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.
1 tray of Sweetpea sweet potato Baby Food
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup organic chicken or vegetable stock
1 package noodles cooked as directed – whole wheat or vegetable..anything but plain white..are the best.
At the baby and toddler age, children learn best in an informal learning environment – meaning children learn by example. They are learning emotional skills, social skills and practical skills like using the hose to water the garden by following our example. They learn the basics of language by taking the lead from the older people around them who model the fluency in that language. Language basics are learned through immersion not through rote teaching. In the informal learning environment, a good role model is key.
Dressed up for summer, Oatmeal gets fresh and fun.
Let your kids play dress up for breakfast with a bowl of nourishing oats.
What you will need:
Rolled Oats
Cinnamon
Maple Syrup
Berries
1 banana
organic milk
Almond slivers (optional)
Shaved coconut (optional)
We’re not suggesting that you stop paying full price to take your kids to the ballet, theatre or symphony, but many parents feel that artistic pursuits are inaccessible for one reason or another. Excuses for not exposing children to these media range from ‘But the hockey was on’, ‘He will get bored’, ‘My baby cries all the time and she will disrupt things’ …to ‘It is too expensive’. Here are some outside-the-box ways to give it a go and mitigate the reasons for staying home.
Ok, ladies. There are times when life gives you the opportunity to begin afresh. Becoming a Mom is definitely one of them. We’re not advocating huge changes like becoming vegan or moving to Mauritius, but there are a few things you might want to consider to ward off the blues, make yourself feel great and ensure you’re getting the respect that you deserve. So here’s a list of things to do when you become a mom..
1. Make sure you get dressed and put on lip gloss every day. It’s a slippery slope.
2. Evaluate your email address. Recently we’ve gotten job applications from ‘sexyfox’, ‘jennluvs69’, and maria1977. Do you think your private life and your age should really be out there for all to see? You are a mom now, woman.
3. Get a sexy pair of flat, rubber-soled shoes or boots.
4. Make sure your bra fits.
5. Ensure your wardrobe includes a killer black dress, a white blouse, and a nice belt.
6. Throw away all socks with holes, hose with runs, dead lipsticks, pilled sweaters and stained t-shirts. Oh, college sweats too. I bet Stacy London’s list would be even longer but we can start with these.
7. Find out what your husband/partner finds attractive as sleepwear, and make sure you have some.
8. Don’t put on something that has spit-up on it. EVEN TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE.
9. Keep a few garbage bags in the car so you can toss the trash each time you think of it. Someone tweeted us recently that sprouts were growing in their car. Ick.
10. Get a good diaper bag/purse that makes you smile and shows your style. It will be with you for longer than you can imagine.
– Jill Amery is a grownup.
With temperatures rising, it’s a great time for parents to head outdoors and get active with the family. but as the kids play, mommies and daddies tend to focus on their children’s needs, neglecting their own bodies as a result. So we thought it would be practical to post some summer hydration tips for kids (and parents too!)
“Only 25%* of parents hydrate properly,” says Dara Duff-Bergeron, mom and personal trainer. “While juggling carpool, volunteering in the classroom and taking care of a sick child, parents often forget to drink fluids and replenish lost vitamins and nutrients.”
Girls might just want to have fun, but sometimes we just have to shed a few tears and dig into a tub of Ben and Jerry’s. It’s healthy to cry, but if you’re having a bit of trouble turning on the waterworks, try the UrbanMommies playlist. And of course, if the tears don’t stop, you might want to read about breaking points and postpardom depression.
1. Because of You (Kelly Clarkson)
2. My Immortal (Evanescence)
3. How to Save a Life (The Frey)
At Park Royal in West Vancouver the other day, I offered to hold the elevator door for a group of the most lovely, well-behaved children I had seen in ages. Their three teachers graciously declined my assistance, saying that their safety protocol was to hold the door themselves. Very impressive. Hmmm. Polite uniformed children, good behaviour and professional adults. They had to be.. Yes.. When I asked – all was confirmed. They were from CEFA.
I have been dreading writing this post. Busy with life or busy procrastinating. Maybe I thought that if I didn’t acknowledge it then it wouldn’t end. But it did end my weekly training sessions with Stuart from Fitness On The Go are over. No more squatting stair jumps or twisty push ups. So it is kind of odd that even though I don’t have anyone telling me to exercise I still crave the burn. I am voluntarily subjecting myself to new and interesting workout classes and still finding time to spin and run. I guess when you make exercise a priority for so many months it becomes a habit that is difficult to break. Not that I am complaining…this is exactly what I needed. I wanted to change my thinking, change my actions and change my BODY.
When I entered the lobby at the Fairmont Pacific Rim it was like walking into an opulent modern palace. The walls and Floors are draped with Carerra marble and custom millwork. The glass chandeliers hang above a bar and lounge that I would love to be seen in. I was directed to the elevators. It was only 5 floors up to heaven…oops I mean the Willow Stream Spa.