What to bring when traveling with baby to the cottage

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Amy is a good friend of mine, a previous room-mate, and now, a fellow mom.  Before we became parents, our summer weekends were filled with “wild” cottage parties.  Now, we go to the cottage to RELAX!  Or at least we try…  In order to help us relax, we need to ensure our kids our comfortable, safe and entertained.  That is why Amy put together a list of what she believes are must-have items to bring when traveling with baby to the cottage.  Whether you’re a new or seasoned cottager, hopefully you will find this list useful.

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COTTAGE BABY ESSENTIALS ‘SURVIVAL KIT’

Dock, beer, suntan, swim, campfire, sleep and repeat...This is how I love to spend my time at the cottage. Cottage life IS the life as far as I’m concerned. And then our babe arrived. AND IT ALL CHANGED. Bugs, sunburns and naptimes have all but consumed our otherwise peaceful cottage existence. I trust Dr. Google for almost anything, but when I searched for ‘cottage baby essentials’, I was left empty and sad.

I’ve taken some time to source out some ‘must have’ cottage essentials that will restore your serene cottage life with infant in tow.

Video Monitor $199

NAP TIME! Enjoy the dock while watching your babe sleep peacefully in the cottage.  This beauty allows you view up to 400 feet away and is equipped with a two-way voice function as well as zooming capabilities.  *Note: while the unit is reliable, nap times are not.Summer-Infant-Video-Monitor
Bug Netting $9.97

Let your little one play in the fresh air without the irritation of the bugs biting their flawless baby skin. This cheap multifunctional netting fits over your pack n’ play as well as a bassinet, stroller and more.Graco-Bug_Netting

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Father’s Day Toronto Style

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For the past three years, we celebrated father’s day up in cottage country.  This year, we stayed in the city.  So to make the day extra-special, we took-in the city and I had a few special gifts planned for my husband.

Living in the city, it’s hard to enjoy the wildlife without taking a trip to the country.  But what most Torontonian’s don’t know is that there’s a piece of wildlife right in our own backyard.

The Leslie Street Spit, is a man-made land extension from Lakeshore (and Leslie street) that almost meets the Toronto Islands.  When Toronto expanded in the 60′s and 70′s, the split was used as a dumping ground for excess supply of rubble and earth that was dug up for the creation of buildings and the subway system.leslie st spit map

However, if you take a leisurely walk on the peninsula now, you would never imagine that it’s used as a ‘concrete dump’; The area is sprawling with wildlife.  It’s amazing to think that plants and trees can even grow in a place that’s literally built on rocks, bricks and rebar.

Living nearby, my husband would frequently run and bike along the 5km strip.  However, this past father’s day, we decided to make it a (urban) family event.  After a quick pit-stop at Starbucks, we ventured out to take in this awesome oasis with the kids in tow.leslie st spit water Continue reading →

Will my kids be proud of me?

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As I was leaving a car shop the other day, I thought to myself about the man who just fixed my car.  I got to know a little about him during my drop-off.  I know he has two daughters, and is a hard working man.  I honestly had one of the best customer service experiences ever.  This man was intelligent, kind, and he exhibited skills that would be attributed to that of a highly effective leader.  Yet, he isn’t a CEO of a conglomerate, or a manager at a bank.  He’s a man working as hard as he can every day at a job that although may not be looked-down upon, is not one that’s often celebrated.  I wondered if his daughters knew how amazing their dad is at their job.  I wondered if they were proud of him.

And that got me thinking… I wonder if my sons are proud of me.  Yes, I’m getting ahead of myself.  I guess they’re too young right now to think on that level (my oldest is not even 3 yet, and the other is a newborn), but it won’t be long before they will start asking questions about “what I do” and learning about other grownups’ jobs.

I’m a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM).  I became one once my son was born.  I gave-up left my well-paying, great-benefits jobs as a manager at one of the big four accounting firms (starts with the letter D for those who are wondering), to be a SAHM.  I have a bachelors of Business Administration degree and I completed my MBA only a year before becoming a SAHM.  Basically, I’m the most underpaid, well-educated person I know.  BUT… the choice was mine.  No one asked me to be a SAHM, no one twisted my arm.  I WANT to be the CEO of my kids (or rather, have them boss me around). I WANT to teach and mold their young minds.  I WANT to be the one that takes them to the park, the library, and to art and music classes.  I WANT to be the one that knows all of the “in” kid songs like “sticky sticky bubble gum” and “sleeping bunnies”.  And so, here I am. Continue reading →

It’s official! I’ve gone mad. I mean… muddy! I signed up for the warrior dash

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While stalking on Facebook last week, I noticed a link for something called a Tough Mudder.  While I quickly browsed the website for more information, all I saw was running, obstacles and a challenge.  I immediately thought to myself “where do I sign up?”, only to have my ego softly bruised by my dear husband.  While my excitement may have kept me going for the first 5km of the race, he suggested that I might not be quite ready for the remaining 16km of the race just yet.  He clearly didn’t remember that I have previously run 5 half-marathons, and for my first, I didn’t even train (granted, I was 24 at the time).  So I did what any other person in my dilemma would do – I crowd sourced.

