Is Your Family Ready for Winter? Come Pillage In The Village!

It's that time of year again. Time to start thinking about switching over seasonal gear and going through your closets to see what fits & what needs to be replaced for your family this winter. I don't know about you, but I find it a stressful time of year as the cost of snowsuits, boots, skates & other seasonal gear really adds up. As always our family relies heavily on gently-used clothing & gear to get us through the changing seasons on budget.

If you're looking to save some money this season check out your local Community Parent-to-Parent sales. Our local sale in the Bloor West Village area Pillage In The Village is coming up at the beginning of October and is always a great event with tons of amazing deals. It's an absolute fav of mine and a sale that I try not to miss.

Where: Swansea Community Center, 15 Waller Ave

When: Saturday October 4th from 1pm-3:30pm. *50% off sale runs from 3pm-3:30pm.

*Most sales do not allow children, strollers or bags inside. So leave the kids at home & have fun shopping for some great deals with your laundry hamper!

*I strongly encourage you to make note of your kid’s shoe & clothing sizes & what you need most, so you can go directly to those areas of the sale first. These sales are extremely busy & not for the faint of heart!

If you want to know more about local parent to parent sales and other ways to save money while dressing your family, check out this 3-part blog series from last spring about 3 Ways to Save Money & The Environment While Dressing Your Kids. 

Upcoming Toronto Parent to Parent Sales:

• The Parent Bazaar(Sept 13, 2014)
• TPOMBA Fall/Winter Clothing Sale (Sept 20, 2014)
• South Etobicoke Mommy Market (Oct 18, 2014)
• (Oct 18, 2014) Great Kids Stuff Sale (Oct 25, 2014)
• Mom to Mom Sale Markham & Stouffville (Oct 25, 2014)
• Toronto Mom to Mom Fall Sale Event (Nov 1, 2014)

Good luck getting some great deals for your family this fall!

- Care

Back to School AKA Happy Halloween!?!

One day into the school year and Halloween stuff is already lining the shelves at most big stores around the city. Don't panic! The stores like to pretend that Halloween is just around the corner so you stock up on treats (that you inevitably eat in the weeks preceding halloween & then have to replace), but really we still have 8 full weeks to prepare. Totally doable, and yet I know I will blink and it will actually be Halloween. Time flies these days.

I try not to go too overboard with the refined sugary treats with my little ones (3 years & 11 months), but I love to make homemade treats & find great costumes for our whole family to have fun with. This week Benny asked if he could be a Lion for Halloween and it made me realize that I better start thinking about what I need to prepare for this year. We usually have a family costume (DIY) for parties, as well as individual costumes for trick or treating & kid's parties. This year is Benny's first year at nursery school so he's pretty pumped for his own kid's costume party. 

Buying costumes, especially for a whole family, can be down right expensive and when they're only worn once our environment pays the real cost. That's why I'm proud to partner with Eco-Outfitters Online for The 3rd Annual Toronto West Costume Swap! 

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The Details:

1. Drop off your clean, gently-used costumes at Eco Outfitters Office between Sept 2, 2014 & Oct 2, 2014. Be sure to pin your name & email address to your costume so they can confirm your trade in.

2. Return to Eco Outfitters Online on Saturday Oct 4th 10am-6pm and shop for a FREE gently-used costume for your little one. 

*If you don't have a costume to trade in you can still shop the costume swap from 12pm-6pm with a minimum $5 donation to The New Mom Project. 

While looking through our past Halloween pictures I realized that Ben has been a lion several times...maybe time to trade in some lions for a new animal. Can't wait to see what we find!

Trick or Treating 2012 - Roar!

Trick or Treating 2013 - Roar The Sequel!

So grab your gently-used costumes & drop them by Eco Outfitters anytime this month to save money and the environment while still getting your kid an awesome Halloween costume. 

Have any questions? Contact Rebecca at Eco Outfitters Online via email  for more details.

Feeding Your Baby at This Little Piggy - Join us Today!

