So You Want It

So You Want It tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2009-12-07:/so_you_want_it//81 2010-08-31T16:20:03Z So you want it but don't know where to find it or which one's best? Look no further. urbanmoms.ca's favourite mom-in-the-know, Ali, will figure it out. If you're looking for something but can't find the time, have Ali do the research for you. Then, get access to all of her advice and recommendations and whatever it is you need. Movable Type Pro 4.37 My List is Kid-Approved tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/so_you_want_it//81.8760 2010-08-31T15:45:28Z 2010-08-31T16:20:03Z

Ali http://www.alimartell.com are all mom-approved. But, really, at the end of the day, the lists and products need to be kid-approved.

Admit it, you've bought something before and gotten really excited about the perfect price point or how wonderfully it'll fit all your child's belongings only to bring it home and have said child roll her eyes or give you the stink-eye. This has happened to me many times.

Thankfully, with the help of Zellers flyers and the input of my children, they are going back to school next week full of the latest gear and full of smiles. And I am sending them back to school without having gone over my budget and full of smiles too.

I mean, the pictures speak for themselves, don't you think?

]]> My List is Mom-Approved tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/so_you_want_it//81.8443 2010-08-19T14:50:09Z 2010-08-19T13:49:53Z

So, here's the truth. I am busy. I am, like, crazy busy. I have just moved my family of five, well, six, if you count our shih tzu, from Atlanta back to Toronto. On SUNDAY. I have just started a...

Ali http://www.alimartell.com

But, then again, you know what else is precious? MY WALLET. I really am only a fan of one-stop shopping when it's financially worthwhile. If it's going to be at my newly house-poor bank account's expense, I would rather shop around.

Luckily for me, I have this year's back-to-school shopping in the bag, if you will kindly excuse my super bad pun. Because, you guys, I get everything I need for my three kids at Zellers. And...get this...I didn't spend that much money. Honest, you guys. I spent $260. And, if we are going to get technical here, that's actually $50 LESS than the national average spent in 2009.

I am a listmaker. So, what I do, is, well, I make lists. Lists that look like this:

I combine NEEDS and WANTS.

For grade 4, Emily will NEED a strong, durable backpack. She will be carting lots of homework to and from school. It will need a strong, reinforced bottom. It will need wide, padded straps for all those heavy loads. She will need things like pens and pencils and scissors.

For grade 4, Emily will WANT her binders and notebooks to be a little funky, to fit her style. She will want some new skinny jeans and a new cardigan. I love that I can buy her things she likes from Cherokee. I like the brand; she likes the style.

I am able to budget for both...the needs and the wants, and I will do this for Joshua and Isabella too. Everyone will get the necessities, but they will also get to have something that's theirs...something that they want.

]]> So You Want To...See ME on a BT Segment about Zellers! tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/so_you_want_it//81.8670 2010-08-17T17:22:20Z 2010-08-17T17:31:00Z

Ali http://www.alimartell.com

Click here to watch the entire segment and be sure to check out the Zellers home page to see more back-to-school essentials!

]]> So You Want To...Talk About Back-to-School tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/so_you_want_it//81.8403 2010-08-06T00:59:52Z 2010-08-05T16:02:31Z

Last year, our family spent a year in Atlanta for various work-related and family-related reasons. With this move came many changes, including a brand-new school. We were excited for them to make new friends and experience new teachers. What we...

Ali http://www.alimartell.com

I'll be honest, though. I was relieved. But I was also disappointed. Because, you guys, there's something about back-to-school that the nerdy part of me will always love. Fresh notebooks to open and start anew. Picking out pencil cases and lunch boxes that defined my personal style. The smells of newly sharpened pencils.

New fall clothing and shoes. And my favorite...the assignment notebook. The place to plan the entire year out.

Admittedly, things have changed now that I am the parent and not the student; now that I have a budget and can't buy every single thing that catches my eye.

School starts in 5 weeks from today. Five weeks from today, my soon-to-be senior kindergartener, my soon-to-be-third grader and my soon-to-be-fourth grader will be walking down the halls of a new school. And I plan to make sure they have everything they need. Clearly, I am not new to this process, and even though I had a year off from back-to-school shopping last year, I tend to consider myself a bit of an expert.

