Urbanbaby & Toddler magazine

Here it is...Drum Roll....Winter 2011 Issue

2011-12-06T16:36:00.000-08:00

Our first Magazine is here! I must confess I love this issue and I hope you love it too. Thanks to all the support from our advertisers, our fantastic writers and all the readers that provided feedback for this issue.

Having the magazine finally completed I realized how much this new venture is similar to a new baby joining a family. While nothing can compare to the first weeks with a new baby (I’ve done that too!), I realized I faced some of the similar stages that many new parents face. I’m up late every night (feedings), checking emails and phone calls (bonding with baby) and taking care of the suppliers, writers and advertisers who really, really need to reach me (listening to baby cries, giggles and laughter).

I waited with excitement for the impending deadline to approach (due date), when I can finally see and hold (cuddling baby) my first magazine issue completed (baby sleeping) I can look back and smile with pride (and take a million pictures) knowing that I get to share the results of my hard labour (no pun intend) with all of you!

Cheers, Lara

New owner of urbanbaby & toddler

2011-09-24T19:13:00.000-07:00

Dear UBT readers, supporters, and advertisers:

It's hard to believe that just eight years ago, I held the inaugural issue of urbanbaby & toddler magazine in my hands. And it's hard to believe that I am now moving on from this little-magazine-that-could (and did!).

But, I have chosen to move on to focus more on my children -- Benjamin and Lauren -- who inspired me to start the magazine in the first place. And to look for my next adventure.

urbanbaby & toddler magazine will carry on though in the highly capable hands of Lara Leontowich, founder of the fabulous Bellies to Babies Celebration event. I have every confidence that she will take the magazine in new and wonderful directions.

The decision to move on from the magazine was a difficult one. When I was first contemplating it, I found myself asking the same question over and over again: "Who am I without urbanbaby & toddler magazine?" My identity was so intertwined with the publication that I felt like I would be nobody without it. The magazine put me on the map. It was an achievement that I could be proud of -- building and growing a successful magazine is tough at the best of times, never mind during a recession. People wanted to meet me, have coffee with me. People knew the magazine and they even knew my name. It made me feel important. Without urbanbaby & toddler, would I just evaporate?

But after a few soul-searching talks with good friends, my answer to the question, "Who am I without urbanbaby & toddler magazine?" changed. Who am I? I am a mother. I am a wife. I am Emma. And these are all good and important things. They are not just enough, they are everything.

I can't articulate how grateful I am to all UBT supporters. The thousands of readers. The supportive businesses that became my advertisers, my distributors, and the champions of UBT. The nurses, midwives, doctors, doulas, and community workers who endorse the publication. I have loved meeting all these fantastic people along this journey. I have learned so much about myself, and got a hands-on education in business that I will take with me wherever I go next.

Thank you, everyone, for supporting UBT (and me) over the years. It is my hope that you will continue to support the magazine, and new owner Lara Leontowich as she leads UBT into the future.

Most sincerely,

Emma Lee
Founder, urbanbaby & toddler magazine

*****

If you have any questions about urbanbaby & toddler, contact Lara Leontowich:
Email - info@urbanbaby.ca
Phone - 604-420-8760 or 604-908-8835

Wondering who took that fab photo of me? Scott McAlpine of www.scottmcalpinephoto.com.

Help the Somalian famine crisis, special offer on mini-portrait session

2011-09-05T19:11:00.000-07:00

Help the famine crisis in Somalia by supporting this unique photo event on Saturday, Sept. 10, presented by Klik Photographic and saf & benjamin.

The "Photos for Famine" photographic fundraising event:
For a suggested minimum donation of $50 per child, parents will get a modern mini-portrait session of their little one, or a family portrait for $75, by acclaimed photographer Kyrani Kanavaros of Klik Photographic on site at saf & benjamin, Downtown Vancouver's exclusive baby boutique. The Canadian government will match what is raised from the event, dollar for dollar.

And your photo session, stick around to check out the fall arrivals at saf & benjamin and enjoy refreshments.

Pre-registration for the event is required.

When:
Saturday, Sept. 10 , 2011, 10 am -1 pm and 3 pm- 5 pm

Where:
saf & benjamin, 1081 Marinaside Crescent (Yaletown), Vancouver, BC

To register/More info:
Email Noelene Searle-Valleau at noelenes@shaw.ca or call 604.725.9428

The Fall 2011 issue is here!

2011-09-05T19:06:00.001-07:00

Find out how Cupcake Girls Heather and Lori manage a flourishing retail business, television show and now, mommyhood. Discover two fantastic kid-friendly hikes around the Lower Mainland. Get ready for full-day kindergarten. Read the latest on the circumcision debate. It's all in the Fall 2011 issue of urbanbaby & toddler magazine.

Find it at your Lower Mainland Safeway store, community centre, public library or participating children's boutique. Or read it online at www.urbanbaby.ca (click on the cover)!

Our Fall 2011 cover features Joshua, one of our 2011 Cover Contest winners. Thanks for sharing your sunny little face with us, Joshua!

Get cookin' and win a $2,000 grand prize

2011-07-27T21:47:00.001-07:00

Do you cook in the kitchen with your kids? Show off your culinary chops! Enter the Hands On Cook-off Contest - Better Together, and you could win a $2,000 grand prize gift certificate to Overwaitea Food Group (or winners can opt for $1,500 cash). Runner-up prize of a $1,000 gift certificate to Overwaitea Foods (or $750 cash).

This contest is all about bringing together food and fun in the kitchen by having two generations demonstrate how to prepare a recipe. Breakfast, BBQ, pizza, salad, dinner, snacks... Share one of your favourite recipes and show (by submitting a video) why your recipe is made better together!

Contest is open from July 15 - Aug 31, 2011. For more entry details and rules, visit bettertogetherbc.ca/contest.

Win more...!
To help you get in the cooking spirit, UBT is offering our own contest. Enter
to win an adorable black-and-white polka dot mother-daughter apron set, by the Sugarbaby Aprons (sugarbabyaprons.com). Just visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/urbanbabyandtoddler and write this comment on our wall (by July 31), "I love UBT and cooking with my kids," and you'll be entered to win!

Best family-friendly summer block party - July 23

2011-07-13T21:03:00.001-07:00

Look what we're sponsoring!

Afro-Brazilian Block Party July 23, 11 am - 7 pm
FREE fun for everyone. Axe Capoeira and the City of Vancouver are hosting a full day of performances including traditional dance, music and Capoeira culminating in one huge Brazilian street party. Between 12 - 1 pm, there'll be a special interactive kids' show featuring Afro-Brazilian music, history and dance. A fun time for music and dance lovers, big and small!
Location: Granville Street, between Robson and Georgia, Vancouver
Info: 604-761-4635 or www.axecapoeira.com

Contest Alert: Giving away tix for The Wiggles concert

2011-07-04T19:48:00.000-07:00

It's true! We've scored a family pack (4) of tickets to The Wiggles BIG BIRTHDAY concert in Vancouver, BC on Aug 9, 2011 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre! Retail value is about $135 total.

How to enter? Just become a fan of our Facebook fan page and tell us what Wiggles song you love best. Enter by July 9, 2011, midnight for your chance to win. Winner will be randomly selected.

Ready, set, ENTER!

Calling parents with infants under 20 mos

2011-06-25T21:07:00.000-07:00

Just got this note from UBC Pediatric Audiology Lab. Your participation in the study will help researchers in detecting hearing loss in infants:

The UBC Pediatric Audiology Lab (PAL) in Vancouver is doing a study on hearing in infants under 20 months old. Hearing screening results are shared with the parents and an honorarium is provided. Results from this study may improve current clinical methods and help with early diagnosis of hearing loss in infants. Please contact us pal@audiospeech.ubc.ca to schedule a visit or for more details.

Vote for your fave pic in UBT's Cover Contest 2011

2011-04-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

Our 14 finalists for urbanbaby & toddler's Cover Contest 2011 have been chosen, and the polls are open to public vote.

Vote for your favourite as many times as you wish. It's completely unlimited! Vote from now until May 7, midnight.

Click here to view the finalists and to vote.

Easter activites around Greater Vancouver

2011-04-13T11:57:00.000-07:00

Easter can be a hoppin' good time for the family with all these egg-cellent activities around the Lower Mainland, listed by municipality. Your local community centre may also offer Easter-themed fun -- check with yours (we couldn't fit all community centre listings here!). Happy Easter, everyone.

BURNABY

Easter Eggstravaganza
April 23, 10:30 am - 12 noon
Breakfast, crafts and an Easter egg hunt. Cost: $8.40 per person. For all ages. Pre-registration required.
Location: Willingdon Centre, 1491 Carleton Avenue, Burnaby, BC
Info: 604-297-4526

Meet the Easter Bunny
April 23, 12 noon - 3 pm
Hop on over to Brentwood and meet the Easter Bunny. The first 400 visitors will receive a foiled chocolate Easter egg. Free drop-in kids' crafts for parents and kids will be available too.
Location: Brentwood Town Centre, next to the Toddler's Play Area, 4567 Lougheed Highway, Burnaby, BC
Info: www.brentwoodtowncentre.com

Easter Egg Hunt
April 24, 12 noon - 1:30 pm
The Easter Bunny is stashing treats at the pool. Seven-year-olds and younger must be accompanied by an adult in the water; bring your bathing suit. Loonie swim rates apply
Location: CG Brown Pool Memorial Pool, 3702 Kensington Avenue, Burnaby, BC
Info: 604-297-4520

FORT LANGLEY

Fort Langley Easter Egg Hunt
April 24, 10 am - 5 pm
Bring your own Easter basket and enjoy family fun while scouring the fort for eggs. Regular admission applies.
Location: Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada, 23433 Mavis Ave, Fort Langley, BC
Info: 604-513-4777 or www.parkscanada.gc.ca/fortlangley

LANGLEY

Bunny Photos
April 9 - 23
Hop down to Willowbrook for photos with the Easter Bunny. Photos taken at Centre Court near Purdy's Chocolate during the following hours: Saturday to Tuesday & Friday: 11 am - 6 pm; Wednesday & Thursday: 11 am to 8 pm. Net proceeds to benefit the Langley School District Foundation.
Location: Willowbrook Mall, Centre Court by Purdy's Chocolates, 19705 Fraser Highway, Langley, BC
Info: 604-530-4492 or www.willowbrookmall.com

NEW WESTMINSTER

Hyack Easter Antique Car Parade
April 24, 12 noon
The Hyack Festival Association with the Totem Model A&T Car Club is presenting its 31st Annual Hyack Easter Antique Car Parade. This annual highlight for people of all ages is followed by the Easter in the Park celebration organized by New Westminster Parks, Culture and Recreation in Queen's Park. Antique and vintage cars will assemble on the Front Street Parkade for display at 10 am before the parade starts at 12 pm. The fully restored New Westminster Police Service 1949 Nash and the New Westminster Fire Service 1929 Mack Fire Truck will lead the parade route.
Location: Starts on Columbia Street at MacKenzie, proceeds east to 4th Street where it u-turns and heads west on Columbia Street to 12th Street, goes north to 6th Avenue, then east to 2nd Street, south to 3rd Avenue and into Queen's Park
Info: www.hyack.bc.ca

Easter in Queen's Park
April 24, 11 am - 2 pm
An eggs-tra good time at Easter in Queen's Park. This family-oriented event is held in Queen's Park Rainbow Playland with activities geared to children between 3 and 10 years. Event highlights include: entertainment featured at the Bandshell, crafts and face painting, photos with Mr. and Mrs. Bunny. Loads of fun with a special treat at trail's end. Visit with barnyard friends in our petting farm. Also featured is the annual available. Call for further event details. Admission: free.
Location: Queen's Park, New Westminster, BC
Info: 604-777-5121 or www.newwestpcr.ca

NORTH VANCOUVER

Peter Rabbit Easter Brunch & Egg Hunt
April 24
A Peter Rabbit-inspired brunch. Families can take pictures with the real Easter Bunny, and have their faces painted. Cost: adults, $40; youth (13 - 18 years), $25, child (5 - 12 years), $15. Reservations limited.
Location: Grouse Mountain, North Vancouver, BC
Info/Reservations: 604-998-5045

PORT MOODY

Easter Extravaganza
April 24, 10 am - 2 pm
Join in on the Easter egg hunt (kids look for marbles and exchange them for chocolate eggs). There will also be magic, music, face painting and photos with the Easter Bunny, a Easter basket craft, duck pond prize game, and a bubble zone. Rain or shine. Cost: $2 per person, cash only (*additional cost for some activities).
Location: Port Moody Station Museum, 2734 Murray Street, Port Moody, BC
Info: 604-939-1648 or portmoodymuseum.org/calendar/upcoming

RICHMOND

Easter Crafts for Kids
April 23, 12 noon - 3 pm
Richmond Centre invites kids 12 years and younger to the Main Galleria to create crafts (no charge) to celebrate Easter.
Location: Richmond Centre, 1788 - 6060 Minoru Boulevard, Richmond, BC
Info: www.richmondcentre.com

SURREY

Easter 2011 Children's Festival
April 22 - 25, 10 am - 5 pm
Meet the Easter Bunny and get a candy treat. Make a bunny ears headband and ride the train through the Springtime tunnel display. Ticket prices: children 2 - 12 years, $6; seniors, $3.50; adults, $4.50
Friday, April 22 through Monday, April 25th.
Location: Bear Creek Park Train, 13750 - 88th Avenue (@ King George Hwy), Surrey, BC
Info: www.bctrains.com

Mylyne & Associates' 2nd Annual Happy Easter Festival (FREE)
April 23, 1 - 3 pm
Bring your friends and family to this egg hunt with 3,000+ eggs. Rain or shine.
Location: Hawthorne Park, 10503 144st, Surrey, BC
RSVP: info@mylyne.com by April 20

Eco Easter Egg Hunt
April 23, 10 am - 2 pm
Search for Easter eggs in the forest. Take a picture with the Easter Bunny and enjoy egg-themed crafts, activities and entertainment. Every child receives a candy treat. Don’t forget to bring your basket. Call for egg hunt times or more information. Rain or shine. For all ages. Cost: $5 per child.
Location: Surrey Nature Centre, 14255 - 96 Avenue, Surrey, BC
Info: 604-502-6065 or www.surrey.ca/culture-recreation/8024.aspx

Easter Fair 2011
April 23, 1 - 4 pm
Easter fun for the family with spring crafts and holiday games. Learn about the real Easter Bunny and friends as you discover local wildlife and meet rescue animals, from rabbits to reptiles and an assortment of dogs and parrots. For all ages. Cost: by donation.
Location: Surrey Museum, 17710 - 56A Avenue, Surrey, BC
Info: 604-592-6956

