Jill Amery, Author at Urban Mommies

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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.

It’s Not My Fault my Labrador Loves Food

FAM, pets By Jill Amery January 11, 2017 No Comments

I have a lot of friends who have opted to be pet parents instead of kid parents. While they know enough not to lambaste me on decisions about breastfeeding or screen time, they always seem to have criticism and advice about how I raise my beloved cat and purebred English Lab. Our dog Piper, in particular, has always been a going concern for the judgy-friend posse. Does she have fleas? She seems overweight. Does she look puffy to me? Am I exercising her properly? Are you reading the latest pet magazines to stay up to date? It is so ironic that I started UrbanMommies to combat the judgement and lack of solid information about pregnancy and parenting, and ten years later I’m in the same situation, but with my pets.

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.

The True Education of Families

LIVE, play By Jill Amery December 22, 2016 1 Comment

My son desperately wants to be a marine biologist. He’s 10. And recently he was awarded his PADI open water diver certificate. The other cool bit about our son is that he loves to do things with the whole family. The Deep on Netflix has been a godsend – both for him and me as a parent.

Spread Holiday Cheer with the Santa Fe Sleigh

charity, FAM By Jill Amery December 21, 2016 No Comments

Today I decorated my 5th holiday tree. The neighbourhood kids and I made a gingerbread house decked out with bushels of candy, and I polished off the remainder of the online gift buying while they sipped rich hot chocolate and watched holiday films. I am one of the VERY lucky ones. As are my kids. Many, many others are not so lucky. Did you know that 1 in 7 (or 4.9 million) people in Canada live in poverty? Imagine sending a letter to Santa and being the only kid in your class whose wish goes unanswered. Imagine looking at a huge turkey dinner commercial on TV while you eat plain noodles for your entire holiday.

Power More Smiles this Holiday

charity, FAM By Jill Amery December 16, 2016 No Comments

Most of us as parents have become pretty smart in terms of Christmas morning organization and Hanukkah gift openings. With screwdriver and batteries on hand, we watch them delightedly tear open the presents and promptly fall in love with the loudest one. After an hour, the batteries die. Wha? It’s at this point we realize that it was on ‘tester’ mode, and the company also put in crappy batteries. Duracell and mini screwdriver to the rescue!

Do More of What You Love

Archive By Jill Amery December 9, 2016 No Comments

Anyone else familiar with that corner of your life soundtrack that doesn’t instill immense pride or happiness? In case you aren’t quite recognizing it, I refer to the monotony of existence that sounds like: “I can’t mom! I have math homework. Not now, dear. Mommy has to finish making dinner. I’d love to, but the car needs a wash. I don’t even have time for a shower, let alone a baseball game.”

Well, on one side there is tedium that can define ‘living’, but somewhere, there is also an alternate pulse that we often forget to harness. I’m sure you know the one I mean – the butterflies in your stomach in seeing your first ‘crush’, the ethereal morning light hours after you’ve given birth to a child. The tiny hand that reaches for yours after being startled by a noise… The magic times. The happiness. The entertainment that explains what it is truly like to be alive.

7 Tricks to Fight the Winter Blues

LIVE, nourish By Jill Amery November 24, 2016 1 Comment

It’s no secret that I’ve struggled with depression during difficult periods in the past. My new revelation is that since this past spring, I have been medication-free. It took a few weeks to wean off the prozac, but knowing I can be fine without the drug makes me feel more in control of my body, somehow. For many people, medication can be absolutely necessary and there may be a time when I resume, but for now I am trying other methods to keep the blues away. In order to maintain good mental health, I’ve made a few things in my life a priority. Living in the northern hemisphere, these steps can be hard to maintain once November hits. These seven tricks are paramount to how I fight the winter blues, and I hope they help you as well!

How to Throw a Football (Party)

EAT, entertain, family meals By Jill Amery November 24, 2016 No Comments

Yeah, no. We’re not even going to try and throw a football ourselves, let alone teach someone else how to do it. But the entertaining part and talking about how to throw a football party is a snap. Superbowl and Canada’s Grey Cup conjure images of hot dogs, nachos and chips, but that kind of tailgating is a little boring. Let’s deconstruct the normal and start with a hearty, versatile ingredient that warms even the coldest of bellies during football season. I give you: pasta. We created two fun recipes inspired by football traditions, but with a bit of a Canadian twist!

Eco Friendly Laundry Options For Your Family

LIVE, wash By Jill Amery November 22, 2016 No Comments

Usually when I try super eco-friendly products I have a gut feeling that they won’t work quite as well as toxin-laden, heavy-duty, disease-causing products will. I know you agree with me. Well, folks – I think we’ve hit a turning point. Last week I took my boys to Nova Scotia and showed them the sights of my hometown. After a gorgeous Remembrance Day ceremony, we ended up on Citadel Hill (where else) and explored the museum.

Visiting Schools with the Sandals Foundation

charity, FAM, International, ROAM By Jill Amery November 22, 2016 1 Comment

Even after visiting many schools in Liberia for Right to Play, I wasn’t prepared for what I would see when I did a similar outing in Jamaica. Maybe because Africa is farther. Maybe I equate the Caribbean with vacations. You see photos of soft beaches, tropical drinks and killer sunsets and think everyone must live a resort lifestyle. Whatever the excuse, it’s embarrassing that I’ve been so blasé and undereducated.

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