Portugal, but make it decadent. Inside Tours knows exactly the perfect recipe for your clients who think they've done it all, eaten it all and sipped it all at Europe's finest establishments. This one changes the game, the one your most indulgent clients will be talking about for years: LISBON: THE APPETIZER: Begin at a private chef's table with one of Lisbon's Michelin starred chefs, watching each course come together in front of you. The next morning, roll up your sleeves for a pastel de nata masterclass, then wander the tiled streets of Alfama with a private guide, sampling tinned fish, cured ham, and cherry liqueur along the way. End with a sunset sail on the Tagus, white port in hand, at golden hour. ALENTEJO: THE SLOW COURSE: Trade the city for a restored farm estate surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, and cork oak forests, where time moves at the pace of a long lunch. Taste talha wines, fermented in giant clay amphorae using a method dating back to Roman times. Float over medieval hilltop villages in a hot air balloon at dawn, then gather for a private dinner of acorn fed black pork beneath a sky full of stars. DOURO VALLEY: THE MAIN EVENT: Arrive in style by helicopter, soaring over the steep terraced vineyards of the world's oldest demarcated wine region. Check into a destination spa hotel among the vines, then visit family run quintas for tastings and long lunches paired with wines that rarely leave Portugal. Cruise the river on a traditional rabelo boat and visit during harvest and you can join the grape stomping in a stone lagar. PORTO: THE GRAND FINALE: Cross to Vila Nova de Gaia for after hours access to the historic port lodges, where centuries old barrels line the cellars. Sit down with a master blender to create your own port, bottled and labeled with your name. Then uncork something truly rare: a port from your client's birth year. Finish with a farewell dinner overlooking the Douro River and the city lights, raising a final toast to the good life. Over the top? Absolutely. That's the point with Inside Tours.  |
Thursday, October 15, 2026
Travel Tidbits - Decadence in Portugal
Going Green - CRUSH! New Seasonal Scents
CRUSH!’s newest scented floormats include some great fall scents:
Apple À La Mode — warm apple pie
Pumpkin Spice Latte — pumpkin + a hint of spice
Tinsel-Trimmed Tree — candied holiday tree
Gingerbread Boy — gingerbread + sugar cookie
Each $19.99 mat is 100% bio-based and fully biodegradable, making it a fun, unexpected addition to fall and holiday gift guides. Pre-orders open October 19, 2026
Money Matters - Early Holiday Shopping Survey
WalletHub recently released its 2026 Early Holiday Shopping Survey, looking at how consumers are approaching early holiday shopping and budgeting this year. You can find highlights from the survey below.
Key Findings:
- Inflation Threatens Christmas: More than half of Americans think inflation is going to ruin Christmas.
- Smaller Budgets This Year: 79% of Americans say their holiday budget is the same size as last year or smaller.
- Still Paying Off Debt: More than 1 in 4 Americans are still paying off debt from last holiday season.
- Early Bird Shoppers: 41% of people say they usually start shopping for the holidays in October or earlier.
- Shopping Early Pays Off: 94% of people say shopping early helps them stay on budget better than shopping at the last minute, and 69% of people say it helps them save money.
- Shoppers Doubt AI: 56% of people don’t trust AI to help them with their holiday shopping.
“Most people believe inflation is going to ruin Christmas, according to a new WalletHub survey, but we don’t have to allow that to happen. Sure, prices are high and more than 1 in 4 of us are still dealing with debt from the holidays last year, but savvy consumers still have a few tricks up their sleeves to help make the holidays both happy and affordable. Making a budget and starting the shopping process early are two important strategies. More than 90% of people say shopping early helps them stay on budget, and more than two-thirds of people believe it helps them save money. Combine that with the right rewards or 0% APR credit card, which could add hundreds of dollars in extra savings, and the holidays aren’t looking so ruined after all.”
- Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst
More From WalletHub
Book Nook - I Might Be a Penguin
Do you ever wonder what animals do all day at the zoo? Many kids do! The upcoming picture book, I Might Be a Penguin (Oct. 20, 2026), is a humorous and engaging story that invites kids to imagine what it might be like to be a favorite zoo animal. From monkeys and pandas to flamingos, cheetahs, and - you guessed it - penguins, animals have unique habits and abilities that kids find fascinating.
This is an interactive and exciting book for ages 4-7 that is sure to get kids up and moving as they try to mirror the movements of their favorite creatures. Additional fun facts will satisfy curious young minds looking for more details about the featured animals.
I had a chance to interview author Rachel Tawil Kenyon to learn more.
About Rachel Tawil Kenyon: She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and spent her teen years in Hollywood, California. Bringing her diverse experiences with her, she moved with her family to Nashville, Tennessee, where she writes, reads, and teaches. Rachel is known in her community for her enthusiasm working with young children and teenagers. She writes from the heart and encourages the kids she works with to do the same.
Socials: Website
Enriching Education - Inclusive Job Interviews
Maximilian Kolbe College works with neurodivergent students on education, independence, and workplace readiness. Through that work, the school sees how hiring systems can create barriers before a candidate ever has the opportunity to demonstrate the abilities that would matter most once they're actually in the workplace.
I had a chance to interview Dr. Nicole McZeal Walters, President, Maximilian Kolbe Career School to learn more about skills-based job interviews.
Interview Performance vs. On-the-Job Success
Strong interview skills and workplace success do not always go hand in hand because interviews often measure how well someone presents themselves, rather than how well they perform the job. Some candidates may excel at communicating under pressure, while others demonstrate their greatest strengths through hands-on work, problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration. Employers must look beyond the interview to recognize a candidate’s full potential.
Misleading Hiring Signals
Eye contact, quick responses, polished speech, and confidence are often mistaken for competence. However, these behaviors do not necessarily reflect a person’s knowledge, work ethic, or ability to perform. This is particularly important when interviewing neurodivergent candidates, who may communicate or process information differently. Employers should focus on demonstrated skills, relevant experience, and the ability to learn—not simply how comfortably someone navigates an interview.
Skills-Based Interviewing
Skills-based interviewing allows candidates to demonstrate their abilities through practical tasks, work samples, simulations, or real-world problem-solving activities. Employers can incorporate this approach by asking candidates to complete tasks related to the position, explain their thinking, or respond to realistic workplace scenarios. This provides a more accurate picture of what candidates can do and creates opportunities for both neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals to showcase their strengths.
Inclusive Hiring
Inclusion begins during hiring because the process determines who gets an opportunity to contribute their talents. When employers rely on narrow expectations about communication, behavior, or presentation, they risk overlooking exceptional candidates. Inclusive hiring uses accessible interview formats, clear expectations, reasonable accommodations, and multiple ways to demonstrate competence. When we recognize and value different ways of thinking, learning, and working, we build stronger teams and create workplaces where everyone has an opportunity to succeed.
Parenting Pointers - Gentle Parenting vs. Hybrid Parenting: What Early Childhood Educators Actually See Work
You’ve read the parenting posts, watched the videos, and maybe felt a little judged along the way. One camp says never raise your voice. Another says kids need firm limits or they’ll run the house. If you’re wondering where the truth lives, you’re not alone. The gentle parenting vs traditional parenting debate has left a lot of loving parents feeling stuck between two extremes, unsure which approach actually helps their child thrive.
Here’s the good news from the people who spend all day with young children: you don’t have to pick a side. Educators see the best results when families borrow the warmth of one approach and the structure of another.
What These Parenting Styles Actually Mean
Before you choose a lane, it helps to know what each term really means.
Gentle parenting focuses on empathy, connection, and respecting a child’s feelings. It leans on validation and calm guidance rather than punishment.
Traditional parenting emphasizes clear rules, authority, and consistent consequences. It prioritizes structure and predictable expectations.
