February 2016 – Urban Suburban Mommy

Raising my son in a small town

Posted on February 29, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in Urban Suburban Mommy .

I was born and raised in the city. In fact there are times when I still refer to myself as a city-diot. Many friends and family would still agree with this statement too – so what if I would prefer to swim in a pool rather than a lake? Seeing the bottom of where anyone is swimming does seem incredibly logical if you ask me.

Speaking of swimming, that’s one of the first things that I think of when it comes to raising my child. I didn’t learn how to swim until we moved up to Parry Sound. My mom enrolled me in swimming lessons, and shortly after I was cannon-balling my way through local lakes and Georgian Bay. I am pretty sure that my husband was swimming on his own by the time he could walk, so it was clear that our son needed to know how to swim at a very young age. Unfortunately Parry Sound does not have a decent pool. (We did take lessons last year but the temperature of the pool was never above 65 degrees so the experience was overshadowed by my son’s blue lips.) So unless you’re up for the 75 minute trek to Bracebridge, swimming in the off season is not an option.

Times like this always make me think about raising our son in a small town. Of course I can only reference how I was raised (in Toronto). And Ian can only reference his small town upbringing (Parry Sound). Although I feel like this would be a suitable time for a PROs and CONs chart, I have streamlined my list for reader benefit.

Support

Our small town has a ton of support. My doctor’s office always fits me in. In fact, they have a baby nurse that’s a phone call away for those quick questions like “I am ready to give my kid peanut butter. Now what?!”.

The support from the local agencies such as Hands and Social Services is huge! The Early Year programs that run throughout our community are amazing. Whether you want to get out of the house and learn about foods to introduce to your baby, or have craft time with other young children, or just have a place to meet for tea in the first few weeks after giving birth, the support is there. (More on the actual birthing experience in a small town some other time.)

As a community, the support is nothing short of amazing. The way we band together when someone’s child is born with a heart disease, or stand by a family after a tragic death – in general, a small town is there to support you in ways that a large city can’t.

Comfort

To some it may seem like a small thing, but I love knowing that when my son is old enough to ride his bike to the corner store, that he can. And unsupervised. And he will return safe and sound. There is a comfort in a small town that just makes you feel okay that your child is out there on his own.

Easy commute/great pace

I am done work at 2pm. I pick up my son at 2:07 and we are home by 2:20 many days. And he’s still in (and out) of a car seat. I love that by 2:30 we are “doing” something! There are lots of options for afternoon and evening activities – music class, hockey, long walks to the park, swimming, etc. They’re all at very reasonable times which still allows us to eat dinner as a family, etc.

Culture and diversity

This is an area that we often lack in, however, the city is only just over 2 hours away. It’s a reasonable weekend family trip even if it means getting a hotel room so you’re not spending half of the day in the car with your little one.

And although shopping should likely have a category on its own, it is another area that we are lacking in a small town. Luckily in this day and age, we are able to order just about anything within seconds on our smart phones so although we miss the hustle and bustle of a shopping mall, we can still obtain everything that the city folk can!

Parry Sound does all seasons well – especially summer. If you haven’t had the chance to experience the little town that I call home, I hope that you can find the time to do so. Small town life isn’t perfect. But neither is city life. But if you’re wondering about the choice between a big city, or a small town, I would encourage you to give a small town a good look. And believe me, a few years ago I could only imagine raising my child in the city. Now, I can’t imagine it any other way. I’d like to think that we have the best of both worlds with Toronto being a short drive away.

Krista Holmes, KH Mgmt, became a mother in the summer of 2014. She works behind-the-scenes in the Canadian music industry, designs several social media campaigns and manages special events. Her love for motherhood & music can be found on her blog, mommylovesmusic.wordpress.com.

@KHmgmt

Oscars Red Carpet Watch by Erica Wearing

Posted on February 27, 2016 by ericahwearing Posted in Fame & Fam .

I can’t believe it’s that time of year again – The Oscars are this Sunday. I always keep my eye out for celebrity trendsetters and classic beauties on the red carpet who win the best awards for hair in my opinion.

I’m loving the looks I have been seeing for the awards shows so far in 2016. The simplicity of just a slicked polished top knot or a clean part with smooth long blunt hair or a fresh chopped bob with blunt bangs makes such a statement yet so classic and simple . I love how elegant this looks. I keep referring to simple because these styles are not over done yet so beautiful .

