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10 children’s books from our childhood that we love

Posted on January 25, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in Mommy Approved .

There are so many great children’s books out there. Of course it’s a matter of preference, but there are definitely those that stayed in our memories, and it’s a thrill to get to pull them out and enjoy them again as we share them with our kids. We’d like to share our faves with you, and we’d love to hear back on yours!

Urban Suburban Mommy Elisa shares:

We had a huge library of the Little Golden Books series, and then loads of big compilation books as well as some very sweet short stories. Our bedtime ritual always included a story – which was rarely told from a book. My dad had the most amazing imagination and would make up the most magical tales. Though they’re some of my most cherished childhood memories, there were times he read us books, and when he did, he did all of the voices too!

When the Beezles Got the Measles by Arthur Beckerman

Hands down, this is my absolute favourite book from my childhood. Anyone else remember this one? It was Beckerman’s only published work, ever. It’s out of print and worth $250+ in mediocre condition. I found this out while searching it out for my boys – and I was heartbroken. I thought it was gone forever – until last summer when it came up and my sister let me know she’d kept it!

Green Eggs and Ham By Dr. Seuss

I think every kid remembers their feelings about the feel-good funny rhymes and nonsensical sensations of Dr. Seuss. You can pick any one you want, this one’s my most loved. I do great voices, my dad would have been proud.

The Complete Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Anderson

I actually hid this book, and it was years before I’d revisit it after my dad read us The Red Shoes. While some of the stories are lovely – The Ugly Duckling, Thumbelina – The Red Shoes was most definitely not. I may still have nightmares about those dancing feet. Maybe not a favourite, but it had such a huge impression it had to make my list.

Aligator Pie by Dennis Lee

Something about whimsical rhyming has always thrilled me. I love the poems in this book. I loved when they were read to me. I love reading them to my boys.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

This was the book that made me start reading. It didn’t have pictures. It was long and it was such a surreal, wholly enjoyable story that I had to read ahead and forced myself to figure out the words on each page. I can still remember lying on my bed, refusing to go out to play so that I could read just a few more pages about the Oompah Loompahs and Mike TV. I’ve read it to my boys. Twice.

(It’s killing me to limit my list to 5. Only 5? I’d have to mention: Goodnight Moon, Paddington Bear, Little Women, Little Mr. and Miss books, Charlotte’s Web, Peter Rabbit, Where the Wild Things Are or Anne of Green Gables!)

Suburban Mommy Michelle Shares:

I absolutely loved listening to stories as a child. I still love reading as an adult, but definitely don’t have the time right now to do a novel justice. Instead, I revert back to the joy of reading with my 4 year old and relish the look in his eyes – full of wonder and awe.

Like Elisa, I absolutely adored Green Eggs and Ham as a kid, and now it is so much fun to read it with my son. In fact, I definitely recommend investing in a set of Dr. Seuss classics. Oh The Places You’ll Go with your child’s imagination…

Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban

I distinctly remember asking mom to read Bread and Jam for Frances over and over again. I loved this book! I haven’t had a chance to dig it out of one of the boxes in my basement as of yet, but it is a perfect and timely book to read to my picky toddler. Like Frances, my son only wants to one thing – his vice isn’t bread and jam – it’s pasta.

Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish

Amelia is such a funny and loveable character. Her comedic domestic adventures definitely teach children to learn the subtle differences between literal and figurative speech. Amelia Bedelia is part of a series of great books, and I definitely recommend them all! I heard rumblings of the books being turned into a movie a few years back but have yet to see anything on the big screen.

Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Snowy day is such a magical and beautiful book. In fact, Keats received the 1963 Caldecott Medal for his illustrations in the book. You actually feel like you are part of a snowy day as you turn the pages. A dear friend bought this gem for my son as a birthday gift. My son loves reading it and so do I!

Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell

Who doesn’t love a big red dog. I actually remember reading several of the books from the series in French. Whether in French or English, the Clifford books are great. Clifford has since been transformed into a television series.

The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

My mom was the story teller in our family. But I was actually introduced to The Neverending Story by my grade 3 teacher Ms. Bananazak (I think I spelled that right). Every day, Ms. B would bring out a this stunning book and read a chapter to us, as we sat around in a circle. I was completely captivated by this book. I couldn’t wait for story time each day. The Neverending Story was turned into a film which I did watch and enjoyed. I was a bit scared and scarred by the Oracle. Regardless, this book is a must read!

