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.

Nita Lake Lodge

Canada, ROAM By February 22, 2011 Tags: , , , , , 1 Comment

They had me at the Land Rover shuttle.  Or was it the lobby?  Geothermal heating?  Or the live music during apres-ski?  Any of the above.  Nita Lake Lodge is among my favourite boutique hotels in the world.  And it’s only 68 minutes from Vancouver (not that I’m speeding).  Gourmet dining, windows galore and 72 environmentally-friendly suites with streamlined decor and beautiful views.

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Little Stars Bedtime Cards

GEAR, toys By February 14, 2011 Tags: , , , , , No Comments

Every night before sleep, my son comes out with the most profound observations, and I cherish the time where we discuss the ups and downs of his day.  I’ve even noticed him waiting, clingy and quiet, until bedtime, and then spilling the beans.. “Nick made me feel bad today”.  “Guess what.. the teacher said that she was really proud of me for counting to ten.”  If I miss a couple of bedtimes, I suddenly feel disconnected.  But not all nights are easy, and the kids don’t always know how to express themselves.  That’s why we love Little Stars Bedtime Cards.  Given to me by a dear friend (and an amazing parent), these are designed to affirm positive qualities that already exist in your child. They help you to go beyond teaching and telling, to engaging and connecting with your child through the sharing of common positive experiences and emotions.

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CHI Kids

FAM, health By February 14, 2011 Tags: , , , , , 4 Comments

Clammy hands.  Racing heart.  Clenched stomach. If I could give my children one gift for their lifetime, it would be to manage stress.  I wish they could learn techniques so that they  could be confident and grounded in any situation.  In our society, parents are continually bombarded with the current health buzz.  We are so careful about not eating unpasturized cheese while pregnant.  We ditch the carpet lest our kids are affected by off-gassing, and we work incessantly to make sure there are no parabens in our shampoo, nitrites in our meat and dust in our pillows.  Doing the right things for our children can not only be time-consuming but stressful as well.  And we’ve also heard the buzz about the long-term health consequences of stress.  What better gift could we bestow on any human being than the gift of a healthy coping mechanism?  Child and youth clinical counsellor Michele Kambolis is the Vice Chair of the BC Mental Health Foundation, and saw the need for a program for children to learn the coping skills for stressful situations thoughout their lives.  Enter CHI Kids. It needs more than a drumroll.

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The Tiny Light Foundation

charity, FAM By February 14, 2011 Tags: , , , , , , , 2 Comments

The Tiny Light Foundation pairs photographers with families of children faced with life altering diagnoses, and gives them the opportunity to capture their joy, strength and courage in photos. These photo sessions may otherwise be out of mind for families faced with expensive medical costs or overwhelming obstacles above the call of an average parent.

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Easy Ideas for Year-Round Romance

FAM, self By February 14, 2011 Tags: , , , , , , , No Comments

I never get flowers on Valentine’s Day.  I made the decision long ago that I’d rather a bouquet every month for no reason than an overpriced bunch of roses on February 14th that won’t last long.  Really, what do men and women need?  To feel loved and cared about.  Flowers, chocolate and all of the commercial trappings pushed on society once a year don’t always translate into a feeling of being loved.  Why not try some of these ideas that will cost next to nothing but make your partner feel truly cared about?  Here are some Easy Ideas for Year-Round Romance.  Feel free to add your own.

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Boiron for Cold and Flu

FAM, health By February 11, 2011 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments

AAAH-CHOO!  I hab a cold in my node.  And I just raided the kid’s medicine cabinet to fix it!  I always used Boiron’s Camilia for the teething pain, so was thrilled to hear that they’ve developed natural medicines for children’s cough, cold and flu.  Boiron’s Stodal for coughs is specifically formulated for children 1 year and older, tastes like honey, is toxin-, dextromethorphan- and guaifenesin-free and boasts no alcohol, no artificial colorings or flavorings.  MMMM.  www.boiron.ca

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Alcove Shampoo and Conditioner

beauty, GEAR By February 9, 2011 Tags: , , , 1 Comment

Paraben-free, salt-free, and sulfate free.  ‘Nuf said?  Nope.  This stuff leaves your hair silky, shiny and soft.  Please excuse us if we sound like a crazy shampoo commercial, but we really like it.  Alcove doesn’t feel soapy and filmy on the hands, and it smells good.  The official ‘science’ is that micro-encapsulation encloses ingredients in microscopic capsules.  This allows your hair to receive exactly the nutrients it needs to prosper.  Lovely.  www.oligoprofessionel.com

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Outside Toys in a Public Playzone?

LIVE, play By February 8, 2011 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Recently I took my youngest son, who is nearly two, to a cafe known for it’s “kid-friendly” play area and colourful cupcakes (his big brother was at preschool). I met a friend there for coffee, and a few kids were already making use of the place’s toys and activities.  Before we left the vehicle, I made a point of asking him to leave his truck in the car. “We don’t want another little boy or girl to take it home by mistake.” I said. He understood this because it is our habit – when going to a public play area we don’t take “outside toys” in with us.  Why risk a problem when we can avoid one?

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Waldorf schooling for your child

Waldorf Schooling for your Child

grow, LIVE By January 31, 2011 Tags: , , , 4 Comments

Waldorf schooling for your child emphasizes the role of the imagination in learning, developing thinking that includes a creative as well as an analytic component. Studies of the education describe its overarching goal as providing young people the basis on which to develop into free, moral and integrated individuals, and to help every child fulfill his or her unique destiny

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Louis Vuitton City Guides

books, Canada, GEAR, International, ROAM, USA By January 24, 2011 Tags: , , , , No Comments

Every fall, luxury brand Louis Vuitton publishes gorgeous and super-helpful guides for some of the greatest cities in the world.  We tried the European editions (surprise surprise), and were able to discover off-the-beaten track lounges in Paris and family-friendly, hip gems in Rome.  Note to self: they also look great on your bookshelf, and they’re nice and light to pack.

Image Courtesy: www.luxuo.com

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