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.
San Pedro, on the island of Ambergris Caye, Belize (Madonna’s ‘Isla Bonita’) is stunningly gorgeous with epic snorkelling and perfectly spiced food. No wonder this was where the Material Girl longed to be. I travelled in March with my family and the kids were given a rare look at a country whose scenic beauty rivals it’s poverty.
The pride exuded by the islanders was life-altering. I watched a woman and her son shovel seaweed into wheelbarrows on her day off. The houses in the poor community of San Mateo are mostly nestled in water and the seaweed is dumped into the pools in hopes of eventually producing earth. We watched men wrestle goats onto a golf cart as the animals wouldn’t cross a bridge on foot. We saw unprotected ruins in the wilderness where there are still artifacts lying around. Iguanas, crocodiles, BBQ to die for and several encounters with sea life made the two week jaunt the memory of a lifetime for the whole family. The trip begins with a flight from the mainland on Tropic Air over turquoise water and islands that dot the ocean. It’s almost as if someone has written calligraphy using tiny islands.
20 Tips for a Family Trip to Ambergris Caye, Belize.
1. Wahoo’s is a must to witness the Tuesday night chicken drop. You bet on a number and sprinkle lots of feed on the desired area of a square board covered in numbers. If the chicken defecates on your number, you win. Endless giggles from the kids. You can also purchase T-Shirts that say ‘Chicken Security’.
2. Check out Coco Locos on Monday for the cribbage tournament and every night for bocce on the beach overlooking the ocean. Marlon became the most popular bartender on the island for the splash of grenadine he swirled on the kids’ pina coladas.
3. Bring school supplies from home to the Holy Cross Anglican School. There is a list of needed items on their website and the kids are eternally grateful. The students will teach your kids some pretty cool games during recess.
4. Buy wood carvings on the road and make sure they are wrapped well for the trip home. Fins of the beautifully carved sharks tend to break.
5. As the only sports bar, Feliz is a hoot and has the most gorgeous candy-coloured stools. Ask to play the dice game.
6. Fidos has great burgers and if you’re lucky you will catch some local dancers practicing on the beach.
7. Head to Wild Mangos early for lunch if you want a seat. Save me some armadillo eggs. I went back over 4 times to devour them.
8. Brunch at Estel’s is fab, and the whole restaurant has sand on the floor for barefoot enjoyment. The town playground is also next door so you can sip a Belkin while watching your kids play.
9. If you’re a McDonald’s fan, the Road Kill Cafe has managed to duplicate the taste of the famous burgers – using mostly organic and free range beef I might add. (As a McDonald’s All-Access Mom I saw the natural beef and burger processes with my own eyes and giggled to see the taste replicated with Belizian organic ingredients). Karaoke on Thursdays is a blast.
10. Crazy Canucks is the place to be on Sunday, if only to witness the weekly horseshoe tournament. You’ll want the boneless wings. Locals will scamper up trees for you and bring you fresh coconuts. They will also make you a helmet out of a coconut shell. Crazy Canucks is right.
11. The Hol Chan Marine Reserve and shark/ray alley are must-dos. You pay a fee as you enter the reserve by boat and the reef is so shallow that the fish life is the best I have ever seen. My son saw sharks, turtles and a 7-foot moray eel in the first 4 minutes of his first foray into snorkelling!
12. Rent a golf cart – it’s so fun!
13. Have your kids play with locals in the park at the town square. You’ll be shocked at how language and economics make no difference in the games.
14. Belize Zoo/Western Belize: This trip usually begins with a flight on Tropic Air to the municipal airport, where you connect with a shuttle bus which takes you on the Western Highway for a visit to the wonderful Belize Zoo, maybe a quick peep at Belmopan, Belize’s mini-capital, lunch and perhaps a tour of Xunantunich, a Classic Period Maya site.
15. Altun Ha Ruins: You go by boat across to the mangrove cut, where you transfer to a van to visit this Maya site, which dates back some 2,000 years, on the Old Northern Highway. There is an abundance of wildlife, such as monkeys… for the more leisurely who would rather see the jungle, cool off, enjoy swinging like Jane and Tarzan, and perhaps get mood mud treatments and lunch at Maruba Spa.
16. Caye Caulker: A day trip to Ambergris Caye’s “little brother” island can be done by air or boat. If the latter, the trip is usually packaged with a snorkeling tour. One of the best trips to Caulker is on the Winnie Estelle, a classic island trader. Several catamarans also do this trip.
17. Lazy Croc BBQ is a north of the bridge must. Eat your BBQ as you watch the crocodiles swim in the lagoon. The cuisine is authentic and the atmosphere totally relaxed. Just keep your feet out of the water..
