In preparing for Canada Day, we often reminisce about times gone by. But have we perhaps been lazy with our heritage and our own education? Here are the top 100 things all Canadians should know about – either at a cocktail party or in answer to your children’s questions. We’re bracing ourselves for lots of comments about what we may be missing… please add your thoughts below. We sometimes forget that we are our children’s best teachers and role models. So if a few of these things are fuzzy in your mind… you’ve got a fun activity brewing for the long weekend.
Urban Mommies always seem to be on the go, especially in the summer! When traveling with our little ones, finding a comfy place for them to sleep can be a source of concern. It’s easy to feel like Goldilocks in the house of the Three Bears: our children are too big for a pack-n-play or a crib but they are too small to be comfortable in a large adult bed. What’s a mom to
do? We need to find a bed that is just right, and these travel beds for small children do the trick.
The solution? A Travel bed specially designed and shaped to accommodate infant/toddler and young child age groups. There is an assortment from which to choose including: inflatable air mattresses, simple and light-weight cots, lightweight play yards many of which come with a bassinet for small babies. Some travel beds are also equipped with folding bed rails for children who have a tendency to roll out of bed in the middle of the night. Most importantly, because many of the travel beds are inflatable, they are also quite portable, light-weight and c
an easily be folded to fit into a car or a closet.
Several makers of child travel beds and different styles of travel beds are available.The Urbanmommies Editors found the following child and infant travel beds particularly pleasing:
Unlike the hardier and bulkier play yards of our youth, the PeaPod Plus Baby Travel Bed is more like a “travel cocoon.” The mattress is inflatable and, when baby is finished sleeping, can be folded into a compact tote for easy carrying; no more lugging around the heavy pack-n-play! This travel bed is also outdoor-friendly: the mesh bubble blocks bugs, wind, and half of the UV rays. The mattress inflates in less than 5 minutes using the a specific pump (sold separately by Leaps and Bounds).
The GoCrib is a standard size, ultra-portable travel crib that packs into a lightweight backpack for families that are on the go. Because it’s inflatable, it is pretty easy to assemble. But, once it is set up the rigid structure creates a strong and safe environment. The product features a 27″ x 39″ insulating mattress and a 25″ depth sleeping and play area (same as a standard play yard).
I wish that they had something like the My Cot Portable Travel Bed when I was a child. It would have made sleeping at my grandparents’ house a lot more comfortable. This portable cot can go to Grandma’s, day care as easily as it can be transported to sleepovers! The bed is slightly lifted off the ground leaving enough room underneath to ensure that the children sleeping on it stay comfy and dry whether the cot is indoors and out. It even comes with its own carry bag.
We love the Tuck-Me-In Travel Bed with Removable Mattress. It’s so easy to assemble my daughter and her cousins argue about how’s turn it is to inflate the mattress. The famous inflatable bed features a larger, fully-detached mattress, for snugglier sleepovers and easier linen changes. Soft and cushy, with a flocked surface that’s not sticky, it also built-in safety bumpers. The Tuck-Me-In is very light and folds compactly. The pump and tote included in the price of the bed. Further, if your little one is a sheet lover, like my daughter is, you can purchase the coordinating travel bed accessories from One Step Ahead too.
My 8 year-old daughter is begging me for a bed that can accommodate all her friends when they have a sleep over. Rather than pull out the old sleeper sofa’s mattress, we elected to go the less time consuming and affordable route and took a look at the Cozy Kidz Airbeds. The Intex Cozy Kid Air Bed Twin Size comes in three bright fun colors: pink, blue and orange . Both the pillow-top and mattress-top are lightly flocked which adds comfort while also preventing the sheets from sliding off of the mattress. This is the perfect air mattress to take on a sleepover or even family camping trips. The beds are 34.5″ Wide x 62″ Long x 7″ height (slightly shorter than the average twin bed) but the dimensions may vary up to two inches depending on firmness and come with built in pillows. Even better? The mattresses can withstand more than 200lbs which means more than one child can sit on it at a time before having to worry that they are going to cause the mattress to deflate. One note, the mattress does not come with a built in pump.
Traveling with small children doesn’t have to be painful. Most Urban Mommies know that the first step to having a happy child is ensuring that child has had a good night’s sleep. With so many great travel bed choices, we know that you & your family will find the right one (or two? or three?) that works for you.
Good luck! And safe travels!
Date night? Romantic getaway? If you are on a much needed adult sojourn into Miami’s South Beach neighbourhood, a viewing and a meal at the former Versace Mansion in South Beach should be included in your bucket list. Oh come on. Just get a room there. No named The Villa by Barton G., the structure at 1116 Ocean Drive is an exclusive boutique hotel. Jill Amery attended a function at the mansion as part of the Mom 2.0 Summit. Sponsored by Intel’s Ultrabook, the event featured dancing and incredible food catered by Chef Jeff O’Neill. She is currently devising every possible excuse to get back to Miami in order to recreate the experience.
