Urban Suburban Mommy

Tag Archives: Kardashian

Back to school – the nanny can help!

Posted on by Posted in Mommy Approved .

Some of us stay at home with our kids. Some of us choose daycare. But for those of us mamas that choose to employ a nanny, it’s a special dynamic.

The nanny isn’t a friend, the nanny is there because it’s a paid job.

The nanny isn’t family, but many times the nanny is much like family.

We trust the nanny alone with our kids.

The nanny does so much more than just monitoring the little charges while parents are out of the house. The nanny is kind, caring, and will often develop a bond with the children – and the parents too – which goes far beyond the employee/employer relationship.

The Windy City Nanny, Florence Ann Romano of Nanny Magic and author of Nanny and Me, is a seasoned pro. She was, after all, a nanny for the Kardashians among other. Florence offers these 5 tips for having the nanny help with getting the kids ready for going back to school.

Skill Sets

Prepare the kids for whatever skill sets they will be required to abide by in school. For example, if potty training is a skill children are required to have before entering the classroom, this is a great place for a nanny to be involved in the preparation.

Healthy eating

Nannies can assist children in getting children’s nutrition on track, which will ultimately help their attention and energy levels in school.

Picking out outfits

Kids love to be involved in back to school shopping! With the parents consent, nannies can plan a fun day with the kids for back to school shopping and school supplies. This gives them a chance to individualize their look, and also find control in a situation that can be a sometimes challenge or anxiety-inducing transition.

Homework preparation

The nanny can help prepare children for the upcoming curriculum in the classroom by developing fun, interactive games that will start stimulating their minds.

Last hoorah!

Have a final, summer day with the kids – pool, ice cream, playground, zoo – all things they will soon miss, but can enjoy one last time before the school year begins. Make it exciting and special. Also use the opportunity to get the kids pumped up for the memories to follow in the coming year.

Florene Romano PhotoThe Windy City Nanny, Florence Ann Romano of Nanny Magic and author of Nanny and Me, is a dedicated philanthropist and former nanny who has always had a special place in her heart for children. Romano worked for over 15 years as a nanny, beginning as a ‘Mommy’s helper’ at the age of 11. She shares her experiences in Nanny and Me (Mascot Books, May 2015), her beautifully illustrated debut book for children making the transition from being cared for solely by their parents to having a nanny in their home.

WindyCityNanny.com

Florence Ann Romano – The Windy City Nanny

My 5 Bargain Hunting Tips for Moms

Posted on by Posted in Urban Suburban Mommy .

I remember the first luxury bag I ever purchased. I paid cash from the back of a panel van in a deserted Shoppers Drug Mart parking lot. It came in a grey dust bag marked “Chahel”. That night, my cat clawed it to death. Thinking back on it, I’m thinking: a) it wasn’t a real leather bag, let alone a designer one, and b) my cat thought I was dirt.

While I’ve evolved from a traditional hunter/gatherer, the instinct to seek and find remains unchanged (I’ve also retained the sloping Cromagnon brow and slack jaw.) My search for pretty things has always been tempered by a restricted budget. Rarely do the two intersect. However, as I grow older and (marginally) wiser, I’ve found ways to circumvent the wallet drain by bargain hunting. While my curated collection is unenviable by Kardashian standards, it satisfies my love of lovely (and affordable) things. Here’s a list of my fave haunts and awesome sites. Now get shopping!

  1. Winners: love them or hate them, Winners has a plethora of chic finds and designer duds at every price point. Yes, you need to wear your patient panties. Yes, you need to hunt. Yes, you need to wear elbow pads and, the odd time, carry pepper spray. You can thank me when you find a pair of designer jeans for 60% off and there’s one left in your size. Winners.ca
  2. Facebook: I’ve joined local buy/sell/trade groups and have scored some incredible deals at a fraction of the price. Most sellers require pick up only, but because it’s local, you won’t have to go far.
  3. Thrift shopping: My favourite thing to do on my birthday? Spend an afternoon in Kensington Market. I’ve haunted that ‘hood for 30 years. From Exile and Courage My Love to Vintage Depot, the finds are one-of-a-kind. I found some of my favourite items there (Guess leather knee-high boots, “like new” for $35? Burberry trench for $85? Yes please!) If you’re skeeved out by wearing second-hand goods, just go for the Dim Sum and Vietnamese coffee.
  4. Sample sales: I used to work on a street in the west end that housed dozens of fashion distributors. About twice annually, they would release their off-season samples at ridiculously low prices. You can sign up for sample sale notices and quite literally fill your closet with high-end finds without the high-end prices.
  5. Haute Look: There’s a ton of member sites out there offering discounts on luxury brands: Zulilly.com, Overstock.com, etc. Haute Look is my favourite. It’s a veritable Nordstrom clearance rack. Premium denim, kids’ stuff, menswear and home décor (even beauty products!), this site has it all. They have an excellent return policy and all shipping is tracked. Hautelook.com