I've been meaning all week to write a quick blog piece about the upcoming Feeding Your Baby event at This Little Piggy that I'm taking part in. This Little Piggy is an amazing baby shop in the Parkdale neighbourhood of Toronto. I especially love this shop because they feature so many locally made products and love to host community events. At today's street sale I will be available to answer any questions about starting solids or progressing through foods with your baby. Something that we cover regularly in our workshops at Fifty-Seven. 

Embarrassingly the event is today! Saturday July 26th 11am-3pm...and I'm just getting around to it now! Sometimes my life as a stay at home mom of 2 (Ben 3 years & Lucy 9 months) and business owner can be overwhelming and I need to make choices. So this week instead of doing more things to check off my work to-do list I spent some uninterrupted time in the backyard with the kids. We weeded & harvested our veggie garden, ate apricots fresh from the tree, and enjoyed afternoon cuddles under the branches. Pure bliss. 

In the evening I went for bike ride with my husband & celebrated 4 years of marriage while eating a delicious local meal right in our neighbourhood at The Passenger. Days like these make a life.

Last night I was feeling guilty that I hadn't done anything to prepare for today, but upon reflection I realized that I had. Feeding Your Baby isn't just about choosing the right first food. After all, there is always more than one way to do anything right. 

Feeding your baby is about incorporating a healthy lifestyle early in life. It's about introducing healthy whole foods & regular physical activity. It's about teaching your kids about food systems and where our food comes from, as well as respect for our bodies and our health. It's about teaching moderation and enjoying snacks and treats too. It's about setting an example for our kids and taking the time to enjoy life. This is my message to parents about Feeding Your Baby. 

So for anyone who is looking for something to do on this summer Saturday come join us at This Little Piggy 1594 Queen St W (Queen at Sorauren Ave), to chat about everything food! Or really anything baby you want to discuss. 

-Carolyn 

8 Essential Items To Pack In Your Carry On When Travelling With A Toddler - Travelling with Tots Part 3/3

When taking a plane trip with a toddler a lot of your success comes down to mental prep, yours and theirs. Depending on how sensitive your child is, a plane ride might be stressful or induce anxiety, for others it might be exhilarating and fun. Talking to your child about the trip ahead of time can help alleviate their fears by giving them a chance to ask questions. Let them know where they’re going, who they will see, what they will be doing. You can even watch online videos of real planes. It may seem silly, but for many kids it helps.

Before Ben’s first plane trip to Jamaica at 15 months old we pointed out airplanes in the sky and talked about where the people inside might be going. We taught him the ASL sign for airplane & got a hand-me-down toy plane from my sister in law. It was perfect. By the time we left for our trip Ben was stoked for our plane trip and signed airplane the whole way to the airport. What a success!

For this trip with Ben almost 3 years old, he can be more involved. He’s allowed to pack his own carry on (within reason, I don’t want to get caught for having my kid smuggle something illegal like liquids or battery operated toys). Ben has his Mountain Equipment Co-op napsac out and ready (my mini one from the late 90’s when mini napsacs were all the rage) and has already been talking about what he wants to bring. When I spoke to him last week his ideas included pizza & dip, almond milk, and a large rock. We had to have a little chat about appropriate things to bring on an airplane ;)

Here are my 8 Essential Items to Pack in your Carry On When Travelling with a Toddler

1. Food & Drinks When packing snacks for your toddler it might seem tempting to go with a bunch of sweet treats to keep your little one happy. However I suggest focusing on snacks that are low in refined sugar & high in protein. No one wants to watch or listen to your child have a sugar-induced tantrum on the plane.

For our upcoming trip we’re packing Ben fruit, a whole grain bagel with cream cheese & cucumber, & some homemade hummus with cut veggies (Ben’s fav!). I also always bring some emergency snacks like Annie’s White Cheddar Bunnies as well as a Klean Kanteen with water.

2. Toys & books Plane rides with little ones can be tough, especially busy toddlers who are not used to sitting still for more than 3 minutes. Plan ahead and make sure you pack some entertaining options. Buy a new toy, or take an existing toy out of rotation a few weeks before the trip so your little one will be excited to play it.

