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.

A look at the Versace Mansion in South Beach

Seen By June 19, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Date night? Romantic getaway?  If you are on a much needed adult sojourn into Miami’s South Beach neighbourhood, a viewing and a meal at the former Versace Mansion in South Beach should be included in your bucket list.  Oh come on.  Just get a room there.  No named The Villa by Barton G., the structure at 1116 Ocean Drive is an exclusive boutique hotel.  Jill Amery attended a function at the mansion as part of the Mom 2.0 Summit.  Sponsored by Intel’s Ultrabook, the event featured dancing and incredible food catered by Chef Jeff O’Neill.  She is currently devising every possible excuse to get back to Miami in order to recreate the experience.

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Disney's Photopass: Be in the Family Pictures Too!

Seen By June 19, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Ever come back from a great holiday only to discover that you’re not in any of the photos? You might be a great shutterfly, but after the effort of packing and finding the perfect travel outfits, you shouldn’t be an invisible face in the photographic memories of your trips. Disney Resorts’ Disney’s Photopass Program make it easy for you by hiring their own professional photographers in and around the parks with the Disney’s Photopass program. At many of the famous sights and locations with great vistas, you can get snapped by a pro. Ask for a free photopass, get as many photos as you want added via scanner throughout your day, and pop online later to see which ones you would like to order. (And you don’t have to look like a tourist with a huge camera around your neck all day.) Disney’s Photopass program allows you to finally be in the family pictures, too!

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Disney Attracts Celebrity

Disney, ROAM By June 17, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

We’ve all been there (if we’re lucky) – the lineup for the Dumbo ride, the first time on Space Mountain, or the Mickey Photo.  Rich or poor, young or old, Disney is the great equalizer – our smiles reflect happiness and our memories last forever.  And it’s not only at the parks that our spirits are moved. 

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Top 10 Teacher Gifts

Our top 10 Teacher Gifts

GEAR By June 13, 2012 2 Comments

It’s almost June, and summer is upon us! Finally, it’s time for lazy days and scavenger hunts. But before we leave school we must be thankful to the incredible teachers who have nurtured our kids over the past year. Teacher gifts needn’t be expensive, but all must be given with gratitude and joy.  Here are a few ideas..

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What's in the Bag?: Kids' Activities for the Plane

GEAR, ROAM, toys By June 10, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , 1 Comment

Ka-Chow! The excitement is mounting as the kids and I depart tomorrow on a sneak preview of Cars Land at Disneyland Resort in Southern California.  Plane trips can be tricky and it helps to be prepared. Space is at a premium, entertainment is key, and yet you can also take the opportunity to do some teaching and nurturing.  Here’s what we packed:

1.  Mader, Doc Hudson and Lightening McQueen (a great way to educate and get them excited about what is to come.  You could do this with any destination – this of what you’d pack for Asia, Paris…)

2.  The Blackberry Playbook, complete with Montessori learning apps and a few games.

3.  Soy rock crayons.

4.  Big foam magnetic letters that the kids are having difficulty with – they will be a captive audience on the plane for learning their ‘G’ and ‘W’!

5.  A hackey sack for burning energy in the airport.

6.  An iPod with their ‘go to sleep’ music downloaded.

7.  Nemo waterwings to get them excited for swimming when we arrive.

8.  Again in the Disney theme, a few little green men from Toy Story.  They can stage battles for hours and we have so many we won’t miss them if a couple get left on the plane.

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What's in my travel bag

What’s in My Travel Bag?

beauty, GEAR By June 10, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments

Our staff have been on the road a fair bit lately and wanted to know “what’s in my travel bag?” – so I decided to spill the beans on some of my fave travel friendly products!

1.  Black 15 in 1 Twice a Week Miracle Hair Shampoo (because I only like to wash my hair 2x weekly).

2.  Swiss Army Knife: Victorinox (a gift from my Mom in 1992 complete with initials).

3.  ‘the supernatuaral cream’ with SPF 15 and ‘the present’ foundation to smooth wrinkles from Philosophy.  Especially great when you do a photoshoot or live TV spot.  Skin looks flawless.

4.  Cargo Cosmetics Essential Eye Palette (The name of the part of the eye is actually embossed into the shadow so you don’t mess it up!)

5.  Joe Fresh Style Frais Sheer Lip Crayon in Wine (I get compiments on this 6$ product every day).

6.  Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Herbal Tea (works like a charm for jetlag)

7.  Diorshow Blackout mascara (So very Black).

8.  MAC Iridescent Pressed Powder (more luminescent than the studio fix and adds a hint of sparkle.)

9.  Olay Professional Pro-X Facial Cleaning brush (When you are too tired to wash your face this does it for you!)

10.  No! No! Hair Removal system (It’s like a mini laser to eliminate unwanted hair.)

11.  Kerstin Florian At-Home Professional Peel pads

12.  Make-up case: Missoni for Target

We’ll be doing a ‘what’s in the bag’ installment regularly.

Disclosure: all of these products were purchased by the publisher with the exception of Olay Pro-X, Cargo and Black 15 in 1.