Easter Fair 2011
April 23, 1 - 4 pm
Learn about the Easter Bunny, crafts, holiday games. All ages. By donation.
Location: Surrey Museum, 17710 - 56 Avenue, Surrey, BC
Info: www.surrey.ca

Pictures with the Easter Bunny
April 20 - 23
Visit the Easter Bunny in his spring harden between Winners and Future Shop at Central City. Have your picture taken with him for $10 (taxes included/cash purchase only) and recieve digital images on a disk and some special treats. Picture times: Wednesday, April 20 and Thursday, April 21 - 12 noon - 7 pm and Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23 - 12 noon - 5 pm.
Location: Central City, King George Boulevard & 102 Ave, Surrey, BC
Info: 604-587-7773 or www.centralcity.ca/pictures-with-the-easter-bunny

VANCOUVER

Easter Hunt
April 23, 12 noon - 3 pm
Hunt for clues. Just pick up your map of clues and visit the craft tables at Cambie and W 18th Avenue or at Cambie and West 8th Avenue, from 12 noon - 1 pm. Then visit Cambie Village merchants and gather your clues from 12 noon - 2:30 pm. Lots of family fun along the way including face painting, balloon twisting, caricature artists. Redeem your completed map of clues at W 18t Avenue for an Easter treat.
Location: Cambie Village, Vancouver, BC
Info: www.cambievillage.com

The Great A-Mazing Egg Hunt
April 23, 10 am - 12 noon
Let the egg hunt begin! Mr. Bunny (with lots of treats) will be there, as will his good pal Purdy's Chocolates ambassador, Philbert the Hedgehog. Celebrations start at 10 am with kids dropping into the craft tent to decorate an egg bag in which to carry their finds and participate in other seasonal crafts. At 11 am sharp, Mr. Bunny and Philbert open the gates to the maze and the surrounding area for the great hunt. Participants must pre-purchase tickets at VanDusen's Garden Shop. Tickets go on sale starting March 21 -- limited supply, so don't delay. Prices: $6/child (2 - 10 years); regular admission applies to all non-member adults, seniors and youth.
Location: VanDusen Botanical Garden, 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC
Info: www.vandusengarden.org

Easter Activities & Fun
April 23, 10:30 am - 2:30 pm
Create your own Easter bunny or Easter egg to bring home. Cost: free.
Location: Kids Market, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
Info: www.kidsmarket.ca

Easter Fun
April 23, 1 - 3 pm
Kids' entertainment, arts and crafts, treats from the Easter Bunny himself, and photos with the Easter Bunny.
Location: Kingsgate Mall, Kingsway & Broadway, Vancouver, BC
Info: www.kingsgatemall.com

WEST VANCOUVER

Easter Craft Day
April 23, 11 am - 2 pm
Location: Park Royal, North Mall - B, 2002 Park Royal South, West Vancouver, BC
Info: www.shopparkroyal.com/events

Egg-cellent Easter at the Aquatic Centre
April 23, 1 - 4 pm
The Easter Bunny will be visiting the West Vancouver Aquatic Centre. Come enjoy the treats and games.
Location: West Vancouver Aquatic Centre, 2121 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, BC
Info: http://westvancouver.ca/Level3.aspx?id=33074

Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt
April 24, 12 noon - 2 pm
Hop on down to John Lawson Park and join in the Lions Club Kids Easter Egg Hunt. Easter Egg Hunt starts at 1 pm.
Location: John Lawson Park, West Vancouver, BC
Info: http://westvancouver.ca/Level3.aspx?id=24840

Babylicious Sample Sale!

2011-04-12T14:25:00.000-07:00

Find Babylicious' hip, fresh and modern crib bedding, nursery accessories and baby essentials including hooded towels, blankets, bibs and more.

When: Thursday, April 21, 10 am - 3 pm and Friday, April 22, 9:30 am - 12 noon
Where: 5811 Blenheim Street (at 42nd Avenue), Vancouver (enter through back door)

Cash or cheque only. No refunds or exchanges. All sales final.

Visit the Bellies to Babies Celebration & enter to win handmade jewellery!

2011-04-08T13:20:00.001-07:00

Come see me at urbanbaby & toddler's booth at the Bellies to Babies Celebration on Sunday, April 10. I'll be there to offer you a magazine and a chance to win $150 worth of gorgeous handmade jewellery by Odette Alfaro.

Event: Bellies to Babies Celebration Date & Time: Sunday, April 10, 11 am - 4 pm Location: 3250 Commercial Drive, Vancouver

Visit the show and you could win a $1,000 shopping spree from jack & lola. Admission is by donation.

The Bellies to Babies Celebration, is a one-of-a-kind event, offering a unique opportunity for new and expectant parents and grandparents to explore and shop for trendy baby fashions, décor and so much more! Community resources and support services will be on hand to answer questions for new and expecting parents.

urbanbaby & toddler is a proud sponsor of Bellies to Babies Celebration.

Mr. Potato is watching you

2011-03-26T19:37:00.000-07:00

Today, my kids dug up a potato from our garden. It was one I'd obviously left in the ground from last year's harvest.

My 6-year-old daughter, Lauren, was so excited and exclaimed, "Isn't it the best potato you've ever seen? Can you make it for dinner tonight? I broke off all the white branches too!"

"Oh, you mean the eyes?" I responded.

"The WHAT?" she squeaked.

"The eyes...of the potato," I said again.

"Is it watching me right now?! I'm not eating that potato because it's going to be looking at me when I eat him!" she screamed, dropping the potato and running out of the room.

Spring Break ideas!

2011-03-17T10:07:00.000-07:00

The dreaded 2-week Spring Break is almost upon us. If you haven't pre-registered for any Spring Break programs or just want to play it by ear, here are some fantastic drop-in kids' programs that will keep your children busy and entertained. Let the fun begin! (Listings below are organized by location.)

VARIOUS LOCATIONS

Toonie Matinees
March 21 - April 1
Bring your kids in to watch a show for just $2. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer.
Location: Select children's movies and dates at participating Empire Theatres
Info: Find dates and show details at www.empiretheatres.com/toonie-matinees

BURNABY

Games & Crafts Galore
March 21-25, 12 noon-4 pm
Daily activities, crafts and more.
Location: Brentwood Town Centre, Centre Court, 4567 Lougheed Highway, Burnaby, BC
Info: www.brentwoodtowncentre.com

The Villager Scavenger Hunt
March 21-27, 12-4 pm
Decipher clues and win a treat. For 2+ yrs. Includes carousel rides. Cost: $6.50 per person (members free)
Location: Burnaby Village Museum, 6501 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby, BC
Info: www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca

NEW WESTMINSTER

The Mystery of the Chipper Stream
March 26, 1-3 pm
Someone has polluted Chipper Stream! Can you help solve the mystery? At the Discovery Centre this Spring Break, kids aged 5-9 and their families are invited to become pollution detectives and help find the guilty party while learning about solutions to reduce pollution.
Location: Fraser River Discovery Centre, 788 Quayside Drive, New Westminster, BC
Info: 604-521-8401 or www.fraserriverdiscovery.org

RICHMOND

Spring Break at Richmond Nature Park
March 22-25 and March 29-31, 9:30 am-12 noon
Be a nature detective and immerse yourself in sticky science! Cost: $18 per person.
Location: Richmond Nature Park, 11851 Westminster Highway, Richmond, BC
Info: www.richmondnatureparksociety.ca

SURREY

Free Ice Skating at Morgan Crossing
March 19-23, 10 am-7 pm daily
The shops at Morgan Crossing's skating rink features a unique synthetic material that feels just like real ice -- rain or shine, warm or cold, people will be able to skate! Bring your family and join your friends for a fun Spring Break activity. Skate rental and sharpening available by donation.
Location: Morgan Crossing, corner of 24th & Croydon Drive, South Surrey, BC
Info: www.theshopsatmorgancrossing.com

Spring Break Family PlayCamp: Setting the Stage: Steamer Trunk Theatre
March 22-25 and March 29-April 1, 10:30 am-2:30 pm
This drop-in program lets you rummage through a steamer trunk full of costumes, props and artefacts that bring the early history of stage theatre to life. Dress up and act up as you explore the history of performance by creating masks, puppets and plays. For all ages. By donation.
Location: Surrey Museum, 17710-56A Avenue, Surrey, BC
Info: 604-592-6956 or www.surrey.ca

Kids' Spring Fling at the Surrey Nature Centre
March 25, 10 am-2 pm
Drop in for a day filled with outdoor games, eco-crafts, nature activities and discoveries -- just for kids! Hunt for bugs, search for birds, play in the forest, and explore the special places at the Surrey Nature Centre. Rain or shine. Parent participation required. Free. For all ages.
Location: Surrey Nature Centre, 14255 - 96 Avenue, Surrey, BC
Info: 604-502-6065

VANCOUVER

Forensics for Kids
March 21-April 1, 12 noon-4 pm
Drop in to try to solve a crime. Suitable for children (and adults) of all ages. Get a real hands-on forensic science experience. Discover how police investigators collect and analyze evidence from crime scenes by doing it yourself. Two different scenarios are offered with different types of evidence. Depending on the scenario, you might take fingerprints, examine bullets recovered from the crime scene, measure blood spatter or examine a questioned document. There is a $1/person charge for this program in addition to the regular museum admission.
Location: Vancouver Police Museum, 240 E. Cordova St, Vancouver, BC
Info: 604-665-3346 or www.vancouverpolicemuseum.ca

Weekly Family Art Programs at Vancouver Art Gallery
March 19-April 2, 12-4 pm
Free for kids! This Spring Break, join our Weekly Family Programs every day. Be curious and ask questions with Vancouver Art Gallery's team of Art Agents, follow an Art Tracks tour led by artists, educators, musicians and others, and create and experiment with hands-on workshops and activities in The Making Place.
Location: Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC
Info: www.vanartgallery.bc.ca

Explore the Amazon at the Vancouver Aquarium
March 19-April 3, 9:30 am-6 pm
From March 19 until April 3, the Graham Amazon Gallery at the Vancouver Aquarium will be transformed to include surprising new creatures and experiences from the most species-rich area of the world. Find surprising new creatures like Goeldi's Monkey. Get an up-close look at the remarkable metamorphosis stage between a caterpillar and a butterfly. Every day butterflies will emerge and be released into the larger gallery.As you explore, you'll experience rolling thunder, lightning crackle and torrential rainfall--raingear not required. For those explorers young at heart, the Aquarium's 4D/FX theatre will showcase Dora & Diego's 4D Adventure using 3D imagery, sensory seats and loads of in-theatre 4D special effects.
Location: Vancouver Aquarium, Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC
Info: www.vanaqua.org

Fun at Kids Market
March 19-April 3
Potato arts & crafts, March 21-April 3, 11 am-3 pm, on the main floor. Free. Ceramics and sand art, March 21-25 and March 28-April 1, 11 am-4 pm, 2nd floor party room. Cost: $2 small or $3 large. Face painting with Beebop and Captain Bubbles, March 19-April 3, daily 12 noon-3 pm, 2nd floor landing. By donation.
Location: Kids Market, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
Info: www.kidsmarket.ca

Wacky Weather and Natural Disasters
March 21-27
Drop in during Spring Break for interesting facts and fun.
Location: Science World, 1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver, BC
Info: www.scienceworld.ca

5th Annual Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
March 26-April 22
Celebrate the cherry blossom trees in Vancouver. Find events including Cherry Jam Downtown, a free outdoor noon-hour concert on March 31, and Sakura Days Japan Fair, a family-friendly contemporary Japanese Street festival at Van Dusen Botanical Garden on April 2 & 3, from 10 am-5 pm.
Info: www.vcbf.ca

Health Canada issues recalls on 4 baby-related products

2011-03-03T14:50:00.000-08:00

Health Canada has just announced these product recalls:

1. Parents Busy Time Activity Center
This recall involves a wooden activity center that has a multi-coloured bead run on the top. Activities on each side include a 4-tone xylophone and rasp, butterfly and caterpillar spinners, zig-zag drum, castanets, and pockets with "alligator", "bear", and "cat" pillow characters. The recalled toy has date code 400090GC, model number 400090 and UPC 011964447640. The date code can be found on the bottom of the product packaging near the UPC code and on the sewn-in label attached to the bear character.

Activity centers with orange plastic pegs are not included in this recall. Only activity centers with wooden pegs with date code 400090GC are involved in this recall.

Wooden pegs on xylophone activity can come loose, posing a choking hazard to children.

The US CPSC and Manhattan Toy have received one reported incident of a child putting a peg in his mouth. In Canada, Manhattan Toy has received one reported incident in which a mother noticed the pegs came off. No injuries were reported. Health Canada has not received any reports of incidents or injuries related to the use of these toys.

What to do: Consumers should immediately take the toy away from young children and return it to the store where purchased for a refund or exchange for another toy. Consumers may also contact Manhattan Toy for instructions on receiving a replacement item or a full refund.

For more information, consumers may contact Manhattan Toy toll-free at 1-800-541-1345 between 8AM and 5PM CST Monday through Friday or visit the Manhattan Toy website.

2. Oball Links & Mini Rattle
This recall involves the Oball Links & Mini Rattle. The soft plastic Oball toy is approximately 6.3cm (2.5inches) in diameter and has beads in a plastic cube attached to it.

The Oball is attached to a plastic chain by a C-shaped plastic link. There is another C-link attached to the other end of the plastic chain. The word 'Oball' is stamped into the top of the plastic chain.

Recalled products have model number 1048 and UPC 8-34282-01048-4 printed on the back of the product packaging.

The C-link can break, releasing small parts; these small parts pose a choking hazard to young children. In the United States, Rhino Toys, Inc. and the US CPSC has received one report of the C-link breaking, with no reported injuries. Health Canada has not received any reports of incidents or injuries related to the use of this product in Canada.

What to do: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled product and contact Rhino Toys, Inc. to arrange for a full refund (including shipping costs).

For more information, consumers may contact Rhino Toys, Inc. at 1-888-250-9969 between 9AM and 3PM Monday to Friday, or by e-mail at recall@rhinoto ys.com. Consumers can also visit the Rhino Toys website.

3. Jump Seat on certain Baby Jogger Strollers
This recall involves the Baby Jogger Jump Seat. This is a fabric seat accessory that can be attached to the mounting bracket on the frame of a Baby Jogger City Elite, Baby Jogger City Classic, or Baby Jogger Summit stroller, allowing a toddler and baby to ride together in the same stroller at the same time.