(Like Elisa I could rhyme off a pile of titles because clearly I was a book nerd – loved Judy Blume’s Are you there God It’s Me Margaret, Gordon Korman’s No Coins Please, Shell Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends, Dennis Lee’s Jelly Belly – yes I could keep going!)

What books would you recommend to add to the list?

Pregnancy hair vs. post-baby hair with stylist Erica Wearing

Posted on January 21, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in The Best You .

We loved chatting with hair stylist Erica Wearing so much that we sat down with her again for a follow-up interview on the change a mama’s hair goes through before and after pregnancy.

1. Tell us how pregnancy hair is different from every day hair

Pregnancy hair is different from everyday hair because we produce extra estrogen which prolongs the growth stage resulting in very little shedding where normally we shed up to 100 hairs a day.

2. Is it true that pregnant women shouldn’t dye their hair?

After doing numerous studies on the effects of hair dye and pregnancies the results are inconclusive. I would suggest waiting until the second trimester and go for highlights or ombre. Foils are great because the colour doesn’t have direct contact with your scalp.

3. What happens to hair post pregnancy?

When hormone levels drop back to normal in post pregnancy, the extra hairs drop too. Between 4 to 6 months is usually when moms start shedding hair. This is normal and not true hair loss. What it is, is a condition called excessive hair shedding which is caused by falling estrogen levels. The great news is that this is only temporary.

4. Are there any products you would recommend to strengthen post-baby hair? or help with hair loss?

Some products I would recommend are:

Morroccanoil products

Moroccanoil-root boost – for full body and volume
Moroccanoil Volumizing Mousse – instant volume and lift
Moroccanoil luminous hairspray- a workable hairspray that’s light weight but gives perfect hold and texture For best results on achieving the most volume all of these products work best with heat (blow dryer)

I would also recommend taking a few inches off and adding layers to get thicker more voluminous hair. Try a fringe (bangs). This helps blend breakage in the front where normally hair shedding occurs.

Adding highlights or colour is a great way to get volume and texture in your hair and brighten up your look.

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

Momtuition

Posted on January 20, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in Urban Suburban Mommy .

Do you ever have that little nag? That little voice, that little feeling in the pit of your stomach that makes you feel certain of something – you just can’t explain it?

Momtuition.

The problems that start brewing can be anything from social issues to health matters, but you have that gut instinct to know what to do.

Momtuition.

This is not to be confused with panic, freakout and hypochondria-by-proxy. You’ve got to really dig deep and know the difference between Momtuition and neurotic mommying. When the chips are down, you’ll know. You won’t know how you’ll know, but you’ll know.

When my second son was 15 days old I was a sleep-deprived, zombified mother of 2 under 2. He didn’t wake up for his 2am feeding. I celebrated the milestone with a few extra hours of dreaming. But when he didn’t wake up at his 6am feeding I started to wonder. Sleepy newborn, sleep-deprived mommy, active 22-month-old, why was I concerned that my babe was sleeping? Lots of infants start sleeping through the night.

I latched him on, but he was pretty tired and didn’t feed well. My Momtuition was screaming, but I kept second-guessing myself, feeling stupid for ‘being neurotic.’

Finally, after about half an hour of inner conflict, I decided to embrace my inner neurotic. I called the health nurse and started the conversation with, “I know I’m probably a neurotic new mother, but something doesn’t feel right…”

My baby was deathly ill and the only symptom had been him sleeping through a meal. Within 4 minutes of my phone call we were in an ambulance. Within 10 minutes of that call he was in the emergency room having a lumbar puncture.

We spent 2 weeks at the hospital – Sick Kids Hospital – me willing him to live and the doctors not giving me a huge lot of hope.

Momtuition also convinced me he’d be alright despite the doctors’ great concerns.

He’s now a happy and healthy 5 year old rough and tumble boy, but it was a rocky road. They said if I had waited a few more hours things would likely have gone a lot differently.

One thing saved him.

Listen to the Momtuition.

Chef Mike Ward’s delicious and easy Bangers and Lentils recipe

Posted on January 19, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in Delicious Dishes .

Fancy-Pants Bangers & Lentils with Red Pepper & Onion Relish

Chef Mike Ward’s Fancy-Pants Bangers & Lentils with Red Pepper & Onion Relish

A classic reinvented into something lighter with BIGGER flavour (and shhhhh, healthier), Bangers and Lentils with Red Pepper & Onion Relish is delicious and fast with a good serving of veggies.

