresh back-to-school morning routine at the start of the school year always feels hopeful, but a bit like it’s coming too…

Stock photo on www.shandeanreidcom, The Caffeinated Millennial family home and lifestyle blog. how to Design a Trendy, Accessible Home. The picture is showing a moddy, trendy bedroom wiht low furniture for accessibility.

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4 Ways to a Design Trendy, Accessible Home

by Shandean R. on March 29, 2025

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Designing a trendy, accessible home can be a balancing act. Some millennials, like me, enjoy modern home designs and interior decor. Even when we decide…

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Save Money : 7 Lifestyle Choices for Better Family Living

by Shandean R. on January 31, 2025

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Everyone (regular folks) looks for realistic ways to save money. Whatever the reason, whether to afford necessities, prepare for the future, or make large purchases,…

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How to Dry Winter Boots

by Shandean R. on March 24, 2024

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As a recent immigrant, I recently found myself face-to-face with a quandary. My kid did a kid thing and her winter boots were soaked–and because…

shandean Reid - Canadian lifestyle blogger, canadian contend creator picture of holiday cards and christams decoration son a shiplap table - Basic invite holiday cards

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3 Ways to Use Holiday Cards This Season

by Shandean R. on November 29, 2023

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It’s tiiimmme! (I donned my Mariah Carey voice for this, thank you.) It’s my favourite time of year, and honestly, I am so ready for…

Cost of living in Canada picture showing two shopping receipts. Shandean Reid - Canadian Lifestyle blogger.

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Cost of living in Canada: Saskatchewan

by Shandean R. on May 20, 2023

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As you may know, Canada markets itself aggressively to immigrants. This results in the highlight of the great things about living here, which are many.…

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Four Tips for Saving Money More Intentionally

by Shandean R. on February 18, 2023

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If there ever was a time to share tips for saving money, it’s now. Inflation going into 2023 is ridiculous. The cost of basic necessities…

SAHM to working mom on playground with child

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SAHM to Working Mom After 5 Years

by Shandean R. on June 4, 2022

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When I got pregnant, I didn’t think transitioning from being a SAHM to working mom would take five years. Back then, I agonized over the…

Moving to Saskatchewan from Ontario. Blogger sitting on steps

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Moving to Saskatchewan from Ontario: Why?

by Shandean R. on May 29, 2022

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Yup, you read that right. I’m moving to Saskatchewan from Ontario, where I’ve been living for the last few months: my firsts in Canada. I…

girl talking in the phone in long distance marriage

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Long-Distance Marriage: Making it Work

by Shandean R. on April 11, 2022

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I am in a long-distance marriage. Of all the things I’ve shared since day one on this blog about my experiences with marriage, you couldn’t…

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Code-Switching: Teaching My Child English Before Patois

by Shandean R. on March 12, 2022

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My daughter is five years old and is prone to code-switching between English and Patois in an instant. She does it like a boss, and…

Kemoi and Shandean Reid - What marriage taught me

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What 7 Years of Marriage Taught Me

by Shandean R. on February 27, 2022

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On Valentine’s Day 2022, my husband and I celebrated the conclusion of our seventh year of marriage. It’s been seven years of beautiful companionship in…

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Two Households: The Challenges of Family Life

by Shandean R. on January 21, 2022

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One of the most fascinating things that happened last year was splitting my family life into two households. This family life model is officially called…

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4 Alternatives to Force-Feeding Children

by Shandean R. on January 16, 2022

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As a young child, I recall my parents force-feeding me. After 30+ years, I remember it vividly. Sitting over a single dumpling for hours (or…

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Christmas Tag

by Shandean R. on December 24, 2021

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What better way to bring Blogmas to a close than with a Christmas tag? I have been looking for a tag I could do and…

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My Family Christmas Tradition, 2 Families, 10 Christmases

by Shandean R. on December 23, 2021

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This year, my husband and I celebrate our 10th Christmas together. It encompasses the one Christmas tradition we have made over the years. This, our…