I think my favorite is the slicked look.

What do you need to do it? Some high gloss polish, a flat iron and a clean part are great tips to achieve these looks.

Also still on the red carpet, we are seeing the Hollywood classic wave with more of a beachy vibe too it.

All of these styles are simple, sexy and classic that we can wear everyday or pair with a glamorous dress.

Looking forward to seeing what the stars will be rocking this weekend for the Oscars!

And straight from the red carpet, we’ve got some really interesting stats from Wallethub.com:

2%: Of Academy Awards voters are Black (vs. 13.2% of the population)
25 Years Old: Jennifer Lawrence is the youngest person ever to earn four acting nominations
$3,500: Average cost of preparing a Hollywood actress for the red carpet
$220K: Value of the 2016 Oscar Swag Bag
39 Years: Between Sylvester Stallone’s two Oscar nominations for his portrayal of Rocky Balboa
45 Sec: The amount to which acceptance speeches will be cut down this year, thanks to individual shout outs scrolling on the bottom of the screen.

Erica H. Wearing has been a stylist for over 16 years and she absolutely loves what she does . “It’s a great feeling to help people feel and look their best when they leave my chair. I wouldn’t trade this for any other job in the world!”
Check out Erica at Ka!Boom Hair Salon 1129 West Pender Street, Vancouver B.C .
(604)681-6003

hairbyericaw

A lesson in food with Registered Dietitian Abbey Sharp

Posted on February 26, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in Domestic Goodness, Fame & Fam .

Food writer, blogger and Registered Dietitian, we caught up with the ever-so-chic Abbey Sharp to ask her the questions you know you want to know about what we really should be eating.

What are super foods?

I think they’re foods that some marketer or self professed “nutrition expert” decided instantly makes a dish healthy.

It’s a buzz word. It’s a health halo. It’s unfortunately not real.

No one food has the ability to promote good health, or bad health. And even these so-called super foods can appear in dishes that aren’t otherwise well balanced. Wild blueberry donuts are still deep fried sugar bombs. I think we need to stop labeling foods in general, but the term super food is one you won’t generally hear me use.

What 5 foods should every household have as nutritious staples?

I don’t think there are 5 universal foods for everyone, because we all have different likes, cultural practices and dietary needs. But some of my go to staples are : canned or dried beans and legumes, balsamic (or another flavourful) vinegar, plain Greek yogurt, oats, eggs.

Abbey Sharp

So many women – especially moms – struggle with losing weight. Any advice on what to do and what not to do?

My first suggestion is to look at your motivation. Why do you want to lose weight? Most people would suggest that they want to live longer, be stronger, reduce the risk of disease and live a healthier life.

Well, you can do all of that without the scale ever budging.

Healthy eating and activity can promote health at any size. You may lose weight if you start to be more active, or if you start to eat a little more fresh produce, but the key to long term success is to change the goal to health, not weight loss.

Research also tells us that dieting doesn’t work. When we restrict our intake, we tend to feel so deprived that the moment we have access to some sort of “forbidden” food, we binge, we feel guilty, then we start the restriction cycle all over again – but even more stringently. The key is to just not get started down that path in the first place. Rather than focusing on restricting, I recommend a technique called mindful eating. It involves listening to your body and nourishing it as it needs. There’s no depriving, there’s no moral weight assigned to foods – or you for eating those foods. You just eat what you want, start when you’re hungry and stop when you’re full.

If the thought of letting go of the control scares you and you’re convinced you’ll just go crazy and gain a bunch of weight, keep in mind that as soon as you give yourself permission to eat without guilt or fear of future denial, the desire to go overboard on any food will disappear and you will just focus on eating to feel strong, nourished and satisfied. Research tells us, mindful eating and having a healthy relationship with food is the secret to long term success.

When a mom is shopping at the grocery store, what ingredients should she be concerned about when buying food for her family?

When reading nutrition labels and comparing like products, I would aim to choose those with higher amounts of protein and fibre, and lower amounts of salt and sugar. Also, don’t be lured in by claims on the front of packages – they are technically true, but there are a lot of tricks that marketers use to make their product seem healthier than it may be. The back of the package has the facts, so always reference that.