What you need:

– 4 sausages (spend $ on goodies), works well with chicken too.
– tin of lentils
– cup of any stock (or water)
– 1/2 a carrot
– 1 onion
– Red pepper
– Bunch of thyme
– Dijon mustard (I love Maille)
– Balsamic vinegar (again, I like Maille)

What you do:

Sausages
Pre-heat oven to 450°. Sear sausages in hot pan with a splash of oil. When you’ve browned both sides, slide them into the oven for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile…

Lentils
In a pot, sweat off 1/2 finely chopped onion and 1/2 finely chopped carrot with a splash of olive oil. Add rinsed lentils, a heaped tablespoon of Dijon, stock, a few sprigs of thyme, salt and pepper. Simmer on medium heat until lentils suck up most of the liquids.

and…

Onion & Red Pepper Relish
In a pan, add thinly sliced 1/2 onion and thinly sliced red pepper with a very generous splash of olive oil. Sauté until brown. Add a tablespoon or more of balsamic. Reduce 30 seconds more.

Plate a generous mound serving of lentils on plate. Place sausages on top, then your lazy onion and red pepper relish. Dat’s comfort food baby.

Chef Mike Ward began his cooking career at the bright-eyed age of 17 in Sydney, Australia. Mike never believed he would one-day prepare meals for such clientele as Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise, Bruce Willis, and Nicole Kidman. He has cooked in some of Sydney’s and Toronto’s most acclaimed restaurants: Zigolini’s and The Basement in Australia; Prego Della Piazza and Shark City in Toronto, and has owned and operated several catering companies. Throughout his career Mike has also shared his passion and experience through group and private cooking lessons allowing keen home cooks to develop their skills.

In 2000 Mike produced and directed an award-winning cooking/travel/lifestyle television series that have been viewed in over 40 countries. His great love of creating food content has taken him all over the world, writing, photographing and curating recipes and food related stories for highly respected print, online and television outlets. He serves as a consult to Centennial Colleges’ culinary department, and is also involved in many charities including Dancing with Parkinson’s.

@MikeWardTO

@mikedaniel21

At 44, feeling fertile is a state of mind

Posted on January 18, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in Urban Suburban Mommy .

So you’re a 40-something mommy like me. And you’re done having babies, like me. What do you do to shut down the factory?

It’s not like before where you need to think about the future – you can do something more permanent if you want – tie those tubes, get that Essure, have him clipped. It’s not like we’re 25 and might want to change our minds and have another child in 5 or 10 years. We’re 40-something and we’re done. Sure, there are technically a few more years for us, and I don’t want to be agist, but seriously, there aren’t too many of us that want to go the route of being pregnant and closing in on 50 – never mind that that it’s practically impossible for most women to do it (though not impossible for some).

According to Web MD, perimenopause starts at 47, and the average woman starts menopause at 51. Yes, it it possible to get pregnant through perimenopause, and right through to the time you stop having periods, but it’s not likely.

When I was 6 weeks post partum I had my IUD put in. I decided to go the route of no hormones and opted for the copper Nova-T IUD. I’m completely happy about my decision – except for the fact that it starts losing its effectiveness at 5 years. When my doctor put it in (and she’s a mom and the same age as I am), she was pretty nonchalant about the fact that I could probably keep this one because at 44 I would start to lose the ability to get pregnant, and even if I did, it wouldn’t stick.

It’s an interesting distinction. It’s not black and white. Fertility is highest up to your late 20s. Then into your early 30s, while not at its peak, fertility is still pretty good. Web MD pegs the decline starting at 35, which is the whole ‘late maternal age thing’ I heard a lot during my pregnancies. Fertility declines, and it declines hard. Eggs are getting older, the chances of chromosomal issues increases, the fertility factor decreases. You may feel that you’re in your sexual prime, but your ovaries are shouting out last call.Dr. David Adamson, president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine explains on Web MD that, at 39, your chances of conceiving are half of what they were are 31. Over the next 3 years it declines by half again. 41 is where things really dive – about 10 years before menopause hits is when fertility ends. Some women have fertility longer, some much shorter. But you don’t know until you try.

It’s just so ironic. You spend so many years preventing, and then when you’re finally ready, BOOM. You find out it’s not so easy after all.