18. The Palapa Bar is a two floor palapa attached to the mainland by a long dock. Tied-up innertubes are serviced by a bucket that is sent to you filled with Belkin, and kids are able to draw all over the furniture, floors and walls with sharpies.
19. The sand is extraordinary for castle building. But beware – the tide will rise and you may have some disappointed kids the next day.
20. Finally? Hop on a catamaran and ask the crew to jump in and make you fresh conch cevice straight from the ocean.
You know you feel special when a cruise line picks your hometown as a departure port. We luckily got to tour the Disney Wonder prior to her first Vancouver – Alaska sailing. The ship, like the Disney Fantasy was elegant, filled with mystique and the first class service Disney always provides. Here are our top 10 favourite tips when heading to Alaska on the Disney Wonder.
I’m a sucker for older, stunning architecture. So as a student at the University of Toronto I would frequent Theatrebooks on St. Thomas St. and gaze longingly at Yorkville’s Windsor Arms Hotel. Later in life I would hang at the bar, hoping to gain nuggets of advice for career and stock market speculation. It’s that kind of place. But the artists, thinkers and socialites can’t be excluded. Not in a second. (The bar features original works by Charles Pachter).
This month I stayed at the hotel for the first time, and though they knew nothing of UrbanMommies Travel or my intention to do a story, they upgraded me. They said they just liked my name. Every room in the hotel includes a musical instrument – harp, guitar… and they have never had a noise complaint due to the music. On opening the door to the room I heard classical music playing on wired-in speakers throughout. It was so peaceful it made me need to have a bath. Comfortable beds? I had to ask the housekeeping staff where they source their pillows.
There is a trendy tea room by the gorgeous Living Room Bar and I was so excited to see a rack adorned with vintage hats. Patrons may ‘rent’ a hat for $10 and the proceeds go towards Dress for Success. Brilliant.
A pet friendly space (under 35lbs), this will be one of the most opulent, elegant and luxurious stays you will ever have. And you may learn a thing or two about music. Because you’re not going to want to leave your room, even for the great Bloor St. shopping nearby.
She sat lightly on the sofa of the Shangri-La hotel and embraced me early as I entered. From the beginning it felt as if I was hanging out with a best friend. We talked of shoes, child rearing, philanthropy and music. I was astounded at Chantal Kreviazuk’s poise, her passion for knowledge and the way she broke into song to illustrate a point using favourite lyrics.
Walmart introduced the Mom of the Year award last year to celebrate moms as both role models and integral members of the community, and gives Canadians an opportunity to say thank you for everything moms do every day. “We’re thrilled to bring the Mom of the Year Award back for a second year,” said Emma Fox, chief marketing officer for Walmart Canada. Judges include notable comedian, actress and radio host, Sophie Prégent, the 2012 Mom of the Year, Katie Schulz, editor-in-chief of Walmart Live Better magazine, Sandra Martin, Emma Fox and Ms. Kreviasuk review the entries.
One of the most important jobs on the planet does not come with a paycheque, but Canadians have a salary in mind. According to a recent survey conducted by Leger Marketing on behalf of Walmart Canada, Canadians would pay their mom an average annual salary of $161,287 for all of her hard work. Asking about how she will begin to choose the finalists, Chantal paused and admitted that mothers are so exceptional that it would be difficult. “I think that the good the amazing mom today to honor would be that woman who has life experience, has overcome some things but she still has strength and resilience.”
When I searched the #momoftheyear hashtag on twitter I was disheartened to see that moms across the globe use it in a disparaging way. They forget to bring diapers on an outing and they ridicule themselves. I asked Chantal about this trend. She has noticed that women in general are very critical of themselves. “Canadians are very different than Americans in that we have this bizarre thing in our particular cultural nature whereby we diminish our successes and dwell on our mistakes. Americans don’t do that – Americans are very proud and they tend to want to celebrate their success. I think also as mothers we make a mistake and it defines us. We have so much power as as a parent – we really need to define ourselves by the greatness, not the errors.”
Not only has Chantal Kreviazuk been influenced by Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace (her eyes light up every time he’s mentioned) but her mother-in-law has played a huge part in how Chantal has carved her style as a mother of 3 boys. She is “very graceful and elegant in her style of coping and resilience – the older generation just gets up and keeps going with that classic beauty”. Travel and philanthropy keep her busy but she is highly attentive to ensuring constant communication with her kids. “I’m really frightened of the idea of raising children to be too certain.” She admits her mistakes to the kids and takes time to answer questions. Remembering when she attended an event for a hospital foundation and the kids asked a ton of questions, she used it as an “organic opportunity to tell them why and who benefits from the charity and what it’s like for a child that you know is born three months early”. Highly involved in building schools in the third world and the charity War Child, Chantal continually exposes her kids to the notion that their circumstance is not reflective of the human condition. “Currency is many things. It’s not just money and I really believe that a value system for all those currencies is what creates a great human being because we are more than just you know money mongers and it’s not just living to work.”