As for ingredients, I would stay away from hydrogenated oils altogether, and try to limit an excess of added sugars, which can be identified by the suffix “ose” (sucrose, fructose, maltose etc.). Ideally, look for products with relatively short ingredient lists. For example, I would rather buy plain yogurt where the only ingredients are milk, and maybe some probiotics and added nutrients and where I had the option to add my own fruit or sugar, than a flavoured yogurt that has sugar, colours and other stabilizers. There are exceptions, and there is no question that some added ingredients can make getting dinner on the table easier and more likely, but when time permits, go simple and build from there.

What is your favourite part about being a Registered Dietician?

Well, I’m definitely a different breed of RD. I work only in media, so I do a lot of TV and writing, which I love. My favourite part of my job is definitely communicating nutrition to the masses in my YouTube channel and on TV, trying to make it fun, and hopefully debunking the myths out there perpetuated by unqualified “nutrition experts”. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be as complicated as the media tries to make it. Listen to your body, move your body, nourish your body and do what feels good.

Abbey Sharp is a Registered Dietitian (RD), avid food writer and blogger, TV and radio personality, food brand spokesperson, recipe developer, YouTuber, and the founder of Abbey’s Kitchen Inc. Abbey believes that a pleasurable relationship with food is inherently essential for good health and shares this unique philosophy through her regular contributions to The Marilyn Denis Show (CTV), Best Health Magazine, and countless other media outlets and publications. Abbey has worked as a celebrity Brand Ambassador and Spokesperson for dozens of popular food, health and lifestyle brands such as Electrolux, Frigidaire, Almond Board of California, Jamieson Vitamins, Labatt, Sunkist Citrus, and Panasonic. She is also often touted as the go-to personality for hosting popular food activations including Toronto’s Food & Wine and Taste of Toronto. Today you can catch Abbey’s cheeky approach to food and nutrition on her popular food blog, and Tastemade YouTube channel, Abbey’s Kitchen.

@AbbeysKitchen

Our favorite toys when we were growing up

Posted on February 26, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in Mommy Approved .

Toys today can be pretty complex – and expensive. If you were a product of the 70’s, you know that we had some very cool toys and collectables growing up. Let’s see if you remember or owned some of our faves:

Betty Crocker Easy-Bake Oven

Although I never owned an Easy-Bake Oven, I always wanted one! I still dream of making cupcakes by mixing a package together and cooking it with a lightbulb. A childhood friend of mine had one growing up, and I was quite envious of all of her skill and baked goods. Can you tell that I am still bitter? A 41st birthday coming up, hint hint. This Easy-Bake Oven has been repackaged and upgraded and is available today for our offspring.

Big Wheel

Damn did I love my Big Wheel with the awesome ribbons dangling from the handles. I felt bad to the bone driving this thing!

Cabbage Patch Kids

I remember my mom stood in line for hours so that I, too, could be the adoptive parent to a Cabbage Patch doll. I had one that looked much like the one on the far right with the brown hair. Her name was Christine Georgie (I still remember) according to her adoption papers. Apparently, if you still own a Cabbage Patch doll which is still sealed in a the box, you can make some good coin. Collectors will pay top dollar!

Lite Brite

Here is another toy I never owned, but always wanted. This is still such a cool toy.

Hungry Hungry Hippos

What an absolutely neurotic and chaos-causing game – I loved it! I remember hanging out upstairs in my grandmother’s house playing Hungry Hungry Hippos with my cousin and brother. This classic game has also been repackaged and is available for kids today. Too fun!

Now, besides searching online on ebay or other odd sites, where else can you find some Vintage toys? I’ve been thinking about getting a couple of those great vintage toys I’ve always wanted – for the kids, of course. Vintage shows are fun and I’ve decided to go to the Toronto Toy Show this coming Sunday (Feb 28, 2016 from 10AM – 4PM at the Toronto Plaza Hotel, 1677 Wilson Avenue). There are a few toys I want to check out, just for nostalgia’s sake, but I will be on the hunt for my Easy-Bake Oven.

Happy birthday to me!

10 Questions with a Nanny Agency

Posted on February 25, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in 10 Questions With .

As working parents, finding the right childcare is one of the hardest things to do. I myself struggled with the thought of hiring a nanny for my children. I just didn’t feel comfortable handing off my kids to a complete stranger.

But, as mompreneur with no mat leave, I had little choice. I absolutely wouldn’t leave my 2 week old at a daycare centre. In fact, I think most daycares will not take care of a child, unless he or she is at least 6 to 8 weeks old. Hiring a nanny was the best thing that I could have done for my family…in fact, now she is part of the family.

