featuredxx – Page 6 – Urban Suburban Mommy

Seared tuna steaks

Posted on March 29, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in Delicious Dishes .

We barbecue everything, and we barbecue all year long – whether it’s snowing, raining or the sun is shining. There’s nothing like the flavour of something hot off the grill. We have a great barbecue, I bought it for my husband from the boys for Father’s Day the year we moved into this house. I even assembled it for him. But the fact is, I like using it just as much as he does – and I’ve got quite the knack for cooking with fire. The kids will eat anything off of the grill.

Anything.

One of the simplest, fastest dishes I make on the grill is Seared Tuna Steaks. I first tried this dish in Jaco Beach in Costa Rica about 16 years ago, and have since had it in a few restaurants, but my version is my fave. Just 2, maybe 3 ingredients, this takes all of 20 minutes from marinade to table.

What you need:

– Tuna steaks (one per person)
– Soy sauce
– wasabi or hosreradish dijon mustard (optional)

What you do:

Get a baking dish that is big enough to put all of the tuna steaks flat into the bottom of the dish, in a single layer. Pour a quarter inch of soy into the dish. Turn barbecue on high while they marinate. Flip the tuna steaks over and let other side marinate until the barbecue is nice and hot.

Cooking is fast work and a little finicky. You need to cook each steak for 1 to 2 minutes per side, plus the edges. Put them down and close the lid. After a minute turn them to create cross-hatch marks. Flip and do the same on the other side. After both sides are cooked, turn one side down to low. Put the finished steaks on the upper shelf on the low heat side while you use tongs to hold the tuna steak up so that you can sear it around the edges. Do this for all steaks. outsides will be cooked and meaty looking, but when you cut into the steaks, they should look cooked about a centimetre or two around the outside, but completely pink through the middle. It’s so deliciously tender with the rare centre.

Kozlik’s Horseradish Dijon

Serve it hot – these cook quickly. Or serve them cooled. You can serve the tuna steaks whole, or slice them into thin strips, almost like half-cooked sashimi. The flavour is amazing on its own, or you can serve it with a side of wasabi soy: Mix wasabi with soy in a small bowl or ramekin. The amount of wasabi depends on how much heat you like. For a different kind of a kick, serve with horseradish dijon. I’m addicted to Kozlik’s Horseradish Dijon, but you can mix your own (or order one – it’s worth it!! Their other flavours, like curried dijon or lime and honey dijon are pretty mouthwatering too, a good pairing for Tuna Steaks.)

10 Questions with a sleep consultant

Posted on March 28, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in 10 Questions With .

Exhaustion is any parent’s number one problem. Getting up with baby, being woken multiple times a night by poor sleepers – if they don’t sleep, we don’t sleep! But how do you get the kids to get a full night’s sleep so that you can get yourself some decent shut-eye too? Urban Suburban Mommy caught up with Camille Gemmell, WeeSleep Certified Infant Toddler Sleep Consultant, to ask the questions you know you want to know about sleep training.

1. At what age can you start sleep coaching a child? Is there an age at which it’s too late to sleep train?

It is best to teach your child healthy sleep habits when the parent is ready to. We work with newborns to work on sleep “shaping” skills to start great habits right from day 1, however, most of our clients hire us after the 4 month mark. And we have seen babies sleep 10 to 12 hours straight a night at 4 months, provided they are a healthy weight! We work with babies and toddlers of all ages, it’s never too late to change sleep habits.

2. Are bad sleep habits habitual? Is it a cycle that has to be broken?

Sleep habits can be habitual, or maybe something that started and couldn’t be stopped. New moms and dads are not taught these skills when they are preparing for their little one’s arrival, or they could be on their second or third child and they have completely different needs. When a plan is implemented and followed, any habits can be changed and is personalized for the baby and the family.

3. How long does it take to sleep train a child?

It depends. Every child is different. And every program, book, website has different advice. When WeeSleep works with families, your child will be sleeping through the night and falling asleep on their own for naps and nighttime within 10 days.