An electric and intelligent woman, Chantal spoke about her passion for science and how our brains work. She always framed her thoughts from a mother’s point of view and it was clear that research and career exist to make life better for her family and the world around her. Yeah – beautiful, talented, incredibly smart and does some light neuroscience reading in her free time.
She focused our discussion on modeling for our kids – and why moms who are condescending towards themselves are not doing their kids a service. Modelling is vital (and scary) in parenting, and I personally believe that corporations and can help us model well for our children. That Walmart is celebrating moms who model beautifully for their kids is a great step. All I know is after spending quality time with Chantal, she can model what a woman should be for my kids anytime!
New this year to the Mom of the Year contest is public voting, where Canadians will have the chance to review the top 20 candidates and vote for one mom they want to see become one of the eight finalists. Each finalist will receive $10,000 to spend on themselves and the remaining seven will receive $10,000 for the charity or cause of their choice. The Mom of the Year award recipient will receive $100,000 for the charity or cause of her choice.
The Mom of the Year finalists will be flown to Toronto for a day of pampering and an awards gala on October 6, 2013. Nominations for the Mom of the Year Award close on June 16 and My Finalist public voting will begin on July 4 through August 1. The eight finalists will be notified around August 6. To participate in the program and support Canadian moms, visit www.momoftheyear.ca.
What kid doesn’t want to set up on the front lawn with ice-cold lemonade and a cash box? Not only to pass the time and teach them some math skills, you can up the ante a bit by encouraging them to donate the proceeds to a charitable organization. Make a day of it with girly lemonade stands that help fellow women attain their basic rights in third world countries.
Small actions can drive big change. Plan Canada’s ‘Because I am a Girl’ initiative is helping to inspire youth to turn lemons into Pink LemonAid by hosting LemonAid fundraisers in their communities.
The girl issue is real, and it’s affecting girls and women around the world – but what is it? Girls in the poorest regions of the world are among the most disadvantaged people on the planet. They are more likely to live in poverty, more likely to be denied access to education, and more likely to be malnourished, simply because they are young and female.
And yet, studies show that when you invest in girls, the whole world benefits. If a girl has enough to eat, a safe environment, and an education, she’ll work to raise the standard of living for herself, her family and her community. And in time, she can even strengthen the economy of her entire country.
Did you know?
- 70% of the one billion people living in extreme poverty are women and girls.
- Girls are 3x more likely to be malnourished than boys.
- Globally, 66 million girls do not attend primary or secondary school.
There is an urgent need to stand up for the rights of millions of girls. In the poorest regions of the world, girls face double discrimination and unique barriers to survival and development, simply because they are young and female.
But when girls attain their basic human rights, they will:
- Be 6x less likely to be married as children
- Have 2.2 fewer yet healthier children
- Increase their contributions to household income by 18%
Pink LemonAid Kits full of helpful tips, educational materials and instructions on hosting can be downloaded online here. Moms can review the materials with their children and educate them on the importance of helping out girls from around the world who are less fortunate.
Our children are growing up in a digital world with technology right at their fingertips. They’re spending more and more time on the web — so teaching them to be safe and responsible online is critical. During the summer when there is less structure for our children is a critical time to address online safety. We’ve discovered a list of online terms every parent should know to get your conversations started.
As part of the discussion to educate parents, teachers and children about being responsible and safe online, NBCUniversal’s “The More You Know” Learning Series — in collaboration with NBC News — has unveiled Growing Up Online, a free, interactive eBook on digital literacy and Internet safety. Even the most experienced Internet user might have a few questions about all the technical language used in the online world. What exactly is a cache? What is your digital footprint?
Here’s a list of commonly used terms:
APP or application, is a software program typically used on a smartphone or mobile device. Apps may feel new, but the phrase “software application” has been around for over thirty years.
Instagram a free photo-sharing and social networking site on which people can take pictures and then share them with other members of the Instagram community.
Social Games games played online in which multiple players in different locations can play together or against one another. These players may or may not know one another online.
Social Networking Sites websites, such as Facebook or Twitter, on which people can share information and photos and play games together.
MMORPG a massive, multiplayer, online role-playing game. “World of Warcraft” is one of the most famous examples.