When the lovely people at Zellers wanted to pick my brain about this time of year and find out what I do and what I don't do when it comes to outfitting and gearing up my younglings, I jumped at the chance. I love school supplies, and I know what to splurge on and what to save on. For example, I goo backpack is SUPER important. Those kids shove tens of pounds of stuff into those things every day. They get tossed around. They get dropped. They get thrown. They need to hold up. I mean, there are ten months of school.

I have made lists. I have consulted the children and asked them what few things are really important to them. I have consulted my bank account and decided how much I plan to spend. I have revisited my lists. And I can't wait to share them with you!! Make sure you come back here next week so I can share them to you!!!

What about you? What do you love best about back-to-school shopping? What do you like least?

]]> So You Want To....Ensure That Your Guests Remove Their Shoes tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/so_you_want_it//81.7908 2010-04-26T18:01:56Z 2010-04-26T18:17:33Z

So, I had an interesting request this week and my first response was, "OH LADY YOU ARE SO CANADIAN!" Because here's the thing, Canadians take their shoes off upon entering a house. Always. Americans, however, do not. Ever. So, this...

Ali http://www.alimartell.com

Just let this sign do the talking for you!

Or this one!

Or this one!

Or if you are feeling slightly MORE daring...you can make one yourself!

]]> So You Want To...Give the Perfect Gift to the Person Who Has EVERYTHING. tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/so_you_want_it//81.7310 2010-04-15T14:28:14Z 2010-04-15T15:51:06Z

HELP. Please. I have friends who are the kind of people who have everything. I am going to stay with them for a couple of days and need the perfect gift to bring them, but I need something new and...

Ali http://www.alimartell.com HELP. Please. I have friends who are the kind of people who have everything. I am going to stay with them for a couple of days and need the perfect gift to bring them, but I need something new and exciting and different. I don't want to get something they already have, or something they will want to return. Thanks, Barb.

Oh. Have I got some perfect gifts for your friends! I am constantly on the lookout for new and different things. I may even have to make this entry a 2-parter. Also, I wasn't sure of your price range, so I've included items of differing price points.

1. The GurglePot.

These pitchers are NOT just a pretty face! NO! They also make this awesome gurgling sound as you pour. It holds 42-ounces of whatever liquid you want to gurgle-fy or you can use it as a vase or as a stand-alone. I kind of want one in every color...AND, you can order straight off the website AND it will ship to Canada! Order yours here.

2. Recycled Magazine Photo Frame.

I love both the look and the idea behind these frames made from recycled magazines. I have also seen coasters and bowls and bags. LOVE!

3. Gin and Titonic Ice Cube Tray.

Oh my god. I can't stop laughing at these Titanic and iceberg shaped ice cube trays. and for an equally awesome treat, throw in some denture ice cube trays too!

4. Wire Nest Bowl.

Oh, this is just SO pretty I can't handle it. It's simple enough that it will probably fit right in to anyone's home decor, and it's so versatile too!

5. His and Her Key Holders.

The key to not losing your keys. Heh. Seriously, I would LOVE to have these. I NEVER know where my keys are. EVER.

6. Cheese Chalkboard.

Because no one ever knows what cheese in on the cheese tray. Also, these are made of reclaimed chalkboards from Franklin Elementary School in Quincy, Illinois, so they make a unique gift!

7. In Focus: National Geographic Greatest Photographs.

and National Geographic: The Photographs

I honestly feel like these need no explanation. These are essential coffee table books for ANY coffee table.

]]> So You Want To...Deliver Some Deliciousness tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/so_you_want_it//81.7148 2010-03-15T19:26:37Z 2010-03-15T20:24:46Z

I have kind of an interesting request. Our very good friends in Toronto have just suffered their third miscarriage. My husband and I are far away and want to do something, anything really, to just lift their spirits a little...

Ali http://www.alimartell.com I have kind of an interesting request. Our very good friends in Toronto have just suffered their third miscarriage. My husband and I are far away and want to do something, anything really, to just lift their spirits a little bit and let them know we are thinking of them. I would prefer to stay away from something like flowers...maybe something edible? Thank you so much.

