I was a virgin to Jamaica. And with a crazy hectic schedule I hadn’t had the time for preliminary research. (I actually prefer it this way.) I go in blind, with no feedback or opinions and can allow my artistic personality to sense everything without bias. At first I was taken aback by the similarities with West Africa: corrugated steel, cement blocks and a native economy that was more advanced than I had seen in Liberia but not quite New York. My best advice? Go off the beaten track in Montego Bay, Jamaica. And watch your children flourish.
Summer is so great. Salad from the garden. Beach dinners prepackaged at the grocery store. The 2 for 1 Tuesday Whole Foods pizza deal. Thankfully there are berries in the garden because I’ve been pretty lax on feeding my family interesting, well-balanced dinners. A goal I always implement for September is to get life back on track after a summer of fun. This year at the top of my list for back to school is exciting family dinners.
I wouldn’t say that I’m in a meal rut – I love to cook and develop recipes and experiment. I’ve just been (gasp) lazy this summer. Lazy and tired. So the thought of a meal plan that forces me to experiment is quite exciting. The plan should eliminate stress, save money at the store and get the kids excited for what is to come. Mexican has always been a favourite of the family – making our own tacos to assert our personalities and experimenting with spices, meats and fresh ingredients to excite the tastebuds. (Food fights optional).
So when I created this plan, I’ve slotted in two Mexican-inspired nights.
If you’re used to picky eaters or chicken finger lovers, kid friendly crab cakes make a great healthy snack. And it’s not necessary to catch the crabs and shell them like we did (for authenticity). You can grab the cans. You also have the option of frying or baking. The baked version is of course healthier, but you could do a flash fry at the end using olive or grapeseed oil (which has a higher temperature threshold to prevent burning). Served with veggies or a robust salad they make a great dinner as well.
Kid Friendly Crab Cakes Ingredients:
4 T. finely crushed whole grains (kamut, wheatgerm, wholewheat flour – whatever you have)
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon seafood seasoning/cocktail sauce
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 egg, beaten
salt to taste
1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
1 pound fresh crabmeat, well drained
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs (try to use whole grains seasoned with just salt and pepper)
2 tablespoons butter
3T cut chives
6 T finely diced apple (optional)
Method:
- Mix grains, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, seafood seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, egg, salt, and cayenne pepper in a large bowl.
- Stir in crabmeat until mixture is combined but still chunky. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Sprinkle breadcrumbs on a plate.
- Shape chilled crab mixture into 4 small thick patties; coat completely with bread crumbs.
- Grease a cookie sheet and place in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Flip crabcakes at 10 minutes.
- Optional: flash fry for 30 seconds/side in a skillet before serving.
This kid friendly crab cakes recipe is also great for making shapes – the letters in the kids’ names, hearts, stars and geometric shapes. Have fun!
I love my job. But sometimes UrbanMommies gets sent items for review and we don’t actually know how to give them a proper test. Case in point: The Sharp Air Purifier. You see, I’m pretty lucky. I don’t have carpets, don’t smoke, it’s summer when the doors are opened all the time and I’m a spectacular housekeeper. Ha. Ok maybe not, but my air smells pretty fresh. I plugged in this shiny new unit in a large room. It looked a bit like a spaceship with fancy lights and was so quiet I kept forgetting it was there. It even monitors dust. Reading the details, I was convinced it was doing it’s thing, but how could I prove it?
And then I decided to clean out my storage room. Our home is built on a rock and in several places the rock comes into the house. Dampness from the British Columbia rain combined with too-small kids’ shoes tossed into a storage bin can create quite the stench. So when I opened the door, eager to organize the dreaded area, I gagged. Several hours later the space looked shiny. Soccer cleats and rollerblades were catalogued and Christmas decorations grouped (behind Hallowe’en for ease of access of course). Martha would be proud. But the room still smelled like a dog’s breakfast. And then I remembered the silent spaceship in the other room. The Sharp KC-850U Air Purifier is recommended for rooms up to 254 sq. ft. and my storage wasn’t even close to that. I had a hunch that it would work quickly.
I dragged it in. Plugged it in. Turned off the lights, shut the door and came back 3 days later.The angels were singing! Mozart was playing! My air smelled clean. Test complete and products passes with flying colours. It actually inactivates mould, viruses, allergens and odours. It doesn’t just mask the smells like spraying perfume around. It actually removes them.
The details:
· Sharp air purifiers are the world’s only air purifiers with Plasmacluser Ion (PCI) technology that uses both positive and negative ions to shower the room and seek out and inactivate many airborne contaminants.
· Through the use of positive and negative ions, the air purifier is able to inactivate most airborne particles, including viruses and bacteria, mould spores, germs, fungi and other odour causing substances, removing up to 99.7% of airborne particles.
· Sharp’s air purifiers with humidifying function are also the only product line on the market that combine a humidifier and air purifier, meaning one sleek unit is all that’s needed to keep the air in a room clean and comfortable, no matter what the season.
Here’s their fan page. It should be called an air purifier page as opposed to fan. I. am. so. funny.
So now that I don’t have to use my superior housekeeping skills (chuckle) to scrub the storage room, won’t get as many viruses this winter and can skip the allergy medicines, I have a ton of time on my hands. Dinner, anyone?