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Daddy’s Ice Cream Bar

EAT, family meals By June 7, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , No Comments

Now that the warmer weather is upon us, the kids are begging for beach balls and popsicles every time we hit the grocery store.  I have romantic visions of old-fashioned ice-cream socials, but they are a bit more interested in tree climbing and cowboy games.  Being the mother of two boys sometimes necessitates getting a tad creative (read: wiley).  This is where the concept for ‘Daddy’s Ice Cream Bar’ came about.  We dressed in costumes (any excuse to wear the Little-House-on-the-Prairie outfit of course).  After setting up tables with flowing cloths in the garden, I started the creation of the bar.  Three flavours of ice cream set in crushed ice and antique vessels to hold toppings.  Long spoons.  Dainty napkins.  (I can’t believe I actually just used that word).  And edible flowers to add the final touches.  Despite my creativity, the kids and Daddy decided that the toppings pretty much made the whole event.

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Unique Fathers Day Gifts for Dad

fitness, GEAR, style, tech By June 6, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , 3 Comments

Father’s Day is a tough one.  PS – socks and ties just don’t really cut it.  Here are a few curated picks that we’ll be ordering.  And probably using for ourselves..  (That’s when you get them for the father of your children instead of your own dad so the items are.. ahem.. nearby.. for your personal use.)

This was so awesome we actually already bought one for the office.  Sorry dad.  A new take on the retro polaroid, the shots from the Fuji Instax Mini 50s Camera come out immediately and in a mini size – about half the width of an old-fashioned polaroid.  And you don’t have to wave them in the air either.  Available at Caya.

What man could possibly attempt a camping trip without his R2D2 Folding armchair? If he’s into starwars you might want to check out our feature on the hand-knit R2D2 hat as well…. Available at  www.thinkgeek.com

CHARGE ‘N’ FRUITS Designed Docking Station: The most decorative way to charge cell phones and MP3 players: definite shapes and creative styling. Simply load your charging cable through the fruit from above and place the cord in the cable channel at the bottom.  Caya.ca

Blown Away: A Year Through the Lens of The Tornado Hunter.  I was so riveted to the photos in this tome that I could feel my testosterone level rising.  Showcasing the surreal, scary, romantic electricity of tornadoes across North America, Greg Johnson’s stunning book can be found at WalMart and online at chapters/indigowww.tornadohunter.ca (Oh – and if you comment on this post with your fav idea for dad you get an entry to win one!)

WEBER FIRESPICE® TRIAL-SIZED SMOKING KITS: Not sure what flavour dad likes to smoke? Here’s an opportunity to sample different smoking woods – hickory, cherry, apple and more. Comes in assorted four and six packs.  Pair it with Weber’s Smoke™ cookbook written by New York Times best-selling author and James Beard Award Nominee Jamie Purviance. It reveals the secrets to infusing rich, smoky flavours into almost any dish on any barbecue including  gas, charcoal, or smoker. www.weber.com

Date night with Dad. Especially wonderful for the dad who doesn’t get much one-on-one time with the kids, here is an opportunity for the children to share ideas as to what a perfect date with dad would look like: Building a model airplane? Learning how to fly a kite?  fly fishing?  Yes please. 12 different ideas for activities to do with your dad for a special date.  Brilliant DIY idea by the Happy HomeMaker.

Collapsable shot glass.  You couldn’t possibly go on a golf course without one of these.  Or to Europe.  Or to the office.  Just sayin’

www.thinkgeek.com

The Man Bouquet.  Attach assorted cigars, beers and Dad’s favourite items to small dowels and ‘plant’ them in a huge pot.  (You might also want to include some lingere for yourself, which we’re sure he’d also enjoy.)  Idea and photo by: Elyse Nichol

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Beat the Heat

LIVE, rest By June 5, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Severe heat can inhibit the safety of babies and children.  With global temperatures on a slow march upwards, heat waves such as this are unfortunately likely to become more frequent than their previous once-in-a-lifetime occurence. Some people adore the heat, but babies and children as well as pets and elderly relatives are vulnerable to heat strokes, dehydration and other serious heat-related ailments. Here are some tips on surviving the heat.

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Bobee Diaper and Wipes Dispenser

GEAR, toys By May 29, 2012 Tags: , , , , , 14 Comments

You will change more than 20,000 diapers in the first year.  AAgh.  Why not make it as easy a job as possible?  The newest must-have nursery item is the Bobee Diaper and Wipes Dispenser is wall-mounted and comes with multi-coloured stickers so that it fits into any decor.  Wipes in the bottom and diapers in the top.  (Both are grabbable with just one hand).  Tres chic.  The bright dots are also a great visual distraction for young babies!

www.onsgear.com

We’re giving away the Bobee as well as a supply of other newborn essentials valued at $110.  To enter, comment on this post with your favourite way for UrbanMommies to interact with you.  Newsletter? Pinterest? Facebook? Twitter? RSS? or through our website.  Thanks and good luck.  Deadline: June 1, 2012.

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