In my eyes, delivering something edible is definitely the right way to go. When my dog was sick recently, a friend sent me some cupcakes in the mail. They got delivered right to my door, and I totally was not expecting them. They really lifted my spirits!

I looked into a few possible delicious goodies and found some great places that will deliver in Toronto. Now, please note that I will not be able to SAMPLE all of these options until I am back in Toronto this summer and I will tell you this right now, I will be sampling all of them.

But here are a few places that got excellent reviews AND were nice when I spoke to them on the phone (i.e., the ordering process is pretty easy and painless)

1. Babycakes. Call 416.406.5910 to order.

These not only have awesome names like The Great Gatsby (pistachio cake with lavender icing) and Lemony Snickets (lemon cake with ginger icing), but they get major bonus points for having a red velvet cake with cream cheese icing cupcake. These are hard to come by in Canada.

2. The Cupcakery. Call 647.430.7409 to order.

These sure are a delicious looking cupcake! There are so many flavors I want to try from the Principessa (vanilla cake with pink buttercream icing) and the After Eight (chocolate cake with mint icing) but there's also an extra bonus: You can TOP IT UP! Add any of the following to make your Cupcake extra yummy: Skor, Oreo, Colored Sprinkles, Pop Rocks, Smarties, Sweet Hearts, Chocolate Chips, Gummi Bears.

YUM.

3. The Cupcake Shoppe. Call 416.322.6648 to order.

This one gets bonus points for creative names...like Yonge N' Eligible (vanilla or chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream) and Sleepless in Toronto (vanilla or chocolate cake with coffee buttercream)

4. Eini & Co. Call 416.899.3168 to order.

Wow. These are quite possibly the most beautiful cupcakes I have ever seen. These mini cakes use royal icing which give the flower toppings an almost candy-like texture. Gorgeous and delicious? You can't really beat that!

I really hope this helps!!!!

It has certainly made me hungry!

]]> So You Want To...Buy Some New Spring Sandals tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/so_you_want_it//81.7096 2010-03-03T16:19:36Z 2010-03-03T17:12:50Z

ALI! HELP ME! I have been avoiding the gladiator look for what's now going to be two spring/summers. My sources...you know, the magazines I read while i am getting my hair coloured...tell me that they are going to be back...

Ali http://www.alimartell.com ALI! HELP ME! I have been avoiding the gladiator look for what's now going to be two spring/summers. My sources...you know, the magazines I read while i am getting my hair coloured...tell me that they are going to be back for Spring 2010. I guess I am resigned to wearing them. But, can you please help me pick some for a newbie. I really don't want to go too extreme!!! Thanks, Rhonda.

I am not a huge fan of the gladiator look either, but I will be honest...the look is growing on me, and at the end of last season, I bought a pair that were super, super on sale. I haven't worn them yet, but I will make you a deal...if YOU buy a pair and wear them, I will too! I DO have some recommendations for you, and, as always, these are all available to Canadian shoppers!

These, from ALDO, for $50CDN, are a good place to start. They are pretty basic, but have a bit of a gladiator feel.

or these, currently on sale for $29.98 on Spring's website

Now, if you are ready to take it up a notch, venturing into the metallic area with slightly more straps, these, from ALDO, are a great choice, and are only $45CDN.

or these from Browns, currently on sale for $59.98

or these from The Shoe Company, made by Steve Madden, which retail for $89.95

or these, from Zappos, which retail for $65USD (Ps. Zappos.ca is a GREAT resource. I LOVE to buy from them!)

ENJOY!

]]> So You Want To...Buy a Panini Press tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/so_you_want_it//81.7066 2010-02-24T14:35:37Z 2010-02-24T15:13:45Z

I am a huge fan of grilled cheese. Really. It's my go-to comfort food. But, you know, sometimes I need to feel like a grown-up...and, really, the grown-up version of the grilled cheese sandwich is a panini, it's got the...

Ali http://www.alimartell.com

Needless to say, I was kind of excited when I got an email asking me to find the perfect panini press.