The recalled accessory has the name "Baby Jogger" on the front and item number J7J50. The item number can be found on the product packaging.

If the Jump Seat is not attached to the stroller frame properly and locked into place, it can detach from the frame, posing a risk of injury to the child sitting in it. In Canada, Baby Jogger has received one report of the Jump Seat detaching from the stroller frame, leading to a child suffering scrapes and bruises. There have been 3 reports in the United States of the seat detaching as well. Health Canada has not received any reports of incidents or injuries related to the use of this product.

What to do: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Jump Seat and contact Baby Jogger for further instructions.

For more information, consumers may contact Brands in Motion, Inc. (Baby Jogger's official Canadian distributor) at 1-866-774-7177 between 8AM and 5:30PM EST Monday to Friday, or by visiting the Baby Jogger website.

4. Burlington Basket Bassinets

This recall involves all Burlington Basket bassinets manufactured before June 2010. Affected models have folding legs attached to the basket with white plastic pins.

Bassinets with non-folding legs attached with metal pins are not included in this recall.If the cross-bracing rails are not fully locked into position, the bassinets can collapse causing the infant to fall to the floor or fall within the bassinet and suffer injuries.

If the cross-bracing rails are not fully locked into position, the bassinets can collapse causing the infant to fall to the floor or fall within the bassinet and suffer injuries. In the United States, Burlington Basket Company has received 10 reports of incidents in which the recalled bassinets collapsed when the folding legs were not locked into place. Two infants received minor injuries as a result of these collapses, including a bruise to the head and a bruised shoulder. Health Canada has not received any reports of incidents or injuries related to the use of these bassinets.

What to do: Consumers should immediately stop using the bassinets and check the cross-bracing support rails to make sure they are in the locked position. To properly lock the support rails into place, the end tabs must be fully inserted into the holes on the leg assembly and twisted one quarter turn into the locked position.

Consumers should contact Burlington Basket Company for a free kit including labels and detailed instructions on proper assembly of the cross-bracing support rails and decals with assembly instructions to place on the bassinet. A video showing proper assembly of the bassinets is available on the Burlington Basket Company's website.

Please note that this recall does not involve returning the bassinet.

For more information, consumers may contact Burlington Basket Company at 1-800-553-2300 between 8AM and 4PM CT Monday through Friday, or visit the Burlington Basket Company's website.

********

For more info on Health Canada's product safety recalls, visit: http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/home-accueil-eng.jsp

Recall Notice: B.O.B. Strollers

2011-02-23T12:50:00.000-08:00

Health Canada has issued an important recall notice on B.O.B. strollers. Click on link to find out if you've got one of these strollers and what Health Canada is recommending you do.

http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=1279

What my little girl does in the name of vanity

2011-02-15T14:24:00.000-08:00

My daughter and I went out for an evening stroll the other day. It was a cold night, but she was thrilled to be spending time with Mommy alone. When we returned from the walk, her cheeks were very rosy. From the cold air, I told her. She loved the colour in her face, and quickly ran upstairs to "do something," I heard her mumble as she disappeared.

I took my time putting shoes and coats away and eventually made my way up the stairs. Walking into the kitchen, I found my daughter tip-toeing on a chair that she had pushed up to our refrigerator, with the freezer door wide open and her head firmly pushed right into it.

We asked what she was doing. She simply replied, "I'm making my cheeks rosy!"

Happy Happy at Collage Collage

2011-02-08T16:26:00.001-08:00

Collage Collage -- it's so wonderful, you have to say the word twice. But really, Collage Collage (yes, the name of the business is the same word repeated) is a fabulous kids' art studio where my daughter hosted 7 of her friends for her 6th birthday party.

What I love about Collage Collage:
1. The party was very fun but it was also low-key. We've all been to those adrenaline-pumped birthday parties where sugar is the fuel of choice. Kids get overtired, grumpy and overstimulated. And adults? Well, they get overtired, grumpy and overstimulated too! At Collage Collage, the space was calm. Low-volume kid-friendly music played in the background. And the festivities started off with a lovely story reading (by shop owner Erin, herself) which became the jumping-off point for the art project to follow.

2. Erin had complete control over the party and the kids at all times. She was unflappable and enthusiastic at the same time. Plus she was even able to coax one shy party-goer (my older son, who clearly felt a little conspicuous as the only boy in a room of younger girls) to get involved and enjoy himself.

3. The studio is filled with fun stuff to check out: from art supplies to cool kids' art books, from craft projects to handmade stuffies. Great eye candy for parents and kids.

4. Each of the kids created her own work of art, based on the story that was read. In our case, they each made an artistic collage that included painting, glitter glue, yarn, tissue paper, and crayons. Erin has a way of gently guiding the kids and then encouraging them to use their own imaginations.

5. It is inexpensive. For a party of up to 8 kids, the cost of a 1-1/2 hour fete is $150 + tax. The kids get to take their art home with them too.

Thank you, Erin, for a happy happy time at Collage Collage.

We also loved the giant cupcake (like the size of an oversized muffin) and mini-cupcakes that we got from Cupcakes on West Broadway. They were delectable!

Raise money for local food banks and get great kids' photos too

2011-02-08T14:57:00.000-08:00

urbanbaby & toddler teams up with Kids of Vancouver 2011 to help raise money for local food banks

For the very first time, urbanbaby & toddler magazine and Kids of Vancouver 2011 have teamed up to offer your child a chance to be on the parenting magazine's Winter 2011 cover. Just sign your child up to participate in the Kids of Vancouver 2011 photo project from now until February 28, 2011 and he/she will automatically become a candidate to win this coveted spot.

Tanya and Jeff Harrison of Veridamo Photography are the brainchild behind the Kids of Vancouver project, which invites parents to sign up to receive an expert photo session for their child for a $100 donation (per child; every additional child is an additional $25) to one of two food bank programs. The image of their child will appear in the hardcover, perfect-bound Kids of Vancouver 2011 coffee table book, which is available for purchase at the end of the year.

Last year, the second year for the book, the initiative raised just over $14,000 in total for two local food banks. With the Greater Vancouver Food Bank's share, the charity was able to purchase more than 1,350 Kids' Picks snack packs (provided to preschoolers between 18 months and 6 years).

"We are both very proud and happy to have helped raise such a significant amount of money for these children's food bank programs," says Jeff Harrison. "Of course, a huge thank-you to all the parents that participated last year. And with the opportunity to have a Kids of Vancouver child appear on the Winter 2011 cover of urbanbaby & toddler magazine, we're positive we'll raise even more money this year!"

"urbanbaby & toddler is proud to be partners with Veridamo Photography in this Winter 2011 cover contest," says Emma Lee, editor and owner of urbanbaby & toddler, adding that the partnership is a great way to get a high-quality winter cover and to help local charities at the same time. "I have personally participated in Kids of Vancouver 2010 and was impressed not only with the images Veridamo captured of my children but also with Jeff and Tanya's passion for helping to feed the hungry. I hope that this year's cover contest will attract more people to sign up for Kids of Vancouver, thereby helping those in need in the community."

How to Enter: To enter the urbanbaby & toddler Winter 2011 cover contest, parents must contact Veridamo Photography (through the Kids of Vancouver website, www.kidsofvancouver.com/urbanbaby) to register. To be eligible for the cover, children must photographed by Veridamo Photography and be between the ages of 6 and 36 months. The winner of the cover contest will be determined by public online voting after urbanbaby & toddler has narrowed the eligible images down to a maximum of 5 cover choices. Further details on the poll will be announced on the Kids of Vancouver website in September 2011.

For more information about the contest and to register, visit www.kidsofvancouver.com/urbanbaby.

Wholesome programming for kids?

2011-01-28T10:10:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine who is also a mom of two, told me that she downloaded episodes of The Brady Bunch for her girls (ages 5 and 7) to watch. She says she was fed up with the kids' shows available on TV and wanted to expose her kids to something more wholesome.

The Brady Bunch was one of my childhood faves. Loved when Jan tried everything to get her freckles off her face, or when the kids make it 'big' as a singing group, or when Cindy loses her precious Kitty. So many funny episodes.

I was also a fan of Little House on the Prairie, the Anne of Green Gables mini-series, and Sesame Street (I posted about that few posts ago).

Do you get your kids to watch shows or programs from the "olden days" (as my children call anything pre-2000)? Which ones? Why?

On the phone already?

2011-01-24T16:59:00.000-08:00

Has your child learned to make a phone call yet? My son made his first 911 call when he was 18 months old. I had no idea he had done it until I received a call back from the dispatch centre confirming there was an emergency!

Well, for the last couple of months my kindergartner daughter Lauren has taken to calling her aunt. Most of the time, Auntie L isn't home, so she leaves whispered messages that are completely unaudible and undecipherable. The other day, I thought I heard talking in Lauren's room and sure enough, found her lying underneath her bed, phone in hand, furtively leaving yet another message for Auntie L.

We've since had a talk about using the phone...she must ask permission first and I have to know who she is calling beforehand. At the time, she seemed to understand and agree to the terms. And yet, this morning, I found one of our handsets hidden underneath her bedtime stuffy, "Mitterand." That sneaky little munchkin! If this is what she's like at this age, I'm not sure I can handle what tweenhood will bring.

A wish for Benjamin

2011-01-20T17:02:00.001-08:00

Today, I received a call from the Children's Wish Foundation, notifying us that my son Benjamin has been chosen to receive a wish. I have mixed feelings:

1. I am thankful -- so thankful -- for the doctors and social workers at BC Children's Hospital who referred him. I did not ask for the referral. They did it because they care.

2. I am sad. Because it brings me back to the reality that my son is seriously ill. He is doing well right now and responding to treatments. That is good. So I choose to forget that his disease is serious stuff.

3. I am overwhelmed when I think about the Good Samaritans out there who don't know my son -- Good Samaritans who donate their time, their resources to give sick kids like my little boy, a wish to help lighten the load.

4. I am excited for my son. I can only imagine how giddy he will be when he realizes the possibilities.

It is an emotional day.

Missing Sesame Street

2011-01-18T10:42:00.000-08:00

I am guilty of raising kids who don't know Sesame Street. It seems impossible, especially because I absolutely love Sesame Street and have since I was a child. But the other night, I mentioned Oscar the Grouch to my 5-year-old daughter Lauren and she stared back blankly at me. "Who's that?" she asked.

And I realized that my kids have never really watched Sesame Street. In fact, I don't even know when Sesame Street is on or what channel it's on. And so my children have been deprived of one of the most entertaining TV shows the world has ever known. I can't imagine a child's world without the bickering between Bert and Ernie, the gluttonous Cookie Monster, the energy and earnestness of Grover, the obsessive-compulsive Count, the child-like Big Bird.... the list goes on. Oh, I am a bad mommy.

A few of my favourite Sesame Street skits:
- Grover demonstrating "near" and "far"
- Bert doing the pigeon dance
- Grover and a Sesame Street kid singing "G, Grover; G, George"
- the baker balancing strawberry shortcakes on his arms walking down the stairs
- Big Bird trying to learn how to whistle
- Bob singing "You've Got a Friend"

Do your kids watch Sesame Street? Did you watch Sesame Street? What are your favourite skits?

Extreme coupon clippers open my eyes

2011-01-17T13:21:00.001-08:00

I watched Extreme Couponers on Slice the other night and was at first impressed, and then offended.

There's nothing wrong with saving money. I don't clip coupons myself, but after watching the first few minutes of Extreme Couponers, where shoppers saved 90 - 95% on grocery bills consistently, I asked myself, why not? But, my positive impression gave way to offense when I saw how one 'extreme couponer' stockpiled thousands of items (we're talking enough underarm deodorant to last 100 people a life time or 1,000 boxes of cereal) in his garage. Did he really need all that? It was a show of excess that offended me. How much does one family need? He couldn't consume everything he'd bought before the expiry date. Why not donate the excess items to charity?

The extreme couponers are, well, extreme, to be sure. But could I learn a lesson here? Could I be saving more? Absolutely. But I wonder if people in Canada can get the same coupon deals as people in the US. Do we have stores that double your coupon savings? How often do marketers offer coupons for free items? I really don't know as I've never really used coupons. But it does make sense to keep your eye open for them. You don't have to go to extreme lengths but you can save money even if you use a couple of coupons here and there.

Coupons aren't as hard to find as I think. In fact, I need only go as far as my own magazine to see coupons. urbanbaby & toddler has coupons in the pages of its current Winter 2010 issue -- they're from all sorts of businesses, from toy stores to cloth diaper retailers. Why aren't I using coupons like this to save on toys for birthday presents or clothes? If you want to save, I guess you can't be lazy about it.

For food, my grocery bill runs between $125 - $200 per week. Is that a lot? I don't know. Do you use coupons to shop for your family? If yes, what are you secrets to getting the best deals?

Fewer Canadian firms plan to hire working moms

2011-01-16T10:03:00.001-08:00

According to new research by Regus, (read the article in The Vancouver Sun) only 31 percent of Canadian companies say they plan to hire more working mothers in 2011. That's down from 41 percent in the previous year.

The business owners that were surveyed revealed that they feel working moms may:
- show less commitment and flexibility than other employees (37 percent)
- leave shortly after training to have another child (33 percent)
- have outdated skills (24 percent)

Employers in Canada reported being particularly concerned about a working mother's flexibility (38 percent).

There's no doubt that mothers around Canada are feeling the pinch, many opting to stretch their entrepreneurial wings and starting their own businesses. That's why, starting with the Spring 2011 issue, urbanbaby & toddler is launches a new column called, "CEO Mom," written by business coach Felicia Lee. It's aimed at helping mothers at all stages of a new business, from concept to growth. Topics will include start-up, finances, identifying your big business idea, networking, resources, self-employment programs and more.

It all goes back to my own roots, when out of work and with a baby of just a few months, I found myself wondering what I should do. After some soul-searching, urbanbaby & toddler was born, and I've never looked back.

Do you have a fantastic business idea brewing in you?

"Chinese parenting"? Author Amy Chua says it's "superior"

2011-01-14T09:18:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you've all heard about The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua, a Yale professor. It's all the buzz in the blogosphere and in the media. Why? Because in her book, Chua claims "Chinese parenting" is best. Is it? From excerpts of her book (I haven't read the whole book, only excerpts online), in raising her own two daughters, she belittles her children as a way of getting them to achieve.

In her book, Chua also says the "Chinese mother" believes, among other things, that an A- is a bad grade, that your children should be two years ahead of their classmates in math, that you must never compliment your child in public, and that the only activities your children should be permitted to do are those in which they can eventually win a medal (and that medal must be gold).