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The Caffeinated Millennial 2021 Year in Review

by Shandean R. on December 20, 2021

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It is crazy that we are at the ending days of the year and it’s time for a 2021 year in review! When the new…

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Budget Christmas Decorations

by Shandean R. on December 19, 2021

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I decided to spruce up my new apartment by using some budget Christmas decorations since I don’t have any decorations at all to start and…

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Jamaican Grand Market: A Millennial Flashback

by Shandean R. on December 17, 2021

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As a Jamaican kid growing up in the 90s in Linstead, I looked forward to experiencing what I now know to be a Jamaican Christmas…

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My Stovetop Christmas Dinner Menu, for One

by Shandean R. on December 15, 2021

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When my friend asked me what was on our Christmas dinner menu this week, I said nothing. I had no plan to cook. For the…

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My Holiday Playlist Collections

by Shandean R. on December 13, 2021

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For me, Christmas is never Christmas without my holiday playlist. I’m not even kidding. For me, joyful holiday music does something for the soul, and…

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7 Reasons to Shop Local for the Holidays

by Shandean R. on December 11, 2021

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There are so many reasons to shop local now more than ever. The world is rebuilding our lives one day at a time as we…

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Drive-by Christmas Lights Viewing

by Shandean R. on December 7, 2021

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A couple of days ago, an acquaintance invited my husband and me to go look at the Christmas lights. Though I had no idea what…

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Life Update – I’m Moving to Canada from Jamaica

by Shandean R. on November 30, 2021

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It’s been a little while since I’ve done a family life update. What better time to do it than now, since I’m moving to Canada.…

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Quick Dinner Recipes For The Family

by Shandean R. on November 27, 2021

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During lockdowns, I got so bored I tried all sorts of things, including quick dinners I’d never made before. I did fancy recipes and baked…

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6 Tips for Shopping Abroad for The Family

by Shandean R. on November 14, 2021

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If your family is anything like mine and you do the majority of your clothes shopping for the family abroad, then you can benefit from…

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5 Reasons to Do Holiday Shopping Early (November)

by Shandean R. on November 7, 2021

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Holiday Shopping at the last minute. Whew. I love Christmas, but honestly, this is one thing I don’t enjoy. Shopping for gifts. Bt I love…

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The Cost of Having a Child in Jamaica (Kingston)

by Shandean R. on October 29, 2021

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The true cost of having a child is sometimes sugar-coated. As a matter of fact, many people are ragged on for not reproducing. I can’t…

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Tips for Balancing Motherhood and School

by Shandean R. on October 8, 2021

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I’ve been balancing motherhood and school life for over a month now and it is one of those things that I’ve never considered until it…

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Cost of Living In Jamaica 2021

by Shandean R. on September 17, 2021

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My home island Jamaica has a fair number of ex-pats or potential ex-pats who want to know the cost of living in Jamaica. It is…

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Back to School List + Life Update

by Shandean R. on August 28, 2021

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“ Have you done the booklist for back to school yet?” This is what my mother-in-law called to ask me one hot day in early…

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I Got the COVID Vaccine – My Experience

by Shandean R. on August 2, 2021

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After months of waiting my turn to be eligible for the Covid vaccine, I was finally able to get my first dose over the weekend.…

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Summer Activities for Kids

by Shandean R. on July 10, 2021

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I’ve never had to concern myself about summer activities for kids before. As a millennial mom, it’s been a long time since I’ve been bothered…

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To My Husband and Father… On Father’s Day

by Shandean R. on June 20, 2021

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Father’s Day is a celebration of Dads. It’s a day when we recognize the efforts of men who are father figures and actively raise children…

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9 Family Financial Goals You Should Set

by Shandean R. on June 19, 2021

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It goes without saying that when you start a family, there are bound to be some family financial goals that you will want to achieve.…

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Mother’s Day: What Motherhood in a Pandemic Taught Me

by Shandean R. on May 9, 2021

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For the second consecutive year, Mother’s Day 2021 is being celebrated under the constraints of a pandemic; lockdowns restrictions, unease and anxiety our generation has…