Now THIS is research I can get behind.

There are a few I would recommend. Now, I will say this. Like the sandwich maker before it, out of sight really is out of mind. That is to say, if you put it away in a closet or cabinet, chances are good that you will forget about it and NEVER use it. So, I would recommend spending a little bit more to get a press that you wouldn't mind having out. Also, huge for me? It needs to be EASY TO CLEAN. If it's annoying to clean, I just wouldn't use it.

So...here's what I would recommend...

1. The Hamilton Beach Panini Press, $69.99 CDN

I love this one. It's relatively inexpensive. It's small...so it won't take up too much space in your kitchen, and it's easy to clean! Woo!

2. The Cuisinart Griddler, on sale at Cayne's for $119.99 (down from $159.99)

This one is such a great bang-for-your-buck deal because this one is not just a panini maker...it's a 4-in-1 grill. I really like this one. It's a little bit more pricey, but, then again, it gives you more options as far as what you can do with it.

3. Cuisinart actually makes a less expensive version of this that is also on sale right now for $59.99 CDN. It's a great choice too!

It doesn't have as many bells and whistles, but this one gets the job done!

Now, off you go and MAKE ME A SANDWICH!

]]> So You Want To...Have Some Great iPhone Apps! tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/so_you_want_it//81.7017 2010-02-15T16:41:52Z 2010-02-15T17:27:35Z

A friend of mine recently got a brand, spanking new iphone and she is obsessed with it. I mean, more obsessed than I am, if that is possible. But, she is in the market for a few good apps. So,...

Ali http://www.alimartell.com
1. Tweetdeck and Facebook.

For the social media lover. I prefer tweetdeck to tweetie (but I have friends who swear by tweetie 2. which is far superior to tweetie 1) because I need the columns. I need to be able to only look at my groups such as "people I really care about" ha!

2. What'sApp. For the Canadian with friends who don't live in Canada. This one is a winner, for real. Basically, this is like text messaging...without having to pay for text messaging. It's amazing...because Canada to [insert other country here] text messaging packages BLOW.

3. Words With Friends.

For the gamer. Oh, this one is addictive, folks. And if you have it, I am alimartell. Start a game with me! It's scrabble-ish in nature...but really, the most fun part is seeing what non-words they let you use! (As far as games go, I also like Phase 10, Spider and Moxie)

4. IMDB. For the movie lover. Do I really need to say more about this? I spend way too much needing to consult my imdb.

5. Tipulator. For the mathematically challenged. I use this every single time I tip.

6. BeeJiveIM. For the instant messenger. I use this primarily for google talk (or gchat...or whatever you call it) but you can also add msn messenger and facebook messenger and aim or yahoo messenger and a whole bunch more. This one is great.

7. Flashlight. For when you really just need one. Especially in my neighborhood where there are no streetlights. This little app comes in super handy.

8. Wikipanion. For when you REALLY need to look something up. And for me, this is often.

9. Bump.

For exchanging contact information easily. I LOVE this app. Gone are the days of having to manually type in a person's name and number(s) and emails address and vitals. You can just bump iphones and there you go...their info, or any info they have on their phone, transfers right onto your phone. Brilliant!

10. Photoshop.com mobile. For the photographer. I love this one. I actually also added FlashZoom to my iphone because I have a 2G and I wanted a flash and a zoom for my fairly crappy iphone camera. But, playing around in photoshop on my iphone with my pictures? surprisingly fun....and I've gotten some surprisingly non-crappy photos! Whee!

]]> So You Want...Matching Shirts for Valentine's Day! tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/so_you_want_it//81.6963 2010-02-08T16:47:00Z 2010-02-08T17:04:19Z

Jill wrote in:Just happened upon your blog and SO glad you exist! I am often online searching for things that I can never find. Right now...I want matching T-shirts for my DH and DS for Valentine's Day - catch: they...

Ali http://www.alimartell.com Just happened upon your blog and SO glad you exist! I am often online
searching for things that I can never find. Right now...I want matching
T-shirts for my DH and DS for Valentine's Day - catch: they have to be
within Canada. I've had an enormous amount of stress ordering things
online from the U.S. and them never showing.