In Ben’s bag we’ve packed some of his favourite books, animal finger puppets (DIY from years ago that I promise to post on the blog one day), animal figurines & his car caddy & cars (another sewing DIY I promise to post). 

We also have 3 special new items: A viewfinder from Aunt Allison that we kept for a special day, a new sticker book from Nana, and a new Crayola Mess Free Colouring Kit that Mommy & Daddy bought.

Although we don’t allow much screen time at home, we will be bringing our Ipad with some new fun Apps and videos, just in case.

If you don’t have time to put your own activity kit together, check out this premade "Busy Kit" you can order online from Keeps Me Smiling.

*Warning: do not pack any battery operated toys in your carry on.

3. Something to chew during takeoff & landing Flying can be tough on little ones ears so it’s important that we help them. With a baby it’s relatively easy to nurse or give them a bottle, but Ben weaned over a year ago and my boobs are reserved for Baby Lucy, so snacks it is! For some kids sipping a drink or chewing on a teething toy is a great option instead of food.

If you have an older kid (4+) you could consider some gum. There’s nothing more fun than a hysterical kid on a plane. Except maybe a hysterical kid on a plane with gum stuck in their hair ;)

4. Documentation Don’t forget your toddler’s ID! Make sure that you check which form of documentation is necessary (Birth certificate versus Passport) for your destination.

In addition if you’re travelling abroad with your child alone (without their other parent, in a 2 parent household), the Canadian Government recommends travelling with a consent letter signed by the other parent. Although it is not a requirement it will save you some hassles when passing through checkpoints. See here for full details

5. Comfy Change of Clothes Even a potty-trained toddler can make a mess of themselves or have an accident mid trip, so having a change of clothes for them (and you!) is essential. If your flight ever got held up or your luggage was lost you would be very grateful. Think comfy breathable fabrics that aren’t restrictive.

6. Diapers & Wipes If your little one isn’t potty trained yet you’ll want to pack lots of diapers and wipes. Even for Ben, who was potty trained almost a year ago wipes are great to have on hand. Sticky fingers, spills, runny noses…you name it a wipe will fix it. Also consider bringing a potty seat if your child is used to having one at home.

7. Lightweight Muslin Blankets Although this item might seem a bit babyish it comes in very handy with a toddler who wants to cuddle up on the plane or make an impromptu fort. I’m packing 1 lightweight blanket for Ben to have for himself, to do as he pleases.

8. Something Comforting Many children have a special comfort item like a blankie, lovie or stuffed animal. I suggest bringing this item on the plane so that your child has some consistency throughout your travel. Ben loves to cuddle with my old childhood teddy bear, but it’s a bit big, so we compromised and brought his monkey George for the trip. 

I hope that these tips and tricks for travelling with tots help you and your family as you plan your next vacation.

-Carolyn 

8 Essential Items to Pack in Your Carry On When Travelling With A Baby - Travelling with Tots Part 2/3

When travelling with a baby you need to be well prepared. No one wants to arrive at the airport and realize you don’t have baby’s ID, or have to deal with a dangerous poozaster situation mid-air with no change of clothes. Travelling with a little one is hard enough, so let’s make sure we make it as easy on ourselves as possible by packing the right stuff.

Here are my 8 Essential Items to Pack in your Carry On When Travelling with a Baby.

1. Sleepbelt or Carrier

During Take off and landing your baby will need to be secure on your lap. Since babies are squirmy little creatures having some help is key. If you have an infant, the Sleepbelt is a great product for handsfree snuggling with baby while travelling. It allows baby to be chest to chest with their legs extended or pulled in tight and is easy to breastfeed in. A bonus of the Sleepbelt is that it doesn’t have any knots or buckles to dig into your back, so you’ll be able to rest comfortably too. Plus it folds up really tiny, ideal for travelling.

If your baby is larger a carrier or sling is a great option. For this trip with Baby Lucy being 9 months old I’ve decided to take the Ergo Carrier for the plane ride. I know that Lucy loves it and falls asleep easily while nursing in it. Plus it’s super comfortable for me to lug her around the airport in.

