Happy Valentine's Day! + Save with Anchor Studio Photography!

Happy Valentine's Day! Hope everyone is having a wonderful day celebrating LOVE with your friends and family. 

I wanted to share these adorable photos captured by Silva of Anchor Studio Photography at Movies for Mommies a few weeks ago, during our Valentine Mini Sessions. I'm always amazed at the moments Silvia is able to capture, especially on a day like this with a grumpy sick baby in a dark theatre. 

Sign Up for the Movies for Mommies Newsletter if you want to receive information about future pre-show photo sessions. Screenings are every Monday at 1pm (doors open at 12:30pm) at The Humber Cinema (Bloor & Jane) and we often have special events before the show. 

If you're looking for a great family photographer I highly recommend Anchor Studio. Receive 10% off your session when you mention With Care at booking. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

- Care

Welcome To The West End True North Sports Camps! Enter To WIN A Week Of Free Camp + 30% OFF Registration!

It's hard to believe that it's already time to start thinking about summer, but it'll be here before we know it. I'm typically the parent who hears about summer camp registration in the winter, but then gets busy and forgets to actually register. When I do get around to it, most programs are crammed full with waitlists or unavailable on the weeks we want. So this year when I heard that True North Sports Camps was coming to the West End, I decided to jump on it and get my big kid all signed up. Yay for checking things off my to-do list! Plus I asked them for a discount for my friends and followers, and they were super generous. You're welcome ;)

I had heard of True North Sports Camps before, from some friends in North Toronto who had sent their kids and loved the programs, but it was too far away for us. I hadn't found any comparable program in our neighbourhood for this season, so hearing that they were extending to the West End in the summer of 2017 was perfect. They offer Multi-Sport and Baseball camps for kids ranging in age from 4-14, and focus on a pressure free environment that emphasizes sportsmanship, teamwork and fair play. All things that our 5 year old could use a little help with, as I'm sure most kids can. They also offer extended before and after care, which is essential for so many busy families.

If you're looking for a great Sports Camp for your little camper this summer, check out True North Sport Camps and use Code TrueNorth57 for 30% off Registration at their West End Camps. Plus Enter for a Chance to WIN 1 Week of FREE Camp! 

Simply comment below with your name and email address for a chance to WIN! (alternatively you may comment below and submit your email address to info@fifty-seven.ca for entry). Plus make sure to check out our Facebook page & Instagram feed for 2 more ways to enter! 

Contest is open to all residents of the Greater Toronto Area and closes Thursday February 16th 11pm EST. A winner will be chosen at random and announced within 24 hours. *Prize must be redeemed for services at True North Sports Camps West End Location

I'm in disbelief that it's only February and we're all set for camp. I'm feeling pretty proud of myself and Ben is so excited he's started a countdown. I'm sure that won't get old anytime soon ;) 

- Care

*This is a sponsored post which means I was provided compensation and/or product for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Simple DIY Floor Cushions

If your kids are anything like mine, they probably don't actually sit on furniture the way it's intended. Mine seem to sit on the floor most of the time, so I decided to make them some oversized floor pillows to make a cozy spot for reading books or watching a movie. 

I searched high and low on the good old internet for some appropriate cushions, but the prices were ridiculous. $150-$300 for a big cushion with cover! Not exactly what I wanted to spend on cushions that I knew would be covered in peanut butter and apple juice within hours. I wanted something that I could machine wash and toss on the floor without concern for ruining them. I even looked at dog beds, but turns out people spend A LOT on their dogs. Not that I don't love my kids, but seriously, I just couldn't justify that kind of money on floor cushions. So I decided I would make them myself. 

I found an amazing textile place in West Toronto, Nusso Textiles, that has an incredible selection of pillows and cushions, as well as options for custom orders. If you oder more than $100 at a time it's considered wholesale and much cheaper. I ordered a dozen throw pillows of various sizes for our screened in porch bench seats and 4 giant 32" x 32" pillows for the kids. I opted to upgrade to the polycotton covering so they would stand up to any necessary laundering. They came to $22 each and were ready to pick up in about 4 days. 

Next I wanted to make covers for the pillows, but again wanted to keep it simple and affordable. I chose some durable cotton canvas fabric (I recommend a cotton canvas or cotton twill, something with a little more strength than a soft quilting or craft cotton) from my favourite local fabric store Fabric Fabric. This place might seem a little rough around the edges, but I promise it has great fabrics and even better prices. I find I get my best deals from the ladies there when I'm pregnant or toting around a cute baby. Just a tip ;) 

I found this dead simple envelope pillow case tutorial online and set to work. This is definitely a project appropriate for a beginner, and can be adapted to fit any cushion size. The project involves:

1. cutting one piece of fabric
2. ironing said fabric
3. hemming two ends of the fabric
4. folding the fabric into the appropriate shape &
5. sewing a straight edge along 2 sides.