4. What should parents expect when sleep coaching and what do they have to commit to?

Committing to the process, working with their consultant and following the plan. We ask clients to clear their schedule for 10 days while they work with us so they are not thrown off or confusing their baby with social events or scheduling and routines that are not conducive to healthy sleep.

5. How do you manage more than one child waking up? Or an older child who wakes up their younger sibling? (this is one of my sleep issues)

All situations are different, and many factors can come into play:
Do they have separate rooms?
What is the age gap?
What do the nighttime routines look like for each child and how do they fall asleep?

We work with families that have more than 1 child all the time. There are ways to honour say, a youngest child’s sleep while the also looking after the older child’s scheduling needs, activities, events, school drives etc.

And if you have 2 children who need sleep help, we can sort both of the separate habits out so the whole family gets healthy sleep!

6. What if I child becomes ill – do you have to retrain?

If your child becomes ill and they have learned to sleep, they should be able to get through illness without reverting back to old sleep habits. We teach our clients how to keep things on track when their baby is ill, all while giving them the cuddles and the attention they require during that time.

7. What are the 3 biggest problems that you see when trying to help families with sleep?

Parents have no routines in place for naps or bedtime – or both
Baby depends on something for sleep – rocking or feeding for example
Scheduling is not where it should be at

8. Most parents think that sleep coaching involves the “Cry it Out” method. Do you use this method, and is this true?

Our methods are gentle, and as loving as possible to get your child to fall asleep on their own. Every child is going to protest. There is NO way around it. However, when the protesting is managed properly and in a gentle, loving way, it will go away quickly. We educate our clients on why things are happening, and help guide you so your baby is always comfortable – and you as well! One of the biggest gifts you can give your child is the ability to fall asleep on their own, and this will last a lifetime.

9. Can every child sleep through the night, or are there some children that are just hardwired not to sleep well?

Every child can sleep through the night at a certain age and weight, and if they are healthy. When a child is set up for sleep success and parents are consistent and help guide their child properly, then absolutely they can rock a full night sleep! Everybody requires sleep and nobody is hardwired not to need sleep.

10. What do you say to parents who accept the fact that they do not sleep?

Everyone has different beliefs on what they should or should not do when it comes to sleep. It is 100% a personal choice.

Camille Gemmell is a mom whose life changed once she’d given her own child the gift of sleep – it’s why she chose to become a Sleep Consultant. She is passionate about helping others about get the sleep we need for our health, body and mind. As a Certified Infant Toddler Sleep Consultant she provides parents with the tools and support they need to get their little one napping during the day and sleeping through the night so that they gain more “awake” time to enjoy every moment with their little one and keep them healthy and happy!

www.weesleep.ca

WeeSleepGTA

The 200 word milestone

Posted on March 23, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in The Struggle is Real .

Working in a school makes me more aware of things to watch in my son. We have speech therapists that work for the school board. One day I asked one of the therapists about when (my 16 month old at the time) would stop saying “A-wound and a-wound and a-wound” and start saying around. I know that Rs are tough for kids. My own brother had a few rounds of speech therapy for his Rs.

She confirmed that Rs are in fact a hard letter for kids to pronounce. Then we got chatting about milestones for babies. And then it happened.

She let me know that by the age of 2, that toddlers are supposed to have 200 words.

200! Yes, that final zero is intended.

Up until a few years ago, the milestone was 50 words at the age of 2. So of course in my mad panic to confirm that my child would reach (or better yet surpass) this goal, I sat down with my husband that night and we started the list of words that we knew our son was saying.

And we were at 21. Just 21! YIKES! We both flew into crazy parent mode, and sat down to determine the path that we would take to reach the milestone of 200 words.

We read every day to him. We have all of the fun books that help kids to identify images with simple words. We are the people that get the NIP screenings and meet the milestones month ahead (when possible)….so we are not sure how we are so behind with this word business.