Urban Suburban Mommy spoke to Rebecca Barlow, founder of Bella Bambino Nannies to ask the questions you know you want to know considering a nanny for hire.

1. What is the first thing you say to a family who is overwhelmed by trying to find a nanny?

The first thing I always do when speaking with a new client is to let them know that I totally understand what they are going through. I am a mother of 4 children myself ages 13 (twins) 5 and 3. I have had to hire several nannies in the past, and still employ a full time nanny.

I live in the same world as my clientele – I am a busy working mom who struggles to balance career and family. I know how hard it is to find and hire a nanny that resonates with you, and who you feel totally comfortable with! Most of the time I wind up being friends with my clients because we totally bond over our similarities. I also relate to my clients who are single moms as I was widowed only 8 weeks after my 3rd son’s birth and was a single mom of 3 for awhile. That experience gave me a whole new appreciation for single parents. My clients with special needs children also feel very comfortable working with me as my 5 year old son is autistic, so I have that experience in my life as well.

2. Why should families consider using an agency vs. trying to find a nanny on their own?

Using Craigslist or an online nanny finding service is dangerous and super difficult! Its literally like searching for a needle in a haystack. The background checks are not thorough and you have no idea who you are meeting. It is so scary to me, I cannot stress enough how important it is to pay a fee to a reputable service to screen and background check candidates for you. These are your children, they are the most important things in your life and this is not the time to try to save a few dollars. When you use a reputable service, you know every nanny has been rigorously screened, background checked and referenced before you even speak to them.

3. How do you match families with the right nanny?

Having been in this industry for 15 years I have great intuition when matching families and nannies. I really get to know my clients before contacting nannies for them. Normally, after an initial conversation with a client, I will think of 2 or 3 candidates who I think will be a great fit. My staff and I then put together a comprehensive job description which we share with select candidates. Once a candidate has expressed interest, we forward their resume and highlights to the family. We arrange all interviews between the candidate and family as well as coordinate trial days and work contracts. By the time you hire a nanny from us, you’ve trialed with the candidate and you are 100% sure this is a great fit. (We are so confident in our matchmaking abilities, we even guarantee the placement for an entire year!)

4. What are the benefits of a nanny vs. a babysitter or daycare?

Hiring an in home nanny is far superior to daycare as it almost totally eliminates the risk of baby coming home with the “illness du jour” from daycare. It is also so much more convenient to have someone who not only loves and adores your child, but who also can help with managing your household and running errands, organizing, etc.

5. Nannies can be costly. Why are they worth the spend?

100%! When you find the right nanny, life is so much more manageable! You can focus your attention on work or other pursuits knowing your child/children are in amazing hands. Its the best feeling, like gaining a new family member.

6. How do you screen nannies?

Our screening process is highly stringent. We meet each candidate in person for 1 to 2 hours and ask a plethora of questions pertaining to the candidate’s childcare knowledge. No one comes in to fill out an application, they complete their paper work prior to meeting us so our face to face is all about getting to know the nanny on a deeper level.

We check and verify all references as well as run a full criminal background check in every state of residence for 10+ years. California candidates are also enrolled in Trustline, which is a fingerprint registry with the state of CA. We also verify social security number and run driving records.

7. What are the most important questions to ask a nanny?

Ask the nanny what they like about being a nanny.
Ask them how they would structure an entire day with your child.
Ask what types of age-appropriate activities they would plan for your child or children.
Ask about the Denny’s education level and whether they are CPR trained.
Ask about their last position and why they left.
Ask if you can contact their last employer for a reference.

A lot of these things will have been already asked to the candidate if you’re utilizing a good agency, but it’s always a great idea for the parents to ask these questions as well, so that you can gauge the nanny candidate’s response.

Another great thing to do is interview the nanny with your children present and see if she pays any attention to them. When I started my company I often had my newborn twins with me when I was interviewing potential nanny candidate for my clients. Any nanny who ignored my infants was immediately put in the do not call again file. Good nannies will pay attention to the children and you will see how much they love children by the way they interact with your child.