When my second son was born, we paid to have his cord blood banked and frozen in case anyone in the family became ill and in need of stem cells. Most families don’t have the luxury of this high-priced service and without a donor, Canadians can lose their lives. Science has come so far, but Canada is the only G8 country that doesn’t have a national public cord blood program. Currently there are 1000 people awaiting a stem cell match. Canadian Blood Services has launched the Climb4Cord to help change that. At a pricetag of $48 million, it is no small undertaking. As I write, my husband Derek Amery is representing UrbanDaddies by climbing Kilimanjaro for a Canadian blood cord bank. The 25 climbers had a goal of raising $500,000 and they have thankfully surpassed their goal.
I’m one of those parents that can’t stand the end of summer. The thought of school lunches and early wake-ups makes me want to cry. Even the notion of some alone time while the kids are in school doesn’t make me want to celebrate. But back to school shopping? Now you’re talking. I love the new beginnings – a change to streamline routines and try to finally nail the healthy littler-less lunch. We can always dream. Here are our 15 back to school essentials for this year.
1. Reminiscent of old-school TV dinner trays or modern Bento boxes, the PlanetBox ensures food doesn’t get all mixed up and helps you include healthier options for the pickiest eater. The magnets add a personal flair. Also available at Pottery Barn Kids with personalized carry bags.
2. Microwave, dishwasher safe and waterproof. Music to a parents’ ears! Not having to raid the lost and found box at school every week? Even better. I just ordered Mabels Labels‘ Ultimate Back to School Pack. The kids got to choose their own personal designs and even prompted them to clean out their closet.
3. Sanrio. It’s all about Sanrio. I just got 2 new Sigg Hello Kitty water bottles. Always BPA-free, these designs also allow you to write a note to your kids in the thought bubble. My preference is to have the kids write a note to me, as I won’t give these bottles up. Sorry, boys.
4. We know that UrbanMommies is a big fan of manners for kids. Let’s not stop at school. Funkins are colourful, fun napkins made just for our little robot lovers and fishermen.
5. As you register the kids for extra-curricular activities, don’t forget to include down time. The Babba Box is a subscription service that provides hours of after-school and weekend creativity. Combine it with Disney’s new Story app and we’re willing to bet you double their fun.
6. I always went to school with personalized pencils from Lillian Vernon. You despise me now don’t you? And now they are in pink.
7. WoolFelt iPad sleeve on etsy. Stunning.
8. Fancy patterned binders help our kids feel like individuals. Leave it to Martha Stewart to come up with epic patterns. Available at Staples.
9. Boys: In the summer I can’t get my boys to wear pants. In the fall I can’t get them to wear pants without holes in the knees. Good news: Iron Knee pants from Land’s End. The revolutionary interior knee patch will allow them to fall on their knees all the time without you having to deal with seeing their kneecaps at the end of the day. Now we just need to stock up on Tide Pods how to deal with the grass stains.
10. Girls: The new Binksy & Bobo reversible tie dress. Spills can be instantly hidden with a flip. And it’s Canadian. I need one in my size please.
11. Picmonkey. It’s all about picmonkey. They’ve just released some back to school themes, overlays and nostalgic school effects.
12. Zoo Lunches from Skip Hop acts as a lunch bag and doubles as a little friend. Available at Snuggle Bugz.
Just in time for a long weekend, we have a special treat for you: a chef’s summer BBQ tips! Chef Tom Filippou, Executive Chef President’s Choice Cooking Schools has given us an exclusive interview about the current trends and tips in BBQ. Here he talks overcooking, smoking, menus and marinades. Enjoy, and feel free to extend a dinner invitation to our team… Have a great long weekend!
I’ve had the experience of traveling to the French leeward island of St. Barth, located 35 miles south of St. Martin in the Caribbean. I’ve never been the same since. The white sand on 22 beaches with shallow reefs coupled with the 2,500 acres of marine reserve make this a pretty special place. For a family vacation, we’d advise looking into a villa. At 2-4 bedrooms, sharing with extended family or a group of friends is a fabulous way to experience ‘les Anses’.
Sibarth represents the best villas on St. Barth and has created a collection of villas that are perfect for a family vacation. Despite its jetset reputation, St. Barth is a perfect family destination with calm beaches, casual beach-side restaurants, and water sports such as snorkeling and paddle boarding. But the jetset reputation also doesn’t hurt. Nor do the Parisian influences. Bon Voyage!
International Woman of Mystery: elusive and mysterious. The goal of any urban mommy I would think. If this is how you define yourself and insist on introducing your kids to the funky and luxurious accommodations, you must stay at the Gansevoort Park. The new Gansevoort Park is in Manhattan’s NoMad district is the second property in the chain. The original meatpacking district location frequented by A-list celebrities who party on the roof has helped to define downtown and flanks our favourite strolling place: The Highline Park. This newer property is like an uptown oasis with a twist of sass.
Forget Instamatch and online gaming. This tangible Marimekko memory game will verse your child in design as well as sharpening their little brain. Putting a new spin on an old classic, this Memory Game by Marimekko is sure to become a family favorite for games night with its beautifully designed circular tile pieces.
This memory game features a selection of Marimekko’s own textile designs, from their iconic Unikot print, to playful Cars. We’re so in love with the patterns, we may just have to practice lots.