Browsing Articles Written by

Jill Amery

Jill Amery is a mom of 2 small boys and the Publisher of UrbanMommies, a stylish digital lifestyle magazine filled with fitness, style, health, recipes and savvy mom advice to help you through pregnancy, birth, and raising your kids.

Barilla - David Rocco - Penne Pasta al Burro

Kids in the Kitchen: David Rocco’s Pasta Al Burro

EAT, family meals By March 8, 2016 Tags: , , , , 1 Comment

It is always a challenge to get kids involved in meal preparation but we encourage you to turn off the tech and make some beautiful memories in the kitchen with your loved ones. Food is always a huge part of any family tradition, and involving the kids in the kitchen will teach them life skills as well as cutting down your chores. Especially during the busy winter months with short days, snowy activities and homework, mom and dad need all the help you can get.

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Natural Colic Remedies

Natural Colic Remedies

baby, FAM By March 3, 2016 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

I’m not a bad mom – really. But I certainly felt like it for the first 18 months with my first son. Our caregiver said she could only stand one day. My best friend – a psychologist – told me that I probably wouldn’t be able to go back to work after a year of maternity leave. And neighbours would avoid eye contact because I’m sure they thought I was neglecting my child. Because he had colic.

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What to Do When You Have No Plans for March Break

FAM, kids By March 3, 2016 Tags: , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Oops. Registrations are full, and you’re green with envy as your friends get the airbrush tan in preparation to head south.  March Break is here and you kind of forgot to plan anything. Worse? The whole family is feeling burnout from the holidays, school, and our treacherous Canadian winter.  Is a change as good as a rest? We think so. If you’re creative and have a semblance of a plan, you can pull through.  Here are a few ideas.

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Jill Biden National Geographic

An Interview With Jill Biden

EAVESDROP, Overheard By March 2, 2016 Tags: , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

As part of the National Geographic Kids’ Insiders program, I had the opportunity to hop on a call with none other than the Second Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden. We did a Q&A with Dr. Biden about My Shot, her enthusiasm for kids education, her love of teaching, her support of the National Geographic Bee (she hosted a celebration of the Bee finalists at the VP residence in May 2015), and how she balances motherhood, education and her responsibilities to the Government of the United States.

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Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

Video: Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

EAT, EAVESDROP, family meals, Seen By February 29, 2016 Tags: , , , , , , , No Comments

As you will see in the video – the whole family is ill right now! This Greek Lemon Chicken Soup is a nourishing, delicate recipe that punches with flavour and hopefully makes everyone in my house better! This recipe calls for couscous, but you can replace this with quinoa, orzo or larger-format Israeli couscous.

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Immune System Support for Children

baby, EAT, FAM, health, kids By February 29, 2016 Tags: , , , , No Comments

Many parents are asking how to strengthen their child’s immune system this fall, to help prevent catching colds and also the flu.  The immune system is basically a bunch of different types of cells that together fight bacteria and viruses that cause infection.   Many children get sick in the fall as they return to school and daycare where they are exposed to a variety of bugs.  Their immune systems are still growing and developing, so they are more likely to get sick than adults.  There are several factors that can influence how healthy and robust a child’s immune system is.  Follow these steps to boost your child’s immune system and help them stay healthy through this cold and flu season

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Boeuf Bourgignon

Secret Recipe: Boeuf Bourgignon

EAT, family meals By February 28, 2016 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

I call this recipe ‘secret’ because it is just so good. It’s my ‘secret weapon’ when I forget I’ve invited people for dinner and haven’t had time to cook anything spectacular, so I pull this from the freezer and douse a bit more wine on top as it bubbles away in a favourite Le Creuset casserole.

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Early signs of pregnancy

Early Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms

FAM, pregnancy By February 21, 2016 5 Comments

Especially if they’ve been trying to conceive, women can become understandably obsessed with recognizing early pregnancy signs and symptoms.  We all know that you wait until you’ve missed a period, take a test, and you will know for sure. But what about the other little signs that women seem to know, but the books rarely mention? They are called ‘soft signs of pregnancy’ or ‘signs of implantation’ and are hardly discussed. Once, when I was a week late, somebody asked me – do you feel pregnant? Pardon? Feel?

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