2. Breasts or Bottles

If you’re a nursing mother, obviously you don’t need to remember your breasts, they tend to stay put, but you’ll want to wear something that’s easy to nurse in. It’s always fun trying to get out of a restrictive top with a screaming baby in a limited amount of space. Try it. I dare you ;)

If your baby uses bottles make sure you pack extra EBM (expressed breast milk) or formula in a cooler bag. If you encounter a delay or you get stuck somewhere unexpected you will want the extra supplies.

*Parents with young babies are exempt from many of the rules about food and beverages. See the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority for a full list of exemptions. You can always check with your particular airline to make sure you’re within set limits.

3. Food & Drink

If your little one is eating solids you’ll need to pack some food & a sippy cup for the trip. Keep it simple and bring snacks that you know your baby likes to eat. Small resealable containers or baggies with items like roasted chicken, cheese cubes, blueberries or puff cereals are just some of the things I like to pack. Lucy usually feeds herself (Baby-Led Feeding) which is a pretty messy process, so I thought it would better (*read: neater for everyone sitting within a 12’ radius) if we went with some simpler options.

When I saw Love Child Organics pouches on sale at my local grocery store I grabbed a dozen. They're perfect for Lucy to have on the go during our flight and while we’re travelling around Edmonton. This way I know she will still be getting lots of healthy food while we’re on the go.

I gave Lucy a pouch to try and she was very pleased. Baby Approved!

4. Documentation

Don’t forget baby’s ID! Make sure that you check which form of documentation is necessary (Birth certificate versus Passport) for your destination.

In addition if you’re travelling abroad with your child alone (without their other parent, in a 2 parent household), the Canadian Government recommends travelling with a consent letter signed by the other parent. Although it is not a requirement it will save you some hassles when passing through checkpoints. See here for full details

5. Comfy Change of Clothes

In order to help keep your baby content and maximize rest while travelling, choose comfortable breathable light layers.

For our trip Lucy is sporting her Ollie Jones feather leggings, a peach tank top, a simple grey hoodie & some adorable moccasins from Little Lookers. Huge thanks to Kat at This Lil Piggy for helping me pick out some cute & cozy duds for our little lady. 

A comfy change of clothes (or 2) is a must! Again if you encounter an unexpected flight delay or a poozaster you will be grateful for the extra clothes. *Always remember to pack a sealable bag for dirty clothing. Cloth diaper bags or large Ziploc bags work great for this purpose.

6. Extra Diapers & Wipes

Diapers & Wipes are pretty obvious items to include in your carry on bag, but always remember to pack more than you expect to need, in case of delay. Wipes come in very handy to clean up dirty mouths, hands or spills while travelling.

As a cloth diapering Mama I knew I would need to use disposable for our trip so I kept an eye on sales and bought some PC Green diapers at a great price.

7. Lightweight Muslin Blankets

Planes make for a very strange environment. Recycled air and hot & cold temperatures are not ideal for babies, so I recommend bringing several light layers so you can adapt as needed. My Aden & Anais muslin blankets definitely fit the bill for this job. I always pack 2 in my carry-on because they’re so versatile. They keep baby cozy, offer protection from sun or light & are great for wiping up spit-up or a runny nose. They’re an ideal travel blanket because they’re easy to wash in a hotel sink and dry very quickly.

8. Something Comforting

Many babies have a special comfort item like a blankie, lovie or stuffed animal. For some babies it's a favourite toy or teething ring. I suggest bringing this item on the plane so your child has some consistency throughout your travel.

Keeping baby calm and happy while travelling is key and with these 8 items in your carry on you'll be sure to have an easier time doing just that. Hope my tips for packing your baby's carry on come in handy for your next family trip.

For anyone in need of a full packing list I like this one created by Travel Mamas. It’s simple and not too over the top. You might not need to pack everything listed on it, but it helps me avoid forgetting something really important.

Stay Tuned for Part 3 of Travelling with Tots later this week on the blog. 