8. How do you advise negotiating salaries with a nanny?

If you’re working with a great agency you will already know what the going rate is in your area and what you should be offering, salarywise. You never want to pay below market because your nanny will always be looking out for the next best thing. The best advice would be to ask the agency you’re working with what the going rate is in your area and stick within that range. This will ensure you find and keep the best nanny possible. You will also want to be consistent with the number of hours you offer each week, as professional nannies always need their pay to be consistent.

9. Are there red flags that a family should be aware of with a potential nanny?

Trust your intuition. If something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t right. If the nanny is not making eye contact or seems extremely nervous, she may be hiding something. If the nanny does not pay attention to your children during the interview there’s a good chance they are simply looking for a job and not someone who is truly in this for the love of children. Talk to your nanny agency if you have any concerns regarding the candidate. Ask for the agencies advice on how to approach things that may make you feel uncomfortable.

10. What are the benefits of a live-in vs. live-out nanny?

A live out nanny will work a set schedule for example Monday through Friday 9 AM to 5 PM. A live-in will be a bit more flexible, but still will require time off. The benefits of a live in nanny are obviously you have a little more flexibility with the hours and having someone in your home more often to help you should things come up. Live in nannies will typically work for about $2 less per hour than what a live out nanny would work for, so there is a little bit of a financial benefit as well.

Bella Bambino Nannies bellabambinonannies.com founder Rebecca Barlow

Bella Bambino Nannies was founded in 2002 by Rebecca Barlow. As a former nanny and working mother of 4, Rebecca understands the challenges parents face when seeking in home childcare for precious little ones.

Pink shirt day February 24

Posted on February 24, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in Urban Suburban Mommy .

When I was a kid, there were bullies and there were the bullied.

pinktshirtday.ca

Nothing has changed.

Well, I shouldn’t say nothing. When I was young, I remember the stance teachers and parents took was for weak kids to “toughen up.” And bullies, well, they were bullies, but it was kind of expected. Boys will be boys.

Nowadays that’s not okay and it’s definitely not accepted.

There are “No Bullying Zones” at school and there are significant rules about bullying – with a ZERO tolerance in many many school districts. In fact, the anti-bully moment is strongly supported by parents, teachers and kids alike. And that, in a nutshell (if nuts were allowed in schools) is why Pink Shirt Day is a thing.

pinktshirtday.ca

In 2007 in a Nova Scotia high school, a boy was bullied for wearing a pink shirt. Instead of joining in on the attack, his fellow students joined in on the defensive, coming to school in droves wearing pink shirts in support of the boy who wore pink. The school administration was so impressed by the “Pink Protest” that they went out and bought 50 more pink shirts and gave them out in the school. Imagine the difference in this bullied boy’s life. Pink Shirt Day was born.

If only we could stand up to all bullies this way; always band together and protest unfair treatment, champion the weak, the gentle, the ‘easy target’ as a bunch of highschool children did that day 9 years ago.

So today I’ll send my boys to school wearing pink.

My younger son – he’s 5 – snuggled into me tonight and said “Mom, I don’t think I want to wear my pink shirt tomorrow. What if kids laugh at me. I don’t like pink but they’ll think I like pink.”

Maybe he’s too young to fully understand the “Pink Protest” or maybe we’re not doing enough to explain the meaning because we’re too caught up in the rhetoric of it all. If you knew my 5 year old you’d be surprised that he’d worry about people laughing at him – he’s the alpha, the rough-and-tumble one, the one with the strong will. And yet, he worries, the gentle little guy.

Bullies aren’t necessarily who you think they are. Bullies aren’t just the toughest kids, and the seemingly tough kids aren’t necessarily as tough as you think.

They’re just kids.

pinktshirtday.ca

So today, this February 24, try to go beyond the fashion statement and beyond the words, and really get in there with the explanation about bullying and what that really means. Share your stories with your kids, and ask them the tough questions. Whether your kid is the bullied, the bully, the supportive friend or the bystander that looks the other way, bullying will touch their life in more ways than just a pink shirt, and the more it can be discussed, the more bullying will really become disarmed.

If you want to put fashion to work beyond the pink shirt, a company called Accept Me has come across our radar. They are fashion forward, using beautiful design to break barriers. Accept Me uses the proceeds of their sales in the pursuit of philanthropy to help people be accepted for who they are, “Breaking the barriers of social marginalization through awareness and education.” All proceeds from purchases on Pink Shirt Day, February 24, will be used to support CKNW Orphans’ Fund.