She says that she's raised "successful kids" by never allowing her children (now both teens) to do certain things. They were never allowed to: attend a sleepover, have a playdate, participate in a school play, watch TV or play computer games, choose their own extracurricular activities, not be the #1 student in every subject except gym and drama, play any instrument other than violin or piano.

Aside from the watching of TV and playing computer games (I think kids these days have too much screen time anyway so I am actually in agreement with that one)

I believe in setting high standards for my children, and I want them to do their very best at everything they do. I myself was raised in a Chinese household when as a child, I was not allowed sleepovers or playdates. My parents rarely complimented me on anything. I was expected to get As, to be on the honour roll, and to win awards at the end-of-year school awards assembly. So I grew up in a similar environment to the one Chua advocates.

But in raising my own children, I've deliberately chosen to go another route. I guess, to use Chua's terms, I'm raising my children in the "Western way." Why? Because as a child growing up, while I knew in my heart that my Chinese parents loved me, I often felt like I was never good enough; I lacked confidence; I never questioned anything; and whenever anyone was the least bit nice to me, I would blindly follow them (not a good thing if you're an impressionable teen who is preyed on by more opportunitistic people). And all these crippling insecurities followed me well into adulthood.

We as parents have the right to choose our own child-rearing styles -- as long as what we choose is healthy and not dangerous to anyone including our child. I think a lot of people would find Chua's methods definitely unhealthy and in some ways dangerous.

Isn't there more to raising "successful" children than high grades or winning medals? At least for me and my kids, there is. What do you think?

Get Clean Contest

2011-01-10T15:18:00.001-08:00

I just uploaded info on a new contest that gives one lucky winner a six-month supply of Tide Free & Gentle and Ultra Downy Free & Sensitive. You have until January 17, 2011, midnight to enter. Complete the online entry here. Open only to BC residents. One entry per person, per day.

The girl can read!

2011-01-08T10:45:00.000-08:00

So, last night, my daughter had a breakthrough. She read her very first book (well, e-book)! She is 5 years old and has always been very close to reading. She has known all her letters and corresponding sounds since she was 3. But when it came to putting the letters together and reading sentences, she just wasn't interested.

I have to admit, I felt like I'd failed somehow. As an avid reader, and writer/editor by profession, I was expecting she would read well before 5 years old, as I did. Oh, I tried to relax and not push, but inside, I was worried. After all, literacy is one of the building blocks to success, right?

I am pleased that I resisted pushing her to read when she was not ready. Now, I know she is reading because she wants to read. And this morning, guess what she wanted to do right away? READ!

She had her reading breakthrough while on this free early-reading website: www.starfall.com. Check it out. What tools did you use/are you using to encourage your child to read?

Time to catch up

2011-01-07T09:37:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year, everyone!

If you haven't noticed, I haven't been very consistent with my blog posts in the latter half of 2010. I have to apologize. I've been feeling overwhelmed with taking care of LIFE: a son who is in Grade 3 and reluctantly facing serious homework for the first time, a daughter who just entered into the wonderful world of Kindergarten, a husband with a demanding new career, and then this little thing called urbanbaby & toddler magazine.

But, as in my Letter from the Editor in the current Winter 2010-11 edition of urbanbaby & toddler, I am endeavouring to put myself first for once. I call it the "Year of Me." It's where I make myself a priority, do things that make me happy and that are important to me.

Writing more consistently on the UBT blog is one of the things. And to kick that off, here's a summary of what my family has been doing over the past several months.

1. We went to Disneyland! Yup, every child's dream and every motion sickness-prone parent's nightmare. It was, in a word, happy. We went in late October, when the weather is warm but not hot. My daughter was determined to see every princess on the grounds--yes, we stood in line a lot!--while my son was a roller-coaster fiend, dragging a green-faced Daddy with him for repeated riding.

2. My husband and I had a weekend in New York City. It was whirlwind 4 days, but it was lovely to sleep in, to stay out late (for us, that's anything past 8 pm!), to see the famous spots in Manhattan: Times Square, Rockefeller Centre, MOMA, the Guggenheim, Central Park, East and West Villages, etc. My husband also ran the NY Marathon while we were there. We're thankful for Grandma, who very kindly agreed to take care of the kiddies for us.

3. We spent a week in Whistler this past summer. It's the perfect family-friendly summer spot for us. Lots of outdoor activities for families to do, great weather, and a small-town atmosphere that we feel safe in.

So, 2010 was a good year, but 2011 will be even better. Here's to the start of a wonderful new year!

Dear Santa Claus...

2010-12-10T10:41:00.000-08:00

Looking for a way to make Santa Claus 'real' to your little ones? My sister-in-law just told me about the Portable North Pole, which is a website where you can make your own personalized video from Santa Claus. It's genius, and I can't believe I didn't know about it before. Go to www.portablenorthpole.ca to make one for our kids. It's easy and fast. My 5-year-old daughter and my suspicious 8-year-old son were enraptured by it!

Another way to connect with Ol' St. Nick? Write an old-fashioned letter to the jolly guy himself, and drop it in the mailbox at the Kitsilano Whole Foods Market (2285 West 4th Avenue) in Vancouver. Make sure the letter has a return address so that Santa can write back (the Whole Foods staff mails the letter to the Canada Post North Pole address for your kid). Every child who brings in a letter to the store, gets a treat too!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Make sure your holiday is safe for your kids

2010-12-07T16:47:00.000-08:00

I received the following press release (from BC Children's Hospital) on how to keep your children safe this holiday season. Read it through before you embark on your Christmas festivities -- there is a lot of good information here.

If you are a parent or caregiver of young children, take extra precautions to ensure a safe and happy holiday season. Choking, poisoning, and fireplace burns are serious dangers for young children, particularly at this time of year.

Every year, there are new parents who may not be aware of how holiday celebrations can be hazardous to infants and toddlers. “Even experienced parents may not be aware of the risks and dangers,” says Alyson McKendrick, Coordinator, Safe Start, the injury prevention program at BC Children's Hospital, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority. “It’s easy to become distracted during the holiday season, but by taking a few simple measures, parents can enjoy the festivities without having to worry about their children being injured.”

Safe Start offers the following tips to prevent injuries during the holidays.

Trees and Decorations. A child learns about objects by touching, feeling, and tasting. Decorative, colored tree lights can be appealing for young children to put in their mouths, which can cause severe burns. Young children can also pull trees onto themselves when they try to pull on decorative ornaments or try to pull themselves to a standing position using the bottom branches. Be aware that trimmings that look like candy or food may provide an extra appeal to young children to put the item in their mouths, which can cause choking.
Make sure your Christmas tree is secure.
Never use lit candles on a tree or near evergreens. Always use non-flammable lights and decorations, or avoid incandescent decorative lights completely.
Take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable.
Keep small, removable parts of ornaments out of children’s reach.
Hanukkah Traditions. Curious young children will be attracted to flickering lights of a menorah and can easily get burned, and dreidels can pose a choking hazard.
Make sure your menorah is kept on a high surface and is not too close to the edge of a table.
If your child enjoys blowing out candles, make sure to tie hair back so it cannot catch on fire. Have an adult supervise and stay near small children.
Replace smaller dreidels with larger ones.
Toy Safety. Small pieces can come off and become choking hazards, and batteries and magnets can cause choking as well as internal chemical burns.
Inspect all toys to make sure they are in good working order.
If a toy uses small batteries or magnets, ensure curious toddlers cannot get access to them.
Select toys that fall within your child’s recommended age level. Most toys have age recommendations listed on the package. These are based on safety hazards, not how smart your child is.
A New TV? More than 100 children are brought to emergency rooms in Canada each year as a result of TV sets falling on them.
Ensure your TV is placed on low, sturdy furniture.
Use anchors or furniture straps to secure the furniture to the wall.
Make sure children never sit too close to a TV. They may accidentally pull the TV onto themselves.
Fireplace Safety. Gas fireplaces are popular, but the glass in front of the fireplace can get as hot as 200°C (400°F) in six minutes and can take up to 45 minutes to cool down. Young children can get severe burns to their hands face, arms, and shoulders when they touch or fall against the glass of a gas fireplace.
Stay close to children if they are in a room with a gas fireplace that is on or has been recently turned off,
Purchase specially-designed fireplace screens and guards. Ensure they are secured.
Visiting Others. The homes you visit may not be childproofed. Each year, curious toddlers choke or get poisoned by exploring and getting their hands on items not meant for children.
Alcoholic drinks, hard candies, and nuts should be kept well out of young children’s reach. If they are within reaching distance, find a safe playing spot away from these items.
Keep young children away from all plants. Plants like mistletoe berries, holly, and poinsettia are either poisonous or can cause irritation if touched or swallowed.
Bring safe toys and foods for your child when visiting.
If you are entertaining in your own home, make the indoor space a smoke-free environment. Set up an outdoor smoking area for guests who need to smoke.
Designate a safe space for visitors’ purses and coats. Place purses on the top shelf of a cupboard or on top of a fridge to prevent poisoning by swallowing pills, cigarettes, or other small items from visitors’ purses.
For more information and tips visit the Safe Start website at: http://www.bcchildrens.ca/KidsTeensFam/ChildSafety/SafeStart/default.htm

More is more!

2010-12-07T16:31:00.000-08:00

As you may or may not know, I have daily struggles with my daughter when it comes to getting dressed. She always picks clothes that are inappropriate for the weather, her age, an activity. Today, on a cold December day, she felt a tank top with spaghetti straps would be perfect. When she emerged from her room in said tank top, I suggested it was too cold to wear.

"Okay," she answered. "I'll change."

Wow, I thought. That went much smoother than it usually does.

A few minutes later, she re-appeared. She had changed her clothes alright.

"See, Mommy?" she said, pointing to her outfit, which was no longer one tank top, but three, layered on top of each other. "Now I won't be cold!"

Government launches new kids' health website

2010-12-03T16:13:00.000-08:00

The Government of Canada just launched a new website aimed at providing parents with tips on kids' health and safety.

There are often a lot of confusing messages for parents about how to keep their kids safe. This one-stop website provides parents and caregivers with a trusted source of information they need to protect their children. I encourage parents to take advantage of these tools and visit our website today. This is a good example of the commitment made by the federal government to families.

- Leona Aglukkaz, Minister of Health

There is a lot of info on the site, including childhood obesity, emergency preparedness, immunization, infant care, injury prevention, online safety tips and more.

Check it out here at http://healthycanadians.gc.ca./kids

Christmas Contest Alert: gDiaper Giveaway!

2010-11-16T15:11:00.001-08:00

Enter to WIN a pair of Christmas-y red and green gPant diaper covers, gWipes and an insert of choice.

How to enter:
1. Just go to our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/urbanbabyandtoddler
2. "Like" our page
3. Post this to our message about the contest (gDiaper Giveaway): "I like UBT and gDiapers. Enter me to win!"

Deadline to enter: Nov. 30, 2010

New website reviews Vancouver's daycares and schools

2010-11-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

Wondering how you'll decide which daycare or school to send your child to? A new website, TheShortyList.ca has just launched today, and it's designed to provide parent- and teacher-written reviews on daycares, preschools and elementary schools in Metro Vancouver.

Here's TheShortyList.ca's recent press release on the service it provides:

Vancouver is challenged by a complex daycare and school situation. Some schools have a lottery registration; others require parents to line up for days, and daycares have waiting lists that can stretch for years. Plus, parents face more decisions than ever: Montessori or French Immersion? Private or public? Family daycare or group daycare? The complexities can be overwhelming and parents urgently need an online resource to inform their decision-making.

“When I was searching for daycares and preschools for my own children, I was surprised to find very little information online,” says Karen Young Chester, founder of The Shorty List. “Not only was there very little beyond basic information, there was no online community of parents to share information about Metro Vancouver daycares and schools.”

Chester hopes to change the situation with a website packed with information about care and education. The site includes government-sourced data about individual facilities – listing elementary schools, preschools and daycare facilities in Metro Vancouver with information such as maximum daycare sizes, satisfaction surveys, test scores, and demographics. Owners and principals can also develop facility profiles to provide families with a fuller picture of their institutions. In addition, the site features reviews and comments from parents and staff. Site visitors can write in – anonymously, if they wish – about their experiences or perspectives on a school or daycare. An observation on how a school excels or a scoop on the challenges a daycare faces - this is honest nuanced information that is extremely valuable to parents making important choices for their children.

The site aims to be a destination for parents to learn more about individual daycares and schools, and also for facilities to reach out and connect with families. The Shorty List website is now live and available for the public to visit at www.theshortylist.ca. The site is also absolutely free to use for all visitors.

Halloween Contest!

2010-10-19T11:53:00.001-07:00

Whole Foods Market in Kitsilano is holding a colouring contest! From now until Oct. 22, kids 10 years or younger can show their artistic chops to win a giant pumpkin and bag of treats. All entrants will receive a Halloween cookie, too.

Download and print the attached colouring contest template, let your kids unleash their creativity on it, and then bring it in to the customer service counter at Whole Foods Market at 2285 West 4th Avenue in Vancouver by Oct. 22, 2010.

Happy Halloween!

All for Terry Fox

2010-09-22T18:51:00.001-07:00

My son's school has been raising money as part of the Terry Fox fundraisers happening all week. The students are supposed to bring in change from home -- from nickels to toonies -- to donate to cancer research.

Tonight, in preparation for his donation tomorrow, I emptied my wallet of whatever change I had and handed it over to him, saying, "This is all I have, Benjamin. I thought I had more. This is all we can give."

He replied, "No, it's not," and ran over to his money jar and spilled his savings onto his bedroom floor. Pointing to the pile of change on the floor, he said proudly, "I want to give all this, too. It's important to help other people who are sick...they're more important than money."

Times like this make me such a proud mama.

It's a miracle!

2010-09-20T18:08:00.001-07:00

I am doing cartwheels -- figuratively, not literally (the last time I did a cartwheel was to prove to my son that I could do one -- that was last year and I'm still seeing stars). Why? Because my 5-year-old until-now princess-obsessed daughter told me she wants to be a vampire for Halloween! Hallelujah! Blood and black make-up trumps pink and frilly. :)

I vant to do a jig!

What not to make my daughter to school

2010-09-07T10:52:00.000-07:00

I spent several hours fighting crowds to get my kids new back-to-school clothes. It was an ugly scene out there, but I got what I needed to get and was pretty proud of the amount I got for my budget.