Digital Footprint the record, or footprint of everywhere you’ve gone online. This may include your visits to a web page or chat room, emails and uploaded videos. Some of this material may be publicly available to anyone searching for it and can be used in ways you might not want it to be.
Cache is a way your computer stores information, from either your own hard disk or online, so that it can be accessed more quickly. There is a record of your computer’s cache, and you can delete items from it if they link to objectionable sites. A related term, browser history, refers to a list of all the sites you’ve visited online in a certain time frame. Each browser lists these differently.
The more you know about how the online world works, the easier it will be to talk with your kids and that’s the best way to keep them safe.
(Adapted from the eBook, Growing Up Online by NBC Universal and NBC News).
To download a free copy of Growing Up Online and learn about digital safety and internet security, visit http://www.themoreyouknow.com/ebooks/ and start a conversation with your kids.
Following the tragedy of September 11, 2001, a busy executive decides life is too short not to be a Stay-at-home Dad for a spell.
Kelly Milroy, AVP of Investor Relations TD Bank is one of TD’s hardest-working dads – after a six-month leave to spend time with his son, Ethan, he transitioned back into his work responsibilities, his Oakville-Toronto commute, and balancing quality time with his family.
TD’s proactive support is essential for a satisfying employee experience. They encourage health in all areas of life, starting with your family. TD’s approach towards flexible work hours comes from the value in the quality of work delivered, instead of the face-time hours. For Kelly, the partnership with his employer is as established as the one with his wife, Martha.
1. How do you manage the commute to and from Oakville with three children and their activities?
It is critical to have both a supportive “home” partner (my wife Martha) and a flexible “work” partner (TD). Our daily routine has me doing drop-off at school, as Martha goes in to her job at TD Waterhouse for 7 a.m. Martha leaves the office between 4 and 430PM to pick up the kids at school and I come home after. We are regular users of the GO Train.
2. What made you take a break from your high-profile job at TD to be a stay-at-home Dad?
Our son Ethan was born in June 2001 and the Twin Towers went down in September. That was a seminal event for me (as for many people) and the catalyst to making a few important changes in my life. Being close to my children is not an option for me, it is a requirement. That horrible event showed me you have to do the things that are important while you have the chance to because you don’t get time back.
3. There is so much support for Moms these days. How did you find a support group and activities as a dad at home with the kids?
I actually did not utilize any support groups as a stay-at-home Dad. Like the stereotypical man who refuses to ask for directions, I went at it on my own and called Martha for help when necessary. I suppose I got a little lost along the way but that made the journey that much more adventurous!
4. Women who go back to work after time away to raise children often complain that leaving the corporate world for a few years harmed their career. Do you feel the same way?
I can’t speak to other people’s experience, but for me, I feel I have been quite successful with my career after coming back. In the years following my Parental Leave I have been promoted a few times and am currently an AVP in Investor Relations.
5. Now that you are back to work in the office – an hour from Oakville – how do you handle sick children, extra daytime events at the school and PD Days?
Again, it is critical to have both a supportive “home” partner (my wife Martha) and a flexible “work” partner (TD). Martha and I work together to make sure we take care of the family and decide who is more able, for any given situation, to stay at home. TD works with us by providing both Martha and I with remote access to the work network. This is a huge plus for us as it allows a tremendous amount of flexibility and not just for impromptu sick days. With remote access we can get work done from home “after family hours” which means after the kids go to bed. TD understands it is about the quality of your work and the seamless nature of the flexibility. As long as the work gets done to the same professional standard, and you can communicate in real-time with your colleagues, partners and clients, then it is a win for everybody.
6. What advice do you have for dads who make the choice to stay home?
Making the choice to stay at home is probably the hardest part of the whole process because, in my mind anyway, one of the biggest obstacles facing working fathers today is actually self-imposed. It is the perception by some fathers that it is somehow unmanly to be at home with children. I am so happy whenever a male colleague at TD approaches me to ask about my experience. That single action says to me “That man is considering doing this fantastic thing, a real life changer, and that I can help them see how positive an experience it was for me – and can be for them.” After that hard part is done, I would say just embrace the moments you have with your child. This is time we never get back so make the most out of every minute you have.
With the explosion of farmers markets and the locavore movement, everyone is interested in knowing where their food comes from. One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico, is taking the concept a step further. The new “Palm to Popsicle” program lets kids at the resort see the journey of a coconut from a palm tree, to the kitchen, and into a freshly made popsicle.