Hybrid parenting blends the two. You stay warm and empathetic while still holding firm, age-appropriate boundaries.
The gentle parenting vs traditional parenting conversation often frames these as opposites. In practice, most families land somewhere in the middle, and that middle ground is where children tend to flourish.
Why Early Childhood Educators Lean Toward a Hybrid Approach
Teachers manage rooms full of toddlers and preschoolers every day, each with their own unique personalities. They can’t rely on a single script, so they naturally combine styles based on what each moment calls for.
What they see work again and again:
Empathy first, then the limit. “I know you’re upset the blocks are put away. It’s still time to clean up.”
Consistency over perfection. Children feel safe when the rules stay steady, even when emotions run high.
Connection before correction. A calm, connected child listens better than a scolded one.
This is where a purely single-style approach can fall short. That leads us to a fair question.
The Real Problems With Gentle Parenting (and How to Fix Them)
Gentle parenting has given families a wonderful vocabulary for empathy. Still, educators notice a few common problems with gentle parenting when it’s applied without structure.
- Boundaries get blurry, and endless validation without a clear limit can leave a child confused about what’s actually expected.
- Decision fatigue for parents. Trying to talk through every feeling in the middle of a meltdown is exhausting and rarely works in the moment.
- Mistaking permissiveness for gentleness. True gentle parenting still includes limits. When those limits disappear, behavior often gets harder to manage.
None of these problems with gentle parenting mean the approach is wrong. They usually signal that the structure piece is missing. Add clear, consistent boundaries and the warmth becomes far more effective.
How to Build Your Own Balanced Approach
You don’t need a formal method. You need a few reliable habits.
- Name the feeling, hold the line. Acknowledge emotions and keep the boundary in place.
- Keep rules short and predictable, especially with children six and under. Two or three clear expectations beat a long list nobody remembers.
- Stay calm, not cold. Firmness and warmth can live in the same sentence.
- Follow through. Consequences only teach when they’re consistent.
When families pair empathy with structure, children learn both emotional awareness and self-control. That’s the sweet spot educators aim for.
FAQ
Is gentle parenting the same as permissive parenting?
No. Gentle parenting includes limits and expectations. Permissive parenting removes them. The confusion between the two is one of the most common problems with gentle parenting.
Which approach is better, gentle or traditional?
Neither wins outright. In the gentle parenting vs traditional parenting question, most educators find that a blend of empathy and structure serves young children best.
My partner and I parent differently. Is that a problem?
It can be if the rules constantly shift. Aim for shared, consistent expectations, even if your parenting styles differ slightly in tone.
How do I stay consistent when I’m tired?
Keep your list of core rules short so they’re easy to enforce on hard days. Consistency matters more than getting every response perfect.
The Takeaway
You don’t have to choose between being warm and being firm. The parents and educators who see the best results do both, meeting children with empathy while holding steady, loving boundaries.
At Little Sunshine’s Playhouse, our teachers see every day how much children thrive when connection and structure work together. If you’d like to see this balanced approach in action, we’d love to welcome you for a tour and answer any questions about how we support your child’s growth. Find a Little Sunshine’s Playhouse near you!
Read more, learn more!
Music Minute - Beppie: Nine and P-O-T-A-T-O Crew
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SoundCloud | Spotify | Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
“Nine”: YouTube Track | YouTube Music Video
“P-O-T-A-T-O Crew”: YouTube Music Video
Beppie’s eighth album, 'Puzzle Pieces,' is out now. The record gathers the Edmonton musician's latest run of singles, including the counting anthem "Nine" and the hip hop flavoured "P-O-T-A-T-O Crew," and marks another chapter for one of Canadian children's music's busiest and most decorated voices.