When I got home, I laid out all my son's new clothes on his bed and all my daughter's new clothes on her bed. My son, who is 8, chirped, "Thanks, Mom!" after looking at them for about 10 seconds and then went back to creating Star Wars Lego characters. My daughter, who is 5 and starting kindergarten, on the other hand, looked at every detail of every garment, carefully coordinating the pieces into many and varied outfits. She looked thrilled! So I was thrilled. After all, it ain't easy pleasing an opinionated little fashionista. So I left her to her new wardrobe and walked out of her room.

A few minutes later, I walked back to her room to check in on her, only to find her sitting slumped on the floor with all of the new clothes scattered (as if they'd been thrown) around the room. "Lauren!" I said. "What happened here?"

"Why do you want the police to take me away?" she demanded, with tears in her eyes.

"I don't want the police to take you away," I answered, completely bewildered. "Why do you say that?"

"Because you bought me this shirt with black and white stripes! If I wear it, they're going to take me to jail!" she cried.

Ah, why didn't I think of that? To me, it was a cute horizontally-striped long-sleeve tee. To her, it was a life sentence. I guess wearing the wrong fashion can be a punishable crime after all!

Christmas comes early with Sears catalogue

2010-09-03T16:33:00.000-07:00

My kids get along most of the time, but they do fight. Mostly over who has more of this than the other, or whose turn it is to feed the dog, or over a certain something they both want exclusively.

This week, they're fighting over the Sears catalogue, which was delivered to all of the homes in our neighbourhood recently. They're fighting because each of them wants their fair share of time to pore over every page, making mental and written notes about what he/she wants for Christmas. My 5-year-old daughter wants everything that is pink or purple, regardless of the objects' actual relevance to the likes of or the appropriateness for a child. My 8-year-old son is making a priority list, with the most wanted at the top, complete with prices for each item (in case the gift giver has a set budget, you see -- how thoughtful he is).

For them, the act of dreaming about getting some of the items in the catalogue is better than actually receiving the items they want. It was the same for me, as a child. Ah, the Sears catalogue! Such fond memories.

Did you study the Sears catalogue for things you wanted when you were a kid?

Silly Putty, be gone!

2010-08-18T16:57:00.001-07:00

It was a hot August day when I discovered melted pink Silly Putty hanging like stalactites from the ceiling of my daughter's room. Everywhere. Evidently, my son and daughter thought it would be fun to throw gobs of the stuff up at the ceiling to see if it would stick. TWELVE times. Exactly 12 -- I know because I scraped and scrubbed exactly 12 spots. I didn't see the spots until several hours later, giving the Silly Putty ample time to dry in their icicle-like formations.

Magic Eraser, you are my new best friend. Silly Putty, not so much.

Great kids' photos by Veridamo Photography

2010-07-27T14:57:00.000-07:00

If you subscribe to my enewsletter, you'll know that I recently got family photos taken by Veridamo Photography's talented Tanya. I participated in their Kids of Vancouver project, where for a $100 ($25 for every additional child) donation to a local food bank, you get a professional photo session and your child's photo in the Kids of Vancouver coffee-table book. Here's a link to the article that I wrote, if you're interested. To find out more about Kids of Vancouver, click here.

And here are some of the photos that Tanya took. I love them. They capture my children's spirit perfectly. Thank you, Veridamo Photography!

Cover Contest winners revealed!

2010-07-20T15:34:00.000-07:00

We are proud to officially announce the winners of urbanbaby & toddler magazine's 2010 Cover Contest. Congratulations to Isabelle and Tristan, who received the most online votes for their photos (see their pics below).

We received 75,000 votes in total over a period of just three weeks -- thanks to everyone who voted! You'll see Isabelle on the cover of urbanbaby & toddler magazine's Winter 2010 issue and Tristan on the cover of the Spring 2011 issue.

Whole Foods makes Celebration of Light easier for families

2010-07-20T13:00:00.000-07:00

The always-dazzling fireworks display that is the Celebration of Light kicks off in Vancouver this Wednesday, July 21 at English Bay. Are you thinking of taking the kids but worried about waiting in the crowds and finding nearby parking?

Whole Foods just announced two fireworks specials that will make your family trek to the spectacle, easier.

The fireworks picnic menu, for $9 per person, makes waiting among the thousands of spectators more bearable. With fresh salads and kid-friendly entrees like spinach orzo pasta and crunchy baked chicken, sparkling beverages, and sweet desserts, this meal-to-go promises to be delicious and convenient. All meals are prepared to order and packaged in a Green Mission shopping bag for easy transport.

Whole Foods Market on Robson is also offering a safe and easy place to park during the festivities. Located a short walk from English Bay, you can park for charity at 6:30 pm on each of the four nights of the Celebration of Lights: July 21, 24, 28 and 31. And the $20 parking fee goes straight to local charity!

Great ideas, Whole Foods!

The Celebration of Light details:
Dates: July 21 (USA), July 24 (Spain), July 28 (Mexico), July 31 (China)
Location: English Bay, Vancouver
Start time: 10 pm, rain or shine
Best viewing points: English Bay, Kitsilano, Vanier Park, Jericho Beach

A handmade baby quilt for my nephew

2010-07-19T11:16:00.000-07:00

For my sister's baby shower, we decided to make quilt-making the central activity. It's always more fun and less awkward to have an activity theme for a shower, especially when you're bringing together groups of people who don't know each other.

Not having any experience with quilting, we chose to hire The Cloth Shop in Vancouver to come to the shower and give all the guests a quick tutorial on how to make a quilt square.

Here's the result of our fabulous quilt-making session. Do you love it? I do!

And it was all pretty easy. We chose the coordinating fabrics ahead of time, The Cloth Shop cut the squares and brought templates and the necessary materials. All we had to do was decide what we wanted to blanket-stitch onto our squares. Then The Cloth Shop stitched all the squares into a quilt for us. Thanks, The Cloth Shop!

Call for baby models!

2010-07-08T13:57:00.000-07:00

I just received this call for little models:

Jane Photo is seeking one newborn, either gender, between 3-10 days of age, for a beach shoot. Please contact the studio (604-435-9581) for details. Also need girl models between 4-10 years of age for various shoots in fields/heritage areas. Ethnicities particularly welcomed. Session fee is waived, and one 8x10" is offered as thanks.

Another child's birthday done!

2010-07-05T12:24:00.001-07:00

This weekend has been crazy. We had a laser tag birthday party for my son Benjamin (who turned 8) and his friends on Saturday at Planet Lazer. Lots of fun, but we definitely needed two adults on deck to ensure all the kids were okay. They have a great package that includes ice cream cake, two pieces of Pizza Hut pizza and a drink per kid, and a party space. All you have to do is show up!

Then on Sunday, we did the family birthday party, which was decidedly more low-key. But not without its stresses--namely, my annual birthday cake decorating challenge. I asked Benjamin what he wanted for his cake, and he announced, "A Death Star cake." Have you ever seen one of these? A Death Star is a creation of Star Wars, and its shape is spherical-ish with an indentation on the upper hemisphere. I wracked my brain for weeks trying to figure out how to produce this on my own and sadly, couldn't come up with a way to do it easily without it looking horrible.

I opted to reproduce the more forgiving chaotic scene where Anakin and Obi-Wan duel to the near-finish in the lava fields. A little orange and chocolate icing, some crumbled up chocolate wafers, and two store-bought figurines did the job. Here it is!

Maple Ridge mompreneur makes it to Dragon's Den!

2010-06-21T14:22:00.000-07:00

I had a chance to have a conversation with Maple Ridge mom and enterpreneur, Andrea Gregg-Aylott, the brain behind Nursery Naturals Baby Wipes, after she pitched her business idea to the fiery personalities on the popular series, Dragon's Den. To find out more about her business and if she won the dragons over, read on. (PS. Scroll all the way to the end of the story for a special offer!)

ubt: What is your invention?

ag: My product is a unique all natural baby wipe system! Our baby wipe sets come with an all natural Wipe Wetter Solution (chemical free), all natural plant fibre wipe tablets and a travel wipe case that makes using our wipe system convenient.

ubt: Dragon's Den hosts always ask how a product is "proprietary". How is your product proprietary, or is it?

ag: Nursery Naturals Baby Wipes is a proprietary product because there is no other product that we are aware of that combines a natural wipe solution with a compressed wipe tablet to form the perfect wipe! Not only is the wipe solution completely gentle for your baby, but the wipes are biodegradable and compostable as well.

ubt: When did you start your business?

ag: I officially was in business in September 2009 while I attended Douglas College’s Self Employment Program, with my product ready for retail in November 2010. It has been quite a journey of research and development, sourcing supplies and hiring graphics designers to achieve my vision for Nursery Naturals Baby Wipes.

ubt: How did you start it?

ag: My passion for natural products for babies began when I was pregnant with my third child. I had experienced some skin conditions with my daughters (eczema and more recently psoriasis) as well as my mother has battled cancer for the past 14 years, so I have always been concerned about the potential harm the products we use could be causing to ours and our childrens immune systems. The toxicity and carcinogen concerns come up again and again when you look at the packaging of baby products. That really scared me. I knew I had to use the gentlest and safest products I could with my little guy who was on the way. Through much experimentation for a wipe I was originally just going to use for my baby and my neice, I felt I had a product idea that could benefit other families.

ubt: Did you win Canada's best Greenvention?

ag: Nursery Naturals Baby Wipes was selected as one of three finalists out of around 600 entries for the Greenvention title, so in my eyes, that’s a win! But no, we were third place. Brett Wilson did comment that “for your impact on the environment, you are a winner” when he let me know I was eliminated. The response we have had since the show airing has been amazing, more than I could have ever hoped for, so that is a win as well. The exposure has been priceless for us.

ubt: What advice would you give to other moms who may have business ideas that haven't come to fruition yet? What are the top 3 pieces of advice you would give?

ag: The advice I would give to other Moms who have an idea on their mind is to ask friends and family for their input, do a small scale market research to see if there is a need and a market for your product or business. Then the next step would be to do a little self assessment: Can I commit to this idea, am I willing to work EXTREMELY long hours for my business, do I have the support I need to do this? After qualifying yourself, get connected with a strong business development team, whether it be former colleagues or formal college courses and seminars.

Top three pieces of advice:
1. When you are discouraged and down, think of your latest accomplishment to maintain your positivity.
2. Remember to take the time to take care of yourself so you don’t burn out!
3. Make family time your top priority!

ubt: Ultimately you didn't get buy-in from the Dragon's Den hosts. But did you find your experience on the show helpful? What was the experience like?

ag: Wow, what can I say! Actually, it’s a relief, because I am able to talk more about the experience now! Until the show aired, everything was top secret, I had agreed to not talk about the results of the show. The experience was definitely a once in a lifetime scenario: standing in front of 5 multi-millionaires to pitch my business! It was the most intensely stressful and intimidating experience I have ever had. As I waited to walk down the stairs, my heart pounded and grew more rapid as I walked closer to the dragons.

It was also exciting, exhilarating, emotional and fun! I would do it again I a heart beat, but I would probably do a few things differently. I would have answered a few questions better and I would have spoken up when Robert Herjavec wiped his shoe with our baby wipes during my pitch!

SPECIAL OFFER: Get $2 off a Nursery Naturals Baby Wipes Starter Set! Just input the coupon code "urbanbabydeal" at checkout. www.nurserynaturals.com. Expires July 31, 2010.

Study reveals key to happy marriage is equal division of housework

2010-06-17T09:15:00.001-07:00

I just received this press release that reveals the findings of a study that focused on the roles of dads today. Interesting statistics, just in time for Father's Day. Read below for an excerpt:

New ManoftheHouse.com Study Explores Changing Roles of Dads in the Family

CINCINNATI, June 17, 2010 —Just in time for Father’s Day, a new study reveals how America’s dads are feeling about their ever-expanding roles in the household, and how that shift in responsibilities is affecting their relationships with their spouse or significant other. In a survey of more than 1000 fathers, a whopping nine out of ten (91%) agree that when they share household chores equally with their significant other, they get along better. The survey, conducted by the new online destination for dads, ManoftheHouse.com (http://www.manofthehouse.com), illuminates just how much fathers want to contribute at home, and how they see their relationships improve as a result of that contribution.

Dads Fulfilled More By Family Than Career Success

In addition to the boost their relationships might enjoy, dads are also very personally fulfilled by taking care of their family, and even more so than by having a successful career. Approximately three out of four (73%) report a sense of fulfillment from taking care of their children. Other top sources of fulfillment include financially providing for their families (68%), and having a successful relationship with their significant other (63%). Significantly fewer fathers said that having a successful career gave them the same sense of personal fulfillment (51%).

Dads Want to be Better Caretakers of Home and Family

As traditional roles at home have morphed in the last generation, American dads are wearing more hats than they ever have – certainly more than their fathers did. Some never thought they’d be full-time dads, packing lunches or driving a mini van. Many men have not only accepted, but embraced the new era of fatherhood and they are seeking out the information they didn’t learn from their fathers.

“At ManoftheHouse.com, we know how much fathers care about taking care of their homes and families and how they are increasingly turning to the internet for information on how to do all the things they are expected to do these days,” said Craig J. Heimbuch, editor in chief of Man of the House. “Man of the House was created as a guide for the jack of all trades trying to be better at work and at home, as a father and as a husband.”

Nearly half (48%) of married dads report a fulfilled feeling from learning how to do new things around the house, such as cook or do home repairs. And, about one in three fathers would be interested to learn more about advanced home renovation (35%), basic home repair (33%) or landscaping and gardening (33%). Dads also admit they’d like some assistance with parenting tasks, such as shopping for school clothes or supplies (41%), talking to their child about important issues (39%) or planning family outings or trips (37%).

2010 Cover Contest finalists up - VOTE!

2010-06-14T11:28:00.000-07:00

We've chosen the 10 finalists for our 2010 Cover Contest and their photos are now up. Vote online for your favourite as many times as you like, until July 10, 2010, midnight.

Click here to vote:
www.urbanbaby.ca/covercontest.shtml

When mamas grocery shop

2010-06-14T09:08:00.000-07:00

This week, I decided to do my big weekly grocery shop at a store I don't usually frequent, at a time I don't usually do it (mid-afternoon). We were out with the kids in Kitsilano, and it was convenient to do it just then and there. I was in the same grocery chain that I have shopped at, but not the same location. And I immediately knew I didn't belong:

I couldn't find family-size anything (most things were packed for the single or the couple).
The aisles were very narrow so it was difficult to manage two lively kids and a shopping cart.
The shopping carts were smaller than I'm used to -- not big enough to fit my stuff.
When I got into the check-out line, absolutely no one got in line behind me. Oh, they slowed down as they got to the line I was in. But when they got sight of my kids (one usually standing up and caressing the candies, and the other on the floor looking for loose change) and my overfilled cart, they quickly U-turned outta there for another check-out -- ANY other check-out. I don't blame them. If I were a single, I wouldn't want to get stuck behind me either!

