Author Archives: erin-elaine-casey

vLife’s Top 5 March Break Activities for 2022

vLife Blog Top 5 March Break Activities for 2022 image

Nine whole days of March Break activities… fun for the whooooole family. Yes, it’s that special time of year again… and our third pandemic March Break. The kids are home, you’re too scared of being trapped in a hotel room with your entire family for a week to actually fly anywhere, AND if you have […]

Valentines Day Gifts for all of us — even you!

vLife Valentines Day Advice Blog image 2022

Valentines Day gifts: Asking for a friend Valentines Day is here again, and with it the PRESSURE to find perfect Valentines Day gifts. And, well, frankly to enjoy Valentines Day. (Or is it Valentine’s Day?? Stay tuned till the end for a brief polemic on the use of attributive apostrophes!*) Fear not. Auntie Erin is […]

New year, but same old: Yes, this is hard.

vLife New Year 2022 Blog image

The new year is here. As I write this, it’s December 23rd and a new year is coming. The vLife new years blog is due, but I keep putting off writing said blog because every time I think I know what to say, EVERYTHING CHANGES AGAIN. Yesterday morning, I woke up feeling pretty good. I’d […]

More than local gifts: Holiday 2021 is all about YOU.

vLife Holiday Blog Local Gifts and Self-Care Dec 2021

You’re in for a treat this month. Why? Because in addition to plugging the many benefits of local gifts this festive season, I’m gonna get personal about my journey as a recovering holiday stressball. Local gifts are closer — and easier — than you think. Before I overshare, I want to acknowledge a few things: […]

Local gifts. The perfect solution to supply chain anxiety.

vLife Blog 2021-11 Supply Chain Local Gifts image

Worried about that pesky supply chain? Local gifts to the rescue! As yet another pandemic festive season barrels down upon us, our thoughts turn to making the hopes and dreams of our loved ones come true. Of course, here at vLife, we want you to think local gifts first. And this year, taking a buy […]

Effective and Doable Online Marketing Ideas for Local Small Business

Doable Online Marketing for Small Indie Businesses vLife Blog Pic

Online marketing for small local businesses You already know that online marketing, including social media marketing, is a must for your small local business. Heck, you’ve probably even taken a course or workshop on the topic. And let me guess what you learned: Post daily! Create and keep on top of a marketing content calendar! […]

Top 5 Nova Scotia Travel Tips: March Break 2021

vLife-Blog-Things-to-Do-in-Nova-Scotia-March-Break-2021-Blog-image

The 2021 Nova Scotia travel season looks a little different this year. Observing tight Nova Scotia travel restrictions that thankfully loosened a little bit recently, let us turn our thoughts not just to making Dr. Strang proud (because he’s kind of like everyone’s dad), but to supporting local Halifax and Nova Scotia businesses as they […]

Local Valentine’s gifts perfect for your special person

vLife Valentine 2021 Blog image Show Your Love with Local poster with heart and hand holding gift

Spoiler alert: This post is definitely about finding local Valentine’s gifts for that special someone. Or someones. Even if that someone is YOU. For a day meant to celebrate love, February 14th can strike fear into the hearts of even the most seasoned gift giver. Finding the best gift for Valentine’s Day is entirely subjective […]

Top 10 Holiday Season Traditions, COVID-Style

vLife You Can Do it Holiday Traditions COVID-StyleErin Elaine Casey showing surprised santa

Ah, holiday season traditions. We’ve all got them, whether we like it or not. Getting your s**t together this holiday season is a little more complicated than usual. And let’s be real — you’ve had enough self-improvement for one year. What you need is someone who understands. Someone who gets you. Someone whose holiday observations […]

On local gift baskets and how they saved my holiday bacon

Local Gift Basket curated by vLife writer and passionate buy local supporter Erin Casey

Local gift baskets — and shopping for said baskets — has taught me a lot this holiday season. Mainly that while I seem to be quite good at locating and spending money at small businesses near me, I am NOT very good at actually assembling my haul of local goods into an attractive package. Before […]