For each of my 32" cushions I needed 2 meters of fabric, which left me with extra fabric for smaller cushion covers or other projects. I cut 1 piece of fabric 32" x 72" (32"x2 +8" for overlap and seam allowance) and created my cover. Once I figured out my measurements each pillow case only took about 20 kid free minutes to make...if a baby or child is around this could be extended to several days ;) 

As you can see the kids are loving the finished project. The best part is that they cost about $40 each to make. A huge savings from the original ones I found on Etsy and other sites, not to mention you can customize them to suit your style. Hope this inspires you to make some cozy floor cushions for your family. 

Care 

What's really new in the New Allergy Guidelines for Babies?

A new guideline came out this week from the National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Disease focusing on prevention of peanut allergies, and specifically when to introduce high allergen foods to babies. When I heard the news of the new guideline I felt like I could hear every parent collectively sigh out of frustration. It seems like every few months a new guideline is being released, making it hard for parents to stay up to date on safe practices. Unfortunately that's just the way it is in this day and age of non-stop research, but hopefully that's for our benefit.  

The new guideline made headlines Thursday and I've already had a few parents contact me wanting to know if I'll be addressing them in my Starting Solids Workshop. I always incorporate the most up to date guidelines and research in my courses, but thought it would be helpful to break it down for everyone here, to save you the headache of actually reading the entire guideline.  

Rest assured that for the vast majority of babies there is absolutely no change. In 2015 Health Canada released a Guideline that covered feeding your baby from 6-24 months and in it the recommendation was made for high allergen foods such as nut butters and cooked eggs (yolk & white) to be introduced around 6 months with the introduction of solids. This new guideline agrees with this practice, and reminds parents not to be afraid of feeding age appropriate nut products to babies regularly in your homes, starting around 6 months. Research has shown that frequent early exposure is beneficial to reducing life threatening allergies, so it's important not to let your fear of an allergy keep you from introducing this important food group. 

Where the new guideline has made changes is with "high risk children." This category includes all babies with diagnosed egg allergy or severe eczema. In these babies the recommendation is now to start high allergen foods earlier, if the baby is showing signs of readiness. Parents of high risk babies should work in partnership with their baby's physician to plan exposure to high allergen foods starting between 4-6 months when the baby is ready. Nut products and high allergen foods should be started after the baby has started solids "so that the child can demonstrate the ability to consume solid food without evidence of nonspecific signs and symptoms that could be confused with IgE-mediated food allergy." Again this is only for high risk babies. This new guideline is not advocating that we start all babies on solid food earlier. Breastmilk or Formula is still the appropriate food for the vast majority of babies for approximately the first 6 months of life.  

Parents can feel very guilty when new guildelines emerge that conflict with how they raised their children. It's important to keep in mind that this ever changing research is not perfect. As always, it could change in years to come, so all we can do is educate ourselves with the best information we can, and focus on feeding our babies a variety of healthy foods. Babies around the world start solids in many different ways, and no one way is proven perfect. Follow your instinct and your baby's lead and speak to your baby's health care provider if you have any concerns about starting solids. 

When feeding any nut products to your baby please remember that whole nuts, and large globs or thick layers of nut butters, are choking hazards. Always apply a thin layer of nut butter to toast, crackers etc, or create a thin puree mixed with other foods. Avoid whole nuts with young children. Everyone who feeds your baby should know how to help them in the event of an emergency such as choking, or a life threatening allergic reaction. For more information on how to be prepared to start solids safely with your baby check out my Starting Solids & Infant CPR Workshops and subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch my baby Penny's journey through starting solids.

- Care 

Giving To Charity Never Smelled So Sweet: Great Wolf Lodge + Ronald McDonald House Charities

Every year as the holidays approach I try to think of some ways that our family can give back. We are so fortunate and privileged, and it's essential that our children grow up knowing that. Throughout the year we try to instil a sense of gratitude in our kids and actively help in our community where we can, but the holidays are a great time to reinforce this giving mentality. Whether it's small local initiatives or larger charitable organizations, we always pick a few to support. I often include these giving activities in our Christmas Countdown Calendar, interspersed with little gifts, treats and holiday family events.