As I write this blog, Tyson is now 18.5 months. Our current word tally exceeds just over 70 words. So we have just over 5 months to learn over 130 words. WHOA! I am told from friends that this is no big deal, and that one day Tyson will be firing out several new words every day. But for now, it does seem stressful. Although achievable, it does seem daunting. However, the fact that it used to be 50, and we’ve already exceeded that word count, I think that we can breath a small sigh of relief. BUT the countdown for 130 words is on.

Keep your fingers crossed for us!

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

Barbecued ginger salmon

Posted on March 22, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in Delicious Dishes .

My boys love fish. Actually, if I ask my 7 year old what he wants for dinner, he’ll usually say “sea creatures.” I think he’s secretly holding out for blowfish, but he’ll try any type of seafood, and he’s open to most any flavours when it comes to fish. I was at the market and they had the most beautiful bright pink organic Irish salmon – I had to grab a few fillets for dinner.

Needless to say, my boy was thrilled. He insisted on cutting the lemon.

I wasn’t sure how I wanted to prepare it when I was at the market. Dill. Blood orange juice. Lime and lemongrass. Honey and soy – salmon is so versatile. But when I got home I had a ginger craving, and my kids love ginger. (My husband, not so much. Actually, he’s not into fish at all. I picked up a thick, juicy rib steak for him when I was at the market.)

What you need:

-salmon fillets
-salt
-cracked pepper
-powdered ginger
-fresh lemon, sliced into thin circles
-2-3 tablespoons melted butter

(and a rib steak for the husband, prepared like this)

What you do:

Brush a light coat of melted butter over the fillets (you can also use olive oil). Salt and pepper them to taste. Dust them with ginger. I use a fair bit, we love the strong flavour of ginger, but if you want to go mild, it’s great as a hint of ginger too.

Heat the barbecue. Drop the temperature to medium and put the fillets on, skin side down. Layer lemons on top of the fish. Close the lid and grill 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets. Flip so that the fillet is sitting skin side up, but atop the lemon slices for another 5 to 10 minutes. My fillets were very thick so I went closer to 10. The lemons will char but the fish will stay juicy and tender. Fish should be very flakey, cooked through.

This one is great with sauteed mushrooms, French green beans or a zesty vinaigrette salad. If you’ve got leftovers, ginger salmon is great cold, tossed with greens.

Enjoy!

Let’s get cruising

Posted on March 21, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in Bon Voyage .

I have to admit I have had this negative thing about “cruises” in my head. I’ll get sea sick, I feel stranded, my kids will go stir crazy. You get the picture. But so many of our friends have had absolutely delightful experiences while cruising with their families. In fact, many of them swear by it and are frequent cruisers.

After watching some of the Disney cruise ship commercials, I am definitely intrigued – and perhaps could be swayed. I thought it would be best to talk to an expert about this travel option. I spoke with Cynthia Joaquin, franchise owner/manager of Expedia CruiseShipCenters about the benefits and highlights of taking a cruise with the family.

1. Why are cruises a great option for travel for families?

Cruises offer something for everyone. The kids can access great activities (rock climbing, kids clubs, slides, etc) and parents can use the gym, spa, adults only areas. You will never be bored and the food and facilities are fantastic!

2. What are your top 3 recommended destinations for families and why?

It depends on if we are looking at a cruise of land destination. For cruises, the Caribbean is a great first-time cruise. It gets you enjoying the ship, has a few ports to stop at and you don’t feel rushed. For land, Punta Cana has been very popular. There are great resorts for families that include water parks. Mayan Riviera is always a popular one as well, they have great highly reviewed hotels and many with great kids clubs, which helps the parents have a relaxing time.

3. How are cruises different from land only trips, and what are the benefits?

The entertainment, food and activities on a ship can’t be beat. And you also get to stop at different places where you can also enjoy some great beach time. It really gives you the best of both worlds. You also get to see different places while your hotel follows you along. With a land vacation you are tied to one resort. You don’t have the variety of food at many of the resorts and if you are not a huge beach person (like myself) you can get very bored very quickly. To me as long as my kids are happy then I am happy. I find that happens easier while on a cruise ship that is geared towards children.