Now, my son turned 5 last year. I am in that grey area. Do I *need* birth control? It wasn’t that easy to get pregnant at 36, how likely is it that I can get pregnant at 44, especially with a semi-effective IUD?

Birth control at 44 is different than at 22 , or even at 32. We had our babies just before the cut-off, didn’t we? Birth control is, of course, still a consideration, but not *as* important. Though plenty of us are throwing the tubal in with our last birth, and doing something because, we don’t want to take a chance and well, we are just so used to it. At 39, I realistically felt that I should still use birth control, but I didn’t want to do anything permanent. I wanted to keep the lines of conversation open, just in case.

The IUD was it. I just couldn’t see any other form of birth control. My husband had made it clear he was never getting the big V. (It was actually one of his three dealbreakers when we got serious about our relationship and had ‘the talk’ so I knew that was out.) I’d used the patch, briefly, and wasn’t a huge fan of it – or hormones in general. We’d done sponges for the brief period after I’d decided I was never using hormones again. I could get a diaphragm, he could use condoms – what other forms of birth control are out there? NFP was out of the question. Charting and tracking are not my strong suit.

I think coming to the other side of childbearing is just something that messes with you – and birth control is the icing on the crazy cake. Do you or don’t you? At 44, feeling fertile is just a state of mind.

How I became a pumping machine

Posted on January 16, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in The Struggle is Real .

Krista Holmes shares her personal story about breastfeeding while trying to be a working mama.

Even before my son was born, I knew that I wanted to be able to pump – mostly, for the freedom and possibilities that it provided. Little did I know that 4.5 months later I would re-enter the workforce (more on that some other time) and become a pumping machine.

About 3 weeks before Tyson was born, my husband and I headed down to Babies’R’Us to purchase the pimped out version of a breast pump. Unlike many mothers, I hadn’t read too much on being a first time mother for fear of overwhelming an already anxious me. But pumping was something that I wanted to do. So I did the research and settled on my brand: a Medela Freestyle Breastpump. Expensive, but worth every penny.

Medela Freestyle Breastpump in action ($399 at Babies’R’Us)

Within 3 weeks of being born, we had a 50th birthday party to attend. I was SO excited to be going – just a few hours for my husband and I to be out.

Without a baby.

Or diapers.

Oh, and did I mention that there was wine?

I pumped a handful of times leading up to this night out, so I felt like I was prepared.

It was just up to the Medela bottle and my son to keep the night going. We made it through dinner and a few drinks when my mom texted to say that Tyson drank all of the milk!

WHAT? All of the milk? But I had left over 16oz! It was time to get back to my parents’ home – luckily I had more milk in the fridge at home.

To be honest, I had only breastfed my child up until this point, and of course I had NO idea how much milk he was getting – just that he had wet diapers and that he was growing; essentially the main things that we first time mom’s look for. So, it was time to evaluate this whole pumping situation.

Was it worth it?

You betcha it was! Within another week or two, we met up with friends for a birthday dinner. Except the dinner was almost an hour from our house, the restaurant was behind schedule on reservations and our friends (all still childless) were all late. I kept in touch with my parents and learned that my child was doing well on the 4 bottles that I left him. It was great that things were going so well. Well at least for them…..

This was the longest that I’d gone without feeding my child or pumping, and I was ready to burst!

You know when you see sausages in the pan and they just burst all of a sudden? That was the state of my boobs. Both of them. And since we hadn’t received our food yet and had the long drive ahead, I had to do it – pump and dump. But hand expressing? Thankfully we had reviewed that in prenatal class so I was good to go.

Fast forward 3 months later, I was applying for a job. Yes, I was ready (mostly) to return to the workforce. But it meant so many more steps now as a mom. Other than the obvious – Getting 2 of us ready. Being on time. Not looking like a zombie. It meant getting up even earlier.

After chatting with a few other moms that went back to work early, I felt as prepared as I could be. So I pumped, often, for the 2 weeks leading up to the start of the job. I had my “just in case” pumps all bagged up and labeled.

The Medela Freestyle Breastpump

I had pumped for over 3 months now and I seemed to have it down pat. The pimped out breast pump that we had purchased was awesome. The Medela Freestyle would allow me to pump from both breasts WHILE DOING SOMETHING ELSE! Like watering the plants that handn’t received a drop of H20 in weeks. Or laundry. Or reading a book. Or WHATEVER! I could still DO things while pumping. Obviously my son needed to be considered (I should add here that I miss those long naps) but pumping bottles could be my middle name.

