Having just moved across the country, I weeded out a ton of unnecessary or disposable clutter before I left. There was an entire drawer full of sunglasses! Some were broken but most were cheap giveaway pairs that are handed out at conferences and tennis matches. No more. From now on I will invest in good pieces for my wardrobe. It’s about longevity, not abundance. This is the only responsible course of action for the planet.
Screen time is a big debate, particularly when you have middle schoolers. Some people think kids are on their phones too much, some people aren’t too worried. In our world, screens are a necessity, a connector and also learning tools – parents just may want to ensure that their kids are using them in a balanced way. Whatever comfort level parents have, the common thread is wanting to be able to make the best choices that reflect their values. That’s why I love Apple’s Screen Time function. Apple doesn’t tell you how to parent – they just give you the tools and data to be able to make the decisions that are right for your family.
There’s nothing quite like a best friend. And there are SO many perfect gifts out there! With my besties in my mind, there are a few things that I’ve been saving up for, so wanted to share them with you. Every kindred spirit has many facets to their personality. Whether it’s spirituality, a love of popcorn, or impeccable skin care, we tried to help out the holiday best friend gift search!
The Lumbersexual is like a grown-up hipster. He may live in an upcoming area, and isn’t shy to local coffee shops and craft beers. He may not be the best at changing a tire, but his beard is as full as his heart. Have any more gift ideas for our lumbersexual guy? We’d love for you to write them in the comments! We have put a few affiliate links within our ideas, and if you choose to purchase anything from them it supports sharing our stories and ideas with you all!
Whoever said Dads are hard to buy for? There are so many options and ideas that we *may* just have to put out a second guide. Please note that a few of the links below are our own affiliate links, so if you use them, we get a few cents to keep UrbanMommies running. That said, there isn’t one thing on this list that the dads in my own life wouldn’t want, so I’m certainly thrilled to spread the word! If you have any other suggestions for our 2018 gifts for dad list, write them in the comments so we can get started on that second list! You’ll find links to all of the other gift guide categories at the bottom.
Today’s mom is versatile, bold and always beautiful inside and out. We’ve scoured cyberspace and sourced 10 finds that will send tingles up and down her spine. Please know that within our 2018 Gifts for Stylish Moms guide, there are some affiliate links included and purchasing through any of them help keep the site running – we appreciate your support more than you could know!
The darkness is coming. And I don’t mean anything Death Star related (for once). Canadian winters mean extreme temperatures and less than 9 hours of light on the solstice. While snuggling up by a fire is perfectly acceptable adult entertainment, our kids tend to want to do more extreme activity – even when it’s dark. A lack of light can cause more problems than dips in mood. When we can’t see kids crossing the street in the rain or chasing a wayward basketball at dusk, parents worry sick about their safety. Thankfully, mother and awesome designer Scarlet Kux-Kardos founded Zapped. The Zapped Outfitters collection of edgy and rugged waterproof clothing, reflective shoes and hats features custom-designed fully reflective fabric that is embedded with glass beads that reflect light at night!
Sometimes I think about the girls, you know, before the babies arrived. All high and perky and stuff. But then I think about myself before the babies, and I can’t really relate to “life before babies” me anymore. Then I take a deep breath and accept that boobies after babies… they’re not so bad.
Despite the change in address (they’ve def moved a few blocks south) they’re still in a respectable neighbourhood. And really, considering what they went through, or what we went through together… I can’t really complain.
Summer is finally here! And it’s most definitely our favorite season. My family spends a ton of time getting wet–whether via sprinkler, pool, pond, lake, or water park. We practically live in our bathing suits from the moment it hits 65 degrees until September. And I have to admit, I have a thing for cute bathing suits. Maybe more than a thing… an expensive obsession?!? Last year, my one-year-old daughter had about six bathing suits. And I’m a sucker for anything retro.
But this year, I’ve found a way to step it up. Not just adorable bathing suits… matching bathing suits! Enter Moderne Child Shoppe and their super stylish Mommy and Me swimwear line. They sent me a pair of swimsuits for my daughter and I to sample and we fell in love!
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…”