4. What do you say to families who have never tried cruising (like myself)?

You have to try it. Once you try it it’s very hard to go back to a land vacation. It truly is an amazing vacation experience if you are on the right ship. And that is part of my job – to speak with my clients, figure out their likes and dislikes, what they want out of their vacation and then put them on the best ship and itinerary that will give them an unforgettable experience. I haven’t had an unhappy cruise client yet.

Cynthia Joaquin is a franchise owner/manager of Expedia CruiseShipCenters which is a global leader in the marketing and sales of cruise vacations. Expedia CruiseShipCenters also provides resort and other land vacation options, including air, car, hotel and travel insurance. Allowing the company to serve all travel needs.

www.cruiseshipcenters.com/CynthiaJoaquin

ECSCWoodbridge

Pre & post natal fitness tips with Trisha Enriquez

Posted on March 18, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in The Best You .

We sat down with fellow mom and certified Pre and Post Natal Fitness Specialist Trisha Enriquez to talk about health, wellness and feeling great!

Photography by: Leon Chai

1. Tell us the main differences between pre and post natal fitness?

By definition, prenatal fitness would be activity you would do before the birth of your child and postnatal would be exercise after the baby is born. With that said, I believe it is important to be active and fit during your pregnancy to assist in an optimal recovery after the baby is welcomed into this world!

2. Many women are hesitant to work out while pregnant – what is your take as a fitness specialist?

It is always important to speak with your physician before doing any activity. Most cases, if you were exercising prior to pregnancy you can continue to do so at a lower intensity. Keep in mind, the supine (laying on your back) position should generally be avoided when exercising during pregnancy. Of course, if you feel any pain or discomfort during activity, always stop immediately and contact your doctor if pain persists.

3. What is core rehabilitation and why do you specialize in it?

It is important to ‘restore your core’ after having a baby and not jump right back into your regular activities. I’m certified with Bellies Inc. and believe that their training method is ideal and optimal for the postpartum woman.

4. How important is pelvic floor health?

Every woman should see a pelvic floor physiotherapist. It is always recommended to get a detailed internal assessment prior to any activity. Your pelvic floor physiotherapist can give you a professional opinion on what activity you can and cannot do.

5. Is it harder to “claim your tummy” back after you have had more than one child?

Not necessarily. Every body is different and every mother will respond differently to exercise and eating. It is important for every mother to take their time and ease back into working out. Always remember, progress happens over time and not overnight.

6. Tell us how your virtual coaching works?

The customized coaching program starts with a questionnaire and is followed by a detailed phone consultation where all the information is discussed prior to designing a mother’s personalized plan. The program is provided via email, but the virtual coaching relationship is a two-way street where clients can let me know when something isn’t working and if anything needs to be changed. The plans are meant to be flexible and make sense for every individual’s personal lifestyle. Ultimately, my job is to ensure mommies are doing their job well, so I try my best to motivate and keep them on track.

The 30-day challenge is a standardized meal plan (supported by yummy recipes) and an easy-to-follow home workout routine – it’s an awesome way for any mother to kick start their fitness journey. The next 30-day challenge launches April 1^st, so if you’re interested, click here.

Trisha Enriquez is a Toronto native with over 15 years experience in the health and fitness industry. She is a certified Nutrition and Weight-Loss Coach and a certified Pre and Post Natal Fitness Specialist who makes losing weight for mommies not only doable, but fun! Trisha is also an official Bellies Inc. trainer which allows her to be more specialized in core rehabilitation, pelvic floor health, and diastasis recti. Trisha is becoming more and more known for the development of her “No Tummy Mommy” programs that mothers all across the country continue to seek her virtual coaching to help get into the best shape of their lives after having a baby!