But don’t think that I didn’t have issues. Sometimes I’d be too exhausted. Or sometimes I’d spill when pouring from bottle to bag. Or sometimes I’d have to pump due to the pain from one of the many blocked milk ducts that I experienced. And then there was leaking, through my shirt and sweater.

If I provide any words of wisdom, it is to plan when you’re going to. And where.

I might pump while breastfeeding my son (side note – I think that mothers who have twins and breastfeed both at the same time deserve a medal), or pump while he was showering with my husband. But I always tried to plan it. I think that planning helped because then I was in the right mind frame to pump. I would have time to grab a drink (stay hydrated), and grab my iPhone, a book or a magazine. And then find a comfy place. Though I have been known to pump while driving out of town, while on a conference call, and even once while walking on a trail with another mother.

When we started our son on cereal, we were able to use most of the frozen milk that I had in the cereal. And then we mixed some of the breast milk when introducing homo milk.

For those that find it odd that I returned to work early, it wasn’t because I needed to. It was because I wanted to. Sure there were days when I second guessed my decision, but then I remember that my sanity was still intact, and that in fact, I might’ve been a better mom to our son. For now, from one pumping-breastfeeding-foodnatzi-mother to another, pumping gave me options. It gave me comfort. But most of all, it gave the option of someone else feeding my son. And here I am 17 months later, and I still pump the occasional time (usually it’s to avoid a blocked milk duct).

I think that with the right pump, the right surroundings, and of course the right support, pumping can be something that can really help a mother have some time. Kudos to those mothers who exclusively pump – that takes discipline!

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

I’m childfree!

Posted on January 15, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in The Struggle is Real .

Liz Parker is a mom of none, and has something to say about the experience of living in a society where that’s just not well understood by parents!

Long before there was a Christian Grey making all 50 shades a thing that raised eyebrows, I’ve long thought about life in terms of grey – not black and white. One of them was to be childfree.

For anyone debating the topic, I recommend going to a baby shower.

The first time I went was for my high school friend, about 17 years ago. People were playing games related to guessing the gender of the baby and the size of the baby and I found myself wanting to die with indifference. It was when “stretch mark oil” and “nipple chafing cream” came up for discussion that I excused myself, went outside and lit a cigarette.

I really did not identify with these women.

As everyone brought gifts like booties, swaddle blankets and soft toys, I showed up with 10 family-sized frozen entree chicken pot pies.

“You brought me… frozen food?” my preggo friend asked me uncertainly.

“Oh just you wait,” I said, confident in my practical gift-buying abilities. “When you have had no sleep for a month straight, and your husband is not home, the baby’s screaming, and the thought of making dinner makes you want to cry for an hour, you will THANK me for these pies, which contain veg, meat, and carbs all in one!”

Everyone laughed, but my friend thanked me later, as I knew she would. Years later, I felt the same wave of nausea hit me when shopping for a baby shower gift for my sister-in-law. When I was done, I headed over to Banana Republic to recalibrate and calm down.

I haven’t been hassled much re: my choice to be childfree, and while I remain relieved with this decision (especially when I see a toddler having a meltdown in public), that doesn’t mean I don’t occasionally have a moment of reflection.

photo: Daria

Being a mom means you’re automatically part of a club and you will meet people you can relate to. I realize lots of moms judge each other (“how can you resume your career and allow someone else to raise your baby?” vs. “how can you make it all about your kid?”) but nonetheless, there is no auto-club I can join as a woman in my 40s without kids. I also wonder what kind of child I would have had, and what kind of parent I would have been. I do have glimpses into that parallel universe – when I see my nephews and niece, and when I teach piano to children. I mentor these kids, and sometimes it’s thankless.

Sometimes I make googly eyes at babies, or see the joy in parents’ faces when they’re out with their children, and wonder if I could have done that. Then I hear the kid whine, the kid interrupt mommy’s conversation, the kid loses his mind and cries, and I know, I did the right thing for me. One hundred percent.

Liz Parker spent fifteen years in music PR before sashaying over to image consulting for classical musicians. This gig includes styling photo shoots, weeding out wardrobes, and editing website text. She teaches piano to kids on the side (which may have influenced her decision not to have any of her own).You’d think she was a food blogger based on all the food pics on her Instagram. She lives in Toronto with her fur baby Scully (a 90’s cat). lizpr.com

@lafumiko

2016 nurturing you – Getting yourself to shine, post-holiday

Posted on January 14, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in The Best You .