Oooey gooey chewy chocolate chip cookies

Posted on February 23, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in Delicious Dishes .

For years my cookies were light and fluffy – and either undercooked or crunchy. Every time I’d try someone else’s soft little flat cookies I’d die a little inside. That’s all I wanted from my chocolate chip cookie – maybe a little flat, maybe a little crispy around the edges.

Then I discovered that it was time to step away from the stand mixer and get into it by hand. Yup, good old fashioned hand mixing with a spatula. Turns out I had a serious case of overmixing. The secret to soft, flat melt-in-yer-mouth, ohhhhhh-so-good, oooey, gooey, chewy chocolate chip cookies is no electric beating and minimal cooking time.

What you need:

-2 1/2 cups of unbleached all purpose flour
–1 teaspoon of baking soda
-big pinch of salt
-1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
-1 cup packed brown or golden sugar
-1 cup white sugar
-1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
-2 eggs
-2 cups semisweet or milk chocolate chips

What you do:

Preheat oven to 350°. Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a bowl and set aside. Put the room-temperature soft butter in a bow and mush it around with your spatula. Now add sugars and keep mixing. add vanilla and eggs and again, keep mixing and mushing. You want it to be well mixed – but you’ll still see little lumps of butter. By the time you’re done mixing they’re the size of coarse bread crumbs in your mixture. Now add the dry ingredients and mix until the dough comes together. Throw in the chocolate chips and give a final mixing until everything is even.

Drop one-inch balls onto an ungreased cookie sheet and keep them about an inch and a half apart.

Bake for 11-13 minutes, making sure to take them out just as they brown. If you’re a fan of crunchy, let them cook a little longer and the edges will crisp up.

These won’t rise. They may be a bit puffy, but basically flat. And gooey. And delicious. Grab a glass of milk and enjoy some before the kids eat every last one, you deserve it.

And, just so you get your cookies to your version of perfection, LifeHacker.com has this handy dandy chart for tweaking your cookie recipe to your personal preference:

LifeHacker.com: Know what to tweak to get the best chocolate chip cookies

Dragging my kid up a hill makes me feel old

Posted on February 22, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in The Struggle is Real .

I’ll admit it. Sometimes I think I did myself and my kids a disservice by having them later in life. I don’t have these thoughts often, most of the time I’m perfectly happy with the decision, but then something will come along and BAM! Like life slapped me in the face with a big fat “I don’t think so!”

I used to ski – and occasionally snowboard – but the last time I was on the slopes was the year before I got pregnant. I find myself dying to get back to it. The boys are 5 and 7 – definitely old enough to learn. They’ve started at lessons.

I take them on weekends to a local ski and snowboard park. Hills aren’t that big, perfect for learning. I thought when they meant I had to be there with my 5 year old that it was like other programs – I had to be on site in case they needed me. I was imagining a free hour – I could get a lift ticket and go skiing, or maybe just bring a newspaper and sit in the chalet… But the fantasy was not to be.

Week one I show up in my cute booties, a short wool coat and leather gloves. I drop them off and the instructor hands me a leash and tells me to strap it on him and pull him over to the learning area.

I find myself with my kid, on the hill in my cute boots and wool coat. He’s strapped into his snowboard looking all thrasher cool and I’ve got a leash secured around his ankle. My job is to drag him around on his board for an hour to get him used to riding. The instructor is basically going to instruct the parents on what to get our kids to do. By week 2 we are dragging the kids up the hill and then running down after them or trying to control them as they learn how to stop, start, bear crawl, crab walk and basically ride.

Frankly, I could have used YouTube videos if I wanted to be on the hill for an hour dragging my kid around, we have some great free hills closer to home. But here’s the thing. I’m 44, no longer running 10K a day, no longer as active and in shape as I used to be.

I have a mom bod. I’m not ashamed to admit I carry a few extra pounds, and I’m comfortable in my mom jeans. However, I’m too old to be dragging a 72 pound child straight up a hill and then running down after him 7, 8 or 9 times in an hour.

I’m dying. The other 4 parents in my group are about 10 years younger than me. Although they’re not enjoying the whole thing any more than I am, I swear the instructor keeps a closer eye on me to make sure I don’t drop dead of a heart attack on his watch. While I might look good on skis, and my kids are loving snowboarding lessons, I can honestly not count the number of times I’ve muttered under my breath, “I’m too old for this gig…” while dragging him up the hill.