As a Human Biology graduate from the University of Toronto, Trisha has a strong scientific foundation of the human anatomy and physiology. Furthermore, she carries years of experience working for some of North America’s largest sports supplement companies, where she managed the branding and marketing for various female weight-loss products. Trisha has also written articles published in some of the most popular health magazines on store shelves today, including Fitness Magazine, Oxygen, Fitness Rx, and Muscle & Fitness Hers.

notummymommy

Top 5 baby items I couldn’t live without

Posted on March 17, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in Mommy Approved .

walking with baby 5 things i couldnt live without

photo: Keeping it Real

The five baby items I couldn’t live without. I’m not talking about the essentials: diapers, crib, stroller, vaginal reconstruction (which apparently is a thing). I’ve compiled a list of the little miracle gifts I didn’t even know I wanted until they came into my life and afforded me the ability to sleep, eat hot (warm) food and use my hands for tasks other than handling poop.

1. Nipple Shields:

nipple shield - 5 things i couldnt live without

Nipple shields – save you from becoming painfully chewed

If you are breastfeeding, there may come a time when your nipples stop resembling, well…nipples, and start looking like the shrivelled, chewed-up mess that gravity forgot. Both my babies nursed so hard that eventually my family got sick of me begging them to knock me out and picked up several pairs of thin, silicone nipple shields from Babies ‘R’ Us. These clear, vented covers protect sensitive skin while still allowing your babe to feed on demand. Forgo the pain – save it for when they become toddlers. (walmart.ca, toysrus.ca) Paired with an excellent nursing bra, I managed to look a little less National Geographic.

2. Nursing Pillow:

my best friend pillow - things i couldnt live without

My Breast Friend Nursing Pillow can save your back

My first son was a voracious eater. He nursed for hours at a time. There were days (months) where I’d sit on the couch like a Holstein. A nursing pillow can save your back and provide a comfortable resting surface for baby (mine could also accommodate a magazine and a bowl of popcorn.) We used My Brest Friend (amazon.com well.ca) but do your research to see which one is the most comfortable for you.

3. Baby Carrier:

Ergo baby carrier - 5 thinkgs i couldnt live without

Your arms are yours again with a baby carrier

ERGObaby, Beco, Baby Bjorn, Moby Wrap, I feel like these are all foreign words for “here darling, let me make your life easier by giving you the gift of two arms again.” My oldest had to be on me All. The. Time. I wore that child for ages before he touched the ground. Needless to say, I was an exhausted knuckle dragger until a family member bought me an ERGObaby carrier. Suddenly, I could cook dinner (carefully), wash dishes and fold laundry (wait, why did I want my arms back again??) (store.ergobaby.com)

4. “Tuffo” Outdoor Blanket:

tuffo blanket - 5 things i couldn't live without

Tuffo – The only blanket you need

I know. It’s a blanket. So what, right? Only, it’s waterproof on the bottom. It’s machine washable, crazy durable and wraps up in its own carrying bag. Our Tuffo Outdoor Blanket (tuffo.com) became a staple in our household all year long. Soccer games (less “game” more chasing each other around the field), picnics, wet lawns, poolside, play time, nap time, our Tuffo blanket still goes everywhere with us.

5. Sleepers with zippers:

zipped onesie - 5 things i couldnt live without

Don’t wrestle the baby alligator, just go for the zip

Why, just why would you make a sleeping garment with five million snaps? (I’m looking at you, Baby Gap.) Who has a child that A) holds still and B) sleeps through the night without at least one colossal blowout? Parenting is a big enough test. I am not an engineer and doing up snaps on my baby is like crocodile wrestling, only more dangerous. Old Navy makes them (ca) and sometimes you can get lucky at Carter’s/Osh Kosh (cartersoshkosh.ca) or even Costco. But you have to look for them.

Alexis Nicols is a marketing specialist, actor and freelance writer. She lives in urban Toronto with her husband and two sons, but is definitely suburban at heart. She regularly dodges the slings and arrows of parenting boys, considers herself a connoisseur of stretchy pants and hopes that the light at the end of the tunnel isn’t a train.

For more musings from a mom who wonders when everything below the neck went National Geographic, visit her blog: stopstopcomehere.ca

What kind of parent are you?

