featuredxx – Page 7 – Urban Suburban Mommy

The low-down on how to manage your babe’s hair

Posted on March 7, 2016 by ericahwearing Posted in The Best You .

Our resident hair and beauty expert, Erica H. Wearing provides insightful tips and advice about managing your babe’s hair.

1. What age can you start cutting a baby or child’s hair? Is there an age?

I shaved my sons head when he was 4 months old . He had an adorable mini mullet, but the reason I shaved? His hair was all patchy and full of bald spots . Shaving it helps hair grow in evenly.

It was hard to say goodbye to the baby hair, so I would say this isn’t for everyone.

2. Are there special products you should be using on baby or children’s hair?

There is a great hair care line with all different types of great products called Hot Tot that is safe and effective for your little one’s hair.

3. Are there certain ingredients you should avoid in terms of hair care products for kids?

Always choose products with as little chemicals as possible, avoid any sulphates and anything containing parabens. Using a gentle tear free shampoo would be best .

4. At what age do children’s hair usually change – i.e. from straight to curly?

Hair can change colour and texture with age, usually due to hormones. My hair was straight when I was a kid but as I got older it got much curlier. So, for you moms out there that wish your little one had some curls, one day that could be true.

5. How often should you wash a little one’s hair?

Baby/toddler hair should be washed only once or twice a week. Their little scalps and skin are sensitive, and their hair really doesn’t get dirty unless they are rolling around in the mud – like my little guy.

6. Any tricks to managing cradle cap?

A great tip for moms trying to get rid of cradle cap:

apply coconut oil on dry scalp
let sit for a few minutes
exfoliate in circular motions gently with baby hair brush
wet hair and shampoo

This tip will help brush off loose skin and hydrate the scalp.

7. Should you use conditioner on a child’s hair?

I would use conditioner on children with curly or long, fine, tangly hair. This will help detangle the hair, which makes it much less painful brushing the hair out – and also will hydrate the strands. For all other hair types, the hair is so soft I don’t feel there really is a need for conditioner until they are older. If your child is in swimming lessons please use a shampoo /conditioner that is best to remove chlorine buildup that’s safe for younger children.

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

10 questions with a professional children’s portrait photographer

Posted on March 3, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in 10 Questions With .

Family portraits and professional pictures of the kids are something most families do eventually. Whether you have yours done annually, or will just do them once, there are a few things you’ll want to know to make sure your portrait session goes great and those pictures are the ones that will capture the best of your little babes. We caught up with Jaime, of Jaime Fleming Photography, a professional portrait photographer and mother of 2, to ask the questions you know you want to know.

1. How long should I expect a session to take with 2 kids?

Photo by Jaime Fleming Photography

I always block out a 2 hour window for my sessions and don’t put anything super important directly behind a session involving children or babies. Most kids can’t last the full 2 hours – many, not even close. But there are times when it takes a bit of time to get the session rolling. The entire experience is new to them: new location, new clothes, new lady with a weird gadget she keeps holding up to her face. And on top of that, mom and dad are acting weird today!

It may take some to get the kiddos to warm up to the photographer before a camera should be shoved in their face. Sometimes kids are cranky or an unexpected feeding for little ones needs to take place before any shooting can begin. And that’s ok. A good photograher is going to have slotted enough time to work through these typical delays. Parents shouldn’t feel rushed to get their kids to cooperate or be made to feel guilty when things get tough. It’s ok. It’s expected. Plan ahead for it and stay calm. You’ll have plenty of time.

That all being said, when working with children, it is usually pretty obvious when they reach the “done” point.

2. Should I bring props, stuffies/lovies/food bribes?

I’m typically a “less is more” person. But if there is a special something you want included in your photos, by all means bring it. If there are items that help motivate your child – like a movie or blankie, sure, bring it. I wouldn’t bust out those attachment items right out of the gate, though. They could become a hindrance if they won’t give them up. For toddlers, bubbles are a great way to hold their attention and keep them somewhat in one place for 3 seconds. Plus, I like the type of photos where families are interacting and having a good time together over a stuffy posed portrait. Basically, bring anything you’d like – just know that it may end up in the photos.

3. Should the kids be all matchy-matchy or best outfit? How do you recommend they dress?

My personal preference is for each person in the photo to be dressed for their own body. It’s probably a good idea to have a little bit of coordination of some sort, even if it’s just colors that look nice together. But in general, I don’t care for the super matchy-matchy look. I like mix and match colors and patterns, and a little individual style to show.

4. Are there any colours that shoot better than others or ones to be avoided?

Photo by Jaime Fleming Photography

I usually suggest to my clients to choose anything but white. White washes a lot of people out and often looks distracting as it becomes the bright spot in the image. Our eye is naturally drawn to the bightest spot in the image, so ideally that should be the face. I like to stay away from white on clients unless we are intentionally doing a white on white type set up.