I did have one idea and the other parents agreed it might work – if we do another session of instruction I’m going to hand out flyers to the neighbourhood 20-somethings advertising “Snowboard Body Boot Camp” and charge them $25/hour for the workout. It’s honestly not a bad workout – just not for me!

(Though if my 20-something self had been parenting like this, she likely would have been hung over and dragging the little thrasher up the hill, writing a very similar rant about being to young and hip for this gig!)

Why kids love Shimmer and Shine!

Posted on February 20, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in Mommy Approved .

Ok you even have me singing…Shimmer and Shine….ohhhhh…Genies devine. My 4 year old son absolutely loves this fun, musical and loveable show. In fact, every time we watch an episode my son is ready to sing and dance along with Shimmer and Shine. The songs are catchy right?

The characters have bold and colorful features that even capture the attention of my 8 month old. I would definitely say that Shimmer and Shine appeals to a wide age range in terms of audience. We have had kids over to our house as old as age 7, who have also been engaged by the clever story lines and catchy songs.

Shimmer and Shine follows the magical adventures of fraternal twin genies, Shimmer and Shine, who unintentionally create chaos while attempting to grant wishes for their human best friend, Leah. Shimmer and Shine are often joined by their pets a white Bengal tiger Nahal and adorable monkey Tala. The genies, Shimmer and Shine remind me of such commotion-causing characters as Amelia Bedelia and Curious George. Who doesn’t love a good story about comedic mishaps leading to successful resolutions?

My son is over the moon because Paramount Home Media Distribution recently released Shimmer and Shine on DVD. You can pick it up at Walmart. Here is what you can expect when you pick up a copy for your kiddos (besides lots of smiling faces):

Boom Zaharamay, best friends are on the way in these 7 genie-riffic episodes of Shimmer and Shine! When you have two twin genies-in-training and three wishes a day, hillarious magical adventures are never far away!

Our house gives Shimmer and Shine two magical thumbs up!

Worry, worry, worry

Posted on February 19, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in The Struggle is Real .

Did you know at 36 weeks that an ultrasound can tell a lot about your baby?

I didn’t!

Of course, with your first baby everything seems to be a “big deal,” so when the doctor told me that they would be monitoring our baby’s kidney function shortly after he was born, it wasn’t what I’d expected to hear.

While I wasn’t overly concerned, when you’re told at your 36 week ultrasound that your baby may have a significant issue and that you’re waiting to see if everything will be okay, it adds a layer of stress. With him still on the inside and not being able to control the issue, it was a worry, an intangible concern…

When Tyson was around 4 months old we made the trek down to Orillia’s hospital for “the test.” After a long drive on a snowy day, we arrived at Soldier’s Memorial.

We were off to a rocky start with a mean lady working where we had to check in. After going through the basics, they advised me that my son would need a catheter inserted before I headed upstairs for the next portion of the test.

Let me tell you, just when you think you’ve heard a blood-curdling cry before, think again…. I was asked not to be in the room when they inserted it, and it was clear why within seconds. It took 2 nurses to hold him down while the third nurse inserted it. I held back tears while his screams echoed through the hallway, but another nice mother let me know that his screams were normal.

What seemed like an eternity later, my son was brought out to me by a nurse, and they told me to bring him back downstairs for the test (on his kidneys). I had no idea what to expect, but I brought him down.

Thankfully, the technician let me know what to look for (we wanted to see Tyson pee) in the renal ultrasound picture (and have things operate the way that they are suppose to). The technician ran water (which apparently gets babies to pee) and within seconds the technician let me know that Tyson’s kidney functions were perfect!

Just like that things were good with our son’s kidneys. I’ve had a few friends that have had to do this test with their young son or daughter and they all say that the catheter was torture.

To any parents out there, keep that in mind. It’s a tough experience, but I bet your little one will not remember it.

@KHmgmt

Kid vs. Adult Space with Designer Kasia Waloszczyk

Posted on February 18, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in DIY .

I thought by finishing our basement that I would have solved the problem of our living room being overrun by toys. It was a brief solution, until kid #2 came along. We spoke to designer, TV personality and fellow mom Kasia Waloszczyk who shared her insight and inspiration to find a happy medium between toys and grown up things.

The Dual Purpose Living Room – Playroom & Adult Space

1.If you don’t have the luxury of a bonus room or basement in your home – how can your living room serve a dual purpose as playroom and adult space.