Posted on March 16, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in Urban Suburban Mommy .

Over the past 2 years of working in an elementary school, I’ve learned that there are 4 types of parents when it comes to registering their child(ren) for school.

My son was half way to the playground and didn’t even give me a kiss or a wave… sniff sniff

The Cryer:

These are the parents that are in tears as they bring in their child’s registration. The one’s that want to stop time and have their child home with them forever.

It’s funny, a lot of the time I find that these parents are an emotional wreck, and their kid has already run down the hallway and is trying to enjoy all the things that schools have to offer!

The Eager Beaver:

These are the parents that want to get their kids out of the house – and would do so now if it were an option. I often find that the parent (or grandparent sometimes) calls in to confirm the age for kindergarten. And it’s always funny to hear the sigh from the caller when they realized that their child is in fact not old enough to start school.

Don’t let the shades fool you, I was a full on mess

The Undecided:

These are the parents that aren’t sure if they should be waiting until their child is in SK. They are literally on the fence about the school experience. Some look nervous, other’s unsure of how their child will cope. And some, just unsure in general about which is the better option.

The Procrastinator:

Everyone’s favourite, the procrastinator. And there are ALWAYS a few of them. They show up on the first day of school in September, and their kid is ready to go! Knapsack on back, lunch packed and ready to ride the bus.

But not so fast!!

We don’t know a thing about your child. Our school has a few kindergarten classes. And part of the registration process lets us get to know their strengths, any concerns you have as a parent, etc. So it makes it pretty difficult to place you when we met you 2 seconds ago. (Not to mention some Moms are already trying to run out the door to make it to work).

Well, now that you have the list, I have to say that my personal favourite is the Eager Beaver! How would you classify yourself?

(Urban Mama Elisa adds: I was a cryer. Full on cryer. Both boys. Suburban Mama Michelle says: I’m with Krista! Eager Beaver is my middle name)

@KHmgmt

Beefy Irish Stew

Posted on March 15, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in Delicious Dishes .

With St. Patrick’s day this Thursday, I thought a little Irish love was in order for #TastyTuesday! Irish Stew is kind of obvious, and I was going to dig deeper, but the Urban Hubby is of Irish descent, and is the definition of a meat-n-potato-loving man, so my Beefy Irish Stew is the real deal (he hates lamb, but feel free to swap it in for a more authentic version.)

Get it going and let it simmer until it’s so thick you can stick a fork in it and it.

What you need:

-2 pounds beef, cubed
-3 large potatoes, coarsely cubed
-3 carrots, chopped
-1 parsnip, chopped
-2 large Spanish or white onions, coarsely chopped
-3 tablespoons vegetable oil
-1 cup flour
-1 can of Guinness beer (or dark ale)
-1 cup beef stock (bouillon)
-4 cloves minced garlic
-5 whole bay leaves
-1 tablespoon thyme
-1 tablespoons rosemary
-2 tablespoons chopped parsley
-cracked pepper to taste
-2.5 tablespoons of salt

What you do:

Toss the cubed beef in flour to coat. In a large stock pot, heat the oil, throw in in the bay leaves. Turn up the heat and sear the beef on all sides. Ideally all sides should be crusted. Turn the mixture down to mediu and add garlic and onions, sautéeing and caramelizing the onions. Add the thyme and rosemary as well as three tablespoons of flour. Muddle everything together. Once combined, add the Guinness and the beef stock. Let this simmer and thicken, about 10 minutes. Throw in the rest of the ingredients, cover and let simmer a few hours until the veggies are tender, stirring gently. You can also throw it in a slow cooker for the day or into a dutch oven and into the oven at 300° for a few hours.

Serve it steaming hot in a big bowl with some crusty bread for sopping up the stew. This hearty dish needs no accompaniment – except maybe a pint of your favourite Irish ale.

Easy DIY gallery wall for a kid’s bedroom

Posted on March 11, 2016 by kasiawdesigns Posted in DIY .