Salvation Mountain – being given the opportunity to add a stroke

The holiday season was hectic. You’re feeling tired, over worked and in desperate need of a makeover. Instead of the usual beauty tip remedies we see come out every January 1st, I thought I’d share with you my secrets to getting glowing skin and a permanent grin from the inside out.

Being a mother means meeting the demands of many individuals, your children, your partner, you career and then – finally – you.

It can be challenging to find that balance where you feel personally fulfilled. January 2016 marks the beginning of a new year. I wanted to make a conscious decision to make intentions this year, rather than resolutions. It’s important for me to live a life of excitement, passion, love and adventure. I want to lead by example for my boys. I want to expose them to a multitude of activities, environments, cultures, languages and the list goes on… Maybe forever 🙂

Boarding with the boys around Santa Monica

Set intentions that will nurture your mind, body and soul. Start shinning from the inside out. That is where the true beauty lies and pure happiness stems from. Here are a few of my intentions for this year:

Surf with my partner once a week
Have an adventure day once a week- whether it’s going on a hike, checking out a new installation at an art gallery, snowboarding, skating or doing photography.
Teach my boys a new skill in the outdoors

Alissia Surfing

Experiencing something new or doing a physical activity with your partner or children results in expanding your mind and gets the endorphins flowing. Is there anything better than that?

So remember mums, take action to create the life you want to live with your children and partner. This is the year to put those intentions into action; by doing so, I promise that you’ll notice a positive mental and physical shift that will set the tone for years to come. What are you waiting for? There is no better time than the present to shine from the inside out!

Sharing a special moment in the desert

If you loved this article you’ll also love: Fashion stylist to the stars Alissia Marciano gets down and dirty on being a styling mommy

Alissia Marciano is an international fashion and wardrobe stylist, as well as, an on-air celebrity fashion host. Currently based in Los Angeles, she has worked and forged her talent around the world in such cities as Paris, New York, Vancouver, and Toronto. From guest appearances on Rachael Ray, to the countdown to the Oscars on the red carpet with E!, and co-hosting Look A Like and Sexy Girl, Alissia is a prominent figure in the fashion industry and her success has earned her the reputation of a highly sought after international fashion and celebrity stylist. Beyond fashion and music, Alissia’s portfolio includes an extensive list of advertising clients including Diesel, ESPN, Nike, Acura, Orbit, and CAT. Her eclectic mix of femininity and rock n’ roll has graced the pages of such publications as L’Uomo Vogue, Neo 2 (Spain), Entertainment Weekly, New York Moves, Wonderland (Japan), The National (UAE) and Filler to name a few. In addition to her work in the industry, Alissia has two beautiful boys with whom she shares many wonderful adventures and creates lasting memories with, surfing and skateboarding being two of their favorite activities.

alissia marciano @alissiamarciano

What would you do with your billion?

Posted on January 13, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in Urban Suburban Mommy .

Oh to dream but honestly what would you do with a billion dollars? According to the Powerball web site, the jackpot for tonight is 1.5 billion dollars with a cash value of $930 million. Not too shabby. The chances of winning are 1 in 292 million which means you have a better chance of being hit by lightning. Why not tempt fate…seriously, imagine a billion. You would be swimming with the big boys like Mark Cuban or Laurie Grenier.

For me, I would find it a bit excessive to win that kind of cash and I know that long lost relatives would suddenly emerge with sob stories about why they deserve a million or three.

So here is what I would do:

I would immediately head to the airport with my closest family and friends that are family. I would charter a plane and head to a remote island like Necker Island. Yes Richard Branson’s Necker Island because I could. Maybe I would even buy Necker Island if Branson was selling. I would spend at least a month there so that all the media attention would die down.

Upon my return, I would pay off my mortgage and any debts, sock away a healthy university fund for my kids and I would do the same for our retirement (my husband and I). But wait I second, I just won a billion – I am retired. I would do the same for family and closest of friends – that’s a given.

I would hire the best investment planner and tax planner in the world. Maybe I would buy part of the Stock Exchange because I could.

Next, I would set aside a large amount aside for philanthropy. I would invest in research and hospitals as a priority.

I would definitely hire a full time sleep consultant or hypnotist to make my kids sleep and I wouldn’t care how much it cost. Maybe I would bathe in wads of cash but wait a second, money is one of the dirtiest things.