So on December 1st I was very excited for the kids to open their calendar. Ben (who is an excellent reader) peeled open the envelope and as he read the card his eyes lit up and huge smile came across his face. The card said "We're taking a family trip to Great Wolf Lodge!!! While we're there we will be dining in a real gingerbread house, and making a donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charities to help families with sick children." Ben had heard myths of Great Wolf Lodge from friends and family, and desperately wanted to go, so this was huge for him. I don't think the kids fully understood the life size gingerbread house part, and honestly I think they thought I was lying to them, but they seemed very excited and curious to see it. Penny, on the other hand just wanted to eat the envelope ;)

When we arrived we were all in awe. The gingerbread house was absolutely gorgeous and the kids were mesmerized by it. Made with over 1200 eggs, 666 lbs of flour, 5 lbs of ginger powder and 40 Litres of Molasses (just to name a few ingredients), plus 165 lbs of candy, it's an impressive structure. The house takes over 700 hours to plan and make, and baking begins each year in September. Inside the house there is a working fireplace and a train running around the top of it. Plus the smell...oh the smell, it's absolutely incredible. It's like sitting in Christmas. The only issue was that Lucy wanted to eat the whole thing!

If you're headed to Great Wolf Lodge for their Snowland Event this holiday season I highly recommend checking out the 10th annual Gingerbread house. By giving a $20 donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities, families can reserve this special table for a meal during their stay. It books up fast, so be sure to contact the resort in advance, or reserve online, because virtually every kid wants to eat in it once they see it. Our kids wanted to eat EVERY meal in it! 

I feel so fortunate to have 3 healthy children, but I know that their health can change at any time and I never want to take that for granted. Having a critically or chronically ill child is one of every parent's worst nightmares. Ronald McDonald House Charities provide incredible support for families with ill children around the world. Most of us have heard of their "home away from home" housing for families with hospitalized children, but I was totally unaware of the other amazing initiatives they have. These initiatives include: Mobile Medical Care in remote areas around the world, Family Rooms in hospitals to provide a safe and quiet space for families to rest, Grants for non-profit organizations that work in children's health, and Educational Scholarships. Donations from the Great Wolf Lodge Gingerbread event go to 3 local Ronald McDonald houses in Toronto, Hamilton & London Ontario, so you will be supporting local families when you donate. 

I'm so happy that we were able to do our little part to help out this year. A trip to Great Wolf Lodge was the icing on the cake...or should I say gingerbread house ;) 

- Carolyn 

*This was a sponsored trip, but all opinions are 100% my own. Although I wasn't asked to write more about our stay at Great Wolf Lodge, I'll definitely be sharing some tips for anyone planning a trip in a future post. Stay tuned!

**If you're not headed to Great Wof Lodge this season, but would still like to make a donation to local Ronald McDonald Houses, please follow the link.

Winter Babywearing Essentials

As many of you know, I'm a huge fan of babywearing. I babywear almost 365 days a year and don't know how I would survive life as a Mom of 3 (edited to note: now 4!) without my carriers. Although many people express shock and horror at the idea of trudging through the snow wearing a baby, I can tell you from experience that it's a lot easier wearing baby than trying to push a stroller through the snow on sidewalks and up snowbanks. I've had lots of questions recently about winter babywearing, so I thought I would share a few of my essentials for surviving the winter with a baby (or toddler) in tow.

Must Haves For Parent (Babywearer)

1. Flat Winter Boots with Good Tread

Babywearing is safe in most wintery conditions, but it's essential that you have good footing under you. A flat pair of properly fitting winter boots with a nice deep tread are ideal. You can also purchase boots with special grips or add traction devices to your shoes. I recommend that you don't babywear if there is an ice warning, it's a particularly slippery day, or if you have any injuries that could make you more likely to fall. 

2. Babywearing (& Pregnancy) Coat Adapter

Skip the snow suit and wear baby inside your coat! Bridge the Bump (Made locally by 2 West End Moms - See full review here) makes leaving the house with baby so much easier. All you have to do is dress baby in normal warm cloths (cozy pants, socks, a warm shirt, sweater, hat and booties - see below) and pop them in the carrier inside your coat with the insert zipped up. Having the baby directly in the carrier typically means that it will fit better (vs. if they have bulky winter gear on) and your body heat will keep you both warm. This is ideal for errands and trips where you will be going inside, as you can simply open your coat or take it off and baby can stay in their carrier without the dangers of overheating in their snow suit or trapping you in your warm coat. 

3. Slim Neckwarmer

Having the top of your coat open to accommodate a baby in a carrier can leave a gap around your neckline leaving your skin exposed to the weather. To cover up this gap and stay warm a slim fitting neck warmer is ideal. Be careful of large, bulky, loose scarves and neck warmers that could impede baby's fresh flow of air or cover their face in any way. This beautiful neck warmer from Bridge the Bump is a new fav of mine because it's super cozy but also slim, so it sits close to my skin and doesn't bother Penny. 

