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.
Smoothies are the best ever way to start your day. We stick protein powders and vitamins in them, and then as a mom I don’t have to stress for the rest of the day.
It’s always a great idea for your health to take a break from the alcohol, even for a bit. Bartender Bobbi Kay, formerly of the Fairmont Pacific Rim Vancouver’s Boneta is a mocktail wizard. If you love the Mojito but desire not to drink alcohol or have a bun in the oven, so to speak… here’s a special recipe.
A few years back, during a Cityline filming I had the pleasure of re-acquainting with Trish Magwood, Food Network host, creator of Dish Cooking Studio and all-around supermom. She shared this amazing salad recipe on the show and it is absolutely delicious. There’s nothing quite like a great spring salad to help celebrate the change in season. You can keep it in the fridge for a few days as well, and add the dressing each time you need a snack. If you time it right you may be able to find flowering pea shoots. They make a beautiful addition to this perfect springtime salad. Serves 6
Get your head out of the gutter Mom. Learning how to drive a stick shift (or manual transmission for the techies) is a perfect skill to add to your bucket list. Not only does the manual shifting of gears give you more power and control, but it could be necessary in an emergency (think James Bond in Die Another Day), renting a hot European driving machine in the South of France, being a DD to a friend in a race car, or driving on icy roads (last but not least). I have owned a couple of manual cars and was fortunate to learn on my Dad’s before I ruined my own clutche(s) (thanks Dad). But I must admit, the control over the car and the jaw-dropping stares by people as I stepped into my car in stilettos and didn’t stall was worth every ounce of effort.
Choosing the best sunscreen for your family isn’t easy. The number of brands – new and old – packing the shelves seems endless and researchers are constantly churning out new findings on what ingredients are deemed ‘good’ and ‘bad’ for our health. For safe, effective protection for your family, here are 7 tips to keep in mind when choosing your sunscreen this summer.
Ostrich. That’s what I can be when it comes to anything mechanical. Planes, trains and automobiles are amazing, as long as they work. Lately, I’ve had a boat engine not start, my Vespa not engaging into gear and the brakes on my son’s bike falling off. I need to do better. I need to understand maintenance on a much higher level – or at the very least be diligent about getting my vehicles serviced regularly.
It’s that time of year again, when taxes are looming and we keep hearing about deadlines to invest! Most people say RESPs are the way to go in terms of saving for your child’s education, but that’s not necessarily the case. In fact, there are many different ways to save for your child’s education and RESPs are just one of the vehicles. My answer to the question is always, “It depends.” It depends on how much money you want to put away, what expenses you currently have, how much free cash you have on a monthly basis, what tax bracket you’re in … and the list goes on. Here are some options for you to save money for your child’s education.
I am in love with halloween. All holidays, actually but especially this one. Growing up with lots of rules and protocol, this was the time I could be something totally different. As a little girl I chose to be a variation of a princess almost every year, except the one time I was a Pink Lady with a poodle skirt. (Don’t worry, I’m currently reading Glennon Doyle’s ‘Untamed’ and it certainly makes a ton of sense.) As I mature, I can stand for a few spookier, more intellectual Halloween exploits. Here are a few spooky Halloween activities for you to enjoy in cities across Canada.
Hallowe’en is my favourite. Without the pressure (and now grief) of Christmas, the whimsy and fun captivates every sensibility in me. I remember in grade 2 getting my tonsils and adenoids out and having to miss it. DEVASTATED. But each kid in my class made a huge envelope filled with cards because they and the teacher felt so sorry for me.
Why can’t non-drinkers or pregnant women have a fabulous drink in hand too? This one is pretty sophisticated, with the white grape juice melding with luscious honey for the perfect sip.