See honestly, it’s just too much. Like Uncle Ben said to Peter Parker (aka Spiderman) “with Power comes great responsibility”. Now how responsible are you? And what would you do?

You want to tell me how to manage my strong-willed child?

Posted on January 13, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in The Struggle is Real .

About once a year I find all of my friends – and their friends and every mommy group on the web plastering social media with posts about how to manage strong-willed children. Sometimes it’s “Take the power back” sometimes it’s “You spared the rod and you spoiled your child” and sometimes it’s just “10 things you’re doing wrong” all of which make me feel like writing a bunch of expletives in comment boxes.

Part of me has some hope that the article will have the magic secret to super-simplify my existence, part of me is upset that everyone out there – without a truly strong-willed child – thinks there’s something you’re doing wrong.

Having a strong-willed child is a real thing. Lots of parents *think* they have a strong-willed child, but all kids are challenging from time to time. Your kid doesn’t want to eat their dinner sometimes? Please. Your kid pitches a fit because his shirt is the wrong shade of blue? But of course. Your child doesn’t want to follow directions the first, second or third time you ask?

Baaaahhhh ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

My strong-willed child will teach you what a strong-willed child actually is. I won’t go deep into detail about my sweet little guy (and yes, for all his strong will and challenge, he’s super sweet), but yes, it apparently IS possible to get suspended in Junior Kindergarten within 2 months of starting school.

He’s an awesome kid – very smart, and as I mentioned, super sweet – and many adults are no match for him. I’m no match for him. I’m pretty sure he’s smarter than me – much, much smarter than me.

photo: Kyle May

Strong-willed – for lack of a better word – means that they really are a lot tougher than most kids in terms of their convictions and desires. They’re the Alpha Dog in the pack whether you’ve relinquished your seat as Alpha Dog or not. They simply don’t accept that anyone else is in charge.

And that’s that.

It doesn’t start when they realize you’re willing to give in, it doesn’t grow because you let it. As an adult you can rationally sit there and say “I’m in charge and that kid is going to listen to me.” As a strong-willed kid, they’re just programmed to believe they have equal rights and won’t relinquish that control. They don’t have a strategy, it’s just who they are.

We all hate unsolicited parenting advice, but there are some universals we all share as parents – trying to find ways to get kids to eat more veggies; trying to teach them responsibility so that we’re not constantly replacing lost jackets and toys; trying to make them do homework. But “Taking the power back from your strong-willed child” is not universal. It’s not fun to feel that you’re the mom that’s losing at parenting because the fix is so easy.

He can outlast any standoff, he can resist any consequence, and he’s happy to spite himself to prove he’s right. The only thing that works in our house is love, love, love, love and more love.

We’ve tried to figure out how to manage it. We’ve read the posts. We’ve consulted a few authorities – from Dr. Sears to Dr. Neufeld to Dr. Seuss, so far the only advice I’ve gleaned that works is “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

Chef Mike Ward’s “Not yuck roasted cauliflower”

Posted on January 12, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in Delicious Dishes .

FEATUREDnot yuck roasted cauliflower chef mike ward

not yuck roasted cauliflower chef mike ward

Not yuck roasted cauliflower by Chef Mike Ward

We loved interviewing Chef Mike Ward so much we’ve gone back for second helpings! He’s got a lot of very simple and flavourful recipes that are surprisingly kid friendly, easy and fast enough for a busy family to add to the repertoire. Like this cauliflower. It takes 15 minutes and is not yuck. What more can you ask for?

“Even I can’t stand most cauliflower recipes,” this chef admits, “but this one will have you falling in love with this lowly sad little vegetable.”

What you need:

–Cauliflower, broken into florets (sprigs)
– Coconut or extra-virgin olive oil
– Grated Parmesan
– Salt & pepper
– Chili flakes (optional)
– Lemon or lime

What you do:

Preheat your oven to 425°. On a roasting tray, bust up a cauliflower. Drizzle it with the oil. Sprinkle it with Parmesan. Season it with salt, pepper and chili flakes.

Roast the cauliflower for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, squeeze over lemon or lime and serve.

You’ll be blown away how much of a meat-like texture this roasted cauliflower dish takes on. It’s perfect as a rustic side dish, or as a hearty vegetarian main. For a vegan option, replace Parmesan with fennel.

@MikeWardTO

@mikedaniel21

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