Oh! Jill, this email came at the best time! One thing you should know...I ONLY talk about and recommend products that can be shipped to Canada. As a Canadian site, we want to make sure everyone can buy all of our products!

Now, I am a big fan of Cafe Press. They ship to Canada, are relatively inexpensive, and ship QUICKLY. And they offer several different types and styles of shirts, so you can be sure you will get matching ones for your husband and your son.

I liked these:
For Dad, $24:

For Son, $10:

zazzle.ca is also a great resource for inexpensive, customizable t-shirts for us Canadians...like this one, that sells for $30 and you can get in men's, women's, children's, and babies:

I would poke around on these two sites. There are TONS of options...I'm sure you'll find something you like, and both guarantee shipping to make it in time for the big V-day!

]]> So You Want To...Start a Blog, part II tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/so_you_want_it//81.6927 2010-02-01T17:00:34Z 2010-02-01T17:54:42Z

Last week I urged you all to take the plunge, and now I'm back to give you some more getting-off-the-ground tips for your new blog!Now, there's a tremendous amount of bloggy jargon out there (heck, there are still words and...

Ali http://www.alimartell.com Last week I urged you all to take the plunge, and now I'm back to give you some more getting-off-the-ground tips for your new blog!

Now, there's a tremendous amount of bloggy jargon out there (heck, there are still words and phrases that people toss around that I still don't know, and I have been blogging for 6 years). So, I thought today I would begin with a little explanation of those buzzwords, but then I decided that all of that stuff can wait until later.

First things first...make you space your own so that when others stop by...they want to stay. Now again, for the record, I am NOT an expert. But I AM a reader of many, many blogs...and I'll tell you what keeps me coming back to YOUR site.

1. Write often. Not every post you write needs to be an essay or an editorial or a thesis or a term paper. New information keeps people coming back. If you are stumped, there are some sites like Girl Talk Thursday or plinky that give you topic ideas and prompts to get your brain and your fingers moving. Also, I keep an ongoing list on my iphone of things I NEED to talk about....funny things my kids say, weird things that happen to me, etc. because otherwise I would totally forget!

2. Allow comments on your site. The beauty of having a blog over, say, a newspaper column is the sense of community. By opening up your comments, it lets people be a part of what you are writing, as opposed to just being able to read it. In addition, consider participating in your comments by either responding in the comment section, or emailing the commenter back separately. The first time I received an email from a blog author, I was floored.

3. Make sure you comment on other sites, too. It's the best way to leave your stamp and let other people know who you are.

4. Keep your posts easy to read. This is an important one. A site may be entertaining and wonderful and insightful, but if the posts are TOO LONG, I may not take the time to read them. It's probably best to use a white or light background and an easy-to-read BLACK font. You can break up long posts by using photos or pictures.

5. Most importantly, remember that it's not about how many comments or readers you have. Write what you LOVE, and the rest will come. Don't change yourself because you think you'll get more readers. There are thousands of blogs out there, and there are people out there who want to read YOU. And they will!

]]> So You Want To...Start a Blog!! tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/so_you_want_it//81.6887 2010-01-25T14:32:56Z 2010-01-25T15:26:43Z

Ali http://www.alimartell.com

I wish I had a blog, but I just don't know where to start.

Starting a blog just seems like so much work.

If I wrote a blog, no one would read it!

How will I ever find the time to actually sit down and write consistently?

What does SEO mean? And what's an RSS? HELP!

So, what it seems like is that this whole blogging thing? IS DAUNTING TO MANY OF YOU.

Now, I am in no way a blogging expert...no where near it. BUT, I have been blogging since 2004 and have seen blogs come and go and have seen words like SEO cross my path and have wondered about readers and finding the time to post too.

But, here's the thing. If you want to start a blog...START ONE. Today. Stop putting it off because of some excuse. Start writing and start writing today. Everything else will come later. Do not worry about things like hosting and designs and all of that. Sit down, and set up a blog and start writing. THAT'S WHERE IT STARTS.

I would recommend two places to start...