5. What’s best for location? Studio, home or outdoors?

This is a very photographer specific question. Know your photographer’s ability and style before committing to them as a client. Make sure the look you want is something they offer and do well. If you want nice polished studio shots, it’s probably not ideal to hit up the photographer who markets herself as a natural light photographer. I personally love on-location outdoor sessions because children get the opportunity to move around and explore and some really nice shots can come from that.

6. Why is there a fee for a sitting and another fee for images?

Despite common belief, “taking pictures” is a lot more involved than just clicking a button on a cheap, auto-mode camera from a big box store and running a filter from a web based editor in all the images. And also despite common belief, there are a TON of expenses that photographers have to cover – not just that 19 cent print cost you see advertised at the local drugstore kiosk. Running a photography business takes a lot of time. A lot of time. And there are many costs involved that most people don’t even think about. So yes, a custom photo experience can get pricey. But what you get out of it is so very worth it!

7. Can I just buy a disk and print my own pictures?

Photo by Jaime Fleming Photography

There are some photographers that are totally ok with this. Some have tailored their business around the “Shoot-n-Burn” concept. Others are a lot more protective of their images. In my case, I typically don’t offer a disk of printable images. I like to maintain control over the quality of the images attached to my name. I also like to maintain the copyright to my images, and depending on where a client chooses to upload and print, that copyright can be compromised. Check with your photographer before booking to make sure they offer digital images if this is something that is important to you.

8. What time of day is best to shoot with kids?

The best time to shoot is whenever your kid is happy! I like to plan sessions with kiddos around their eat/sleep schedule. Most parents can tell me instantly when their kid is typically cranky, so let’s avoid those times.

9. What can you fix in Photoshop – what’s not fixable?

Going back to that idea that photography and photo processing take a a TON of time, pretty much anything IS possible in Photoshop. It’s a wonderful tool with seemingly endless options. But every little edit takes time. Some of those fixes that don’t seem like such a big deal cause a lot of frustration. Ideally, we want to get the shot as close to perfect as possible in camera.

Of course, working with children adds an extra hurdle – or fifty. It’s a judgement call that day: What am I willing to try to fix here on the scene, knowing I could end up missing shots to come because the kids get cranky, and what am I willing to overlook here and now, and just deal with it in Photoshop? I play the trade-off game in my head and overlook what needs to be overlooked. Just don’t do what one client did to me and tell your photographer that you are only going to wear one solid polo shirt through the entire session and then expect me the photographer to change the colors of the shirt in Photoshop. Ha! I laughed so hard. Just change your shirt, dude.

10. What can I do to ensure you get the best results out of my kids on camera – feed them? bring food? Don’t feed them right before?

Fed kids are happy kids. We want happy kids. Fill them up. Bring snacks if they are motivated by foods. If we are talking infants, get a good feeding in right before you get there and bring a bottle or be prepared to have a nursing session or two on the spot. I really really don’t mind if we have to wait to get a baby fed. I’d much rather get the baby filled up and happy than do 100 little short attempts to appease them with a brief feeding. Happy kids make happy photos. That’s our goal.

@JaiFlemingPhoto

Jaime Fleming Photography

Nana Helen’s potato soup

Posted on March 1, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in Delicious Dishes .

This is one of my favourite recipes – it brings back some of my best memories, along with being one of the most delicious soups ever. You know that go-to comfort food that always warms you from the inside out and makes you feel like everything will be okay? Yah, this is it for me.

My Nana Helen was an amazing woman. Her Polish family sure could make magic with very few ingredients. In fact, the only ‘spices’ in her cabinet were salt, pepper and garlic powder, and yet she was quite a good cook. I miss my Nana and I’m glad I learned a few of her recipes, so this one’s for you, Nana Helen.

I’m going to share this recipe with you, and then go enjoy a nice big bowl of this myself – I hope you will too.

What you need:

-6 large potatoes, peeled and cubed into roughly 1/4-inch squares
-1 large onion, diced
-1/2 – 3/4 cup flour
-4 tablespoons butter
-salt and pepper
-pot of water

What you do:

Dice the onion and start sautéeing it in the butter over medium heat in your soup pot. You want to go past caramelizing it and almost to black. This will give the soup a hearty flavour and an even colour as you don’t use a stock for the base.

Once the onion is deeply browned – just shy of burned – start sprinkling flour into the butter, like creating a roux. Keep mixing. A good roux isn’t hard to make, it’s close to equal parts of flour and fat, and at that sweet spot of the perfect balance it’s sort of like a paste. Just keep adding flour and blending into the butter/onion mixture until you think the oil cannot absorb one more bit of flour.

This roux/paste will burn quickly so don’t putz around with it too much. Have the water on hand and start adding it by the cup, stirring constantly. You want the water and the roux to blend well. You can add a bit more flour at this point, and then keep stirring. I like to see it on the thick side.

While mixing in the water you’re also deglazing the bottom of the soup pot from all of that lovely fried onion residue. That’s the flavour!