I think I'll stick to my regular shopping location and time.

Photo Fundraiser for kids this Sunday, June 13

2010-06-11T15:43:00.000-07:00

Browse 15 of Vancouver's baby- and family-friendly companies at the Kitsilano Photo Fundraising event, organized by Vancouver Family Roots, on Sunday.

Sign up for the photo fair (part proceeds will be donated to Sunny Hill Center for Kids). It's first-come, first-served for the photo shoot. Packages are $40 for 15 high-res images on CD for one child, or $65 for two or more children in 25 high-res images on CD.

Support a worthy cause and get affordable photos done at the same time!

You'll also find community vendors, free beverages, samples, information, workshops, entertainment and prizes. Fun for the whole family. Admission is by donation for adults, and full door proceeds will be donated to Sunny Hill Health Center for Kids.

Date: Sunday, June 13, 11:30 am - 4:30 pm
Place: Kitsilano Neighbourhood House, 2325 W 7th Avenue, Vancouver

More info:
http://www.facebook.com/l/45b90;www.vancouverfamilyroots.com/2.html or http://www.facebook.com/l/45b90;www.bcchildrens.ca/

The Big Giveaway - now worth over $1,000

2010-06-10T14:42:00.000-07:00

Look at what I've just added! The booty is worth $1,056.75 now. Don't forget to enter.

My child chef made me a "salad"

2010-05-31T20:31:00.000-07:00

Today I had a post-production (the Summer 2010 issue of urbanbaby & toddler has just come out!) migraine and laid down on my bed for a little while in the middle of the day. My 5-year-old daughter came in a few minutes after I'd laid down, proclaiming that she would make me feel better. She stepped out for a while and came back in saying, "Mommy, I made you a snack that will make you feel better!" And with great pride, she presented to me with, "Ta-da! It's mushed banana and sliced zucchini salad!"

"Oh... thank you, sweetie," I replied. "It looks so delicious."

"Are you going to eat it now, Mommy? I made it myself. It will make you feel better!" she chattered. "Go ahead, eat it!"

Not only did I eat it, I ate it with gusto. It was certainly the most eclectic meal I've ever eaten and not exactly pleasing to my palate, to be sure. But it filled my heart in a way that no other meal ever has or could.

What have you eaten for your children?

Addition to BIG GIVEAWAY grand prize

2010-05-20T16:15:00.000-07:00

I've just added a Reversible Plush Windbreaker by Agoo Apparel to the BIG GIVEAWAY grand prize. Valued at $59 retail.

The total value of the prize is now at $849!

For contest details, click here.

Mother's Day mess

2010-05-07T15:52:00.000-07:00

Ugh, I feel terrible. I was on an angry phone rampage with Telus this afternoon (over bad customer service -- it's a long story) when my son knocked on my home office door. I thought it was him doing his regular "interrupt Mommy while she's working" thing with an "emergency" (sometimes, his "emergency" is that he "needs popcorn right away because he's starving" or that he "has to tell me what he wants for hotdog day next week"), and I, being in no mood to humour him just then, snapped, "Go upstairs and stop bothering Mommy. I'm on the phone!"

I heard nothing for about 30 seconds and then, whimpering by the door. Exasperated, I opened my door--phone to my ear, still hashing it out with Telus--to see what was the matter, and saw him crying outside my door clutching the Mother's Day present he'd made for me at school.

I feel pretty terrible. Because I snapped at him when I was clearly upset with Telus not him, and because I did it when he was trying to give me a present for being such a great mom! It was a bag of homemade granola and a beautiful handmade card and bookmark.

Not feeling like such a great mom...

Understanding my 5-year-old

2010-05-07T08:06:00.000-07:00

"Lauren, why are there stickers stuck in your hair?" I asked of my 5-year-old daughter this morning.

"Because I put stickers on a chopstick and rolled it on my head, of course," she replied.

Of course.

Interview with Kurt Browning

2010-05-05T10:20:00.000-07:00

I recently had the chance to speak with Kurt Browning, one of Canada's favourite figure skating champions. He will be skating along with a star-studded cast including Sale and Pelletier, Virtue and Moir, Joannie Rochette and Jeffrey Buttle in the upcoming Stars On Ice show. He took some time out of his busy schedule to give us a glimpse into his life as a professional figure skater and father of two.

What kinds of things can we expect to see on Stars on Ice Show upcoming?
It's a collection of just the best of the best as far competitive skating. There is exceptional talent. Very exciting. The group members make it exciting and allow skaters' personalities come through.

How long will you be away on the road with Stars on Ice?
I'll be away from home for 2-1/2 months intermittently.

How do you stay connected to your kids (now two and six years old) when you're working away from home?
They're two kids who are used to be me being gone so it's not such a huge thing. The trouble is [my son is] six years old now and feeling a little like he wants Dad around to do things with. It's hard, but I do want to capitalize on the time I have left on the ice.

How would you describe yourself as a dad?
I'm dangerously on the edge being dad and friend. Sometimes, my son doesn't know when I'm joking or when I'm being serious. But I want to be a leader. They need to know that the people taking care of them are serious about taking care of them. Definitely, I need to be a parent first.

Does anyone help you and your wife take care of the kids?
Our nanny, Luci, takes care of kids. Without her, we probably couldn't do it.

Do you have time with your wife as a couple?
The reality is she gets home around 7 pm almost every night and leaves house at 8. And I'm away with Stars on Ice. So it's hard to find that time.

What's your guilty pleasure?
It's "Lost." My wife and I watch it and try to tape it and watch it before the next one.

What's your family day look like?
We don't really know what that is. We're both so busy working. But we do go to the lake in the summer, which we really enjoy, and in the city, we go to the Science Centre, which the kids love.

Will you have more kids?
We're done. Our jobs are so all-encompassing, and take so much time. Plus I'm in physiotherapy almost all the time trying to maintain my skating career.

After skating, what's the plan?
I'm going to try to learn Spanish so that I can speak with the rest of my family. My wife speaks Spanish and we're working on getting our children fluent.

Canadians really love you. Why do you think that is?
I had a long extended amateur career with lots of ups and downs. That gave people a chance to connect with me -- they feel for me, they got to know me..it's a sport that can make people feel like they know you. And I like people, meeting them, and I love entertainment. It's a nice relationship I have with the fans. They're forgiving and trusting.

Stars On Ice comes to Vancouver's GM Place on Friday, May 14. For tickets, visit www.starsonice.ca.

Win a Mother's Day Giveaway

2010-04-27T17:30:00.000-07:00

Are you a mom who could use a little pampering? Lullaby League has joined forces with SKN Holistic Rejuvenation Clinic (Yaletown) to give away:

A 90-minute Customized Royal Jade Facial (value: $135)
An opportunity to find a fantastic babysitter at a Lullaby League mixer (value: $50)

How to enter: Email info@lullabyleague.ca with the word "mother" in the subject line, and include your name and phone number in the body of the email. A winner will be selected on May 9!

Lullaby League connects parents in need of babysitters with high-quality university students through speed-dating style mixers. For more info on Lullaby League, click here.

For more info on SKN Holistic Rejuvenation Clinic, click here.

urbanbaby & toddler's BIG GIVEAWAY now at $790!

2010-04-21T16:52:00.001-07:00

Have you looked at the BIG GIVEAWAY booty recently? We've added a couple more items. The prize is now worth $790! Don't forget to enter.

One entry per email per day until Aug. 15, 2010. Open to BC residents only. Provide your phone number as winner will be contacted by phone.

When are we washing the baby?

2010-04-21T12:17:00.000-07:00

"When do we wash Auntie J's baby?" asked my 5-year-old daughter Lauren last night.

"We have to wait for Auntie J to have her baby first, sweetie," I replied, amused by her eagerness to help out with her as-yet unborn cousin.

"But we have to wash the baby at the party. If Auntie J doesn't have the baby, how can we wash it? It's supposed to be a baby washing party!" Lauren demanded.

Evidently, she has taken the term "baby shower" quite literally!

Addition of toys to prize puts value of The Big Giveaway at $650+

2010-04-16T15:57:00.000-07:00

I've just added 3 Sprig Toys Eco-trucks to The Big Giveaway grand prize! The total value of the booty is now over $650. I'll be adding more items to the grand prize as the weeks go by, so check the contest page often to see what you can win.

Enter as many times as you wish (one entry per email per day) until Aug. 15, 2010. Click here to enter.

The best show for new & expectant parents

2010-04-14T16:25:00.001-07:00

Why go to Bellies to Babies Celebration on Sunday, Apr. 18?

1. You'll get tons of information on products, services and resources from pregnancy through to toddlerhood. Trust me, if you're having a baby, you need to come out and see what's new.

2. CTV weathercaster Tamara Taggart will be there as a keynote speaker, to share her inspiring story.

3. There are a lot of contests for very cool prizes. So, bring your address stamp if you've got one, otherwise, you'll get writer's cramp from filling out all those entry forms.

4. You get to meet me (Emma Lee), editor of urbanbaby & toddler magazine at booth 44. (Okay, okay, so I'm not a highlight of the show, but it's always a highlight for me to meet urbanbaby & toddler magazine readers! So come see me; I'll be at the show all day with a contest that will blow you away.)

Date: Sunday, Apr. 18, 11 am - 4 pm
Place: Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial Drive, Auditorium I & II, Main Level, Vancouver, BC
Admission by donation to Basics for Babies
Info: www.belliestobabiescelebration.com

When eating at a restaurant with kids...

2010-04-08T13:49:00.001-07:00

I was on a coveted "date night" with my husband the other week, eating dinner at a restaurant that has a casual atmosphere but has enough cachet to make it feel special. It isn't considered a family restaurant, per se, but it does offer a children's menu, so families are definitely welcome.

So, anyway, a family with a baby and a toddler was seated next to us. My husband and I chuckled when we saw them, glad that we were on a date without our kids for a change but empathetic to the challenges of eating out with young children. Once the family got settled with high chairs and booster seats, the baby of the family screamed...and screamed...and screamed...and screamed. The mother tried to placate the little munchkin (who looked to be about a year old) by saying, "Please sit still and be quiet or Mommy is going to put you in a time-out." The child continued to scream and cry, interrupted only by his mother's intermittent pleas, for the next 20 minutes. He did not sit still. He did not keep quiet. And his mother did not ever follow through with her promise to put him in a time-out. He just kept screaming until the food came (I understand -- sometimes I want to scream too when I'm so hungry I just can't wait).

Through the whole 20 minutes, I watched the restaurant owner as he paced nervously around this family's table, wringing his hands. I looked around at the other patrons and most of them looked annoyed, but dared not complain (we're polite Canadians after all!).

I know every family's situation is different and every parent has their own style of managing an event like this. For me, I would not have expected my one-year-old to sit quietly in his high chair while we waited the 20 minutes until his food came. When we went out with our kids at that age, we always swiftly ordered, and then one of us (my husband or I) would take the kids outside for a little walk to help pass the time before the food came. We never felt it was feasible to expect a one-year-old to be patient. And certainly, if our child screamed at the top of his lungs in a restaurant full of people, we would give him one minute to be quiet before we'd scoop him up and go for a walk to save the ears of our co-diners.

How would you handle a situation like this, if you were the parent with the screaming child at a restaurant?

Couples more likely to break up after pregnancy loss

2010-04-05T10:23:00.001-07:00

I just found out that, according to a new University of Michigan Health System study published in the journal Pediatrics today, pregnancy loss increases the chance that a couple will break up and the emotional strain is greatest on unmarried couples. The study also established that parental relationships have a higher risk of dissolving after miscarriage or stillbirth compared to those who have a live birth.

There is no doubt that a pregnancy loss is difficult. Fortunately, I have never suffered a miscarriage and have had pregnancies that went smoothly and ended up with healthy babies. But many women miscarry or lose their babies to stillbirth. How many of them seek help for themselves and their spouse after the loss? I wonder.

Have you suffered a pregnancy loss? Did you get help afterwards? How did your relationship with your partner fare?

Let the BIG GIVEAWAY contest begin!

2010-04-01T16:57:00.000-07:00

It's here. urbanbaby & toddler magazine's biggest contest ever, where the grand prize just keeps on giving. We'll be adding more to the grand prize as the weeks go by, so be sure to check our website often to see what you could win.

Open to BC residents only. Deadline to enter: Aug. 10, 2010. One entry per email per day.

A smile for this Mommy and a call to action

2010-03-25T16:24:00.000-07:00

Everyone, today is a very good day.

My son Benjamin, who has been undergoing treatment for the last 2+ years for Castleman's Disease, seems to be getting better! His rare disease, which involves a lot of crazy and painful symptoms, includes lesions inside his mouth. The disease first presented itself to us with the bizarre mouth/tongue lesions in January 2008, and then progressed to lesions all over his body. With surgeries (to remove the tumours that triggered the symptoms) and chemotherapy, the lesions on his body receded twice. But the lesions inside his mouth stubbornly remained despite every treatment, as painful and as big as ever.

Today, his oncologist looked inside his mouth and declared that those stubborn lesions are receding! I am so happy.

I'm not ready to throw a victory party yet, but am feeling hopeful now that victory is within our grasp, thanks so much to BC Children's Hospital (BCCH) and its persistent and conscientious doctors, its attentive and caring nurses, and the generous donors whose philanthropy helps to put smiles on a children's faces even when they're so sick that they can't sit up.

Will you support BC Children's Hospital? You can. Sign up for the ChildRun on June 6 and join the fight against childhood cancer. Run or walk for a little someone you know, or for all the little someones you don't know who will benefit from your participation. You can find out more on the ChildRun Facebook page too.

Hope to see you on June 6!

Introducing baby Freya!

2010-03-23T14:44:00.000-07:00

urbanbaby & toddler's tireless guest blogger, Mommy Leanne (nee Pregnant Leanne) has had the presence of mind to send us a couple of photos of her beautiful new bundle, Freya Ashille. So without further adieu, here she is, World!

Pregnant Leanne (now Mommy Leanne) writes from new perspective

2010-03-22T14:11:00.000-07:00

Our dedicated guest blogger, Leanne, has written us an entry, post-birth! That deserves a congratulations on so many levels. Here's her latest entry, written from the glow of new motherhood (read: lack of sleep and extreme anxiety that characterizes this new phase in life). Note to Leanne: If you're reading this, please send us a photo of little Freya...we need someone new to fawn over!

Mommy Leanne: It's a girl!