It turns out that my husband was right.  A Tough Mudder is no walk in the park.  Besides the fact that it’s as long as a half marathon, it includes many obstacles that not only challenge the core of your physical strength, but also your mental well-being, including electric shocks.  Clearly, I was NOT up for the challenge.  But nonetheless, I was intrigued.  As it turns out, there’s another, more beginner-like race, called the warrior dash.  And so, it was decided right there and then that I would compete in something that’s more aligned with my current pace (having just given birth 4 months ago) but something that’s not to be taken lightly either.WarriorDash_logo Continue reading →

Twice as nice! The Lansinoh Affinity Pro Double Electric Breast Pump {U.S. Giveaway}

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When I had my first son, I had latching issues when it came to breast feeding.  I rushed out and bought a breast pump as an alternative to direct breast feeding; at least until I healed.  Not doing any research, I purchased a single breast pump.  At the time, it got the job done, but I also didn’t know better.

Until now… my second son was born in January of this year and I was fortunate to be able to try out the Lansinoh Affinity Pro Double Electric Breast Pump.  What I didn’t know the first time around that I know now is this:

1)      You’re much more efficient when you’re using a double pump. Both in time and quantity.  With two kids, time is of the essence, and to say I have any spare time would be a lie.  But with the double pump, I can pump for only 10 minutes and I’m done.

2)      You don’t need to have twins to own a double pump.

3)      You don’t have to figure out which breast has more milk (i.e. which one you should pump).Lansinoh-Affinity-Pro-Double-Electric-Breast-Pump Continue reading →

Motherhood conversations from women in biblical times (i’m assuming anyway)

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The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant, is a story about Jacob, his four wives and his offspring, as told by his only daughter, Dinah.  In the book, Dinah gives a voice to her mother who didn’t really have one in the bible.  Almost a behind the scenes look at an untold story.  This got me thinking… what would the women in biblical days have talked about?  Would the four wives of Jacob have somewhat similar conversations as I have with my mommy friends?  Would they go through the same worries, concerns, frustration and love that we feel today?

First of all, I don’t even know how mom’s used to manage without Facebook…. uhhhh I mean the advances in modern medicine and technology; but, I’m assuming mothers did have similar to discussions that we have today, so here is what I imagine they would sound like:

Rachel: Can you believe Joseph?  He’s acting so crazy these days.  He won’t listen to a word I say.  He’s constantly throwing tantrums, over such little things like ”Mom there’s a snake in my bed again…. oh and my bed is still made of dirt by the way”.  Also, he always wants to help feed the camels.  The thing is, him helping me is really creating more work.  The food ends up all over the ground which brings in the bugs. All I want is a moment of piece and quiet.  I haven’t slept in days since Benjamin was born.  And it’s so hot in those tents, someone should invent some sort of ‘air conditioner’ to cool everything down.

Leah: I felt the same thing when my boys were all around two years old.  If I were to make up a name for it, I would call it the terrible two’s.  If you think you have it bad, what about me? I have 6 boys and a girl.  I haven’t slept in AGES! Wait until you train the kiddo’s to go in the hole instead of all over the place.  It’s hard work training them, but the rewards are infinite.  No more cleaning up their bowel movements or changing dirty towels. Continue reading →

Quinoa Sushi recipe. Delicious and nutritious for the whole family!

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Dorit Palvanov is a nutritionist and an explorer of healthy foods that are  smart and easy for moms to make but fun for kids to eat. She is a busy  mom of two toddler girls and enjoys playing, reading and traveling with  them as much as possible. As a young mom there are so many things we  have to do and preparing a nutritious meal can sometimes just take way  too long. So her time in the kitchen is spent developing recipes that  usually are made in less than half an hour but are delicious and  nutritious for the entire family! Check out her blog smartsalad for more interesting ideas and recipes. For questions or inquires related kids’ nutrition you can reach her at dorit@smartsalad.com.Dorit

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I get asked a lot about quinoa as many moms are super curious about this  superfood. Quinoa is not a grain, It’s a seed that originates in the  regions of Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia and Peru. It has numerous health and beauty benefits, I’ve prepared a list for you with the top 6 health  benefits of quinoa:

1) Quinoa is a complete protein, which means your body gets all the  essential amino-acids it needs to build things like antibodies, enzymes, neurotransmitters, etc. Many people think we must eat meat or chicken  in order to get enough protein in our diet, which is simply not true.

2) Quinoa is great for energy and wound healing. In fact, historically  quinoa was eaten by the Inca warriors to boost stamina and quicken recovery time. It is also an anti-inflammatory food which helps your  joints heal better from injuries. Quinoa will also help you to get rid  of toxins which accumulate in our bodies and if not eliminated might  cause illness.

3) The saying “you become what you eat” is true regarding Quinoa as well.  It is a high endurance food, and when we eat lively foods eventually we  become like that food. If you experience energy crashes during the day,  notice what you have on your plate next time you eat. Are the foods  natural, alive and good quality? If not, then this might be the reason  behind your energy crashes. I recommend eating quinoa at least twice a  week, your energy levels will eventually go up for good! Continue reading →