My daughter Izzie turned three in September and it was time to say goodbye to the crib and give her a big girl room. A fun DIY that I did in her space was create a gallery wall.

The first thing I did was gather up some frames. Some I purchased, others I already had around the house that I wasn’t using. The frames I had at home weren’t exactly the right colour, but that was not a problem. I painted them out using the teal and coral tones to match the ones I introduced in her room decor, and instantly the frames got new life.

I chose images that my 3 year old relates to and loves: ice cream, cupcakes, ferris wheel, balloons, ballet; and I printed them on heavier stock. All the images contain some of the colours that are in her space to help create harmony and a cohesive look. I grounded the centre of the wall by using the IKEA Ung Drill frame, which I painted grey to pick up on her drapes and rug.

I wanted to create some dimension on the wall so I mounted a faux doe head with silver antlers and added a whimsy touch by placing a coral petunia behind the antler. This breaks up the square art and really creates a centre focal point for the wall. I finished off the gallery wall by placing random silver and gold decal dots which add a playful touch.

Paint used for the frames: Latex Pearl, rolled on with a foam roller (3 coats)

Paint for the Ung Drill Frame: Rustoleum spray paint (use outdoors in a well ventilated area)

Gold/Silver Decals: Muse Signs

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

Calling it quits: When it’s time to stop having kids

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Alexis Nicols Posted in The Struggle is Real .

photo: Chastity Brighton

I had just delivered my second son. He was wrapped in a blanket, with a tiny beanie on his matted, goopy head. I had literally just pulled this being from my body (you read correctly) when a nurse asked:

“Are you going to have another?”

In my post-delivery stupor, it took me a few moments to realize that she wasn’t asking me if I had any more in there. It wasn’t the last time people would ask me. I must have fielded this question 50 times during my maternity leave. Do I want more? Yes, absolutely. Are we going to try again? Not likely.

I should back it up a bit. Due to our age and a few medical hiccups, my partner and I had our children via IVF. As of today, we still have two fertilized embryos sitting in a storage facility, waiting to be thawed. Only we’re not going to be the ones thawing them.

All things being equal, we certainly want to add a third or even a fourth child to our family. We have the produce and we have the plumbing, right? I’ve wanted children for years and spent three of them steeped in medical intervention and heartbreaking failure in order to bring my sons into the world. We were very lucky to have our first, we were positively blessed to have a second. People tell us to be thankful for what we have, as though wanting more children would throw nature out of balance. It’s superstitious and obtuse to assume that because we have more love to give, more chambers of our hearts to fill, that we are somehow greedy and not thankful for the love we already have.

photo: Intellegent_persona

I want more kids. I really do. But here’s the reality: kids are expensive. It is virtually impossible to live in this city without a five-year plan that involves a bank heist or a lottery win. We have a house that fits everyone. Certainly it could contain one more, but if the cost of living goes up one more percent, I’d have to turn us into a performing family. My partner has a lot of talents, but Captain Von Trapp he is not.

The other reality is age. My husband and I are both in our 40’s. Kids are a young person’s game. I can’t see myself in 5 years dealing with cluster feedings, sleepless nights and dirty diapers. I’m so tired, people. So, so tired.

Several months ago, I received a bill from the facility that keeps our embryos to pay the annual storage fee. My partner, in one of his less sensitive moments, asked why we didn’t just donate them. After my third day of inconsolable tears, I think he realized that the situation was more nuanced. Donating baby clothes, knowing you will never again use the play mat or the tiny bucket seat that you brought your baby home in – these are small, sad moments filled with nostalgia. Donating frozen embryos is a line in the sand. It’s definitive and closes that door forever. There will be no more siblings, no more first moments, no more tiny pink and blue beanies.

In the meantime, I have another year to think about what to do with those embryos. Circumstances could change, sleep habits could improve, my boys could ask for a sister. You just never know. While I know in my brain that we are done having children, the message is taking a long, long time to get to my heart.

For more musings from a mom who wonders when everything below the neck went National Geographic, visit her blog: stopstopcomehere.ca

« Previous Page