Well so much for my maternal pregnancy instinct! I could have sworn I was having a boy…

Welcome Freya Ashille, 6 lbs 8 oz, born at 4:17 am on March 15. Not a tiny, tiny baby so, ‘Ha’ to all the doubters. We laboured at home for 90 percent of the time and when I got to the hospital, my water broke and it was time to push! I’m a bit in awe of myself and what my body has achieved. I’m equally in awe of her long legs and big feet, which explain the rib-cage and liver beatings near the end.

This first week has been a teary, vulnerable, anxiety-provoking, steep learning curved adventure and, wow, the laundry!

My What to Expect book says that with a proper latch, breast feeding shouldn’t hurt. Lies! Thankfully, my midwives and the honest nurses at BC Women’s Hospital and the Babies Best Chance book tell it straight. Latching does hurt and will depend on your skin type and sensitivity. Now if I could just coordinate the open mouth, tongue down, nipple to nose, head shove while holding her hands back from her lips…I need a third arm!

Picture me, smelling like a barnyard, thanks to my lanolin cream, the cabbage leaves on my boobs, my granny panties, the black head-band and matching under-eye circles. Wonder what the boys who think pregnancy is hot, would think now?

Ex-Pregnant Leanne has a girl!

2010-03-18T09:55:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to urbanbaby & toddler's guest blogger for the past several months, Pregnant Leanne (who isn't pregnant anymore and whom we shall call Mommy Leanne now!), who gave birth to a baby girl on Monday, March 15.

Mother and daughter are doing well, and Mommy Leanne has promised to write an entry about her labouring and new parenthood experience for the blog soon (but we won't hold her to it if she can't!).

Enjoy new motherhood, Leanne.

Buy blueberries to help earthquake survivors

2010-03-16T12:27:00.000-07:00

Buy berries and help earthquake survivors in Chile! From March 15 - 19, whenever you buy fair-trade blueberries from Choices Market, 100% of the net proceeds will go to earthquake relief in Central Chile.

According to a press release, issued yesterday by Choices Markets:

Concepción, a small city in Central Chile was hit hard by the earthquake. Among those affected was Green Tribe, a cooperative of fair trade certified blueberry growers situated in four surrounding villages. As of January 2010, Choices Markets, in partnership with importer Discovery Organics, has been sourcing fair trade blueberries from the Green Tribe grower cooperative. When both businesses heard of the tragedy, minds came together to devise a plan to raise relief funds for their trading partners half a world away. From March 15–19, Choices will be selling Green Tribe’s fair trade certified blueberries with zero mark up. All net proceeds from these sales will be given back to the growers immediately, assisting them in providing the bare necessities for their children, elders, employees and neighbours.

February 27, 2010, saw the fifth-strongest earthquake in history strike Central Chile. The earthquake has devastated many rural communities and remote villages, leaving them with virtually no potable water, shelter, food or electricity. “From our contacts at Discovery, we have heard directly that the growers from the Green Tribe cooperative have been working tirelessly to restore their villages,” comments Mark Vickars, Choices CEO. “With very little resources, so far, they have managed to construct three emergency shelters for their workers. It’s inspiring, and we felt the need to contribute in some way.”

Along with the emergency shelters, the growers are also working on rebuilding homes and delivering what little food and water there is to people in need—all while trying to simultaneously harvest what is left of their blueberry crops.

Secret's safe with Mommy

2010-03-15T15:30:00.000-07:00

My daughter is only 5 but she already thinks her mother is empty-headed.

As she was preparing to whisper "a secret" into my right ear last night, she quickly clamped her hand over my left ear and exclaimed, "I don't want the secret to leak out!"

Win $100 worth of baby stuff

2010-03-15T10:54:00.001-07:00

It's called the "We're Back, Baby(licious)" Contest and you can enter to win $100 worth of stuff from this Vancouver-based designer of modern and sweet baby products including bib, yummy blanket, hooded towel, facecloth set, receiving blanket set, sit + spit set.

You can only enter in person at the following Metro Vancouver stores for a chance to win:
· eio!, 3404 Cambie Street, Vancouver
· jack & lola, 135 West 1st Street, North Vancouver

Deadline to enter: April 12, 2010.

Want to see Babylicious' new lines? Click here.

NYC chef makes cheese from wife's breast milk

2010-03-13T21:14:00.000-08:00

I came across the news of a chef in New York City who made cheese from his wife's extra breast milk. As soon as I heard about this, I had to stifle my urge to throw up. Breast milk is full of nutrients and wonderful stuff for our babies and tots, but for adult consumption? Hey, I'm not a squeamish eater -- I'm Chinese and grew up eating cow's tongue, jellyfish, chicken/duck feet, fish eggs, sea cucumber as part of a normal diet. But even I have my limitations. For me, eating human breast milk products ranks right up there with eating your own placenta. Definitely not on my list of 'must-eat's.

Daniel Angerer is the chef's name, and he blogged about it. Read his post here:
http://danielangerer.com (click on Mommy's Milk under Recent Posts)

Would you eat cheese made from human breast milk?

Pregnant Leanne: Week 40 of pregnancy - Only the lonely

2010-03-09T15:36:00.000-08:00

March 9, 2010: Week 40 of pregnancy

Well, no babies yet! Four days past my due date and my parents have taken to calling me the "ticking time bomb." With nothing left to organize or clean, I'm going a little crazy at home by myself. Every time I eat something I think, Leanne, this could be your last meal as a NON-MOTHER or This could be your last cup of HOT tea. I’ve heard new moms manage to suck back only lukewarm beverages--something I don’t yet understand.

I’ve taken comfort in the fact that less than five percent of babies are born on their due date. However, that doesn’t mean the two-week window before induction isn’t looming large. As each new day ticks by sans baby, my anxiety and fear about the birth is being replaced with, "Can we just get on with it?!"

The other day, in a teary moment of unabashed, indulgent, feeling-sorry-for-myself-ness, I realized that I need to look on the freaking bright side. I am so grateful to be experiencing pregnancy, something I’ve always wished for. I have an amazing, sympathetic, funny and kind hubby to share this adventure with. So really, no matter how the whole birth-thing goes, lucky me!

(Note to self: re-read this in 3 weeks when it’s 2 a.m., my hair is unwashed and the baby won’t stop crying…!)

Helping your anxious child

2010-03-09T09:56:00.001-08:00

Here's a promising event, coming up. Check it out!

Raising a Chill Kid
March 22, 7 - 8:30 pm
How to help your child bounce back from stress and anxiety. An informative and interactive evening with child and youth psychologist, Dr. Carla Fry. Open to parents of kids of all ages. Call 604-733-5007 to secure your spot; seating is limited.
Cost: $10
Location: Solarice Wellness Centre, 2200 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC
Info: 604-733-5007 or www.therapysites.com/sites/drcarlafry.com

This event and more on urbanbaby & toddler's Calendar.

Inspired in the City, a baby & family fair - Mar. 6

2010-03-05T13:41:00.000-08:00

Find an amazing collection of local products and support services for moms and families at Inspired in the City, A Baby & Family Fair. Admission is FREE! Don't miss out on this very popular event.

Date: Saturday, Mar. 6
Time: 11 am - 4 pm
Place: Thompson Community Centre, 5151 Granville Avenue, Richmond

Information: info@youpillows.com

Making kids' birthday parties eco-friendly and socially responsible

2010-03-04T12:51:00.000-08:00

I spoke with two savvy entrepreneurs this morning about their unique eco-friendly and socially responsible birthday party business. Scroll down for my article:

Children's birthday parties are big business. Think of everything that parents buy: the invitations, the party favours, the presents... Is it all worth it?

"There is always this huge build-up to these birthday parties," says Veronica, a Vancouver mom of two. "But at the end of them, you're inevitably left with a bunch of small toys or party favours that will either break in a week or two, or be totally forgotten and thrown in the garbage. You have to wonder what kind of impact all this stuff has on the environment and what values we're teaching our kids with these commercially-driven celebrations."

Veronica isn't the only parent with this concern. Entrepreneurs Alison Smith and Debbie Zinman, both mothers in Toronto, identified this concern among parents and they did what any responsible, eco- and socially conscious parent would do: in 2008, they started a charity-driven, eco-friendly, online birthday party service called ECHOage -- and its impact has been reverberating through parent circles across North America.

"ECHOage is a website that solves the birthday party problem," explain Smith and Zinman. "Parents come to the website, choose their invitation, the charity they want their guests' donations to go to." Half of the guests' contributions (made online) go to toward buying one dream gift for the birthday child, and the other half is sent to the birthday child's charity of choice.

You can't choose any charity -- only the charities that ECHOage has chosen, but Smith and Zinman say the list of charities on their site are specifically chosen because they are "charities that support children directly as well as the environment." You can choose from a list of US and Canadian charities.

But just one gift for your child? Some parents may wonder if that's a hard pill to get your child to swallow, especially if they've had traditional birthday parties before, when they've received dozens of gifts. Not so, say Smith and Zinman. "When putting your child in the driver's seat and letting them choose, they get excited by the process and are able to see all the contributions being made. It's also an opportunity for parents to talk to their child about a gift that's important to them. And children are choosing substantial gifts. One child wanted an iPod Touch and another wanted horseback riding. Your child is able to choose something special to him."

Many parents have started having ECHOage parties for children turning as young as one year old, so they won't know any different as they grow up. And it's never too early to begin teaching your child to be compassionate and environmentally responsible. The most popular age group registering for an ECHOage party is two to six years, say Smith and Zinman.

How does ECHOage really connect a child to the charity that is the recipient of his/her guests' donations? Smith and Zinman have thought that through too. From the moment the parents register their child for an ECHOage party, there are several opportunities to make the charitable aspect tangible to the child as well as the party guests. "The child gets to learn immediately about a few charities because of the way we profile them on the website," explain Smith and Zinman. "We're specific about what the charities do and we do that in the child's language...they're learning what they're actually helping these charities do. Guests also learn about these charities that the child has chosen. And each child gets an award for the good thing he has done -- which is, not bringing a present and donating money to a charity -- and thank-you notes reiterate what has been done." They also add that the charities send the birthday child a letter that acknowledges what's been done and quantifies it in terms of social impact (i.e. 76,832 healthy meals went to kids, 26 students learned how to protect themselves online, or $3,702 went to making children's lives easier in hospitals).

As for cost, there isn't any cost to the parents who register for a party. Smith and Zinman say that a 15-percent service fee, which is used to basically keep the website running, is deducted from the total donations. They haven't yet paid themselves for their full-time commitment to ECHOage, which is clearly a work of passion for them.

"We are so encouraged by the things we see the children doing [through ECHOage]. It's the heart and soul."

For more information on ECHOage, visit www.echoage.com.

Pregnant Leanne: Week 39 of pregnancy - Ripening my what?!

2010-03-02T13:07:00.000-08:00

March 2, 2010 - Week 39 of pregnancy

Three days left until my official due date and I am living on high-alert. Was that a contraction or a cramp or a baby squirming? Ah, bless me and my contraction ignorance, eh, ladies? The baby has taken to hooking one of its feet under my ribs. Wonderful. Time to get this process going I say!

My midwife has mentioned several ways I can help my cervix to ripen. I immediately imagined putting my nether-regions in a paper bag on the counter top and leaving for a few days, but nope. The recommended methods involve special nine-month tea and acupuncture. How fabulously 16th century! Cobbled streets, full moons, herbs...just up my alley, actually. I’m very into natural methods.

With my acupuncture appointment made, I was nervously trying to envision what ‘exact’ points are used for cervical ripening? How literal an interpretation would be used? Just the thought made my palms sweat. Thankfully, only one needle in the belly and the rest in nice neutral spots like wrists and foreheads and feet. I’ve got another appointment on my due date and we’ll see how that one goes. Come on uterus!

Editor's Note: Leanne, we are all rooting for you! You're almost there.

Can a mompreneur get a drink?

2010-03-01T15:42:00.001-08:00

I'm thirsty. Totally parched. But I can't leave my home office to go upstairs to the kitchen to get a drink. Yes, I work from home. So what's the big deal? The big deal is, I work from home...and my children are upstairs! Once I set foot up there, I'll be bombarded with, "Mommy..." this and "Mommy..." that. I'll never get back down to my office to work!

All you parents who work from home know what I mean. The joys of working at home.

Spring 2010 issue of urbanbaby & toddler magazine is here!

2010-02-28T10:33:00.000-08:00

urbanbaby & toddler magazine's Spring 2010 LIVE GREEN issue is now hitting the streets! Find your copy in Metro Vancouver at:
- community centres
- public libraries
- Safeway stores (starting Mar. 5, 2010)
- hospitals and participating doctors' offices
- participating children's stores (contact us to find out where you can find it in your area!)

It's our annual LIVE GREEN issue, filled with lots of great tips, from cleaning naturally to cloth diapering, from feeding your family to fantastic green products. Pick up a copy to take with you wherever you go, or read the whole thing online at www.urbanbaby.ca (click on the cover).

Announcing the 2010 COVER CONTEST! It's back, and this year, you get to decide who wins. We'll shortlist 10 semi-finalists, and starting June 15, 2010, you can vote on your fave. Pick up a copy of the Spring 2010 issue and complete an entry form to enter your baby or toddler. Deadline: May 15, 2010. More info, visit www.urbanbaby.ca/contests.shtml.

Why answer your child's 'why'?

2010-02-26T10:15:00.000-08:00

My son came home from school yesterday and told me that the supervision aide who helps watch the kids on the school grounds when they're playing during recess or lunch, told him and his friend to stop digging little holes in the sandbox. He told me he didn't understand the reason behind her request. I told him that he could first tell her that he'll stop, and then ask her why in a respectful way. He said he did ask her why, and that she only repeated, "Stop digging those holes," and ignored his question.

When children are little, one of the first and often annoying questions they ask is, "why?". When our kids were small, both my husband and I tried our hardest to answer all the 'why's and refrain from shooting out a sharp, "Because!" We want to foster our children's curiosity, and most of all, we don't want them to take things at face value all the time or to feel as though they can't challenge authority. In short, we want them to think for themselves.

So, answer your children's 'why's. Why? Because it encourages their curiosity, gets them thinking, and keeps us as parents, teachers, caregivers on our toes!

Unique marketing campaign for Agoo kids' wear

2010-02-25T15:13:00.001-08:00

Did you see this? Agoo Apparel, Vancouver-based designers and makers of excellent active wear for kids, has teamed up with the Green Men to market their newest lines! You won't see the typical marketing campaign complete with cherubic children modeling these trendy fashions. See what all the fuss is about! Read all about it in today's Georgia Straight, here.