Must Haves For Baby

4. Winter Hat for Baby

When wearing our baby we always want them to be visible and kissable. Visible means we never want to cover baby's face with a blanket, carrier hood, or scarf, even in the winter months. Parents are very concerned about their baby staying warm in the cold weather, but when baby is facing in against an adult the body heat created should keep them nice and cozy. A winter hat, ideally something that covers the back of the neck, will keep baby warm, but not impede their fresh flow of air or block your view of their face. If you have concerns about your baby's skin getting chapped in the cold air you can apply a thick barrier cream such as Shea butter before heading out.

5. Winter Booties for Baby

Since your baby won't be in a snow suit in their carrier I recommend some cozy booties to keep their toes and legs nice and warm. There are tons of great booties out there, but I recently found these locally made ones from Mimitens and absolutely love them for little babes who aren't walking yet. They're thinsulate, water resistant, and have a leg warmer attached. This is key for me, because they are less likely to fall off and be lost on treacherous winter walks. It's never fun to realize you've lost one bootie from your favourite pair. I think these might actually survive a whole season!

The real winter weather has yet to arrive, but I know when it does Penny and I will be ready. I hope I've given you some winter babywearing inspiration. If you prep now you can enjoy a winter with your cozy babe in tow. *Don't forget to use code WITHCARE10 for 10% off Bridge The Bump.

- Care

 *This is a sponsored post which means I was provided compensation and/or products/services for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. I only partner with companies, services and institutions that I genuinely love and want to recommend.

Nursing Mama Giveaway!

Now that I'm 5 1/2 years into nursing my 3 babes I've become a bit of an expert on breastfeeding friendly attire.  So I was very excited to try out Bridge The Bump's new Reversible Maternity Top. This beautiful top is designed by 2 local moms and made right here in Toronto, which is amazing! I'm always a huge advocate of shopping local, because supporting local businesses means supporting local families...but that's a whole other post. 

What I love most about this top is that it's intended to be worn facing one way while pregnant and then flipped around to accommodate easy access for nursing once your little one arrives. The versatility of this shirt means that you'll get a lot more wear out of it than a typical maternity or nursing shirt.

The cut of this top is perfect post-baby because the fabric flows away from the body, avoiding clinging to areas that you may not want to highlight right after giving birth. Plus it can be layered with a light tank underneath if you want a little extra coverage. The fabric is easy to clean and it dries quickly, which is always appreciated by this busy mama. 

With 5 beautiful colours available: Beige, Black, Burnt Orange, Cobalt & Plum, there is bound to be one that looks amazing on everyone. Pair it with some jeans for a casual look or throw it together with a beautiful necklace, some fancy pants and a pair of heels for a special event. Yup, I said fancy pants...I'm such a mom ;) 

I love my Reversible Maternity Top so much that I've partnered with Bridge the Bump & Diaper-eez to GIVEAWAY an incredible Nursing Mama gift package that includes:

• 1 Bridge the Bump Reversible Maternity Top (Value $54.95)
• 1 Bravado Body Silk & Seamless Nursing Bra (Value $55.00)
• 1 Boogalu Teething Necklace (Value $24.99)

Enter now, by commenting below with your name and email address, for a chance to WIN. Plus make sure to check out our Facebook page & Instagram feed for 2 more ways to enter! 

This contest is open to all residents (18+) of Canada & The Continental USA and runs until Tuesday November 29th 2016 at 11pm EST. Winner will be chosen at random and announced within 24 hours. *Winner to choose colour and size of products from Diaper-eez, pending availability.

Don't wait, Enter NOW! Plus don't forget to enter on Instagram & Facebook.

- Carolyn

*Receive 10% off your Bridge the Bump Reversible Nursing Top and other amazing products at Diaper-eez with promo code: withcare *some exclusions apply

*This is a sponsored post which means I was provided compensation and/or product for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

NEW Monthly Babywearing Meetup!

I've had so many requests for Babywearing advice from community parents, friends and family, I have decided to start a monthly West End Babywearing Meetup. Bring your babies and join me on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 9:30am-11am at Body Language Academy of Dance (272 Jane St). This is a FREE community event, open to all families.  *Please Note: As of March 2017 the West End Babywearing Meetup will be moved to West End Mamas at 2477 Bloor St W 2nd Floor. 

This casual gathering will allow local parents to meet, learn about baby wearing, chat about parenting and get some extra support. Don't forget to bring your own carrier (if you have one) so you can learn how to use it properly. Plus, feel free to try a carrier from my collection. I have a selection of carriers including Ring Slings, Woven Wraps, Stretchy Wraps, Mei Tais, Soft Structured Buckle Carriers & Backpack Style carriers. When it comes to baby wearing it's always ideal to "Try Before You Buy", so join me and find what works best for you and your baby. 

Hope to see you at our first baby wearing meetup next Wednesday November 16th (Calendar of Events). Feel free to send along any questions to info@fifty-seven.ca or comment below. 

- Care