As an official “Coconut Hunter,” when a child spots a ripe coconut in a tree, a gardener will cut down the coconut. They will then head into the resort’s kitchen where the children will work with a chef to break open the shell and then help to make a fresh popsicle from a straight-from-the-tree, hyper-local coconut. Children can take home the recipe for their coconut treats.
One&Only Palmilla Coconut Popsicle
Servings: 12
2 cups of fresh coconut water
2 cups of chopped coconut “meat”
1 1/2 cups of unsweetened coconut milk
2/3 cups of pure agave syrup
2 ounces of fresh lime juice
Grated zest of one lime
Step 1: Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend at medium to fast speed for one minute.
Step 2: Fill a popsicle mold and place in freezer; when half frozen, remove from freezer and insert popsicle stick.
Step 3: When completely frozen, loosen the popsicle by running warm water over the outside of the mold. Enjoy!
When you meet Anne Parks the first thing you notice is the sparkle in her eyes. Easy-going and in love with life, she infects you with curiosity. And then she talks about her vegetable gardens and beekeeping, her gourmet cooking and passion for finding new food trends when she travels. You would never guess that this vibrant, youthful woman with a phenomenal mane of blond hair has worked with McDonald’s Restaurants for 34 years and is now the Director of Menu Management for McDonald’s Canada. But then again, every executive I’ve met with at the company has been there for at least 30 years. Listening to Anne talk at the Vancouver picnic-style launch of the newly developed Signature McWrap® gave us all a window into her passion and the reasons why McDonald’s Canada retains the great people who work there.
UrbanMommies ran a contest inviting readers to share their favourite must-have picnic items, and ten lucky parents attended the special lunch. We learned so much from Anne about what goes into the process for choosing menu items and we were intrigued to hear about the Canadian palate. In coming up with flavours for the new grilled or crispy chicken McWrap, she took into account Canadians’ penchant for spicier foods, and also our love of different textures within each bite. (Think: crunch with a bit of bite and smoothness in the same mouthful). The sandwiches also come with a whole wheat wrap – a first for McDonald’s globally and only the second whole wheat item apart from the bun of the Premium Chicken Sandwich.
Anne Parks and her team travel to different parts of the world to explore fresh street markets, flavours and trends, and then bring their findings back to the McDonald’s test kitchen. Working with dietitians and specialists in areas of pastry and baking, the team comes up with items that are tested for taste, quality, nutrition and consistency. With the Signature McWrap, I loved the diversity that made me feel as if I were travelling. I get in different ‘food moods’ so being able to pick Asian, Mexican or North American-themed flavours is a bonus. The Signature McWrap comes in three flavours Fiesta, Sweet Chili, and Chicken and Bacon.
The luncheon was special in that guests got to ask very specific questions, and Anne was incredibly receptive to suggestions. Comments about lower-sodium ketchup and options for healthy Happy Meal side dishes started to flow, and the lunch whizzed by. We drank frozen Chai Iced Frappés and Iced Frappes that were also developed by Parks.
In an interview about her job and life, Parks clearly shows her love of food, people, and bees!
So for our picnic-loving readers, the contest was an incredible opportunity to gather and curate a ton of ideas about summer lunches. We have compiled the ideas to help you plan your own picnic basket and make beautiful memories with your kids. As much as I love making sandwiches, though, I’m personally counting on picking up a bagful of the grilled chicken Sweet Chili Signature McWraps, as they are certainly better than anything I can produce at home. Thanks Anne!
20 Picnic Basket Essentials
1. Baby Wipes (almost everyone included this!)
2. A game like ‘Spot it!’
3. Celery sticks in a lidded jar with peanut butter or cream cheese at the bottom
4. Cloth napkins in fun colours cut with pinking shears – fun and great for the planet
5. Extra bags and ziplocks for treasures the kids find during the picnic
6. A blow-up ball. It’s lightweight and great for encouraging activity
7. Afterbite, bug spray and a first aid kit
8. Old quilts and soft sheets
9. A small vase for found flowers
10. A jambox to connect to your smartphone for music
11. Microwave popcorn cooked still in the sealed bag
12. A blank book and pen for the family to write memories and share ideas
13. Lemons and limes already cut up with ice water (we use frozen water bottles that you can drink as they melt)
14. A scavenger hunt printable (we found one HERE).
15. Tin dishes. You can often find them at yard sales or camping supply stores
16. Old-fashioned games (think: etch-a-sketch, cards, cat’s cradle)
17. A trash bag
18. Loveys for the kids in case the picnic sneaks into nap time
19. Vintage mismatched silver plate cutlery
20. Candles in tall jars
We’re looking forward to hearing picnic tales throughout the summer and having photos sent to us too! Enjoy the memories and make sure that your meals have some crunch and some spice!