Born Stephanie Nhan in Regina and based in Edmonton since 2006, Beppie has released seven albums since 2017, earned two JUNO nominations, joined the Recording Academy and signed with Platoon for distribution through Apple Music. She has picked up four Western Canadian Music Award nominations along the way, winning Children's Artist of the Year in 2023, the same year she received the Edmonton Arts Trust Fund Award and was named a finalist in the International Songwriting Competition. Over the past six years she has drawn more than $100,000 in funding from organisations including the Canada Council for the Arts, the Edmonton Arts Council, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, SOCAN and FACTOR, support that has gone directly into her touring and music development. With 25 years of experience teaching music, she performs more than 70 shows a year at schools, festivals and events, and her catalogue has been streamed over two million times worldwide.
"Nine" grew out of Beppie's dual life as a mother of three and a music educator. Counting songs for kids are everywhere, so she set out to make one that stood apart. "The mission was clear, it had to be funky, and it had to be fun," she says. Working with producer Justin McDonough, the pair built the track around a funky riff and let it grow from there. "We started with a funky little riff and then everything just started flowing," she explains. "The drums, the strings, the flute! Once we got going, we didn't stop until we got to, you guessed it, nine!"
"P-O-T-A-T-O Crew" started in the garden. While digging up potatoes with her son Elliot, then 11, Beppie found herself imagining the tunnels and pathways left behind by the roots, and the pair invented an entire mythology on the spot, complete with a king potato and an epic underground battle. Weeks later, on a writing retreat with longtime producer and co-writer Justin McDonough, she brought the idea back to life. "When you write music for kids and with kids, you can pretty much write about anything you want," she says. "It's crazy to think that this is actually my job."
The song took shape as a roll call of potato dishes, each voiced by a different performer. Beppie recruited fellow children's musician Fyütch, who suggested his own daughter, Aura V, take on the character of Mash. Beppie rounded out the crew by bringing in her own children, with Fry voiced by Elliot and Spud voiced by her daughter Amelia, while Beppie herself takes on Chip. Aura V went on to become the youngest Grammy winning artist in history the following February, a coincidence Beppie says the whole team was thrilled about. Built as a 90s style hip hop anthem, "P-O-T-A-T-O Crew" has become one of the most energetic moments in Beppie's live show.
Tour Dates
Oct. 24, 2026 Spruce Grove, AB @ Horizon Stage (Album Release Concert)
Feb. 15, 2027 Red Deer, AB @ Red Deer Museum
March 20 to 30, 2027 Vancouver, Victoria, Burnaby and Richmond, BC @ Spring Tour (Dates and Details TBA)
April 4, 2027 Leduc, AB @ MacLab Theatre
Parenting Pointers - Parents warned ‘non-toxic’ tie-dye kits can still stain their homes
With tie-dye attracting renewed attention, Free Spirited Clothing explains the mistakes that could leave more than your child’s T-shirt covered in color.
The T-shirt is supposed to change color. Your kitchen table probably isn’t.
For parents planning a tie-dye afternoon, a kit labelled “non-toxic” can sound reassuring. But that description should not be confused with “washable”: fabric dyes can be non-toxic and still produce permanent color. Some tie-dye kits explicitly carry both descriptions.
The advice comes as tie-dye continues to attract interest. Previously published analysis by Free Spirited Clothing, using Glimpse estimates, recorded approximately one million US Google searches in the month analyzed, up 20% year on year. Recent Reddit posts also show people sharing ice-dye creations and asking for tutorials.
Abby Rafer, spokesperson for Free Spirited Clothing, says planning the cleanup should happen before anyone opens a bottle.
“Before you choose your colors, choose where you’re going to work, where the wet clothing will sit and where you’re going to rinse it. Those decisions are much easier to make before you’re holding a dripping rainbow T-shirt.
Check the instructions on your particular kit. ‘Non-toxic’ should never be read as a promise that an accidental splash will wash out.”
1. Check what “washable” actually refers to
A finished garment being suitable for machine washing does not mean spilled dye will wash out of everything it touches.
Read the full product instructions, including age guidance and supervision requirements. Tulip’s instructions call for protecting the work surface, wearing gloves and supervising children during tie-dye projects.