Ever come back from a great holiday only to discover that you’re not in any of the photos? You might be a great shutterfly, but after the effort of packing and finding the perfect travel outfits, you shouldn’t be an invisible face in the photographic memories of your trips. Disney Resorts’ Disney’s Photopass Program make it easy for you by hiring their own professional photographers in and around the parks with the Disney’s Photopass program. At many of the famous sights and locations with great vistas, you can get snapped by a pro. Ask for a free photopass, get as many photos as you want added via scanner throughout your day, and pop online later to see which ones you would like to order. (And you don’t have to look like a tourist with a huge camera around your neck all day.) Disney’s Photopass program allows you to finally be in the family pictures, too!
We’ve all been there (if we’re lucky) – the lineup for the Dumbo ride, the first time on Space Mountain, or the Mickey Photo. Rich or poor, young or old, Disney is the great equalizer – our smiles reflect happiness and our memories last forever. And it’s not only at the parks that our spirits are moved.
It’s almost June, and summer is upon us! Finally, it’s time for lazy days and scavenger hunts. But before we leave school we must be thankful to the incredible teachers who have nurtured our kids over the past year. Teacher gifts needn’t be expensive, but all must be given with gratitude and joy. Here are a few ideas..
Ka-Chow! The excitement is mounting as the kids and I depart tomorrow on a sneak preview of Cars Land at Disneyland Resort in Southern California. Plane trips can be tricky and it helps to be prepared. Space is at a premium, entertainment is key, and yet you can also take the opportunity to do some teaching and nurturing. Here’s what we packed:
1. Mader, Doc Hudson and Lightening McQueen (a great way to educate and get them excited about what is to come. You could do this with any destination – this of what you’d pack for Asia, Paris…)
2. The Blackberry Playbook, complete with Montessori learning apps and a few games.
3. Soy rock crayons.
4. Big foam magnetic letters that the kids are having difficulty with – they will be a captive audience on the plane for learning their ‘G’ and ‘W’!
5. A hackey sack for burning energy in the airport.
6. An iPod with their ‘go to sleep’ music downloaded.
7. Nemo waterwings to get them excited for swimming when we arrive.
8. Again in the Disney theme, a few little green men from Toy Story. They can stage battles for hours and we have so many we won’t miss them if a couple get left on the plane.
Our staff have been on the road a fair bit lately and wanted to know “what’s in my travel bag?” – so I decided to spill the beans on some of my fave travel friendly products!
1. Black 15 in 1 Twice a Week Miracle Hair Shampoo (because I only like to wash my hair 2x weekly).
2. Swiss Army Knife: Victorinox (a gift from my Mom in 1992 complete with initials).
3. ‘the supernatuaral cream’ with SPF 15 and ‘the present’ foundation to smooth wrinkles from Philosophy. Especially great when you do a photoshoot or live TV spot. Skin looks flawless.
4. Cargo Cosmetics Essential Eye Palette (The name of the part of the eye is actually embossed into the shadow so you don’t mess it up!)
5. Joe Fresh Style Frais Sheer Lip Crayon in Wine (I get compiments on this 6$ product every day).
6. Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Herbal Tea (works like a charm for jetlag)
7. Diorshow Blackout mascara (So very Black).
8. MAC Iridescent Pressed Powder (more luminescent than the studio fix and adds a hint of sparkle.)
9. Olay Professional Pro-X Facial Cleaning brush (When you are too tired to wash your face this does it for you!)
10. No! No! Hair Removal system (It’s like a mini laser to eliminate unwanted hair.)
11. Kerstin Florian At-Home Professional Peel pads
12. Make-up case: Missoni for Target
We’ll be doing a ‘what’s in the bag’ installment regularly.
Disclosure: all of these products were purchased by the publisher with the exception of Olay Pro-X, Cargo and Black 15 in 1.
Now that the warmer weather is upon us, the kids are begging for beach balls and popsicles every time we hit the grocery store. I have romantic visions of old-fashioned ice-cream socials, but they are a bit more interested in tree climbing and cowboy games. Being the mother of two boys sometimes necessitates getting a tad creative (read: wiley). This is where the concept for ‘Daddy’s Ice Cream Bar’ came about. We dressed in costumes (any excuse to wear the Little-House-on-the-Prairie outfit of course). After setting up tables with flowing cloths in the garden, I started the creation of the bar. Three flavours of ice cream set in crushed ice and antique vessels to hold toppings. Long spoons. Dainty napkins. (I can’t believe I actually just used that word). And edible flowers to add the final touches. Despite my creativity, the kids and Daddy decided that the toppings pretty much made the whole event.










