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About Jill Amery

When Jill Amery started publishing UrbanMommies in 2008, she wanted to create a place where the urban parent could be cared for and nurtured, so that they would be able to deliver their best selves to their family and passions. Since then, UrbanMommies has reached millions of moms with stories about travel, fashion, parenting, pets and family cuisine. Jill has created a community of moms who understand that if they are at their best, then everyone around them is as well.

urbanmommies

✈️ Traveler | Romantic
🖋 Media Personality / Influencer since 2008
🎾⛷⛵️tennis, skiing, sailing
📍Next up: Fiji
✉️: jill@urbanmommies.com

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A few things you probably don’t know about me.. I left Queen’s University after year two when I was hospitalized for a month with depression. My mood has generally been great since then, and this is why I am so passionate about charities that support mental health. 💪🏼🙏🏼 On my year off back in Halifax, I challenged myself to strengthen my mind, body and spirit. I’d always been terrified of drowning and got my @PADI scuba certification. 🧜🏼‍♀️ The checkout dive was at Peggy’s Cove and my Navy Seal instructor wouldn’t let me grab one of the lobsters we saw. (Good call!!!) 🦞 The following August, I auditionioned for the University of Toronto acting program and thrived creatively for 18 months until the stranger who had stalked me broke into my home and assaulted me. Not wanting to be ‘seen’ without knowing who was watching, I stopped being in the spotlight on stage. I also stopped diving. Having been almost suffocated the night of Jan. 31, anything akin to choking sends me into a panic attack. (You should see me at the dentist!! 🤣) This also presents me with another challenge to overcome. Yesterday was a great day, and though I still didn’t join the others with a tank on my back, I ventured further into the ocean by free diving. You never know the starting point for others, and sometimes people right beside us are celebrating huge victories that others consider standard activities. Here’s to supporting small victories and always challenging ourselves. I love Fiji, and all places and people who help make me grow as a human being. 💗 #neverstopgrowing #neverstopexploring #selfawareness #snorkeling #freediving #southpacific #reefaquarium #coralreef #littlevictories #fulldisclosure #aboutme 📷: @derekamery

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After our 11-hour flight from LA we arrived at the market in Nadi at 7am! 🍉🍌🥥Thankfully we had only carry-on. The colours were phenomenal in an open-air building the size of a city block. 🐔🦐 We saw a chicken in a bag who figured out how to get it’s neck through a hole and squawked at market-goers as they went by. Peppers, cassava, taro, fresh pineapple, coconut and fish galore. 🦑🐡There was a special room for most fish where fathers and sons held up barracuda, tuna, and over 50 different types to potential buyers. Shockingly, the ladies sitting one the sidewalk on fabric tarps were the ones with the puffer fish, the poisonous innards neatly removed and displayed on top as flies hovered. 😳 I got the good camera out and went back in because the scenes were so riveting. Unlike other countries, when asking permission to photograph the locals were thrilled and loved to pose and smile. Best start to a vacation!! #fiji #localmarket #eggplant #southpacific #familytravel #offthebeatenpath #fijiislands #tradewindslife #saturdaymarket

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In Fiji’s Yasawa Islands, we were welcomed with a traditional sevu sevu or kava ceremony. After a craft market with wares spread over cloths in two rows along the beach, the chief welcomed us and the villagers sang and danced. The Kava ritual involves clapping and gratitude on both sides as you drink the brown liquid that is said to relax the muscles and mind. (I bought 2 kilos at the market in town when we arrived - it is legal in Canada!) To finish off the ritual, we made conga-style lines and laughed and danced together. I met a 12 year old boy who wants to become a pilot. He was watching over his little brother and his poise and determination made my heart sing. 💃🏽🥰 #kava #kavaceremony #sevusevu #yasawaislands #fiji #fijiislands #wanderlust #sailingfiji #sailinglife #canadianabroad #southpacificislands @tradewindslife #tradewindslife

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Some people collect watches. Others, shoes. I love sunglasses myself. Ok, shoes too. This was a few weeks ago in Turks and Caicos. A big change from today - totally freezing in Toronto! We live on a corner with lots of foot traffic. Any tips as to how to make sure the snow doesn’t turn to ice as soon as people walk on it? Is salt the only option? ❄️☃️ ps. I think snow is so romantic and wonderful!!!! #newtowinter #snowingalready #homekeeping #diorsunglasses #beachvibes #hapariswimwear #champagneonthebeach #turksandcaicos #tci #solitude #happymom

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Lest we forget. There are no poppies in Georgia, but we watched the parade and thanked and clapped for US veterans and soldiers. #remembrance #remembranceday #memorialday #savannah #yellowribbon #oldoaktree #georgia #thankful