1. wordpress.com

2. blogger.com

I am a big fan of both of these platforms, especially for new bloggers. They are easy to use and don't take much technical background knowledge. They will have pre-made templates so you won't have to concern yourself with design (yet!).

GO ON. Go and start a blog. It's easy. BABY STEPS!

Once you have started your blog, the hardest part will be coming up with a name for your site. Remember, this is important. Your name is your brand. I would recommend trying to come up with something unique, but something that you like and something that defines you. But, then again, you want to make sure it's not too defining. If you name your blog 'SINGLE IN HOUSTON', what happens when you are no longer single? Or you no longer live in Houston?

So..you want it to be about you, but not TOO much about you.

And while you are thinking about YOU, you should decide early on if you plan to use your real name or a pseudonym. I read many blogs written by many people...some of the use their real names and some of them don't. Many writers like to keep their anonymity because of their families or their work situations or simply because it's what feels right for them. And some of them - like I do - write under their own names.

Now go and write your first post!

(and be sure to come back and let me know that you did!)

(and be sure to come back next week where I talk about buzzwords like self-hosting and google readers!)

]]> So You Want To...own a good point-and-shoot camera tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/so_you_want_it//81.6859 2010-01-18T16:51:24Z 2010-01-18T18:09:41Z

A reader, who chooses to remain anonymous, asksI have a huge SLR camera and I love it. But, as a mom on the go, I don't always want to carry my entire camera bag and all the lenses and such....

Ali http://www.alimartell.com
I have a huge SLR camera and I love it. But, as a mom on the go, I don't always want to carry my entire camera bag and all the lenses and such. I really want an inexpensive, small-ish point-and-shoot that I can throw in my purse. But, I'd really like it to take great pictures. Am I asking too much?

It's definitely NOT asking too much. Yes, DSLRs are fantastic. I love mine. LOVE it. And, to be honest, I totally carry a larger bag, just so I can throw it in there. But there are definitely times I wish I had a small point-and-shoot. So, obviously, I've already done lots of research on this. I already know what I want to buy - - -and what I'd recommend!

Here are a few options that I'd recommend. Bear in mind that I am NOT an expert. I am just an amateur photographer who likes to play with gadgets and dream about all the things I'd buy if I had the money:

1. Samsung DualView TL225. While this one is not top of the line or anything, I love it because it offers something that I don't have on my SLR....the ability to take pictures of myself and see what I'm actually taking a picture of. (retails for $349 CDN) Now, if i'm being honest, the pictures this camera takes are not the very best I have seen. But, they are still good, and I just really love that it offers something different.

2. Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS. I have always been a fan of powershots. I have owned two of them in the past. The thing I like about this camera is that it's affordable and easy to use, especially if you are - like I am - an amateur. BUT, it takes a good, nay GREAT, picture. (retails for $199 CDN)

3. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T700. This is a GREAT camera. I like this one because of the shutter speed. Shutter speed is one of the main reasons I bought my DSLR. I could never capture my children's cute faces with a point-and-shoot. By the time the darn thing clicked, the cute pose would be gone. But this one has quick, quick shutter speed. It's not the cheapest, retailing for about $340 CDN, but it's a good camera that also boasts 4GB of internal memory, which is a nice bonus!

]]> So You Want....To Read Something GREAT! tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/so_you_want_it//81.6831 2010-01-11T14:29:00Z 2010-01-11T16:06:03Z

Ali! HELP! I love that you are doing this new column, because I really need your help. I got an Indigo gift card for Christmas from my boss and I am really excited to buy books that aren't from the...

Ali http://www.alimartell.com Ali! HELP! I love that you are doing this new column, because I really need your help. I got an Indigo gift card for Christmas from my boss and I am really excited to buy books that aren't from the children's section. But, I need some recommendations please! I'd really like to read something that isn't a picture book. Can you help me?

When Jane emailed me looking for book recommendations, I was really excited because, you see, I'm a reader and getting an Indigo gift card as a gift makes me smile for days! I hope I can make Jane smile with some great book options! These are just a few from my MUST READ list:

1. The Help - Kathryn Stockett