Now that's out-of-the-box marketing. :)

Save on baby and toddler stuff at Polkadot Pond!

2010-02-24T13:58:00.000-08:00

Save 20% off everything at www.polkadotpond.ca. Specializing in organic and natural products. Use UBTE20. Ends Mar. 31/10!

Pregnant Leanne: Week 38 of pregnancy - Tick tock

2010-02-23T13:49:00.000-08:00

February 23, 2010: Week 38 of pregnancy

With my due date fast approaching, I've never felt so ugly and un-edgy and hard-done-by. My hubby likened my walking style to that of a freighter, along with fog-horn sound effects. Lovely.

I've been thinking about how the body adapts for pregnancy and how there is a fatal flaw in the design. Why, oh why, if females have been giving birth for bazillions of years, hasn’t evolution sorted out the hemorrhoid thing. It seems so simple. Additional weight in the pelvic/bun region? Strengthen veins and tissues in said region.

Giraffes have long necks; chameleons can change colours. Why can’t I have a hemorrhoid-free pregnancy? I wonder if lions get hemorroids.

I have several genuine but irrational fears surrounding this area:
1. I’m going to push out my lower bowel along with my baby
2. The midwife and obstetric nurse are going to run screaming from the room in horror
3. My hubby will never see me as pretty ever again

I’m a jumble of emotions right now. The overwhelming desire to get this all over with competes with my scaredy-cat impulse to press 'pause.' Any time now, baby, any time.

How not to motivate this Mommy on a run

2010-02-19T10:15:00.000-08:00

Although I dislike the 2010 Winter Olympics theme song, I Believe, I thought I'd use it on my 6K run today as a means of motivating me around the park. If it's good enough for the Olympics, maybe it's good enough for me, too. Calling my inner Olympian, I started singing it, in my head (I'm not that crazy!) as I found myself faltering after 4K:

"I believe... nah naaaah nah nah..."
"I believe...in the power...nah nah nah nah nah..."

I realized that I do not know the words. Well, I could just fill in the words, right? At least I knew the first two words. Knowing just, "I believe..." should be enough to get me going. How could I go wrong? This is what happened as I attempted to fill in the lyrics through my last 2K:

"I believe...that I've run enough."
"I believe...in the power...of my burning thighs."

Oh, my burning thighs. Must. Learn. The. Lyrics.

Olympic torch, styled by local child artist

2010-02-17T13:23:00.000-08:00

Oh, you Olympic torch with your sleek styling, gently curved profile, and stainless steel/aluminum construction. You've got nothing on our Olympic torch. With a toilet paper-roll core that is enveloped with hand-crushed aluminum foil, our torch was designed and manufactured by my 5-year-old daughter Lauren right here in Vancouver. Beautiful, isn't she...er, it?

Pregnant Leanne: Week 37 of pregnancy - Pain in the...pelvis

2010-02-16T12:57:00.000-08:00

February 16, 2010: Week 37 of pregancy

As a personal trainer, I specialize in (among other things) pre- and post-natal training. Although I'm certified and qualified and researched to the hilt, training me for pregnancy has been a whole other experience. Up until now, I've had to take the literature and anecdotal experiences of my clients as gospel. Now I'm my own case study! Take my pelvis for example. When I pictured myself pregnant in the ninth month, I imagined walking every day as my way of keeping fit. In fact, fitness-for-pregnancy literature highlights walking as a great choice. Sadly, my pelvis has other ideas. I guess having the head of my unborn child lodged in my loins is really throwing my bones and ligaments for a loop. Given that I'm off work and getting antsy, I've been hitting the gym for a bit of cardio. Picture me on an exercise bike, knees splayed apart. Sure, I might look like a circus clown but at least I don't have pain in the pelvis!

The best Valentine's Day ever

2010-02-15T15:28:00.000-08:00

This year, my husband bought me a bouquet of flowers, which was very nice. But what was even better? The single red rose that he bought for our 5-year-old daughter Lauren. He presented it to her while we were in Yaletown last night, taking in the Olympic festivities. She literally skipped and laughed the rest of the night. I'm not sure I've ever seen her so thrilled.

I think we will have to make this a new Valentine's Day tradition for her!

What did you do for Valentine's Day?

Britax issues baby stroller recall

2010-02-10T09:31:00.001-08:00

Here's a voluntary recall notice from Britax, the makers of baby strollers and products, regarding the Britax Blink stroller:

“Because we’re committed to creating the safest products for children, Britax is conducting a voluntary safety recall on its Blink stroller. The recall is in response to a potential risk of harm when a consumer opens or closes the stroller. No injuries have been reported, but as an extra precaution Britax will provide free remedy kits to all registered Blink owners. We encourage all Blink owners to visit www.BlinkRecall.com or call the Britax information line at 1-888-427-4829 for further instructions.”

- Jon Chamberlain, president of Britax

Reading can be a curse

2010-02-09T14:42:00.000-08:00

It's like when parents try to get their toddlers to walk as early as possible. The adage, "Be careful what you wish for," applies. Sure, you want your kid to walk, but the drawbacks hit you when he/she finally does walk and you're spending all day long chasing your little Speedmeister as he/she outruns you around the house, the shopping mall, the street... This adage also applies when you're trying to get your children read early and to read well, particularly when you're in the grocery store. Case in point:

"Daddy," my son exclaimed one day as he was on a grocery-shopping trip with my husband. "Froot Loops has fibre! That means it's good for you right? Can we get some? Can we? Can we?"

Pregnant Leanne: Week 34 of pregnancy - Sweet freedom!

2010-02-08T14:23:00.000-08:00

February 5, 2010: Week 34 of pregnancy

I’m officially finished working. My favourite comment so far? “Have a great holiday Leanne!” Sure, people, a holiday. Baby laundry, pack my hospital bag, install the car seat, renew my car insurance and wrap my head around the fact that I’m going to be a MOTHER! I have this overwhelming drive to get ‘stuff’ out of the way and keep the nest clean. If I could vacuum every day, I would. Alright, I’ll admit I have, but only because I can’t get down that low to wipe the floor anymore and vacuuming is easier.

Have we set up the crib? What colour are we painting the nursery? Thankfully, life is simple in that regard. We live in a one-bedroom apartment and the baby will not have a room of its own. The crib is in its box under our bed until the kid outgrows the Moses basket and the diaper station is going to be a changing pad on my livingroom floor.

I’ve been having fun making up ‘systems’ for when the baby is born. Onesies in this drawer. Hooded towels in this cupboard. Washcloths by the tub. Purely based on guess-work and logic at this point, it’s going to be funny to see where things actually end up.

I’m ready to embrace the chaos that is a newborn! I think…

Help prevent hazardous waste

2010-02-02T10:14:00.000-08:00

Leading up to Earth Day and the 'green' issue of urbanbaby & toddler magazine (to hit the streets starting March 1), here's a cool initiative by Green Earth Organics, as outlined in the company's press release today:

Throughout the month of February members of Green Earth Organics will be able to downsize the clutter in their homes and feel good about it by knowing that their old electronics and batteries are not contributing to toxic waste in landfills. Drivers working for this grocery delivery service will be taking away unwanted items in bins as they drop off containers full of healthy organic foods. At the end of the month Green Earth Organics will then drop off used electronics to the Return-It Program.

According to Earth911.com, electronic waste accounts for 70 percent of the overall toxic waste currently found in landfills. In addition to valuable metals like aluminum electronics often contain hazardous materials like mercury. When placed in a landfill these materials can contaminate soil as well as drinking water. With a vision to develop, manage and improve systems to recover used packaging and end-of-life product from consumers to ensure that they are properly recycled and not land-filled or incinerated the Return-It Program is a not-for-profit, product stewardship corporation.

Besides old batteries, Green Earth members will be able to dispose of desktop computers, laptop computers, printers, and monitors. Nasreen from Burnaby who has received deliveries for more than a year was proud to be a recipient of this unique service, "We feel we share the same philosophy of trying to make a difference to help lighten our environmental footprint. The community-based focus, various tips and the pick-up of used batteries were much appreciated."

For more info, visit www.greenearthorganics.com.

I want to thank everyone who supported me...

2010-01-31T16:11:00.000-08:00

I got recognized! No, not for a reward or anything, but it was just as gratifying. Here's what happened:

I was at my daughter's playmate's birthday party today and another mom came up to me and asked, "Do I know you?"

"I don't know," I answered slowly while my mind quickly darted back and forth trying to remember something, anything so that I wouldn't totally embarrass myself. "Do I?"

"Aren't you the editor of urbanbaby & toddler magazine?" she asked. "Yes, you are!"

She recognized me from the photo of me and my two kids that accompanies the Letter from the Editor in every issue. She also told me that she loves my magazine and that she thinks that I do a great job. I really did feel as though I'd won an award. I wasn't on stage and it wasn't in front of a huge audience giving me a standing ovation, but it didn't matter. It doesn't matter. Everything that I do as owner and editor of the magazine is borne out of a passion to help other new parents. Of course, it's also a business, but the business side of it is what allows me to pursue this passion of mine.

I love when I get feedback like this from my readers directly. It means I'm achieving what I set out to achieve: to provide Metro Vancouver's new parents with an invaluable resource as they grow their families.

This kind of recognition, I can never get too much of. I do get mistaken recognition too, though. Apparently, to some people, I resemble Lainey of Laineygossip.com (and also entertainment reporter on CTV News)...and, hey, that is okay too.

This Mommy is hittin' the sauce

2010-01-29T13:51:00.000-08:00

Why?

1) I've got an extended health carrier who has just declined to cover the cost of my son's medication (medication that is necessary, was prescribed to him by his oncologist, and is $250 per month);

2) I have 18-year-old childless tenants who think I should be able to keep my children from screaming, crying or walking so that they can "sleep in" on their days off. Short of sending my kids out for adoption, this isn't going to happen;

3) My jeans shrunk;

4) And I just got a mosquito bite on my eyelid!

Ovaltine is my potion of choice. I can't drink alcohol because I'm allergic and well, it would impair my ability to take care of my kids and run my business, so hot malty drink, here I come.

What's your sauce?

Pregnant Leanne: Week 34 of pregnancy - Dropped the baby

2010-01-27T14:20:00.001-08:00

January 27, 2010: Week 34 of pregnancy

I think I’ve dropped the baby. According to my midwife, the head is well and truly engaged and I believe it! What clues gave it away? I first began to notice my new walking style a few weeks ago. Think penguin, picture waddling. The second clue and my new nemesis, rhymes with 'shemmorhoids.' A simple sneeze or even an innocent burst of laughter now means I've peed myself. Lovely. Nothing makes a woman feel attractive like hemorrhoids and peeing oneself. To add insult to injury, I now need a run-up to roll out of bed. Kick my leg up to get some momentum, one, two, three, roll!

So this weekend with baby's head bouncing off my cervix, constant pressure on my bladder and a waddling stride, Scott and I headed off to our local office supply store to pick up a printer for our laptop. The printer specialist, a woman, with a clap of the hands and a reach for my belly joyfully exclaimed, "Oh my gosh! You are pregnant! You two are going to have the most beautiful baby! Stunning. Gorgeous." Wow! Rein it in lady! While seemingly complimentary to me, being one half of the baby-making process, in reality, what she is really saying is, "Your husband is hot." Right in front of me too! Cheeky. She wasn’t even on commission!

Best kids' birthday party ever!

2010-01-26T10:24:00.000-08:00

Wow! We hosted my daughter's fifth birthday party at Build A Bear Workshop in Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby, and it was a blast. For $25 per child, I was able to purchase party that involved 1-1/2 hours of bear fun, which had the kids:
- picking their own bear shells based on the parent's budget and stuff them)
- stuffing their bears with a heart (because everyone knows you can't live without one!)
- dressing their bears with outfits and bows
- choosing a sound for their bears
- singing silly songs and a doing a little dancing
- naming their bears
- receiving a goody bag

I can't say enough about the party leader Nalini, who was energetic, fun, completely connected with the kids, and always in charge of the whole group of 6.

If you're looking for a birthday party option, this will work for kids from 3 years and up. For girls, the appeal of building a bear will span all ages; boys may lose interest after the age of 6 or 7, but there are plenty of hockey jerseys from real NHL teams and Star Wars outfits to please them too!

Pregnant Leanne: Week 33 of pregnancy - Nesting instinct?

2010-01-21T16:14:00.000-08:00

January 21, 2010: Week 33 of pregnancy

We’re ready to start the official packing of the hospital bags. Deciding what to include is sort of like planning for a holiday but not knowing where you are going. You know a plane will be involved but the destination is a surprise.

My list of must-haves (of course I have one!) is beyond thorough and covers every scenario I can cook up. Nest, nest, chirp, chirp, I’ve been stockpiling soup and easy meals for our return home. We’ve got our baby-change station ready to go.

Feeling prepared helps to ease my anxiety and hopefully 'feeling' prepared will roll along nicely into 'being' prepared. Just need the baby and we're golden! I told one of my clients the other day that I plan to make my own baby-wipes from paper towels. I believe her direct quote, along with significant eye-rolling was, "We'll see."

Much of my preparations involve this hazy vision of what day-to-day will actually be like. Along this line, we've been imagining Scott's parents visit in May. What fabulous restaurant shall we take them to on their last night? Stanley Park, great food and gorgeous view, perhaps a cute new dress for me… Ummmm…wait a minute, aren’t we forgetting something? Like why his parents are visiting in the first place?

The baby! Oooopsie. There goes our restaurant idea. We don’t want to be THAT couple.

Cell phones? What about kids?!

2010-01-20T15:17:00.000-08:00

Talking on a cell phone while driving is more hazardous to your health than driving with young kids in the car. Discuss.

I am all for British Columbia's new law that is designed to deter people from talking on their cell phones while driving. How many times have I, both as a pedestrian and driver/passenger, nearly been a victim of a road accident because somebody thought he/she could multi-task while driving? Too many to count.

But what about having young kids in your car? They're pretty distracting too. Perhaps more so than talking on a cell phone, I would argue some days. If only we could make kids hands-free with a mute button or at least an option to vibrate instead. Parenthood would be so much more civilized that way!

Mind your bump: burning for baby

2010-01-18T14:00:00.000-08:00

Cleaning out my closet for clothing to donate, I came across a maternity top I wore when I was pregnant. It didn't make it into my "donate" pile though because of an interesting burn hole in the belly of the shirt. And then it all came back to me: I didn't realize how close my pregnant belly was to the burner as I was cooking one day. Next thing I knew, I was whacking my belly with a tea towel trying to douse the flame.

Mind your bump!