- Carolyn

Travelling with Tots - Part 1/3

We're heading to Edmonton for one of my longtime BFF's weddings later this week. Our first plane trip as a family of 4! Ahhh...!!! I'm super excited to see my friend marry her amazing partner, but in the back of my mind is the never-ending to-do list that accompanies any major outing or trip with small children. 

Travelling with little ones can be extremely daunting, but if you know how to prepare for your big trip you'll be sure to enjoy your vacation rather than spend your time worrying about not having the right stuff to keep them happy. 

Over the next week I'll give you some of my "Top Tips for Travelling with Tots". Today’s topic: Gear rental!

I don’t know about you, but our house is littered with baby gear. A bouncy chair, exersaucer, jolly jumper, bumbo seat, baby bath, car seat, crib, high chair, stroller…plus toys toys toys!! When travelling by plane you can’t possibly pack everything your little one uses at home, but you also don’t want to miss out on having a key piece of gear that makes caring for your baby easier.

At the babytime show this spring I met Sheree Wells owner of Travel Bug Baby a local Toronto company that specializes in helping families enjoy hassle free travel by providing baby gear rentals. Until meeting Sheree I didn’t know about the availability of rental baby gear. Such a great idea! 

Travel Bug Baby has an amazing selection of high-end baby gear for you to browse on their user friendly website.   

They offers rentals on individual items or in pre-set packages with great discounts when you rent several items together. 

Gear can be rented by the day, the week or as long as you require. Travel Bug Baby recommends that you contact them for rentals as soon as you know your travel plans and what you will require, but they will accept rental requests with as little as 48 hours notice, if gear is still available. Delivery is very reasonable at $25 within the city of Toronto and a slight premium in the surrounding areas. A great resource for family and friends visiting our city. 

If you have a trip planned with your little one and you know you’ll need some extra gear at your destination, I encourage you to explore the option of renting. All over the world there are amazing companies that deal in high-end baby gear rentals for travelling families. You can find a full list of rental companies organized by country on the amazing blog Have Baby Will Travel!

Stay tuned later this week for more Tips for Travelling with Tots including: “8 Essential Items to Pack in Your Carry On When Travelling With a Baby” & “8 Essential Items to Pack in Your Carry On When Travelling With a Toddler.”

- Carolyn

Top 3 Ways to Save Money & The Environment While Dressing Your Kids - Part 3/3

From my last 2 posts you can probably tell that I am a huge fan of buying gently used clothes and gear for myself & my family. You just can’t beat the savings for the environment & your wallet! Having said that, there will always be times when you need to buy something new, an outfit for a special occasion, or something specific to fill a need in your kiddos wardrobe. So let’s discuss how to get the most for your money and the environment when buying new.

1. Support ethical & environmentally conscious companies. Fast fashion has some pretty serious costs, so I try to do my part to reduce our family’s impact as much as I can. It’s not always feasible to buy local fashion, as the cost can be higher, but you can still make mindful choices about your consumption.

2. Buy clothing and gear that is built to last. I don't know about you, but I want pieces that will stand up to being washed hundreds of times while 2, 3 or 4 kids enjoy wearing them, not something that is going to be thrown into a dumpster in just a few weeks or months. 

3. Focus on gender neutral clothing. This goes a long way toward the items longevity, because it makes it easier to be passed along to other kiddies. Which in turn means more bang for your buck. This is especially important for big ticket items like snowsuits & boots.   

Some of My Favourite Companies:

My personal fav for great outdoor gear is Mountain Equipment Co-op. They sell high quality products that are made to last and have a strong commitment to sustainability efforts around the world. They offer many of their kids' products in great primary colours, so you don’t always need to choose pink or blue. Go with red, green or yellow!

I also love to find small local businesses like Ollie Jones, a Toronto based company that makes swoon worthy leggings & accessories for kids that are ethical, environmental & feature awesome gender neutral designs. Not to mention being budget friendly. Check them out, but be warned, you may become addicted! They're currently having a model search on Instagram, so if you have an adorable little one aged 6 months - 6 years send along a pic for a chance to win!