“Use clothing you’re happy to get marked, and make sure everyone knows which area is for dyeing,” Abby says. “The finished shirt might be the main event, but setting up properly is part of the activity.”
2. Your bathroom sink isn’t automatically a suitable dye station
It is tempting to assume that somewhere designed for washing will be easy to clean afterward. Check the material first.
Dye manufacturer Rit advises against dyeing in porcelain or fiberglass sinks. Its suggested alternatives include a suitable plastic container you do not mind staining or a stainless steel sink. It also recommends keeping dyeing containers separate from those used for cooking.
3. The mess might be there before you can see it
Here is the less obvious part: spilled dye powder can be difficult to spot.
Tulip warns that excess dye dust can be invisible until it reacts with water. Protecting the work area and following cleanup instructions therefore matters even when there are no obvious colored splashes.
4. Don’t put the freshly dyed shirt straight into the family laundry
Follow the kit’s setting, rinsing and washing instructions before treating the finished item like ordinary laundry.
For its One-Step Ultimate kit, Tulip advises washing separately for the first few washes and keeping wet dyed fabric from resting against other items.
“A good tie-dye project ends with something your child wants to wear,” Abby adds. “Give the setup and the cleanup as much attention as the pattern.”
About Free Spirited Clothing: Free Spirited Clothing is a tie-dye apparel brand offering clothing hand-dyed in small batches, including T-shirts, long sleeves, tanks, hoodies and dresses.
Search data: US Google search estimates sourced through Glimpse, as reported in Free Spirited Clothing’s previously published tie-dye study. Figures relate to the period analyzed in that study.
Linking request: If using this commentary or data, please credit Free Spirited Clothing and link to the original tie-dye research.
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Enriching Education - ISOSET
I recently ran across a press release about a young 9-year-old earning a French baccalaureate (equivalent to a US HS diploma) - a record. I had a chance to learn more about the ISOSET program, in this interview.
What sets this method apart from other learning methods?
This method is based on rapid comprehension, a significant reduction in study time, trust in children’s learning abilities, and respect for their natural pace. Students study just two hours a day, compared with six to eight hours in traditional schools. The freed-up time encourages curiosity, nurtures personal passions, and fosters emotional balance. The method does not aim to replace the current education system or remove subjects; it is part of an approach based on support and respect for the child’s rhythm. It is also closely monitored, with child psychiatrists and specialised teachers, and the children are placed in ecosystems with other children of their age, even if they do not follow the same programme.
Does this method work for all types of learners?
The method has been tested with other people, applying the same programme, and always with respect for the children’s intelligence. It remains open to everyone, regardless of nationality or the student’s IQ. It is based on a simple belief: trust children.
What do parents need to be aware of if they want to consider this method?
Parents should know that this study is not intended for the general public and remains under study and observation. It is not yet deployed. The approach is delicate, and it was not possible to generalise it before knowing that its long-term impact is positive. It is also very costly for the organisation, which mobilises considerable resources — although it costs nothing for the students, who are volunteers. No child has ever been forced to follow this path, and none of the children accompanied has been constrained. The children play more than other children of their age and are just as fulfilled.
Parenting Pointers - Breaks and Parenting
Data from a survey of Americans who live with at least one other person found:
- Among parents with kids living at home, 1 in 2 say they'd be a worse parent without small breaks alone.
- Here's where the breaks come in: 89% of Americans have stretched out a bathroom trip, and 70% have sat in the driveway or garage before going inside. That driveway number climbs to 83% for those living with six or more people.
- Women are especially likely to need a private moment. They retreat to the bedroom with the door closed at 59% compared to 42% of men.
- Nearly 1 in 4 women cry during a personal break compared to 6% of men.
- Overall, 79% of Americans have lied about, hidden, or kept quiet about a break they took just to be alone, and 2 in 5 say guilt is the most common cost.
- 49% agree they shouldn't have to hide to get time alone in the first place.