The other day I was at Starbucks (I know, I know...) getting my morning fix. I love Starbucks. Especially the one at the end of my street. I have said many times that it is like my Cheers, you know, where everybody knows your name and I am so grateful for this. When I first started my own business Starbucks was my respite and, some days, the gang at Starbucks were my only human contact during business hours. On this particular day I was waiting at the bar for my drink. As usual, there was a huge crowd so I chatted with... More »

My son is 12 years/old. In a few months he will be a teenager. He is a really great kid, a good human being. I am proud of him and love him to bits. But things are changing. They are changing in a way I knew they would. But I admit, I secretly thought or hoped it might be different for us. We have always been really close. I have never been a helicopter mom, intimately involved in the details of his life, but he has always turned to me. Needed me.In the last few months things have changed and I... More »

This year, for me, is a whole new journey in parenting. My son is in grade 7 and for the first time I am able to personally relate to his experiences. I distinctly remember what grade 7 was like and what was going on. In the past, other than a few snippets or moments in time, I just don't remember much. I couldn't tell you the specifics of Kindergarten or the challenges of being, say, 8 years-old. But grade 7 is different. I distinctly remember how it felt. I remember the physical changes, the emotional angst, the insecurities and the... More »

As many of you know, my amazing, loving, kindhearted mother died too soon two and a half years ago. When she died she had 5 grandchildren, my son was the oldest and the youngest was a baby born while she was already deep into her illness, my niece. Since then my kids have grown and she has missed so much. That little baby has grown into a Big Girl of nearly 3 years-old and she now has a little brother who has just turned 1. My mom never got to meet her grandson and barely got to see her youngest granddaughter.... More »

Although it is already January 9th for me it is Day 1 of the New Year. Today is the first day back at school and the first day in weeks that I have sat at my desk without interruption. Today is the first day I have thought about what 2012 might bring for me, my family, and UrbanMoms. Many people talk resolutions at this time of year but for the last few years I have approached this time a bit differently. Instead of self-improvement and reflective criticism I like to look ahead and make promises on how I will be better... More »

There were many amazing experiences in 2011 and a few of them I was even able to capture on film. So, here is a review of my favourite moments from 2011 and a wish for even more in 2012!This is my favourite photo of 2011. It is of my niece in February when I visited them in the UK. I am SO thrilled that 2011 saw them move to Toronto! Now I get to see this face all the time:Happy New Year!... More »

If you are like me you entertain far more and attend far more parties during the Holiday Season than any other time of year. One of my go-to items for a host gift is a bottle of wine and it is great to shake things up and try something new. But often I don't know where to start and with the chaos of the season I don't have time to spend researching the hot wines for the Holidays. Well, now you won't have to because we went straight to the expert! We were lucky enough to get the scoop on... More »

When I first started UrbanMoms I produced most of the content myself but once the Go2Girlz were developed and we began our Product Testing program much of what was written was contributed by others. Then we added our community of bloggers and now the vast majority of what is written on UrbanMoms is contributed by the community itself. So, when a brand comes to us and says they would like to submit their product for testing or represent their brand somehow on UrbanMoms we take this very seriously. We have turned down brands that we simply don't think fit well or... More »

My son is 12. He is over 5'5" and maybe 100lbs. His feet are size 10+ and growing rapidly. This kid is on the fast track to super tall thanks to his parents. My husband is 6'4". At 5'11" myself this boy has a lot of growing to do over the next few years. And that means A LOT of eating!As most of you know, I am no chef. Not even close. So when my son started his constant need for food I was at a loss. Three square meals a day plus the odd snack seemed sufficient until recently... More »

As I mentioned before, my family and I were invited to test out Transat Holidays for ourselves and write about our experiences. On occasion we have booked our travel through a full service travel provider but never through Transat Holidays and usually we book directly. I was looking forward to experiencing this one-stop-shop from start to finish to see what we discovered. We do a lot of travel. A LOT. So I knew that we were a good fit for the assignment.Now let's be honest, a trip to the Mayan Riviera in Mexico could hardly be a bomb. That wasn't... More »

I have so much to tell you about our Transat Holidays vacation! But that is going to have to wait until I get home because while there has been one major thing I have noticed while on vacation. One change or shift that has been on my mind. Ready for it? My kids.                                                                                              Cheers!My children are nearly 4 years apart. 4 grades. My eldest is a boy, my youngest a girl. They get along great but at home they have their own interests and friends. I mean, the difference between 8 and 12 is significant. So, seeing them laughing... More »

I, just like most moms, have a very busy life. Things can get crazy and I easily start to feel overwhelmed with all of the details. Even when planning a vacation, some fun time away, I can find the process takes so much of my time that the thought of selecting a destination, finding and booking flights, arranging transport to and from the airport, investigating meals and excursions and activities can be too much to add to my list of things to do. I don't want to stress out when I am trying to find a way to relax! What... More »

Start with Thanksgiving, then keep the party going through Halloween, bring on the Holiday Cheer, then top it all off with partying through to the New Year and we find ourselves with a jam packed few months full of celebration. It is party season!I love this time of year, especially the lead up to the Holidays. I love the food, the parties, the excitement and planning. This year for me is really special as my whole family will be together for the first time since my mom passed away. I plan to celebrate and party my way through to the... More »