One of my new favorite clothing companies is a local start-up from Toronto called Jill & Jack Kids. They totally fit the bill for me. All of their clothes are designed, woven & sewn locally in Canada. They focus on awesome gender neutral play clothes for kids and feature great graphic prints on bold fun colours that go beyond pink and blue. My little guy Benny modelled some shirts for them, so we got to see the product first hand. I can tell you they are beautiful! The material was super soft and the shirt had a great slim cut. No more terrible square t-shirts!

What I love most about Jill & Jack Kids is that they’re not just trying to make cute clothes. They’re trying to change the way that we gender stereotype children at such a young age with the clothes we dress them in.

Offering gender neutral clothing with no boys or girls department means that kids can feel free to be who they want to be. I absolutely love their message, which is why I was happy to support their Kickstarter Campaign and help spread the word.

Please go online and check it out. They only have 3 more days, until June 5th, to reach their goal of $15,000 and they're already over $11,000. They need your support! If they don't reach their goal Jill & Jack Kids won't become a reality :( ...and I wont get my awesome "Half of all T.rexes were girls" shirt. Which would suck!

If you want to learn more about "How Gender Stereotypes Affect Kids" join Jill & Jack Kids for an online discussion with a panel of experts on Tuesday June 3rd at 8pm (EST). Should be an interesting discussion, so don't miss out!

I hope that you've found this 3 part series helpful in saving money and the environment while dressing your kids. 

- Care

Top 3 Ways to Save Money & The Environment While Dressing Your Kids - Part 2/3

Last week on the blog I told you about one of my top 3 ways to save money and the environment while shopping for our kids - Local Parent to Parent Sales. These sales are such a great resource for families, but since most are held only once or twice a year it can be difficult to get to them. Plus sometimes it's nice to be able to shop on your own schedule in a less chaotic environment. Not that I ever shy away from a good sale ;) 

As a regular go-to for gently used clothing and gear I rely on kids consignment stores. These are an excellent way to get name brand items that still have lots of life left in them. Sometimes you'll even score brand new items with the tags on! The only draw back is that consignment shopping can be time consuming, and as a busy parent and business owner I don't have a ton of time to go out and browse the stores for deals. That's why I was so excited to find a new local online kids consignment store called Eco Outfitters Online. 

Last week I had the pleasure of sitting down to chat with Rebecca Saha the Owner of Eco Outfitters Online, who specializes in high-end, gently used, baby & kids clothing & accessories. In addition to owning her own new business Rebecca is a wife, a mom of 3 kids, and a kindergarten teacher. What a woman! She is also a proud environmentalist and loves to help families learn how to make more green decisions in their daily lives, including purchasing clothing.

Eco Outfitters Online provides families with 2 great options for purchasing their hand-curated line of high-end gently used clothing.

1. Buy online via their easy to use website

Low flat fee shipping, or even the option of free pick up if you live locally.

2. Book a Personal Shopping Appointment online

Meet with Rebecca & check out the goods in person at the Eco Outfitters Boutique located in her West Toronto home. It's a great space with lots of beautiful stuff to browse & choose from. 

I couldn't help myself and ended up buying a few items for our little Lucy :)

Luckily our toddler Ben is still living off of massive piles of hand-me-downs thanks to our extremely generous friends and family, so no need to buy him anything. (Huge shout out to Auntie Meagan, Auntie AnaBela & Auntie Margaret for clothing him for the last 3 years!)

Check out Eco Outfitters Online website for full details and to view some of their adorable clothes currently available www.ecooutfittersonline.ca. Enjoy shopping from the comfort of your own home or book an appointment to visit the boutique in person to find some great stuff for your little ones.

*Eco Outfitters Online offers Full Refund Or Exchange on all purchases (tags still attached). Plus a great Referral Rewards Program & Trade In Trade Up Program. 

Stay tuned for the final instalment in this 3 part series next week to learn how to save money and the environment when choosing to buy New. 

- Care