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The boats are all ready for this weekend’s @zimsailing Team Racing Regatta at @scyachtclub. Our four @rcyctoronto sailors are excited to get out on the Atlantic Ocean! I’d never been to Hilton Head and am in love with the beauty, hospitality and sailing culture! Oh - and the grits we had for breakfast!!!! 🍽⛵️#optisailing #scyc #hiltonhead #southcarolina #sailingmom #optimom #travelblogger #jetsettingkids #kidtravel #travelkid #grits #cheesegrits #discovertheworld #travelwithkids

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Sport brings so many communities together! Ever since I was a little girl I’ve loved sailing flags and burgees. I used to have my nautical initials on the back of the first car I ever owned. It was a beige oil-burning stick-shift Dodge Colt named Tiffany. Don’t laugh. 🤣😎 Thrilled to be at the @scyachtclub with the boys this weekend! #familytravel #optisailing #rcycracing @rcycyouthsailing @rcyctoronto #communitybuilding #youthsports #sailingflags

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Halloween is pretty much my favourite. And this year we get about 500 kids instead of 14!! The spooky music is playing, 3 pumpkins carved, ghouls with red eyes to greet the kids. Plus a caged crow that flaps and caws. And Derek is wearing his Dino head!!! #halloween

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🎈CONTEST ALERT🎈
Life has been pretty complicated lately. Our family had to make a change in order to simplify and reconnect. Now, every Monday is tech-free. 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 We stay at home - talking, playing games, watching a movie and bonding as a family. During this magical Monday, I’m not about to blunder around the kitchen making a meal that my picky family won’t enjoy. So we choose the convenient option that also satisfies all of our tastes and that I as a mom feel good about everyone eating. #McDelivery, through @ubereats_canada or @skipthedishes comes within minutes and makes dinner during family time effortless. #Ad

We all order exactly what we want and there is not a scrap of wasted food – just time together as we anticipate the ring of the doorbell. 🛎 This week we played Monopoly and also added a few more pieces to our McDonald’s contest game boards - the game is on until November 11th!

I bet you could help me with even more ideas for our new weekly family nights IN! Follow Steps 1-4 below to enter. The winner will receive a $250 gift card to #SkipTheDishes or #UberEats and a #monopoly game board!!
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1️⃣ Like this post
2️⃣ Follow @mcdonaldscanada and @urbanmommies
3️⃣ Comment on how you you would spend your perfect family night IN with McDelivery!
4️⃣ Tag a minimum of 3 friends as separate comments. Unlimited entries. 1 comment = 1 entry *
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* NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. This contest is not affiliated with Instagram. (Open to residents of Canada only, excluding Quebec). Must be age of majority in your respective province. Giveaway starts Oct. 29th at 1:30pm EST and ends November 10th at 11:59pm EST** Winner will be announced November 11th, 2019.
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P.S. Bonus Entry! Share this post to your Instagram story and tag us!
Good luck!! #ad 📷: @cr.gibson #giveaway #canwin #contest #giveawaycanada #instagiveaway #instawin #giveawaytime #giveawaycontest #winthis #familybonding #familygamenight #familydinner #familydinnernights

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Love this shot of @ford_amery and @jordanbcsailing from #opticanadians taken by @christsgphoto. We will head in November to Hilton Head, South Carolina where Ford and @_hudson_amery_ will represent @rcycoptiraceteam for the @scyachtclub Team Racing #regatta. Excited to see #HiltonHead for the first time! ⛵️#Repost @zimsailing with @get_repost
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Introducing Ford Amery!
Ford is a Canadian sailor trailing with his team to compete in Hilton Head, SC. His proudest accomplishment is getting the sportsmanship award at his local club. If he was stuck on a desert island with one of his teammates, he would choose @angus1260 because he is always the most positive. When he's not on the water, Ford is skateboarding, snowboarding or hanging out with friends. #optiracing #dinghysailing #dinghysailor #southcarolina #canadianathletes @longundie #rcyc @westvancouveryachtclub @wvyc_race_team #optisailor #regattalife #youthsailing #canadiansailing

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I attended an event sponsored by @sanofi that was incredibly successful in raising awareness of the importance of protecting seniors during the upcoming flu season. 🤧 This pic is part of a giant photo exhibit that was featured, depicting images that had been sent in by the public specifically to show us all how seniors are incredible pillars of strength in our society. 💪🏼 Did you know that due to weakening immune systems, adults 65 and older have lower responses to infections, greater susceptibility to the flu, and are at high risk for complications or hospitalization if they do get the flu? 🏥 #Ad
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Also…..one-third of elderly flu victims leave the hospital with a reduced ability to carry out their daily activities. This means that the standard of life for them and their loved ones can be affected significantly after a severe flu. And it’s preventable with the higher-dose vaccine. 💉 But did you know that not every Canadian province and territory makes this higher-dose shot available to its seniors? Now I think we have to all start pressing our provincial governments to make this higher-dose vaccine available to each and every senior throughout this great country, no matter which province or territory they happen to reside in! 🇨🇦
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#SanofiPartner #SeniorHealth #CareforSeniors #CanadianHealthcare #InequlityforSeniors #flushot #fluvaccine #vaccinate #elderlycare #seniorcitizens #seniorpictures #seniorcitizen #canpoli #seniorcare #grandparents #grandparentslove