Buy furniture pieces that not only suit your lifestyle but also serve a dual/triple purpose. There are lots of growing families who are choosing to live in smaller spaces. Luckily, retailers have picked up on this trend and offer tons of multi-purpose furniture piece options.

Dual purpose furniture/products can be easily found and for affordable prices. Ikea has a great sofa that not only serves as a couch + pullout sleeper but also has a built in storage unit that can house ample toys, blankets, pillows etc (FRIHETEN) — Its all about staying organized and having a designated space for everything.

2. How do you avoid your living room from being overrun by toys?

The first thing you have to do is ask yourself if your child needs all the toys that are in your living room, does he or she play with every single one? If at the end of the day you are over flowing with toys, perhaps you have too many? Scale back, pack some away and re-introduce them in a month or so, but only after taking away a toy in its place. Rotating your toys will give your child something new to play with, plus it will leave your space clutter free. This method will help with staying organized.

3. Do you have any storage or organizational solutions for toys or adult things?

When it comes to storage, think outside the box. My “go-to” storage is a budget-friendly garbage can from Ikea (KNODD) – it resembles Oscar the Grouch’s garbage can which makes it fun for kids. Get two or three of the same can, and fill it with toys, best of all it has a lid. So, at the end of the day when it’s time for the adults to unwind, the toys are completely out of site. I also love storage cubes, placing two of them across from your couch offers additional seating, you can optimize the storage inside the cube, plus some of them cube lids even turn into serving trays. Urban Barn has a really nice one that I often use for clients (Fay Ottoman – Charcoal). Lastly, opt for a proper TV/media unit – you can customize one at Ikea for a great price. Looks for something that offers you plenty of drawers as well as shelving units with doors (doors are fantastic as they hide the clutter). Remember to utilize your vertical and horizontal space when creating your storage.

4. How do you make a living room safe for kids?

Mount and secure everything to the wall. TVs should always be out of reach for children. Have a bookcase or TV bench – mount them too! Also, avoid furniture that is delicate or has sharp corners such as glass coffee tables. Although stylish, kids leave lots of fingerprints on glass coffee tables. Instead, choose a coffee table with multiple storage, for toys and blankets. Some coffee tables can even open up to provide a laptop/dinner tray. West Elm has a great one. Their Industrial Storage Coffee Table is on the pricier side but is multi-purpose, so it is money well spent. Make sure your living room incorporates a soft play surface – you don’t have to use the foam kids mats. I suggest going for a nice plush rug instead, which will provide a comfy surface for your child but also work to complete and ground your adult space too.

5. What design features or accessories do you recommend that would work for both an adult and kids space?

I love art! It works beautifully for both. You can create a photo gallery wall that will be appreciated by both kids and adults. Work with different sized frames or buy multiples of the same piece of art. To create a cohesive look, choose a photo filter such as black and white – and apply it to all the pictures that you will be displaying. By doing this, you can create a more formal and harmonized feel.

6. What colours work best for a multifunctional living room?

Colours are very personal and unique to each space. Having worked for Benjamin Moore for over 12 years, I know first hand that a color can look amazing in one space, and completely the opposite in another. I would suggest sticking with more neutral tones; warm greys, soothing blues, different shades of off whites – this will help to create a calming and relaxing atmosphere. If you want to inject pattern to the space, add some wallpaper with a tone-on-tone look for that elevated sophistication. Bring in your bold color through accessories, decorative pillows, vases, throws or decorative objects.

Kasia Waloszczyk

Kasia Waloszczyk, an accredited Interior Stylist/Decorator, also runs her own design company, Kasia Waloszczyk DESIGNS, a savvy and trendy décor service that caters to clients in the Greater Toronto Area. As a colour expert, Waloszczyk has held independent seminars on colour and pattern trends. She has also worked with design firms overseas, developing textile colours, designs, and patterns applicable for the North American market.

Gifted with a keen eye for colours and shades, Kasia Waloszczyk has been applying her colour and design techniques for more than 15 years in the industry. A design expert on CTV’s The Marilyn Denis Show, Waloszczyk’s work has always kept her ahead of design trends and has also given her an in-depth expertise on fabrics for creative custom window treatments and unique upholstery, for both residential and commercial spaces.

KasiaWDesigns.com

@kasiaw_designs