GEAR Archives

Browsing Category

GEAR

Getting Organized with a Parent Coach

books, FAM By Guest June 13, 2017 16 Comments

As a parent coach, I spend a lot of time with moms. More often than not, there is one common thread: She is overwhelmed, exhausted and feels locked into certain patterns with her kids.

Does this sound familiar to you?

It’s a very common story but it doesn’t have to be this way…

Have you ever had this interior monologue?

How can it be Sunday night already? Where did the weekend go? I’m so tired. I’ve got so much to do before I get to bed. Every Sunday night is the same and every Monday morning I feel like I’m starting off on the wrong foot.

When Your Vehicle Deepens Your Family Bonds

auto, GEAR By Jill Amery June 1, 2017 No Comments

If a car could tell a story about real life for a family it would be the Honda Odyssey. Like the story of the day your baby came home from the hospital and you were so nervous you shook. And the time you accidentally drove through a red light and managed to avoid the accident that almost killed everybody in the car. That family road trip to the coast where your daughter confessed that she had fallen in love. And the morning you drove your child and her jittery friends to their graduation ceremony.

Since the vehicle is so versatile and timeless, it becomes the one constant that follows and facilitates all of those real family moments. This minivan could tell 1 million stories, because a family is going to want to keep it for a very long time.

Running Safety: What You Need To Keep Going And Never Give Up!

fitness By JoyHedding May 25, 2017 1 Comment

I love to run and where I live that means running on country roads. I’ve written about my love of running in the past and also about my desire to be safe while running. Being safe can mean a lot of different things – making sure someone knows where I’m headed on my route, or at least has an idea of the general direction I’m headed – being aware of my surroundings in case drivers aren’t aware of me – even knowing where the cows are out to pasture so I don’t startle them which WILL startle me.

I’ve been fortunate enough to return from all of my runs safely. Now I’ve got some added protection – in case I have a problem.

They Say Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend, But I Know It’s White Gold

EAT, eat, fitness, LIVE, nourish, Shopping Reviews By Serendipity Indigo May 23, 2017 No Comments

We may have mommy-brain about almost everything else, but the one thing we all know is how we like our coffee.

My personal go-to has been a K-cup of an insanely dark roast cut with half and half. There is something to be said for fast, easy, eye-opening caffeine consumption that even my kid can make. (Yes, I’ve taught my oldest how to set the coffee maker and how many splashes of cream to add for it to get to just the color mommy likes.) That convenience comes at a high cost however, with a large amount of waste I’ve never felt great about.

The Eldridge Conspiracy – Facing The World Without Super Powers

books By Stacey Waltzer May 12, 2017 No Comments

Superheroes are fun role models for children. Little ones can dress up and pretend they have special powers. As parents, many of us promote different character traits a superhero has to help our kids become stronger in character. There are so many books and shows where the fictional characters have special abilities.

Then children grow older and start to become miniature adults as they are faced with all kinds of social and interpersonal situations that special powers can’t fix.

Who becomes the role model then?

Spring Beauty Finds for Tired Moms

beauty, GEAR By Jill Amery May 3, 2017 No Comments

At age 20, I used to get out of bed, apply lip gloss and run out the door looking fresh-faced and awake. (And of course that was when I though I was pudgy and ugly). The universe gives us this inverse relationship where wisdom is only bestowed with age. Well – I will be damned if with wisdom, I don’t start truly appreciating my own beauty too. After 2 kids and a hundred and fifty thousand soccer games, I can accept both beauty and wisdom, but I am going to need a bit of assistance from some of my favourite beauty products! I am asked to test loads of things, and over the past few months these few spring beauty finds have stood out for me in a huge way.

Combatting Jetlag in Kids

GEAR, ROAM, tech By Jill Amery March 8, 2017 No Comments

About to embark on a March Break trip with kids, what makes it into the carryon bags is crucial. We’ve got the swimsuits, the loveys and airplane activities. We’ve got books, flip flops and first aid kits. But one thing I’ve just discovered has been added to the roster of travel essentials for us. The Philips goLITE BLU energy light is a portable light therapy device designed and clinically proven to help increase your energy level naturally and help fight Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), winter blues and jet lag. JET LAG. Do you know what’s worse? KIDS with JET LAG. I know. They’re like a cross between Gremlins and heavy rocks. Here are 7 ideas to combat jetlag in kids so the gremlin thing doesn’t happen.

Britax Advocate ClickTight Car Seat

auto, GEAR By Jill Amery February 23, 2017 No Comments

If ONLY this were around when my kids were little. I remember the contortions and broken nails trying to hook up the *9Ghjeu!!!%(* car seats. And even better – when you test drive family vehicles as part of your profession? You have to shift them weekly (along with stale french fries and empty juice boxes). The new Britax Advocate ClickTight Convertible car seat makes me want to have it in the car just because it’s so easy to install. It includes the ClickTight Installation System for the safest and easiest installation in every car, every time. It’s also built for the Canadian as well as the US market. This seat offers three layers of side impact protection, an impact-absorbing base and steel frame for maximum safety.

Breaking Down the Style Basics: An Interview with Charlotte Jenkins

beauty, EAVESDROP, Overheard, style By Serendipity Indigo January 24, 2017 No Comments

UrbanMommies talked to Charlotte Jenkins, on how she balances motherhood with a public and demanding role at Toronto’s fashion hot-shop, GOTStyle.

Best of all, she gave us the inside scoop on how moms AND dads can play the part of parent of the year, without adopting the ‘look’.

At work, Charlotte has tackled everything from “glam stuff to the not-so-glamorous” for all three of GOTStyle’s retail platforms. Between “problem-solving, getting things done on the fly, as well as fixing things… It’s definitely prepared me for being a mother. Well, nothing can prepare you for being a mother, but…”

Minecraft Explained

GEAR, tech, toys By Jill Amery December 23, 2016 No Comments

If you have kids, chances are you are aware of the epic game that is Minecraft. It took me a while to figure it out, and chances are if you are new to the scene you need to have the intricacies of Minecraft explained as well. Available in gaming console or computer version or on tablets, this spatially-rich building game allows your character to build a three-dimensional world while avoiding zombies, creepers, spiders, skeletons and endermen. Our whole family plays and the experiences we’ve had have given us bonding time and amazing memories.

1 … 9 10 11 12 13 … 36