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This photo of last week’s conference gives me such peace. Organized, orderly and bright. 🌞 Wishing my life felt like that right now! I missed booking parent-teacher interviews, ran out of milk, had to call an Uber after getting stuck in traffic so the boys could get to an appointment... but I vow to paint my life with the colours strewn across every aspect of the #BeachesMoms #socialmediaonthesand conference last week. The theme was all about the senses, and it just hit me that if you feel like barrels of monkeys are falling on your head every minute (no idea where monkeys came from!! Oh wait...🙊🙉🙈🐵) then your senses get muted. Here’s to seeing the pastels, hearing the breeze, smelling the dirty kitty litter I forgot to clean (oops) and feeling the touch of your little one hugging you in times of vulnerability. Thanks @beachesresorts for this opportunity to reset and get back on track. 💗 #5senses #reset #resetbutton #beachespartner #shadesofpink #stripes 📷: #lauradee

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My last dip and view always has to be the Key West pool. Many think it’s adult only but kids are welcome and it’s right by the beach, flanked by sand dunes, grass and modern hammocks. At @beachesresorts each village offers something different and special for pool selection. The Iguana pool in Caribbean village has volleyball, the French Village pool is massive with a swim up bar and hot tubs. The Italian pool has fitness, games, music vibes and another swim up bar. In Key West, you can choose adult pools or this one next to the beach. Missing this view already!! 🏝#beachesmoms #socialmediaonthesand #dreamvacations #turksandcaicosislands #turksandcaicos #beachesresorts #beachespartner #vacationvibes

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Several bits of advice this week have set off fireworks in my heart and I just got another epic one. @thesharkdaymond starts every day reviewing his short and long-term goals.
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He stays away from social media and emails for an hour after waking because, well, it’s rare that you get an email saying all the problems are fixed and there’s a cheque for $1MM in the mail. 🤣 .
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Before bed, he reads the goals again. You either dream of fears or hopes, so watching violent movies or even checking Twitter probably won’t help those great dreams come to fruition or give you a peaceful sleep. .
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I’m going to get the whole family doing this. We’ve just instituted ‘no screen Mondays’ and tomorrow would be a perfect time to set some goals. 👊🏼 📷: @jeannettekaplun #beachesmoms #socialmediaonthesand #beachespartner @beachesresorts #vacationvibes #sharktank #turksandcaicosislands #lifecoaching #goaalsetting #liveyourbestlife #familyvacay #personalgrowth

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Proud mama. I think we have pretty cool kids. (Even though it’s hard to make them do their homework in paradise!!) 🏖 They got certified to scuba dive @beachesresorts in Negril and Turks and Caicos over the past few years. Best and safest training ever - they even corrected another adult diver’s BCD connection yesterday! ⚓️ .
What’s awesome is that diving (and tips for the dive masters) are included in the room rate. Really nice not to worry about $ on vacation. Yesterday the kids and @derekamery saw 30 reef sharks, a huge barracuda and a nurse shark lounging on the ocean bottom! 🦈 I may do a @PADI refresher so I can dive again myself if I missed that many sharks!!!
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#beachesmoms #socialmediaonthesand #beachesturksandcaicos #beachesresorts #smots #beachespartner #beachesmom #beachesresort #turksandcaicosislands #beachescapes #luxurytravel #beacheskids #beachesteens #inspiredbytravel #luxuryescapes #allinclusive #scubakids #padi #scubadiving #sharksighting

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‪I’ve been to hundreds of conferences and talks and sometimes I take away a few nuggets, but this one today stopped me in my tracks. The opening messages at #SocialMediaontheSand from @debbieannwhite are exactly what I need right now... “Today and every day we have to celebrate the boss moms in each and every one of us. Not following your gut feelings stops today. Ignite something in you and connect yourself with your inner fire.” Here’s to following your gut. Throwing on a tutu. Collaborating. Trusting instincts and celebrating the strong and creative boss mom inside. ❤️ @beachesresorts #BeachesMoms #BeachesPartner #bossmom #instincts #trustyourintuition #inspiringquotes

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UrbanMommies Team

Publisher | Jill Amery | bio | @urbanmommies
Chief Strategist | Julie Nowell | bio
| @julienowell
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