Once the roux is fully liquified, fill the pot with the diced potatoes, throw in about 2-3 tablespoons of salt and some pepper, to taste. The starch from the potatoes will also help to thicken the soup.

Now let the soup simmer. It can be served as soon as the potatoes are nice and soft – or leave it on your stove to boil down and become even more flavourful within the next day or two.

It’s a bit thick and can get a bit dark, depending on the darkness of the sautéed onion. If you boil too much water off, just top up the pot with more and let boil.

MMMMMMM

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.

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

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.

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!

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

10 Questions with personal trainer Brent Bishop

Posted on February 17, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in 10 Questions With .

You know you want to, but you just don’t know how. It’s not as easy now as it was when we were in our teens and 20s. For some reason, at 40, the pounds start to stick in all the wrong places, and they’re more stubborn than we remember them being. So we caught up with personal trainer Brent Bishop, owner of Think Fitness Studios, where in addition to regular training, they offer specialized ‘Mom and Baby classes. We asked him the questions you know you want to know about about working out and getting into shape.

Brent at Think Fitness Studios

1. Why are people so unmotivated to work out?

This all comes down to a lack of inspiration. Motivation and inspiration are two different things – you need to be inspired first. You can’t maintain motivation without inspiration. The best place to start is to choose activities that inspire you. An exercise program must be interest-driven in order to be successful.

2. How do you inspire people to get physical?

I find out what their interests are, what they have enjoyed in the past – sports they may have played or maybe what they have always wanted to try. Starting with interests creates momentum.

3. What exercises can moms and dads do in their livingroom every day?

There are so many exercises you can do without leaving the comfort of your own living room. Some examples would be lunges, abdominal planks, squats – even using your couch or chair for push ups and triceps dips can be effective. Creating a circuit of 3 to 5 of these exercises and completing 2 to 3 sets can help you keep fit while being very time efficient.

4. Can you recommend any exercises or physical activity you can do with babies?

There are many. A lot of this comes to creativity (and of course safety). At my fitness centre, Think Fitness Studios, we have 15 ‘Mom & Baby’ classes per week that expose participants to a great array of effective exercises such as lunges with baby, squat press (pressing your baby in the air as you come out of a squat) and trunk rotations (sitting on the ground while twisting side to side with baby in hand). Not only are these great for fitness but also allow for some great bonding time with your little one.

Doing lunges, pressing his son – that’s the daddy workout way!

5. What are your thoughts about working out with your kids?

Everyone should workout with their kids, or have their kids involved somehow. My weekend ritual is to take my 3 1/2 year old with me to the gym where I get my workout in, and involve him in some of my exercises. What’s great about this is that exercise becomes ‘the norm’ for him due to this early and consistent exposure. Later we go to the park , run around and play some active games together. Fitness is absolutely essential for the health and development of our children.

6. How important is diet?

What you eat plays an very large role in your health. There is so much to be said about this. Developing good eating habits can make an enormous impact for weight loss, energy levels, disease prevention and overall health. For fitness results, diet is about 80% of the picture. What you eat impacts your body’s ability to metabolize calories, recover post-exercise and your energy levels for the next day.

7. Do you have to go to or belong to a gym to get a good workout?

If the gym is not you’re thing, don’t sweat it. You don’t need a gym to get great results. There are some many exercises you can do at home our outdoors that provide variety and yield results. In addition, there are many programs that you can follow to provide program direction. One program I’m involved in allows you to access effective workouts anywhere, on your phone, computer or TV – it’s called Evolve Function Fitness (evolvefunctionalfitness.com) and the great thing is, you don’t need any equipment – just your own body.

8. Why do you love being a personal trainer?

I feel I was born to help people achieve and I’ve always loved being physically active. Being a personal trainer allows me to utilize my passion to help people tap into their inner athlete.

9. Best part about being a dad?

One of the best parts of being a dad is the new perspective it gives you on life and what’s really important. Also, being a dad really allows you to realize just how much influence you have on the development of your child. There’s nothing like hearing my son’s little voice and having him hug me.

10. Your favourite way to workout?

I really like variety when I workout so I would say for in the gym, I love functional strength training with weights, particularly full body movements with barbells. In saying this, one of my favourite modes of exercise is running – particularly trail running, where I am far away from the hustle of the city and taking in fresh air.

Brent Bishop is an on-air fitness expert, lifestyle host, and celebrity trainer. He is the owner of Think Fitness Studios, a performance-inspired, boutique personal training centre in Toronto. Bishop is an on-air Fitness Expert on national television, Functional Fitness Host of the series Body Fuel, author of The Think Factor and the male Fitness Brand Ambassador for New Balance Canada. Brent has made several media appearances on North American networks including KTLA, WFLA Daytime, Global TV, CTV and CityTV to name a few. Additionally, Bishop is a regular contributor to numerous print media such as Best Health Magazine, Canadian Health and Lifestyle, Inside Fitness, Fitness Business Canada, Canadian Living and Sweat Equity Magazine.

Twitter: @I_AmBishop

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